My youngest son and his partner, both riding Himmy's, recently covered 15, 000 miles around Europe, much of it off-road. A mere thirty-five countries spanning Gibraltar to Finand and a lot of places in between. That little journey took just four months. They did their own servicing and tyre changes en route; the only mechanical failure was a broken (after-market) pannier frame, which was easily welded up by a local mechanic. Job done. Both bikes were 'dropped' loads of times but, hey! Pick up the bike, and it will run! Both bikes are still in use, one of them still doing a daily commute totalling sixty-five miles; in all (UK) weather! Himalayan 411, a great no-nonsense motorcycle, a future classic! Love and peace.
That sounds like an epic trip your son and his partner did. Yes the bikes are easy to work on and seem to be very reliable. I am about to do another review of the bike at 40,000km as on the trip i have just finished I pushed the bike a lot harder and took it places I thought it might not handle but it just keep going and had no issues at all.
I have 19,800 kms on my Himy. Your reflections are exactly on point. Many other reviews call this a "beginners" Adv bike. I call it my Regressor Adv. Going back to basics and simplicity. I get as many smiles per mile off of this motorcycle as any I have owned in my 50+ years of riding. In a world gone crazy and prices going up on everything I am happy to get on this little thumper and take off on solo adventures.
Yes it is all about the experience and getting out there, unless you are racing the Darkar, these bike are great for exploring. If you are interested I did another review at 40,000km going into more specific situations of how the bike went. th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
That is awesome Sarah, I got mine second had too, it doesn't matter how old they are if there maintain they are all good. Not sure if you have see the 40,000km review it goes over actually situation/terrain I took the bike through and shows how it performed, link below: th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
Great review and I think you are spot on! I’ve put 1400km on my new Himalayan and have had such fun just exploring the many back roads in my area. I also ride solo, so going fast is not the point, getting home in one piece while just enjoying the ride is what I’m after. Cost/smile ratio of the Himalayan is really great. Nice to see you’ve gotten 20,000 reliable km’s so far. Looking forward to your next adventure!
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here. love the Cost/smile ratio, it definitely delivers on that. it's over 24 000km now. hopefully I'll be uploading the first episode of the new series soon.
Glad it helped mate, if you want to see how it performs off road on trail, rough tracks, river bed crossing and up steep rocky hills. Check out the latest episode th-cam.com/video/30ZdQxHJ8OA/w-d-xo.html
That's awesome you're enjoying your's. I have done another review at 40,000km if you haven't seen it. I pushed the bike a lot further when traveling across to the west. Flinders Ranges and into the bungle bungles was a lot of fun.
Thanks mate. Glad you got something out of it. The next two episodes I push the bike hard to see if I can find its limits. It surpassed what I thought it could do.
One of the best reviews I've seen on the Himalayan! For me, it's a perfect entry level bike to learn basic offroad skills and have a great time. I refer to mine as the old fergy tractor of the bike world ☺️ Perfect to build confidence and explore our beautiful country. I had mine lowered (I'm 5'4) so I can flat foot and we've done some pretty amazing off-road stuff. Thanks for the review and can't wait to see where you go next!
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here. Glad you enjoyed it Terri, yes there great at getting out there exploring. hopefully I'll be able to start uploading the next series soon
Great review. The best bike is the one the rider can afford and be on the road. Chasing the "perfect" bike is an illusion that cost time wasted that never can be recuperated. Thanks for sharing
Great video Joe! I have been watching a ton of videos regarding the Himalayan because this might be my first bike🤞. And your video has been the first where every one of your opinions is very much what I was looking for! I'm looking for a simple chill adventure bike to simply explore with. I don't care about doing gnarly jumps, climbing up 80 degree rockfaces or doing 200km/h on the freeway/highway and it seems that a lot of other reviews really dog on the Himalayan for being slow or not being able to handle the hardcore rough stuff. You've really solidified that the Himalayan is probably the perfect bike for what I'm looking for, a great starter bike that can still take you on 20,000kms of adventures! Thanks!
It's great to hear the review helped. Yes It's all about what you as the rider are looking for in a bike, and by the sounds of it the Himalayan would fit what you are after. I have a mate who rides off road a lot, started on a 690KTM, then went to a 500KTM, destroyed his knee, recovered, then went to a 300KTM EXC but now is on a 250KTM EXC as it suit the trails he rides. It took him a while to work it out, it's not always about the most powerful, the fastest etc, it seems a lot of egos make decisions. The Himalayan is a great starting bike and if you find you want something more, the resale prices are not too much of a drop so it easy to move to something else. Have fun out there.
I hired one recently for a bike ride through the Himalayas for about 10 days. I absolutely loved it. Brought back some nice memories from my younger days. I can’t wait for the next trip. Dec hopefully. Looking to buy either this or the scram. Mid life crisis… bring it on. Great content mate. Loving your adventures.
That sounds like an awesome trip. Hopefully I might be able to do it in the not to distant future. Yes I can't wait for my mid life crisis, I wonder what it will bring.
Hope you got something from it. I'll be doing a 40,000km review soon, I have pushed the bike a lot further off road, dry river beds, steep hill climbs, deeper water crossings and ridden 1000km days in the heat. So I'll let you know how it handled it all. Chile is one place I would really like to ride and explore.
You nailed this review! I think you really understand what this bike is about. I recently got mine and it was for the exact same reasons you explained. Look forwards to more adventures .
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here. Thanks Simon, glad you enjoyed it. Yes they are the right bike for exploring. hopefully I'll be able to upload the first episode soon
Love it! Great review. My only motorcycle is a 125cc Honda Grom currently. But I'm ready to move up and the Himalayan just seems to do everything I would want while still looking unique. I just love that it looks like a bike that rolled off of the Indiana Jones movie set.
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here. Thanks Aaron, glad you found it informative. yes you are right it wouldn't be out of place on an Indiana Jones film
Nice review! Reflects my views of my 2022 Himalayan. I've now put on over 12,000 km in Argentina. Half pavement, half NOT! I sold my beloved Indian Vintage and got this little tractor. Quite a change and not many regrets. I did put on the 16T front pinion and that was a game changer for me. Every gear is longer, and longer legs on the highway for very cheap.
Yes, different bikes for different purposes, and this one has it purpose written on it, build to ride conditions like the Himalayas. Not sure if you have seen but I have now done another review at 40,000km about certain riding condition I encounter when riding around Australia if that interest you th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
I agree with others on here. A straight forward honest review. The REH has just taken me on a 888 mile camping trip around south west Wales . The trip involved a few 'gree lanes' to which the Himalayan just soaked up. A great review of a great utilitarian motorcycle. Summed up perfectly. Nice one Joe. 😊
Thanks mate, glad you liked it. Sounds like fun your trip around Wales, it wild how you finished on 888 miles. I just put up the 3rd episode of the new series where I really put the REH though it's paces up steep rocky climbs, it took it all in it's stride.
Hi Joe. You're doing what I did in 92. I took a year and did the grand tour all over Australia. Brings back memories. You know what you're doing but be careful. Thanks for videos. I just might buy a Himalayan and do it all again. Cheers from 🇨🇦. Ray.
I am sure it would’ve been a lot different back in 92. The good old days of paper Maps. I wait to watch the next episode from the Flinders Rangers, and see the capability of the Himalayan. It surprised me. Thanks for the support
I hope it helped, I have a review of the Scram 411 coming out on Friday, after riding it around New Zealand, and go over the differences between the Himalayan 411 and the Scram 411 if that interests you.
I have 2 Himalayans with 20,000 miles on both of them, your spot on have ridden on highway dirt in west Texas new Mexico, Utah, never tow my bike I ride all the way there, no issues no problems, looking forward to the new 452 Himalayan coming in November 2024. SJ
They look like awesome spots to ride, great to see your bikes getting the job done. Yes the new bike looks interesting, I think it is released here in the next month, if I can get my hands on one I'll do a review of it too. Not sure if you have seen it but I also did another review of the bike after 40,000km, but this one is on more specific experience with the bike in different situations. th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
7:00 about standing up. I just bought this bike as my first bike. And while ive only been on a bike two days since i bought it (and did my first ever ride about). It felt so natural and easy to just stand and ride the bike.
