The facts on Royal Enfield quality
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มิ.ย. 2024
- My thoughts on Royal Enfields and their quality. Are they good or are they bad? What do you think?
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You have saved the day!!!! We were so keen to buy the Himalayan...then, we thought we'd watch your prognosis. We immediately changed our minds. Bearing in mind we do ride an 1100 Guzzi (she's 31 years old) but a heavy girl. We are looking for a second bike - lighter - and on the lookout for a good Bullet. Thank you so much for this complete 'breakdown'.
If you get a Bullet make sure it is the UCE engine later models from 2017 onwards. The earlier ones are conisseurs bike if you get my meaning lol
The classic Himalayan 411 should be kept in production, and just improved on. Yes the new Himalayan 452, should have come out under a new model name, you are right. It maybe should have come out as parallel twin, but lets, better, not go so far. The quality, and power, and finesse of the 411 could all have been perfected, and there will always be a fan base for it.
The 411 certainly has a great following
Your wife should read some of my earlier posts about my experience with my 2021 Himmy. I bought the bike used with 1,500km on the clock. Immediately I noticed a rattling coming from the speedometer. Not trusting other people with my bike, I pulled apart the speedometer and discovered that it was made with cheap plastic that had crumbled from vibration. So I glued everything back together with a strong and flexible polymer and that did the trick. Then at 2,000km and 17,000km the swing arm froze up. Then at 3,000km the left front turn signal broke to pieces from a combo of cheap plastic and vibration. The right hand turn signal lasted until 16,000km. I fixed both with flexible gel super glue and polymer adhesive and they are still holding. Then the bike began stalling all the time at idle, I have done all the typical mods in an attempt to fix the stalling, and at 19,000km it still stalls. Had to replace the head bearings at 8,000km, and once again at 18,000km. Had RE remap the ECU for the stalling issue and then just bought a Fuel-x pro which allows me to adjust the mix where I desire. Then around 9,000km I found that the throttle body was loose from the factory at the head, and tightened which meant re-adjusting the idle so it would run again. I had to replace the headlight in order to just ride the bike at night, and I put new brake pads so it would stop while riding two. Also, we discovered after the first few rides on the bike that the seat was too soft, too low and narrow for my wife and I and we are both thin people. So I had new seats made as well. A mechanic friend suggested that the stalling might be from a poorly seated intake valve which is causing the popping and dying it idle. But I am leaning towards it being a malfunctioning cam decompressor so I bought new valves and a new Tec cam and will soon be doing that upgrade. And of course I did all the regular maintenance like oil, chain, etc. My bike has broken down constantly, but like you, I like the design and there is nothing out there that does what it does. So like you, I have a love hate relationship with my bike as well. I love the bike, but wish it was built better. I am glad to hear your honest review of the Himmy and agree with the kick starter problem. I think the reason it was removed was simply due to the later year bikes having fuel injection. Without a battery, the fuel pump would not prime and set up the ECU so it is doubtful that it could start with a kick start and no battery.
You sound like me. My wife has read your comment. I think now she believes the problems aren't all in my head.
@@iantoy7778 Same situation here, my wife kind of wonders as well and at 65, I am looking for simplicity economy and a ride that is more relaxing for both my wife and I. We use the bike for everything and our SUV just sits in the garage collecting dust while on a permanent trickle charger. At 65 I want to get all the riding in possible while I can. You did me a great service sharing your vid of the cam and valve upgrade, and I figured letting your wife know that her husband is 100% justified with his repairs on the bike is the least I could do. Too many creators out there are not mechanically inclined, or sugar coating the Himmy just for $$$. Then there are those of us who just tell it as it is and fix the bikes up to where they should have been from the start. I liked your comparison between the Classic 500 and the Himmy. I never imagined that there was such a drop in quality on the Himmy. I just figured RE always had low quality components.
@@iantoy7778 2021 is a pronlematic year with the himmi, 2022 and 2023 are much better.
….. made me chuckle when you mentioned the teasmaid as a gadget. Brought my old mum one from my first wage packet and that was 46 years ago !
To be honest I don't know if they even make them now 😂 Just something that sprung to mind as I was chatting
I really enjoyed Ur down to earth honest thoughts, I am a big advacote for the Himalayan, and have ridden almost 45000km on my bike across Indonesia, Dubai, Iran,,Oman Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania, I was lucky and literally had no issues with the bike whatever, even down to the head bearings,are all original, I put Ohlins suspension and tubeless rims on the bike, and it was a game changer, we are moving to Chennai India next month, and was planning on bringing my bike with me , but customs wouldn't allow me to import my bike, so I took all my modifications off and plan to put them on a Himalayan that I'll buy in India, I am also contemplating a bullet 500 as I love the thump and feel out of them,
Keep up the great review
Regards
Noel
Thanks Noel. Hope you get as many km out of your next Himalayan when you get to India. Keep on riding
Very interesting vid. I've thought about buying and tested a few Royal Enfields and they do have character. But at my age now i just want bikes that are easy to live with and reliable. Currently NC750X and V Strom 650. They may not have much character, but all i have to do myself is basic servicing once a year and spend my time riding them, not fixing stuff.
