Maybe She's a Keeper - Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 

Anyone following your channel doesn't need much explanation why the Witch is a keeper 😁 From conquering Angel Steps to touring the Emerald isle - it it the story of "The Little Motorbike That Could" - and for a dirtbird, she does look like she likes little roll in the hay😆 Proper gateway at the end - pretty clouds...

Keep the Witch, our Himmy's are such fun, a breath of fresh air with so many modern bikes costing a fortune, easy to work on, great to ride, Happy days! :)

I can relate to bonding with a bike that’s humble, and earnest in it’s intentions. Reliable and trustworthy.

I like keepers! That means you did the research and bought wisely. Funny, I have never did a test ride on a bike, but kept all them for many miles and years. It's like relationships with people , I have had few friends in life, I like it that way!

Evening 73 😊keep the Witch. We all love her 😂 especially on lanes like this lovely jubbly 😊

I was looking at the 450 yesterday. Absolutely gorgeous bike. Next level build quality to the 411. I don’t think I could take the 450 where I have taken Hera. She has had such a battering on trails and comes back for more. Hera’s going nowhere for the foreseeable.

Good decision! It's a great bike. Lovely scenery, lovely part of the world. And...a gate with a view! Great stuff, Cheers Steve 💚

Very good solid reasoning behind that decision. Some years ago I sold a bike that I had owned for 26 years and have regretted it ever since.

The Witch seems part of you, would be sad to see it go. Definitely the bike for muddy lanes, and we have them at least half of the year. Exeter Rider dropped your bike so you don't have to 🤭

I'm glad you're keeping The Witch. My Chugga Bug would be the last bike I'd ever sell. Cheers!

Glad to hear the Witch is hanging around, even more so to hear you will be refitting the knobbly tyres for some more green laning 🙂

So good to hear you're keeping the Witch

Just as I thought the Witch has cast her spell, to do what she's fit for ever so well. She has all the basic important ingredients in her potion to accommodate green lane forward motion. She's no beauty but then what witch is, but she finds beauty in the gateways giving visual bliss.

Looks like a beautiful day for a ride! You have incredibly important reasons for keeping the Witch! I think the best reason for you keeping this bike is so we viewers can see more green laning antics!!

Nice little ride out I love them little side lanes especially when you don’t know where you’re going to pop out and just keep riding till there’s somewhere familiar great ride and as you said it’s nice to have an old hack you don’t need to worry about too much ride safe take care

😃 Butty back & I are so pleased that you have decided to keep the Witch, even if she has a few rusty worts here n there 🤪 just stick a plaster or two on em and she’ll be good as new 👌🏻 Keep her in the family 😉 Ride Safe Ride NC DCT Dave & Butty Bach 🙂

See, You do a walkaround showing all the little charms fixed to it.... all memories of stuff that you've done together, Shes a part of your life now, a lot of your history in her. I couldn't sell it personally, but then i get very sentimental about old iron as you know! 😉 If you want to maintain a green lane 'presence' you should keep her (although ive seen Llewelyn Pavey do awesome things on a Vstrom!) I'd very much like to hook up with you again one day, Maybe a subscriber lane day/weekend? Or a little repeat of our group ride last year? (I guess Mr. Dave wouldn't come, he's gone all 'bandana' on us now) 😁 Given all the mud and bad conditions you've ridden in, you've done well not to drop her. Ive seen a video of a local stunt rider crash testing a Himmi very similar to yours 🤔🤭😁

Hi mate, I’m finally back to watching videos (sorry for my absence) hope you’re doing well my friend 🤜🤛 I think there is a good argument towards keeping the Himalayan, I think this video alone is a good reason, I mean look where you are, look at the roads you are riding on 👏 A proper video with some beautiful views and surroundings as always. I’m glad to hear you’re keeping the witch 💪 10/10 gateway 👏 Great video mate, stay stay 🤜🤛

Some very compelling reasons given there for keeping the witch. I couldn't see why you'd consider selling her. Not with a full tank of petrol. Another enjoyable video, thanks.

