Page 30 - July 2025 Edition_Neat

LHR MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE 30 BIKE REVIEW

Riding the Storm: Test Riding Royal

Enfield’s SINGLE-Cylinder Himalayan in

Cape Town

Cape Town is a city built for adventure bikes. With Table Mountain looming above and
rugged coastal curves unspooling along Chapman's Peak, it's the kind of landscape that begs
for big miles and tougher machines. When Royal Enfield launched its 2025 Himalayan 450 in
South Africa, curiosity sparked fast. This isn't just a refresh—it's a total reinvention. The
new Himalayan boasts a liquid-cooled 450cc “Sherpa” single cylinder engine, ride-by-wire
throttle, TFT display, and significantly refined handling.

So what does it feel like to ride? We took the 450 Himalayan for a proper test in Cape Town,
putting it through its paces in tar, sand, and mountain twisties. This is your in-depth look at
Royal Enfield's boldest ADV yet.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS sound like KTM or Yamaha off surprising balance.
territory, but the Himalayan
Visually, the 2025 Himalayan i s n ' t c h a s i n g t o p - e n d On-road: The new frame and
holds true to its rugged DNA: tall domination. Instead, it delivers longer-travel Showa suspension
windscreen, upright posture, usable midrange power and a offer a plush, stable ride. We
wire-spoked 21” front and 17” satisfyingly broad torque carved through Chapman's Peak
rear wheels, and adventure-ready with ease. While it's not razor-
crash bars. But look closer: this curve. sharp like a sportbike, the
bike is sleeker, sharper, and Himalayan corners confidently
undeniably more refined than its On Cape Town's M3 highway, and predictably. The 21” front
predecessor. The analog/digital the twin easily cruises at 120 wheel is slower to turn in but
cluster has been replaced with a km/h with power in reserve. It offers incredible feedback.
TFT (Thin Film Transistor) doesn't feel stressed, even uphill
display, easily toggled between into the windy Constantia pass. Off-road: The 220 mm ground
street and off- road modes. The six-speed gearbox is precise, clearance gives the Himalayan
and the slip assist clutch makes serious off-tarmac credentials.
Saddle height is an approachable downshifts drama-free. Suspension travel is 200 mm
825mm but can be lowered to front and 200 mm rear—enough
Around tighter coastal bends, the to soak up rock gardens and
805mm, with a lowers seat
(genuine motorcycle accessory), t h r o t t l e r e s p o n s e i s potholes. It handled the dirt trails
with adjustable preload and intuitive—thanks to ride-by-wire between Noordhoek and
decent seat cushioning. The tech—and the engine feels punchier Kommetjie like a champ. The
riding triangle feels comfortable than the older single. Off the line, switchable ABS modes are
even for longer-legged riders, the Himalayan leaps forward with excellent additions.
thanks to a redesigned sub frame. newfound urgency. And when trail
And let's not ignore the upturned riding near Scarborough, it had Brakes: ByBre (Brembo
exhaust—for water wading and enough grunt to handle loose sand subsidiary) provides dual-piston
stubby, but this one sings a deeper, and rocky trails with minimal calipers up front and single-
punchier tune. clutch feathering. piston rear. Not overly sharp, but
consistent and progressive.
THE POWERPLANT: 450cc
H A N D L I N G : C A P E
LIQUID-COOLED T E C H N O L O G Y
TERRAIN TESTED
Royal Enfield's big news is the UPGRADE
This Himalayan brings Royal Enfield
new Sherpa 450 engine, a 452cc Cape Town offers the perfect mix of
s i n g l e c y l i n d e r e n g i n e , surfaces to test a dual-sport bike. into the digital age:
producing a claimed 40 hp and From smooth blacktop to corrugated · Full TFT dash with the
40Nm of torque. This might not gravel roads, the Himalayan showed Royal Enfeild App (calls,