Join me in 2022 www.BretTkacs.com/Nepal After 40 days riding the Royal Enfield Himalayan in Nepal this is my take (review) of this often forgotten motorcycle.
I'm actually the brand ambassador of the RE in Cambodia and honestly after owning the Himalayan myself I love the bike even without getting paid to do so. Reliable, cheap and just work.
@@SamiNami In all fairness.. he reviewed bikes that have had the crap beaten out of them! Who knows if they've been at all looked after. If he had used non rental fleet bikes, would he have had the same reliability issues?
Hi Bret, I agree, we rode the Himalayans from Chennai, India back home to Finland in 2018, 65 days and 15000km. One reason for the excellent ride was the comfortable speed of Himalayan, we had time to enjoy the scenery. We had very little technical problems, we was 17 riders. Excellent no frills bike that I still have. Btw, like your videos, good info.
I have the 21 model euro 5 of the himalayan and did a 6000km ride to the northcape in the summer.. no issues , i went on gravel roads , completely offroad, did fall once , and the himalayn just keep on going.. last year i had the 850gs from bmw,, and i tryed to ride to northcape on that but it broke down all the time... eventualy sold that one and i was in the market for new simple machine ,. and the himalayan is just the best motorcycle i have ever owned ... oh and the seating comfort is better than the 850gs . i did about 800km every day (give and take) So if anyone now ask me wich bike for adventure and not for highway.. i say himalayan .. YOU DONT NEED A BIG BIKE to have fun ...
Someone had to say that! I bought F800GSA for long distance rides and, the truth is - I'm watching videos about RE!😁 Beemer is too big, too heavy, unexpectedly uncomfortable and always in high revs. The only benefit is it's superb wind protection. Yes, I do can ride it in really cold weather but that's it. And there is another, rather emotional issue but still... Every time I get home on my Dyna, I slap it's tank to thank it for the ride. Now, how can one possibly slap fake plastic tank?!😁 And, as is well known - it's more fun to ride hard the underpowered bike than be always in mid range of the revs on a fast one. Thanks for your comment!
I have KTM 890R and Himalayan. As far as suspension is concerned: I run Öhlins Racing suspension on Himalayan and have no complaints. Made some more adjustments with engine, power management, exhaust system, handlebars, sprockets, etc. From issues: at 7000km broken clutch cable. Important to understand is that you can not compare reliability of rental bike that is pushed beyond the limits by riders who don' t care and own bike that you actually take care of and think before you trash it. I love my KTM 890R the same as Himalayan. Those two bikes are built with different approach and it would not be correct to compare them in any other way than level of enjoyment you get from riding them - in this respect they both score equally well. Did not buy it because it is cheap, bought it because I think it is one of the best contemporary designs of adventure bikes. Bought it after 2 weeks of test-riding demo bike. No regrets. It is perfect bike for Baltic/Scandinavia region and most of Europe. If you intend to use it in rugged mountain terrain then just make sure that like with every bike - do prior alterations/adjustments accordingly, make sure weak points are taken care of as with every bike. Further to it: most important point is that demands for the performance of the vehicle would be different between Graham Jarvis, Toby Price, Bret Tkacs and vast majority of other riders. What Himalayan does exceptionally well is to open up doors in adventure riding for people with different skill sets, it does not provoke unnecessarily, it does not cost arm and leg to maintain and run. It slows your pace down enough that you suddenly see things that you just previously zoomed by without noticing. It is one of the very best bikes that are currently made. I have got heavily modified Himalayan and that is also one of exciting parts about bike: you can completely change the way it looks and behaves, performs with relatively small investment. It is highly customizable bike and as such I love to see when people try it out when I give them it for test-ride with deep skepticism and then in a week they go to dealership to buy one for themselves.
Whenever I think of Royal Enfield, I remember what I read in the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook many years ago. Pro: can be fixed anywhere. Con: needs to be fixed everywhere.