I have to admit I do miss my NC750X that I sold when I bought the Himalayan. It was a great bike, never lets you down. It just lacked character for me.
I have the same vintage Himalayan which I purchased in December last year with 2500 miles on the clock. I have done approx 1500 miles without issue. I think the biggest problem with the current Enfields is the dealers. Some are excellent and do the PDI properly and others just unbox and ship. It is very much like Moto Guzzi in the late 80s and 90s a well setup one is brilliant a poorly prepared bike is a disaster. I speak from experience.
I think I was lucky with the first owner/dealer on mine it looks like yours was not properly prepared and then ridden without any sympathy. They are nice bikes, allowing me to tinker and upgrade to suit my needs, my biggest gripe is the gear lever shape/length, which I am in process of making a replacement that suits my big feet.
It does seem to be a case of pot luck. Some are brilliant, others a heap of crap without some serious work. I'm lucky that I can sort mine out myself. Not so good though for the people that have to rely on their dealers or other mechanics.
Would be interested in hearing how your gear lever goes when it's finished.
@@iantoy7778 I am lucky as I have spent my life rebuilding old British bikes so I am used to spannering sometimes badly, which is how one learns the art. The gear lever is strange the retaining Cap head bolt intrudes on my foot and the crank in the lever also fouls my foot. My current plan is to reduce the crank in a press weld in an insert, make the toe boss bigger and countersink the Cap head bolt. I purchased a secondhand lever to play with but I may just finish up milling an alloy lever as it may need a bearing on the pivot. I will keep you posted if and when I am successful.
Loved all of this, I am too old now to ride road bikes. However this was a good video, I get what you are on about and if was such a needy perfectionist as you are I would be pissed off as well. Keep going , most enjoyable!
Thanks for watching. Your comment gave me a laugh 😂
I totally agree with you, I understand you very well, I am the owner of Himalayan and a supporter of Atletico de Madrid 😄
😂
THANK YOU.
REALLY APPRECIATE your video's and comments.
I bought a new 450 Himmi and it was just 'not right' for me. Sold it 4 weeks later!!
I then bought a Scram 411. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. For me it was that 'goldilocks bike' that is just RIGHT.
Now I am looking at maybe purchasing a 411 Himmi as well!!! Obviously RE no longer sell/make them anymore and this will be my last opportunity to buy a new one here in 'OZ'. (Australia)
Thank You, all the Very Best.
I am guessing you probably watch Joe Ryan and his travels through OZ. He loves his Himalayan as well
Thanks Ian, i agree with you thoughts, I bought a new hunter 12 months ago, and like you been at this for 53 years, was a plant fitter, then an engineering trading instructor, always done bikes for myself, the hunter never had it dealer serviced after the first one and tappets rattling so got home did it myself, done several updates and the cam, same with an old 350 bullet I have always clean and redoing different things ie swing arm bushes which I turned up myself to get no play,, thanks for the vid these take tie to do then edit, appreciated NW biker dude alias Bay Bimbler
Yes as a fellow You Tuber you understand what is involved with making videos.
At least if you work on your bikes yourself you have the satisfaction of knowing the job is done properly and shouldn't let you done.
Totally agree with you the bullet is a far superior bike I have had mine since 2020 never let me down 11,500 miles on the clock still looks as good as the day I bought it no rust whatsoever
Totally agree with you. The build quality of the Bullet far exceeds the newer Royal Enfield models.
Yes the Bullet 500 is a good bike and better than the current Bullet 350. But the Himalayan - no thanks, or look at the Kawasaki 650. I can see the attraction of this type of engine in a bike mostly intended for road use with plenty of dirt road ability, and a modest price tag.
Hi
Just found your channel
Tell your wife there are quite a few of us that this bike has got under our skin
Charm, character, or maybe we are just bloody stupid
I'm now looking for my 3rd himalayan
1st one cost 6k with all the extras
Total electrical failure on the A34 on way to Morocco ( fixed at a Ducati dealership
Then, I kept the Moroccan oil economy going as it kept leaking
Sold upon my return for £2500
2nd himalayan was secondhand, but a dog to keep it running so was promptly sold
Have now cleared my head, and after looking at the new one, I decided to go for another 411
Think enfield are losing their way on the new model
Just sort the issues and give the 411 a kick start, and the winning formula will carry on
Keep doing what you're doing as you do it well
A kick stand would be a great addition to the 411.
