Royal Enfield Himalayan 440 review: The OG ADV is back and it sold out instantly

Ten years after its launch in India and three years after being discontinued, Royal Enfield has brought the OG Himalayan back to the Indian market. But why bring it back when the Himalayan 450 already sits in the line-up? The answer, quite simply, lies in the OG’s affordability and mechanical simplicity.

However, this isn’t merely a relaunch. The Himalayan gets a bigger engine along with a few other important tweaks. So, does the OG Himalayan still make sense in 2026, and is it worth your money?advertisement❮❯ Read Full StoryRoyal Enfield Himalayan 440: What all has been changed? The Himalayan retains much of its original rugged, industrial design. The original industrial look of the Himalayan remains largely unchanged. However, it now gets an LED headlight, and we aren’t big fans of it right from the word go. It is the same unit seen on other Royal Enfields, and we feel the LEDs will need an upgrade to offer better illumination of the road ahead, especially when riding in the mountains.

The next major change comes in the form of the front brakes, which now get bigger pistons for improved braking efficiency. The instrument cluster looks new at first glance, but retains its casing from the 411 Himalayan with dials borrowed from the 350 range.

The instrument panel has been completely redone—or at least that’s what it looks like at first glance. The casing remains unchanged, but the dials have been borrowed from the Hunter range. So, you get an analogue speedometer along with a digital readout for fuel level and trip information. On the right side of the casing sits the Tripper navigation system, in the space previously occupied by the tachometer. Yes, there is no tacho here. The lower section has been blanked out, which looks a little odd. In all honesty, we think Royal Enfield would have been better off retaining the original retro-style analogue dials. The fuel tank is unchanged, save for new colours and a Himalayan legacy sticker.

The fuel tank remains unchanged, apart from the new colour options and a sticker that serves as a reminder of the Himalayan’s legacy. At the rear, the chassis has been strengthened and can now carry a load of up to 7kg. This should certainly come in handy for riders planning to use the Himalayan as a proper adventure and touring machine.Royal Enfield Himalayan 440: Engine and gearbox The bored-out engine now displaces 443cc, producing 25.4bhp and 34Nm, paired with a new six-speed gearbox.

The new Himalayan gets a bored-out version of the erstwhile 411cc engine, with displacement now increased to 443cc. The updated motor produces 25.4bhp and 34Nm of torque and is paired with a new six-speed gearbox.

While Royal Enfield has made some changes to the chassis, the new Himalayan retains the core strengths that made the OG such a capable adventure motorcycle. Ground clearance stands at 220mm, while the 800mm seat height remains approachable for a wide range of riders. The 15-litre fuel tank also gives it enough capacity for long stretches between fuel stops, an important attribute for an adventure tourer.advertisementRoyal Enfield Himalayan 440: How is it to ride? The 440 retains the 411’s relaxed character, now cruising comfortably at 100kmph, while keeping its torquey nature. It all feels very familiar. Swing a leg over the Himalayan and the handlebar falls naturally to hand, while the 800mm seat height makes it easy even for shorter riders to get both feet down. Royal Enfield also offers Touring seat options, which should make long-distance riding even more comfortable.

Thumb the starter and even the soundtrack takes you back. The motor feels smoother at idle, and roll off the throttle and you still get that signature ‘burp’ on the overrun. For me, the memories came flooding back almost instantly, having owned the Himalayan 411 for the longest period of time.

The clutch feels marginally lighter, while the six-speed gearbox slots through its ratios with positive, reassuring clunks. The bike pulls away briskly and the speedometer climbs effortlessly as you work your way through the gears. Before long, you are at 100kmph, and even at that speed the engine feels calm and composed.

And this is perhaps the biggest change. The 411 felt most comfortable cruising around 80kmph, whereas the 440 delivers that same relaxed character at 100kmph. The torquey nature of the engine has also been retained. Even when the speed drops, you rarely feel the need to downshift because there is enough torque on tap to pull you through. That effortless, go-anywhere character is what made the original Himalayan so likeable, and thankfully, it remains intact here.

The suspension continues to be one of the Himalayan’s strong points. It remains plush and absorbs almost everything thrown at it, keeping the rider comfortable over broken surfaces. Push it into a corner and there is still a hint of flex from the rear, much like the old bike, although it feels more controlled this time around. It doesn't have the sophistication or sharpness of some modern rivals—or even the Himalayan 450—but it gets the job done, and does so with the same unfussy charm that defined the original.Royal Enfield Himalayan 440: Verdict The Himalayan 440 proves simplicity still works, combining ruggedness, torquey performance and a Rs 2.29 lakh price. Its sold-out inventory further proves the OG Himalayan’s enduring appeal.

Technology may be evolving at a rapid pace, but that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone wants more of it. The Himalayan 440 stays true to the original formula of simplicity, ruggedness and proven mechanicals. And if something does go wrong, you get the feeling that the proverbial hammer might still be all you need to get things moving again.

What it does get is a significant boost in performance. A relaxed cruising speed of 100kmph is more than adequate for Indian conditions, while the familiar torquey character makes it an easy motorcycle to live with. Add to that the phenomenal Rs 2.29 lakh price tag, and the Himalayan 440 makes a very compelling case for itself.

But perhaps the strongest endorsement comes from the buyers themselves. Royal Enfield has already sold out its initial inventory of the Himalayan 440 and temporarily closed bookings. And if that doesn't answer the question of whether there is still a place for the OG Himalayan, we're not sure what will.

There is little to doubt that I am a proper petrolhead. Grew up collecting scale models and still does so. The passion became a proffession decades back and from then on there has been no looking back. For a living I test vehicles using sophisticated data logging equipment and then crunch data to tell you the results and my verdict. I am also on the jury of the Indian Car of the Year and the Indian Motorcycle of the Year awards.

When not at work (which is rarely) I love tending and restoring old motorcycles and scooters which are all a part of my personal collection. And did I tell you that being fiercly Bengali I do not mind riding or driving hundreds of kilometers to get to my favorite curry!

Designated Associate Editor, Rahul is constantly hounded for information on cars and bikes and on most days, is on the verge of pulling his hair out.