I flew from Guadalajara, Mexico, and bought my Himalayan July 6th 2023 at Baxter Cycle in Marne, Iowa. After break in period of a few days I proceeded to ride back to Mexico, passing through the midwest, and the US lower south. I arrived at my destination, Oaxaca City, 4,000 miles later. Since then my Himalayan has seen deserts, mountains, broken pavement, and smooth. Since arriving in Mexico I have put on an additional 5,000 plus miles, soon to pass the 10,000 mile mark, all in the space of 14 months. In all that time my Himalayan has never missed a beat. 👍 I do my maintenance services on the street with hand tools, nothing else, the simple design making it easy. I love my Himalayan, all roads, no roads.
@@kalpitapokia I cannot speak on the 452, I have no experience with them other that they sell well in Mexico. And yes, my Himalayan is a 411. I have changed my oil more than once in the street, adjusted my valves in a courtyard where I was staying, and preformed various mods/repairs wherever possible. It's a very basic, dependable tractor.
I live in Ecuador, and RE bikes are wildly popular here. A friend of mine just rode his from Ecuador all around South America. They are very good bikes now.
I'm 41 and Indian and I remember in my childhood, Enfields were mostly used by milk delivery guys (from my limited exposure as a kid). It was a utilitarian vehicle. But Sid Lal transformed it into an aspirational brand and now has gone from strength to strength. I used to own a Classic 500 and loved every bit of it.
Exactly. I mean, it IS too slow for german roads, but if I get asked about it, I always answer the same thing. The Himalayan is the two-wheeled equivalent to the VW Beetle. It might not be fast, but it WILL take you there, no matter what.
My mom's first bicycle was an Enfield. She's 84. I've seen a lot of Royal Enfield Motorbikes here in Brazil and people seem to like them. They say they are not fit for every day work (delivery, for instance) but are great for trips and as for everyday use. I find them quite beautiful! Keep up the good work!
Im 59 now, was 14 when I first handled a Bullet which had the gear shift on the right and brake on the left. I was skinny and people would wonder how this kid rides this beast. Starting the bike needed some skill as you had to decompress and level the amp meter before you venture to kick start the beast, not done correctly and it would punish you! Along the way I made some good friends who were bullet owners and wanted to do some hands on maintenance and oil changes which I would readily do in exchange to get an opportunity to ride the beast! I could not afford to buy one.One of these friends changed my life for the better, I moved to the Gulf. Had to keep biking on the back burner as I got employed, got married, kids. The time has come, as kids have grown up and I have retired. Here I am scouting to buy the Royal Enfield classic, to fulfil my dream and ride the beast .....once again! Thank you Sid, for bringing glory to this brand which was kind of almost forgotten.
..Sir, I'm 55 yrs old biker(starting at 4 y, and I have to and I'm pleased toto give you a credit. Thank you for your passion. (the only thing I would change.. Yamaha, Jawa, and another Japanese manufacturers.. Jawa is from Czech Republic ((I know it for sure, I had some a and still living in this country)). I do love your work/content (whatever it's called) and wishing you the best. Stay young, Miroslav
@@KRANKiTJawa and Yezdi is now owned by The Mahindra group which is an Indian Brand and Norton is Owned by TVS again indian , Kawasaki , KTM , Triumph and Husqvarna is again in a partnership with one more Indian Brand Bajaj group . BMW is also in partnership with TVS . Just a food for thought Duke 390 is designed by Bajaj group in India for Indian market .
Every single time I watch on of you videos I am astounded at the work you’ve put into them. Having done some journalism for both cycling and motorcycle magazines in the past I understand how much time researching takes, but you also compile it perfectly as well. Anyone who can find even minor criticisms in your work should put their money where their mouth is and create something similar…I think they’ll be surprised how short they would come up 😉
@@NZCycletherapy it’s not the easiest thing, especially when you have many eyes on your work that can find flaws at any time. But it is rewarding, and personally interesting, so ... someone has to do it I guess :)) thanks man!
Sid's genius was spotting that the "BIG" ADV bikes were Too Much for most riders. Too Much Cost, too much complexity, too much SPEED. Yes, they were/are great in the circumstances they were designed for - open desert & tundra - but they terrified the average rider who might want to go offroad in a small way, on local trails through woods, or through a rutted out gravel road. The Himalayan is great for this sort of thing, as it has enough grunt to chug through darn near anything at a pace that the average or new rider feels comfortable at, and at a price that is sensible. When you can buy a new Himalayan for less than the point of sale depreciation on a Big ADV bike, why wouldn't you? As for the rest of the RE range, they all have that most important thing (that is lacking in many modern bikes), character. Yes, there are numerous bikes that are "better" than an Enfield, faster, better handling, more powerful, etc, etc. BUT, the Enfield range hits that sweet spot marked "enough" for many, many riders. Enough power & handling to put a smile on the rider's face without needing to break too many speed limits, or risk hitting the scenery at warp speed. Simple enough that the rider can do most maintenance themselves. All at a price most can afford, and with one of the best guarantee's in the biz... That's the real genius behind RE's success. Recognizing that many modern bikes had become intimidating to many potential riders, and producing a bike that wasn't scary. A bike that was simple to understand, simple to modify, and simple to live with. A bike who's looks are archetypal "Motorbike", not some strange insectoid thing with a couple of wheels bolted on. Enough "Retro Cool" to catch the eye of the noob rider, while calling back to a simpler time for the more mature rider. A bike for everyone.