Thanks for your comment. I have plenty of ideas going through my head for the future
Great video.
Looking forward to you doing head stock bearings on himalayan.
I will probably be doing them later this week.
Bought a meteor 350 as a workhorse, covered just shy of 20,000 and trust me when I say, its not been cleaned or heavily maintained. Haven't ever touched the valves in that time, bike runs fine and starts all the time.
You are one of the lucky ones.
Thanks Ian, another thought provoking and enlightening video. I didn't know you'd had THAT much trouble with the Himalayan...far out! I agree with everything you say about the beautiful old Bullet, very very special bike 😀 As far as RE and improved quality goes, I will say that I also own a Super Meteor 650 and it is gorgeous, all metal and bullet proof. It's definitely a step up quality wise. Having said that, I also own a 2005 iron barrel Bullet and it's solid as a rock, and I think those old pre unit construction engines sound even sweeter than the UCE 500s. So it's a bit of a mixed bag. It's one of the things that I love about Royal Enfield..they make no sense but make total sense and I just love them!
No sense but total sense. I think you have hit the nail on the head with that comment!
Hi Ian...must admit i was a bit peed when i first started watching this vid...after all for some of us it was your videos that made us go out and buy the 411 because you loved it so much and being a mechanic that meant surely this must be a good bike. Then i watched till the end and understood why you had these views. I bought a brand new euro5 411 at Christmas 2023 the running in was torture but i did it correctly and from January this year i have covered nearly 7000 miles majority of that through winter and a wet one at that i decided to let the dealership do the servicing because that's the only way the warranty will stand but its proving too costly and the dealership don't seem to want to put any niggles to bed other than oil and filter change and who knows if they do the valves or not? So they've had £600 already in service cost. I love the bike like you say it full of character i have other so called premium bikes with high powered motors but the Himalayan seems to be my go to bike hence the mileage....I also love the riding position and it handles beautifully. After watching many videos after buying it my battery died within the first week of ownership so i fitted the best battery i could find also replaced the relays and spark plug the bike starts on the button and runs perfectly if not over revved or laboured.. however i still have niggles and they seem to be common firstly steering head is notchy and stops in the middle position the clutch as started to judder and makes a groaning noise when cold all ok once warm on the 6000 mile service i mentioned it to my dealership but they didn't address any of my issues they said they test rode it and couldn't find any issue with clutch or head bearings?? So now i don't want to take it back to them i will have to do these jobs myself but im not a mechanic and some of these jobs are quite daunting. In short meaning the warranty of 3 years is part worthless unless the engine blows up for no reason they don't want to know. Yes i could sell the bike but 6 month old with 7000 miles and so many on the market means i can't give it away. I love the ride and how it looks and makes me feel so im going to stick with it and address the issues myself... I've done plenty of green lanes and also fell off it so i feel i know the bikes plusses and flaws by now. I know this went on a bit but you always say you like comments so you got some. On a different note your audio seems to be quiet of late i have to turn the volume way up to hear what you are saying not sure if anyone else as mentioned that to you it must be the mic placement?. The videos are great so keep it up i wish i could do the jobs on my bike like you can take it easy ride safe and percivere👍
I clean the bike carefully and avoid any bearing areas i cover it in acf50 after every wash and the bike looks like new regardless of the miles and its seen constant rain for 5 months at least..There is no corrosion showing as yet well not on the outside anyway and i guess for the riders who don't clean these could look pretty rough in no time. A good channel for really honest views and opinions is Nathanthepostman he owns 2 411s and also the 450 so his views are well worth listening to he tells it like it is.
I enjoyed reading this comment. I am definitely a Himalayan fan. I must be to keep persisting with it 😂
The bike is great it's just the company that made it that's the problem. As you are becoming aware I always say things as they are. I certainly won't sugar coat anything just to keep Royal Enfield, Royal Enfield dealers and Royal Enfield fans happy. As I say in the video by the time I have done the bike will be a different bike.
I think the fact that the bike has such low milage and so many issues is the problem. I have a love / hate relationship with the bike. I fall out with the wife occasionally but I wouldn't part with her 😂
@@toqtoq3361 Thankyou for your reply and comment i am happy you have found the right dealership and can now enjoy this lovely machine.
@@iantoy7778 Great response Ian and i know exactly where you are coming from. Keep the videos coming we can learn a lot from you. You are a perfectionist so everything needs to be bang on and i understand that, i am the same but do not have all the skills to go to deep but im going to try and get this little machine ticking like a swiss watch😄
@@karlos3611 Good luck with it 😆
Just found your channel, great video, just got a scram 411 (2000 miles) as I couldn't find a decent 500 at a reasonable price,
I just love the torque and low down pulling power of a big single. will watch with interest how the himalayan goes.
