Royal Enfield Himalayan | GTAMotorcycle.com

Royal Enfield Himalayan

ifiddles

ifiddles

Well-known member
I know that dealerships are few and far between, but there is one in Acton, which isn't too far from me...anyways, been watching Itchy Boots on YouTube and she's clocked on over 36,000 km in just 8.5 months travelling the world (check her out, her channel is AWESOME)...and I've been playing with the idea of getting an enduro style bike so I can hit the gravel roads and not have to pass them by on my current ride...most of the adventure style bikes are too tall for me, but this one has a low seat height which I think would work fine (will have to go sit on one to confirm though)...anyways, just wondering if anyone here has one or knows of anyone with one and what their reviews are?...good, bad, etc...I currently ride an FZ07 and yes, the Himalayan is a smaller cc engine with less horsepower, but I'm not one for speeding anyways...just curious...
 
You know it's actually a couple pounds heavier then a FZ07, yes?
 
biggest issue I see with owning one here is that 25.4hp will leave you struggling on the highways. This bike makes sense if you plan to ride around Asia. if you are going to end up on the road the majority of the time thats a big step down from an Fz07.
 
@Trials, yeah I know it's heavier and @r3r3r3, I stay off highways now...like I said, just curious to see/hear from someone who has/had one is all...probably won't get rid of my FZ07...it's a great bike and i LOVE it...i get bored sometimes :D easier to change a bike than it is to change a husband LMAO
 
To put it in perspective; a Yamaha 250WR weighs in at about 100 pounds less and produces about 5 more horsepower.
But if you are traveling 36,000 km in just 8.5 months in third world countries that have lots of R-E's, the R-E is probably a way better bike ;)
 
I've been looking @ RE for a few years
they're known as the Indian Harley
ie: new production of old tech

the QC has gotten better last few years
as mentioned, they are a good choice for a developing country
nothing high tech about them
they can be repaired with a very basic tool kit

performance wise they are slow
have poor brakes and suspension
but they are pretty cool bikes

if you really want to do any DS ADV riding OP
I think a Himilayan would be a poor choice
it will fall apart and leave you stranded

for strictly pavement use a regular RE like this one would be fine

2VnkaIN.jpg
 
This has to be the best video review on the bike you will ever find,

bearing in mind the guy is probably riding in his back yard
and says yes many nuts and bolts worked loose just doing the review,
hopefully you can wrench bikes.

... brakes are crap.
 
Watched Noraly's whole adventure. She hasn't had as much problems as I expected from a RE....especially as she was riding in places with few RE shops.
 
J_F said:
I've been looking @ RE for a few years
they're known as the Indian Harley
ie: new production of old tech

the QC has gotten better last few years
as mentioned, they are a good choice for a developing country
nothing high tech about them
they can be repaired with a very basic tool kit

performance wise they are slow
have poor brakes and suspension
but they are pretty cool bikes

if you really want to do any DS ADV riding OP
I think a Himilayan would be a poor choice
it will fall apart and leave you stranded

for strictly pavement use a regular RE like this one would be fine

2VnkaIN.jpg
Click to expand...
I know in India owning one is like owning a Harley in the USA. As far as the design, the traditional RE is nothing like a Harley, much closer to an old Triumph or BSA single.
 
Trials said:
To put it in perspective; a Yamaha 250WR weighs in at about 100 pounds less and produces about 5 more horsepower.
But if you are traveling 36,000 km in just 8.5 months in third world countries that have lots of R-E's, the R-E is probably a way better bike ;)
Click to expand...

Unfortunately the Yami has a 36" seat height...my legs are too short at only 29" inseam...I've sat on the big four dual sports and they're all too tall for me...I could lower them I guess, but then lose clearance...?
 
there's the Verys X 300
can put knobblies on it and it's a decent light weight DS
far more dependable than a RE and dealers everywhere

pretty low on power though
they should put the 400cc parallel twin from the ninja in it

wNiQdK6.jpg
 
I saw on someone else's vlog... A kiwi traveler IIRC where a dealer explained that there are actually two lines of RE's.
One for the Indian domestic market and one for export...
The domestic bikes are supposedly of a somewhat lower quality...
 
Hack said:
I saw on someone else's vlog... A kiwi traveler IIRC where a dealer explained that there are actually two lines of RE's.
One for the Indian domestic market and one for export...
The domestic bikes are supposedly of a somewhat lower quality...
Click to expand...

I can attest to that. We rented two Royal Enfields in Delhi to ride up the Himalayan Mountains. Had to fix something on them every single day!

Cool looking bikes though.

himalayas-L.jpg
 
Lightcycle said:
I can attest to that. We rented two Royal Enfields in Delhi to ride up the Himalayan Mountains. Had to fix something on them every single day!

Cool looking bikes though.

himalayas-L.jpg
Click to expand...


WOW...amazing view there lightcycle...gorgeous! :D I so envy you...
 
Itchy Boots has put up her 36,000 Kilometers Bike Review - Royal Enfield Himalayan. Her's is an Indian market one, and if it's lower quality, it did pretty well. She does point out one thing. It's not a complex bike and if it needs fixing in a remote location, chances are it will be easier to fix than say Gene's GS. Gene, your thoughts? Maybe the quality has improved since Gene rode em?

There were also not that many RE dealerships on her travels. Either way, she got another brand new one in trade for her next ride.
 
I just ran into a 'barnfind like' Bullet 500. A friend of mine had a restomod built in India 10 years ago, it's a pristine restoration of a Bullet 500 on a 2006 frame. He bought it to ride with me, it has 20 km on it - the test mileage I put on it in 2011. His wife said NO, so it's been under a cover with zero miles since 2011.

Gonna be in my stable next week. Will post pics once I blow the dust off.
 
  • Like
Reactions: J_F
@Riceburner yeah, saw that video today...she wasn't going to be able to plate it in Denmark because it was an Indian market bike, and as such, wouldn't have been able to bring it to SA for her trip to Alaska...the dealer there gave her a 2019 model, and she gave them hers so they can put it on display..sweet deal if you ask me...?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom