When you think of Royal Enfield (RE), a thumping cruiser with round headlamps comes to mind. A bike that you imagine taking to the highways for long journeys. But the company aims to change that with the Himalayan.
The latest offering is for those who wish to get off that highway and go off-road, a true blue off-roader, something that India still doesn’t have.
Will Royal Enfield’s foray into uncharted territory be as successful or iconic like the cruisers that they currently offer?
Although the images and videos released by the company look great, it is the image of the company itself that may be a hurdle. People expect Royal Enfield to roll out cruisers like the classic 350 and Thunderbirds. These bikes are reliable and can withstand the passage of time.
But when it comes to off-roaders, KTMs and Ducati Scramblers seem to be the first choice for an adventure-seeking biker.
What Royal Enfield needs to do is price this bike competitively and make it affordable. Some say that the price is expected to be under Rs 2 lakh, which if true, will give the company a chance to cater to both highway lovers and adventure seekers alike.
And of course, the bike needs to be really good, otherwise a passionate attempt alone cannot be enough. Remember the Hero Impulse?
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)