It's finally done! After several drone crashes and software errors, some really expensive drone repairs, and an "easy ride through the badlands for some filming goodness turned into a fight for survival on two overweight dualsports" the Himalayan review is finally finished! Spoilers: Despite being pretty dang slow and a bit beefy, I really got to like this motorcycle. I wouldn't buy one, but if they come out with a 650 I really would consider picking one up as an adventure tourer. If the 400 had just a hair more power it really would be a game changer for adventure touring. As it stands, it just doesn't have the guts to perform on the highway. As for off road, I am pretty impressed. It's no dirt bike, and is easily outperfomed by 20 year old bikes like the DRZ, but it got through some nasty stuff!
This bike reminds me of my 87 TW200. You definitely need to review it soon, it is a super interesting and easy to ride bike, I have had the xt225 and the drz400 and the T dub is my favorite so far! The royal enfield reminds me of the TW but without any of the offroad benefits, check it out!
You didn't mention the lack of any or all vibrations on the Hima, which is something that plagues literally all other singles. I'd say the Hima feels as smooth as any twin. And IMHO this puts it well ahead as an adventure bike. Compared to the CRF250, DR400, Husky 701 and any KTM EXC, you don't feel like you're sitting on a tall, hard, vibey ironing board. The DRZ makes your palms go numb in half an hour on the pavement and so does the 250L. Yeah, the seat might not be a cruiser seat, but damn, compared to the wooden plank of a 701, it's all day comfortable. For me, the Hima is the ultimate scrambler. It's OK around town, OK to travel on, more than OK on trails and it looks like a classic motorcycle.
Guys, you need to see Itchy Boots channel where she is cruising half the world on the Himalayan in some of the remotest and toughest roads in the world.
highways in Iran are now the toughest roads in the world? lmao. She's a 30 y/o white chick riding mostly smooth highways and she's had multiple break downs.
@@gordokdestroyerofworlds3480Hmm.. I did not mention just Iran. Checkout Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other areas that she has been to. In Iran, I guess the clutch failed mostly because the handlebar was raised which might have caused some slippage. Point is if you have seen Ewan McGregor's Long Way Round with the BMW 1200GS with full support teams..they too had breakdowns. This tiny motorcycle in comparison has done pretty good especially considering the price - $5k vs $20K
@@mpadalax breakdowns can happen to anyone, but if the bike is properly set up and well maintained you most likely wont experience any. The 2 breakdowns I had in 70000km on my r1200gs is due to a crash in pakistan where the bike landed unluckily on a rock right on the intake manifold, and the other was a cracked rim (cast wheels) while doing fast offroad on difficult terrain. Aside from that I met a couple of travelers on the himalayan and they were all pretty happy with it considering the price :)
@@gordokdestroyerofworlds3480 What 'multiple breakdowns' dude? She's broken clutch cables because she fitted handlebar raisers and the clutch cable was at an angle, she now taken them off. Oh, and she had a puncture. Can't quite see why the colour of her skin is too relevant either. What have you done?
@@patrickcolclough2423 lmao don't play stupid. A white chick from Holland is now an expert on bikes because she rode some indian bike 50k? These things are trash bikes, get your head out of your ass and go read some reviews and ride one before you comment.
I am not a hardcore rider but I ride it daily to work and school and I will not kid you ,this bike is one cool thing to ride on streets cause I always gets the looks and even at school people are starting at this bike like they never seen this kind of bike...I enjoy it 6 days a week so far so good 9k miles still running strong,to all riders be safe out there,love you all ,peace out from Cali.
I want one so bad! The nearest dealer is 300 miles though... I saw one in town, such good looking unique bikes. Would be a perfect bike for what i need... They really need to get more dealers though.
@@pauld.b7129 but in India it's just another bike... Just like you guyz are familiar with brands that are common in your country the same way RE is too common. 300 miles is really way too far. But in marketing terms they cannot open everywhere since it's not an viable option. Hope u might get what u love to... 😊😊
@@confettihunterminus1But you don't have to go to a CERTIFIED MOTORCYCLE TECHNICIAN who's going to charge you 80 bucks an hour, nor will you need a $2k tool to remove a single bolt to do basic maintenance. The brilliance is the simplicity. You don't need an engineering degree or a tool chest full of $50k worth of tools to keep the bike on the road. In short, you take this to an Authorized Dealer while it's under warranty - and then never take it to a technician again. Basic mechanic skills are all that's required, that any owner can perform, with basic tools found in any garage; a small handful of tools to travel with is all that will be required for most maintenance on the road. That's part of the philosophy of the bike itself; the reason it has underwhelming specs is due to the simplicity of easily maintained engineering. I imagine repair shops absolutely hate these bikes compared to, say, a BMW or Ducati; while those bikes have reputations for superior engineering, those shops can probably pay their rent just doing oil changes alone on those machines,while they won't make a dime off of RE oil changes.
Having ridden it for about 3 months now... I have been thoroughly impressed by it... overcoming my initial reserves & hesitations... the Enfield Himalayan has been quite epic tbh.
....but the Royal Enfield Himalayan is an "Adventure Bike," not a "Dual Sport," not an "Enduro." The idea is that this is a bike that allows one to travel with gear in an "adventure/overlanding" fashion. It is for dirt roads and moderately difficult terrain, as well as for bombing along the paved backroads and state highways that get you to those dirt roads in 99.999% of cases. The bike fills a niche of being a very inexpensive, simple, entry level into the adventure genre. Its a bit like a baby BMW GS, but then again people loved to bash those bikes because they aren't dirt bikes too.
People bash the BMW GS but have never really gone on a dual sport adventure. I did Africa on a KTM 1190 Adventure R, the thing is big and heavy, but for months and months on the bike I'm glad I didn't take anything less. Big, comfortable, powerful enough to save me from idiot drivers in Africa, nimble and easy to use off-road. The only downside is the 1% of the time when going through deep sand, then it was very difficult. Overall unless you're doing like Sibirsky Extreme style travel, you can get away with a big heavy bike because the majority of the time you'll be benefitting from it. Maybe next time an 800 is a good compromise, although KTM 690 would have been too small and uncomfortable for long term travel I think.
Keep aside the pride .. Re are far from refinement.. Himalayan had lots of electrical failures and frame cracks.. Steering bearing rusting up very badly.. Unwanted weight.. The only decent thing is the cycling set up. Am afraid where the bike may stall.. I still like to ride a Honda shine modified for ladak trip.. Some decent tyres..sprocketing.. Rear suspension with after market set up .. Luggage rack. Hope it will ride cool with better fuel consumption..
I have 2 Himalayans an 18 and 19 models, just rode to big bend texas from San Antonio, did over 1600 miles on road and off road bike did great, loaded up with 75 pounds of gear for camping. Easy to work on, easy to modify if needed. Great bike and enjoy riding. SJ
golden rule is ride a bike suited to your needs and roads, so many people by into the dual sport idea and never leave the road, theses people typically ride a BMW or have a KTM load it all up with boxes and tech just to ride to work or the shops. and theses people typically complain with theses little iron horses, at the end of the day the enfield is good at what it does for the roads and trails its designed for and has nothing to prove :)
Hi, I’m from India.. personally I hated RE for all the heavy bikes they made, which made you feel like a truck driver at the end of the day.. But when I had a test ride.. it felt different & when I bought it & started using it..!! Believe me it doesn’t feel like a Royal Enfield..!! 😊👍 I’ll say I’m happy, satisfied & proud HIMALAYAN owner..!! 👍
I own a Royal Enfield in the United States. Just as a little FYI, the Bullet/Classic 500 are considered lightweight bikes in America and Western Europe. They're only 'big' in an Indian market, where most people use low-cc two-wheelers to commute (think Hero Honda, Bajaj Pulsar, etc) rather than tour or do long-distance travel.
I'd agree with that, too. A Honda CB250 has more power than a 500cc Enfield. TBH I'd be happy owning an Enfield if I were living or studying in India. Unless you're on the Yamuna Expressway or something, you'll hardly ever be able to ride over 100 km/h. It's also cheap and easy to get parts and repair services in India versus the U.S. (my state is geographically larger than Uttar Pradesh, but we only have one or two authorized Enfield mechanics). I've tried bikes like the Bajaj Avenger and didn't feel comfortable at all. Still, if you have the money, you can do better than a Bullet, no matter which country you're in.
Prranjal Shrivaastav Sir, riding a RE for pleasure & using it on a day to day basis are two different things. I also have a TB 350 where the bike let’s you know that it’s heavy.. whereas the Himalayan doesn’t. My comparison was with other RE bikes & not Triumph or Harley. I’ve done trail riding on TB & Himalayan, here both cannot be compared but I just gave my experience regarding the weight.
I own the himalayan from the very first batch. I am using it since 2.5 yrs and have clocked more than 40 thousand kms. It had a lot of quality control issues. The chassis, swingarm, engine head, starter coil etc have all been replaced. Basically entire bike, except the fuel tank, has been replaced under warranty😁. But I still love my bike. Why because it is just right for me. I am no dakar rally finalist, nor I am a fan of speed and drag races. I am a fan of simple things in life like touring, occasional offroading, exploring places etc. I don't want to do jumps from sand dunes, do wheelies or burnouts. I just want to ride. 😁🤙🏼 edited - please note that out of 40 thousand kms atleast 30-35k kms were tours ranging from 500 to 6000kms.. the bike never gave up on me mid ride.. it always showed issues in daily commute when I am near a service centre :D
You are a man after my own heart. I am old school and being English and in my late sixties my motorcycle heritage has been brit 60's machines and after Harleys, stuff I understood and could repair on the side of the road if I had to with limited hand tools which is why the Himalayan appeals to me, simple and does the job I want which is relaxed touring with low cost maintenance and primary investment.My only problem is actually locating one as the French concessionaires where I live are crap but thats another story.
From what I understand the bikes in markets outside the USA had issues as they were not inspected properly and every Himalayan for USA market are being inspected and most issues have been eliminated. I’m not sure about everyone else 😕
KwakZedRider93 , No No No!!! It’s crap! Its reliable no svc from dealership too . My 2019 Himalayan stalls, dies and needs pushing. Yes get one from the dealership across the street. But not one across town. Pushing limitations should dictate if you can get it back to dealership without a truck. Get anything but an Enfield . A 30 years old Honda xr650l perhaps. Super reliable cheaper and you won’t end up a tool like me.
Poorly maintained UK Roads? I am an Indian and drove London to Edinburgh in 2018... And I must say you don't know what poorly maintained toad means.... Drive in India and you will know Having said that, anything which can take on Indian roads and Indian Traffic, then it can take on anything in this world.... Royal Enfield bikes are hugely popular in India - amongst Civilians as well as Armed forces and Police forces (both of which buy RE bikes in hoardes)... And Army uses them in the most inhospitable conditions and they survive well and perform well
You're "I get it..." note is exactly why I have my Himalayan. I bought my 2019 in Mid-July and have since put 4800 miles on it, a good 800 or so of which have been on trails many of which the bike was likely never designed to be on. Super narrow single track, gravel fire roads, pavement or otherwise; the bike has been absolutely brilliant for me. I'm 6'2" and my love for it has been growing non-stop. The simplicity of it paired with how capable it really is has made it the proverbial dream-bike for me. Also worth noting, they've updated their maintenance schedule to every 6000 miles.
I think he was designing something good but failed and himalayan was born. RE said no money for another trial, let us launch, foolish people will buy.Ha
I've taken Royal Enfields around India and own one in the United States. The biggest problem with these bikes--and we only have the 500cc variant in America--is that no matter how well they can perform in the mountains, they're not well-suited for everyday riding. A Bullet cannot keep up on proper highways, and it cannot comfortably sustain highway speeds without rattling to bits. The Himalayan is even more under-powered but seems to be better designed. Then again, you can ride a 20-year old Enfield through a river and it'll keep chugging on the other side.
the Himalayan has a more modern motor when compared to the RE 500 UCE, and will be able to do better speeds than the 500 with lesser vibes. That said, no RE bike from their current stock can perform on a US Highway!
I don't know, I commuted on an 05 Bullet military for 10 years in Florida. The only problem I ever had was intake rubbers dry rotting every 2 years. It would run 70 but not well or for long. I used it more for back roads at 60 and it worked fine.
Four years later, support for this bike has improved dramatically, mainly due to its popularity. It's also at a very sweet price point, particularly here in Argentina, where Japanese bikes are at a premium. It's also worth mentioning that the Himalayan is now assembled here, which is a major advantage for spares and servicing. I'm definitely buying one.
Noraly has a exceptional Himalayan, or maybe mine is the exception, mine is stalling and needs pushing home. It’s a heavy pig to push more than a mile 2019 RE Himalayan is POS. Get a 2 decades old enduro even a Chinese bike but not this gutless, soulless world crap.
She had her reasons for buying it. Cost, short legs, what she carries, etc. The second one may have been sponsored. I have a feeling she likes her Honda’s as well. If not better.