I'm afraid I would stay lost on some your rides. I'll add that would be just fine. I'm still burning through bikes as quickly as my wife permits. I'd normally hang on to some much longer but so many bikes I need to try while I can still find my way home. 😁

l have to say considering the roads you take her down and the miles she's racked up she does look in lovely condition. 👍

Saved for today’s breakfast coffee in the garden! Wonderful . Post Boxes! Love them and Phone Boxes too. ! Keep an eye out for an EVIII post box. Rare and special. VR ones possibly listed. Phone boxes I just like the look and memory of time’s past. I’m told a certain Devon based RU-vid creator still searches the cards in them for the numbers of 2 particular young ladies he remembers from his 21st birthday 😉😉

I don't need convincing, Jeff. Definitely a keeper 😍. Some of those reasons you have stated are exactly why I keep my 72 Beetle. Wonderful ride again 🤗

Yeahhhh done the right thing sir...as I said in past I missed my himalayan and now got a new one I'm we'll happy liked the classic 350 (now sold to my mate) but just didn't have the pull on me like the himalyan 😊

Yep she’s a keeper 🏍️💨💨💨😉👍🏻

Keep, keep, keep, SB’s!!

I think you have to owned a bike suitable for lane riding, you seem to do a lot of it. And it's pretty much what people expect when they watch you're videos. After riding other Himalayans, the witch is quite special and seems to "go" better with that exhaust and comfy seat. I think the witch is set up exactly how it should have been from factory, I'm sure they would sell more of they were all like that. After all those places you been and you have never dropped it. Perhaps somewhere more challenging is needed, I know of some good potholes😮😊 Makes sense she's a keeper... I would do the same if I were you.

When you got your V-strom and hinted that The Witch Himy will maybe go, I thought that the V-strom cannot fulfill all of the Himy's duties .. And there is always the feeling of the cheap and easy going nature of the 411.. Broke something - don't care, .. If it was a GS.. Got a scratch - omg .. The V-strom is kind of middle of that. The 450 is good.. Also I'm looking at the new CF moto 450 MT .. The Chinese just cough up with the rest.

As we have already discussed Jeff, you might as well keep The Witch until she is worn out. She's worth way more to you than you'll ever get by selling her and trust me, when she's gone, you will suddenly find multiple occasions where you have to take the Bee Strom out where you'll think "If only I still had The Witch. This would have been right up her street !". Since you are now able to do the valves yourself, in The Witch you have a bike which you can maintain cheaply, without dealer support. There are not many bikes these days that you can say that about ! In theory you could keep The Witch running throughout a zombie apocalypse as long as you have access to petrol ! I feel the same way about Norman. OK, Exmouth hasn't dropped him yet but I have. Since that first drop I have felt liberated. Any subsequent drops won't bother me at all. A new 450 would be intimidating all over again and I'd rather not have that. Besides, by all accounts the 411 is better off-road in most situations anyway. I love Norman, both on and off-road and will probably own him until I can no longer climb aboard. Then I'll be stuck just with little Buddy, but there is nothing wrong with that, he's awesome ! A wise decide Jeff. Love to you and Twinks, Garry & Ruby

Those lanes and scenery are terrific. For me, my Himalayan is a keeper for all the points you raised, plus you won't get the proper value if you trade in. I've heard stories of people getting £1000 -£1500 as a trade-in. Perhaps eventually, they will achieve the same value as the old 500cc bullets?

Some pretty must be back in Cornwall! I would keep the three bikes myself. Diamuid was out yesterday and had a ride on the BSA, his first time riding a bike with gears on rt side and he did well for a dinosaur 😎😎

You could always add a BSA 650 to your stable. The first valve check is 24k miles. I doesn't read right but I checked after watching a Terence O'Keeffe video.

The new tires and a full fuel tank is way more than enough to keep it. :) You are probably right, the new 450 is not comparable. I rode it, but never tried the 411. :) Cheers.

Being able to service your own machine is a big bonus nowadays, SB, both satisfactorily and financially. These are the reasons I sold my Honda VFR800X as the thought of around 900 odd quid for a valve check would make even Bill Gates's eyes water.

Lovely lanes! Just about to get filiming n green laning, busy week. But been getting some good advice etc re apps etc. P.s think mine is high geared.

The Himalayan is great if you enjoy exploring the lanes and if you have another motorcycle for thrills and longer commutes. I'm keeping mine for a while longer but will eventually trade it in for another cheap, lane explorer.

Do it, do it, do it. I have the Classic 350 and the RE range seem to have a unexplainable desire to them that can only be truly appropriated after riding and owning one.

