Royal Enfield has teamed up with rider trainers at Be Crash Free and tour operator Vintage Rides to create Vintage Rides Academy, a new training program to teach beginner and seasoned riders alike about skills and techniques for adventure riding.
“Adventure motorcycling is exploding in popularity, but there’s been a gap in how riders actually learn to ride off-road with control and confidence,” said Nathan Kolbe, head of marketing, Americas region, Royal Enfield. “With Vintage Rides Academy, we’re not just filling that gap – we’re sending it into the stratosphere.”
Vintage Rides Academy is taught by MSF-certified ride coaches, and students will learn aboard Vintage Rides Academy’s fleet of 20 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 motorcycles. The Be Crash Free training team will focus not only on technique but also on adventure-riding mentality and how to use your brain to enhance your off-road riding. Tour guides and route designers from Vintage Rides will guide the class through real terrain on both closed courses and guided trail rides.
The Himalayan 450 was significantly updated for 2024 with a larger engine, and more robust chassis, and updated styling and features. Compared to the previous Himalayan 411, the current model received a horsepower boost of 15.5 hp and a torque boost of 5.5 lb-ft, and the transmission now has six speeds instead of five. Other updates include improved suspension and braking, new instrumentation, new ergonomics, a redesigned fuel tank, and more. Find more information and our riding impressions in our 2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan Review.
The Vintage Rides Academy class will be a three-day training course, with the first scheduled course taking place in Boise, Idaho. Day one will start with a coffee meet-and-greet at the host hotel followed by a group ride to a private training facility for a full day of hands-on training. Day two consists of trail riding to apply the skills learned on the first day, with stops along the way for snacks and skills coaching. The final day takes riders on a ride on intermediate trails with new challenges.
More classes will be added to the schedule at select North American destinations. Visit the Vintage Rides website for more information.