That's awesome it feels right. I think they must have spend a lot of time thinking about the standing position as you say it feels natural. If you are interested I did another review at 40,000km where I showed example of me pushing the bike further than I thought it was capable of. th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here. The Himalayan might be like a tractor but isn't the KLR like a tank, basically indestructible and will go though anything. filming the next series now, hopefully I'll be able to upload the first episode soon. thanks for the support.
Idk why but I went from sport bikes to the more upright positioned sport bikes. Then out of seemingly nowhere I bought an old Kawasaki KLR 650. Almost instantly it became my favorite bike. It's like I truly became free. There were no limits on that thing. I could travel hours. I daily rode it to work for years through all weather. I threw on some decent knobbies and I would meet coworkers out in the forest dirt and mud trails. I rode through water above my toes. Best part about that? I rode from my house out there and played real quick on a trail and went back to the meeting spot before anyone had their 4wheelers and dirtbikes unloaded and ready to ride. Would ride through trails and even had to wait up for most of them. Then I was back home before they were loaded and exhausted from trying to load their pickup trucks. What an experience that KLR was. And I could pop wheelies on it just to add that cherry on it. Damn, I miss that bike. Lol. I'm just learning about this bikes existence as I'm looking to buy another bike. It's been a while since I've had a bike. Great review. I love how this bike looks. Even though it's a lower cc....that isn't everything I've learned.
What a great review. Matching the bike to the intended use make all kinds of sense. Although, to be honest, I just got what was available, rather than what was likely closer to optimal.
Thanks mate, yes it better to be out there exploring on a bike (what every kind) than to be waiting for one. There is another reviews i did on the bike after 40,000km, it goes into actual situations I used the bike and how far I pushed it, if you're interested. th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
I've watched loads of (and loved) your travelogues and I think this video is, as expected, an informed, really well-balanced, honest review. Many thanks for your efforts, in content, in videoing this and in editing. A solid, polished effort that other channels could learn a lot from. Kudos mate! Happy travels! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and its hard to come a cross a signal out here. thanks François, I'm glad you got something out of it and thanks for the continued support.
Thank you for making this video. I've been thinking about buying one of these and your video may have pushed me the last little bit to pull the trigger.
Great philosophy on bike riding! And you are spot on: If your philosophy/expectations/wishes on what bike riding is supposed to be begs for speed, power, gadgets, the 411 is probably the wrong bike. But with the right mindset, it's a gem. BTW...The brakehandles have also been changed, haven't they. I have changed mine to something like yours, because the original ones demands bigger hands for optimal handling.
Yes all bikes a built for purpose, just got to match the right one with what you are doing. I bought my bike second hand, so it already had the LED light on it, but it is this one, link below. www.ebay.com.au/itm/134008462297?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20240130164827%26meid%3Df4a79a3b594a4dcabe2a30363135ca2f%26pid%3D101959%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26itm%3D134008462297%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DRecentlyViewedItemsV2%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p4375194.c101959.m146925&_trkparms=parentrq%3Ade1abfa018d0ab8d3ae4835dfffee6b2%7Cpageci%3A08707487-d386-11ee-ab80-d2b9daad0fae%7Ciid%3A1%7Cvlpname%3Avlp_homepage
Thanks Joe for your honesty. I had one of these for five years. Did similar mileage. Loved the bike and it suited my style of exploring. Had a few mechanical issues but not to fazed by them. Hired them in Morocco and Mongolia and just loved riding in those countries. Perfect for being up on the pegs. Looking forward to hearing/seeing more of your Himalayan adventures. Annie
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here. yes up on the pegs is the place to be as it normally means you on some kind of dirt track or road. Those places would be awesome to ride. Hopefully I'll be able to start posting the next series soon. Thanks for the support
Hello Joe, thank you for keeping it real once again, great review, there a great bike as they are bog standard and honest bike. Thanks again and keep the vids coming.
sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and its hard to come a cross a signal out here. Yes, love a tool that has a purpose and delivers, working on more videos Alan shouldn't be long now
Glad you got something from it mate. I'll do another review of it at the end of this trip (around 40,000km) as I have definitely pushed it a lot further on this loop around Australia.
Hi Joe. a good honest review mate. I hired a Himalayan in New Delhi and headed into the mountains; I liked it a lot. It did everything i asked of it and more. I probably would have lowered the gearing for a better crawl speed so as not to slip tjhe clutch as much and rarely hit 80kmh on back roads so top speed was not an issue but who wants to fly by great scenery? The bike was comfortable, confidence inspiring and 'easy' to ride. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, and am trying to work out how to do so in India to do even more mountain riding
yes it seems to be totally purpose built with the Himalayans in mind hence the name. Buy new is easy, go to the RE stores If you are after second hand this site would help. droom.in/bikes/used/royal-enfield-himalayan this is a different model but there is some information here that could. help imltravel.com/buy-royal-enfield-bullet-in-india/
i had a bmw 1150GSA and did some touring, but the astronomical amount of money I had to spend on repairs along the way I could have quite easily bought 2 himalayans that would simply just have worked... Plus it was such a heavy bastard it was near impossible to lift it on your own... I really want a himalayan, but I am a large fellow at 1.97m tall and weighing in at 110kg, so practicality and comfort would likely prevent me from enjoying the long trips on one of these... I would love it for all the reasons you love it though... simplicity, durability, practicality and economy if exploring is your thing... Unfortunately there arent many bigger bikes that can promise all those benefits for the larger lads.
I rode over to Western Australia and did another review of the bike after 40,000km (it is now over 50,000km) and still no issue, as I mention I got it second hand with about 1600km with all the gear on it for $5990. As that was the limit of my budget, I am very thankful that they forced on the basics and made it more like a tractor so it just keeps going, as i think that should be the starting point for a bike. Apparently the new 450 Himalaya has more room in the cockpit and adjustable seat, but I am not sure if that would be enough with your height which is a bummer, as they are a great bike for exploring. I hope you can find a bike that work for what you want to ride.
sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and its hard to come a cross a signal out here. yes it get the job done. Cool there is so much to explore here I'm out here filming the next series so hopefully not too long before I can start uploading.
You're welcome mate. Glad you got something out of it. If you want to see the Himalayan and it's ability off road on tracks, trails, rocky river beds and step rocky washed out hill climbs, check out the next 2 episodes coming this week and next. I was surprise of it's capability.
Great review Joe and spot on with your assessment. Sure, they’ve got their limitations, but the price/mile (and smile!) ratio just can’t be beat if relaxed exploring is your thing. It’s like the old saying, horses for courses.
haha I like that saying Brad, price/mile smile. sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and its hard to come a cross a signal out here
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here. yes they have there own style. working on the next series now, hopefully it won't be too long before I can start uploading
I rode a rented Himalayan in Sikkim (upper Himalayas) for a week and while it did fine, I think it was badly maintained and that ruined my experience. The brakes didn’t stick, the rear tyre was worn out and kept slipping on Hairpin turns, headlights didn’t work apart from main beam and when roads were good it didn’t have enough power to rev it out. The new Himalayan just launched and I think it’ll be priced well, so I think it’s gonna be a winner!
Yes that bikes sound like a real rental bike and has been trashed, you think the rental place would keep the maintained especially safety stuff like headlights and tyres. Yes the new one will looks good, will have to have a go on one and see the difference.
Great review mate spot on like the 300 these bikes are all about trouble free and budget exploration and allow you to do that without reliability and extreme expense so you can just ride and not fiddle with the bike all the time.
Such a clear and concice video, not overtop. im thinking about getting one soon, not a fan of the looks of the 450 i think the 411 looks a lot nicer =)
Thanks mate, I hope it helped. Yes the new one is a different look. Not sure if you are interested but I also did a review at 40,000km, which is a bit different and goes into examples of how the bike performed in specific conditions (link below if interested). th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
@@freewayproject will definitely have a look at that also, not quite planning to use to the same level, but as a commute and weekend exploring. Hopefully going to pop into the local dealer today and take a look and size it up :)
Thanks for the review mate! You just convinced me to buy one for a roadtrip around the US with my wife, I am old school mechanic so I don't really know much about the new electronics in modern bikes, and this bike looks perfect for the road trip!