I really hope they keep innovating. Internationally, the Himalayan has been a great affordable bike. Newer Chinese entrants like the CFMoto 450 have an unfair advantage with Chinese tech sector being a bit further ahead, so that bike's taken the lower end market by storm. In the Philipines, that's a direct competitor with the Himalayan, and they're both good bikes. Wishing this company all the best!
@@Qasibr What innovations have they done? They might have spotted a nice little gap in the market but they haven't had any real innovations that haven't been done before.
Royal Enfield showrooms are really well designed. They look like a cool studio and you can just hang out there for hours just looking at the bikes and the gears.
Few years ago I went around the Royal Enfield factory in Chennai had a guided tour. The sound of the engine is iconic. I also lived near Redditch where the original factory was located.
Hi I’m Dev from India Owning the Continental GT650 for past 2 years was blissful journey I myself maintain the bike it never seen the service centre from the date of delivery no words to express my feelings this an amazing machine thanks to Uk tech centre who R&D’d and developed this beautiful piece of master piece ❤
Mr Siddharth lal is a passionate biker himself so he understands what biker culture is Enfields are not fast like Japanese, not really big like harly , but it's just RE if you are into RE nothing can replace it And yes it's Ei - share
Hi there Krankit, just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this video. I am a 411 Himmie owner and I'm totally bought into the Sid Appreciation Society and I loved the way you laid out the recent history of RE. This is a video that Sid would be proud of.
I rode my Bullet machismo (!) all round India and up to the Himalayas too. It was tough and epic, it is broke down 100s of times from brand new. For me this brought 100s of opportunities to speak to locals and enjoy the adventure more. Great film, thanks.
Sometimes the owners kid is just what the company needed. Good job man! Didn't try marketing or any of the cheap an easy fixes, you did it the way it needed to be done.
I’ve loved the look of Royal Enfield motorcycles for a long time. I never bought one because I knew they just weren’t up to par. Clearly that’s changed and I hope to add one to my stable soon.
@@edsondias6604 Nothing to do with woke (whatever that means) and everything to do with corporate America. Why spend time and effort on engineering, development and production of decent motorcycles when your fan base will pay through the nose for a POS, and then come back and lay down even more cash for rubbish merch? In fact, H-D is much more like Trump's America, sell a bunch of lies about some sort of "ideology" (that doesn't make sense) and gouge your customers until they die, which they're doiing increasingly frequently because the customer base is aging so rapidly. I absolutely detest the way RE has gone about its merchandising, it is so much like H-D's. However, because REs are entry level machines, forking out for the merch is still possible. In the case of H-D, it's a company which only seems to make "halo" products, which misses the point of such a tactic.
@@edsondias6604 WTF are you talking about "Woke". H-D has nothing to do with "woke" (whatever that means). If by "Woke", you mean "politically correct", thern that still doesn't make sense. What H-D has done is make their own market smaller and smaller with every year's model line up, made them ever more inaccesible to newcomers to the brand. They have made up for falling sales by selling more and more H-D branded cr*p and forced their dealers into ever more restrictive (and expensive) exclusive contracts. You can see that RE must have employed the same guy that created H-D's branded "lifestyle shopping experience" BVS, cos RE dealers are looking more and more like it. Stop tring to shoehorn your idiotic MAGAisms into everything. It ends up looking more and more desperate.
what i love about sid is that he essentially took over a company which was basically functioning like a typical Indian government run office and changed it into this new age manufacturer which not only caters to its core audience but also to modern biking enthusiasts with modern lineups and bikes which enables new bikers to get hang of biking easily. The company is authentic yet modern , respects its cultural yet doesn't shy away from trying out new ideas . For a guy like me , who hated old REs because how sluggish they were and how ancient their mechanicals were , Sid has changed the tides and made me love their new age designs.
when i was 5 years old my uncle let me hold the handle while i was sitting on the tank as a kid would , that felt surreal its like i am in control of this giant machine and i am riding clouds. he owned exclusively royal enfield bikes. he used to buy every other bike launched by this company. he even owned the discontinued bike that was made illegal to drive on road because the clutch and gear changer was on the other side . he even found a diesel royal enfield model . from then i got to ride with him all the bikes he owned and made me really happy . the engine sound is so unique i would scream running from second floor before he could ring the bell that he had came . in 2022 he passed away at 47 years old only. and i got his last ever motorcycle . i still didnt even had courage to take it out . i might not do it in near future i got my sports bike ktm rc 200. if i have ever seen a fanboy of RE was my uncle . may you RIP
This was a lovely video, you've really managed to capture all the right bits! I worked at Royal Enfield for almost 10 years and was fortunate enough to be part of this story & part of the testing & development of the OG himalayan (some shots of me in your video too 😉 ).
@@KRANKiT The one thing you glossed over/don't know is why RE suddenly collapsed in the 1990's. India was a socialist country from the 1950's to the 1990's until state socialism collapsed worldwide. In the socialist era, many industries were nationalized (state monopoly), and others were highly regulated and hostile to new entrants or imports. Technology stagnated as there was no real competition to the 1950's designs that kept on being produced. This ended in the 1990's, and suddenly these old companies with their 1950's cars and bikes were faced with a deluge of Japanese, Korean, and Western vehicles with the latest technologies and comforts. They still had nostalgia on their side like the Trabants and Ladas of the world, but people started buying the actually good bikes. The RE Bullet was practically a 1950's design still being produced into the 1990's. India's iconic cars, the Hindustan Ambassador (Morris Oxford Series III, 1957) and the Premier Padmini (Fiat 1100D, 1958) went extinct post-socialism. RE was going to follow them. That's where your video begins.
