It looks very purposeful. Doesn't pretend to be something it s not. Design brief was: strong frame, stable with C of G, long stroke with loads of torque for plugging up mountains, durable no none sense components, easy to fix in the field (I.e. Low tech). It's the bike you d ride on a Trip round the Indian subcontinent. Gotta love it s honesty and simplicity.
i have owned a himalayan for 9months now. No major issues, small problems were taken care of by the service center and Royal Enfield have been very much more proactive with this product than their previous ones. i have 3 royal enfield motorcycles in all. the other ones aren't half as reliable. i have done pretty long rides including a 6000km ride facing absolutely no problem.
Thanks for the review. I have ridden a Himalayan in Melbourne and have ordered one , I should have it in a week or so. I am an older rider (60) who has returned to bikes in the last three years. I've been on a DRZ400e in that time and for all the reasons you outlined I have decided to sell the DRZ. I like to ride the back roads , including dirt roads and forest trails. I'm not in a hurry to get anywhere and ride just for my own enjoyment. I too liked the way the bike sat on the highway and could easily cruise at 100/110 kph , at those speeds it was noticeably smoother than the DRZ , but didn't have the same acceleration. I reckon I'll really enjoy the Himalayan. Cheers, Denis
Congrats on the purchase Denis. For what you describe the RE should fit the bill nicely. It was such an easy going bike that it allows you to just take in the experience rather than hang on for dear life or have your teeth rattled out.
Good to see another ride on the road and another opinion of the bike, albeit one based on a mere 15 min of riding. This bike is made as much for the off-road as it is for on-road, so a review that only covers a very short time on-road is a very limited one. The low speed torque is part of what makes this bike great - yes, it's not made for speed, but 32Nm @ 4500rpm means when this bike is laden with gear on a mountain dirt road, you'll have enough power to get through almost anything. That, coupled with good ground clearance and decent suspension, makes this a true contender for a low-cost ADV. Some of these other so-called small ADV bikes coming out this year (ie. the BMW g310gs) can't hold a stick to the kind of off-road performance you'll get from the Himalayan. This bike is for more than just a "Sunday drive".
Good to see the Himalayan on the nice Australian roads...I am a Himalayan owner here in India. I own it for almost 9 & half months now..done over 15,000 kms and some really long trips with her..besides the typical RE niggles I must say its a very enjoyable motorcycle...I wish though they had an ABS variant even as an option...as particularly in India,where people are just way too careless on the road, ABS happens to be a life saver for a motorcycle rider.
I know 9.5:1 compression is pretty low compared to modern water-cooled machines that easily run 10:1 or often now 12:1, but IMO 9.5 is not "very very low" by any means, especially not for an air/oil cooled mid-sized thumper. You gotta keep in mind that the current RE Bullets are running 8.5:1, and the older generation Bullets were running 7.5:1, as older bikes tended to. The current Yamaha SR400 (another 400cc air cooled thumper) runs 8.5:1. Back in the 80's the Yammy SR was a 500cc w/ higher comp. and it still only ran 9.5:1 in that configuration. 9.5 is about the highest compression you generally see on stock air cooled bikes today, especially thumpers. Personally I think it's a nice mid-point between efficiency and low engine stress. And on a side note, RE wasn't bought out by an Indian company all those years ago, the original British Co. opened a new division in India to fill a massive order for the Indian army, and after the UK branch went under, the Indian branch was the only one alive still. Cheers!
I'm a reh owner 58 years old and 5/ft 8 so the reh is very suitable for me ,and I find it a great bike for poking around on back roads and in the bush so if that's your gig you should consider one off these
I purchased one of these in Sydney roughly 3 weeks ago as my first bike. Don't have a lot to compare it to but I'm absolutely loving it, very few complaints. I also had that kickstand alarm disabled by my dealership.
Congrats Shawn, there is nothing like owning your first bike. Yer that kickstand alarm would be my first thing to change as well! Good to know it is an easy fix.
Hey , actually a well balanced review !, I'm from India and have been riding Enfields for 7 years . I own 3 currently - Enfield still has a longway to go in terms of build quality and technology but they don't bcz they've been feeding us the " retro/ charm " cult thing for an insane price !!! For instance they should've given ABS & liquid cooled engine on the Thunderbird 500 - it comes at 200,000 rupees !!!