@@Neoptolemus No 500 exist... She was driving a 400 relentlessly in Asia, and now started a new adventure from Patagonia to Alaska with a new one, simply because she could not manage to have documents of the old one accepted. Incredibly sturdy relieable bike if one should judge on her experience
I've always been a fan of Royal Enfields (never owned one though) due to their simple mechanics and retro styling and when I heard about the Himalayan I was even more excited. I think this video was perfectly balanced and really showed how far Royal Enfield has come. I'd be surprised if your video didn't help RE sell a bunch of these bikes going forward. Great job!
Sadly in India it's the cheapest what we get with next best thing costing more than double. I got myself a carburated non abs Himalayan about one and half year ago and was hooked to your channel and your black widow ever since. Frankly I didn't expect you to like it and even if you hadn't I wouldn't have loved my machine any less. But seeing you rode it gives me much more confidence to explore more difficult terrains than I am currently used to. Thank you very much for inspiring always.
avadhoot velankar no the new version are great but all those reviewer will not talk about that it had problems in first year but other exported version were good but now both are good I would say people should buy the 2019 version which has abs
@Yudh Isthira and CBUs of all those and likes of Honda CRF 250l cost through roof. 😖. But still this video puts our REH in perspective with all these bikes and it's not bad.
Thank you for brutally honest and completely unbiased review! I own a Himalayan myself and am completely happy with it. Great job, thank you once again, ride safe and keep the rubber side down!
MotoHolic Sergey, I’m happy for you bro! My 19 Himalayan stalls, dies and leaves me pushing it 2x. It’s got 123 miles on it! I hate it! It shows, I’ve defaced the machine with donkey\pig letters and many thrashings of colorful paint all over it. It looks like the crap it is, under warranty and going back to dealership in Enfield Connecticut Friday. They won’t be happy to see me and I’m fine with that.
s m , who needs a motor that won’t make the trip home? Chinese Hawk 250 at 1/3the price is for me 3x more reliable, my 19 Himalayan stalls, dies and leaves me stranded 2x it’s got 123 miles on it. Dealership is 250 miles away. Good thing I trucked it home it never would have made it.
I think the biggest reason i really want a himalayan like you said about 13 minutes in. The way the Himalayan looks is extremely compelling to me for a dualsport. There are better choices stats wise and things that make more sense on paper but SHOOT ME I actually DO care about how my dualsport motorcycle looks! I cannot stand the motocross style, the excessive plastics and reds and blue bright colors. I love the classic styling and simplicity of it. If a 650 comes out I am absolutely jumping on it.
You know what is funny is that every time some Himalayan video pops out in TH-cam so many people claims it as British engg,some Italians design etc. Fact is that foreigers know RE in this last 5 year only...what we Indians trusted this bike from the beginning and love this bike more than any citizens...Also it's name Himalayan is given to show what it is capable off(Himalayan is most beautiful and challenging journey a man will be taken in a bike, this bike is designed for Himalayan mountain ride and she survived it) and any other terrian in the world is walk in park for her and RE will remain as India forever.... Proud owner ..
An excellent review. I have ridden several Royal Enfield Himalayans and enjoyed the experience. Many people do not understand the difference between brake horsepower and torque. Many people purchase motorcycles that have performance and capability far beyond their skill levels = waste of money. These motorcycles would appeal to riders who understand their own limitations and appreciate a machine that is easy to maintain, service and repair at home or in the field. My old M21, a 1948 BSA 600cc sidevalve (flathead) that produced 15 bhp but had bags of torque, once holed the piston due to poor quality fuel when I was touring through Afghanistan in 1972. No spares or dealers in those days. A village mechanic jigged the piston, pad welded up the hole and put a blob of weld on the inside of the piston skirt to balance the repair. Replaced the piston two years later. In my opinion, motorcycles have become too big, too powerful and far too complicated. That is the attraction of bikes such as the Himalayan. Even old fellows like me can enjoy a Sunday blast before the inevitable Monday Physio appointment.
I was surprised to find that it was maybe even a little more capable off road than it is on road, because of the lack of power on highways. A 650 would absolutely solve this, and I think that with the rumored discontinuation of the KLR 650, Royal Enfield might have a market winning bike if they hustled out a capable 650 version of the Himalayan.
I find it to be a dual sports with focus on motocamping. The stock bike can cruise on less than average highways at 40-60 mph all day long and day after day with elan and 70 mph on wider and smoother stretches comfortably for several hours, sluggish but steady, after break in period, it can overtake at 80-85 mph on the stock bike with no mods if you just raise the rear suspension preload (otherwise it would be wobby at that speed), it can do poorly maintained country roads and back country roads at 20-40 mph, and it can manage moderate dirt, gravel, mud, water crossings and offroads in widely varying climates that the country roads and back country roads leads to, not a bike meant for motocrossing or extreme dirt racing but handles technical offroads pretty well- which is what Indian urban motocampers need when they camp across the cold Himalayan mountain ranges located at very high altitude starting from tropical and subtropical Indian cities at sea level some 500-1500 miles away with hell lot of luggage, food and water, and gas as gas stations are few and far between up in the Himalayas and even oxygen cans sometimes since oxygen level falls with altitude- the design accomodating simple maintenance and self repair was conceived with the thought that mechanics may not be available in the remote mountains. This is why the bike is named Himalayan. It is okay to excellent on most roads in most climatic conditions at any altitude but certainly not the best in any of those. And motocamping is definitely full of adventure. This bike is not a dual sports in the sense it would be able to pull off 120 mph on freeways like a sports bike and then would behave like an enduro when thrown around the dirt. The moderate linear power delivery in engine design was incorporated not just for better fuel efficiency and durability of the engine or for sacrificing power for robust low to mid rev torque, but also to avoid horrible accidents. In the himalayas, there are countless 3000 feet deep gorges on the side of barely 5-7 feet wide offroad trail, so the margin of error in judgment is extremely low. Bikes with higher horsepower might be unforgiving in such situations- one wrong pull on those very responsive throttles of high hp 650 cc motorbike and you will be over the edge; the free fall will be deep and nobody returns alive after a 3000 feet drop downhill on jagged stones.
Absolutely honest and practical review of the Himalayan. I rode this bike in the hills of Uttarakhand and found it to not the most comfortable bike for long rides. This bike is still years behind similar bikes produced abroad.
Great honest review, thanks. I really liked the Himalayan when I first saw pictures of it a year ago and was hoping it would make it into the US. I started riding dirt bikes in the late 60's so enduro type bikes have a special meaning for me. Unfortunately, the majority of bikes capable of going off road such as the DR650 are too tall for me to comfortably ride so the low ride height of the Himalayan is perfect.
Absolutely love this review! I really like that you don't come at it with the typical spec sheet list and ramble on about how so and so bike will dominate it off road and whatnot, because it really is for a different rider than that. Your mention of the video showing the foot peg breaking off and then comparing it against the "bulletproof" KLR shows just how grounded you are when it comes to these reviews. I think with your experience riding so many different bikes on and off road, I trust your opinion the most about motorcycles. Thank you for your continued commitment to the channel! I feel like the last time I looked, you were "only" at 16k subs, and now look at you! Looks like the hard work has paid off!
The issue isn't with the Himalayan, its with US motorcycle importers making over $2,000 per unit. If this motorcycle was selling for its actual Indian Rupee price they would sell all of their export stock in minutes. So, we compare with all the other manufacturers are offering and each of them comes in at least $3,000 more than what the Himalayan actual costs. So, now imagine a Himalayan produced once again in India and they built it to spec as a $5,500 bike and was imported for what it should cost it would likely hammer the hell out of any other bike in its class. The Himalayan appearance is 100 percent better looking than any piece of plastic bike going down the road and put some of those fancy panniers on it and it just looks just as great at 65MPH.
That's capitalism, Mike. And as Rajender says, it's not as straightforward as Royal Enfield doubling the price from one market to another. Along with tariffs, Royal Enfield also has to ensure that its American imports meet certain quality standards. Units sold in California, for instance, have to be compliant with the state's emissions requirements--requirements which either aren't as stringent in India or can be bypassed by bribing an inspector.
I do'n't think they are making 2K per bike. Shipping, Taxes, overhead and distribution are a very very large part of the retail price tag of everything sold here.
I'd have to disagree. It is very expensive to ship containers over the ocean. You are paying for logistics to the port, logistics for transoceanic travel, logistics from the port in the US to the Enfield inspection/service center, logistics from the service center to the dealer. You are paying for labor along the way, tariffs, taxes, customs fees and more. You are paying people to manage the entire supply chain. You then have to factor the increased cost in with the fact a dealership needs to make a relatively small profit. They are probably near losing their ass on these bikes quite honestly and have them priced to sell quickly and fain a foothold in the US.
Just like automotice dealershilps are only making $500 on a car. Meanwhile, they have 30 million dollars in stock and showroom equal in value. The units being sold in India they are making profit on and then they are being shipped in a container which contains many bikes which they will pass on to the buyer and they will tack 2K on top. The dealer prep and delivery is for all the shipping and setup fees. If you think for a moment these guys are making a few hundred dollars then you are foolish.
If I ever travel the world on a motorbike it will for sure be on a Royal Enfield Himalayan. Been watching 'Itchy Boots' and that motorcycle seems to be the equipment to do it on 👍💪🙏
Very, very nicely done video. IMHO the context of the video missed the nark by a bit by reviewing an Overland travel Bike from a Dual Sport perspective. The Himalayan is not a Dual Sport I.E. dirt bike or Enduro homologated for road registry. The Himalayan was from inception an Adventure bike, an overland travel machine purpose made and intended for hauling rider and gear to the horizon. This is abundantly clear by the bikes design and all of the press releases and videos. Methinks the distinction between Dual Sport and Dual Purpose is getting increasingly lost in the sauce or overlooked lately.
Royal Enfield Himalayan isn't made for racing or performance. It's for touring and traversing any terrain. Though it has a look of dirt bike but it's not solely for that purpose. It's is a great adventure machine which will complement you in rough and toughest terrains of the Himalayas. It's chassis is one of the toughest in this range of adventure bikes and it's for a purpose. It can survive crashes in harsh terrains which other bikes may not..
This bike was one I was shopping against the KLR650, the DR650, and the DRZ400. I was shopping for a dual-sport which would also be a great commuter. In the end, I went with the KLR650. The main thing going against the Himalayan for me was the reputation of Royal Enfield with their Bullet. A cool bike but not one to rely upon for day to day transportation. And I was just getting rid of a Ural Patrol, the most unreliable mode of transportation I've ever owned. So I decided to go against the possibility of having a third world bike with bad reliability and flaky dealerships, which sums up my Ural experience. I went with the KLR and from what I'm getting from some sources, possibly one of the final KLRs to be made and sold. I'm still interested in the Himalayan, and if time proves it to be a reliable steed, perhaps I'll add one to my stable in the future.
Justin Waller iam from india i can old afford himalyan it cost me in bangalore 185200 when i first bought it i hated it.but after yelling n complaining to re service center they finally fix it but yes i feel it lacks in powr for being hudge in size
Nothing against Russia at all. And I didn't say Russia is or was a third world country. During the cold war, the world was said to be divided between the western aligned world (pro USA or with heavy US influence), the eastern world (pro Soviet Union or with heavy Soviet influence), and the so-called "third world" (those not really aligned with either, thereby not having the technology being pushed by the US and USSR). And come on, even a "modern" Ural is not a good example of the best Russia has to offer. Our family doctor is from Russia, and even she would always ask, "Why do you have a Ural? Why would you want that?" I know Russia is a leader in science, engineering, mathematics, and space exploration, etc. But my Ural was absolute crap. It was fun to ride, when it was running, but no fun to own. Three transmissions shot, three clutches shot, a burnt out cylinder, a broken swing-arm, a broken electrical starter, odometer and speedometer, all in less than three years of ownership. It might as well have been built in a jungle hut in some third world country. That's what the ownership experience was like. Dealerships are scarce, the one I bought from flaked out on me when I had a warranty issue, and I had a really tough time getting parts. I don't want to have that sort of experience again. I want to give Royal Enfield time to get their stuff sorted out here before I take a chance like that again. I knew of Ural's reputation for unreliability, but took the chance because of a good warranty. It wasn't worth it.
The thing about what you call "third-world" bikes is that they are simple and easy to work on. In Russia and India, people traditionally fixed their own machines. The machines are built to be worked on rather than to not need to be worked on. Reliability is a function of maintenance, not something baked into the bike. Get bikes like these to countries like America and people think they are cool but don't know how to own them. Only a small minority of American riders work on their own bikes. They get hold of a bike like a Royal Enfield and expect to do nothing to it except take it to the dealer. I have a friend whose Bullet "broke," meaning it wouldn't start. Turns out all it needed was the idle jet on the carb cleaned. To him that meant it was "broken" and not reliable. Guy had no idea that a carb needs regular cleaning, nor how to clean a carb, nor I suspect what a carburetor was. He had no tools. His "broken" bike was fixed in 20 minutes.
Justin Waller, GREAT CHOICE!!! DONT WIND UP LIKE ME AND MY DEAD ROYAL AT 123 MILES! Royal Enfields should only be looked at never ridden unless your strong enough to push the overweight pig home. I should have never sold my 94 xr650l it still completely stomps the running Enfield but running royals are rare here.
Just because the bike is able to do something doesn't mean it's a good bike, DRZ is better in every way. It can do the same thing as what itchy boots did, but better, more easily, zipper etc. If you're a shorty then get a Honda 230L. Still better than the Himalayan.
@@biswajit5783 yea cause the thing stopping anyone from going off around the world is their choice of bike. I ride around my own continent (which is as big as the whole of Europe minus Russia) and my drz gets along on much tougher terrain. But you don't need me to tell you, just trust that a bike unchanged for 20 years and a best seller in Australia is probably going to be better than an Indian start up that weighs 60kg more with 20 less HP and worse suspension. I've see a few doccos about people riding around the Himalayas and you can do it on a ktm390 sports bike. Suddenly a bike with cushy suspension comes along and people compare it to a sports bike and say 'wow this is great' when they really don't know what else is out that that's light years ahead of a company that only recently made their first 650. RE may technically be the oldest motorcycle brand in the world, but they reality is that they're worse than Harley's.
@@debashismallick9937 why would I need to. Riding the bike won't stop it from being 60kg overweight. You could make that argument about anything. If we are comparing a 1200gs to a ktm 1190 then riding both bikes would be important, but if you compare the Himalayan to other 400cc bikes then it's obviously terrible. If you compare it to other bikes with the same power it's terrible. If you compare it to other bikes in the same price range it's terrible. Two reasons people ride this bike: 1: it looks cool and they want a bike that looks cool 2: it's made in India and all the Indian riding channels jizz just looking at it because it's made in India. If you design a bike to be an adventure bike (which is what RE did) and it doesn't even sit at 110 then you failed. Trust me I wanted to get one of these as my first bike back when I knew nothing about them, I went into the dealership and sat on one, but I only liked it because it looked cool and there were a few people riding them 'around the world' on TH-cam. I'm very glad i didn't get one because when the real reviews came out the handlebars bent after one drop. The frame snaps. The crash bars are only attached at two points each. The bike used to die at too much altitude. It's got a low seat height. It looks cool. It's made in India.
What people often confuse for torque, is the width of the usable rev range. For off road use, it's very useful if the torque range (and thus the output power) starts at barely above idle. A bike putting out say 30 to 50nm at 1500 to 4500rpm, is more useful than one that does the same from 3000 to 4500rpm. Both have the same output power, and the same maximum torque, but one feels like it can chug up any mountain while the other needs to be kept revving high to avoid stalling. The torque specified is just one data point in a curve, and in itself does not have much meaning.
Thanks for the great review. While not ideal for North America, think about its home market. How many Indian roads could you use 100 hp and 6 gears. Video of travel in India shows many dirt roads choked with trucks ,busses, livestock, pedestrians and other bikes. The actual Himalayan roads show steep inclines and congested narrow broken roads carved into mountain sides. A docile, bone simple bike with low power and decent torque would be perfect for those conditions.
The Royal Enfield has always been a fantasy machine of mine for it's funky weird rambling one cylinder piece of junk that it is. But that's why I love them. They are stupid simple, easy as hell to fix. Those bikes are super funky and ragged around the edges. That's why I'd love to have one of these one day. Plus, their other models are pretty cheap as well. I'd rather spend 10 grand on two decent bikes that have their own funky personalities than a single new bike that does one thing very well. Also, the after market may not be huge over here in the states, but with some garage knowledge and a willingness to get dirty, these bikes will probably last you a life time.
As a guy who has ridden both a Honda XR650 r (with a street legal lighting kit) and a BMW 1150 w/Ural sidecar to Chile and Argentina, S.A., I've found that it really doesn't matter what bike you ride. Itchy Boots has proven that many times over. I've ridden in 12°F snowing weather through Northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois from my home in Kentucky, on a KLR 650 outfitted with studded tires. My point is, is that you should ride the bike you have. In Chile, I met riders on Kawasakis, ancient Hondas, modern Yamaha singles, an 800cc Suzuki single, and of course, BMW's (oddly, most Germans I met were riding Japanese bikes). If I were to do it all again, I'd use a bike of no more than 650cc with 6" or so of ground clearance, and a damn good headlamp. Don't let vanity or pride cost you thousands. The most respected bikers are the guys who do it all on a used $2000.00 bike that other guys think they need $20,000.00 bikes to do. The satisfaction of doing it all on the cheap is immensely satisfying. This applies to all riding! The most important thing, is to keep a gas tank pushing on your privates!
Great review, man. I own a 2018 RE Himalayan and as hard as it is to hear some of the facts mentioned, they are nothing but the truth. I wish the Himalayan had more power, better front brakes or more suspension travel, but I do enjoy it on and off road more than I have enjoyed heavier and more expensive bikes. Perhaps because it is easier to handle and I don't have to keep in mind how expensive a simple fall could be. Compared to cheaper/similar lower displacement bikes, I agree with your comments. They just lack the character and nostalgic look of the Himalayan. I'm glad you did enjoy the bike and that it got you and your friend out of a difficult situation. That inspires a bit of confidence in the bike. I will continue to enjoy mine as far as it will take me and hopefully will have a shot at the 650cc version if it ever comes out. Please keep sharing your great videos. Pura vida from Costa Rica!
@@christianlet5997 Hi, I have the ABS 2018 model (BS4), it makes in average 30 km/L so about 450 km per tank in normal riding conditions which I think is pretty good for this size engine and bike. Cheers
@@edjd0 great bruh ✌😊. . . . I have rc 200 nd im looking for entry adventure bike bruh? ? ? Is Himalayan is ok for tourer, daily trip? ? ? Help me bruh? ? ?
@@christianlet5997 Sure, it's a great entry level adventure bike. Very comfortable for daily driving and for long trips on and off road. It's very adaptable and it's kind of a bike you don't worry too much about a scratch or fall. Like any RE, I recommend some blue Loctite and retightening all bolts. I've had mine only a few months and 6000 km and had a little oil leak issue that was resolved by the dealer. No other issues so far.
Very good honest video on the Himalayan.he likes it and believes it's a snip at the price which it is.Norali or itchy boots has proved beyond any doubt whatsoever that it is a very good adventure bike.i take my hat off to her.
I have long been a fan of the look of the Himalayan, and I'm also someone who wishes manufacturers would make some proper 400-600cc small adventure bikes. I'm not a fan of the plastic dual-sport look either, and wish we could get a proper scrambler-looking bike. Basically, take the Honda CRF300L and build a 500cc version with a tank styled after 70s enduros and fenders that I can switch out to suit the look/use I want. With all of that said, the RE Himalayan was the closest to any of this. When a guy nearby listed his recently, I snatched it up. While it looks as good or better in-person, after just a couple rides, I sold it. My main cons: 1) It's too heavy for its HP output. 2) It carries its weight pretty high up Plenty of people would be happy with it, and I could have lived w/ the lack of power on pavement. But on a gravel-road, it was just too sluggish given its weight, and if you can't take it off-road a little, why own it? With that said, pretty much everyone loved the look of it, even non-motorcycle friends. So, Honda, Yamaha, anybody... go crank out a midsize scrambler w/ some engine guards and you'll print money.
The BEST review I've ever watched... The Royal Enfield Himalayan is just cool, and old school different, like a WWII tank. The better shiny plastic bikes have no soul. The lower cost of the Himalayan makes it possible for the less hard corp riders to get out a ride. IMO. Also Crazy GREAT video work on this review. Thanks.
The styling is a huge drawcard for this bike. Looking at competitors like the DRZ400 you mentioned, I just couldn't see myself being proud of owning and riding them, even though they're objectively better. I'm really not into that plasticy look, which says more " hour long thrash through the bush" than "long adventure" to me or something. But each to their own!
Having owned both, I would go with the Himalayan, it is a better choice for a daily rider for city to dirt. Plus more luggage options without having to modify as in the DRZ. If you plan to go fast offroad often, then go DRZ. Then put a big bore kit and hot cans in it. I even added a kick starter from a 250cc. The Himalayan is a more comfortable ride and so much easier to work on.
Excellent review. Sadly my wife has said I need to get my car test done before I can get a Himalayan. Fair enough... but I'm bloody impatient and can't wait to get one!
Well, I know it might not be the best at anything, but it does get the job done. I've seen other videos where the Himalayan was cruising down the highway at 70 MPH with little vibration, high RPM, but little vibration. I like the looks better than the other motorcycles mentioned, and for the money you get a lot of nice features, like a windshield, fork gaiters, a metal skid plate, decent suspension, a nice flat seat for the rider and the passenger ( I don't like the ones that angle down towards the front, they are uncomfortable to me) a low seat height which is important to me, and a luggage rack. All in all, it might not be the best, but it is a pretty good deal on a good looking machine which isn't all plastic. I think I like it, and I'm a Harley owner.
The new 650 is called Interceptor. And it's a cafe racer. I also own one Himalayan from initial days. There were some issues but RE did the changes for free.
I would like to add. RE just announced that they will make a new Himalayan with the Parallel Twins too. But it will take sometime for them, first in the line are Interceptor and Continental GT. So it might take atleast 2 years for them to even give a showcase of the new bike. Plus Indian emission codes are very strict. Hence, it takes more time to develop a road legal bike in India.
Mayank Vasandani , My 19 Himalayan is dead from stalling at 123 miles new. Dealership is 250 miles away . ShitBox never would’ve made it home. Is it too soon for USA release? No one had heard of RE here until they see mine trucked to bike shows, covered in paint and slurs. It’s headed back to Enfield Connecticut Friday they won’t be happy to see me or what I’ve done to my ShitBox Himalayan still under warranty but the sight of it WILL stop others from thinking RE might be a good idea
@@jimdunne3696 Its really peculiar case , I have seen many times that its passing 40k kms with basic service and routine changes. Cannot comment much but have you asked for a replacement. RE has a problem with oil leakage but that just the type of bike it is. But dead it must be a defective piece
Fair review and I own a 2020 model, aftermarket pipe (still baffled), K&N and exhaust wrap has upped the bhp and torque a little (and saved a little weight) so I opted for an extra tooth on the rear sprocket and together they all make a good difference, higher cruise now very comfortable at 70mph with no loss of acceleration, improved power delivery (of what power there is) and altogether more rideable 😉
The styling and low-key performance are what did it for me. I love that the bike is made of metal, even though that makes it heavy. I have no interest in the plastic MX look of other dual sports. That styling complements the Himalayan’s laid-back nature on and off road. It’s the perfect adventure bike for me, I absolutely love it.
Since we're being brutally honest here I have to admit that I don't like anything about it. It looks like a 1950's UK military motorcycle. Sure it might be fine for a commuter in a country where certain roads aren't paved, but with the exhaust routed the way it is, ground clearance as low as it it's and lack of even being able to break the rear wheel loose I would undoubtedly pass on this one. Another great review though brother and I can't wait to see the video of you guys getting out of that sticky situation.
Damn. This is my favorite looking dual spot on the market. If they made a more ADV focused version with some more power, and better street performance I would buy day one.
Thanks for the review. I also saw your getting lost adventure. I got the Himalayan here in Costa Rica. Woow, there is a dealer in San Jose, In Costa Rica it is about as expensive as a Honda 250 -- which I would prefer solo off-road. But with the Himalayan I got great a great luggage rack and panniers. It also has enough room to travel comfortably with my wife on the back seat. With a speed limit of 80 km/h power is not so much an issue, Well, I would still like the big bore kit which make it a much nimbler ride. Not a 701 Husky (which I owned in Germany) or a KTM 790 (which I will get in Germany), but 5000 Kilometers of economic fun in Costa Rica so far! Andreas
a few years ago, me and six friends all bought safari tanks and decided to circumnavigate australia on bikes. There were expensive dual sports, many KTMs, Husqvarnas, Hondas, suzukis, yamahas and of course a himalyan, Needless to say with everyone riding with a full pack, swag, safari tank, full gear, offroad, onroad, and no-road, the fella on the Himalayan won no races, but had the easiest time through it all, you dont buy the himalyan to lift the front wheel up, you buy it because when push comes to shove, the himalayan will push, and it will shove, it's a tractor on two wheels that just does it all.
Okay here is the history behind Himalayan. RE is indian market for a 100 years the previously highest sold RE was a bullet 350 or classic 350. These were thumpers loud and heavy bikes. Indian army ordered huge amount of these bikes these bikes were poor in performance it had some torque but top speed was 110kmph. Nobody cared about how it was slow it became a prestigious bike to own by a person( instant respect++ ). Next these bike could hand huge torture and hence were prefered to ride in Ladakh and go to khardungla pass the highest motorable road in the world(civilian) it was every bullet owners dream to conquer that route. These 350 cc bikes did the job of getting there but we're not good enough to be handled on off-road conditions and this led to increase in demand of dual sport vehicle in india. Rich people went with BMW's and triumph tigers but there were no dual sport bikes in budget segment in india. That's when the Himalayan came it had that heavy thumper long stroke engine as seen in bullet and it was a off-road machine. Launched at $2500 in india. riders went crazy after it and tortured that bike on offroad routes and found issues with them like breaking of footpegs, engine breakdown, electrical issues and also chassis breakage. That was what indians call the BS3 Version. The BS4 Version came next which fixed about 90% of its issues had ABS what I mean to say is this bike was made to impress the previous thumper loving bullet market and hence no competition with any rivals
New Aussie subscriber, unreal review mate, epic footage... I bought a Himalayan about 2 months ago and love it.. you are pretty much spot on with everything you said...
@@tonydrony1320 ha tony drony. Eyes dont need any proof. www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/russia-sends-warships-towards-australia-before-g20-meeting-20141112-11lc4z.html
@@welcome2thebadlands What's your point? You sound like you are one of these jealous little losers. Cheers to down under Tony. You got some nice places to go there with the bike.
Im a big Enfield fan to begin with, I owned a 1959 250 Crusader Sport when my friends were raving about 250LC's and X7's, Id read/heard other reviews of the Himalayan and was being put off by them. Your review style and honesty about the bike was very refreshing and restored my desire to have one. Thanks for a great review in awesome terrain.
Tyler, after the old bikey mcbikeface review a few years ago....... I was genuinely surprised you would even give another Chinese bike a second look ever again........ I thank and applaud you for your willingness and open minded attitude to even entertain looking at the Kove. Knowing your bike history (I have been around since the klr days) your belief and high regard of the kove made a lot of people take note. We are still awaiting the appointment of an Australian agent/distributor and wait with bated breath......thank you for giving Kove its first real western voice
I'm a fat man in my 40s, I don't want a streetfighter or race replica that can do zero to 90 in 1.2 seconds, I'd look like a worm on a diamond sat on it. The Himalayan offers all that I want or need from a bike and I love them, warts and all
Well I think is not all about the bike, Is all about the horse rider. You can very easy cross the whole world on this bike,. well look at ITCHY BOOTS on you tube. she has done incredible trips on the HIMALAYAN.
its unreliable.if you dont have some mechanical knowledge and drive with others you cant trust this bike in remote areas.But i wish the well selling bikes would have the rough style of this.
I'm an Indian and not an Enfield Fan because they were selling the same bike since the 50's down to the 2010. I appreciate that they came up with the 650 cc twin bikes because they made something new. The 350 cc bullet puts out only 18 bhp, the 500 cc does 22-23bhp only. The himalayan is crap 416 cc and 24 bhp seems they are going back to the fifties....
I bought one a year ago. I use it mainly for commuting but the intention is to do some gentle green laning with it in the near future. The DRZ and KLR are not available in Europe or the UK because of emissions regulations so the main alternative is the CRF...
Think of this as a British bike. There is no crappy quality control. If you look up the origins of the engine, it is coming from a legend in engine design and manufacture. I've got 4500 miles on my bike the intake valve never changed clearance the gospel changed by .002. it's simple to work on simple to fix. If you want a hydraulic tappet engine, this isn't for you. If you're expecting something off the Pacific rim, this isn't for you. For those of us who don't mind having our hands dirty once in awhile and learning more about the bike it doesn't create a problem it takes less than an hour. ask for being a starter bike I suppose you could call it so, that it's still an adventure bike and a lot of high-end riders purchase them just to have something to play with. What's wrong with this? Why should the ability to have fun cost 10 or $15,000? I'm done putting kids through school. That includes engineers kids!
It is mostly your fault for me buying my Suzuki 650 V-Strom recently. Having a blast!!! I watched your KLR comparison a few times before buying it. I got a great deal on it and I am having more fun than I expected possible for such a “SMALL” engine. Great video production as usual guys! Incredible scenery!
After watching all the super exploration videos of 'Itchy Boots', I am automatically touched by this RE-Himalayan....I used to ride on RE Classic 500, but now, I wish to take this bike.
I owned a 1970 Beetle. You changed your oil every 1500 miles and also adjusted your valves at the same time. If the temperature fluctuated 20 degrees from the time you got to work until the time you drove home you warmed it up and adjusted the carbs before heading out but you could rebuild the engine in your laundry room on a milk crate in one night and put it back in the car in 10 minutes.
Folks,... This bike is not a meant to be a dual SPORT bike, ... it is a a dual PURPOSE bike! That means it will putt-putt along on the dirt as well as on the road, adventure travel style. It is meant to ride rather slow and easy, for you to enjoy the scenery, ... it was never meant to go wildly powering along and jumping all over the place. With that in mind, it is a good bike for just that.
Attila GYuris it’s a Turd, mine stalls, dies and needs rescuing at 123 miles new. 250 miles to the dealership means it never would’ve made it home. And it’s gotta go back after 4 hours of running. Rent a truck, loose a days wages, drop it off in Enfield Connecticut, go back 250 miles to get it when they say it’s ready . Rent a truck again to act as chase vehicle when they FEEL its ready so yeah it’s shite. It’s nothing but a canvas to throw paint at. For me it’s always gonna be an example of where not to spend money, and everyone who sees it will agree
Attila GYuris , My 2019himalayan is supposed to make noises? Move on it’s own? At 123 miles on it I have pushed and truck rescued it .. stalls and leaves me stranded I found 2 kinked emissions tubes and a loose ground under the tank and still no improvement.. it’s headed back the 250 miles to the dealership Friday, leave it there until fixed and then go get it back.... I got better things to do. 1000 miles driving to get this ShitBox to go any further.. “Friends Don’t Let Enemies ride Royal Enfields “.
Nice review. RE are doing very very well here. Pushing the "lifestyle" classic heritage stuff. For the people who can't afford an HD or Triumph. Regards from NE Thailand.
Same here in india.... Cant wait for new classic 350 with smoothest RE engine... Releasing soon... Its loaded with modern tech and modern meteor engine with same looks of classic
Wow, this is such a well-done review and video. Thanks! The drone footage really adds to it. Do you have someone else doing the piloting, or are you setting up a route or using automated shot features, then riding?
Bakersfield CA has a dealer. Adventure Center Powersports. Great shop with great people. Husqvarna and Royal Enfield dealer with one of the best Harley mechanics in the state. I can't hardly wait till we get the Himalayan. CARB just released the bike, and it will be hitting CA stores in the next couple of weeks. Another great review, and thanks for the video.
Great review...again! After owning 220 plus motorcycles over the past 45 years, and ridden thousands of others, I try to find the "ride" for any motorcycle. I personally wont buy a royal Enfield anything but I can understand the style and interest in this bike. It's like an old Billy goat that I used to have that was really sweet until he would lock his horns on my ankle and try to kill me. Good old Teddy goat. So if someone buys it, just ride it for what it is and appreciate the breakdowns and poor brakes and lack of power and enjoy the looks and the conversations you'll have at gas stations and bike events. Jon OUT!!
Deve ser muito bom morar em um país onde existem várias opções de motos, aqui no Brazil a himalayan é basicamente a melhor dual sport de média cilindrada.
Então cavalheiro, faça uma curta viagem ao Chile e compre a moto que você quer lá. Você encontrará tudo o que pode encontrar nos EUA ou na Europa por preços semelhantes. Há também um acordo de livre comércio entre o Chile e o Brasil. Saudações.
Bikes are like women, ones that are pleasing to look at and fun to ride often require frequent maintenance. So goes the Himalayan. Great review. One of the best I've ever seen. Thanks!
Royal Enfields are crap. My 19 Himalayan stalls dies and leaves me stranded I hate it and now the bike shows it I’m looking forward to the 250 mile one way trip to drop it at the dealership until ready. So it’s like a fat chick that way. Get stuck with one, you don’t want to ride.
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
It's finally done! After several drone crashes and software errors, some really expensive drone repairs, and an "easy ride through the badlands for some filming goodness turned into a fight for survival on two overweight dualsports" the Himalayan review is finally finished!
Spoilers: Despite being pretty dang slow and a bit beefy, I really got to like this motorcycle. I wouldn't buy one, but if they come out with a 650 I really would consider picking one up as an adventure tourer. If the 400 had just a hair more power it really would be a game changer for adventure touring. As it stands, it just doesn't have the guts to perform on the highway. As for off road, I am pretty impressed. It's no dirt bike, and is easily outperfomed by 20 year old bikes like the DRZ, but it got through some nasty stuff!
10+ additional hp (and a few more ft-lbs) and a 6th cog and the RE would be making waves. Thanks for the review!
This bike reminds me of my 87 TW200. You definitely need to review it soon, it is a super interesting and easy to ride bike, I have had the xt225 and the drz400 and the T dub is my favorite so far! The royal enfield reminds me of the TW but without any of the offroad benefits, check it out!
Awesome video! Any chance you know what tail bag your buddy had on there? Looks perfect for what I want but I can't tell who makes it!
Hello eveRIDE much love from India where this is the only adventure motorcycle.... Yet😎😘
Keep riding.❤🏍
You didn't mention the lack of any or all vibrations on the Hima, which is something that plagues literally all other singles. I'd say the Hima feels as smooth as any twin. And IMHO this puts it well ahead as an adventure bike. Compared to the CRF250, DR400, Husky 701 and any KTM EXC, you don't feel like you're sitting on a tall, hard, vibey ironing board. The DRZ makes your palms go numb in half an hour on the pavement and so does the 250L. Yeah, the seat might not be a cruiser seat, but damn, compared to the wooden plank of a 701, it's all day comfortable. For me, the Hima is the ultimate scrambler. It's OK around town, OK to travel on, more than OK on trails and it looks like a classic motorcycle.
For me in my country under 3500 dollars that's the best bargain, oh yes I live in himalaya, Bhutan
Lol you are the king of buthan
Who came here because of "Itchy Boots"? - She's 'killing it' on a Royal Enfield Himalayan...
ME.
Me too
Me
Been following the channel for years, but Itchy Boots on the Royal had me revisit this review. So yeah, me too.
me too
Guys, you need to see Itchy Boots channel where she is cruising half the world on the Himalayan in some of the remotest and toughest roads in the world.
highways in Iran are now the toughest roads in the world? lmao. She's a 30 y/o white chick riding mostly smooth highways and she's had multiple break downs.
@@gordokdestroyerofworlds3480Hmm.. I did not mention just Iran. Checkout Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other areas that she has been to. In Iran, I guess the clutch failed mostly because the handlebar was raised which might have caused some slippage. Point is if you have seen Ewan McGregor's Long Way Round with the BMW 1200GS with full support teams..they too had breakdowns. This tiny motorcycle in comparison has done pretty good especially considering the price -
$5k vs $20K
@@mpadalax breakdowns can happen to anyone, but if the bike is properly set up and well maintained you most likely wont experience any.
The 2 breakdowns I had in 70000km on my r1200gs is due to a crash in pakistan where the bike landed unluckily on a rock right on the intake manifold, and the other was a cracked rim (cast wheels) while doing fast offroad on difficult terrain.
Aside from that I met a couple of travelers on the himalayan and they were all pretty happy with it considering the price :)
@@gordokdestroyerofworlds3480 What 'multiple breakdowns' dude? She's broken clutch cables because she fitted handlebar raisers and the clutch cable was at an angle, she now taken them off. Oh, and she had a puncture. Can't quite see why the colour of her skin is too relevant either. What have you done?
@@patrickcolclough2423 lmao don't play stupid. A white chick from Holland is now an expert on bikes because she rode some indian bike 50k? These things are trash bikes, get your head out of your ass and go read some reviews and ride one before you comment.
I am not a hardcore rider but I ride it daily to work and school and I will not kid you ,this bike is one cool thing to ride on streets cause I always gets the looks and even at school people are starting at this bike like they never seen this kind of bike...I enjoy it 6 days a week so far so good 9k miles still running strong,to all riders be safe out there,love you all ,peace out from Cali.
I want one so bad! The nearest dealer is 300 miles though... I saw one in town, such good looking unique bikes. Would be a perfect bike for what i need... They really need to get more dealers though.
@@pauld.b7129 but in India it's just another bike... Just like you guyz are familiar with brands that are common in your country the same way RE is too common. 300 miles is really way too far. But in marketing terms they cannot open everywhere since it's not an viable option. Hope u might get what u love to... 😊😊
Are there issues regarding the build quality? Did you had anything replaced or fixed?
@@vivekanandan5093 yeah every 10km it has a showroom or a service center
Do you still have the bike now?
The Himalayan's main value is for international travel. A bike that simple can be fixed by any mechanic in the world.
Sadly most mechanics in the states won’t work on it unless they’re himalayan dealers and they’ll charge you an arm and a leg to do so
Reminds me of “The Motorcycle Diaries.” Great movie.
@@confettihunterminus1But you don't have to go to a CERTIFIED MOTORCYCLE TECHNICIAN who's going to charge you 80 bucks an hour, nor will you need a $2k tool to remove a single bolt to do basic maintenance. The brilliance is the simplicity. You don't need an engineering degree or a tool chest full of $50k worth of tools to keep the bike on the road. In short, you take this to an Authorized Dealer while it's under warranty - and then never take it to a technician again. Basic mechanic skills are all that's required, that any owner can perform, with basic tools found in any garage; a small handful of tools to travel with is all that will be required for most maintenance on the road. That's part of the philosophy of the bike itself; the reason it has underwhelming specs is due to the simplicity of easily maintained engineering. I imagine repair shops absolutely hate these bikes compared to, say, a BMW or Ducati; while those bikes have reputations for superior engineering, those shops can probably pay their rent just doing oil changes alone on those machines,while they won't make a dime off of RE oil changes.