Bret, thanks for this. There aren't many folks on RU-vid that I watch that have as much credibility as you so I was really hoping to get your thoughts after spending so much time on the Himalayan in Nepal. Great review. Much appreciated. My 68 year old body constantly argues with my 23 year old head about which bike to get... Honest reviews like this really help. Welcome home.
Try the KTM 390 Adventure as a step up. Best value for money bike you can buy imo and is extremely capable both on and off road for a bike in that CC class. I have one, and like you had a tough time deciding…and it is for me personally the best purchase I have ever made.
@@AussieAdventurer Thanks for the suggestion. I spent some time looking at specs etc. I also watched MadTV's review and a couple of others. I think at over 6ft I'd have trouble with the cockpit. I ride standing a lot and every review says that it is awkward for anyone over 5' 10". But, I will head to a dealer (closest one is 100 k away) and try it for myself. Thanks again for the insight.
@@MarshallCant Yes I think you’re right mate. At your hight this could be a real problem if you do a lot of standing up on the bike. However I have the following suggestions for you that might well help with your issue… Firstly if you do decide that you like the bike and end up buying on, people of your hight usually install a 2” Handlebar Risers ( you need to get a longer clutch cable for that) and secondly there are aftermarket Footpegs that ypu can install that ( if buying the correct ones) lowers the footpeg from-stock version by i think about 1”. So that’s what I read a lot of people do that are tall but don’t want to buy a bigger bike or whatever reason they might have to stick with the 390 Adventure. Again this will and must be your choice and only you can decide what is right fir you of corse. My last suggestion is to put a post asking of riders that are of your hight on what they did and how they ride that bike to better gage if this solution is good for you. And lastly if it was me I would try and find someone with a 390 Adv who made those modifications I mentioned and see if you can go for a test ride on that bike. I know that’s a longs-shot 🥴🤷♂️😂 but worth a try before you buy. Stay safe and good luck 🍀
@@AussieAdventurer Good advice. Much appreciated. I'll start my quest... PS I am 'half Aussie'. My Mom was from Australia and I lived there when I was a wee lad. My sister is still there in Brisbane. I have lived in Canada my whole life but still have a connection to Australia in my heritage. Have a great day, and thanks again.
I'm already rode 25.000 miles with mine here in Brazil since 2019 (the BS4 model with ABS and eletronic fuel injection), for the kind of routes e roads around here, at their 62 mph confortable cruising speed, and its been a wonderful experience, but I've bought expecting all the things that you've said... I rather spend the money traveling around, than put the expense on a bike that has more technology then I need
I am a Brazilian as well, there are plenty of roads you can speed well over 60 miles for hours/100 km/h. I think my mainly gripe against Himalayan is the "max" top speed of 130 that you can not stay in that for long otherwise the engine might break( so i heard from several youtubers and people in the internet. If the top speed were about 150km/h with 130 km/h cruse velocity i think would be much better bike
I owned a 2019 non-ABS Himalayan for 6000 miles and I found the suspension to be good unless you are comparing it with motorcycles costing 4 times as much. It did not feel as budget as many bikes costing twice as much. I only sold it this past summer because the shortage of bikes allowed me to recoup almost all of what I paid. I am seriously considering a new one. The competition for my money is the CRF300L Rally, and the Versys 300. I know it is hard for someone to appreciate these bikes when you can afford bikes in the mid $20,000 range, but I found that it did everything I wanted it to do except short stints on a highway to get over a river, or avoid a city. My dual sport / adventure experience are DRZ400S, KLR650, KLX250S, Van Van 200, and KLX300SM. I also didn't avoid gravel on the Versys 650.
I very much agree on the suspension, it's definitely better than the price would lead you to believe. Highway travel is unfortunately its' Achilles heel, but that just makes you take better roads :)
i love my versys-300 but find myself dreaming of owning the enfeild for its looks and simplicity. the only issue i have with the enfeild is i wish the frame directly below the seat was a bit narrower.