Well, emission regulations has no effect on REs. Now they have a sensor, so you can't change exhaust to aftermarket one, which will void the warranty. Other than that, nothing else @chroniclesofsolid Actually, Himalayan is kind of making other RE line up look like crap :) Hope future top end models [TB500, Classic500] gets ABS and other electronic upgrades like Himalayan #fingerscrossed
I own one and I have done 5k on this and this is definitely not like the other RE (owned an RE classic 500 in the past for few years). This bike has gone through a lot of torture tests (unlike the other RE motorcycles) on the real Himalayan terrains for almost 4 years and this is to make sure it is durable/reliable. I have trashed it on and off roads and the bike did handle pretty well. I have had few issues (the entire batch had issues) initially and those were rectified at the service center. It took a while to get used to riding this bike and I really had to the change the way I used to ride the other bikes in the past. I'm loving this bike and I'd definitely say this - the best so far from RE. Would love to see you taking this bike off-road and share your review because RE claims a lot of time was spent on testing this motorcycle off-road. Cheers!!
Thanks for the input Manu. It is hard to get a sense of a bike long term when doing a test ride so comments like yours are invaluable :-) If I ever get a chance to take one off road I surely will!
Thanks mate!! I have also changed the air filter to K&Nand that has improved the throttle response significantly. Also, I'm planning to change the exhaust to motozilla performance exhaust that gives extra 2.5 bhp and close to 3NM torque (dyno tested - facebook.com/motozillaexhaust/?fref=nf). I personally rode one with this exhaust and results are mind blowing. Just want to say that I follow reviews and they are really good. Kudos!! Cheers!
Hi Manu, I own one too and it is a very comfortable bike and better than other enfield models. I am curious about the K&N filter. Which model of the filter did you install and how much did it cost? Does it impact the warranty period? Likewise, how much would the motozilla exhaust cost?
5290INR for the air filter, 9k INR for the slip on exhaust, power coated black exhaust for 6200 INR. motozillaexhaust.com/ facebook.com/motozillaexhaust/
For long term ownership, it's like most British bikes. a bit of care and she runs fine. Believe me it's far better in terms of quality compared current running models in India. And yes it's a low tech bike, so easier to fix by self. one doesn't needs to be a scientist. Nice review mate!
I am an Indian and I agree Indian manufacturers need to step up their quality and R&D. My brother has this bike, rode it a few times. It is no KTM dirt bike, but a cheap alternative for anyone who wants to go offroad.
Well so far I've done 6k on mine. The Himalayan I own is the first version and I believe there's a second updated version which comes with a new clutch assembly and minor updates like a guard for the oil cooler. That's probably the one that's being exported in australia or maybe it's a third updated version of the bike. So far the problems that my bike is facing is: 1)hard shifts between the first and second gear 2)the cone bearings getting heavy 3)the bike randomly goes off for a split second every now and then So far the first and second problem has a temporary solution which is greasing them but no permanent solution yet. and the 3rd one is yet to be diagnosed. These problems are faced with a lot of the first version himalayans. I don't know about the newer ones. Other than that this bike is really good at what it's made to do. It handles light to medium off roads fine as long as you do it right. I'd have to say this bike is very beginner friendly when it comes to the off road scenario since the front brakes is very progressive so you really need to grab it hard for them to lock up so the inexperienced rides won't be facing too much of that. It's made for the Indian Market so quality will be compromised to most extent but maybe the one's being exported will probably have better quality parts. The suspension will get softer after once you break it in. Might not be world class but it does the job. Anyways, if there's any other Himalayan owners out there (especially from Nepal) do share your ownership experience (in a constructive manner as possible, since there are plenty of hate going on). I'd really like learn as much I can and enhance the ownership experience. Hope my info was helpful and cheers to you all.
1)hard shifts between the first and second gear - Clutch assembly will be replaced if you talk to the guys at the service station. Mine is replaced and there is a significant difference and the gear shifts are much smoother. 2)the cone bearings getting heavy - Needs a replacement. Again, the RE will do it. 3)the bike randomly goes off for a split second every now and then - no sure about the fix but I have heard his complaints a few other forums too.
Unfortunately, I don't think RE here (Nepal) have implemented the new clutch assembly or new the cone bearing replacement. But it's the first time I'm hearing about the cone bearing replacement. Thanks for the update, man *thumbs up* I'll inquire the company on that. Btw I hear they have a solution for the oil seepage from the engine,too. I think it was a gasket seal replacement. Is that so?
i own a Himalayan myself and have done 3k on it. havent ridden much but have ridden it pretty extremely. and i can say this bike can sure take a beating and still thump away
Thanks for the review - I agree about the set up being for small/medium size riders. I'm 188cm and one sit on it told me it was too small for me regarding leg room and foot controls. Great concept otherwise.
