Royal Enfield's Himalayan 450 Mana Black is better than you think

Ever get the feeling someone is watching you? In this case, they definitely were. I was pointed up a steep, rutted hill climb on a 2026 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Mana Black, and while I couldn’t see my compadres below, I knew they were down there with cameras ready, waiting for the moment I’d run out of talent. A drone buzzed over my shoulder like a nosy wasp, just to make sure nothing went undocumented.

But as I worked my way further up the sun-soaked ridgeline outside Bright, something unexpected happened – the Himalayan wasn’t struggling. Much to my surprise, and likely those below, it was doing it easily.

And that goes against the “soft-roader” narrative the internet has concocted for this bike.

First launched in late 2023, the Himalayan 450 replaced the Himalayan 411, which had built a small but loyal following. This was a ground-up refresh, not just a continuation of the 411.

It debuted the new “Sherpa” engine, which improved power output to 29kW and 40Nm, and introduced a TFT dash, electronics, upside-down suspension, liquid cooling and ride-by-wire. While the 411 was a solid machine, the 450 was a massive step forward for the brand’s flagship adventure bike.

Of course, Royal Enfield wanted to make a point, so it launched the bike in the eponymous mountain range of the Himalayas. bikesales contributor Kaz Anderson was one of the first in the world to ride the machine, and said it carried over the original’s “ruggedness” but was a “more refined, well-proportioned and intuitive motorcycle”.

Kaz wasn’t the only big wrap for the new Himalayan. Media across the globe gushed about the bike. But the consensus was that while the bike is great for adventure, it is a tad under-equipped for serious off-road terrain.

But I’m not so sure that’s a fair assumption. After riding the all-new Mana Black Edition for two days in the Victorian High Country, I’m convinced the Himalayan is more capable than it appears.

So, what exactly is the Mana Black Edition?

Interestingly, the first teasers ahead of EICMA 2025 led some (including yours truly) to believe it was the long-awaited Himalayan 750. It wasn’t. It was simply a special-edition Himalayan 450. And, if we’re being honest, it’s not all that different from the standard bike.

But there are a few key changes. First and most importantly, it adds a “rally-style” one-piece seat. This raises the seat height to 860mm and offers a flatter, firmer profile that lends itself more to off-road use.

Also fitted as standard are tubeless wire-spoked wheels (instead of tubed wire-spoked wheels), handguards, and a redesigned high front mudguard and tail section.

All of this helps improve the Himalayan’s off-road credentials, but only slightly.

The Mana Black still has the same suspension, the same engine, the same chassis, the same 21- and 17-inch wheel sizes, and the same electronics.

It’s more expensive – $10,490 ride-away vs $9190 ride-away – and comes with its own unique blacked-out colour scheme, but it is, for all intents and purposes, still the same bike with a few accessories fitted as standard.

And yet, it somehow feels more capable.

Even in Mana Black guise, the bike is not perfect as an off-road machine. The 200mm suspension travel is a little on the soft side compared with more dirt-focused adventure bikes, and it lacks a bit of low-end grunt if you really want to push hard.

But after two days of riding in the High Country, punctuated by the perilous hill climb above Bright, I couldn’t find the Himi’s limits.

Through rocky and undulating 4WD tracks, I pushed the bike harder and faster than I probably should have. I jumped off erosion mounds, hit rocks at full speed, backed it into loamy corners and even took a couple of off-track excursions through the scrub. And I still couldn’t break it.

I’m by no means the world’s most talented rider, but the Himi never made me look bad, and it never let me down.

And it was at the bottom of that hill climb that I realised something: off-road riding is more about mindset than outright performance.

The Mana Black Edition is not all that different from the standard bike, but it gives you the impression it is. And when you strip away preconceptions and just ride the bike for what it is, it’s surprising how far you can push it.

Let me be clear – I’m not talking about racing here. A better-equipped bike will undeniably be faster in a timed section. But if we’re talking about riding for pure fun or adventure, then there’s not much the Himi cannot do.

Sure, you could spend upwards of $20k on a state-of-the-art adventure beast with 3000hp, 800mm of suspension travel and Netflix built into the TFT. And, hey, you probably wouldn’t be disappointed with it. I sure wouldn’t.

But you could also spend $10k on a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Mana Black Edition and still get to the same places. And you’d still have enough cash left over for the filet mignon that night at dinner.

My point with all of this is that off-road adventure is not all about the specs. Sometimes it just takes a bit of grit, determination and a release from inhibitions. I’m sure if you wanted to ride a Vespa through the High Country, you probably could.

Fortunately, the Himi is much more fit for purpose.

Next time someone tells you the Himi is a soft-roader, tell ’em they’re dreaming.