I will be keeping everyone updated. Hopefully good news in the future
Good video with interesting points. I'm not a RE fan but given the choice of your two bikes I'd take the Bullet every time. Maybe the Bullet trials would be a good compromise between the Bullet & the Himmy.
I have been thinking about a Bullet Trials instead of the Himmy.
I've got a classic 500, absolutely love.. 19tooth sprocket Carberry reduction plate, DNA filter and Hitchcock's exhaust, cruises at 65-70 mph... 90+ mpg.. the metal and paint work looks new, 2018 bike ... Wouldn't sell it!
Great bike. Enjoy it!
Great bike. Enjoy it!
Appreciate your honest input Ian. Never really considered the difference in these 2 Enfield's other than cc size. I have been extremely fortunate with my 22 Himalayan ( 8300 miles- 13,357 kilometers.)Self service...I wont bring it to eurocycle.
The sit up straight style is what sold me on the Himalayan. I too watched Noraly from day 1 (until broken collar bone last week) as well as Nathan the postman( Nathan was here in Vegas last month) and Charlotte (Charlie)( rest day rider) and have watched all the footage and listened to the commentary.
Enfield is a way of life if you pay attention to the owners who love them along with their quirks and vibrations.
We got a nut job in Marne, Iowa named Fuzzy Biker who actually does videos for Baxters cycles which is probably the biggest RE dealer in America. He is All about Royal Enfield with his Zen style of riding.
I cannot find any used bullet 500 in the US to even check out.
There is a 22 leftover pine green Himalayan with 4 miles on it for 2995.00 at Eurocycle Vegas.
Is there any Enfield owners out there with big mileage on their bike?
It would be interesting to see what answers you get to your question about big mileage. I often wonder that myself.
@@iantoy7778 To few individuals actually chime in Ian. You can tell by the #,s.
It's all good.
Service centers hate you for your self maintenance videos Ian.
Your attention to detail is helpful. 💪👍
Taking the kick starters off off road bikes was the stupidest move all these makers have ever made. Yet just about all if not all have done it. Modern engineering sucks
Very true. The old bikes had a lot going for them in simple terms
No. Kick starting sucks. Stone age nonsense.
I appreciate your honesty here , RE's will always be popular with certain people and rightly so, but the hype we are fed by the press and some owners is quite ridiculous.
I know a number of people who were taken in by it and bought bikes without really knowing the reality of the brand in terms of quality, performance and maintenance needs.
This is now made worse in GB in particular with the issues with parts and warranty claims.
Great video .👍
The problem is with TH-cam if the bike is not your bike but on loan from a shop or dealership TH-camrs are not going to say how it really is or they won't be given anything else to review because of bad press. Also a lot of people if they buy a bike it's the best thing since sliced bread whether it is or not.
@@iantoy7778 So true , in fact I did a video on that very subject recently 👍
Himmy Rear suspension is probably a problem with spacing of the swingarm, not the shock. on my 2021 the bushings between the swingarm bearings where 2.5mm short, so i added shims in between the endcaps to allow the swingarm free movement again... now all is good, but quality on Himmy is quite poor to be honest.
Yes the quality of the Himalayan is not a touch on the Bullet
My mate who travels a fair bit had a 411. One of the troubles he had with it was with the head bearings. (Cant you get better quality ones? Surely the bearing that is used cannot be unique.) He changed the 411 for a Meteor 350 and he loves that.
That Nightingale singing in the background sounded fab.
Yeah IAM fitting SKF bearings part No 30205 or Koyo bearings 30205 JR both top quality. I bought mine from my local bearing stockists in Bulgaria 20 Lev less than £10.00 the pair
I had problems on my way back from Morocco with the head bearings on my 411
Enfield support instructed me to go to a dealership in Irun
When I got there, they refused to fix them under warranty as I had put luggage bag's on the tank frames
€186 later they were fixed 😢( I supplied the bearings )
A lesson for all who put too much weight on the front of the bike
@@guyonacub4335 What sort of weight could the front racks handle, as I have an Australia trip coming up next year and want to use 4 litre jerries on them, so about 3kg per side.
@darrabase1 How old is the bike( mileage )
I would be tempted to swap out the head and wheel bearings before you go
If its a shorter trip than suck it and see
I use All Balls Racing bearings
Never been a fan of the front Jerry cans
I use a 6 litre fuel bladder across the top of my rear luggage but it can smell if you spill while using it
If you are going to use the front frames then put light stuff in bags
I also run new clutch/ throttle / brake cables along side the originals incase I need to change one on the road
It saves a lot of time
Whatever you decide, have a great trip
@@guyonacub4335 Well it is a July issue 2023 and I have only done 600km on it due to illness for 9 months since, the last 2 months have been cold weather here in OZ so have not ridden much really. I am an experienced rider, just haven't had much time on the bike at all. The trip will be about 20,000km long or there abouts.