Many Himalayan owners here in India have reported engine coil failure issues which have left them stranded in the middle having to tow the vehicle. The engine coil fails repeatedly. There is no permanent fix. I hope the newer batches have rectified this serious issue.
nice review. I'm a shorter rider, I sat on a Himalayan at my closest dealer and I would have to lower the seat a further 1 inch and wear high-soled shoes to ride this. Do you think the seat can take being cut down by 1" without becoming too hard?
Great review, Thanks for the information. Being a fellow west Aussie I was wondering about longer rides. What would be a reasonable cruising speed on the Himalayan? Do you think it could maintain the 100 km/hr? Sit on 110 km/hr???
Thanks Mal, Surprisingly It did feel pretty comfortable at speed. I did take it up to 100kph just for a second in the video so it is hard to say with certainty, but it did feel capable of sitting at 100/110kph. I think it is mostly down to the torque of the motor. HP is not flattering but it as enough torque to get the job done. Expect it to feel a bit more competent than a 250 at that speed and far less stressed about it.
Maybe the quality issues will be sorted soon there was an idea being floated by the company about moving production back to Britain, so here’s hoping they do.
I've owned the Himalayan for 8 months now, does a decent job for daily commute and occasional off-road here in India. For adventure(dual sport) bike starved India it is definitely a good proposition. The biggest negative for off-road is the rear shock linkage extends way below the bash plate
What you are calling "crash bars" are in fact carriers [which when loaded make bike top heavy] reasonable bike to ride but awkward when off road. Maybe better when new vertical twin engine comes out and is fitted.
Enjoyed the vid. You sure were lucky doing 100kph on that section of the highway the cops really hit it hard, or they used to when I traveled it regularly. I've just re-subscribed as I must have unsubscribed by accident at some time, keep up the good work.
Hey Toe, Yer I used to live in Maylands it is a vipers nest of police. Luckily they put in a permanent speed camera just where I was riding so they don't hang around in that sport so much :-)
I don't think the bars on the tank are crash bars - they're actually used for carrying small plastic petrol paniers. In India they have fuel injection models importers won't bring into Australia.
I've just picked up a 2020 BS4 model. So far all my fears were misguided. The only problem is that the suspension is quite firm. It's great on the twisties but it can be a bit jarring. Wish I'd watch this video before I bought one as this is the only review I've heard mention it
I think it looks cool. Would like to hear about the maintenance requirements, such as intervals for comparison to other makes. This is one of the advantages of lower tech heavier for weigh models such as the DR650, versus light weight high HP models. Long term durability is a question too, since Enfield and most other British motors have been famously maintenance intensive. Is it made in India, or where? The name is funny since such low compression would probably really struggle at altitude.
Nice review. This might be ok as a 2nd or 3rd bike in your stable, but not as the primary, at least for me. When you work 45 - 50 hours per week, commute on your bike & like to go on long rides on days off with your friends on & off road, a bike like this just wouldn't do it if it was your only one. Nothing wrong with a carburetor if its done right. One of my bikes, my 2006 KLR, has a carb. Pulling the choke lever on a cold start is not a big deal.
Thanks mate, good to hear from you. It is an interesting bike but like you it could not be my daily. RE have definitely improved from earlier bikes though which is good to see.
It s about the heritage and simplicity of a carny bike, though the 500 classic has efi. The bullet is the biggest selling bike of all time I think. These the made for use in both world wars too. Things like that add to its history and appeal to Enfield buffs.
Its a great looking machine with some real heritage, if they could only up the quality a little more as i don't think it would look so good after a few trips through water and on dirt roads.. Cheers for the review
sorry just ignore my first comment, Nice review, just wondering if you or anyone you know has taken the Himalayan on proper single track trails? and there thoughts on its capabilities there, as many overseas reviews say its great. I'm interested how it goes in the aussie bush particularly for me as a more novice rider. many thanks
On proper single track I would be very hesitant to take the RE. It’s a very easy bike to get along with but it’s an adventure bike not a dualsport so it’s a bit too heavy for the serious stuff. All depends on the kind of riding you want to do 👍
@@chroniclesofsolid yeah I like the goat and roo tracks, but also like the odd spin on the black top. probley I'm better looking at the crf300l 👍 that looks like such a cracking little duel sport
Since you asked for feedback from long term users, you may see very varied feedback from long term owners because of the lack of quality control on the production line. And, since RE is trying to fix mistakes post production, it also depends on the local service centre and their access to spares.
4500k/s on my reh it does what expected off it even better from climbing up some long and steep hills to sitting on 110 kph on hume hwy nothing broken or fallen offi dropped it a few times and even tho its carbed it always starts readily lol amazing hey wink.//
Yep only the Euro 4 version which earlier articles were saying Australia would get. Unfortunately not :-( Video does have an annotation to correct the mistake at 10:46. Thanks for pointing it out.
In Europe ABS is mandatory now (this is being enforced since 1st of January), due to Euro4. It will come to Sweden soon, I have read. So lets hope people can come out and try it :)
chroniclesofsolid for sure! Also, want to thank you for this honest review of RE Himalayan! This was a nice change, as most other reviewers seem quite opinionated by the fact it is Indian :)
Your royal enfield history is a little off. And why would a carbureted bike not start right up... Carburettors are simple and reliable. The fact that it's carbed is definitely a plus.
Long term ownership??....know some old bastards owing classic bullet for around 20 years or so....and they are still have swag of owning one😛.....cheers from India👍
Geez mate do you always start your reviews by bashing the product ? And how exactly was enfields quality better prior to being taken over ?? Stereotyping may be ??? Millions of bullets are ridden in India and loved for a reason. Most rev heads who go nuts on our streets and are complete wankers trying to rev their 600+ cc bikes with crazy exhausts normally don't go past 3rd/4 gear - which makes me wonder why even buy such big engines when you can't even enjoy em ... Tech - I rather have simple fix her upper than a computerised wonkjob - which if broken costs a bomb to fix .. Like they say everyone for themselves . I have ridden one of these and I quite like it and think royal Enfield has done a rather good job at it.
it's very simple: if you need something for touring and you don't have enough money for anything else, then buy it. If you do have enough money to buy something else, then please for the love of god..DON'T BUY THIS PIECE OF SHIT! My friend decided to make a test ride and it started to brake apart in the rough.
It looks very purposeful. Doesn't pretend to be something it s not. Design brief was: strong frame, stable with C of G, long stroke with loads of torque for plugging up mountains, durable no none sense components, easy to fix in the field (I.e. Low tech). It's the bike you d ride on a Trip round the Indian subcontinent. Gotta love it s honesty and simplicity.
i have owned a himalayan for 9months now. No major issues, small problems were taken care of by the service center and Royal Enfield have been very much more proactive with this product than their previous ones. i have 3 royal enfield motorcycles in all. the other ones aren't half as reliable. i have done pretty long rides including a 6000km ride facing absolutely no problem.
Thanks for the info mate!
Thanks for the review. I have ridden a Himalayan in Melbourne and have ordered one , I should have it in a week or so.
I am an older rider (60) who has returned to bikes in the last three years. I've been on a DRZ400e in that time and for all the reasons you outlined I have decided to sell the DRZ. I like to ride the back roads , including dirt roads and forest trails. I'm not in a hurry to get anywhere and ride just for my own enjoyment.
I too liked the way the bike sat on the highway and could easily cruise at 100/110 kph , at those speeds it was noticeably smoother than the DRZ , but didn't have the same acceleration. I reckon I'll really enjoy the Himalayan. Cheers, Denis
Congrats on the purchase Denis. For what you describe the RE should fit the bill nicely. It was such an easy going bike that it allows you to just take in the experience rather than hang on for dear life or have your teeth rattled out.
Good to see another ride on the road and another opinion of the bike, albeit one based on a mere 15 min of riding. This bike is made as much for the off-road as it is for on-road, so a review that only covers a very short time on-road is a very limited one. The low speed torque is part of what makes this bike great - yes, it's not made for speed, but 32Nm @ 4500rpm means when this bike is laden with gear on a mountain dirt road, you'll have enough power to get through almost anything. That, coupled with good ground clearance and decent suspension, makes this a true contender for a low-cost ADV. Some of these other so-called small ADV bikes coming out this year (ie. the BMW g310gs) can't hold a stick to the kind of off-road performance you'll get from the Himalayan. This bike is for more than just a "Sunday drive".