Glad it helped. by the sounds of it, it will be the idea bike if you're just cruising and exploring and the added bonus that you can service and fix any issue is ideal. I am now up to 40,000km/25,000miles and the bike is still all good.
Fantastic review. You covered more topics than most. I prefer listening to riders who’ve had the bike for a while and used it properly and in different terrain. No good listening to someone who basically just rides it on weekends or to the shops. I’m getting the itch to ride again. My first bike was a 1978 Yamaha XT500. I learned to ride on that bike and after passing my test I rode from Durban to Johannesburg, only stopping for fuel and food. It was a beautiful bike. Don’t know why they don’t still make an updated version today. Anyway, the Himalayan has got lots of style, it looks good and performance seems great as an all rounder. Like you, I’d prefer it to be a more powerful motor. But unlike you; I’m still dreaming about it. Thanks for a great review, I really enjoyed it. I wish you years of fun on your bikes. Cheers from the UK😊
Thanks mate, glad you got something out of it. Your first long ride sounds like an adventure. I am now at about 40,000km on the bike and still going well.
Hi Joe, I just watched your review of the Royal Enfield Himalayan. A great review and agree these simple bikes are really great value for money. I have a Royal Enfield Meteor 350cc and just love the simple mechanics of the bike. Totally agree with you on just get out there and explore 👍 Really enjoying your videos and looking forward to the next episode and adventure. Seen all the videos to date....
Definitely an awesome in depth review 👏 Pretty much got me decided on a himalayan! Ive been looking for a lighter weight adventure style bike, thats simple, reliable, and easy to service
Spot on the money Joe. Too many reviews trying to sell big dual purpose bikes as enduro machines (a clever marketing ploy by manufacturers). I like your realistic and practical reporting 👍
Thanks mate, I was hoping it would be informative for people looking at them. In episode 3 of the new series ROAM I end up testing the off rode capability of the bike on rocky, washed out, steep hill climb trails the result was surprisingly.
@@freewayproject I like your term exploring. In the early 80’s it is what we did then on XT500’s. Then we went to enduro and offroad racing and drifted back into exploring in the early 2000’s. By then exploring had become “Adventure Bikes/Riding”, the manufacturers tagged on by 2010 and you can see where we are now 😎
You are welcome Greg, I hope it helped. I will do another one when I finish the current trip as I'll be over 40,000km. I road a lot more off road up very steep rocky climbs and through a lot of rivers, so will update on that, I was surprised on how well it did.
I think they've made a very nice looking bike. Very balanced looking. A lot of the adventure bikes have a very radical look to them. Simple by design, our BMW airhead logo.
Someone said to me that the bike looks like it could’ve ridden straight out of a Indiana Jones movie. They did build things with style back in the period. Those films are set in. I’m not a big fan of the pre-mantis look on a lot of current bikes, but people do seem to like them so it’s great that there is variety.
Thanks mate, hope you got something from it. In the next couple of episodes of the ride coming up, I take the Himalayan on an out back dirt trails, dry river beds, steep hill climbs, and it really surprised me how it got through it all.
EBC HH cintered pads will bring the braking to an acceptable level. I did swap the front calipers out for a set off a 2015 harley 750. I can activate the antilock system on pavement now.
sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and its hard to come a cross a signal out here. it was on a scheduled upload as I had left on the next adventure. Hope it helped.
@Joe Ryan I just found your channel a couple of days ago. After watching your Tassie stuff I was thinking that it would be great to get your opinion on the Himalayan. I just bought a used (10,000k) 2020 model and am enjoying it massively. I have old bikes that I ride and enjoy but this R.E. is inspiring me to bugger off into the scrub again! Birdsville here I come! P.s Old VW's never die, they just keep getting cooler!
Thank you for the information Joe. I love the fact that it is an explorer bike. I rode years ago and really like the Royal Enfield Himalayan. Also all your videos are great.
Thanks for a great review, I have a trip to Cape York coming up on my v strom 1000, love the bike, but it’s that time in life to downsize, a your review certainly makes the hymalayan look like the replacement.👍
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here. thanks Gerard, glad it was informative.
Good review. Just back from a few days in the Flinders Ranges on my Himalayan and only dropped it once, centre stand caught on fencing wire. I can pick it up and I'm 65yo. Cheers
sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and its hard to come a cross a signal out here. Well from the other comments it looks like you've picked a good bike to start with
sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and its hard to come a cross a signal out here. Awesome, if you know what you're buying and what to expect it's an awesome bike. You'll have fun exploring
They are a great bike if you want to go and explore. Episode 2 and 3 from the second series shows it off road capabilities which I was surprise how well it did.
@@freewayproject is right mate I will check it out, I haven't got 10-15k to spend on a next level bike, don't think I need one, I'd be happy with this tbf
I’m just not strong enough to pick up a GS, and I drop my bike a lot. I’m not sure most GS riders would want to take there bike where there is a good chance of dropping it and we’ll if spent $40,000 on a bike you wouldn’t want to damage it
Nice review mate, could you tell me how heavy you and your gear is ? Been offered one locally and thinking about it for a few days away with the wife here in sumatra, roads are shit, no chance of doing any speed anyway. Thx again ..
Hi mate, I hope it helped. I have never weighed my gear, but at a rough guess on the longer trip around Australia maybe 140 - 150kg, with the jerry can full, all the gear and water. Oh I am a few island over at the moment, trying to work out the logistic of riding the whole Island change from near Wetar Island near Timor to Banda Aceh. (and I am here surfing too haha) Oh if you haven't see the second review at 40,000km that goes into more specific situations I came across here is the link for that th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
Good honest review Joe and it seems the right tool for the job in hand which is a bit of adventure at a leisurely pace, I don’t actually own a Himalayan but Will probably be down sizing in the near future and the Himalayan could be on my radar as a future bike and as you say you’ve got to take them for what their are it’s certainly no race horse more of a good dependable donkey that will always get you home , so looking forward to your next adventure 👍
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here. if you're not in a rush it might be worth waiting for the new 450 Himalayan expected to be released by the end of the year, more power, 6th gear, liquid cooled etc... hopefully I'll be able to start uploading the new series soon.
@@freewayproject na bother Joe thanks for the reply glad to hear your back on your travels mate 👍 been hearing about the new Himalayan coming out and am lucky to have a dealer a couple a miles away so should be a able to organise a test ride when the time is right 😉 anyway enjoy your trip and am looking forward to your next video 👍
Whatever club you belong to, I'm also a member. I opted for a ktm 390 adv but am very happy with my decision to go smaller, though being a tech head I wanted the mod cons. Never mind that most of the mods are 'cons' (really, what the heck is traction control doing on such a small bike). But its fly-by-wire throttle has meant I can add speed based cruise control which makes the bike feel like a much bigger one as you cruise up hill and down dale at unvarying speeds. Being a solo rider mostly I also wanted something I could pick up easily when exploring off tarmac. I'm pretty sure I would have been just as happy getting a Himalayan or a KLR 650, but I've got the ktm and am quite happy enough. The main thing is I'm riding in a sustainable way. Hope to meet you on the road Joe.
That’s awesome Graeme. The KTM 390 is a great bike too and yes having a bike you could pick up is a must when riding alone. Whatever bike get you out there is the right bike to be on.
@@freewayproject Yeah, power is the only issue I would have with this bike.. it's stunning and has a nice repairability, but I would gladly pay 1k more just to have that tiny bit more stability on the highway. :)
That Silver Himalayan have been on my list for long, In India Yezdi adventure came close to appeal to me, it looks same and has great braking with superb top end, but lacks low end torque, now eagerly waiting for Himalayan 450 or else will get 411
Yes the Himalayan has a good bottom end, I guess if you're going off road more it would be there better choice but if you are going on the Highway more then the Yezdi might be better. We will have to see what the 450 is like maybe the best of both.
