I find my Himalayan rides better with some camping kit onboard. I've just fitted a decat pipe ( Delkevic) and a FuelX lite and it's almost as quick as my Vstrom 1000 now :), well....not quite but it has zipped it up a bit and made the bike more fun and ssmoother running. I have almost 20K miles on the clock now and bought the bike brand new almost 5 years ago. Cheap to run, easy to service, easy to live with. Love it!
Great two up reflection on the Himmy with Sue.. the main thing is you have a bike choice.. BTY fantastic scenery for you both to enjoy.. cheers Phil 🇦🇺
Average size & weight rider & pillion two up at upto 60mph all day long, day after day, no trouble at all. Parameters outside this & it's a comprise. Got chatting with a Dutch couple in Thailand, who were there on their round the world tour on their 411. Fully laden & they commented on how pleased they were with it.
The issue really for us is Sue has a problem with her knee which makes it difficult for her to get on and off. Other than that we would use the bike most of the time.
My wife likes my Himalayan best but a big reason for that is that mine is fitted with a top box and she likes that as a backrest. She also finds it difficult to get on and off but the topbox makes up for that. She also likes my Guzzi V65 which has a long comfy seat and is easy to get on and off but no topbox. The Guzzi is as good as the Himalayan from my perspective in coping with the additional weight on the back. I also have an AJS Model 20. She doesn't like that and it doesn't like her much. I also fitted a sidecar to my Sunbeam S8 which has a really comfy armchair, a glove box for her bits and pieces, a boot for several changes of clothes to be carried and a fitted carpet but she finds it scary and would rather be on the back of the Himmie or the Guzzi
Very entertaining and informative vid. Considering buying one of the last new ones. Also want twoupability on occasion. Luckily my partners legs are so long she'd just trip over a Bullet😂
My wife prefers my VStrom 1000 as far as riding and comfort, but she struggles getting on and off. She can also sense I’m not as secure balancing it when she’s trying to get on or off. My BMW 650 CS is much lower and easier for her, but it’s really cramped for me. The Interceptor is sort of the happy medium. With the added backrest she’s comfy, and though I still don’t like the seat, it’s easy for me to handle with a passenger. Adding luggage to the VStrom or Enfield just makes it worse for her. I may wind up with a cruiser. A dealer friend told me not to buy a cruiser 25 years ago. He said I could get one when I got old. Maybe I’m old enough now.
My wife actually chose the Himalayan after sitting on a few different small adventure bikes. The Himi's seat was the most comfortable. Even so, we do have to stop to stretch every couple of hours. We only ride on slower backroads and gravel roads so the Himalayan's power is enough
th-cam.com/video/BbqTYsDBXcI/w-d-xo.html You might recognise the area. We went via Montana, heading towards Petrohan Pass and then turned off to Berkovitsa and Kom Peak. The road was not good. Typical Bulgarian you could say.
@@iantoy7778 Ian, I have ridden around this parts in the past (20-ish years ago) with my trusty Transalp, yes. And with my race bicycle more recently. Petrohan's surface was re-laid about 7-8 years ago, before that was extremely bad. I am ashamed from the driving of my fellow citizens, but nothing can do about it. I am going for the Hunter, I love the seating position and fit and finish of the bike.
Swaped my 411 out for the new 450 himi... mainly because of the reasons you stated. On mountain/steep inclines 2 up it just wasnt much fun.... the extra power ofthe 450 has been so much better andit has more room
Hi sir does the bigger valves from hitchcocks make a difference as i have the tec cam and now considering the valve job i dont really want to do the big bore. Ride safe cheers
The Hitchcock's valves are better quality. The stock valves are the cause of the rattling in the engine. They are too soft. th-cam.com/video/oPhZX-E-W6k/w-d-xo.html
At 6’3” 230 lbs riding with a passenger on the 411 isn’t an option. I had to make a lot of modifications just for me to fit comfortably on it. I have a 2nd dedicated cruiser for 2 up riding. Having said that my wife doesn’t like being on the back of a motorcycle so I’m a dedicated solo act.
Getting much better now. This week has been mid 30's but after the weekend down to low 20's. Autumn is definitely getting here thankfully. Been a very long hot summer
I find my Himalayan rides better with some camping kit onboard. I've just fitted a decat pipe ( Delkevic) and a FuelX lite and it's almost as quick as my Vstrom 1000 now :), well....not quite but it has zipped it up a bit and made the bike more fun and ssmoother running. I have almost 20K miles on the clock now and bought the bike brand new almost 5 years ago. Cheap to run, easy to service, easy to live with. Love it!