Good to see the Himalayan on the nice Australian roads...I am a Himalayan owner here in India. I own it for almost 9 & half months now..done over 15,000 kms and some really long trips with her..besides the typical RE niggles I must say its a very enjoyable motorcycle...I wish though they had an ABS variant even as an option...as particularly in India,where people are just way too careless on the road, ABS happens to be a life saver for a motorcycle rider.
I know 9.5:1 compression is pretty low compared to modern water-cooled machines that easily run 10:1 or often now 12:1, but IMO 9.5 is not "very very low" by any means, especially not for an air/oil cooled mid-sized thumper. You gotta keep in mind that the current RE Bullets are running 8.5:1, and the older generation Bullets were running 7.5:1, as older bikes tended to. The current Yamaha SR400 (another 400cc air cooled thumper) runs 8.5:1. Back in the 80's the Yammy SR was a 500cc w/ higher comp. and it still only ran 9.5:1 in that configuration. 9.5 is about the highest compression you generally see on stock air cooled bikes today, especially thumpers. Personally I think it's a nice mid-point between efficiency and low engine stress.
And on a side note, RE wasn't bought out by an Indian company all those years ago, the original British Co. opened a new division in India to fill a massive order for the Indian army, and after the UK branch went under, the Indian branch was the only one alive still.
Cheers!
I'm a reh owner 58 years old and 5/ft 8 so the reh is very suitable for me ,and I find it a great bike for poking around on back roads and in the bush so if that's your gig you should consider one off these
You see the first bike, and you ask under your helmet, "do you want to swap", great review, you answered my questions with that question alone.
I purchased one of these in Sydney roughly 3 weeks ago as my first bike. Don't have a lot to compare it to but I'm absolutely loving it, very few complaints. I also had that kickstand alarm disabled by my dealership.
Congrats Shawn, there is nothing like owning your first bike. Yer that kickstand alarm would be my first thing to change as well! Good to know it is an easy fix.
I have had a Royal Enfield for two years and haven't had one issue. I look forward to riding a Himalayain. Thanks for the review.
Good to know you haven't had an issue. Thanks for the info!
crazy first comment - It's carbureted, so hopefully it starts up. Why wouldn't it start?
Hey , actually a well balanced review !, I'm from India and have been riding Enfields for 7 years . I own 3 currently - Enfield still has a longway to go in terms of build quality and technology but they don't bcz they've been feeding us the " retro/ charm " cult thing for an insane price !!! For instance they should've given ABS & liquid cooled engine on the Thunderbird 500 - it comes at 200,000 rupees !!!
Thanks mate. Enfield will have to go that way with emission regs tightening?
Well, emission regulations has no effect on REs.
Now they have a sensor, so you can't change exhaust to aftermarket one, which will void the warranty.
Other than that, nothing else @chroniclesofsolid
Actually, Himalayan is kind of making other RE line up look like crap :)
Hope future top end models [TB500, Classic500] gets ABS and other electronic upgrades like Himalayan #fingerscrossed
I own one and I have done 5k on this and this is definitely not like the other RE (owned an RE classic 500 in the past for few years). This bike has gone through a lot of torture tests (unlike the other RE motorcycles) on the real Himalayan terrains for almost 4 years and this is to make sure it is durable/reliable. I have trashed it on and off roads and the bike did handle pretty well. I have had few issues (the entire batch had issues) initially and those were rectified at the service center. It took a while to get used to riding this bike and I really had to the change the way I used to ride the other bikes in the past. I'm loving this bike and I'd definitely say this - the best so far from RE. Would love to see you taking this bike off-road and share your review because RE claims a lot of time was spent on testing this motorcycle off-road. Cheers!!
Thanks for the input Manu. It is hard to get a sense of a bike long term when doing a test ride so comments like yours are invaluable :-) If I ever get a chance to take one off road I surely will!
Thanks mate!! I have also changed the air filter to K&Nand that has improved the throttle response significantly. Also, I'm planning to change the exhaust to motozilla performance exhaust that gives extra 2.5 bhp and close to 3NM torque (dyno tested - facebook.com/motozillaexhaust/?fref=nf). I personally rode one with this exhaust and results are mind blowing. Just want to say that I follow reviews and they are really good. Kudos!! Cheers!
Thanks mate! Nice to know there is some easy power gains to be had :-)
Hi Manu, I own one too and it is a very comfortable bike and better than other enfield models. I am curious about the K&N filter. Which model of the filter did you install and how much did it cost? Does it impact the warranty period? Likewise, how much would the motozilla exhaust cost?