I recently did a similar review I guess you’d say. Explained why I picked the Royal Enfield Himalayan as well as my little Honda Monkey. You and I seem to feel very similar and what the REH is all about. It seems to everything “well” not better or worse then the others but “well”… and that was what I needed. Loved watching your adventures and I don’t know what camera you use but MAN😮 does it have a great picture. Thanks for your time, I’ll be waiting for the next one. While making my own 😊. Willie
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here. Yes the bike gets the job done at what ever you though at it. I am filming the next series now so hopefully I'll be able to upload the first episode soon. Thanks for the support. By the way, the camera is a Sony A7SIII (what I use for my main projects)
@@freewayproject Hey, no worries!! I like what you’re doing, actually I’m envious but we won’t get in to that😂. I live in a very overcrowded area, where people’s driving habits and skills don’t really compliment a free roaming biker. I was born and raised here, when it was small, now it takes 10min to drive 3 miles. For me, I’d have to ride 4 hours to get out far enough away to enjoy a ride… but I’m not giving up, I just get up earlier than the rest of the world!! Lol Thanks for the camera info, I’m sure I can’t afford it but I’ll look into it!! 😂 Thanks, Willie Newport News, Va.
@@freewayproject I believe it will be I live in rural west Australia I love your journey tho I'm on episode 2 question tho do you think the bike could carry a light weight swag rather then a tent system?
@@johnswallow3710 yes, I have a couple of Lithium batteries and a Solar Panel I am carrying on mine at the bike is fine. Weight will affect the performance if you do over load it, it just depends on the time of riding you are wanting to do.
Yes, to all your points you make. If you are interested I have now reviewed the bike at 40,000km and go over specific circumstances of riding the bike ( th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html )
Glad you got something from it, I am sure you'll love yours. If you want to see how the bike handles off road, trails tracks dry river bed crossing, rocky hill climbs you can check out episode 2 and 3 from the second series.
You can tilt the screen forward by moving the back screws to the holes above and it does give you a little higher wind protection. Worth a try and costs nothing but a little time.
I've got a 650 royal enfield interceptor , ok , not the fastest bike on road ...but ....it's half the price ( and horse power !!!) Of a triumph , really great bike for sight seeing, ok for a leisurely speed two up .After watching your video i'm now thinking of getting the 411 Himalayan for myself (have got some excellent wooded area's near where i live ). Peace out ✌
@@freewayproject , thanks for your speedy reply 👍. When i get the Himalayan and have done a ride or two i will send you a personal review of the bike . Until then keep your knees in the breeze and stay safe . Peace out ✌
Thanks mate, I have done another 20,00km on the bike so will do another review soon to explain what I have learnt about it's capabilities and how it is running with another 20,000km on it
I hope you got something from the video, If you want to know how the bike deals with off road there are a couple episodes in the new series in a Place called the Flinders Rangers where I put the bike to the test.
Thanks mate, glad you got something from the review. I got mine off eBay, they were shipped from India, it took a few week for them to get here. I searched: royal enfield himalayan 5L jerry cans there are also 3L jerry can so make sure you check the size
So, I have a 2009 Defender 110 and a 2020 one of these. Who needs technology when you can have this much fun on 2 and 4 wheels and fix most issues with a hammer and a 10mm socket ;-)
haha love it, exactly my thoughts. I love those Defenders. I have a 1975 VW Kombi, same deal, doesn't take much to keep them running. Not sure if you saw the second review at 40,000km ( I am now over 50,000km on the bike) it goes into specific situations on the bike and I was surprise what it was capable of when pushing the bike off road.
@@freewayproject yeah, it was the 40k I saw first. These bikes do have their issues but at the price point then I’ll take those. I can buy a complete new Himmy for the cost of a bust GS fairing (and that’s my dream bike - would be lovely alongside my 1984 K75s :-) ) These little RE’s though are where the fun is. And fun that is part of the DNA of motorcycling world wide.
@@freewayproject and just to add, my bike hero is Elspeth Beard, not Ewan McGregor. But yes, it was Itchy Boots that convinced me that the RE was the way to go and not the big Beemer.
@@freewayproject wishing you enormous wealth in future 🤑💰🤑 so that you can buy lots of new toys and make new n more exciting videos... Just say it loud JAI SHREE RAM 🚩🚩🚩
My youngest son and his partner, both riding Himmy's, recently covered 15, 000 miles around Europe, much of it off-road. A mere thirty-five countries spanning Gibraltar to Finand and a lot of places in between. That little journey took just four months.
They did their own servicing and tyre changes en route; the only mechanical failure was a broken (after-market) pannier frame, which was easily welded up by a local mechanic. Job done.
Both bikes were 'dropped' loads of times but, hey! Pick up the bike, and it will run! Both bikes are still in use, one of them still doing a daily commute totalling sixty-five miles; in all (UK) weather!
Himalayan 411, a great no-nonsense motorcycle, a future classic! Love and peace.
That sounds like an epic trip your son and his partner did. Yes the bikes are easy to work on and seem to be very reliable. I am about to do another review of the bike at 40,000km as on the trip i have just finished I pushed the bike a lot harder and took it places I thought it might not handle but it just keep going and had no issues at all.
That sounds like a fantastic European trip, I'd love to do that...just deciding what year Himmy 411 to get.
Used or new.
I have 19,800 kms on my Himy. Your reflections are exactly on point. Many other reviews call this a "beginners" Adv bike. I call it my Regressor Adv. Going back to basics and simplicity. I get as many smiles per mile off of this motorcycle as any I have owned in my 50+ years of riding. In a world gone crazy and prices going up on everything I am happy to get on this little thumper and take off on solo adventures.
Yes it is all about the experience and getting out there, unless you are racing the Darkar, these bike are great for exploring.
If you are interested I did another review at 40,000km going into more specific situations of how the bike went. th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
Just got a 4 year old Himalayan It's a cross between a tractor & a bicycle. I love it.
That is awesome Sarah, I got mine second had too, it doesn't matter how old they are if there maintain they are all good. Not sure if you have see the 40,000km review it goes over actually situation/terrain I took the bike through and shows how it performed, link below: th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
My gosh, the framing and overall looks of the standing shot are beautiful!
Thanks mate, I hope it was helpful.
Great review and I think you are spot on! I’ve put 1400km on my new Himalayan and have had such fun just exploring the many back roads in my area. I also ride solo, so going fast is not the point, getting home in one piece while just enjoying the ride is what I’m after. Cost/smile ratio of the Himalayan is really great. Nice to see you’ve gotten 20,000 reliable km’s so far. Looking forward to your next adventure!
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here.
love the Cost/smile ratio, it definitely delivers on that.
it's over 24 000km now. hopefully I'll be uploading the first episode of the new series soon.
I’ve just taken a test ride on the Himalayan and now I’m keen to get one. Seeing this review is very very timely and has been really helpful thanks!
Glad it helped mate, if you want to see how it performs off road on trail, rough tracks, river bed crossing and up steep rocky hills. Check out the latest episode th-cam.com/video/30ZdQxHJ8OA/w-d-xo.html
Cost/smile ratio of the Himalayan is really great... MINT
Came here for the review, stayed for the lovely pacing and editing of the video. Really good!
Thanks Wilmer, I hope you got something from it and that you enjoy some of the other series.
Just traded my BMW for a 2023 Himalayan. I didn’t smile this much on my BMW!
That's awesome you're enjoying your's. I have done another review at 40,000km if you haven't seen it. I pushed the bike a lot further when traveling across to the west. Flinders Ranges and into the bungle bungles was a lot of fun.
Joe, I love your honest, no-nonsense assessment of the bike. In fact, your trip already confirms the capabilities of this bike. Thank you!
Thanks mate. Glad you got something out of it. The next two episodes I push the bike hard to see if I can find its limits. It surpassed what I thought it could do.
One of the best reviews I've seen on the Himalayan! For me, it's a perfect entry level bike to learn basic offroad skills and have a great time. I refer to mine as the old fergy tractor of the bike world ☺️ Perfect to build confidence and explore our beautiful country. I had mine lowered (I'm 5'4) so I can flat foot and we've done some pretty amazing off-road stuff. Thanks for the review and can't wait to see where you go next!
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here.
Glad you enjoyed it Terri, yes there great at getting out there exploring.
hopefully I'll be able to start uploading the next series soon
I was just wondering for shorter riders, I'm 5'3, I hope I can ride this bike too!