Having ridden it for about 3 months now... I have been thoroughly impressed by it... overcoming my initial reserves & hesitations... the Enfield Himalayan has been quite epic tbh.
Same for me. It's a blast to ride especially when curves are coming up!
@@303storm Im actually very impressed with how it handles the twisties on pavement. Every time I ride this bike I like it even more. LOL
@@MikesProjectsandHobbiesMC I had to sell mine for moving to Asia and still have it in the back of my mind.
@@303storm I'd have ridden there with it! 😁❤️
@@theoldleafybeard Still thinking to get one but I have so many toys already
....but the Royal Enfield Himalayan is an "Adventure Bike," not a "Dual Sport," not an "Enduro." The idea is that this is a bike that allows one to travel with gear in an "adventure/overlanding" fashion. It is for dirt roads and moderately difficult terrain, as well as for bombing along the paved backroads and state highways that get you to those dirt roads in 99.999% of cases. The bike fills a niche of being a very inexpensive, simple, entry level into the adventure genre. Its a bit like a baby BMW GS, but then again people loved to bash those bikes because they aren't dirt bikes too.
Yours is a real honest review.
People bash the BMW GS but have never really gone on a dual sport adventure. I did Africa on a KTM 1190 Adventure R, the thing is big and heavy, but for months and months on the bike I'm glad I didn't take anything less. Big, comfortable, powerful enough to save me from idiot drivers in Africa, nimble and easy to use off-road. The only downside is the 1% of the time when going through deep sand, then it was very difficult. Overall unless you're doing like Sibirsky Extreme style travel, you can get away with a big heavy bike because the majority of the time you'll be benefitting from it. Maybe next time an 800 is a good compromise, although KTM 690 would have been too small and uncomfortable for long term travel I think.
That’s why Honda makes a 250rally. :)
Keep aside the pride .. Re are far from refinement.. Himalayan had lots of electrical failures and frame cracks.. Steering bearing rusting up very badly.. Unwanted weight.. The only decent thing is the cycling set up. Am afraid where the bike may stall.. I still like to ride a Honda shine modified for ladak trip.. Some decent tyres..sprocketing.. Rear suspension with after market set up .. Luggage rack. Hope it will ride cool with better fuel consumption..
@@NNA-r5d But all the Problems has Been Resolved in the BS4 Version and Now the BS6 Is Coming Soon
I have 2 Himalayans an 18 and 19 models, just rode to big bend texas from San Antonio, did over 1600 miles on road and off road bike did great, loaded up with 75 pounds of gear for camping. Easy to work on, easy to modify if needed. Great bike and enjoy riding. SJ
golden rule is ride a bike suited to your needs and roads, so many people by into the dual sport idea and never leave the road, theses people typically ride a BMW or have a KTM load it all up with boxes and tech just to ride to work or the shops. and theses people typically complain with theses little iron horses, at the end of the day the enfield is good at what it does for the roads and trails its designed for and has nothing to prove :)
Best line ever! get something suited to your needs & roads. I LOVE the look of the REs, but I ride a GoldWing because of riding style.
Gandu
@Gorden Gecko m
So true! Perfect explanation 👍
I have 2 Royal Enfield's , a 1948 and a 1954. You young guys may be faster, handle better and be better off road but I look a DAMM side cooler :)
Ya don't look cooler than Itchy! You'd have to be McQueen.
👍🏻😁👌🏻
Hands down
Hi, I’m from India.. personally I hated RE for all the heavy bikes they made, which made you feel like a truck driver at the end of the day.. But when I had a test ride.. it felt different & when I bought it & started using it..!! Believe me it doesn’t feel like a Royal Enfield..!! 😊👍 I’ll say I’m happy, satisfied & proud HIMALAYAN owner..!! 👍
I own a Royal Enfield in the United States. Just as a little FYI, the Bullet/Classic 500 are considered lightweight bikes in America and Western Europe. They're only 'big' in an Indian market, where most people use low-cc two-wheelers to commute (think Hero Honda, Bajaj Pulsar, etc) rather than tour or do long-distance travel.
I'd agree with that, too. A Honda CB250 has more power than a 500cc Enfield.
TBH I'd be happy owning an Enfield if I were living or studying in India. Unless you're on the Yamuna Expressway or something, you'll hardly ever be able to ride over 100 km/h. It's also cheap and easy to get parts and repair services in India versus the U.S. (my state is geographically larger than Uttar Pradesh, but we only have one or two authorized Enfield mechanics).
I've tried bikes like the Bajaj Avenger and didn't feel comfortable at all. Still, if you have the money, you can do better than a Bullet, no matter which country you're in.
@@aDarkRedJungle hmm what about interceptor Nd cafe racer twin they r going to launch in usa today
@Prranjal Shrivaastav yeah lol it weight heavy as Bajaj dominar Idk what he is smoking
Prranjal Shrivaastav Sir, riding a RE for pleasure & using it on a day to day basis are two different things. I also have a TB 350 where the bike let’s you know that it’s heavy.. whereas the Himalayan doesn’t. My comparison was with other RE bikes & not Triumph or Harley. I’ve done trail riding on TB & Himalayan, here both cannot be compared but I just gave my experience regarding the weight.
I own the himalayan from the very first batch. I am using it since 2.5 yrs and have clocked more than 40 thousand kms. It had a lot of quality control issues. The chassis, swingarm, engine head, starter coil etc have all been replaced. Basically entire bike, except the fuel tank, has been replaced under warranty😁. But I still love my bike. Why because it is just right for me. I am no dakar rally finalist, nor I am a fan of speed and drag races. I am a fan of simple things in life like touring, occasional offroading, exploring places etc. I don't want to do jumps from sand dunes, do wheelies or burnouts. I just want to ride. 😁🤙🏼
edited - please note that out of 40 thousand kms atleast 30-35k kms were tours ranging from 500 to 6000kms.. the bike never gave up on me mid ride.. it always showed issues in daily commute when I am near a service centre :D
You are a man after my own heart. I am old school and being English and in my late sixties my motorcycle heritage has been brit 60's machines and after Harleys, stuff I understood and could repair on the side of the road if I had to with limited hand tools which is why the Himalayan appeals to me, simple and does the job I want which is relaxed touring with low cost maintenance and primary investment.My only problem is actually locating one as the French concessionaires where I live are crap but thats another story.
That's what we can call brand loyalty. If almost all the bike was replaced under warranty, there is no way I would recommend it to anyone.
Haha, so well said. I feel you brother!!
Sounds like the spent far more time in the dealership being fixed, than being on the road. "I just want to ride, but the bike didn't let me."
From what I understand the bikes in markets outside the USA had issues as they were not inspected properly and every Himalayan for USA market are being inspected and most issues have been eliminated. I’m not sure about everyone else 😕
I test ride it last year and I have to say it’s a great bike for the philippines! I like the review style !
I ride Manila, you watch eveRide too.
The one you rode is still a carb right?
the himalayan? fuel injected
Wow that's amazing coz what that are selling in the Philippines is still the carb type. I wonder where can I check that FI
Same here. At the dealer they were clear the FI version was not coming to Philippines any time soon...
Sounds like the perfect bike for our poorly-maintained UK roads. I like it. Bring on the potholes!
KwakZedRider93 , No No No!!! It’s crap! Its reliable no svc from dealership too . My 2019 Himalayan stalls, dies and needs pushing. Yes get one from the dealership across the street. But not one across town. Pushing limitations should dictate if you can get it back to dealership without a truck. Get anything but an Enfield . A 30 years old Honda xr650l perhaps. Super reliable cheaper and you won’t end up a tool like me.
Poorly maintained UK Roads?
I am an Indian and drove London to Edinburgh in 2018... And I must say you don't know what poorly maintained toad means.... Drive in India and you will know
Having said that, anything which can take on Indian roads and Indian Traffic, then it can take on anything in this world.... Royal Enfield bikes are hugely popular in India - amongst Civilians as well as Armed forces and Police forces (both of which buy RE bikes in hoardes)... And Army uses them in the most inhospitable conditions and they survive well and perform well
Another complaining Brit
Bro you nothing know about indian roads😂😂
Potholes in uk.....boy come to india
You're "I get it..." note is exactly why I have my Himalayan. I bought my 2019 in Mid-July and have since put 4800 miles on it, a good 800 or so of which have been on trails many of which the bike was likely never designed to be on. Super narrow single track, gravel fire roads, pavement or otherwise; the bike has been absolutely brilliant for me. I'm 6'2" and my love for it has been growing non-stop. The simplicity of it paired with how capable it really is has made it the proverbial dream-bike for me.
Also worth noting, they've updated their maintenance schedule to every 6000 miles.
How does it do on highways? Riding at 55 to 65mph?
@@JumpingWatermelons it’s at home around 55-60 mph feels like I’m over stressing it at speeds higher than that
@@talltale9760 Thanks. I ended up buying a Suzuki DR650, which feels good up until about 70mph (though it can go much faster if needed)
@@JumpingWatermelons dr650 will definitely treat you well
You forgot to mention RE Himalayan was designed by Pierre Terblanche ex chief designer of Ducati !
AND ?
He made the worst looking Ducati's.
Pierre Terblanche probably does not want the publicity found in a burning plane...
I think he was designing something good but failed and himalayan was born. RE said no money for another trial, let us launch, foolish people will buy.Ha
@Dr James Crabapple. plse go for a sports bike .
I've taken Royal Enfields around India and own one in the United States. The biggest problem with these bikes--and we only have the 500cc variant in America--is that no matter how well they can perform in the mountains, they're not well-suited for everyday riding. A Bullet cannot keep up on proper highways, and it cannot comfortably sustain highway speeds without rattling to bits. The Himalayan is even more under-powered but seems to be better designed.
Then again, you can ride a 20-year old Enfield through a river and it'll keep chugging on the other side.
the Himalayan has a more modern motor when compared to the RE 500 UCE, and will be able to do better speeds than the 500 with lesser vibes. That said, no RE bike from their current stock can perform on a US Highway!
I don't know, I commuted on an 05 Bullet military for 10 years in Florida. The only problem I ever had was intake rubbers dry rotting every 2 years. It would run 70 but not well or for long. I used it more for back roads at 60 and it worked fine.
Test ride the new continental GT and the interceptor. Both are 650cc twin cylinder.
There is a old saying in India Royal Enfield only stops when one thing is not working out of two B.B battery and ballbearings...
Try Dominar 400
Four years later, support for this bike has improved dramatically, mainly due to its popularity. It's also at a very sweet price point, particularly here in Argentina, where Japanese bikes are at a premium. It's also worth mentioning that the Himalayan is now assembled here, which is a major advantage for spares and servicing. I'm definitely buying one.
I am following “Itchy boots” on her journeys and the Himalayan really excels.
Best regards.
Noraly has a exceptional Himalayan, or maybe mine is the exception, mine is stalling and needs pushing home. It’s a heavy pig to push more than a mile 2019 RE Himalayan is POS. Get a 2 decades old enduro even a Chinese bike but not this gutless, soulless world crap.
She never exceeds100 kph otherwise it'd spend more times in a repairshops than on the roads. Lol
Giovanni Lorenzo it’s not a race bike, and if she tried to go any faster she’d miss all the scenery. Only bikers understand that.
From my boring days.. I tune in daily to see..where she’s at
She had her reasons for buying it. Cost, short legs, what she carries, etc. The second one may have been sponsored. I have a feeling she likes her Honda’s as well. If not better.
Itchy Boot bike , I think she did 40,000k on hers with not many problems.
She has the 500 though
@@Neoptolemus Does the Himalayan come in different motor sizes?
She did ride the Himalayan.
th-cam.com/video/z6sPF1PYPW8/w-d-xo.html
@@Neoptolemus No 500 exist... She was driving a 400 relentlessly in Asia, and now started a new adventure from Patagonia to Alaska with a new one, simply because she could not manage to have documents of the old one accepted. Incredibly sturdy relieable bike if one should judge on her experience
@Gorden Gecko It came over to me as a pile of crap. Bearings wear etc.
I've always been a fan of Royal Enfields (never owned one though) due to their simple mechanics and retro styling and when I heard about the Himalayan I was even more excited. I think this video was perfectly balanced and really showed how far Royal Enfield has come. I'd be surprised if your video didn't help RE sell a bunch of these bikes going forward. Great job!
Sadly in India it's the cheapest what we get with next best thing costing more than double. I got myself a carburated non abs Himalayan about one and half year ago and was hooked to your channel and your black widow ever since. Frankly I didn't expect you to like it and even if you hadn't I wouldn't have loved my machine any less. But seeing you rode it gives me much more confidence to explore more difficult terrains than I am currently used to. Thank you very much for inspiring always.
avadhoot velankar no the new version are great but all those reviewer will not talk about that it had problems in first year but other exported version were good but now both are good I would say people should buy the 2019 version which has abs
avadhoot velankar true bruh but the new ones have solved almost all the problems
@Yudh Isthira and CBUs of all those and likes of Honda CRF 250l cost through roof. 😖. But still this video puts our REH in perspective with all these bikes and it's not bad.
