I began my motorcycle journey on a battered Royal Enfield 350cc 25 years ago, and I’ve been hooked on the brand’s meteoric rise ever since. In India, the Bullet was once the unmistakable badge of authority: police officers, military men, landlords…if someone carried weight, chances are a thumping Enfield was parked nearby.
I assumed the world knew this icon, until foreign riders told me otherwise. To them, Enfield was quaint and charmingly outdated but ideal for rumbling across the chaos of India.
Since Eicher Motors took over in 1994, Royal Enfield has exploded onto the global stage with new models and massive growth. Yet on our TWE rides, we still meet riders discovering the brand for the first time.
Across eight countries, our Royal Enfield fleets and our adventures have introduced hundreds to the unmistakable Enfield charm. Many return home not just with memories, but with an intent to buy their first Royal Enfield.
Here are a few of our “repeat offenders” or TWE riders who’ve joined us on multiple expeditions and discovered their own Royal Enfield story.
Stephen, Palmer, Alaska
My first experience on a Himalayan 411 was with another tour company, but it wasn’t until I rode with TWE in Nepal that I truly fell in love with the bike. Its handling, whether weaving through city traffic or climbing mountain roads…it just kept trucking along.
By the end of that ride, I was sold. I already had a Harley Davidson Street Glide Special and a BMW 1200 GSA, but I knew I needed a Himalayan 411 in the garage.
My friends give me grief for choosing a 411 when I have bigger machines at home, but I don’t care; it’s just a fun bike for shorter rides. Royal Enfields are rare up here in Alaska, but my son rides a similar style of bike, so we get out together.
I’ve now done three TWE rides: Nepal, Bhutan, and Ladakh, with two of my sons joining me. I’m signed up for Upper Mustang and Mongolia, where I’ll ride the new Himalayan 450. And I’ve heard rumours about an upcoming Himalayan 750…so maybe that could be my next bike!
Barbara, AKA “B” — Dorset, South of England
I first came across Royal Enfield when I was working in Bangalore. My colleagues rode Bullets, and I instantly fell in love with the sound and the whole vibe.
I’d always wanted to ride a motorcycle, so when I turned 60, I went for it! I bought a Classic Bullet before I’d even passed my test! A couple of years later, in 2022, I joined TWE for a ride in Nepal.
I adored my Bullet, but that Nepal ride opened my eyes to true adventure biking. I returned home and bought a Himalayan 411, which I still have. And now I’m on to my third Royal Enfield, a Bear 650. I love the brand and the image of Royal Enfield. Whatever I ride (or drive) has to make me smile. It doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive…just something that fits my state of mind. People always stop me when I’m out riding. The Bullet’s classic look and sound draw them in, and the Himalayan gets curious glances thanks to all the pannier stickers from rides with TWE…Bhutan, India, Ladakh, Nepal, plus most of the UK. I love chatting about the bikes and the journeys; it’s all part of the fun. I’ve even joined the Royal Enfield Owners Club in the UK and now handle their merchandise.
Alongside my three Enfields, I’ve ridden the Interceptor, the new Himalayan 450, and several vintage ones, including one with a custom-built sidecar that my brother-in-law converted to diesel during the lockdown!
B is riding the Himalayan 450 in Mongolia next…
Jenkins “Boots” - Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia
I’m lucky to have twisty mountain tarmac and endless gravel right out my back door. My first TWE ride was Upper Mustang, Nepal, on a very tired Royal Enfield 411. At first, I hated it…no suspension, barely any brakes, and more than 60,000 km on the clock. But it started every time, the clutch and gearbox never missed a beat, and its low-speed manners won me over. In the end, riding a well-worn old bike was part of the adventure, and its reliability was impressive.
My second TWE ride was Ladakh, India, on the brand-new Himalayan 450. What a leap forward! The altitude and tall first gear forced everyone to sharpen their clutch and throttle control, but once dialed in, the 450 was brilliant. Stable on the bitumen, confident on rough sections, and unfazed by sand or loose rock. The more we rode, the better the engine felt.
I loved it so much I bought one when I got back home. Great ergonomics, fuel range, suspension, and value for money.
My third TWE ride was northern Thailand, and although there were some 411s and classic 350s, I didn’t ride an RE in Thailand. As I write this, I’m in transit to Bhutan for my fourth ride, and I’ve already booked Mongolia for next year…both on a Himalayan 450. A fun, capable bike makes a big difference on these adventures, and the 450 hits the sweet spot for me. I’ve known Royal Enfield forever, dating back to the old British-built machines, and seeing my first one in Nepal in 2001 sealed the fascination.
At home, I also own a Yamaha WRF450 for proper dirt work and a Honda Africa Twin CRF1100 for long touring. The Yamaha is a weapon but not comfy, and the Africa Twin is fantastic but heavy for tighter bush tracks. The Himalayan 450 sits perfectly between them, easy to handle, good range, and built for the type of riding I love. Most people who see my Hanle Black 450 are impressed. Retro-modern looks, long-travel suspension, tubeless tyres, ABS, EFI, it’s a great package for the price. I don’t get to many RE events due to where I live, but I regularly ride with two other locals who also own 450s.
I’ve tried a few other 411s and a mate’s 650 Classic, but the 450 is the unicorn bike for me. Only minor tweaks needed are a comfier seat for long days, maybe folding levers, better lights (already done), and beefed-up protection for our rocky terrain.
My only gripe is the air-filter placement, which makes dusty-day maintenance a pain, but I get why it’s designed that way.
Love my Himmy!
Chrissy, Germany
I first saw a Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 a few years ago while waiting for a ferry en route to the North Cape, Norway. I liked it right away and then fell totally in love with it while riding it on my first TWE experience in Ladakh.
The bike is reliable, sturdy, and does not feel too big to handle and has never stalled on me at slow speed. It inspires confidence off-road; it’s the perfect size for me compared to my other bike, a BMW R1250 GS. Which is unbeatable as a comfy touring bike. I can sit on it for straight 20 hours with only gas station stops and still not feel tired physically. But I do need to pay more attention on the GS, my focus needs to be 100% on the road and controlling the bike’s power. But on mellow day trips, I prefer my Royal Enfield. It’s an ideal bike when you want to look around and enjoy the scenery.
On steep off-road sections, I prefer the more forgiving Himalayan 411 than my GS. It’s anyone’s guess which bike is easier for this lady to pick up all alone. The 411’s camouflage colour pine green is a rare sight, and with the black panniers, it looks distinct and often curious bikers want to know more about it at gas stations.
The guys I bought the Hima411 from is a passionate Enfield rider who hosts community events for Enfield and Brixton riders. They do regular day or weekend trips and annual DGR rides but so far I’ve not managed to join them. I have not tried any other Royal Enfield bikes (350s or 650s) other than the newer Himalayan 450…and to be honest, I think it’s a shame that RE changed the optics so much. The edgy retro look of the 411 made it so unique. It now looks as round and standard as any other bike in this segment. Of course, the 411 does have drawbacks…like a crappy battery and poor electronics. The solution is to ride it more often!
I rode my first Himalayan 411 (a month-old bike) in Ladakh with Two Wheeled Expeditions. Bought my pine green 411 when I returned to Germany. Then rode an older, slightly beat-up 411 in Nepal for the Upper Mustang Expedition. Then a newer one in Bhutan. Followed by a Scram411 (basically the same bike with smaller wheels) in my Thailand Expedition. Because TWE have upgraded all their 411s, I will finally be riding a Himalayan 450 in Mongolia next.
Merle | Northwest Territories, Canada