Hello Saddlebags I watched your video with great interest as I too have a Himalayan 411, owned for just two months but to my disappointment am considering getting rid of. I bought the bike as I have other Enfields and have owned a few in the past too . I love the simplicity and maintainability of them and feel they are such good value. Since getting the Himalayan I pulled it all apart to give it a deep clean and check over and have only in the last week or so got to ride it any distance. I was gutted however to find the wind noise on to my helmet was unbearable above 40 mph. I am 6ft tall and it seems the upright screen is deflecting the wind straight up on to my helmet. I if I put my hand on the top edge of the screen or alternatively stand up a few inches the wind noise goes away. Because however I have a few other bikes I didn’t feel there was a compelling reason to try and solve this problem as I’m already bothered at the cost of multi bike ownership (tax/insurance/mots and floor space) and am trying to reduce further outlay to a minimum. In fact I bought the Himalayan thinking it might provide a path for me to let a couple of other bikes go but the wind noise being so bad led me to think I should get out now. Your video has however really struck a chord with me. I see you have modified your screen so assume you too found it to be an issue and the fact you appear to have solved it at no cost is very interesting. I can really associate with seller’s regret which I’ve had several times in the past and want to avoid again. Thanks for your video - it certainly has given me much food for thought.

I used to have an Armstrong MT500 with a Rotax engine. It was 4 valves per cylinder and screw valve adjusters. Inlet's 1 and 2, no issue. Exhaust 1, easy, exhaust 2 all but impossible. I am sure there was a way of doing it with the engine in the frame.... but I never figured it out. I saw the new RE 450 at the NEC last year..... meh! The 411 has much more character.

I think the 411 is a distinctive bike. The new one will be good. If you like the 411 keep it. Still prefer Ernie though. 😂

Firstly: first! 🥇 Secondly: do you ever get nutters coming the other way around blind corners? I had that in Somerset last time I brought the bike over to the West Country 😮 I think you can definitely compare the 411 and 450 but I agree I'll only be looking for the new model when I know the Gremlins are fixed and I can get a cheap second 🥈 hand one. Aren't they on the same tyre sizes? Meaning you can reuse whatever ones you have?

I'm the same with my himalayan. I'd be keen to know what tyres your running. They seem to hang on, on the slippery tracks. Thx

My sentiments exactly, after 18months and 8000 miles, I need no reason for a ride out on my 2019 Himmy. (I am buying an old BSA because I need something to tinker with ;)

Interesting about the valve checks, the Hunter is every 6K, were yours loose or tight the first time you did them?

🌹🌹❤❤🌹🌹😊😊👍👍

you should not have to check the valve clearance until 20 thou miles ,, after all it is an understressed motor that does not rev high ,, and the valve seats are not made of plastircine ;;;;;

There's alot to be said about hanging onto a bike that suits you. So much cash can be wasted keep changing. Why do the Enfields need valve checks so often?? That oil seed rape seen from the gateway looked a bit sparse. Farmer isn't making much from that!

Wosson Sbagsy boy? Didn't want to say too much before cos it's no one's decision but yours. But c'mon is there a better bike out there for what you use it for ? Good call my friend. Geddon Pard and DFD.

With the value of the bike weighed against the bond you have with that bike combined with the use you make of it. Why not keep? Think you may regret it. The green laning and muddy lanes are suited to it and think the v strom heavy for green lane. When I worked I used to acf my scooter twice a year and only really washed the lights. I rode through everything imaginable. I didn’t care about it really but when I sold it I have regretted ever since as was such a loyal servant. Why not re evaluate in a years time

just fit a couple of turbo's ,,, a big bore kit , four wheel drive ,,, and get a hauliers licence for all the livestock you are transporting ;;;;

Sell it! 😂😂😂 Get the 450😂😂😂

G’day cobber..,, or should that be Hello my friend 🤷🏻‍♂️🤣. Sooo glad to hear the Witch has a reprieve from the stake at the moment. Your reasoning is sound & sensible. I think you know I very recently let my Betsy, the beautiful RE 500 Tribute, go. I had a special bond with her. & as RE no longer make these 500 singles I do wonder if I made the correct decision. The two bikes that have escaped from me that I miss the most are pepper, my beloved first Harley ultra limited, & now Betsy. As you & I have discussed, unlimited finances are not at my disposal, therefore the decision was made. I feel sure you have made the correct choice. Life is for LIVING, enjoy the Witch while you have her. P.S. no news on my new ultra as yet, you will be the first to know when she is with me. Take care mate, a big G’day to Twinks please. BahRoo for now🤣🤣🏍👍😎…… P.S Faye is flying here next weekend, I feel sure Twinks & yourself will be included in our conversations 😋😁