5290INR for the air filter, 9k INR for the slip on exhaust, power coated black exhaust for 6200 INR.
motozillaexhaust.com/
facebook.com/motozillaexhaust/
Thanks for a nice rounded review. Great to see some real world users throwing in their experiences too. Brilliant
Thanks Louis'
For long term ownership, it's like most British bikes. a bit of care and she runs fine. Believe me it's far better in terms of quality compared current running models in India. And yes it's a low tech bike, so easier to fix by self. one doesn't needs to be a scientist. Nice review mate!
Thanks Sahil!
I am an Indian and I agree Indian manufacturers need to step up their quality and R&D. My brother has this bike, rode it a few times. It is no KTM dirt bike, but a cheap alternative for anyone who wants to go offroad.
Well so far I've done 6k on mine. The Himalayan I own is the first version and I believe there's a second updated version which comes with a new clutch assembly and minor updates like a guard for the oil cooler. That's probably the one that's being exported in australia or maybe it's a third updated version of the bike. So far the problems that my bike is facing is:
1)hard shifts between the first and second gear
2)the cone bearings getting heavy
3)the bike randomly goes off for a split second every now and then
So far the first and second problem has a temporary solution which is greasing them but no permanent solution yet. and the 3rd one is yet to be diagnosed. These problems are faced with a lot of the first version himalayans. I don't know about the newer ones.
Other than that this bike is really good at what it's made to do. It handles light to medium off roads fine as long as you do it right. I'd have to say this bike is very beginner friendly when it comes to the off road scenario since the front brakes is very progressive so you really need to grab it hard for them to lock up so the inexperienced rides won't be facing too much of that. It's made for the Indian Market so quality will be compromised to most extent but maybe the one's being exported will probably have better quality parts. The suspension will get softer after once you break it in. Might not be world class but it does the job.
Anyways, if there's any other Himalayan owners out there (especially from Nepal) do share your ownership experience (in a constructive manner as possible, since there are plenty of hate going on). I'd really like learn as much I can and enhance the ownership experience. Hope my info was helpful and cheers to you all.
1)hard shifts between the first and second gear - Clutch assembly will be replaced if you talk to the guys at the service station. Mine is replaced and there is a significant difference and the gear shifts are much smoother.
2)the cone bearings getting heavy - Needs a replacement. Again, the RE will do it.
3)the bike randomly goes off for a split second every now and then - no sure about the fix but I have heard his complaints a few other forums too.
Unfortunately, I don't think RE here (Nepal) have implemented the new clutch assembly or new the cone bearing replacement. But it's the first time I'm hearing about the cone bearing replacement. Thanks for the update, man *thumbs up* I'll inquire the company on that. Btw I hear they have a solution for the oil seepage from the engine,too. I think it was a gasket seal replacement. Is that so?
I have heard there are add on ecu,,boxes that help by changing the mixture making the engine run cooler and gives a bit more power
i own a Himalayan myself and have done 3k on it. havent ridden much but have ridden it pretty extremely. and i can say this bike can sure take a beating and still thump away
Thanks for the input Piyush.
cheers to all the Himalayan owners...i love my Himalayan...
Thanks for the review - I agree about the set up being for small/medium size riders. I'm 188cm and one sit on it told me it was too small for me regarding leg room and foot controls. Great concept otherwise.
Your welcome Paul. It is definitely a step in the right direction for RE.
A tour of my area of Perth , Western Australia..... Thanks....
Your welcome Graham
Same here buddy! Test ride from JCS up to Guilford road and back haha! :)
it is a cool machine mate
Many Himalayan owners here in India have reported engine coil failure issues which have left them stranded in the middle having to tow the vehicle. The engine coil fails repeatedly. There is no permanent fix. I hope the newer batches have rectified this serious issue.
Good to know Pravin, thanks.
nice review. I'm a shorter rider, I sat on a Himalayan at my closest dealer and I would have to lower the seat a further 1 inch and wear high-soled shoes to ride this. Do you think the seat can take being cut down by 1" without becoming too hard?
Thanks! very informative.. with a BS4, for all around riding.. should I buy only with ABS? There is one available at the dealer without.
Nice review! I am planning to buy one soon.
Thanks mate.
Great review, Thanks for the information.
Being a fellow west Aussie I was wondering about longer rides. What would be a reasonable cruising speed on the Himalayan? Do you think it could maintain the 100 km/hr? Sit on 110 km/hr???