Ebay about the dominar 400 with the lluvia Industries kit
Just wait for hero xpulse 200 and duke 390 adventure. They will change the game for adventure lovers.
Thank you for brutally honest and completely unbiased review! I own a Himalayan myself and am completely happy with it. Great job, thank you once again, ride safe and keep the rubber side down!
MotoHolic Sergey, I’m happy for you bro! My 19 Himalayan stalls, dies and leaves me pushing it 2x. It’s got 123 miles on it! I hate it! It shows, I’ve defaced the machine with donkey\pig letters and many thrashings of colorful paint all over it. It looks like the crap it is, under warranty and going back to dealership in Enfield Connecticut Friday. They won’t be happy to see me and I’m fine with that.
Look at the price.....In india the exshowroom price of RE Himalayan is only $ 2516 ...... The most affordable offroad bike....
s m , who needs a motor that won’t make the trip home? Chinese Hawk 250 at 1/3the price is for me 3x more reliable, my 19 Himalayan stalls, dies and leaves me stranded 2x it’s got 123 miles on it. Dealership is 250 miles away. Good thing I trucked it home it never would have made it.
@@jimdunne3696 good luck with your hawk250
@Gorden Gecko its not a piece of crap.indians could very well be the most money consoius people.And the peice of crap does really good here.
@Gorden Gecko plus the indian army uses the brand.if its a peice of crap no army would use it
@@jimdunne3696 didn't Know chinese are marketing their brand by using bots
I think the biggest reason i really want a himalayan like you said about 13 minutes in. The way the Himalayan looks is extremely compelling to me for a dualsport. There are better choices stats wise and things that make more sense on paper but SHOOT ME I actually DO care about how my dualsport motorcycle looks! I cannot stand the motocross style, the excessive plastics and reds and blue bright colors. I love the classic styling and simplicity of it. If a 650 comes out I am absolutely jumping on it.
2 years on and I still enjoy my Himalayan.
How about now?
@@reformedchinesecommunist it's a stupid 🤡 bike.
I dont even own a motorcycle and i spent 20 minutes watching the ride footage. Awesome vid!
Hahaha same 🤣
You know what is funny is that every time some Himalayan video pops out in TH-cam so many people claims it as British engg,some Italians design etc. Fact is that foreigers know RE in this last 5 year only...what we Indians trusted this bike from the beginning and love this bike more than any citizens...Also it's name Himalayan is given to show what it is capable off(Himalayan is most beautiful and challenging journey a man will be taken in a bike, this bike is designed for Himalayan mountain ride and she survived it) and any other terrian in the world is walk in park for her and RE will remain as India forever....
Proud owner ..
Seems to be a political issue not a review for the bike!!! Anyhow it is a great starter bike for both riders and pockets..
Itchy Boots we loveeee youuuu😍🛵🇳🇱
Control yourself, this is eveRide channel
Is there any problem guys?😜
An excellent review. I have ridden several Royal Enfield Himalayans and enjoyed the experience.
Many people do not understand the difference between brake horsepower and torque.
Many people purchase motorcycles that have performance and capability far beyond their skill levels = waste of money.
These motorcycles would appeal to riders who understand their own limitations and appreciate a machine that is easy to maintain, service and repair at home or in the field.
My old M21, a 1948 BSA 600cc sidevalve (flathead) that produced 15 bhp but had bags of torque, once holed the piston due to poor quality fuel when I was touring through Afghanistan in 1972. No spares or dealers in those days.
A village mechanic jigged the piston, pad welded up the hole and put a blob of weld on the inside of the piston skirt to balance the repair. Replaced the piston two years later.
In my opinion, motorcycles have become too big, too powerful and far too complicated.
That is the attraction of bikes such as the Himalayan.
Even old fellows like me can enjoy a Sunday blast before the inevitable Monday Physio appointment.
Well it did better then I thought it would. I love the look of it but figured it wouldn’t capable off road. Looks like a neat putter.
I was surprised to find that it was maybe even a little more capable off road than it is on road, because of the lack of power on highways. A 650 would absolutely solve this, and I think that with the rumored discontinuation of the KLR 650, Royal Enfield might have a market winning bike if they hustled out a capable 650 version of the Himalayan.
It is made for off road
@@theunboundedspirit3313 yeah yeah... We know that, but how do you get to the offroad? On a trailer?
It's a comfortable 70 mph mule that can pack a load. Not fast enough? lol
Its is awesome on and off the road.
You keep using the words “dual sport” in relation to the Himalayan, it’s a small adv overlander bike, it’s not a dual sport.
I find it to be a dual sports with focus on motocamping. The stock bike can cruise on less than average highways at 40-60 mph all day long and day after day with elan and 70 mph on wider and smoother stretches comfortably for several hours, sluggish but steady, after break in period, it can overtake at 80-85 mph on the stock bike with no mods if you just raise the rear suspension preload (otherwise it would be wobby at that speed), it can do poorly maintained country roads and back country roads at 20-40 mph, and it can manage moderate dirt, gravel, mud, water crossings and offroads in widely varying climates that the country roads and back country roads leads to, not a bike meant for motocrossing or extreme dirt racing but handles technical offroads pretty well- which is what Indian urban motocampers need when they camp across the cold Himalayan mountain ranges located at very high altitude starting from tropical and subtropical Indian cities at sea level some 500-1500 miles away with hell lot of luggage, food and water, and gas as gas stations are few and far between up in the Himalayas and even oxygen cans sometimes since oxygen level falls with altitude- the design accomodating simple maintenance and self repair was conceived with the thought that mechanics may not be available in the remote mountains. This is why the bike is named Himalayan. It is okay to excellent on most roads in most climatic conditions at any altitude but certainly not the best in any of those. And motocamping is definitely full of adventure.
This bike is not a dual sports in the sense it would be able to pull off 120 mph on freeways like a sports bike and then would behave like an enduro when thrown around the dirt.
The moderate linear power delivery in engine design was incorporated not just for better fuel efficiency and durability of the engine or for sacrificing power for robust low to mid rev torque, but also to avoid horrible accidents. In the himalayas, there are countless 3000 feet deep gorges on the side of barely 5-7 feet wide offroad trail, so the margin of error in judgment is extremely low. Bikes with higher horsepower might be unforgiving in such situations- one wrong pull on those very responsive throttles of high hp 650 cc motorbike and you will be over the edge; the free fall will be deep and nobody returns alive after a 3000 feet drop downhill on jagged stones.
@@knightatdawndonbynight8432 You nailed it.
Absolutely honest and practical review of the Himalayan. I rode this bike in the hills of Uttarakhand and found it to not the most comfortable bike for long rides. This bike is still years behind similar bikes produced abroad.
Oh finally with someone with sense! 🙏🙏
A perfect review. And the absolute best description of that beautiful purpose built engine. Torque over power any day off road.
That's not only an honest review, but some of the best video production values I've seen in a non-commercial video. Nice work.
Great honest review, thanks. I really liked the Himalayan when I first saw pictures of it a year ago and was hoping it would make it into the US. I started riding dirt bikes in the late 60's so enduro type bikes have a special meaning for me. Unfortunately, the majority of bikes capable of going off road such as the DR650 are too tall for me to comfortably ride so the low ride height of the Himalayan is perfect.
Absolutely love this review! I really like that you don't come at it with the typical spec sheet list and ramble on about how so and so bike will dominate it off road and whatnot, because it really is for a different rider than that. Your mention of the video showing the foot peg breaking off and then comparing it against the "bulletproof" KLR shows just how grounded you are when it comes to these reviews. I think with your experience riding so many different bikes on and off road, I trust your opinion the most about motorcycles.
Thank you for your continued commitment to the channel! I feel like the last time I looked, you were "only" at 16k subs, and now look at you! Looks like the hard work has paid off!
The issue isn't with the Himalayan, its with US motorcycle importers making over $2,000 per unit. If this motorcycle was selling for its actual Indian Rupee price they would sell all of their export stock in minutes. So, we compare with all the other manufacturers are offering and each of them comes in at least $3,000 more than what the Himalayan actual costs. So, now imagine a Himalayan produced once again in India and they built it to spec as a $5,500 bike and was imported for what it should cost it would likely hammer the hell out of any other bike in its class. The Himalayan appearance is 100 percent better looking than any piece of plastic bike going down the road and put some of those fancy panniers on it and it just looks just as great at 65MPH.
Mike S Himalayan cost 3000 dollar around Nd if u import government take taxes as well bruh in every country
That's capitalism, Mike. And as Rajender says, it's not as straightforward as Royal Enfield doubling the price from one market to another. Along with tariffs, Royal Enfield also has to ensure that its American imports meet certain quality standards. Units sold in California, for instance, have to be compliant with the state's emissions requirements--requirements which either aren't as stringent in India or can be bypassed by bribing an inspector.
I do'n't think they are making 2K per bike. Shipping, Taxes, overhead and distribution are a very very large part of the retail price tag of everything sold here.
I'd have to disagree. It is very expensive to ship containers over the ocean. You are paying for logistics to the port, logistics for transoceanic travel, logistics from the port in the US to the Enfield inspection/service center, logistics from the service center to the dealer. You are paying for labor along the way, tariffs, taxes, customs fees and more. You are paying people to manage the entire supply chain. You then have to factor the increased cost in with the fact a dealership needs to make a relatively small profit.
They are probably near losing their ass on these bikes quite honestly and have them priced to sell quickly and fain a foothold in the US.
Just like automotice dealershilps are only making $500 on a car. Meanwhile, they have 30 million dollars in stock and showroom equal in value. The units being sold in India they are making profit on and then they are being shipped in a container which contains many bikes which they will pass on to the buyer and they will tack 2K on top. The dealer prep and delivery is for all the shipping and setup fees. If you think for a moment these guys are making a few hundred dollars then you are foolish.
If I ever travel the world on a motorbike it will for sure be on a Royal Enfield Himalayan. Been watching 'Itchy Boots' and that motorcycle seems to be the equipment to do it on 👍💪🙏
Great review! Also, as a female rider, I really appreciate how you don't talk as tho only guys ride, as many other reviewers do. Thanks!
Very, very nicely done video.
IMHO the context of the video missed the nark by a bit by reviewing an Overland travel Bike from a Dual Sport perspective. The Himalayan is not a Dual Sport I.E. dirt bike or Enduro homologated for road registry.
The Himalayan was from inception an Adventure bike, an overland travel machine purpose made and intended for hauling rider and gear to the horizon. This is abundantly clear by the bikes design and all of the press releases and videos. Methinks the distinction between Dual Sport and Dual Purpose is getting increasingly lost in the sauce or overlooked lately.
Word!
Royal Enfield Himalayan isn't made for racing or performance. It's for touring and traversing any terrain. Though it has a look of dirt bike but it's not solely for that purpose. It's is a great adventure machine which will complement you in rough and toughest terrains of the Himalayas. It's chassis is one of the toughest in this range of adventure bikes and it's for a purpose. It can survive crashes in harsh terrains which other bikes may not..
And the price and m simplicity?
This bike was one I was shopping against the KLR650, the DR650, and the DRZ400. I was shopping for a dual-sport which would also be a great commuter. In the end, I went with the KLR650. The main thing going against the Himalayan for me was the reputation of Royal Enfield with their Bullet. A cool bike but not one to rely upon for day to day transportation. And I was just getting rid of a Ural Patrol, the most unreliable mode of transportation I've ever owned. So I decided to go against the possibility of having a third world bike with bad reliability and flaky dealerships, which sums up my Ural experience. I went with the KLR and from what I'm getting from some sources, possibly one of the final KLRs to be made and sold. I'm still interested in the Himalayan, and if time proves it to be a reliable steed, perhaps I'll add one to my stable in the future.
Justin Waller iam from india i can old afford himalyan it cost me in bangalore 185200 when i first bought it i hated it.but after yelling n complaining to re service center they finally fix it but yes i feel it lacks in powr for being hudge in size
Nothing against Russia at all. And I didn't say Russia is or was a third world country. During the cold war, the world was said to be divided between the western aligned world (pro USA or with heavy US influence), the eastern world (pro Soviet Union or with heavy Soviet influence), and the so-called "third world" (those not really aligned with either, thereby not having the technology being pushed by the US and USSR). And come on, even a "modern" Ural is not a good example of the best Russia has to offer. Our family doctor is from Russia, and even she would always ask, "Why do you have a Ural? Why would you want that?" I know Russia is a leader in science, engineering, mathematics, and space exploration, etc. But my Ural was absolute crap. It was fun to ride, when it was running, but no fun to own. Three transmissions shot, three clutches shot, a burnt out cylinder, a broken swing-arm, a broken electrical starter, odometer and speedometer, all in less than three years of ownership. It might as well have been built in a jungle hut in some third world country. That's what the ownership experience was like. Dealerships are scarce, the one I bought from flaked out on me when I had a warranty issue, and I had a really tough time getting parts. I don't want to have that sort of experience again. I want to give Royal Enfield time to get their stuff sorted out here before I take a chance like that again. I knew of Ural's reputation for unreliability, but took the chance because of a good warranty. It wasn't worth it.