BTW, it's Cranfield Institute, not University. It provides post-graduate qualifications, is entirely private, costs the earth... and is probably one of the very best engineering/tech/management post grad institutions on the planet. Even to be accpted on a course, you have to REALLY impress the hell out of the senior staff.
Got my full bike license few months ago, after riding a scooter for few years. And then came the decision: "Which bike to buy". Took me weeks of thinking, but in the end I landed on the original Himalayan. And it was the best decision I could have made. It is small, comfy, incredibly stable on road and off-road, and just gorgerous to look at. It may be small, slow, dials vibrate like crazy and pretty damn heavy. But it chugs along anywhere I go, with great confidence, and transfers that same confidence to me as a novice. I trust this machine, that it will take care of me, and I already really love it. Right now it in the shop for a tire and tube swap. I dont have it for few days, instead I got an Interceptor borrowed. Lovely and fun bike, and god the sound of it... But, I already miss my Himye. I want him back, and I want to ride him, with all of its tractorness, heft, and confident stride.
Thank you for taking up this idea and turning it into a documentary. It means a lot to our community. I'm looking forward to showing this to my little brother as a trailer video and an introduction to this brand.
I own a 2020 Royal Enfield Classic 500 with a sidecar and recently bought a [1200cc] Triumph Bobber. Both are considerably different but perfect for my riding style.
I was speaking to a young guy on one the other day. Did not know what it was. But it caught my eye. As you say the designer totally nailed it. He had his own vision and just got it right. I am very tempted to get one.
I always suspected that the boss of Royal Enfield must be a motorcycle enthusiast. It's nice to see that this is really the case. Even though I don't ride one, it's always good when there are people like that. And I can indulge. I like the fact that the Himalaya has proper recovery handles at the front. You can use them to pull the bike out of the bushes. Or to lash it to the rowing boat. And btw. a Very nice and good video.
Indians are motorcycle riders and massive enthusiasts. Basically, India is where the the US was in the 50s-60s with motorcycles. Now, US teens are too fat or too scared to ride bikes while India buys 18 million bikes a year and that number is increasing.
I liked the caption "its not a machine, it's your partner." The planted feeling between 80-100 kmph - thats exactly the feeling I get when I ride my 411 on the NCR expressway with my partner. there's essentially the three of us out there. Thank you RE. !!
I started seeing Royal Enfields impact in the US foot print in grass roots racing: Their Flat track presence and the "Build.Train. Race." Programs for young woman building a path to race opportunities in Moto America. That is what caught my attention. Here is a company willing to invest in the next generation of motorcycle enthusiast. They are doing what Harley Davidson failed to do. Thinking about the next generation which dont have much to start with, and giving them thejr first chance at a life style many other makers price them out of. CFmoto is doing the same thing and its making legacy makers very nervous.
What an awesome video! I just drove the new Himalayan and its a really really good bike for what it is! I'm even thinking about selling my 800 BMW for one of those. Just because I don't really need all this power of the BMW.
You might want to try the new 450 Himalayan, its a bit more powerful & refined than the old 411. Coming from a 800 you might not like the lack of power in the old one.
Himalayan is my first and only bike. It's been a lot of fun and has a ton of character. Lots of people ask me about it. I use it on BDR's with friends who have DRZ400 and KLE650's and have no problems keeping up. Looking forward to evaluating the new Himalayan.
Having a logical, practical plan to turn a company around is one thing. However, you really need underlings to efficiently carry out your orders. I remember hearing negative reviews of the Himalayan when it first came out, but royal enfield managed to pull through and disprove the idea that indian products are low quality. Subsequent models have proven that royal enfield is here to stay.
I love my Himalayan too, 2023 mod, it gets used as a 2up ride nearly every weekend. I doubt I will own another bike again, as I am elderly, and this bike just suit's me, us perfectly. Great bio on Sid, I would kiss him if I could even as a bloke that I am. He gave me something to yearn for, and get me back to riding.
One of his big moves, was turning to established, high-quality vendors for brakes, tires, electronics, etc. I believe that’s why the Interceptor 650 was an instant hit.
Although this is an August 2024 clip, no mention of the new Himalayan 450. I have the 411 as well, and the 450 is a generation ahead, a truly good bike, better suspension by far, a better engine by far, a 6 speed gear box with only ONE neutral, unlike the 411, and excellent handling. The 411 has crappy plastics that crack easily, crappy rubber fork boots that split way too early, rust spots that appear aroundthe welds. The plastics on the 450 seem to be a class better, so time will tell as to their longevity. Like Sid, I have ridden the 450 across the Himalayas at over 18000', and it pulled exceptionally well, and fuel economy is astonishing. That the 450 is not mentioned here is a real surprise, because RE are going to sell a lot of them.
The funny thing about Royal Enfields anywhere in the world is get more than three of them together and a bunch of Sihks show up and will tell you have to rebuild a RE bolt by bolt.
30 year old American here. I live in a city. I've got student loan debt. I dont need a big car. I need a reliable vehicle that can get me around the city and maybe further from time to time. I have a Continental GT 650. It is absolutely perfect for me and I bought it cash. All I pay is insurance, maintenance, and gas. It also looks great. It really hits what I need perfectly and I love it.
Very good story. Sid should be proud of his achievements. In Sid's hands, Royal Enfield will only get better, which is beneficial to the company, those whose livelihood depends on it, and the customers who benefit from a fine product. Best of luck Sid.
Noraly did use the Royal Enfield name to get the Indian subscriber's attention and to get the subscriber numbers when nobody knows her. If you check little more Indians are that time and love to view the Ladakh bike trip by Indian RUclipsr Mumbiker Nikhil. That time she tried to get an Indian viewer's attention using the Royal Enfield title on the vlog. Most of the RUclipsrs show Indian content to get the subscriber number. But yes, later, her vlog proved the Himalayan build quality all around the world.