Viewed your video with interest ,think you have decided what to do with your Himalayan but haven't done it yet. All the mucking about putting new bits on it will never solve the problem of poorly made with questionable build quality. I know you like the character of chugging along at slow speeds and I can understand that, but that will dim in time when you get fed up with endless repair work due to indifferent quality .at least you have the classic to ride. Best wishes Roy (oz) &
I admit I did put it up for sale a couple of weeks ago but just couldn't bring myself to sell it. Now that Sue has ordered me a new shock absorber for it the Himalayan is a keeper.
I like the fact that my Himalayan will tractor through just about everything without having to rev the engine.
It just chugs along and is extremely predictable.
Good description of the Himalayan.
I have fitted the YSS rear shock to my 2019 Himalayan and found it a great improvement . I look forward to your views on it . atb
Great to hear!
I am same as you it’s a love hate relationship with my Himalayan love the looks had it 10 months put 4000 miles on it been at the suppliers garage for two months had it back two weeks leave it more than five days and it won’t start spent loads on it so for me it must go I like riding not fixing
Definitely a love hate relationship for many I think.
Think I’ll buy a Honda nx500 😂.Brilliant channel btw.👍
Thank you
Interesting. I have the 2022 scram 411. My mechanicking limit is chain adjustments and oil changes. Im at 11000km. No issues. I ride it a lot off road.. give it a wash... ready for next ride..
.. muz from oz...
I wish lol. That was my plan to ride off road a lot but just haven't had much chance yet
Muy interesante, gracias por tu trabajo. Yo me mmaanejo con una Honda tornado 250 ccmprada en 2016, vendí otra igual hace no mucho. Apesar de que me quedé con la de mas km, por cariño; tiene unos 74.000 km. y me sorprende el no dar problemas. Logicamente cambio de cadenas y cubiertas mtto. Pero me a llevado a recorrer buena parte de Mi Argentina,Chile y Brasil. Tal es la seguridad que casi ni herramientas llevo. Un Abrazote y felicidades, desde La Patagonia.
Thanks for watching. You have a Honda they are super reliable. I have had many Honda's in my time.
I am a bit surprised with this video , I thought you were a Himmy fan .
Personally, I would like to think well of Royal Enfield but can't . When the 411 Himmy first came out , I looked at it and wondered what the hell it was supposed to be . Not a road bike or an off road bike . Low power , heavy , butt ugly and with RE's spotty build quality , not for me .
I had great hopes for the new 450 but after the first wave of fantastic reviews , stories are coming through of horrendous vibrations .
If Triumph made a 400 Tiger , that bike would get my money . Rusty or not , Triumphs , in my opinion are a level up on RE in quality of manufacture and finish .
Best bike in the class although it has a larger engine is the Suzuki DR650 , lighter too . Not available in EU , I bet , but still available in Canada .
Can't fault the DR650. I had one years ago. No comparison to the Himmie, The DR outperforms in everything. Having said that I do like my Himmie though.
Excellent comparison and chat. I've got a 2016 classic 500 and it sure is a smashing bike. One of the lightest clutches and slickest gearboxes on any bike i've had and I've had a LOT lol. I'm seriously considering selling my kawasaki 650 verseys to get a Scram 411 warts an all. They are very cheap now - £3300 for a new one must surely be a bargain!!!!!! I've test rode both the scram and the Himmy but the Scram felt more comfy and a bit more sprightly and fun than the Himmy. The fact that it will probably need a bit of fettling actually appeals to me as I've always spannered on my bikes over the years starting with a BSA C15 as my first bike way back in 1979 and I have a soft spot for Velocette singles
@@timparry5028 the scram is a nice bike, it looks a bit lighter than the Himalayan,steers faster with the 19" front wheel.
@@iantoy7778 Yes I definately noticed the quicker steering compared to the Himmy. I'm no off roader so the scram just fits my needs better. Thanks for your input
If you use the Hym for off road(as intended) its bound to need more maintenance but Enf should have designed it accordingly.
Maybe you just got a 'Friday afternoon' example.
Plenty of them about
If the bullet had a flat battery it might not be possible to start it with the kick start as a certain amount of electrical power is usually required for the fuel injection and ECU. Once tried bump starting one of my sons' Clio without success only way we could get it restarted was to pump a jump pack on the battery.
You are correct but how many times is there some power in the battery but not enough to turn it over properly but there will be enough to power up the fuel pump and kick start it.
I love my 411 but I totally agree with you about the 450. They should have called it something else! I don't like it. I think it's ugly. I do recognize that it's a good bike, having been on a ride with (but not on) one.