Great two up reflection on the Himmy with Sue.. the main thing is you have a bike choice.. BTY fantastic scenery for you both to enjoy.. cheers Phil 🇦🇺
Thanks 👍
Great coverage, Ian and Sue. Looked like a relaxing ride. 👍
Thanks 👍
My wife doesn’t get on the back of my 411, just the Harley. The 411 is my bit of weekend fun on the Staffordshire and Shropshire B roads
Average size & weight rider & pillion two up at upto 60mph all day long, day after day, no trouble at all.
Parameters outside this & it's a comprise.
Got chatting with a Dutch couple in Thailand, who were there on their round the world tour on their 411.
Fully laden & they commented on how pleased they were with it.
The issue really for us is Sue has a problem with her knee which makes it difficult for her to get on and off. Other than that we would use the bike most of the time.
My wife likes my Himalayan best but a big reason for that is that mine is fitted with a top box and she likes that as a backrest. She also finds it difficult to get on and off but the topbox makes up for that. She also likes my Guzzi V65 which has a long comfy seat and is easy to get on and off but no topbox. The Guzzi is as good as the Himalayan from my perspective in coping with the additional weight on the back. I also have an AJS Model 20. She doesn't like that and it doesn't like her much. I also fitted a sidecar to my Sunbeam S8 which has a really comfy armchair, a glove box for her bits and pieces, a boot for several changes of clothes to be carried and a fitted carpet but she finds it scary and would rather be on the back of the Himmie or the Guzzi
Very entertaining and informative vid. Considering buying one of the last new ones. Also want twoupability on occasion. Luckily my partners legs are so long she'd just trip over a Bullet😂
Looks like Western Scotland, but with better weather😊
Yes beautiful scenery
My wife prefers my VStrom 1000 as far as riding and comfort, but she struggles getting on and off. She can also sense I’m not as secure balancing it when she’s trying to get on or off. My BMW 650 CS is much lower and easier for her, but it’s really cramped for me. The Interceptor is sort of the happy medium. With the added backrest she’s comfy, and though I still don’t like the seat, it’s easy for me to handle with a passenger. Adding luggage to the VStrom or Enfield just makes it worse for her. I may wind up with a cruiser. A dealer friend told me not to buy a cruiser 25 years ago. He said I could get one when I got old. Maybe I’m old enough now.
My wife actually chose the Himalayan after sitting on a few different small adventure bikes. The Himi's seat was the most comfortable. Even so, we do have to stop to stretch every couple of hours. We only ride on slower backroads and gravel roads so the Himalayan's power is enough
Sue finds the seat very comfy but struggles getting on and off the bike.
😀👍
Next video.. 2 Up on the marvelous Bullet. 😃😃
th-cam.com/video/BbqTYsDBXcI/w-d-xo.html
You might recognise the area. We went via Montana, heading towards Petrohan Pass and then turned off to Berkovitsa and Kom Peak. The road was not good. Typical Bulgarian you could say.
We heard you the first time.
@@iantoy7778 Ian, I have ridden around this parts in the past (20-ish years ago) with my trusty Transalp, yes. And with my race bicycle more recently. Petrohan's surface was re-laid about 7-8 years ago, before that was extremely bad.
I am ashamed from the driving of my fellow citizens, but nothing can do about it.
I am going for the Hunter, I love the seating position and fit and finish of the bike.
Swaped my 411 out for the new 450 himi... mainly because of the reasons you stated. On mountain/steep inclines 2 up it just wasnt much fun.... the extra power ofthe 450 has been so much better andit has more room
Sounds a good idea
I took my wife out on the back of my Himmy other week.
She struggle a bit.
nice area there and fine weather, wonderful. Why did you sell the GS 650 ?
Good bike but found it boring
Hi sir does the bigger valves from hitchcocks make a difference as i have the tec cam and now considering the valve job i dont really want to do the big bore.
Ride safe cheers
The Hitchcock's valves are better quality. The stock valves are the cause of the rattling in the engine. They are too soft. th-cam.com/video/oPhZX-E-W6k/w-d-xo.html
@@iantoy7778 Thanks for that , if it makes it quieter it's worth it .
Kind regards
At 6’3” 230 lbs riding with a passenger on the 411 isn’t an option. I had to make a lot of modifications just for me to fit comfortably on it. I have a 2nd dedicated cruiser for 2 up riding. Having said that my wife doesn’t like being on the back of a motorcycle so I’m a dedicated solo act.
I notice from looking on Google maps that your temperature is a lot more bearable now.
Getting much better now. This week has been mid 30's but after the weekend down to low 20's. Autumn is definitely getting here thankfully. Been a very long hot summer
@@iantoy7778 I wish we could say the same. It's been another week of rain most of the day this week.
@@simonchilli2088 yeah like an English summer now 😆
Why not fit a lowering kit and drop it an inch or more. Sold my f650 gs yesterday, bikeless, for now.
That is an option but I doubt Sue would be happy on the bike.