Thanks for another awesome film! Just a kind feedback from my side - e.g. at 13:48 it’ll be pretty cool if you’d visualize those progress of sales numbers, I mean in general to include into your videos visual representation of numbers which you’re mentioning.
When I was 19 (I’m now 62) I had a 1945 500cc Royal Enfield bullet, there first production bike after the WW2 so I was told, it had left over parts from there army bikes, it had easy find neutral being 1 up 3 down instead of trying to click up from 4th to neutral you pushed down with your heal and it popped into neutral, auto chain oiling, telescopic forks and ridge tail, they were innovators, only fired every second lamppost😂,I wish I still had it 😢, maybe if I can get around the wife I might buy me a new one. 😊
Thank you for posting this video. I have had my RE 350 Classic 2022 for a couple of months and absolutely adore it. I want to try the Himalayan 411 next!
He didn't approach it like a businessman, he approached it like a biker. He loves bikes. He rides a RE to his office. He figured out what bikers want and don't want. He already had the brand value, now he has a good product, what else do you need? Royal Enfield is like Lamborghini. They don't make ads for TV or Social media. They just have one or two promotional videos on their official channel. They focused on vloggers.
It sounds as if the idea of the Himalayan - simple, robust, basic electrics, light, lots of torque at low speed - is like the bike that Noraly (Itchy Boots) is getting made in Germany, from a Yamaha 600.
This documentary has revealed A Heroic CEO Siddharth Lal I am ashamed of not knowing about him till date. But Sadly this documentary is just the first half ,I mean incomplete. Please make a full version soon.. God Bless
Maybe that New mindset was needed for a company stuck in the past. There are numerous such companies which are stuck in the past and don't update and eventually become irrelevant
As a brand new mind, unaware of the whole industry, he went with his common sense and surounded himself with true specialists in the domain. . And went out for top quality , no compromise. . That's the way. .
so the hail marry of all hail marrys worked out spectacularly. I'm planning on buying a new Himalayan 450 with the tubeless wheels as soon as my nearby dealer gets them in.
I flew from Guadalajara, Mexico, and bought my Himalayan July 6th 2023 at Baxter Cycle in Marne, Iowa. After break in period of a few days I proceeded to ride back to Mexico, passing through the midwest, and the US lower south. I arrived at my destination, Oaxaca City, 4,000 miles later. Since then my Himalayan has seen deserts, mountains, broken pavement, and smooth. Since arriving in Mexico I have put on an additional 5,000 plus miles, soon to pass the 10,000 mile mark, all in the space of 14 months. In all that time my Himalayan has never missed a beat. 👍 I do my maintenance services on the street with hand tools, nothing else, the simple design making it easy. I love my Himalayan, all roads, no roads.
That's a love story right there 💜
10000 miles in 14 months 😮!!! Must be himalayan 411. New 452 have too many bells and whistles to maintain on road without service station.
@@kalpitapokia I cannot speak on the 452, I have no experience with them other that they sell well in Mexico. And yes, my Himalayan is a 411. I have changed my oil more than once in the street, adjusted my valves in a courtyard where I was staying, and preformed various mods/repairs wherever possible. It's a very basic, dependable tractor.
I live in Ecuador, and RE bikes are wildly popular here. A friend of mine just rode his from Ecuador all around South America. They are very good bikes now.
I'm 41 and Indian and I remember in my childhood, Enfields were mostly used by milk delivery guys (from my limited exposure as a kid). It was a utilitarian vehicle. But Sid Lal transformed it into an aspirational brand and now has gone from strength to strength. I used to own a Classic 500 and loved every bit of it.
When rd350 ruled the streets!!
I love my Himalayan. It’s not perfect but it makes me smile and want to explore every dirt road.
I tried and... maybe next 10 years. Not today. Too simple, too heavy, too weak.
Exactly. I mean, it IS too slow for german roads, but if I get asked about it, I always answer the same thing. The Himalayan is the two-wheeled equivalent to the VW Beetle. It might not be fast, but it WILL take you there, no matter what.
@@mr.trueno6022never loosing thw character despite multiple iterations & emission norms
EURO/BS4 Carburetor to Fi to Euro/bs6 Fi
It's crap , get a xpulse
Your comment makes me smile! Kudos, the Himalayan!
My mom's first bicycle was an Enfield. She's 84. I've seen a lot of Royal Enfield Motorbikes here in Brazil and people seem to like them. They say they are not fit for every day work (delivery, for instance) but are great for trips and as for everyday use. I find them quite beautiful! Keep up the good work!
Im 59 now, was 14 when I first handled a Bullet which had the gear shift on the right and brake on the left. I was skinny and people would wonder how this kid rides this beast. Starting the bike needed some skill as you had to decompress and level the amp meter before you venture to kick start the beast, not done correctly and it would punish you! Along the way I made some good friends who were bullet owners and wanted to do some hands on maintenance and oil changes which I would readily do in exchange to get an opportunity to ride the beast! I could not afford to buy one.One of these friends changed my life for the better, I moved to the Gulf. Had to keep biking on the back burner as I got employed, got married, kids. The time has come, as kids have grown up and I have retired. Here I am scouting to buy the Royal Enfield classic, to fulfil my dream and ride the beast .....once again! Thank you Sid, for bringing glory to this brand which was kind of almost forgotten.
Best to you. "Everything comes to those who can wait"
@@David-og7di Thanks mate!
