Royal Enfield Himalayan(BS6) 2020 Review - Prices, Specs, Variants, Features and Mileage

How altitude friendly is the powerhouse?

How well does performance and efficiency go together?

Royal Enfield created a completely new engine with a different configuration for the Himalayan. It is a 441cc air-cooled single overhead cam engine that is fuel injected. That is a lot of new and non-orthodox methods in a single take but it is a bold move from the age-old manufacturer. This engine revs much higher than its brothers and uses a counterbalancer to eliminate vibrations. But don’t expect a completely smooth experience as vibrations don’t exit that fast.

The fuel injection system helps chuck out better mileage figures and that along with the large 15 litres fuel tank helps you ride longer and farther with ease. Performance and mileage figures are average as the kerb weight is too high for the engine to compensate for.

Nevertheless, it still clings on and manages to provide a satisfactory experience which is very tough to get from a completely new product. The earlier generations have had their fair share of issues but RE has learnt a lot from its mistakes and the BS6 is their best bet ever. That said, KTM dropped a bomb recently, with the mind-blowing 390 Adventure for Rs. 2.99 lakhs. The Enfield is going to have a tough time ahead.

How steep is the acceleration in 2020 Himalayan?

Acceleration is linear and muscular in the new Himalayan. The engine map is such that most of the torque is available in the low and mid-end red band. This gives you a very swift head start and makes it easy to scale terrains.

The clutch is, however, heavy and gearing tall which makes riding one of these through traffic cumbersome. But the gearbox has improved over time and now is much better than the older generations. All of these mechanicals work well in the long run and for the highways.

You will be relaxed on the highways because of its low and mid-end torque. You needn’t shift gears frequently due to the tall ratios. KTM and BMW, on the other hand, have a more aggressive approach and thus will give you a more lively experience. KTM has a lot of tech working behind it and so is a very easy-approach motorcycle.

How sure-footed are the brakes?

Braking has improved drastically over the last generation and the Himalayan BS6 now comes with a dual-channel ABS as well, for added confidence. But the two-piston calliper is still sluggish in action and makes you hesitant to build up speed.

The switchable ABS is very helpful for off-roading as it helps you disengage the rear ABS unit for better rideability. Under hard braking, the suspension sways a bit and can be distracting at times. The bite is linear and you won’t need tuition classes to get used to it.

Switchable ABS is the latest addition for in Himalayan that helps it stay a notch above its competition. But KTM has made things tough with the 390 Adventure for which the feature listing starts with dual-channel ABS! BMW has not updated their offering for a long time now and has thus become numb.

How rider-friendly is handling and comfort?

Handling is a strong point for the Himalayan. It is an off-road-ready machine with knobby at tyres. So, it will have its drawbacks on the roads. But it is much less than expected. You will be able to live with it but will involve a bit of muscle. This is because the Himalayan is by no means a light motorcycle. At 194 kg, it isn’t the traffic filtering type. But all of that changes when it is in its habitat.

The extremely comfortable seating, one of the best factory seating which we have come across, gives you the leverage to sit all day long and enough room to move about as well. You sit high and upright which is perfect for both long and short rides. The handlebar is wide and so will not put strain on your wrists and shoulders.

Ground clearance is ample for off-roading and the headlight is very bright. The tall stance gives you a much farther and wider field of view. BMW also provides us with a similar stance, but the build of GS 310 GS doesn’t encourage you to take it off-roading. It is more of the polished type. RE Himalayan isn’t and is a no-nonsense offering which is closely followed with KTM 390 Adventure that has a fine blend of practicality and intense feature list.

How different does the BS6 Himalayan look?

The Himalayan BS6 doesn’t look like your average Royal Enfield. It is a completely different take from the manufacturer that hadn’t changed their design in decades. It is a bold new outlook and has paid off as well. Royal Enfield has gone with a minimal design cue for its off-roader and thus helps in a clean look.

The tall stance will surely get you noticed on the roads and the metal frame wrapped around its chiselled tank flaunts “Royal Enfield” to remind you, that it is still made like a gun! The tall wind visor helps curb wind blast up to speeds of 90 kmph. The view from the saddle is also pleasing as you have the sleek tank in front of you with the multi-informative and very attractive looking instrument cluster. The metal bash plate helps you stay tension-free while going off-road.

Aesthetic Features

• Upswept exhaust

• Split seats

• Windshield

• Spoke wheels

• Front pannier mounting structure

The Himalayan is a very long motorcycle and that cannot be unseen. This will have its complications while manoeuvring through tight lanes or heavy traffic. The competition does a better at this and personally we feel that the KTM 390 Adventure looks much more modern. BMW GS 310 GS is a bit overdone in that case. But looks are subjective and we will leave it to you to decide which one of the above aligns with your imagination.

Safety and class-leading features?

Royal Enfield has finally got things right and offers the Himalayan with a switchable dual-channel ABS unit that can help vastly improve the overall riding experience both on and off roads. Disc brakes at both ends offer ample of bit, bit lethargic but still will do. The always-on halogen headlight is bright and provides very good coverage so that you can see the roads ahead; crystal clear.

Various other features like the very interesting compass and return of the hazard toggle gives it a distinguished appeal in this segment. The LED taillights are clearly visible for the trailing traffic from afar even in dense fog.

But when it comes to features, KTM 390 adventure is leaps and bounds ahead of its competition. You are treated to cornering ABS in an entry-level adventure tourer and that is a very big deal. KTM bowls you over with the array of class-leading and segment-first features. The beamer and RE aren't even on the radar on this one.

How does the competition stack up against this off-roading Royal Enfield?

Royal Enfield Himalayan vs BMW G 310 GS

BMW decided to try their luck at entry-level motorcycles, but I didn’t quite work out for them. They offered an entry-level duo of motorcycles, but at not so entry-level pricing. Moreover, TVS offered the RR310 which was also powered by the same BMW engine. So it didn’t really woo the money-conservative audience. Royal Enfield, on the other hand, priced the Himalayan sensibly and thus found a lot of buyers. It is a no-nonsense off-road-ready machine that can take a lot of beating. So, the conservative part of me will surely go for the RE Himalayan.

Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

The KTM bomb was dropped very recently and as always, managed to shake up the segment. KTM is offering an off-road-ready motorcycle for Rs. 2.99 lakhs, and did we forget to tell you that you get an array of features in it that are only available in the middle-class offerings. KTM has managed to achieve what Royal Enfield wanted to with the Himalayan. We will not think twice before choosing the orange monster here!

Where does the 2020 Himalayan (BS6) stand?

Royal Enfield broke a lot of stereotypes both in the organization and among its customers about their outlook at motorcycling. Himalayan is their first try at an adventure motorcycle and has been built from scratch. It fared well for a company first offering, but had its fair share of issues. RE worked through all of those and now have packaged the best of it in 2020 Himalayan. The new colours help refresh it in the market and will perfectly cater to those hardcore Royal Enfield fanboys who would love to get their shoes dirty. It is also a dirt-cheap motorcycle to work on and spares are well within the reach of common men.