You can't beat the 411 for character.
Interesting perspective…. Not my experience with my Himmy, I self service and agree they are robust but I’m no mechanic as you are so respect your experience. I am suspecting you are falling out of love with the Himmy as you did the NC … that’s how it happens I guess. A friend has the 500 bullet and he rates it as a great pillion bike. It would be great for you to have the 350 classic and see how that compares.
My wife would definitely agree with your friend. She thinks the Bullet is a perfect pillion bike. Would love a go on a Classic 350 to compare the two bikes
Fair comment. I wonder if they have eliminated those issues in the new 450 Himalayan?. Also if the bullet has a completely flat battery, can you still kick start it.?
I know if the Bullet's battery has got enough to just about light up the dash light and if you push the starter and only get a click it will start. I've not had it totally flat to be able to say anymore than that.
I would like a kick-start on all my bikes but you should be able to bump start it.
Not easy to bump start down a mountain track in the wet and mud
Hello mechanic friend, the thing with the steel spokes on the Himalayan makes sense, because a stainless steel spoke does not have the same elasticity as a steel spoke. A stainless steel spoke would break much more quickly in OFFROAD, hence the steel spoke. I once had a Suzuki SP 370 and laced the rear wheel with stainless steel, but was not given permission for it during the inspection!
I don't like the new Himalayan because it has completely different engine characteristics. Then I would buy a KTM 390.
Why is your rear suspension so hard, what do you think?
Stainless spokes are widely used in the off-road world, the top wheel companies like Haan and Talon use stainless spokes as standard (in fact don't sell anything else). I've run them for years on my enduro bikes, the best ones come from Bulldog or DW in Switzerland and are from rotary hammer-forged T302H stainless.
@@jimtitt3571 Then it is a special alloy, but it is known from materialology that stainless steel is very prone to breakage. Here in Germany, the test engineers test the spokes very often and if it is a standard product from the manufacturer, you are not allowed to drive with it. If you have proof of this, then it is OK and you will get approval. The most important thing is: is the spoke laced straight into the hub or is it laced with a strong offset? The Himmi only has a slight bend to the hub and that is very advantageous. BMW used only straight spokes, which is much more complex, now ask yourself why? cheers
Wow…that 500 is like a sewing machine👍
Thanks
There's alot of plastics used on bikes costing twice the price of those, anyways not all bad lighter and no corrosion issues 🙄
Yes agree makes for lighter bikes and no corrosion.
Hi,
I’m like you I think the bullet is the overall better of the two, the condition of the chrome and paint looks great.😊
Thanks
An interesting video. I have a Himalayan as well some really old bikes. I like my Himalayan and I have put a TEC cam in it and with an after market silencer etc it is noticeably faster. Mine is the same model as yours and done nearly 8k miles. There are irritants. The steering lock no longer works, the stupid compass that only goes west etc. It is however still running well, so I can't help feeling that maybe you have a 'Friday afternoon' one. I value simple, tough and rugged bikes and the Himmie delivers that better than anything else at a cheap price. I can't abide these stupid so called adventure bikes like the Honda Transalp that are water cooled, have exposed fork stanchions, tubed tyres and no centre stand. I don't do a huge mileage on it, preferring to get on my AJS Model 20 or Matchless G80 most of the time. It is there because it is good to have a modern electric boot in the stable and my wife thinks it the best pillion.
My wife thought the pillion seat was great at first but actually prefers the Bullet now. Admittedly the broken shock didn't help.
I have a Euro 4 Himalayan. Bought new old stock and a '22 plate. I also have a Classic 500 in Battle Green. One of the final one's made in this colour, bought second hand but on a '21 plate. I agree with you. The fit and finish on my 500 is superior to the Himalayan. I need to change the fuel pump seal ring on my 500 but that was my fault. I fitted a non venting fuel tank cap and the seal blew in the hot weather. I've put the stock one back on now. I'm looking to fit a Fuel X Lite to the 500 when I change the seal, so any hints and advice re tank removal would be appreciated. I have already fitted a DNA air filter and iridium spark plug to the 500 and will be doing all the same with the Himalayan. Great video mate 🙂
Just be careful taking the fuel pump connector off , you take the electric connection off first turn on the ignition then kick it over a couple of turns. This will release the fuel pump pressure off the fuel line.
You have to squeeze the black connector push it forward while squeezing it and then pull it back. It is very tight. Be very careful not to snap off the white part of the fuel pump or you will need a fuel pump.
Mt bike has the rubber hose from the injector body to the fuel pump and has a jubilee clip around the end of the pipe I take mine off there and leave the black clip on the pump safer but still be careful or can still snap off the end of the pump. I did .
