Is the Himalayan 450 worth its price bump over the previous model with new features and performance?
The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 has been launched at a price much higher than its predecessor, the Himalayan 411. The increase is due to many upgrades and new features added to the 450 model such as a more powerful liquid cooled engine, improved suspension, advanced electronics and a more modern design. But this price jump has sparked debate among prospective buyers and motorcycle fanatics about whether the changes are worth the extra cost. To some, the 450's enhanced performance, better build quality and added features are a screaming bargain in comparison to other adventure bikes in its class. It also makes the Himalayan less of the affordable entry point into adventure riding that it was, others argue, driving it away from its original position and potentially alienating budget conscious riders or those who just want a simple, no frills machine. The conversation usually revolves around how the 450’s new price point sets it up versus other manufacturers’ offerings, and whether it remains good value for money in the adventure bike segment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Discussions and Questions Is The Himalayan 450 Worth Its Price Bump Over The Previous Model With New Features And Performance
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