The June 2018 issue of
Motorcycle Consumer News contains a full, instrumented, test of the RE Himalayan and compares it with the BMW G310GS, head to head. They don't think much of the Himalayan. They do like its slow-speed off road capabilities, its apparent ruggedness and "affordable ownership", but not much else. They really hated its braking performance, Pirelli MT60 tires, didn't think too much of its build quality, lack of top-end power and very inaccurate speedometer.
I was surprised to see that the Himalayan's top speed is only 72 mph, but its speedometer shows 80 mph at that speed. When the speedometer shows 65 mph, the actual speed is only 59 mph. Measured wet weight is 434 pounds, fuel economy averaged only 52 mpg (the G310GS had an average of 60 mpg), braking from 60 mph took 148.5 feet (128.5 feet for the BMW) and several times the wheels locked up when braking hard (apparently there was no ABS on their test bike), 0-60 takes 9.77 seconds and the quarter mile was covered in a very slow 18 seconds, with a top speed of 72 mph (Slower than a 1962 Honda CB-250 Hawk). RPM at 65 mph is 5,200 and the rpm limit is 6,500. Measured horsepower is 21.86 at 6,500 rpm and measured torque is 21.24 lb.-ft. at 4,500 rpm.
However, one thing the Himalayan really has going for it, in comparison to the BMW G310GS, is its low maintenance costs. A routine 6000 mile service costs only $160, with a 3K valve adjustment coming in at only $47.50. These prices were furnished by RENA. Compare that with the maintenance costs for the BMW G310GS (as provided by a local BMW shop). Routine 6K servicing is not bad (for a BMW) at $160, however getting the four valves adjusted will really hurt. The total for parts and labor comes to $1,075!
Even so, the BMW received an overall rating of 4.5 dots (out of 5), while the Himalayan only got three dots, about the lowest overall score that I can recall for one of their motorcycle evaluations.