Thanks Mal, Surprisingly It did feel pretty comfortable at speed. I did take it up to 100kph just for a second in the video so it is hard to say with certainty, but it did feel capable of sitting at 100/110kph. I think it is mostly down to the torque of the motor. HP is not flattering but it as enough torque to get the job done. Expect it to feel a bit more competent than a 250 at that speed and far less stressed about it.
Maybe the quality issues will be sorted soon there was an idea being floated by the company about moving production back to Britain, so here’s hoping they do.
the claimed gas consumption of 30km/l is not my experience with this model I get 20 which is quite disappointing.
and to answer your question. royal enfields are pretty durable. you can pretty much own an enfield for generations down here in india
I've owned the Himalayan for 8 months now, does a decent job for daily commute and occasional off-road here in India. For adventure(dual sport) bike starved India it is definitely a good proposition.
The biggest negative for off-road is the rear shock linkage extends way below the bash plate
+vignesh prabhu Great info mate 👍Thanks for sharing that.
What you are calling "crash bars" are in fact carriers [which when loaded make bike top heavy] reasonable bike to ride but awkward when off road. Maybe better when new vertical twin engine comes out and is fitted.
Enjoyed the vid. You sure were lucky doing 100kph on that section of the highway the cops really hit it hard, or they used to when I traveled it regularly. I've just re-subscribed as I must have unsubscribed by accident at some time, keep up the good work.
Hey Toe, Yer I used to live in Maylands it is a vipers nest of police. Luckily they put in a permanent speed camera just where I was riding so they don't hang around in that sport so much :-)
Thanks, I'll put that in the memory banks for the next time I'm out that way :)
absolutly cool bike...
Definitely stands out from the crowed.
I don't think the bars on the tank are crash bars - they're actually used for carrying small plastic petrol paniers. In India they have fuel injection models importers won't bring into Australia.
Good
I've just picked up a 2020 BS4 model. So far all my fears were misguided. The only problem is that the suspension is quite firm. It's great on the twisties but it can be a bit jarring.
Wish I'd watch this video before I bought one as this is the only review I've heard mention it
Have you adjusted the sag? There is a preload adjustment on the rear shock.
I think it looks cool. Would like to hear about the maintenance requirements, such as intervals for comparison to other makes. This is one of the advantages of lower tech heavier for weigh models such as the DR650, versus light weight high HP models. Long term durability is a question too, since Enfield and most other British motors have been famously maintenance intensive. Is it made in India, or where? The name is funny since such low compression would probably really struggle at altitude.
nice review
Thanks mate :-)
Nice review. This might be ok as a 2nd or 3rd bike in your stable, but not as the primary, at least for me. When you work 45 - 50 hours per week, commute on your bike & like to go on long rides on days off with your friends on & off road, a bike like this just wouldn't do it if it was your only one. Nothing wrong with a carburetor if its done right. One of my bikes, my 2006 KLR, has a carb. Pulling the choke lever on a cold start is not a big deal.
Thanks mate, good to hear from you. It is an interesting bike but like you it could not be my daily. RE have definitely improved from earlier bikes though which is good to see.
RE's just last a lifetime
Hmm. I’m not sure what this bike does that something like a drz400 does not.
Great stuff mate! :-)
Cheers Mark!
It s about the heritage and simplicity of a carny bike, though the 500 classic has efi. The bullet is the biggest selling bike of all time I think. These the made for use in both world wars too. Things like that add to its history and appeal to Enfield buffs.
Yer one of the things I like about RE is how rich their history is. Can't own many bikes that have heritage dating back to 1901.
Its a great looking machine with some real heritage, if they could only up the quality a little more as i don't think it would look so good after a few trips through water and on dirt roads.. Cheers for the review
Agreed Philip, Long term reliability is the big question with RE.
sorry just ignore my first comment,
Nice review,
just wondering if you or anyone you know has taken the Himalayan on proper single track trails? and there thoughts on its capabilities there, as many overseas reviews say its great. I'm interested how it goes in the aussie bush particularly for me as a more novice rider.
many thanks
On proper single track I would be very hesitant to take the RE. It’s a very easy bike to get along with but it’s an adventure bike not a dualsport so it’s a bit too heavy for the serious stuff. All depends on the kind of riding you want to do 👍
@@chroniclesofsolid yeah I like the goat and roo tracks, but also like the odd spin on the black top. probley I'm better looking at the crf300l 👍 that looks like such a cracking little duel sport
This is the old model which was never exported to the uk . The BS4 is a far better standard .
