Royal Enfield Himalayan FI Review
Bike Tested: Royal Enfield Himalayan FI; Road Test No. 862
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 1,98,025/-
The Himalayan kickstarted an all new segment of budget adventure motorcycles
Royal Enfield’s foray into the adventure motorcycle world has been rather dramatic. Brainchild of the iconic British manufacturer for this out-of-the-box venture has been the Himalayan which was showcased in 2015. From the BS4 hurdles in the capital last year to numerous quality issues reported by users, the adventure tourer ultimately had its plug pulled out soon after celebrating its first anniversary. Quite an adventurous fate of a motorcycle which was purpose-built for adventure! But, was it the end for what was the Leh-companion in the making? Well, no. Throwing fuel injection into the mix, the Bullet-maker has inducted new life into the dual-sport motorcycle and christened it as the Himalayan FI. Definitely, things have taken a turn, but for the better or for the worse? Let’s find out!
The team for designing the Himalayan was led by Pierre Terblanche
Styling – On the styling front, Royal Enfield has played it safe and not messed around with the apt blueprint of the Himalayan. In fact, even a hawk-eyed observer would take a couple of turns to grasp the ultra-fine changes on the new model. The exposed frame, larger front wheel, immense ground clearance and the sturdy sump guard are all testimony to its rough-road credentials. Visual changes are confined to the black treatment on the handlebars, footpegs, mirror stems and the tank lid. Yes, they didn’t even bother adding an ‘FI’ badge anywhere. And lest I forget, the round headlamp unit which comes sandwiched between the erect windscreen and the vestigial beak is now blessed with the magical AHO functionality!
The cluster houses a lot of information and looks well-finished
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – The part-digital instrument console of the Himalayan FI will send chills down the spine of a person used to the joke of a cluster seen on retro products from Royal Enfield. The entire unit, as well as the decent quality switchgear, is carried forward from the previous version of the Himalayan. Keeping Royal Enfield standards in mind, there are some features as space-age as readouts for time, ambient temperature and even the gear position. The odometer, tachometer and speedometer are standard-fare, while the two trip meters can compute their own average speed data and there is a counter to show the distance travelled on reserve fuel as well. Yes, the compass is supposed to help you out on your off-beat wanderings!
Short saddle height and upright riding position makes it easy to tame this motorcycle
Ergonomics – Being an adventure-tourer, the Himalayan FI continues to offer the enviable blend of perfect ergonomics along with a comfortable saddle height. The seating position is upright and the footpegs are positioned close to the rider. This helps matters off the road when one needs to stand on the pegs to exercise better control over the machine. The tall and wide handlebars are a stretch for shorter arms but feel in-place when attacking off-road obstacles. However, due to the relaxed ergonomics and the high kerb weight, the Himalayan FI fails to instil confidence on tight corners. Comfort levels are excellent for the rider as well as the pillion since the seat is well cushioned and, for the latter, there is a really sturdy rail to grab onto.
With the inclusion of FI, the kick starter is a thing of the past
Performance – The Himalayan FI ditches the carburettor and utilises a fuel-injected version of the familiar 4-stroke LS410 engine, producing the same 24.5 BHP of power at 6500 RPM and 32 Nm of torque at 4250 RPM. This 411cc single-cylinder motor comes mated to a revised 5-speed constant mesh gearbox and the talking point of this combination is undoubtedly the tall gearing. The Himalayan FI feels at home while tackling the rough patches due to its versatile 1st and 2nd cog. True to Royal Enfield DNA, there is plenty of torque available lower down the RPM range which helps the drivetrain pull 191 kgs of mass without a sweat. While the power and torque figures are unchanged, the addition of fuel injection has given a slight boost to the low-end power delivery and the motorcycle feels more eager at the lower spectrum of the RPM range. Precise fuelling has also ensured that the mid-range is as strong as it was on the carburetted Himalayan, thereby lending the bike an enjoyable character on city roads. However, the power tapers off drastically as you approach the redline.
The iconic thump has been replaced by a muted and refined thrum!
There is a lot of action in the mid-range, where the engine also feels responsive
The engine refinement has gone a few notches up and the Himalayan is more frugal now returning almost 32 km to a litre. However, engine noise and vibrations become prominent when the needle crosses the 4000 RPM mark. If you push it, the engine will hit the 8000 RPM mark also but the meat of the matter lies in the mid-range. While the Himalayan was never meant to be a tarmac scorcher, the addition of FI has made it quicker in the 0-100 km/hr dash than before, reaching there in 10.95 seconds as per our VBOX tests (the carb model clocked 11.11 seconds on our VBOX). The improved gearbox offers seamless shifts but, despite Royal Enfield claiming to have also addressed the hard-clutch issue, the clutch action will still take some getting used to. There were multiple instances of hitting false neutrals during our road test which implies that the gearbox still needs some fine-tuning.
Upright seating and absorbent suspension makes it a good option for long distance touring
Riding Dynamics – The Himalayan FI uses the half-duplex split cradle frame which provides it sorted riding dynamics over varying road conditions. On the tarmac, the sheer weight of the motorcycle makes it immune to crosswinds at triple-digit speeds. Off the road is where the Himalayan FI comes out with flying colours. The front telescopic forks come with 200 mm of travel to gobble up broken patches while the motorcycle is stiffly-sprung at the rear to aid control and handling. On cornering, the rider must be prepared for some heart-in-mouth moments at times due to the soft front suspension. The Himalayan FI uses a 300 mm disc up front and a 240 mm disc at the rear. While braking performance is adequate considering the lack of ABS, the kerb weight of the motorcycle is on the heavier side which hinders confidence.
The Himalayan FI is fairly practical as a daily ride also
Verdict - The carburetted version of the Himalayan was plagued with multiple quality issues which brings us to the conclusion that reliability from the Royal Enfield Himalayan FI still remains a question mark. While the automaker claims to have addressed the problems, one can never be too sure with a brand that has never been associated with reliability. While the product has seen improvements in refinement and build quality, there are a lot of rough edges. Due to its sticker price and limited competition, this adventure-tourer fits the bill perfectly for many enthusiasts who have been eyeing for an affordable purpose-built adventure tourer. However, we would suggest to wait it out and comprehend the market response over the next few months before plonking your hard-earned money on such a versatile package that the Himalayan FI is.
It’s really difficult to differentiate the Himalayan FI from its carburetted avatar!
Whats Cool
* Improved refinement levels and better low-end punch
* Tall gearing and strong mid-range is an exciting combo here
* Perfect ergonomics and comfortable ride quality
* Improved build quality makes the Himalayan feel better
* Long travel suspension and high ground clearance are a boon for off-road trails
Whats Not So Cool
* Lack of ABS
* Plenty of false neutrals and hard clutch action
* Noise and vibrations post 4000 RPM
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Alternatives: Mahindra Mojo, KTM Duke 250