Moto News Roundup :: Himalayan Twin Tested, Triumph Goes the Distance, H-D Struggles Again, More

In our Moto News Roundup for August, Royal Enfield continues to tease its new Himalayan 750 and the exciting Him-E, Triumph and Red Bull tout a record-breaking round-the-world attempt with Sam Sunderland, Harley Davidson keeps grasping for life lines, and a KTM ADV bike quietly disappears from the catalog.

Royal Enfield Continues Development of Himalayan 750 and Him-E

The debut of Royal Enfield’s long-awaited middle-weight adventure bike continues to creep ever closer. RE shared images of the new Himalayan model from a recent factory test ride in India’s Ladakh region. While the company’s 650 twin found in other models would be a logical powerplant for the larger touring bike, rumors continue to emerge that RE will be boring out the engine to 750cc. Dual-rotor front brakes suggest bigger stopping power for a spicier motor, and an adjustable fork and shock could be in the offering. Relatively low clearance and tarmac-oriented tires push this Himalayan more toward the touring end of the ADV spectrum; three-quarters of a liter would definitely be welcome for bombing down long North American highways. The typical round RE headlight and a TFT dash also make an appearance in the photos. The Himalayan 750 is set to be released later this year or early 2026.

Along with the mid-displacement Himalayan, Royal Enfield continues to develop its first zero-emissions bike, the Him-E. The test mule has evolved over the last year to look a lot more polished and possibly production-ready. Electric motorcycles have their limitations, especially for touring, and they have had a hard road of it as a volume sales proposition, with many brands coming and going over the last few years. But RE is on a burner right now (it’s one of the fastest-growing bike builders on the planet), so they may be pouring extra resources into their e-bike program.

Triumph Teams Up with Sam Sunderland for a Round-the-World Record

If I were to embark on a global motorbike adventure, I would plan on at least 6 months to really soak up the experience. But then I’m not a two-time Dakar Rally champion like Sam Sunderland. Sam is teaming up with Red Bull and Triumph motorcycles to attempt a world-record 19-day circumnavigation of the planet aboard a Triumph 1200 Rally Explorer. Largely unsupported, the rally raid hero will cross 15 countries, enter 5 continents, and zip through 13 time zones. “I know this challenge will test me to the core–physically and mentally,” Sunderland said. “There’ll be days when I’m out there for 15 or 16 hours in the cold and rain, heat and humidity, fighting the wind, battling exhaustion, and the mental fatigue. This, plus jet lag, and crazy time zones–it’s going to be brutal.”

Sunderland’s journey begins in his homeland of England, marking the first leg of a six-stage global adventure. From there, he’ll traverse Europe en route to Turkey, then head into the heart of the Middle East, riding some 1,200 miles from Saudi Arabia to the UAE. Sam’s journey must be continuous and follow a single direction around the globe. He must start and finish at the same location, touch two antipodal points (locations on earth that are diametrically opposed to one another), and cover a minimum of 18,000 miles. All this he must do on the same bike. The current record of 20 days has stood for two decades, so this will be no easy feat. Follow Sam’s journey on Red Bull UK’s website when he sets off in September.

Harley-Davidson Offloads Loans

Harley-Davidson continues to hang on by the thinnest of threads. The only major American bike manufacturer has struggled to expand its market reach and develop more affordable motorcycles that appeal to younger riders. The company’s Pan America adventure bike is a good example. Though well-reviewed and impressively capable despite its heavy chassis and ancient engine architecture, it hasn’t found much traction in the red-hot ADV segment over the last few years (its $20,000 starting price doesn’t help).

How does H-D plan to stay afloat? As Reuters reports, the company has concluded a $5 billion deal to sell its portfolio of current and future motorcycle loans to bond traders Pimco and the private equity firm KKR. The agreement is targeted to generate $1.25 billion in much-needed cash for Harley-Davidson, and will offer some breathing room while it works to launch its entry-level Sprint bikes, which could include a scrambler-style model. The Sprint series is rumored to start at only $6,000, but the bikes have Chinese roots, so how well they will do drawing buyers other than Boomers into H-D showrooms remains to be seen.

Auf Wiedersehen (or 再见) t0 the 790 Adventure?

If you’re in the market for a KTM middle-weight ADV bike, now is the time to go shopping. Motorcycle.com has reported that without much notice, KTM has pulled the 790 Adventure model from the Travel category page on its US website. Along with the 790 Duke and the Husqvarna Svartpilen 801, the 790 Adventure anchored the Austrian company’s partnership with Chinese manufacturer CFMoto. The LC8c 790 engine is a CFMoto unit, and the Adventure and Duke are both built in China, while the Svartpilen is assembled in Austria.

There’s no official word from KTM about the move to erase the 790 Adventure from its lineup, but the currently confusing global tariff landscape could be to blame. Interestingly, the product landing page for the 790 Adventure is still live, but not for the 790 Duke. This could signal some possibility for a return of the 790 Adventure should tariffs firm up in KTM’s favor. But at last count, KTM has a quarter of a million unsold bikes in its worldwide inventory, so moving current stock is going to be a priority for the company and its new majority owners, Bajaj Auto.

Images: Royal Enfield, Red Bull/Triumph, Harley Davidson, Touratech

Read More: Zeno Emara ADV Brings Affordable Electric Adventure Mobility to India and Africa

Our No Compromise Clause: We do not accept advertorial content or allow advertising to influence our coverage and our contributors are guaranteed editorial independence. Overland International may earn a small commission from affiliate links included in this article. We appreciate your support.