Some fantastic comments there my friend. I don’t have a Himalayan but a mate does and it’s gone everywhere I go! I think a bike at this price point opens more opportunities as people are less intimidated and less worried about potential damage.
@@iangriffiths9930 I would buy used, if that were an issue. A used bike has the advantage of used parts, such as fairings. No need to worry about breaking stuff.
Yep, its a total mule. Super relaxing to ride anywhere, take a flask of coffee, ride and giggle , secure in the knowledge that your licence is safe. For normal folk like me that are riding on mud and gravel 'roads' , and forest trails, it is ideal. (but have a T7 or something similar so you can still have some hooligan fun now and again) It's not for everyone, but it is for me. I love it. Mine is called SPUD, and it makes me happy, every single ride, no matter how horrible the weather.
@@justinphilipson6031 I'm prob going to sell my T7, cos my license is in danger. Just got a 2020 KTM 390 adventure, which is not fast, but is quick. Enjoy your bikes, and keep grinning, cos that is the measure of a great bike.
As you said, this is a bike to enjoy, not only the bike, also the journey, the landscapes, the friendship and everything that surrounds you wherever you go. Since I have it, it changed my way of thinking in every aspect of riding a bike.
Absolutely accurate… it is what it is. I liked the 21” front tire size and the seat was surprisingly “cushy”. Knowing we had such awesome support crew behind us made a world of difference in my concern for reliability. And I enjoyed riding in the Range Rover 😂😂😂
Sounds like a true adventure bike faithfull to its lineage. I would read about people taking a RE classic through India and being able/needing to fix electrical issues like points and condenser on the side of the road, but completing its mission.
Testing the Himalayan in the Himalayas--brilliant. And it's so so so good to get a review after all that time on the bike. So refreshing after most American motorcycle reviewers test the bike for 1/2 day at a press junket. Bravo!
Even this is NOT the right kind of review. Rental motorcycles in India and Nepal, especially the ones used around the Himalayan circuit are some of the most abused and poorly maintained. So, a motorcycle used in that capacity can't be used as a yardstick for measuring the reliability of a brand/model.
Clearly, Bret is not Itchy boots Noraly… honest review, but brutal in parts. Bret has the unique credibility to offer a candid critique. However, this isn’t a bike for the likes of him. He is, in that sense, the wrong critic. He isn’t the target market. People who will buy Himalayan’s aren’t technical riders, or looking to ride a thousand miles in a day, or drag race. If your sixty, or a mechanically inclined collector, or ride a hundred fashionable miles on the odd weekend, then this might be the bike for you.
I ride more Himalayan's everyday than anyone i know , and i also get to compare it to the likes of mid sized adv bikes/touring bikes in India. IF SET UP WELL , this bike with its weight, low center of gravity and a long stroke /tractor like engine will beat any high revving motorcycle in almost 75% of technical terrain FOR THE VAST MAJORITY of folks. SPEED is a relative term. quick short bursts that make the rear wheel spin MAY not be actual speed when you talk time taken to cover a certain distance. The Himalayan can keep its pace with almost every single ADV dual sport motorcycle in its category. My motorcycle does a 0-100 in 10.3 secs which i would def not call slow.
I ride an old yam XT 600 and I believe Himalayan is a bit similar yet not uo to the same performance. If you ride around 100 kmh and more of non pavement...I want to test ride It 👍
Rental motorcycles in India and Nepal, especially the ones used around the Himalayan circuit are some of the most abused and poorly maintained. So, a motorcycle used in that capacity can't be used as a yardstick for measuring the reliability of a brand.
"Take your time. Enjoy it" That's sound advice for the Himalayan, it's slowing you down. Fine enough. It depends on the rider and the region if it's good bike. Thanks for your review, Günter from Nürnberg/Germany
Most Adventure riders HAVE to have top of the range 100+ hp bike only to feel safe to get to nearest Starbucks and back, Bret takes 23hp machine and goes across Himalayas like a boss... Us, modern bikers are taking soooo much for granted, like a kids who can't even imagine life without a smartphone... Well done Bret, simple but very valuable lesson!
I have had my Himalayan for 4 years now. I call it my “Mr. Roger’s” bike. It’s just so darn polite! For a local commuter and weekend mini-adventure bike, it’s tough to beat. While I also have a BMW 1200GS for full sized adventures, this little bike still puts a big smile on my face!
I just arrived home from a biketour in Nepal last weekend. I was driving an Enfield Bullet, some friends a Himalayan. These bikes are realy made for the area they are named after, the Himalayan Mountains. Some of our Teammembers now want to buy an Enfield, for Germany and Switzerland!
Go watch first season of Itchy Boots to see what you can do on a Himalayan if you aren't in a hurry. Way more adventure than most people will ever get into.
totally agree, I bought my Hima (and decide go for it) after seen the first season of she, true motorcicle trip, no hurry, no extra tech (many times unnecessary), just a simple and reliable bike that you can fill with adventure, I use my one here at Colombia, and traveled more than 15000 kms, crossing mud, stone roads, and even ride at 4600 Mts over sea level without any problem, many friends has Huge Adv Bikes, but they are really afraid to touch the gravel, cross a river, ... its like bought one expensive hi-tech 4X4 just to go to the supermarket ... its not about the arrow, it's just the Indian who shot it 🙂
Compression braking with using the friction zone clutch is highly effective. Been doing that for 47yrs. I feel you have far more control using multiple braking technique. But i just say to each their own ride how you want as long as it's safe. great video. ""RIDE ON""
Agreed, I was a little confused about that. Engine braking is just another tool in the box, you don’t have to use it but better to have the skill and not need it than need it and not have it. Anything that gets your mental model closer to reality is for the better.
@@amitkrupal1234 compression braking is using the force of the motor to slow you down . So when you down shift you let the clutch out you feel the bike want to slow down. I use it when coming down a hill fast on rocks ,mud etc. It continually allows the back tire to be under traction. When you pull the clutch in and just use the brakes you have lost a significant amount of slowing energy. You make your wheels free wheel . Just by using compression braking you can bring your bike almost to a stop using your clutch and shifting . Shift down let the clutch Out slowly feel the engine braking once your clutch is out all the way shift down again let the clutch out feel the friction zone . Feel it in the clutch. Don't over rev when slowing if you over rev pull the clutch in a bit .
Also the big draw of compression braking is that you keep heat away from the brakes, especially the rear which has a smaller disc (or drum!) and less thermal mass. So going down long hills you don’t have to take the runaway truck ramp.
FortNine did a new engine test across a bunch of brands a year or two ago, and the new Royal Enfield had the cleanest new engine out there. Less machining junk in it than even BMW. I'd personally love to have a Himalayan for goofing around.
This has been the most practical review of this bike. The endless ragging on the bike in other vids is a drag. This is all we needed to see, a farm bike, fabulous simplicity, it does the job.
Sounds like your rental Himalayan's braking systems were running their original hygroscopic brake fluid and it was full of water which will vaporize when hot. Since vapor will compress under pressure, your pedal becomes useless until the water vapor cools and condenses. Traditional brake fluid should be changed every year in humid or wet climates.
It has never been promoted as performance high-tech machine, because that is not what works there. Nor can most people there afford nice high-tech machine. Also, keep in mind that 10,000 -15,000 km on rental bike in Nepal, is like 100,000 Km on a bike anywhere else in the world. So to talk about a whole list of things that went wrong between all the bikes during this 40 day beating, isn't really fair, is it? If you want to talk about durability, start with new bikes, not what 100 other people have beaten to shit on the worst roads on the planet, before they were handed of to the next group. Oh and by the way, there is a 60% duty in Nepal on imported machines, that makes anything else very pricey Is a typical BMW 1250 GS, or Multistrada rider going to see the Himalayan as a great bike....I think that depends on where you are going and what you are attempting to achieve.