..Sir, I'm 55 yrs old biker(starting at 4 y, and I have to and I'm pleased toto give you a credit. Thank you for your passion. (the only thing I would change.. Yamaha, Jawa, and another Japanese manufacturers.. Jawa is from Czech Republic ((I know it for sure, I had some a and still living in this country)). I do love your work/content (whatever it's called) and wishing you the best. Stay young, Miroslav
Thanks man! I didn't mean that Jawa was Japanese, I meant Jawa and other Japanese companies... Maybe I should have worded it differently :)
@@KRANKiTJawa and Yezdi is now owned by The Mahindra group which is an Indian Brand and Norton is Owned by TVS again indian , Kawasaki , KTM , Triumph and Husqvarna is again in a partnership with one more Indian Brand Bajaj group . BMW is also in partnership with TVS . Just a food for thought Duke 390 is designed by Bajaj group in India for Indian market .
Every single time I watch on of you videos I am astounded at the work you’ve put into them. Having done some journalism for both cycling and motorcycle magazines in the past I understand how much time researching takes, but you also compile it perfectly as well. Anyone who can find even minor criticisms in your work should put their money where their mouth is and create something similar…I think they’ll be surprised how short they would come up 😉
@@NZCycletherapy it’s not the easiest thing, especially when you have many eyes on your work that can find flaws at any time. But it is rewarding, and personally interesting, so ... someone has to do it I guess :)) thanks man!
You will be happy to know that JAWA has been revived in India, and has a huge cult following here. 😊
Sid's genius was spotting that the "BIG" ADV bikes were Too Much for most riders. Too Much Cost, too much complexity, too much SPEED. Yes, they were/are great in the circumstances they were designed for - open desert & tundra - but they terrified the average rider who might want to go offroad in a small way, on local trails through woods, or through a rutted out gravel road. The Himalayan is great for this sort of thing, as it has enough grunt to chug through darn near anything at a pace that the average or new rider feels comfortable at, and at a price that is sensible. When you can buy a new Himalayan for less than the point of sale depreciation on a Big ADV bike, why wouldn't you?
As for the rest of the RE range, they all have that most important thing (that is lacking in many modern bikes), character. Yes, there are numerous bikes that are "better" than an Enfield, faster, better handling, more powerful, etc, etc. BUT, the Enfield range hits that sweet spot marked "enough" for many, many riders. Enough power & handling to put a smile on the rider's face without needing to break too many speed limits, or risk hitting the scenery at warp speed. Simple enough that the rider can do most maintenance themselves. All at a price most can afford, and with one of the best guarantee's in the biz...
That's the real genius behind RE's success. Recognizing that many modern bikes had become intimidating to many potential riders, and producing a bike that wasn't scary. A bike that was simple to understand, simple to modify, and simple to live with. A bike who's looks are archetypal "Motorbike", not some strange insectoid thing with a couple of wheels bolted on. Enough "Retro Cool" to catch the eye of the noob rider, while calling back to a simpler time for the more mature rider. A bike for everyone.
Every word of this post is insightfully brilliant. Exactly! This is exactly what Sid Lal has realised and then done. 👍🏾
I really hope they keep innovating.
Internationally, the Himalayan has been a great affordable bike. Newer Chinese entrants like the CFMoto 450 have an unfair advantage with Chinese tech sector being a bit further ahead, so that bike's taken the lower end market by storm. In the Philipines, that's a direct competitor with the Himalayan, and they're both good bikes.
Wishing this company all the best!
@@Qasibr Take a look at the new Himalayan 450. 452cc, water cooled, throttle by wire, integrated google maps, etc...
@@Qasibr What innovations have they done? They might have spotted a nice little gap in the market but they haven't had any real innovations that haven't been done before.
@@elobiretvyeah, I don't see the innovation as well
Royal Enfield showrooms are really well designed. They look like a cool studio and you can just hang out there for hours just looking at the bikes and the gears.
Few years ago I went around the Royal Enfield factory in Chennai had a guided tour. The sound of the engine is iconic. I also lived near Redditch where the original factory was located.
Hi I’m Dev from India Owning the Continental GT650 for past 2 years was blissful journey I myself maintain the bike it never seen the service centre from the date of delivery no words to express my feelings this an amazing machine thanks to Uk tech centre who R&D’d and developed this beautiful piece of master piece ❤
Bro you aint a dev. Stfu rasheed lmao
You are the ideal owner for an RE, since you maintain her yourself. Much respect and admiration for you 🙏
Good for you Dev, best wishes from NZ.
Mr Siddharth lal is a passionate biker himself so he understands what biker culture is
Enfields are not fast like Japanese, not really big like harly , but it's just RE if you are into RE nothing can replace it
And yes it's Ei - share
Hi there Krankit, just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this video. I am a 411 Himmie owner and I'm totally bought into the Sid Appreciation Society and I loved the way you laid out the recent history of RE. This is a video that Sid would be proud of.
I rode my Bullet machismo (!) all round India and up to the Himalayas too. It was tough and epic, it is broke down 100s of times from brand new. For me this brought 100s of opportunities to speak to locals and enjoy the adventure more. Great film, thanks.
You are positivity personified. You saw breakdowns as opportunities to expand your horizons.
Sometimes the owners kid is just what the company needed.
Good job man!
Didn't try marketing or any of the cheap an easy fixes, you did it the way it needed to be done.
Im slowly gaining more confidence in the younger gen. Cheers for this excellent upload!
I’ve loved the look of Royal Enfield motorcycles for a long time. I never bought one because I knew they just weren’t up to par. Clearly that’s changed and I hope to add one to my stable soon.