Undo the two bolts at rear of tank, after you get the fuel line off lift the rear of tank and pull it back abit Put a piece of wood under rear of tank. On right hand side you will see a black connector, disconnect it also left hand side in middle of tank you will see two rubber pipes you need to pull off. Remember which was which was which. The power to fuel pump just squeeze the connection and it will pull down and off. Just ease the tank back and it's off.
@@iantoy7778 Thanks for your advice here. Really appreciated. The Haynes book is good guidance but doesn't give any real 'on the ground' help 🙂
The Bullet is made like a gun.
It sure is !
Himalayan engine comes pre worn from the factory just like those jeans you could buy in the day , the difference is if a Honda engine was that slack it wouldn't run.
Yeah you are probably right 😂 😂
Battery death issues on the 411 Himmys are down to the gear indicator unit in the left side of the engine being permanently live so supplied with a constant 12V supply, if you disconnect that unswitched supply & reconnect it to a switched live (I've seen several wired to the rear light feed) then this cures the short battery life issues with this model. I can't say you'll never need to replace the battery again but you should then expect to get a normal life out of one, I've been told Hitchcocks can supply a get around kit to resolve the issue as well if you dont fancy cutting & splicing wires ?
I've never had a problem with my battery. As you say it is not difficult to resolve the issue if it does arise.
I'm wondering if the factory torque setting for the swing arm main shaft is wrong?
Slacked mine slightly to ? cure tight suspension... Right or wrong i dunno!
I thought about that myself. I disconnected the shock absorber and the linkage from the swing arm so it enabled me to move the swing arm up and down without resistance from anything else. It felt OK. I slacked the nut off the pivot bolt, tried it again and it was exactly the same. Therefore the original torque setting wasn't too tight. I think the problem is that the internal valving in the shock absorber has malfunctioned. The shock still looks brand new. I have checked on the forums and have come across a few other guys with the same problem. They all had to replace the shock absorber. Up until now I have always quoted that the suspension was like a magic carpet. It was so good for what it is.
The stock rear shock absorber in my eyes was very comfortable but it certainly isn't now.
I have a Triumph now and in the past, no problem with rust. Could riding in salt be the problem? I clean and protect mine in winter and dont ride when the roads have been salted as that will get to any bike, aluminium and steel is all the same.
Both Economical Rides and Nathan the Postman who have 411 Himalayans have tried the 450 and don't think the new one is better enough. Nathan I think bought one. He has done a tour of Ireland and didn't feel it was that much more powerful throughout the rev range than the 411.
That seems to be the general consensus from quite a few reviews I have seen.
The Indians refer to the Bullet sound as "The Heartbeat of India".
They may have something there.
Newborn babies love to lie on their mothers chest,they can hear her heartbeat.
When seperated,they'll miss that reassuring sound.
That's how I feel about my Enfields,Himalayan and pre-unit Bullet.
I've owned over the last 40 odd years high tech Japanese and German bikes,I never got attached to them the same way.
Maybe all this time we're both just Enfield guys late to realise our calling.
About right with the late to realising our calling. Like you had all the usual Japanese, German and Italians
After owning a brand new Himalayan Scram for a few months its charm wore off. It’s not great on the road, it’s not great off road and it sounds like a handful of bolts thrown into a coffee can. while it does look really nice in the color choice I went with the paint on the tank is extremely soft and chips way to easy. I wanted a better bike for road and highway use, speed limits are fast in the USA and you need to keep up with traffic if you want to survive. I thought about the shotgun 650 for a minute but decided to go with an 07 Kawasaki Vulcan with 15k miles on it. It runs, looks, and sounds like a dream. Haven’t used the Himalayan much since and Im not sure what I’m going to do with it. It had around 750 miles on it, but I’m sure the resale is going to be low due to it being an RE.
You are right about the resale value I'm unafraid. The bottom has dropped out of the market worldwide for them it seems.
Hey there. Yeah, not the perfect bike for a perfectionist. Wish I had the mechanical know-how and more importantly the space to fix stuff myself, but at least I was able to find a decent mechanic.
Luckily, never had any troubles with stalling or anything else really, but there's an odd pinging sound that is audible from time to time when the bike is hot, like after riding through heavy traffic. It's not audible all the time, and it's not constant. And it doesn't even affect the bike in any way, it's just a sound that gets on my nerves and tells me something's wrong with the bike.
I've showed the mechanic your vid and we've checked anything that coulld logically be making the noise - clutch, valves and rockers, oil pump. Well, his conclusion was that almost everything that we've checked is pretty much fine, but has such tolerances that anything or nothing could be making the sound. The only obvious issue we've found was the exhaust valve - it's deformed exactly like yours was. Oddly, the oil pump is completely fine.