Good choice but calling “third world” reeks of bias.
The thing about what you call "third-world" bikes is that they are simple and easy to work on. In Russia and India, people traditionally fixed their own machines. The machines are built to be worked on rather than to not need to be worked on. Reliability is a function of maintenance, not something baked into the bike.
Get bikes like these to countries like America and people think they are cool but don't know how to own them. Only a small minority of American riders work on their own bikes. They get hold of a bike like a Royal Enfield and expect to do nothing to it except take it to the dealer. I have a friend whose Bullet "broke," meaning it wouldn't start. Turns out all it needed was the idle jet on the carb cleaned. To him that meant it was "broken" and not reliable. Guy had no idea that a carb needs regular cleaning, nor how to clean a carb, nor I suspect what a carburetor was. He had no tools. His "broken" bike was fixed in 20 minutes.
Justin Waller, GREAT CHOICE!!! DONT WIND UP LIKE ME AND MY DEAD ROYAL AT 123 MILES! Royal Enfields should only be looked at never ridden unless your strong enough to push the overweight pig home.
I should have never sold my 94 xr650l it still completely stomps the running Enfield but running royals are rare here.
Itchy boots!!!!......dutch girl traveling all over the world on her Himalayan! Everything thing is relative....
Just because the bike is able to do something doesn't mean it's a good bike, DRZ is better in every way. It can do the same thing as what itchy boots did, but better, more easily, zipper etc. If you're a shorty then get a Honda 230L. Still better than the Himalayan.
Yes..and now she's got cb500x honda..now thats is perfect for her
@@biswajit5783 yea cause the thing stopping anyone from going off around the world is their choice of bike. I ride around my own continent (which is as big as the whole of Europe minus Russia) and my drz gets along on much tougher terrain. But you don't need me to tell you, just trust that a bike unchanged for 20 years and a best seller in Australia is probably going to be better than an Indian start up that weighs 60kg more with 20 less HP and worse suspension. I've see a few doccos about people riding around the Himalayas and you can do it on a ktm390 sports bike. Suddenly a bike with cushy suspension comes along and people compare it to a sports bike and say 'wow this is great' when they really don't know what else is out that that's light years ahead of a company that only recently made their first 650. RE may technically be the oldest motorcycle brand in the world, but they reality is that they're worse than Harley's.
Andrew494 Just 1 question....have you rode the Himalayan ?
@@debashismallick9937 why would I need to. Riding the bike won't stop it from being 60kg overweight. You could make that argument about anything. If we are comparing a 1200gs to a ktm 1190 then riding both bikes would be important, but if you compare the Himalayan to other 400cc bikes then it's obviously terrible. If you compare it to other bikes with the same power it's terrible. If you compare it to other bikes in the same price range it's terrible. Two reasons people ride this bike:
1: it looks cool and they want a bike that looks cool
2: it's made in India and all the Indian riding channels jizz just looking at it because it's made in India.
If you design a bike to be an adventure bike (which is what RE did) and it doesn't even sit at 110 then you failed.
Trust me I wanted to get one of these as my first bike back when I knew nothing about them, I went into the dealership and sat on one, but I only liked it because it looked cool and there were a few people riding them 'around the world' on TH-cam. I'm very glad i didn't get one because when the real reviews came out the handlebars bent after one drop. The frame snaps. The crash bars are only attached at two points each. The bike used to die at too much altitude.
It's got a low seat height. It looks cool. It's made in India.
What people often confuse for torque, is the width of the usable rev range. For off road use, it's very useful if the torque range (and thus the output power) starts at barely above idle. A bike putting out say 30 to 50nm at 1500 to 4500rpm, is more useful than one that does the same from 3000 to 4500rpm. Both have the same output power, and the same maximum torque, but one feels like it can chug up any mountain while the other needs to be kept revving high to avoid stalling.
The torque specified is just one data point in a curve, and in itself does not have much meaning.
Thanks for the great review. While not ideal for North America, think about its home market. How many Indian roads could you use 100 hp and 6 gears. Video of travel in India shows many dirt roads choked with trucks ,busses, livestock, pedestrians and other bikes. The actual Himalayan roads show steep inclines and congested narrow broken roads carved into mountain sides. A docile, bone simple bike with low power and decent torque would be perfect for those conditions.
Neither fit for india, that is why they want to sell it to north america
Thr roads are fine, just that too much population and everyone is everywhere
Well on that token, it shouldn't be sold in the west then.
@@welcome2thebadlands nah india is not like that, you are blinded by tv shows who are racist and dumd as others in your country
@@welcome2thebadlands so go buy a TukTuk
The Royal Enfield has always been a fantasy machine of mine for it's funky weird rambling one cylinder piece of junk that it is. But that's why I love them. They are stupid simple, easy as hell to fix. Those bikes are super funky and ragged around the edges. That's why I'd love to have one of these one day. Plus, their other models are pretty cheap as well. I'd rather spend 10 grand on two decent bikes that have their own funky personalities than a single new bike that does one thing very well. Also, the after market may not be huge over here in the states, but with some garage knowledge and a willingness to get dirty, these bikes will probably last you a life time.
As a guy who has ridden both a Honda XR650 r (with a street legal lighting kit) and a BMW 1150 w/Ural sidecar to Chile and Argentina, S.A., I've found that it really doesn't matter what bike you ride. Itchy Boots has proven that many times over.
I've ridden in 12°F snowing weather through Northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois from my home in Kentucky, on a KLR 650 outfitted with studded tires.
My point is, is that you should ride the bike you have. In Chile, I met riders on Kawasakis, ancient Hondas, modern Yamaha singles, an 800cc Suzuki single, and of course, BMW's (oddly, most Germans I met were riding Japanese bikes).
If I were to do it all again, I'd use a bike of no more than 650cc with 6" or so of ground clearance, and a damn good headlamp.
Don't let vanity or pride cost you thousands. The most respected bikers are the guys who do it all on a used $2000.00 bike that other guys think they need $20,000.00 bikes to do.
The satisfaction of doing it all on the cheap is immensely satisfying.
This applies to all riding! The most important thing, is to keep a gas tank pushing on your privates!
Can’t think of any other Himalayan review so detailed & so honest. Great job done. 👍🏻
If there is one word that sums up Royal Enfield, it's charm
Great review, man. I own a 2018 RE Himalayan and as hard as it is to hear some of the facts mentioned, they are nothing but the truth. I wish the Himalayan had more power, better front brakes or more suspension travel, but I do enjoy it on and off road more than I have enjoyed heavier and more expensive bikes. Perhaps because it is easier to handle and I don't have to keep in mind how expensive a simple fall could be. Compared to cheaper/similar lower displacement bikes, I agree with your comments. They just lack the character and nostalgic look of the Himalayan.
I'm glad you did enjoy the bike and that it got you and your friend out of a difficult situation. That inspires a bit of confidence in the bike. I will continue to enjoy mine as far as it will take me and hopefully will have a shot at the 650cc version if it ever comes out. Please keep sharing your great videos. Pura vida from Costa Rica!
Bruh wat about ABS? ? ? ? 2018 model have ABS or wat? ? ? Nd wats the milleage bruh? ? ?
@@christianlet5997 Hi, I have the ABS 2018 model (BS4), it makes in average 30 km/L so about 450 km per tank in normal riding conditions which I think is pretty good for this size engine and bike. Cheers
@@edjd0 great bruh ✌😊. . . . I have rc 200 nd im looking for entry adventure bike bruh? ? ? Is Himalayan is ok for tourer, daily trip? ? ? Help me bruh? ? ?
@@christianlet5997 Sure, it's a great entry level adventure bike. Very comfortable for daily driving and for long trips on and off road. It's very adaptable and it's kind of a bike you don't worry too much about a scratch or fall.
Like any RE, I recommend some blue Loctite and retightening all bolts.
I've had mine only a few months and 6000 km and had a little oil leak issue that was resolved by the dealer. No other issues so far.
@@edjd0 Thanks Man. . . . .
Very good honest video on the Himalayan.he likes it and believes it's a snip at the price which it is.Norali or itchy boots has proved beyond any doubt whatsoever that it is a very good adventure bike.i take my hat off to her.
I have long been a fan of the look of the Himalayan, and I'm also someone who wishes manufacturers would make some proper 400-600cc small adventure bikes. I'm not a fan of the plastic dual-sport look either, and wish we could get a proper scrambler-looking bike. Basically, take the Honda CRF300L and build a 500cc version with a tank styled after 70s enduros and fenders that I can switch out to suit the look/use I want.
With all of that said, the RE Himalayan was the closest to any of this. When a guy nearby listed his recently, I snatched it up. While it looks as good or better in-person, after just a couple rides, I sold it.
My main cons:
1) It's too heavy for its HP output.
2) It carries its weight pretty high up
Plenty of people would be happy with it, and I could have lived w/ the lack of power on pavement. But on a gravel-road, it was just too sluggish given its weight, and if you can't take it off-road a little, why own it? With that said, pretty much everyone loved the look of it, even non-motorcycle friends.
So, Honda, Yamaha, anybody... go crank out a midsize scrambler w/ some engine guards and you'll print money.
Awesome review and thanks for sharing big love from Australia 😊
The BEST review I've ever watched... The Royal Enfield Himalayan is just cool, and old school different, like a WWII tank. The better shiny plastic bikes have no soul. The lower cost of the Himalayan makes it possible for the less hard corp riders to get out a ride. IMO. Also Crazy GREAT video work on this review. Thanks.
The styling is a huge drawcard for this bike. Looking at competitors like the DRZ400 you mentioned, I just couldn't see myself being proud of owning and riding them, even though they're objectively better. I'm really not into that plasticy look, which says more " hour long thrash through the bush" than "long adventure" to me or something. But each to their own!
Having owned both, I would go with the Himalayan, it is a better choice for a daily rider for city to dirt. Plus more luggage options without having to modify as in the DRZ. If you plan to go fast offroad often, then go DRZ. Then put a big bore kit and hot cans in it. I even added a kick starter from a 250cc. The Himalayan is a more comfortable ride and so much easier to work on.
Excellent review.
Sadly my wife has said I need to get my car test done before I can get a Himalayan. Fair enough... but I'm bloody impatient and can't wait to get one!
@Gorden Gecko once get married, forget self decisions...
Harish Adiga Really? Sounds like you gave away your power or married the wrong girl? Some decisions don’t need the wife. This would be one of them. 🦾🍺
Honestly i wasn't expecting this bike doing this, I'm pretty impressed, really cool for that price
Well, I know it might not be the best at anything, but it does get the job done. I've seen other videos where the Himalayan was cruising down the highway at 70 MPH with little vibration, high RPM, but little vibration. I like the looks better than the other motorcycles mentioned, and for the money you get a lot of nice features, like a windshield, fork gaiters, a metal skid plate, decent suspension, a nice flat seat for the rider and the passenger ( I don't like the ones that angle down towards the front, they are uncomfortable to me) a low seat height which is important to me, and a luggage rack. All in all, it might not be the best, but it is a pretty good deal on a good looking machine which isn't all plastic. I think I like it, and I'm a Harley owner.
The new 650 is called Interceptor. And it's a cafe racer. I also own one Himalayan from initial days. There were some issues but RE did the changes for free.
I would like to add. RE just announced that they will make a new Himalayan with the Parallel Twins too. But it will take sometime for them, first in the line are Interceptor and Continental GT. So it might take atleast 2 years for them to even give a showcase of the new bike. Plus Indian emission codes are very strict. Hence, it takes more time to develop a road legal bike in India.
Mayank Vasandani , My 19 Himalayan is dead from stalling at 123 miles new. Dealership is 250 miles away . ShitBox never would’ve made it home. Is it too soon for USA release? No one had heard of RE here until they see mine trucked to bike shows, covered in paint and slurs. It’s headed back to Enfield Connecticut Friday they won’t be happy to see me or what I’ve done to my ShitBox Himalayan still under warranty but the sight of it WILL stop others from thinking RE might be a good idea
@@jimdunne3696 Its really peculiar case , I have seen many times that its passing 40k kms with basic service and routine changes. Cannot comment much but have you asked for a replacement. RE has a problem with oil leakage but that just the type of bike it is. But dead it must be a defective piece
For the price, this seems like a great choice for people who ride mostly street and hit some dirt now and then
It's the opposite, it's not a dirt bike but adventure bike. People who like harsh terrain and long drives will like it
Fair review and I own a 2020 model, aftermarket pipe (still baffled), K&N and exhaust wrap has upped the bhp and torque a little (and saved a little weight) so I opted for an extra tooth on the rear sprocket and together they all make a good difference, higher cruise now very comfortable at 70mph with no loss of acceleration, improved power delivery (of what power there is) and altogether more rideable 😉
hey Steve sorry if I'm have this wrong but adding a tooth to the rear sprocket? Doesn't that decrease highway speed?
