What does it take to be nominated for “surprise of the year” Motorcycles nominated for this award should first and foremost surprise the jury by delivering more driving pleasure and functionality than can be expected within a segment and price range.
The candidates should be outside the mainstream category and not represent something everyone buys and be able to stand on their own two feet by satisfying the jury’s strict requirements:

• To surprise and or challenge everything in the “mainstream” category
• Quality
• Ergonomics
• Driving performance and production of driving pleasure
• Driving pleasure per dollar invested
• Design and sensuality/sex factor
• Smile factor

The nomination and the award will help the market to see new stars in the shadow of the mainstream models. Royal Enfield Himalayan 450Segment: Adventure Key technical figures
Engine : Single-cylinder Cubic capacity : 452 cc Horsepower : 40 Nm : 40 Seat height : 825 mm Wheelbase : 1510 mm Length : 2245 mm Wet weight : 196 kg Front wheels : 90/80 x 21 Rear wheels : 140/55 x 17 Front damper : 43 mm Showa USD Front travel : 200 mm Rear shock : Mono shock, adjustable on swingarm Rear travel : 200 mm Front brakes : Single disc 320 mm Bybre 2p, Rear brakes : Single disc 270 mm, 1p Tank : 17 liters Royal Enfield is storming ahead and has promised the launch of 10 new models over a two-year period that we are now in the middle of.
The first generation of the new and modernized model portfolio that was launched in 2019 was very popular and probably hit right in the Norwegian people’s soul with its authentic design, its simple technology platform but high reliability and good driving characteristics and not least the low acquisition cost.
Royal Enfield simply made it possible for everyone to resume their interest in motorcycles.
Now comes the second generation, which has been significantly upgraded in terms of quality, power, handling and riding experience.
With the Himalayan 450, Royal Enfield demonstrates how good they really are and not least what they are capable of producing in terms of driving pleasure.
Royal Enfield has done EVERYTHING right here, and there’s hardly a single thing to put your finger on.
Design, color combinations, ergonomics, power delivery, dampers and steering geometry match the best and the bike is nothing less than a pleasure to ride on short or long trips, on or off road.
Royal Enfield uses familiar core components in combination with a strong and willing 40hp, 40Nm endunker that delivers unexpected pep and exceeds expectations.
The Showa frame, swingarm and dampers, together with the 21-inch front wheel, ensure that you don’t give a damn about the ground, which is handled in the best possible way, and if you need to stop the madness, the Bybre (by Brembo) brakes bite hard.
The Himalayan 450 is also a very capable gravel machine that makes the operator confident and comfortable on loose and uneven ground.
The model has a fun and very good TFT instrument that can be connected to the Google function on your phone and shows the way in a modern and highly functional way.
Here, Royal Enfield is way ahead of the game; everyone knows Google, which contributes to the user interface being low and very user-friendly.
The top model costs just under NOK 88,000, but in return you get a functional sooty headlight cover, rollover bars, LED lighting, center support and a powerful luggage carrier.
The model has a large load capacity and therefore works well as an adventure bike.
The riding experience itself can match anything and the 40 hp and 40 Nm deliver an unexpected amount of pep and fun factor.
By all means, don’t think that this is any worse to ride than larger bikes, the low weight and the extremely fine balancing of the bike delivers riding characteristics that you won’t easily forget.
As an adventure alternative to large machines in the 3-400,000 thousand kroner class, this is simply a liberating and delightful alternative.
Low weight and high comfort come on top of a long list of very positive features that help to deliver fantastic riding experiences at a very affordable price.