Royal Enfield has endowed the Himalayan with an all-new 411cc air-cooled motor. The LS short for long-stroke 410 engine is a far cry from the old-school RE engines. But a long-stroke nature has been retained to ensure ample low-down torque with a major emphasis on refinement. A counterbalancer reduces vibrations, and while the engine may not be as refined as Japanese mills, it is a distinct improvement over its predecessors. The engine also features oil-cooling, another first, which should aid long-term reliability. Fuel injection has been forsaken for easy serviceability and the bike features a carburettor set-up with a throttle position sensor for better response. While the competition has six-speed gearboxes, the Himalayan’s five-speed is apt enough.
In the braking context, the front gets a single 300mm disc while the rear gets a 240mm disc. The bike makes do without ABS. The Himalayan gets dual-purpose Ceat tyres on 21-inch front and 17-inch rear spoke wheels.