Oasis-You are 100% correct. He would need to add to the front sprocket or take away from the rear sprocket to achieve what he is claiming.
The styling and low-key performance are what did it for me. I love that the bike is made of metal, even though that makes it heavy. I have no interest in the plastic MX look of other dual sports. That styling complements the Himalayan’s laid-back nature on and off road. It’s the perfect adventure bike for me, I absolutely love it.
Check out "itchy boots" videos on TH-cam to see the long term reliability of this bike
Since we're being brutally honest here I have to admit that I don't like anything about it. It looks like a 1950's UK military motorcycle. Sure it might be fine for a commuter in a country where certain roads aren't paved, but with the exhaust routed the way it is, ground clearance as low as it it's and lack of even being able to break the rear wheel loose I would undoubtedly pass on this one. Another great review though brother and I can't wait to see the video of you guys getting out of that sticky situation.
ColoradoDualSport That's what attracted me, the military industrial design.. The same reason I love my Jeep Wrangler.. looks like 1941 😁
Damn. This is my favorite looking dual spot on the market. If they made a more ADV focused version with some more power, and better street performance I would buy day one.
A 650 cc variant is in rNd might be there in the dealerships by late 2022
Yamaha T7 is the king of that market if you’re on a budget
Thanks for the review. I also saw your getting lost adventure. I got the Himalayan here in Costa Rica. Woow, there is a dealer in San Jose, In Costa Rica it is about as expensive as a Honda 250 -- which I would prefer solo off-road. But with the Himalayan I got great a great luggage rack and panniers. It also has enough room to travel comfortably with my wife on the back seat. With a speed limit of 80 km/h power is not so much an issue, Well, I would still like the big bore kit which make it a much nimbler ride. Not a 701 Husky (which I owned in Germany) or a KTM 790 (which I will get in Germany), but 5000 Kilometers of economic fun in Costa Rica so far! Andreas
a few years ago, me and six friends all bought safari tanks and decided to circumnavigate australia on bikes.
There were expensive dual sports, many KTMs, Husqvarnas, Hondas, suzukis, yamahas and of course a himalyan,
Needless to say with everyone riding with a full pack, swag, safari tank, full gear, offroad, onroad, and no-road, the fella on the Himalayan won no races, but had the easiest time through it all, you dont buy the himalyan to lift the front wheel up, you buy it because when push comes to shove, the himalayan will push, and it will shove, it's a tractor on two wheels that just does it all.
Okay here is the history behind Himalayan. RE is indian market for a 100 years the previously highest sold RE was a bullet 350 or classic 350. These were thumpers loud and heavy bikes. Indian army ordered huge amount of these bikes these bikes were poor in performance it had some torque but top speed was 110kmph. Nobody cared about how it was slow it became a prestigious bike to own by a person( instant respect++ ). Next these bike could hand huge torture and hence were prefered to ride in Ladakh and go to khardungla pass the highest motorable road in the world(civilian) it was every bullet owners dream to conquer that route. These 350 cc bikes did the job of getting there but we're not good enough to be handled on off-road conditions and this led to increase in demand of dual sport vehicle in india. Rich people went with BMW's and triumph tigers but there were no dual sport bikes in budget segment in india. That's when the Himalayan came it had that heavy thumper long stroke engine as seen in bullet and it was a off-road machine. Launched at $2500 in india. riders went crazy after it and tortured that bike on offroad routes and found issues with them like breaking of footpegs, engine breakdown, electrical issues and also chassis breakage. That was what indians call the BS3 Version. The BS4 Version came next which fixed about 90% of its issues had ABS what I mean to say is this bike was made to impress the previous thumper loving bullet market and hence no competition with any rivals
After watching Itchy Boots on her Royal Enfield, that bike needs no other comments.
New Aussie subscriber, unreal review mate, epic footage... I bought a Himalayan about 2 months ago and love it.. you are pretty much spot on with everything you said...
Kay
You’re a tool.. thank god you don’t live here..
@@tonydrony1320 yeah, thank god i dont.
Some of you would wisdom then
@@tonydrony1320 ha tony drony. Eyes dont need any proof.
www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/russia-sends-warships-towards-australia-before-g20-meeting-20141112-11lc4z.html
@@welcome2thebadlands
Shut up, Kay. What do you get from being so rude?
@@welcome2thebadlands What's your point? You sound like you are one of these jealous little losers. Cheers to down under Tony. You got some nice places to go there with the bike.
RE Himalayan has long legs and will be production for a long time.
It's best when used in back roads, not on the interstate highway.
Im a big Enfield fan to begin with, I owned a 1959 250 Crusader Sport when my friends were raving about 250LC's and X7's, Id read/heard other reviews of the Himalayan and was being put off by them. Your review style and honesty about the bike was very refreshing and restored my desire to have one. Thanks for a great review in awesome terrain.
Tyler, after the old bikey mcbikeface review a few years ago....... I was genuinely surprised you would even give another Chinese bike a second look ever again........ I thank and applaud you for your willingness and open minded attitude to even entertain looking at the Kove. Knowing your bike history (I have been around since the klr days) your belief and high regard of the kove made a lot of people take note. We are still awaiting the appointment of an Australian agent/distributor and wait with bated breath......thank you for giving Kove its first real western voice
I'm a fat man in my 40s, I don't want a streetfighter or race replica that can do zero to 90 in 1.2 seconds, I'd look like a worm on a diamond sat on it. The Himalayan offers all that I want or need from a bike and I love them, warts and all
True , he's looking at bike from a teenagers point of view
I think this is best review till now of the Himalayan I have seen ...Love from India n u r one hell of a off road rider!!!
Well I think is not all about the bike, Is all about the horse rider. You can very easy cross the whole world
on this bike,. well look at ITCHY BOOTS on you tube. she has done incredible trips on the HIMALAYAN.
Itchy Boots? Never heard of her. I'll have to check it out.
its unreliable.if you dont have some mechanical knowledge and drive with others you cant trust this bike in remote areas.But i wish the well selling bikes would have the rough style of this.
I'm an Indian and not an Enfield Fan because they were selling the same bike since the 50's down to the 2010. I appreciate that they came up with the 650 cc twin bikes because they made something new. The 350 cc bullet puts out only 18 bhp, the 500 cc does 22-23bhp only. The himalayan is crap 416 cc and 24 bhp seems they are going back to the fifties....
I bought one a year ago. I use it mainly for commuting but the intention is to do some gentle green laning with it in the near future. The DRZ and KLR are not available in Europe or the UK because of emissions regulations so the main alternative is the CRF...
Royal Enfield is like a King of offroads n saved so many families after hitted by Cyclones in India Everytimes
So what I'm hearing in all that is "This is a great starter bike, as long as you don't mind doing the valve checks."
Apparently they have crappy qc so it's more like multiple trips to the shop for warranty work.
Cake !
Think of this as a British bike. There is no crappy quality control. If you look up the origins of the engine, it is coming from a legend in engine design and manufacture. I've got 4500 miles on my bike the intake valve never changed clearance the gospel changed by .002. it's simple to work on simple to fix. If you want a hydraulic tappet engine, this isn't for you. If you're expecting something off the Pacific rim, this isn't for you. For those of us who don't mind having our hands dirty once in awhile and learning more about the bike it doesn't create a problem it takes less than an hour. ask for being a starter bike I suppose you could call it so, that it's still an adventure bike and a lot of high-end riders purchase them just to have something to play with. What's wrong with this? Why should the ability to have fun cost 10 or $15,000? I'm done putting kids through school. That includes engineers kids!
It is mostly your fault for me buying my Suzuki 650 V-Strom recently. Having a blast!!! I watched your KLR comparison a few times before buying it. I got a great deal on it and I am having more fun than I expected possible for such a “SMALL” engine. Great video production as usual guys! Incredible scenery!
After watching all the super exploration videos of 'Itchy Boots', I am automatically touched by this RE-Himalayan....I used to ride on RE Classic 500, but now, I wish to take this bike.
Have a test ride
I owned a 1970 Beetle. You changed your oil every 1500 miles and also adjusted your valves at the same time. If the temperature fluctuated 20 degrees from the time you got to work until the time you drove home you warmed it up and adjusted the carbs before heading out but you could rebuild the engine in your laundry room on a milk crate in one night and put it back in the car in 10 minutes.
Great review. Looks like a fun motorcycle for weekend short trips on the gravel roads - and travel around the world for one gifted lady rider
Folks,... This bike is not a meant to be a dual SPORT bike, ... it is a a dual PURPOSE bike!
That means it will putt-putt along on the dirt as well as on the road, adventure travel style. It is meant to ride rather slow and easy, for you to enjoy the scenery, ... it was never meant to go wildly powering along and jumping all over the place.
With that in mind, it is a good bike for just that.
Attila GYuris it’s a Turd, mine stalls, dies and needs rescuing at 123 miles new. 250 miles to the dealership means it never would’ve made it home. And it’s gotta go back after 4 hours of running. Rent a truck, loose a days wages, drop it off in Enfield Connecticut, go back 250 miles to get it when they say it’s ready . Rent a truck again to act as chase vehicle when they FEEL its ready so yeah it’s shite. It’s nothing but a canvas to throw paint at. For me it’s always gonna be an example of where not to spend money, and everyone who sees it will agree
Attila GYuris , My 2019himalayan is supposed to make noises? Move on it’s own? At 123 miles on it I have pushed and truck rescued it .. stalls and leaves me stranded I found 2 kinked emissions tubes and a loose ground under the tank and still no improvement.. it’s headed back the 250 miles to the dealership Friday, leave it there until fixed and then go get it back.... I got better things to do. 1000 miles driving to get this ShitBox to go any further.. “Friends Don’t Let Enemies ride Royal Enfields “.
Nice review. RE are doing very very well here. Pushing the "lifestyle" classic heritage stuff. For the people who can't afford an HD or Triumph. Regards from NE Thailand.
Same here in india.... Cant wait for new classic 350 with smoothest RE engine... Releasing soon... Its loaded with modern tech and modern meteor engine with same looks of classic
Wow, this is such a well-done review and video. Thanks!
The drone footage really adds to it. Do you have someone else doing the piloting, or are you setting up a route or using automated shot features, then riding?
Good to hear a totally unbiased view for any bike.
Bakersfield CA has a dealer. Adventure Center Powersports. Great shop with great people. Husqvarna and Royal Enfield dealer with one of the best Harley mechanics in the state. I can't hardly wait till we get the Himalayan. CARB just released the bike, and it will be hitting CA stores in the next couple of weeks.
Another great review, and thanks for the video.
John Gifford ayyy. Thats where im from xD
@@johnbaptise2262 Bako-bros. Lol.
@@johngifford7725 check out 650 interceptor and the Continental GT twins...
Can't wait to see them in person. We will be getting the Himalayan in the next few weeks. That's the next one, then maybe newer models.
Great review...again! After owning 220 plus motorcycles over the past 45 years, and ridden thousands of others, I try to find the "ride" for any motorcycle. I personally wont buy a royal Enfield anything but I can understand the style and interest in this bike. It's like an old Billy goat that I used to have that was really sweet until he would lock his horns on my ankle and try to kill me. Good old Teddy goat. So if someone buys it, just ride it for what it is and appreciate the breakdowns and poor brakes and lack of power and enjoy the looks and the conversations you'll have at gas stations and bike events.
Jon OUT!!
How many of 'em do you currently own in the year 2K18 ?
@@mokujin29 Currently only 3. And I stopped racing and riding on the street as much anymore. But thank you for asking
Cool.
EPIC drone footage! Great format, voice over; stellar review.....HONEST.
This is the best detailed video/ review/ comparison video on the Himalayan ever posted on the net. Keep it up.
10 seconds into your video and I am in love with your presentation stole and the scenery. Good work, Brother.
so... you're telling me it perfect for Himalayan roads lol good. I live in Nepal!
Deve ser muito bom morar em um país onde existem várias opções de motos, aqui no Brazil a himalayan é basicamente a melhor dual sport de média cilindrada.
Same in India
Então cavalheiro, faça uma curta viagem ao Chile e compre a moto que você quer lá. Você encontrará tudo o que pode encontrar nos EUA ou na Europa por preços semelhantes. Há também um acordo de livre comércio entre o Chile e o Brasil. Saudações.
Bikes are like women, ones that are pleasing to look at and fun to ride often require frequent maintenance. So goes the Himalayan.
Great review. One of the best I've ever seen. Thanks!
Jerry Ferguson; G'day Jerry, Mate fifty years ago that comment would have been OK.
Royal Enfields are crap. My 19 Himalayan stalls dies and leaves me stranded I hate it and now the bike shows it I’m looking forward to the 250 mile one way trip to drop it at the dealership until ready. So it’s like a fat chick that way. Get stuck with one, you don’t want to ride.
Incredibly well narrated. He took a good while to script this. Nice work guys.
Can't stop watching your videos. So soothing for someone who lives in a busy city. Keep up the good work and holler at us if you ever come to India :)