I'll be replacing the valves along with the rocker arm assembly soon. Hope that will do away with the annoying sound.
Interestingly, I have the opposite issue with my suspension. I didn't really feel it, but the mech says it expands a bit too fast after being compressed. It got better after new oil and seals, but still not to the level it should be apparently. But I can't really feel anything wrong, so that doesn't bother me. Yet.
All that said, I still love the damned thing to shreds. I commute on it daily and it still puts a smile on my face every time after 2 years of daily commute. There's really not a single bike that looks like the 411 himmy and I just love its attitude.
The biggest problem is that the tolerances on the bike are not like Japanese tolerances. Everything is a little bit slack.
When you have fitted the new valves in the engine I set my exhaust gap 0.20 instead of 0.23 I have checked it 2 or3 times since and not had to readjust at all. The engine is still quiet. It is definitely worth getting the valves from Hitchcocks. The quality is far superior to the Royal Enfield ones.
Just the rocker shafts…🤣
Don't tell the wife 😂
@@iantoy7778what goes on in the shed, stays in the shed 😂
these bike should be strong the amount weight for low powered motorcycles,rather have plastic than 20 kg more eg hunter 350
They should be strong, maybe some are but certainly not all.
I bought a used 2018 classic 500 in chrome and i'm extremely disappointed with the built quality. Things just brake and fall apart. Fuel pump cracked, exhaust broke, gear shifter fell mid ride, chain and sprocket were bad , mudguard holders cracked, fuel tank vacum pipe broken in the tank, 2 wheel sprockets broke in less than a month. At list once a month there's something that had to be replaced. As much as i love the bike, i'm at a point i just can't trust it, it has 50k and acts like it has 200k.
Sorry to hear that. My Bullet has been great since I went through it from front to back.
Besides being F%%%g heavy! If it wasnt the looks, the Himalayan would be a disaster. I much rather prefer my XT350, but it doesnt look the same. They should have been improved the weight issue. The engine has good power imo, should have a 6th gear to bring the revs a bit lower in the highways.
Nothing else has the looks. That is one of the best parts of the Himalayan
A kick-start on a fuel injected bike is useless. You still need the battery to run the fuel pump. I have a 2016 Classic 500 that has a kick-start but will not start with a dead battery. And it has a magneto ignition!
Yes but if you press the starter button and it's just clicking the starter motor ,which is often the case but will not turn the engine over because there is just not enough power it will run the fuel pump and will kick start up the engine. But you are correct a completely dead battery it will not start.
Get a Versys 1000 and happy days.
Not for me. I would be bored with nothing to fix
My euro 4 himi has been fantastic over 8000 miles., no problems. Maybe you got a lemon? Or an abused demo
I suspect an abused demo
Hi Ian. I have to agree with you over some of the build quality of the Himalayan, but it is built to a price. I love my Himmy and am looking forward to the 40 mile round trip to work this evening as its what it is a two wheeled tractor. I have a BMW R1150 rt which is brilliant but does not have the character of the Enfield. I think RE have upped their game. My first Bullet was a 2006 Electra-X. It had a British designed new engine, with carb. It still had the internal oil tank but was a nightmare in being unreliable. I sold it as although it was a speed monster, having high lift cam and being ported, electricals and other issues made it untrustworthy. I hated the brand so much I bought a new EFI after this. It had oil leaks a plenty, but other than silly niggles it was a lovely riding bike. I can forgive my Himmy for being a bit agricultural, but this is why I love it. I'm not scared of getting out the spanners and have always maintained my own bikes once past the warranty period. Incidentally, I am considering parting with the BMW as it does not meet emmisions for some cities such as London and many in Europe. I have been looking at the Chinese Voge 525 DSX. Reviews are brilliant and its £6000 with all metal luggage and a Honda parallel twin which I believe the company makes for Honda. Have a look, its the same parent company as CF Moto.
I was watching Nathan the Postman last night. He was singing the praises of his Voge. Don't know how many miles he's done but he's been all over the place on it with at least one European tour. Definitely worth a look. The Chinese have certainly upped their game.
The collapsed trade in values of RE bikes tells us everything. When major components like headstock bearings, suspension, clutch fail after low mileage it needs to be dumped. The emotional issue of a bike's character (although I think the 411 is butt ugly) can't override bad engineering/build. You'd have more biking fun and less drama/repairs with a DR400, CRF300, KLX300.
You're right bit I have a love / hate relationship with my Himmie. I can see me keeping it until I can't ride anymore
I love the look of the Himmy, but will never sell my 650 gs for one, single cylinder, twice the power and torque and about 10kg lighter. I dont fall for all this Indian hype. Agree about the 450, hideous looking thing.
You can't fault the old 650 GS. I used to have one of those. For ma it was lacking in character but otherwise faultless.