Perfect description… an old grey fergie…
Not overly powerful but it’ll get you there !
Great review. The best bike is the one the rider can afford and be on the road. Chasing the "perfect" bike is an illusion that cost time wasted that never can be recuperated.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks mate, glad you liked it. Yes what ever gets you out there is definitely the right bike.
Great video Joe! I have been watching a ton of videos regarding the Himalayan because this might be my first bike🤞. And your video has been the first where every one of your opinions is very much what I was looking for! I'm looking for a simple chill adventure bike to simply explore with. I don't care about doing gnarly jumps, climbing up 80 degree rockfaces or doing 200km/h on the freeway/highway and it seems that a lot of other reviews really dog on the Himalayan for being slow or not being able to handle the hardcore rough stuff. You've really solidified that the Himalayan is probably the perfect bike for what I'm looking for, a great starter bike that can still take you on 20,000kms of adventures! Thanks!
It's great to hear the review helped. Yes It's all about what you as the rider are looking for in a bike, and by the sounds of it the Himalayan would fit what you are after. I have a mate who rides off road a lot, started on a 690KTM, then went to a 500KTM, destroyed his knee, recovered, then went to a 300KTM EXC but now is on a 250KTM EXC as it suit the trails he rides. It took him a while to work it out, it's not always about the most powerful, the fastest etc, it seems a lot of egos make decisions. The Himalayan is a great starting bike and if you find you want something more, the resale prices are not too much of a drop so it easy to move to something else.
Have fun out there.
I hired one recently for a bike ride through the Himalayas for about 10 days. I absolutely loved it. Brought back some nice memories from my younger days. I can’t wait for the next trip. Dec hopefully. Looking to buy either this or the scram. Mid life crisis… bring it on.
Great content mate. Loving your adventures.
And like you, I’m a photographer.
That sounds like an awesome trip. Hopefully I might be able to do it in the not to distant future. Yes I can't wait for my mid life crisis, I wonder what it will bring.
GREAT REVIEW MATE!!!!!!GREETINGS FROM CHILE!!!!!!
Hope you got something from it. I'll be doing a 40,000km review soon, I have pushed the bike a lot further off road, dry river beds, steep hill climbs, deeper water crossings and ridden 1000km days in the heat. So I'll let you know how it handled it all.
Chile is one place I would really like to ride and explore.
You nailed this review! I think you really understand what this bike is about. I recently got mine and it was for the exact same reasons you explained. Look forwards to more adventures .
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here.
Thanks Simon, glad you enjoyed it. Yes they are the right bike for exploring.
hopefully I'll be able to upload the first episode soon
These are great little bikes and grossly underrated! Stay upright mate 🙂
Thanks mate, in the next two episodes I try and push the Himalayan to its limit, which had me hanging on for dear life😂😂😂
Love it! Great review. My only motorcycle is a 125cc Honda Grom currently. But I'm ready to move up and the Himalayan just seems to do everything I would want while still looking unique. I just love that it looks like a bike that rolled off of the Indiana Jones movie set.
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here.
Thanks Aaron, glad you found it informative.
yes you are right it wouldn't be out of place on an Indiana Jones film
An excellent honest review, doing your adventuring slowly and enjoyably. I agree with your every word. Cheers mate.
Thanks mate, I did another review at 40,000km, where I talked about more specific situation I took the bike in and how it handled them.
Nice review! Reflects my views of my 2022 Himalayan. I've now put on over 12,000 km in Argentina. Half pavement, half NOT! I sold my beloved Indian Vintage and got this little tractor. Quite a change and not many regrets. I did put on the 16T front pinion and that was a game changer for me. Every gear is longer, and longer legs on the highway for very cheap.
Yes, different bikes for different purposes, and this one has it purpose written on it, build to ride conditions like the Himalayas.
Not sure if you have seen but I have now done another review at 40,000km about certain riding condition I encounter when riding around Australia if that interest you
th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
I agree with others on here. A straight forward honest review. The REH has just taken me on a 888 mile camping trip around south west Wales . The trip involved a few 'gree lanes' to which the Himalayan just soaked up.
A great review of a great utilitarian motorcycle. Summed up perfectly.
Nice one Joe. 😊
Thanks mate, glad you liked it. Sounds like fun your trip around Wales, it wild how you finished on 888 miles.
I just put up the 3rd episode of the new series where I really put the REH though it's paces up steep rocky climbs, it took it all in it's stride.
Hi Joe. You're doing what I did in 92. I took a year and did the grand tour all over Australia. Brings back memories. You know what you're doing but be careful. Thanks for videos. I just might buy a Himalayan and do it all again. Cheers from 🇨🇦. Ray.
I am sure it would’ve been a lot different back in 92. The good old days of paper Maps.
I wait to watch the next episode from the Flinders Rangers, and see the capability of the Himalayan. It surprised me.
Thanks for the support
Yes, paper maps but they were quite accurate, but always some surprises. I'll be following along. Safe travels. 🇨🇦 Ray
Once again a great review and it’s really interesting, thanks.
I hope it helped, I have a review of the Scram 411 coming out on Friday, after riding it around New Zealand, and go over the differences between the Himalayan 411 and the Scram 411 if that interests you.
I have 2 Himalayans with 20,000 miles on both of them, your spot on have ridden on highway dirt in west Texas new Mexico, Utah, never tow my bike I ride all the way there, no issues no problems, looking forward to the new 452 Himalayan coming in November 2024. SJ
They look like awesome spots to ride, great to see your bikes getting the job done. Yes the new bike looks interesting, I think it is released here in the next month, if I can get my hands on one I'll do a review of it too.
Not sure if you have seen it but I also did another review of the bike after 40,000km, but this one is on more specific experience with the bike in different situations. th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
7:00 about standing up. I just bought this bike as my first bike. And while ive only been on a bike two days since i bought it (and did my first ever ride about). It felt so natural and easy to just stand and ride the bike.
That's awesome it feels right. I think they must have spend a lot of time thinking about the standing position as you say it feels natural.
If you are interested I did another review at 40,000km where I showed example of me pushing the bike further than I thought it was capable of.
th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
And I love my " agriculrural" KLR for many of the same reasons Joe. Nice review, and we wait with baited breath for your next adventure. :-)
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here.
The Himalayan might be like a tractor but isn't the KLR like a tank, basically indestructible and will go though anything.
filming the next series now, hopefully I'll be able to upload the first episode soon.
thanks for the support.
Idk why but I went from sport bikes to the more upright positioned sport bikes. Then out of seemingly nowhere I bought an old Kawasaki KLR 650. Almost instantly it became my favorite bike. It's like I truly became free. There were no limits on that thing. I could travel hours. I daily rode it to work for years through all weather. I threw on some decent knobbies and I would meet coworkers out in the forest dirt and mud trails. I rode through water above my toes. Best part about that? I rode from my house out there and played real quick on a trail and went back to the meeting spot before anyone had their 4wheelers and dirtbikes unloaded and ready to ride. Would ride through trails and even had to wait up for most of them. Then I was back home before they were loaded and exhausted from trying to load their pickup trucks. What an experience that KLR was. And I could pop wheelies on it just to add that cherry on it. Damn, I miss that bike. Lol. I'm just learning about this bikes existence as I'm looking to buy another bike. It's been a while since I've had a bike. Great review. I love how this bike looks. Even though it's a lower cc....that isn't everything I've learned.
What a great review. Matching the bike to the intended use make all kinds of sense. Although, to be honest, I just got what was available, rather than what was likely closer to optimal.
Thanks mate, yes it better to be out there exploring on a bike (what every kind) than to be waiting for one.
There is another reviews i did on the bike after 40,000km, it goes into actual situations I used the bike and how far I pushed it, if you're interested.
th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
I've watched loads of (and loved) your travelogues and I think this video is, as expected, an informed, really well-balanced, honest review. Many thanks for your efforts, in content, in videoing this and in editing. A solid, polished effort that other channels could learn a lot from. Kudos mate! Happy travels! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and its hard to come a cross a signal out here.
thanks François, I'm glad you got something out of it and thanks for the continued support.
Thank you for making this video. I've been thinking about buying one of these and your video may have pushed me the last little bit to pull the trigger.
