PEAK HOUR

The Himalayan meets its mountaineering ancestor, the Sherpa

- Janak Sorap

As a motorcycle brand, Royal Enfield has taught its owners about patience, perseverance, and emotion. It has also reminded them to head to the Himalayas once every year depending upon the availability of vacation days. By now, every desk jockey worth his salted peanuts knows of the RE Himalayan; without doubt, it’s a motorcycle that has carried many an office worker through well-deserved daydreams. However, it’s not the first mountain-themed bike RE sold in India. Surprised? Well, hold on to your Diamox, and say hello to the Sherpa.

From 1963 to 1970, RE sold the Sherpa in India, at a time when the company’s identity was the Bullet which a lot of people couldn’t afford. Whether there were budgetary constraints or just that the Bullet was a lot of a motorcycle for some to handle, a smaller-yet-capable bike wasn’t a bad idea at all. It was touted to be reliable and rugged while also being comfortable with adequate performance. It was a motorcycle that was mainly built on the scale of economy and safety.

The Himalayan, as we know, is an adventure-touring motorcycle that carved a new direction in the company’s product portfolio. Yes, it did embark on its journey with the wrong foot as the first-gen bikes were plagued with quality issues, but with the current BS6 model seen here, the shortcomings are all but gone. The Himalayan is now as strong as it was expected to be in the first place, willing to ride into the wilderness without breaking a sweat.