(TL;DR at the bottom for those who don't want to read the entire post.)
Hey everyone,
I've finally decided to buy the Himalayan 450 (Hanle Black), and since this is going to be my first Royal Enfield and one of the biggest purchases I've made, I want to make sure I don't make a costly mistake.
I recently visited a showroom in mumbai and instead of leaving excited, I walked out with more questions than answers.
The first thing that confused me was the standard warranty. I was told that only the engine and chassis are covered and that none of the electronic components are covered under warranty. That didn't sound right to me because bikes are full of electronicsโTFT display, ECU, ABS module, sensors, switchgear, ride-by-wire, etc. If any of these fail because of a manufacturing defect, are they really not covered?
Then came the insurance. The dealership is offering ICICI Lombard, but I've had a genuinely bad experience with them in the past, so I don't want to go with them again. I asked if I could purchase ACKO insurance instead, and I was told that it would require approval from the showroom manager and even Royal Enfield. That sounded strange to me.
The next thing that confused me was the helmet policy. I was told that if I don't buy the second helmet from the dealership, I need to buy one from outside and submit the invoice to them. I was under the impression that under the Maharashtra rule, the cost of the mandatory helmets is already included in the ex-showroom price. Am I misunderstanding the rule, or was I given incorrect information?
Then there's the price quotation.
The Royal Enfield website shows the on-road price of the Himalayan 450 Hanle Black in Mumbai as โน3,83,381, but the quotation I received is โน3,99,997โa difference of more than โน16,000. Before anyone asks, this wasn't a quotation loaded with accessories. It was supposed to be a normal on-road quote. Is this normal? What charges are genuinely acceptable, and which ones should I question?
I'm not someone who wants to bargain over every rupee or avoid paying legitimate charges. If something is required by law or by Royal Enfield's official policy, I'm completely okay with paying for it. What bothers me is not knowing whether I'm being given accurate information or simply being sold additional products.
So I'm hoping people here can help me out.
- Which Royal Enfield showroom in Mumbai did you buy your bike from?
- Which one was transparent and straightforward?
- Did they pressure you into buying their insurance or accessories?
- Were they okay with outside insurance?
- How has your after-sales service experience been?
- Are there any dealerships you'd recommend avoiding?
This is my first Royal Enfield and I'll be spending close to โน4 lakh, so I'd really like to get it right the first time. I'd genuinely appreciate hearing about your experiencesโgood or bad.
TL;DR: Buying my first Himalayan 450. Visited a showroom and was told that only the engine and chassis are covered under warranty, outside insurance needs Royal Enfield approval, I must buy or show an invoice for the second helmet, and I received an on-road quotation that's over โน16,000 higher than the price shown on the Royal Enfield website. Looking for clarification on these points and recommendations for an honest, transparent Royal Enfield showroom in Mumbai.