This is why Royal Enfield Himalayan 450’s chassis failed

I have been nervous since last few days as I own a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Kaza Brown. This resulted from viewing social media posts and videos of two cases of motorcycle chassis failures – one in Assam and another at an unknown location. These posts went viral and many people started comparing it to the famous chassis failure of the Himalayan 411. Fortunately, Royal Enfield got in touch with us and explained the reasons behind these frame failures.

Royal Enfield has clarified that only two bikes have had these issues and both bikes have been equipped with anti-crash protection devices. One of the defenders was from Zana – an aftermarket company specializing in such components. The Himalayan 450 is the first motorcycle based on the new liquid-cooled RE platform. Here, the motor is a tension member of the frame and is mounted at three points – two at the top of each side and one at the bottom. The company uses specialized screws to integrate the engine into the frame, and on the right side of the engine there is a specialized screw adjuster that is used to adjust the overall position of the engine during the mounting process. There is also a spacer installed to get the overall fitment right and also to take the load.

Royal Enfield’s technical team said that on these two failed bikes, different bolt specifications were used which resulted in incorrect torque settings. This puts a lot of stress on the chassis and when the bike is used for a longer period of time, the chassis could fail. Royal Enfield has run a lot of simulations inside their R&D facility in Chennai and such failures have been confirmed.

As of now, Royal Enfield is already in touch with the affected customers and providing any necessary assistance. But the company mentioned in the owner’s manual that using such guards will void the warranty. The company has developed dedicated protectors for the Himalayan 450 for the same reason. But a lot of customers are believed to have opted for aftermarket fenders due to the unavailability of GMA accessories. It took me more than a month to procure Rally Protection from a dealer in Delhi.

The Himalayan 450 is an adventure bike, and for those riders who love to go off-road, the frame on the tank can take a beating if the bike is dropped. But it is also important to know that saving a few thousand rupees may not be a good idea in the long run. It’s always best to stay within the brand’s accessory ecosystem for a smooth experience.