This guy needs to talk to Harley Davidson. Explain to him how to operate a company
Harley has gone woke. Talk about taking your customers for a ride. Not cool , Harley. Not cool.
@@edsondias6604 Nothing to do with woke (whatever that means) and everything to do with corporate America. Why spend time and effort on engineering, development and production of decent motorcycles when your fan base will pay through the nose for a POS, and then come back and lay down even more cash for rubbish merch?
In fact, H-D is much more like Trump's America, sell a bunch of lies about some sort of "ideology" (that doesn't make sense) and gouge your customers until they die, which they're doiing increasingly frequently because the customer base is aging so rapidly.
I absolutely detest the way RE has gone about its merchandising, it is so much like H-D's. However, because REs are entry level machines, forking out for the merch is still possible. In the case of H-D, it's a company which only seems to make "halo" products, which misses the point of such a tactic.
Harley guys gay
Yeah He make that now some top harly Davidson ( old managers) people work for Royal Enfield in usa.
@@edsondias6604 WTF are you talking about "Woke". H-D has nothing to do with "woke" (whatever that means). If by "Woke", you mean "politically correct", thern that still doesn't make sense.
What H-D has done is make their own market smaller and smaller with every year's model line up, made them ever more inaccesible to newcomers to the brand. They have made up for falling sales by selling more and more H-D branded cr*p and forced their dealers into ever more restrictive (and expensive) exclusive contracts.
You can see that RE must have employed the same guy that created H-D's branded "lifestyle shopping experience" BVS, cos RE dealers are looking more and more like it.
Stop tring to shoehorn your idiotic MAGAisms into everything. It ends up looking more and more desperate.
I’m in tears, tears of joy. YOU just sold me a Himalayan. THIS VIDEO IS AN EXPERIENCE
what i love about sid is that he essentially took over a company which was basically functioning like a typical Indian government run office and changed it into this new age manufacturer which not only caters to its core audience but also to modern biking enthusiasts with modern lineups and bikes which enables new bikers to get hang of biking easily. The company is authentic yet modern , respects its cultural yet doesn't shy away from trying out new ideas . For a guy like me , who hated old REs because how sluggish they were and how ancient their mechanicals were , Sid has changed the tides and made me love their new age designs.
Sid Lal is the prime example of the "that guy who knows his craft and is passionate about it"
when i was 5 years old my uncle let me hold the handle while i was sitting on the tank as a kid would , that felt surreal its like i am in control of this giant machine and i am riding clouds. he owned exclusively royal enfield bikes. he used to buy every other bike launched by this company. he even owned the discontinued bike that was made illegal to drive on road because the clutch and gear changer was on the other side . he even found a diesel royal enfield model . from then i got to ride with him all the bikes he owned and made me really happy . the engine sound is so unique i would scream running from second floor before he could ring the bell that he had came . in 2022 he passed away at 47 years old only. and i got his last ever motorcycle . i still didnt even had courage to take it out . i might not do it in near future i got my sports bike ktm rc 200.
if i have ever seen a fanboy of RE was my uncle . may you RIP
What was his last bike?
@anareaforakinglikeme3029 its bullet 350
@@everengaged9370 you are most definitely indian
@anareaforakinglikeme3029 yes i am
@everengaged9370 noice
I love motorcycle history. Thanks for providing stellar content.
My pleasure :)
This was a lovely video, you've really managed to capture all the right bits! I worked at Royal Enfield for almost 10 years and was fortunate enough to be part of this story & part of the testing & development of the OG himalayan (some shots of me in your video too 😉 ).
Really? Which ones? I'm glad I got it right with the story :)
@@KRANKiT The one thing you glossed over/don't know is why RE suddenly collapsed in the 1990's. India was a socialist country from the 1950's to the 1990's until state socialism collapsed worldwide. In the socialist era, many industries were nationalized (state monopoly), and others were highly regulated and hostile to new entrants or imports. Technology stagnated as there was no real competition to the 1950's designs that kept on being produced.
This ended in the 1990's, and suddenly these old companies with their 1950's cars and bikes were faced with a deluge of Japanese, Korean, and Western vehicles with the latest technologies and comforts. They still had nostalgia on their side like the Trabants and Ladas of the world, but people started buying the actually good bikes.
The RE Bullet was practically a 1950's design still being produced into the 1990's. India's iconic cars, the Hindustan Ambassador (Morris Oxford Series III, 1957) and the Premier Padmini (Fiat 1100D, 1958) went extinct post-socialism. RE was going to follow them.
That's where your video begins.
Excellent presentation. Again
Stay with it young man.
Thank you!
BTW, it's Cranfield Institute, not University. It provides post-graduate qualifications, is entirely private, costs the earth... and is probably one of the very best engineering/tech/management post grad institutions on the planet. Even to be accpted on a course, you have to REALLY impress the hell out of the senior staff.
Got my full bike license few months ago, after riding a scooter for few years. And then came the decision: "Which bike to buy". Took me weeks of thinking, but in the end I landed on the original Himalayan. And it was the best decision I could have made. It is small, comfy, incredibly stable on road and off-road, and just gorgerous to look at.
It may be small, slow, dials vibrate like crazy and pretty damn heavy. But it chugs along anywhere I go, with great confidence, and transfers that same confidence to me as a novice. I trust this machine, that it will take care of me, and I already really love it. Right now it in the shop for a tire and tube swap. I dont have it for few days, instead I got an Interceptor borrowed. Lovely and fun bike, and god the sound of it... But, I already miss my Himye. I want him back, and I want to ride him, with all of its tractorness, heft, and confident stride.
