The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 has demonstrated its off-road capability by securing a class victory in the Big Bike Single class at the challenging Valleys X-Treme Lite 2026 race, held on the weekend of January 10th and 11th in Wales.
Cooperb Motorcycles prepared three production Himalayan 450s for entry, with Jake Edey completing 7 laps in 2:09:20,79, winning the Big Bike Single class by 51 seconds, and finishing 60th overall out of 240 total entries – his total time would have even secured third place in the Big Bike Twin class, if eligible.
Proving its capabilities from the factory, the Himalayan 450 ridden by Jake was mostly a production model. For the challenging Welsh course, which featured a variety of conditions – from demanding woodland sections and slick, muddy ascents, to high-speed sections on fire roads – minimal modifications were made.
These included fitting the Rally Seat, Rally Tail, and Arrow Exhaust from the Himalayan Genuine Motorcycle Accessories (GMA) catalogue, with Cooperb Motorcycles completing the setup for the Welsh winter valleys by fitting knobbly tyres and adjusting the suspension.
Two other Himalayan 450s entered in the Lite Race from Cooperb Motorcycles, with Jack and Ian Cooper competing in the Lite race.
The success of the Himalayan 450 in this event underscores the Royal Enfield’s commitment to real-world adventure riding, and providing riders with the option to ‘go-anywhere’ regardless of the riders off-road ability, proving the strength of the Himalayan 450 from the road to competition-level riding.
The Himalayan 450s in this event demonstrates Royal Enfield’s dedication to genuine adventure riding. It proves the motorcycle’s capability to offer a ‘go-anywhere’ option to riders of all off-road skill levels, establishing the Himalayan 450’s robust performance across the spectrum, from everyday roads to challenging competition.
Jake Edey, Big Bike Single 2026 Class Winner:
“Conditions were properly tough. But the Himalayan handled everything brilliantly, the 450 engine is a perfect balance of usable power and smooth delivery, which made maintaining traction in the wet far easier than you might expect. I had no issues in the muddy climbs or tight woods and managed to pass several bigger bikes along the way.
That said, by now I know just how capable the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 really is, no matter what the UK throws at it.
The Himalayan’s lower seat height was a real advantage — when I needed to dab a foot to regain balance, the bike wasn’t already tipping past the point of no return. That gave me a lot of confidence over a long, demanding race.
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About two hours in, fatigue started to creep in and I had a moment where I came into a rocky downhill section far too fast. But the Himalayan stayed stable and predictable, allowing me to recover without incident. I’m convinced that on a bigger, heavier bike I’d have been thrown off.
What really stood out was how much I enjoyed the whole experience. The bike wasn’t just capable in extreme conditions — it was genuinely fun to ride. After a tough race, some sketchy moments, and plenty of laughs, I crossed the line winning the Big Bike Singles class and even set the fastest lap among the twin-cylinder bikes.
To really underline how usable it is, I rode the Himalayan into work the following Monday — which pretty much sums up what the bike’s all about.“
Quote from Becky Blackmore, Marketing Manger Royal Enfield UK:
“We are really proud of Jake Edey’s fantastic performance and class win at the Valleys X-Treme Lite. This result emphatically proves that the Himalayan 450 is a serious, capable machine that can tackle extreme terrain, even just with light preparation.
This win is a testament to the Himalayan’s adventure lineage and its suitability for riders of all levels looking to push their limits.”
About the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450:
A motorcycle with strong adventure lineage yet remains true to our philosophy of pure motorcycling. The all-new Himalayan 450 retains the capability, versatility and the ability to go anywhere your adventure takes you. Nothing you don’t need and everything that you do for the changing times.
The Himalayan 450 is currently available through Royal Enfield’s winter deals offer, running to the 31st March 2026, with 0% APR Representative on the 50/50 Advance Payment Plan (APP), and eligible for the low rate 5.9% APR Representative PCP and HP offers. More information can be found here.
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About Royal Enfield
The oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production, Royal Enfield has created beautifully crafted motorcycles since 1901. From its British roots, a manufacturing plant was established in Madras in 1955, a foothold from which Royal Enfield spearheaded the growth of India’s mid-sized two-wheeler segment. Royal Enfields are engaging, uncomplicated, accessible and fun to ride; a vehicle for exploration and self-expression. It’s an approach the brand calls Pure Motorcycling…
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