Discussions and Questions Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 - Page 2
Can the Himalayan 450’s extra weight cancel out its advantage in power for off road?
09 January 2025 10:50
I’m short and actually like the 411 off road. The 450's weight really shows when you're trying to get around in tight spaces or on rough ground. It’s nice to have the extra power, but it doesn’t do much when you’re trying to duck walk through a tricky section.
Can the Himalayan 450’s extra weight cancel out its advantage in power for off road?
09 January 2025 10:50
I think people are thinking too much about the weight. Today's adventure bikes, such as the Africa Twin or BMW GSA, are way heavier and still do serious off road stuff. The 450's weight distribution is good, the chassis well balanced. If a skilled rider has it in his hands, it'll go anywhere the 411 would and some.
Has Royal Enfield lost the Himalayan 450’s reliability and simplicity for performance?
09 January 2025 10:50
I think RE has definitely paid some performance for simplicity on the 450. Liquid cooling and electronics are great for power and efficiency, but they’re also more points of failure. I’m concerned about how it will stand up on long, remote trips where you’re not going to be able to just pop into a dealer and have it fixed.
Has Royal Enfield lost the Himalayan 450’s reliability and simplicity for performance?
09 January 2025 10:50
It’s true the 450 is more complex, but I don’t think RE has sacrificed reliability. If you keep these bikes maintained, they’re pretty bulletproof. But it’s a better all rounder, plus the improved performance and comfort. It's still a lot easier than most adventure bikes in its class.
Has Royal Enfield lost the Himalayan 450’s reliability and simplicity for performance?
09 January 2025 10:50
I've done long trips on both the 411 and 450 and I actually like the new bike better. It's got more tech, but it's also much more capable and comfortable for long distances. The concerns over reliability are overblown, these systems have been proven on other bikes. It's fine as long as you do your maintenance.
Has Royal Enfield lost the Himalayan 450’s reliability and simplicity for performance?
09 January 2025 10:50
I'm torn on this one. The 411 is definitely simpler but the 450 is definitely a better performer. It was nice to know that I could fix most things with basic tools. I’m not sure that’s a good thing for long term reliability, but the 450 feels like it’s trying to compete with bikes way out of its price range.
Has Royal Enfield lost the Himalayan 450’s reliability and simplicity for performance?
09 January 2025 10:50
I think people romanticize the 411 far too quickly as being simple. Early models too had their share of issues. The modern design of the 450 could actually make it more reliable over the long haul. And because its performance is better, you aren’t thrashing the engine as hard to maintain highway speeds or climb hills.
Is the Himalayan 450 an adventure bike still, or has it turned into a road tourer?
09 January 2025 10:50
Definitely the 450 has shifted more towards being a road bike. It has more power and better highway manners, but it has lost some of that raw, go anywhere feel of the 411. Still, it's capable off road, but now it feels less like a true adventure bike and more like a tourer that can do dirt roads.
Is the Himalayan 450 an adventure bike still, or has it turned into a road tourer?
09 January 2025 10:50
I disagree; I think the 450 is a more well rounded adventure bike. The vast majority of people who do 'adventure' riding are actually spending far more time on pavement than off. It has the 450's real world useability, but enough off road chops to deal with whatever you throw at it. It's just more versatile.
Is the Himalayan 450 an adventure bike still, or has it turned into a road tourer?
09 January 2025 10:50
I've taken both models on long trips and I'd say the 450 is still a very much an adventure bike. Sure it's more capable on highways, but it's also got better suspension and more power for off road sections. It's just evolved to be the bike that most riders actually do with these bikes.
Is the Himalayan 450 an adventure bike still, or has it turned into a road tourer?
09 January 2025 10:50
I think RE has attempted to make the 450 more approachable, and in doing so, it's become less pure adventure. The bike is great, but it doesn’t feel like a hardcore off-roader, more like a competitor to something like the Versys X 300. That’s not necessarily bad, just different from what the original concept was.
Is the Himalayan 450 an adventure bike still, or has it turned into a road tourer?
09 January 2025 10:50
What the Himalayan should have been from the get go is the 450. With the power and features it has the potential to be an all rounder. It's a little more road, but that's where most people ride. You might just need to be a little bit more skilled to push its limits, but it can still handle serious off road stuff.
Is the Himalayan 450 worth its price bump over the previous model with new features and performance?
09 January 2025 10:50
I believe RE has priced the 450 too high. The Himalayan may have more features and power, but part of the point of the Himalayan was it was affordable. But now it's up against bikes from more established adventure bike makers, and I'm not sure it measures up at that price.
Is the Himalayan 450 worth its price bump over the previous model with new features and performance?
09 January 2025 10:50
In my opinion the price increase is totally justified. The 450 is an absolute massive upgrade in every way: engine, chassis, electronics, build quality and so on. It's still a heck of a lot cheaper than most 'proper' adventure bikes and offers similar capabilities. You get a lot of bike for the money.
Is the Himalayan 450 worth its price bump over the previous model with new features and performance?
09 January 2025 10:50
I have both and I’d say the 450 is worth the extra money if you have it. It's just a more refined capable machine. In real world riding the improved engine and suspension make a huge difference by themselves. And with the better components, it’ll probably hold its value better too.
Is the Himalayan 450 worth its price bump over the previous model with new features and performance?
09 January 2025 10:50
I'm torn on this. The 450 is definitely a better bike, but it’s lost some of the Himalayan’s charm. The 411 was about affordable adventure, the 450 is going after a different market. It’s not the budget friendly option that the original was, but it’s still good value.
Is the Himalayan 450 worth its price bump over the previous model with new features and performance?
09 January 2025 10:50
But you have to think about what you get for that price hike. It’s not a bumped up 411, it’s an entirely new bike. Feature for feature, it's still a bargain when you compare it to other adventure bikes. I think RE had to raise the price to make all these improvements and I think they've hit a good balance.
Is the Himalayan 450 truly an upgrade over 411 or just a different bike?
09 January 2025 10:50
It's certainly not a direct upgrade, it's definitely a different bike. The 450 is a lot more road biased and feels like RE's attempt to take on bikes such as the KTM 390 Adventure. It's more powerful and has better tech, sure, but it's lost some of that simple, go anywhere spirit of the 411.
Is the Himalayan 450 truly an upgrade over 411 or just a different bike?
09 January 2025 10:50
In most ways I'd say it's an upgrade. The 450 answers a lot of the complaints people had about the 411 - more power, better brakes, and better build quality. It is a little heavier, but that extra grunt makes up for it. This is still a capable off road vehicle, it’s just more versatile for longer highway rides.
Is the Himalayan 450 truly an upgrade over 411 or just a different bike?
09 January 2025 10:50
I rode both and I would not call it an upgrade. It’s its own thing, more of a sport tourer with some off road chops. He was a true dual sport that could do it all. But the 450 is also more refined, and more complicated. It's not better, just different.
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