I have for a long time been grateful the this brand is still around....... thanks to all
What a great story told. Well done for quality info conveyed in an easy-going manner 👍
Thank you for taking up this idea and turning it into a documentary. It means a lot to our community. I'm looking forward to showing this to my little brother as a trailer video and an introduction to this brand.
Love RE. No one else makes a bike that looks and feels that good at price normal people can afford
I own a 2020 Royal Enfield Classic 500 with a sidecar and recently bought a [1200cc] Triumph Bobber. Both are considerably different but perfect for my riding style.
Awesome, finally someone said it. Not many interviews of him. But he is gem
I was speaking to a young guy on one the other day. Did not know what it was. But it caught my eye. As you say the designer totally nailed it. He had his own vision and just got it right. I am very tempted to get one.
I always suspected that the boss of Royal Enfield must be a motorcycle enthusiast. It's nice to see that this is really the case. Even though I don't ride one, it's always good when there are people like that. And I can indulge.
I like the fact that the Himalaya has proper recovery handles at the front. You can use them to pull the bike out of the bushes. Or to lash it to the rowing boat.
And btw. a Very nice and good video.
Indians are motorcycle riders and massive enthusiasts. Basically, India is where the the US was in the 50s-60s with motorcycles. Now, US teens are too fat or too scared to ride bikes while India buys 18 million bikes a year and that number is increasing.
I liked the caption "its not a machine, it's your partner." The planted feeling between 80-100 kmph - thats exactly the feeling I get when I ride my 411 on the NCR expressway with my partner. there's essentially the three of us out there. Thank you RE. !!
Superb doc on the history of the company. Great work pulling this together. Strong narrative...really enjoyed watching it.
RE is no longer a motorcycle brand.. it has become a lifestyle brand
*Cough* Harley Davidson
@@thomasinnis2370 *Cough* Only for Americans*Cough * Only for Rich * Cough * Too much Fuel consumption.
@@thomasinnis2370cough not USA
Harley doesn't have as much presence outside the US @@thomasinnis2370
That was a really well thought out video. Royal Enfield are just great!
I started seeing Royal Enfields impact in the US foot print in grass roots racing: Their Flat track presence and the "Build.Train. Race." Programs for young woman building a path to race opportunities in Moto America. That is what caught my attention. Here is a company willing to invest in the next generation of motorcycle enthusiast. They are doing what Harley Davidson failed to do. Thinking about the next generation which dont have much to start with, and giving them thejr first chance at a life style many other makers price them out of. CFmoto is doing the same thing and its making legacy makers very nervous.
This is a really good story. I'm so glad this autoplayed randomly.
I own Himalayam 411 in New Zealand I love my FREEDOM so simple but so robust and eye catcher.
What an awesome video! I just drove the new Himalayan and its a really really good bike for what it is! I'm even thinking about selling my 800 BMW for one of those. Just because I don't really need all this power of the BMW.
It is nice having a bike that you're not afraid of thrashing or dropping... I feel like a Himalayan could be just that
You might want to try the new 450 Himalayan, its a bit more powerful & refined than the old 411.
Coming from a 800 you might not like the lack of power in the old one.
@@kushagraN I said, that I tried the new one :D
Himalayan is my first and only bike. It's been a lot of fun and has a ton of character. Lots of people ask me about it. I use it on BDR's with friends who have DRZ400 and KLE650's and have no problems keeping up. Looking forward to evaluating the new Himalayan.
The new one is even better. Basically the same price but enough power to also go on the highway
Great video! Your content is fantastic! I love watching your research and learning!
Cheers mate!
Having a logical, practical plan to turn a company around is one thing. However, you really need underlings to efficiently carry out your orders. I remember hearing negative reviews of the Himalayan when it first came out, but royal enfield managed to pull through and disprove the idea that indian products are low quality. Subsequent models have proven that royal enfield is here to stay.
Great video, very interesting story. I love my 2015 classic 500. It has real character.
That was beautiful. I just wanted a review of the Himalayan. I have left wanting one even more
Your every video is a genuine treat to motorcyclists
The original multistrada is GORGEOUS i am still looking to buy one
I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Fantastic! Brilliantly put together video.
स्पष्ट अवलोकन, सूक्ष्म विश्लेषण, निष्पक्ष समीक्षा, और अत्यंत सुंदर प्रस्तुति👌👌👏👏।
Great story telling, as always.
I'm impatiently waiting for the Himalayan 650...
Amazing video! I feel you captured the essence of the transformation
Great video! I've been on the fence about purchasing a new Himalayan 452, but I think you've convinced me.
I am proud Himalayan 450 owner...and I smile every time i see it❤️❤️❤️❤️
I love RE’s simple, retro style. I hope they keep it up and are around for a long time.
I love my Himalayan too, 2023 mod, it gets used as a 2up ride nearly every weekend. I doubt I will own another bike again, as I am elderly, and this bike just suit's me, us perfectly. Great bio on Sid, I would kiss him if I could even as a bloke that I am. He gave me something to yearn for, and get me back to riding.
One of his big moves, was turning to established, high-quality vendors for brakes, tires, electronics, etc. I believe that’s why the Interceptor 650 was an instant hit.
Thank you very interesting- all your episodes are great! keep up the good work- Tony SA
Although this is an August 2024 clip, no mention of the new Himalayan 450. I have the 411 as well, and the 450 is a generation ahead, a truly good bike, better suspension by far, a better engine by far, a 6 speed gear box with only ONE neutral, unlike the 411, and excellent handling.