Thanks mate, hope it was informative. If it's the type of bike that suits your riding, they are a lot of fun.
Great philosophy on bike riding! And you are spot on: If your philosophy/expectations/wishes on what bike riding is supposed to be begs for speed, power, gadgets, the 411 is probably the wrong bike. But with the right mindset, it's a gem.
BTW...The brakehandles have also been changed, haven't they. I have changed mine to something like yours, because the original ones demands bigger hands for optimal handling.
Btw...what make and type is your headlight?!
Yes all bikes a built for purpose, just got to match the right one with what you are doing.
I bought my bike second hand, so it already had the LED light on it, but it is this one, link below.
www.ebay.com.au/itm/134008462297?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20240130164827%26meid%3Df4a79a3b594a4dcabe2a30363135ca2f%26pid%3D101959%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26itm%3D134008462297%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DRecentlyViewedItemsV2%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p4375194.c101959.m146925&_trkparms=parentrq%3Ade1abfa018d0ab8d3ae4835dfffee6b2%7Cpageci%3A08707487-d386-11ee-ab80-d2b9daad0fae%7Ciid%3A1%7Cvlpname%3Avlp_homepage
Thanks Joe for your honesty. I had one of these for five years. Did similar mileage. Loved the bike and it suited my style of exploring. Had a few mechanical issues but not to fazed by them. Hired them in Morocco and Mongolia and just loved riding in those countries. Perfect for being up on the pegs. Looking forward to hearing/seeing more of your Himalayan adventures.
Annie
Oh. I forgot. I’ve ridden one in Zanskar Valley in northern India. Fabulous fun.
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here.
yes up on the pegs is the place to be as it normally means you on some kind of dirt track or road. Those places would be awesome to ride.
Hopefully I'll be able to start posting the next series soon. Thanks for the support
👍 no nonsense bike way to go mate nothing wrong with that ripper riding beaut 💪
Yes it seem to have just the stuff and ability you need (well I need) to explore.
Nice review, mate! The other one too, with 40k. Simple things are the best in life. Sorry for all the other folks who never get that.
Thanks mate, I hope it helped. They are a great bike for getting the job done if you want to explore.
Hello Joe, thank you for keeping it real once again, great review, there a great bike as they are bog standard and honest bike. Thanks again and keep the vids coming.
sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and its hard to come a cross a signal out here. Yes, love a tool that has a purpose and delivers, working on more videos Alan shouldn't be long now
Fantastic review by a rider with a riding style I can relate to. Thanks for sharing your experience with the bike.:)
Glad you got something from it mate. I'll do another review of it at the end of this trip (around 40,000km) as I have definitely pushed it a lot further on this loop around Australia.
Hi Joe. a good honest review mate. I hired a Himalayan in New Delhi and headed into the mountains; I liked it a lot. It did everything i asked of it and more. I probably would have lowered the gearing for a better crawl speed so as not to slip tjhe clutch as much and rarely hit 80kmh on back roads so top speed was not an issue but who wants to fly by great scenery? The bike was comfortable, confidence inspiring and 'easy' to ride. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, and am trying to work out how to do so in India to do even more mountain riding
yes it seems to be totally purpose built with the Himalayans in mind hence the name.
Buy new is easy, go to the RE stores
If you are after second hand this site would help.
droom.in/bikes/used/royal-enfield-himalayan
this is a different model but there is some information here that could. help
imltravel.com/buy-royal-enfield-bullet-in-india/
i had a bmw 1150GSA and did some touring, but the astronomical amount of money I had to spend on repairs along the way I could have quite easily bought 2 himalayans that would simply just have worked... Plus it was such a heavy bastard it was near impossible to lift it on your own... I really want a himalayan, but I am a large fellow at 1.97m tall and weighing in at 110kg, so practicality and comfort would likely prevent me from enjoying the long trips on one of these... I would love it for all the reasons you love it though... simplicity, durability, practicality and economy if exploring is your thing... Unfortunately there arent many bigger bikes that can promise all those benefits for the larger lads.
I rode over to Western Australia and did another review of the bike after 40,000km (it is now over 50,000km) and still no issue, as I mention I got it second hand with about 1600km with all the gear on it for $5990. As that was the limit of my budget, I am very thankful that they forced on the basics and made it more like a tractor so it just keeps going, as i think that should be the starting point for a bike.
Apparently the new 450 Himalaya has more room in the cockpit and adjustable seat, but I am not sure if that would be enough with your height which is a bummer, as they are a great bike for exploring.
I hope you can find a bike that work for what you want to ride.
Awesome review bro. I’m also an explorer of oz on my himmy. Love the life. 👍 great series mate.
sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and its hard to come a cross a signal out here.
yes it get the job done. Cool there is so much to explore here
I'm out here filming the next series so hopefully not too long before I can start uploading.
Buy yourself several tins of sardines. Easy to store and very nutritious.
Thanks for the honest review!
Hope you got something from the review, I have been sticking to the tins of tuna and salmon 😁
Great video and totally enjoyed. Informative and views much appreciated. Thanks.
You're welcome mate. Glad you got something out of it. If you want to see the Himalayan and it's ability off road on tracks, trails, rocky river beds and step rocky washed out hill climbs, check out the next 2 episodes coming this week and next. I was surprise of it's capability.
Great review of a truly great bike ! Cheers.
Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it.
Great review Joe and spot on with your assessment. Sure, they’ve got their limitations, but the price/mile (and smile!) ratio just can’t be beat if relaxed exploring is your thing. It’s like the old saying, horses for courses.
haha I like that saying Brad, price/mile smile.
sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and its hard to come a cross a signal out here
Fantastic review Joe, I just need to get out and ride mine a lot more ….. maybe being 74 has a bit to do with that … but I’m trying … cheers mate ,,,
All the same reasons I got myself one plus love the look of it. Looking forward to seeing the next adventure.
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here.
yes they have there own style.
working on the next series now, hopefully it won't be too long before I can start uploading
I rode a rented Himalayan in Sikkim (upper Himalayas) for a week and while it did fine, I think it was badly maintained and that ruined my experience. The brakes didn’t stick, the rear tyre was worn out and kept slipping on Hairpin turns, headlights didn’t work apart from main beam and when roads were good it didn’t have enough power to rev it out. The new Himalayan just launched and I think it’ll be priced well, so I think it’s gonna be a winner!
Yes that bikes sound like a real rental bike and has been trashed, you think the rental place would keep the maintained especially safety stuff like headlights and tyres.
Yes the new one will looks good, will have to have a go on one and see the difference.
Great review mate spot on like the 300 these bikes are all about trouble free and budget exploration and allow you to do that without reliability and extreme expense so you can just ride and not fiddle with the bike all the time.
thanks Tony, yes simplicity works
Such a clear and concice video, not overtop. im thinking about getting one soon, not a fan of the looks of the 450 i think the 411 looks a lot nicer =)
Thanks mate, I hope it helped. Yes the new one is a different look. Not sure if you are interested but I also did a review at 40,000km, which is a bit different and goes into examples of how the bike performed in specific conditions (link below if interested).
th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
@@freewayproject will definitely have a look at that also, not quite planning to use to the same level, but as a commute and weekend exploring.
Hopefully going to pop into the local dealer today and take a look and size it up :)
Thanks for the review mate! You just convinced me to buy one for a roadtrip around the US with my wife, I am old school mechanic so I don't really know much about the new electronics in modern bikes, and this bike looks perfect for the road trip!
Glad it helped. by the sounds of it, it will be the idea bike if you're just cruising and exploring and the added bonus that you can service and fix any issue is ideal. I am now up to 40,000km/25,000miles and the bike is still all good.
Fantastic review. You covered more topics than most. I prefer listening to riders who’ve had the bike for a while and used it properly and in different terrain. No good listening to someone who basically just rides it on weekends or to the shops. I’m getting the itch to ride again. My first bike was a 1978 Yamaha XT500. I learned to ride on that bike and after passing my test I rode from Durban to Johannesburg, only stopping for fuel and food. It was a beautiful bike. Don’t know why they don’t still make an updated version today. Anyway, the Himalayan has got lots of style, it looks good and performance seems great as an all rounder. Like you, I’d prefer it to be a more powerful motor. But unlike you; I’m still dreaming about it. Thanks for a great review, I really enjoyed it. I wish you years of fun on your bikes. Cheers from the UK😊
Thanks mate, glad you got something out of it. Your first long ride sounds like an adventure.
