Is the Himalayan 450 an adventure bike still, or has it turned into a road tourer?
The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 release has sparked a debate among adventure riding enthusiasts about what the bike really is and what it is meant to do. The original Himalayan 411 won praise for its rugged simplicity and off road focus, but the 450 introduces more road oriented features such as more power, better highway stability and more sophisticated electronics. With the shift in design philosophy, some riders are questioning if the new Himalayan has gone too far from its adventure roots to become a more road biased tourer than a true dual sport machine. Most of the discussion revolves around the bike’s added weight, more complex systems, and how all of this affects the bike’s performance in harsh off road conditions. Supporters say the 450 strikes a better balance between on and off road, for real world adventure riding, where there are often long stretches of tarmac between off road sections, while critics say it has sacrificed some of the original's go anywhere ability in the name of on road comfort and performance.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Discussions and Questions Is The Himalayan 450 An Adventure Bike Still Or Has It Turned Into A Road Tourer
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