Design:

Royal Enfield has taken the tried and tested philosophy, ‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it’, and we totally agree with it. The 2021 Himalayan, in terms of styling, is identical to the outgoing model. Mechanically also it receives no changes. So, it retains the same suspension setup, brakes and chassis as the BS6 version. The iconic motorcycle manufacturer has spruced the Himalayan up by introducing three new colour options: Granite Black, the eye-catching Pine Green and the Mirage Silver, which we have here with us, and it comes standard with a contrasting brown saddle. Sadly, Royal Enfield has discontinued Snow and Sleet Grey colours.

Based on the feedback received, Royal Enfield has tweaked the front rack frame on the fuel tank. By pushing the frame further up, thereby, there’s more knee room available for taller riders over 6 feet in height.

Navigation system:

No doubt one of the biggest updates the Himalayan gets is the navigation system or, as the company calls it, the Tripper display. It made its debut with the Meteor 350, which we’ve used extensively and found it quite helpful. One can sync their smartphone via the Royal Enfield app available on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play store. This Google Maps-based turn-by-turn navigation system is accurate and offers a seamless experience. The Tripper doesn’t read out phone or message alerts, which is a good thing as you are focused on the road.

The only hitch we found about the Tripper is that when you switch off the bike for whatever reason or at a traffic light, it sometimes doesn’t automatically pair back to your phone. It’s a slight inconvenience, but that’s not really a deal-breaker.

To accommodate the new additional pod in the instrument cluster, the windscreen is now wider from the bottom and taller as many Himalayan owners had complained the earlier model didn’t negate wind buffeting effectively. The new windscreen is only tinted.

New seat:

The previous Himalayan certainly had a comfortable seat, but it was a tad bit soft, making it unsupportive on long rides. Again, based on the feedback received from current Himalayan owners, Royal Enfield has added more padding to the saddle and have made it firmer. In terms of the seat height, it continues to be 800 mm, which makes it accessible for many. I’m a shade taller than 5 feet 9 inches in height and I can comfortably put my feet flat on the ground. The riding stance is comfortable as you don’t feel cramped. The footpegs are placed in a slight angular position, but nothing really to complain about. The seating position is commanding as well.

As an accessory, one can also opt for Touring Seats at an additional cost of INR 3,000.

Additional upgrades:

Coming to the rear carrier, it is now more aligned to the seat and has been reinforced with an additional metal plate to haul heavy luggage. It’s inscribed on the rear carrier that it can carry up to 7 kg of luggage, which is 2 kg more than the previous Himalayan.

Engine:

The 411cc engine remains the same mechanically and continues to churn 24.3 bhp of power and 32 Nm of torque. Ever since the Royal Enfield has introduced the fuel injection system in the Himalayan, it’s been a very smooth bike. It happily cruises anywhere around 80-100 kmph and effortlessly goes past the three-figure mark. We tip our hat to Royal Enfield for ensuring that the Himalayan’s vibrations are down to a minimal, making the riding experience quite enjoyable and comfortable both in the city and on the highway.

You open the throttle and the initial response is measured and it builds momentum in a linear fashion. The power doesn’t come rushing in a hurry as the low-end torque lacks the punch and feels flat. As the Himalayan is more at home when it’s out on open roads and covering long distances, it is happiest at the mid-range power band where the motor’s optimal power can be experienced. The Himalayan cruises comfortably at speeds over the three-figure mark, but the power tends to taper off after crossing 120 kmph.

Ride and handling:

The Himalayan is a practical bike that can be used for your daily commute. Thanks to the soft suspension setup, along with the long travel, it easily cushions undulations and speed breakers in the city and at the same time feels at home on dirt tracks and overcomes ditches and potholes without a sweat. There are a couple of minor issues that Royal Enfield can iron out like the heavy clutch and hand brake lever, which can become quite a task. Also, the brakes lack the bite and feel spongy.

The Himalayan is a heavy motorcycle and weighs around 199 kg, and if and when you drop it, you can feel its weighty issues. But the beauty about this bike is that while on the go, it feels agile and light. You can easily navigate through traffic or extreme off-roading conditions.