I am now at about 40,000km on the bike and still going well.
Good and useful review.
Thanks mate, I hope it helped.
Hi Joe, I just watched your review of the Royal Enfield Himalayan. A great review and agree these simple bikes are really great value for money. I have a Royal Enfield Meteor 350cc and just love the simple mechanics of the bike. Totally agree with you on just get out there and explore 👍 Really enjoying your videos and looking forward to the next episode and adventure. Seen all the videos to date....
Thanks mate glad you’re enjoying the series, yes the simple things in life are often the best 👍🏻
Meteor Fire🔥ball yellow 🟡 here in Thailand.. 20,000 joyous trouble free KM to date... 🎉
Being close to fossil age myself I thought common sense and rational NON EGOIC reasoning was dead. Apparently not! Respect Joe
Thanks mate, hope it helped.
Definitely an awesome in depth review 👏
Pretty much got me decided on a himalayan!
Ive been looking for a lighter weight adventure style bike, thats simple, reliable, and easy to service
yes it is all that and it's really well balanced especially when you need to stand up off road. I am now at about 40,000km and still all good.
Maybe wait a little for 450 himalayan which is going to be released this November
Nicely presented. Exploring is also what I enjoy.
Thanks mate. Yes exploring is so much fun and really interesting.
Spot on the money Joe. Too many reviews trying to sell big dual purpose bikes as enduro machines (a clever marketing ploy by manufacturers). I like your realistic and practical reporting 👍
Thanks mate, I was hoping it would be informative for people looking at them. In episode 3 of the new series ROAM I end up testing the off rode capability of the bike on rocky, washed out, steep hill climb trails the result was surprisingly.
@@freewayproject I like your term exploring. In the early 80’s it is what we did then on XT500’s. Then we went to enduro and offroad racing and drifted back into exploring in the early 2000’s. By then exploring had become “Adventure Bikes/Riding”, the manufacturers tagged on by 2010 and you can see where we are now 😎
Thanks Joe enjoyed your review🙏
You are welcome Greg, I hope it helped. I will do another one when I finish the current trip as I'll be over 40,000km. I road a lot more off road up very steep rocky climbs and through a lot of rivers, so will update on that, I was surprised on how well it did.
Great review of a terrific little bike
Thanks Peter.
I think they've made a very nice looking bike. Very balanced looking. A lot of the adventure bikes have a very radical look to them. Simple by design, our BMW airhead logo.
Someone said to me that the bike looks like it could’ve ridden straight out of a Indiana Jones movie. They did build things with style back in the period. Those films are set in.
I’m not a big fan of the pre-mantis look on a lot of current bikes, but people do seem to like them so it’s great that there is variety.
One of the best reviews. Well done!
Thanks mate, hope you got something from it. In the next couple of episodes of the ride coming up, I take the Himalayan on an out back dirt trails, dry river beds, steep hill climbs, and it really surprised me how it got through it all.
Great channel Joe
Thanks Brad, it's great to hear you are enjoying the content.
Great review and totally agree.
Thanks Shawn
EBC HH cintered pads will bring the braking to an acceptable level. I did swap the front calipers out for a set off a 2015 harley 750. I can activate the antilock system on pavement now.
thanks for the info, I'll check that out also.
Love From India ♥
Happy you enjoyed it
I was looking for this from you yesterday!!! Thankyou.
sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and its hard to come a cross a signal out here.
it was on a scheduled upload as I had left on the next adventure. Hope it helped.
@Joe Ryan I just found your channel a couple of days ago. After watching your Tassie stuff I was thinking that it would be great to get your opinion on the Himalayan. I just bought a used (10,000k) 2020 model and am enjoying it massively. I have old bikes that I ride and enjoy but this R.E. is inspiring me to bugger off into the scrub again! Birdsville here I come! P.s Old VW's never die, they just keep getting cooler!
Thank you for the information Joe. I love the fact that it is an explorer bike. I rode years ago and really like the Royal Enfield Himalayan. Also all your videos are great.
Thanks Indi, hope you got something out of it.
@@freewayproject I sure did. Thank you.
Thanks for a great review, I have a trip to Cape York coming up on my v strom 1000, love the bike, but it’s that time in life to downsize, a your review certainly makes the hymalayan look like the replacement.👍
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here.
thanks Gerard, glad it was informative.
Good review. Just back from a few days in the Flinders Ranges on my Himalayan and only dropped it once, centre stand caught on fencing wire. I can pick it up and I'm 65yo. Cheers
Awesome, I am actually in the Flinders Range now, but there's a lot of water around.
Great review. I agree, but the Himalayan is my first and only bike, nothing to compare it with...... Tuna tin for side stand enlarger!
sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and its hard to come a cross a signal out here.
Well from the other comments it looks like you've picked a good bike to start with
Thanks Joe for this. What you are saying, I agree with. Will be riding one by the end of this month.
sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and its hard to come a cross a signal out here.
Awesome, if you know what you're buying and what to expect it's an awesome bike. You'll have fun exploring
@@freewayproject Cheers thanks very m8uch.
Hi Joe, just bought a Himi, and this is really helpful!
Glad you found some value in it mate. Have fun exploring on your Himi.
I use 2 handlebar mirror brackets on each lower engine bar and mount folding foot pegs on them on my Himalayan. Got them from ali express.
sounds like a great idea, I'll check it out, thanks
Good sensible video, and decent build quality. Enjoyed it!
Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it.
I'm going to look at one soon, you got me really looking forward to it brother! 😎👊💯💯💯
They are a great bike if you want to go and explore. Episode 2 and 3 from the second series shows it off road capabilities which I was surprise how well it did.
@@freewayproject is right mate I will check it out, I haven't got 10-15k to spend on a next level bike, don't think I need one, I'd be happy with this tbf
Great realistic inspirational video! Thanks fella🤘I’m getting one
Hope it was informative Vin, you'll have fun on it.
Wow. Simple beautiful and on point.
Thanks Sulaiman, I hope it was informative.
Great review spot on, beats me why anyone wants to ride a 275kg GS at $40k
I’m just not strong enough to pick up a GS, and I drop my bike a lot. I’m not sure most GS riders would want to take there bike where there is a good chance of dropping it and we’ll if spent $40,000 on a bike you wouldn’t want to damage it
Nice review mate, could you tell me how heavy you and your gear is ? Been offered one locally and thinking about it for a few days away with the wife here in sumatra, roads are shit, no chance of doing any speed anyway. Thx again ..
Hi mate, I hope it helped. I have never weighed my gear, but at a rough guess on the longer trip around Australia maybe 140 - 150kg, with the jerry can full, all the gear and water.
Oh I am a few island over at the moment, trying to work out the logistic of riding the whole Island change from near Wetar Island near Timor to Banda Aceh. (and I am here surfing too haha)
Oh if you haven't see the second review at 40,000km that goes into more specific situations I came across here is the link for that
th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Thanks, I hope it was helpful.
Best review of Himalayan
Thanks mate, hope it was helpful.
Good honest review Joe and it seems the right tool for the job in hand which is a bit of adventure at a leisurely pace, I don’t actually own a Himalayan but Will probably be down sizing in the near future and the Himalayan could be on my radar as a future bike and as you say you’ve got to take them for what their are it’s certainly no race horse more of a good dependable donkey that will always get you home , so looking forward to your next adventure 👍
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here.
if you're not in a rush it might be worth waiting for the new 450 Himalayan expected to be released by the end of the year, more power, 6th gear, liquid cooled etc...
hopefully I'll be able to start uploading the new series soon.
