Royal Enfield just announced a list of updates to its small-cc adventure bike, the Himalayan—but it’s unclear when we’ll see them in Canada.
The Himalayan doesn’t see any updates to its 411 cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine. Instead, Royal Enfield made changes to the bike’s accessories. Remember, the Himalayan comes from the factory with a load of accessories that other OEMs would happily charge extra money for.
First up, the Himalayan gets a new GPS system for 2021. This is an extra gauge that sits on the right-hand side of the speedometer; it’s the same Google Maps-based Tripper navigation technology that Royal Enfield introduced for the Meteor cruiser last fall.
Royal Enfield also adjusted the rear rack and the crash bars/rack assembly on the gas tank, after complaints some riders had about poor ergonomics. There’s a taller windscreen, and a cushier seat. Of course, Royal Enfield also added new paint options.
So, when will we see the updated bike show up in Canada? At time of publication, there are no pictures of the updated bike on Royal Enfield’s Canadian website, which is sadly typical of the company’s North American presence. Low dealer numbers and a North American website that doesn’t even have any information about the company’s bikes? At this point, Canada, and indeed all of North America, seems to be an afterthought for this gigantic India-based manufacturer.
