The Royal Enfield That Feels More Premium Than Ever

6 minutes reading

Thursday, 25 Jun 2026 16:31 0 2 autotech

Ever since Eicher Motors took over Royal Enfield, the brand has focused on the volume of sales rather than catering to the premium side of things. As a result, we’ve seen endless machines in the 350-500cc range, all catering to the budget end of the market. It’s an approach that’s worked brilliantly, as RE is currently the world’s third-largest automotive brand (according to the Brand Finance Automotive Industry 2026 report).

The Royal Enfield Lineup Is Larger Than Ever Today

Royal Enfield

Not too long ago, Royal Enfield’s motorcycle lineup comprised a handful of 350-500cc bikes. These were all roadster-type bikes, mostly capitalizing on the retro charm angle with simple designs, a lot of chrome, and single-cylinder engines. Then, the bikemaker whipped up its first 650cc machine–the INT 650. That kick-started a new journey for the brand, giving RE access to a new audience globally.

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The Himalayan Is The Most Premium Royal Enfield In 2026

Trio of Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 riding on highway

For a motorcycle to feel more premium than ever, it needs to do things differently and set a new precedent for the brand. That is exactly what the new Himalayan does by offering a handful of firsts we had never seen on any Royal Enfield in the past. These include upside-down forks, all-LED lights, ride-by-wire, a TFT instrument cluster, and most importantly, a fully liquid-cooled engine.

While other new RE bikes have started offering some of these things, the combination of everything is still only present on the Himalayan. For instance, you can get LED lights and USD forks on the Bear 650, but there’s no liquid cooling. The Guerrilla 450 gets you a TFT, LEDs, and liquid cooling, but there are no USD forks. Thus, the Himalayan is the Royal Enfield that feels more premium than ever today.

A Sub-$6,000 MSRP Makes The Himalayan Brilliant Value In The ADV Segment

To sweeten the pot, Royal Enfield sells the Himalayan for $5,999. The MSRP rises if you pick the premium colors. Kamet White and Hanle Black sell for $6,399, while the new-for-2026 Mana Black (with rally-derived add-ons) sits at $6,599. Base price-wise, though, the sub-$6,000 MSRP helps the Indian ADV undercut its Japanese, European, and Chinese rivals like the Honda NX500, Kawasaki KLE500, CFMoto Ibex 450, and KTM 390 Adventure R. And when you look at the package, the value proposition is quite intense as well. Here’s what you get.

RE’s First Liquid-Cooled Engine Promises Almost 40 HP

30-45 horsepower is the norm in the 300-500cc adventure bike segment, and RE’s first liquid-cooled engine slots right near the top. With a capacity of 452cc and an 11.5:1 compression ratio, the single-cylinder mill produces 39.5 horsepower and 29.5 pound-feet. All that reaches the wheel via a six-speed transmission.

Unlike the previous 411 setup, the overall performance has become peakier here. Yet, there is a decent shove at all times, and you will enjoy chasing the RPMs on the road. In really tricky terrain, however, the lack of low RPM juice does become prevalent. You’ll need to keep the revs high. Oh, and if you keep it pinned, the ADV will happily touch 100 miles per hour. That makes the Himalayan the fastest single-cylinder RE yet.

Long-Travel Showa Suspension Can Take Serious Beating

The Himalayan has always been known for its bash-friendly abilities, and the new one takes that to a new level. It has a steel chassis built in partnership with UK-based Harrison Performance, emphasizing a balance of off-road prowess and on-road abilities. The Showa-tuned suspension plays the perfect sidekick, too. The USD forks and monsohock both have almost 8 inches of travel, and having tried them out on an off-road circuit during our review, we can confirm they can take anything you throw at them. Rounding things off is a 21/17-inch spoke wheel combination with tube tires (the more expensive variants get tubeless rubber).

The Royal Enfield That’s Perfect For A First-Time Buyer

The first-ever Royal Enfield liquid-cooled engine powers this roadster

A Curb Weight Of 432 LBs Keeps Things Accessible

As for other dimensions, the Himalayan keeps up with its rivals and backs up the off-road friendliness with high ground clearance. Yet, the saddle height is accessible. It’s adjustable, too, which is a rare feat in the segment. The exact numbers include:

Weight: 432 LBs
Seat height: 32.5 inches (adjustable)
Wheelbase: 59.4 inches
Ground clearance: 9 inches
Tank capacity: 4.49 gallons

The Modernity Extends To The Features Department

This is perhaps the most premium aspect of the new Himalayan. Its cockpit comprises a fully digital TFT instrument cluster, with smartphone connectivity as standard. Once connected, there’s a full map projection via screen mirroring in partnership with Google. The display also has two trip meters, instantaneous efficiency, voltage, range, and engine temperature. All-LED lights, integrated tail lamps, and a USB Type-C charging port add another layer of modernity.

Sweetening the pot are rider aids. Yes, rider aids on a Royal Enfield. Switchable ABS is arguably the most usable for hardcore off-road fanatics, and it is tied up with two throttle maps, thanks to ride-by-wire. The breakdown comprises: Performance mode with ABS on, Performance mode with rear ABS off, Eco mode with ABS on, and Eco mode with rear ABS off. Slipper clutch keeps the back-end in line, meanwhile.