@@freewayproject na bother Joe thanks for the reply glad to hear your back on your travels mate 👍 been hearing about the new Himalayan coming out and am lucky to have a dealer a couple a miles away so should be a able to organise a test ride when the time is right 😉 anyway enjoy your trip and am looking forward to your next video 👍
Whatever club you belong to, I'm also a member. I opted for a ktm 390 adv but am very happy with my decision to go smaller, though being a tech head I wanted the mod cons. Never mind that most of the mods are 'cons' (really, what the heck is traction control doing on such a small bike). But its fly-by-wire throttle has meant I can add speed based cruise control which makes the bike feel like a much bigger one as you cruise up hill and down dale at unvarying speeds. Being a solo rider mostly I also wanted something I could pick up easily when exploring off tarmac. I'm pretty sure I would have been just as happy getting a Himalayan or a KLR 650, but I've got the ktm and am quite happy enough. The main thing is I'm riding in a sustainable way. Hope to meet you on the road Joe.
That’s awesome Graeme. The KTM 390 is a great bike too and yes having a bike you could pick up is a must when riding alone. Whatever bike get you out there is the right bike to be on.
Very well put together, thanks for the review
Thanks Sandeep, I hope you found it informative.
Great wrap on the RE Joe, well done mate. Can't wait for more in the future.
Thanks Ken, glad you enjoyed it. I am currently in the outback on the next adventure, hopefully I'll be able to upload the first episode soon.
Good review, the Himalayan 450cc should come out this year :)
Thanks, hope you got something from it. Yes it will be interesting to see the difference between the new and old one.
@@freewayproject Yeah, power is the only issue I would have with this bike.. it's stunning and has a nice repairability, but I would gladly pay 1k more just to have that tiny bit more stability on the highway. :)
@@thats-no-moon then definitely worth waiting to see the 450 then
@@freewayproject 🤙
That Silver Himalayan have been on my list for long, In India Yezdi adventure came close to appeal to me, it looks same and has great braking with superb top end, but lacks low end torque, now eagerly waiting for Himalayan 450 or else will get 411
Yes the Himalayan has a good bottom end, I guess if you're going off road more it would be there better choice but if you are going on the Highway more then the Yezdi might be better.
We will have to see what the 450 is like maybe the best of both.
Great review, thanks Joe
Thanks mate, hope you got something from it.
I recently did a similar review I guess you’d say.
Explained why I picked the Royal Enfield Himalayan as well as my little Honda Monkey.
You and I seem to feel very similar and what the REH is all about.
It seems to everything “well” not better or worse then the others but “well”… and that was what I needed.
Loved watching your adventures and I don’t know what camera you use but MAN😮 does it have a great picture.
Thanks for your time, I’ll be waiting for the next one. While making my own 😊.
Willie
Sorry for the slow reply, I am in the middle of nowhere on the next adventure and it's hard to come a cross a signal out here.
Yes the bike gets the job done at what ever you though at it.
I am filming the next series now so hopefully I'll be able to upload the first episode soon. Thanks for the support.
By the way, the camera is a Sony A7SIII (what I use for my main projects)
@@freewayproject Hey, no worries!!
I like what you’re doing, actually I’m envious but we won’t get in to that😂. I live in a very overcrowded area, where people’s driving habits and skills don’t really compliment a free roaming biker.
I was born and raised here, when it was small, now it takes 10min to drive 3 miles.
For me, I’d have to ride 4 hours to get out far enough away to enjoy a ride… but I’m not giving up, I just get up earlier than the rest of the world!! Lol
Thanks for the camera info, I’m sure I can’t afford it but I’ll look into it!! 😂
Thanks,
Willie
Newport News, Va.
Thank you for the review Im going to setup a test ride
you are welcome, hope it suits what you are after.
@@freewayproject I believe it will be I live in rural west Australia I love your journey tho I'm on episode 2 question tho do you think the bike could carry a light weight swag rather then a tent system?
@@johnswallow3710 yes, I have a couple of Lithium batteries and a Solar Panel I am carrying on mine at the bike is fine. Weight will affect the performance if you do over load it, it just depends on the time of riding you are wanting to do.
@@freewayproject I agree with that in booking my test ride in the coming weeks, do they have 12 volt outlets ?
Himi is a simple raw machine.... No nonsense of electronics.... Only a riding pleasure.... With rock solid reliability.... Great review sir 👍🏻
Yes, to all your points you make. If you are interested I have now reviewed the bike at 40,000km and go over specific circumstances of riding the bike ( th-cam.com/video/Oz-_dgXeWKo/w-d-xo.html )
Good review
Thanks, hope it was of some value
Great review mate. I pick mine up in a few days! Cheers
Glad you got something from it, I am sure you'll love yours. If you want to see how the bike handles off road, trails tracks dry river bed crossing, rocky hill climbs you can check out episode 2 and 3 from the second series.
@@freewayproject I certainly will 🙏🏾
Fantastic review.
Thanks mate, I hope you got something from it.
Detailed review till date❤
Thanks mate.
You can tilt the screen forward by moving the back screws to the holes above and it does give you a little higher wind protection. Worth a try and costs nothing but a little time.
Thanks mate, I’m on a 2021 himi but I don’t seem to have any other holes above the existing ones
@@freewayproject Sorry the one I had was the original carbed model so they must have changed it. Pitty, it was an easy improvement
I've got a 650 royal enfield interceptor , ok , not the fastest bike on road ...but ....it's half the price ( and horse power !!!) Of a triumph , really great bike for sight seeing, ok for a leisurely speed two up .After watching your video i'm now thinking of getting the 411 Himalayan for myself (have got some excellent wooded area's near where i live ).
Peace out ✌
Glad you enjoyed it Andrew, I hope it was informative. They'd be great for exploring wooded areas.
@@freewayproject , thanks for your speedy reply 👍.
When i get the Himalayan and have done a ride or two i will send you a personal review of the bike .
Until then keep your knees in the breeze and stay safe .
Peace out ✌
@@andrewbull3537Wait for the Himalayan 450.
Good video sir
Thanks mate, I have done another 20,00km on the bike so will do another review soon to explain what I have learnt about it's capabilities and how it is running with another 20,000km on it
@@freewayproject looking forward to it sir
great review
Thanks Max
Thank you 👍 brother 🙏
I hope you got something from the video, If you want to know how the bike deals with off road there are a couple episodes in the new series in a Place called the Flinders Rangers where I put the bike to the test.
@@freewayproject
Flinders rangers....ok thank you 🙏
Where can I order the small side tanks? Thank you, great review, adressing all the points.
Thanks mate, glad you got something from the review. I got mine off eBay, they were shipped from India, it took a few week for them to get here. I searched: royal enfield himalayan 5L jerry cans
there are also 3L jerry can so make sure you check the size
So, I have a 2009 Defender 110 and a 2020 one of these. Who needs technology when you can have this much fun on 2 and 4 wheels and fix most issues with a hammer and a 10mm socket ;-)
haha love it, exactly my thoughts. I love those Defenders. I have a 1975 VW Kombi, same deal, doesn't take much to keep them running. Not sure if you saw the second review at 40,000km ( I am now over 50,000km on the bike) it goes into specific situations on the bike and I was surprise what it was capable of when pushing the bike off road.
@@freewayproject yeah, it was the 40k I saw first. These bikes do have their issues but at the price point then I’ll take those. I can buy a complete new Himmy for the cost of a bust GS fairing (and that’s my dream bike - would be lovely alongside my 1984 K75s :-) )
These little RE’s though are where the fun is. And fun that is part of the DNA of motorcycling world wide.
@@freewayproject and just to add, my bike hero is Elspeth Beard, not Ewan McGregor. But yes, it was Itchy Boots that convinced me that the RE was the way to go and not the big Beemer.
Joe please bundle up a same video on YEZDI ADVENTURE please..😅
They don't sell them where I am and I can only afford the one bike.
@@freewayproject wishing you enormous wealth in future 🤑💰🤑 so that you can buy lots of new toys and make new n more exciting videos... Just say it loud JAI SHREE RAM 🚩🚩🚩
Great review, lots of helpful detail! Just wondering what year your Himalayan is?
thanks, hope you got something from it. my Himalayan is 2021
Very good review! And you nailed the prupose of thie bike too. How often do you change the oil? Does it use oil between survices?
Thanks Gregory, yes the bike is a great bike for exploring. Yes it uses a little bit of oil maybe 250ml per 5000km when I am on my long rides