Verdict:

It all comes down to brass-tacks and priced at INR 201,000, is the extra INR 10,000 justified? Maybe not, but you won’t find a more capable ADV bike at that range that is easy to manoeuvre and doesn’t overwhelm you with additional electronic nannies. The Himalayan keeps it simple and allows you to switch off the dual-channel ABS, though it wouldn’t be a bad idea if the Himalayan got traction control. Another thing we would like to see is tubeless tyres as it makes life a lot easier and spares you a lot of frustration, especially when you are on a long-distance ride. We would stick our neck out and say that it is a Jack of All Trades and a commuter-friendly adventure motorcycle that is very forgiving on your wallet. (MT)

Specifications:

Engine: 411 cc + 24.3 bhp + 32 Nm of torque

Transmission: 5-speed

Ground clearance: 220 mm

Seat height: 800 mm

Tyres & brakes:

Front: 90/90 – 21 inches / 300 mm disc

Rear: 120/90 – 17 inches / 240 mm disc

Dual-channel ABS

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle company Ultraviolette Automotive collaborated with the Madras Regiment Centre (MRC) of the Indian Army for a five-day rally across Tamil Nadu, by providing a fleet of F77 motorcycles.

The ride honoured the army Veterans and Veer Naris of Madras Regiment and the Armed Forces community in the region.

Under the aegis of the Dakshin Bharat Area, the rally covered six districts of Tamil Nadu - Tirupur, Karur, Dindigul, Madurai, Theni and Coimbatore. The team of army personnel engaged with approximately 3,000 veterans and veer naris during the journey: addressing various concerns, sharing crucial information on entitlements, and providing immediate assistance. The F77s covered a cumulative distance of over 6000 kilometres.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, " Collaborating again with the Indian Army for this remarkable outreach initiative is an honour that resonates deeply with Ultraviolette's ethos. Our vision to create world-class technology is inspired by the spirit of the India - undaunted, resilient, and driven by purpose. The F77 embodies the very principles that define our Armed Forces - precision, performance, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. To witness Ultraviolette playing a key role in this rally, honouring veterans, and their families, is not just a privilege but a defining moment in our journey".

Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), a leading manufacturer of two-wheelers in the country, has reported wholesales of 112,948 units for April 2025, which is 14 percent higher than 99,377 units it sold last year.

The company reported an 8 percent growth in its domestic sales at 95,214 units, as compared to 88,067 units last year, while exports grew by 57 percent at 17,734 units, as against 11,310 units for the same period last year.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “This positive start to the year fills us with gratitude. Each unit sold represents the beginning of a new journey with our customers and we are thankful to be a part of it. We will continue to work sincerely to meet the evolving expectations of our customers and contribute positively to their journey with us.”

Last month, the company further upgraded its product lineup, including the Hayabusa to be OBD-2B compliant.

Chennai-based two-wheeler and three-wheeler maker TVS Motor Company has announced its wholesales for April 2025. The company reported witnessing a 16 percent growth, selling 443,896 units, as against 383,615 units last year. 

The domestic two-wheeler sales include 220,527 motorcycles and 169,741, while exports accounted for 106,683 units.  

EV sales grew by 59 percent, rising from 17,403 units in April 2024 to 27,684 units last month.

Three-wheeler sales grew by 50 percent YoY from 9,023 units to 13,566 units.

Blending the pulse of street culture, community and high-octane energy, Royal Enfield hosted the first-ever edition of HunterHood in Mumbai and New Delhi during the last weekend of April 2025. 
Inspired by the spirit of Hunter motorcycle of the company, the HunterHood event – the latest cultural initiative built around the ethos of “From the streets, For the streets” – brought together riders, artists and urban explorers across the two Indian mega cities. 
The company also unveiled ‘The 2025 Hunter 350’ with three new colourways and upgraded features inspired by and designed for ‘The Coolest Neighbourhoods of the world’.
Featuring unique programming in the form of skateboarding sessions, spontaneous cyphers, vibrant graffiti art, live music jams, dynamic dance circles and exhilarating BMX stunts, the event witnessed high-octane performances by some of India’s top musicians like Dino James, Wild Wild Women, Shah Rule, Suggahunny, The Spindoctor, OG Shez, Ikka, DK Mocity, Dhanji, Lush Lata and Samriddhi Bhargav. 
The event saw over 12 homegrown, premium and emerging street-led brands spanning skateboarding, apparel, sneakers and the culinary space participate. It was attended by 5,000 people across the two mega cities.