Nice Review,
off-road
It looks like somebody built it from leftover parts in a shed . like it :)
Love it or hate it at least it is different, which is hard to come by :-)
Its not an adventure bike. Are you kidding me ? You judged a off roader onroad. Hats off. BTW why do you think it is called Himalayan.
I'd say it's more of a road bike than an offroad bike
It wouldn't do the bike any justice by driving it around city highways alone. Was waiting for some off roading experience
- Check out the 'Thunderbird' and 'Continental GT' .. Royal Enfield quality has gone up by leaps and bounds.
Will do!
Since you asked for feedback from long term users, you may see very varied feedback from long term owners because of the lack of quality control on the production line. And, since RE is trying to fix mistakes post production, it also depends on the local service centre and their access to spares.
Thanks :-)
No worries there, keep posting the good stuff. If you want me to send you a link for the 10000km review I just posted let me know where I can send it.
+MotorCycl.in Feel free to chuck it in the comments here 😊
You should take it for an off road directly as its moto says "Made for all roads and for no roads"
It just seems like a modern XT500, I think I would rather restore a Yamaha XT
top speed?
TMR
125kmph
after 98kmph it vibrates
How is city ride in havey traffic??
an re can last upto 20 years if maintained properly
Ha! That's the exact same one I test rode from JCS Triumph Perth. I didn't like...
Our butts have been on the same seat!
chroniclesofsolid ha yea & a shitty uncomfortable seat at that!
riding an off-roader on black tops and complaining about suspension??
I'm surprised it isn't fuel injected. I don't recall another new bike that isn't. Also, the continental GT has been fuel injected for a while.
The Euro 4 version is EFI but Australia gets the Carby model with no ABS.
ประเทศอะไร?
4500k/s on my reh it does what expected off it even better from climbing up some long and steep hills to sitting on 110 kph on hume hwy nothing broken or fallen offi dropped it a few times and even tho its carbed it always starts readily lol amazing hey wink.//
Are you sure it has ABS?
I believe the Euro 4 spec version will have Fuel Injection and maybe ABS. But this simple carburettor one doesn't.
Yep only the Euro 4 version which earlier articles were saying Australia would get. Unfortunately not :-( Video does have an annotation to correct the mistake at 10:46. Thanks for pointing it out.
In Europe ABS is mandatory now (this is being enforced since 1st of January), due to Euro4. It will come to Sweden soon, I have read. So lets hope people can come out and try it :)
Will be interesting to see how RE's ABS system works out.
chroniclesofsolid for sure! Also, want to thank you for this honest review of RE Himalayan! This was a nice change, as most other reviewers seem quite opinionated by the fact it is Indian :)
Your royal enfield history is a little off. And why would a carbureted bike not start right up... Carburettors are simple and reliable. The fact that it's carbed is definitely a plus.
seems like a retro
RE bikes look cheap?!?! I mean they make it that way for a reason
Long term ownership??....know some old bastards owing classic bullet for around 20 years or so....and they are still have swag of owning one😛.....cheers from India👍
Not a right way of testing it !
Its a off road bike dude !!
Geez mate do you always start your reviews by bashing the product ? And how exactly was enfields quality better prior to being taken over ?? Stereotyping may be ??? Millions of bullets are ridden in India and loved for a reason.
Most rev heads who go nuts on our streets and are complete wankers trying to rev their 600+ cc bikes with crazy exhausts normally don't go past 3rd/4 gear - which makes me wonder why even buy such big engines when you can't even enjoy em ...
Tech - I rather have simple fix her upper than a computerised wonkjob - which if broken costs a bomb to fix ..
Like they say everyone for themselves . I have ridden one of these and I quite like it and think royal Enfield has done a rather good job at it.
what camera is this?
Helmet cam is a Sony Action Cam 4k model. The one I am speaking to while off the bike is the Xiaomi Yi.
The bike is still British designed. Made in India. Quality is an issue, even by Indian standards.
It's pronounced HIMALAYAN mate, not HIMALAYAN.
You know what I mean.- Ive heard you speak Hindi! Lol
This is not a review. It's just a ride.
it's very simple: if you need something for touring and you don't have enough money for anything else, then buy it. If you do have enough money to buy something else, then please for the love of god..DON'T BUY THIS PIECE OF SHIT! My friend decided to make a test ride and it started to brake apart in the rough.