The 411 has crappy plastics that crack easily, crappy rubber fork boots that split way too early, rust spots that appear aroundthe welds. The plastics on the 450 seem to be a class better, so time will tell as to their longevity. Like Sid, I have ridden the 450 across the Himalayas at over 18000', and it pulled exceptionally well, and fuel economy is astonishing. That the 450 is not mentioned here is a real surprise, because RE are going to sell a lot of them.
Im glad nepotism worked for once.
who would have thought
Bro, nepotism failed only in bollywood, everywhere else it actually gives fruits , in politics also, it failed
@@mrettup9758Very perceptive.
The funny thing about Royal Enfields anywhere in the world is get more than three of them together and a bunch of Sihks show up and will tell you have to rebuild a RE bolt by bolt.
😂😂😂
30 year old American here.
I live in a city. I've got student loan debt. I dont need a big car. I need a reliable vehicle that can get me around the city and maybe further from time to time.
I have a Continental GT 650.
It is absolutely perfect for me and I bought it cash. All I pay is insurance, maintenance, and gas.
It also looks great. It really hits what I need perfectly and I love it.
Very good story. Sid should be proud of his achievements. In Sid's hands, Royal Enfield will only get better, which is beneficial to the company, those whose livelihood depends on it, and the customers who benefit from a fine product. Best of luck Sid.
The Royal Enfield Himalayan will be my next bike/s to buy. Can/will get 3 so my boys and I can ride around Australia. It's a good thing.
Beautifully narrated!
And if wasn’t for Noraly Schumacher (aka “Itchy Boots”) the royal Enfield Himalayan wouldn’t be as good as a seller worldwide, as it is now.
Noraly did use the Royal Enfield name to get the Indian subscriber's attention and to get the subscriber numbers when nobody knows her. If you check little more Indians are that time and love to view the Ladakh bike trip by Indian RUclipsr Mumbiker Nikhil. That time she tried to get an Indian viewer's attention using the Royal Enfield title on the vlog. Most of the RUclipsrs show Indian content to get the subscriber number. But yes, later, her vlog proved the Himalayan build quality all around the world.
Cool but I like the old Honda’s still sold in Southeast Asia for little money. And with Honda , quality issues never come up.
look how well he and they did, their bikes now are pretty damn good and are unique in so many way, popular? pffft, beyond popular
I have a 411 Himalayan and a 2009 Landrover. One and the same. Thanks for a great video!
Thanks for another awesome film!
Just a kind feedback from my side - e.g. at 13:48 it’ll be pretty cool if you’d visualize those progress of sales numbers, I mean in general to include into your videos visual representation of numbers which you’re mentioning.
Not a bad idea, appreciate the feedback!
Excellent video, good photography and great narration. New subscriber from.Canada.
How I enjoy watching your productions. Congratulations. Greetings from Poland. Here Royal has a new life. May the importer not spoil it.
When I was 19 (I’m now 62) I had a 1945 500cc Royal Enfield bullet, there first production bike after the WW2 so I was told, it had left over parts from there army bikes, it had easy find neutral being 1 up 3 down instead of trying to click up from 4th to neutral you pushed down with your heal and it popped into neutral, auto chain oiling, telescopic forks and ridge tail, they were innovators, only fired every second lamppost😂,I wish I still had it 😢, maybe if I can get around the wife I might buy me a new one. 😊
Bro made a whole video on Royal Enfield without mentioning the classic 350 and Bullet 350. These bikes actually made RE wht it is today
It's funny because indians still call all the RE as bullet.
@@noone-zl2di True true, cause I have a RE Thunderbird 500, I call it a bullet 😂. The og bike name is just engraved in our brain.
L@@noone-zl2ditrue
Thank you for showing thunderbird RE in the video ❤❤❤
Nice one mate, greetings from Australia!
Nice Video! Didn't get bored!
well done, great video! i watched every second
Thank you for posting this video. I have had my RE 350 Classic 2022 for a couple of months and absolutely adore it. I want to try the Himalayan 411 next!
himalayan 450 is way better bike than 411
This is well narrated! Keep up the good work!
He didn't approach it like a businessman, he approached it like a biker. He loves bikes. He rides a RE to his office. He figured out what bikers want and don't want. He already had the brand value, now he has a good product, what else do you need? Royal Enfield is like Lamborghini. They don't make ads for TV or Social media. They just have one or two promotional videos on their official channel. They focused on vloggers.
Now all the competitors are scrambling to emulate REs models and go sub600
It sounds as if the idea of the Himalayan - simple, robust, basic electrics, light, lots of torque at low speed - is like the bike that Noraly (Itchy Boots) is getting made in Germany, from a Yamaha 600.
She used to own and ride the Royal Enfield Himilayan. Lots of her old videos feature it.
Thanks for the video!
This documentary has revealed A Heroic CEO Siddharth Lal
I am ashamed of not knowing about him till date.
But Sadly this documentary is just the first half ,I mean incomplete.
Please make a full version soon..
God Bless
Really great channel 😸 thanks 🙏
Brilliant video, thanks 😀 I love Royal Enfield even more now!
Maybe that New mindset was needed for a company stuck in the past. There are numerous such companies which are stuck in the past and don't update and eventually become irrelevant
Hindustan and Premier obviously
Such an amazing and inspiring story!
As a brand new mind, unaware of the whole industry, he went with his common sense and surounded himself with true specialists in the domain. . And went out for top quality , no compromise. . That's the way. .
Brilliant episode, thank you.
Great one! Keep up the good work!
Wonderful story and excellent video. Thank you.
Beautiful bike beautiful video thanks for the video man.
so the hail marry of all hail marrys worked out spectacularly.
I'm planning on buying a new Himalayan 450 with the tubeless wheels as soon as my nearby dealer gets them in.
excellent story telling ✨