I also rode a Himalayan in Nepal. It was the last of the carbed models and the carb needed to be replaced. On all eight bikes, the steering had to be disassembled and adjusted almost daily or the bikes simply wouldn't turn.
This is my first motorcycle a 2020 model - been a really enjoyable journey. Like you say it isn't too powerful, but it's been fun in the Rockies for learning on. Do I feel underpowered on the main roads? Yes. But for a bike to learn on and get into motorcycling it has been great.
An aftermarket ECU on that bike will give you about 20% more power but when activated (some are switchable back to stock) the bike would not be "emissions legal".
@@johndavidwolf4239 I can’t ever remember having to do an emissions test on any motorcycle I’ve owned and I’ve lived in California and now in Washington state.
This review made me chuckle something chronic. The performance review was bob on. I own a Himalayan, love it to bits, its my go to bike for instructing, commuting and adventuring. For the price on the road, you can't complain. Keep up the good work Bret, love your videos.
Been using one for 3years and 26000km in India from Kashmir clear to Manipur. Never had a major problem. Even fell off a 10ft drop 5000rs later back on the road for a 1000km.
Still waiting for RE to put out a Himalayan with their 650cc Interceptor engine. It would be a true game changer. 400 or 411 ccm is just barely enough to keep up with unavoidable highway segments every now and then, making it unnecessarily dangerous to overtake trucks and lorries with marginal speed difference - bear in mind: not all people live in rural India, Pakistan or Nepal.
I'll stick with my XT 500, better in every way except for the front brake. More hp, more torque, probably as reliable if not more, and the weight, mine's 50kg lighter wet ! The only real advantage of the Himalayan for me is that you can buy a brand new one
@@C4H10N4O2 I agree, but to me Himalayan have a better appearence, more of my style I like "Cruisers" (Also Bobbers, Choppers, even Trackers) and to me Himalayan delivers to me a Mix of those things I like, even more If I Customize It I like Off Roading, but also more of a "Heavy Metal" Style A little "Post-Apocaliptic" style, like Daryls bike From The Walking Dead, or the one From The DayzGone Game for PS4, you know?
As buddy summed it up, "I bought a Royal Enfield Himalayan because I like to be on the road with my motorcycle. It is just unfortunate that sometimes I am beside it rather than on it". LOL
Have to disagree about not using the engine as a brake, anyone brought up on big singles BSA's in particular, Gold Stars B44 441's would always supplement slowing down the bike, by engine braking. Big singles, lend themselves to this, this is why in Scrambling and Trials they were so good, once you had mastered, slow riding skills, descending slopes and ascending bankings, ridges e.t.c. Then were possible open the throttle and let the bike find it's head. As we move into this dystopian future, these kind of bikes are what we will need
You HAVE to repair it on the road. We drove these Bikes on a tour through Bhutan. The bikes were repaired by the accompany crew every day. One day the owner of the bikes came along with his Bullet 500. I rode it for a day. What a relief. THIS was the bike the roads are made for. Not the lumpy Himalayan. 4 months after our ride all frames of all bikes were broken.
Exactly why I always suggest our clients ride Bullets in Nepal, and always, always, always discourage the use of the Himalayan. From my experience, western clients blame the bike or the rental agency for their on-route woes. I know Nepalis and Indians who manage to ride season after season without beating the tar out of their Himalayans. Western riders just have a different expectation or idea of mechanical sympathy. And by the way, that's just my experience from 30+ years of riding and more than 600 days of moto travel in Nepal. But, I'm not an expert.
for a someone who wants a bike they can repair themselves. then this is the way to go. can you settle for going with flow of normal traffic then this it. its good to sit on in the saddle. so the packages works for those of us on budget.
So jealous. Can't wait to see the next videos from this trip. I've booked a Himalayan trip of my own for 2023 (the joys of planning around the needs of a 3 year old... and I used to leave on trips like this on a whim)
@@alexandervonlutz3047 I did. A good friend of mine runs Nomadic Knights. I've been to India with them a lot. This time I'm doing the "Roof of India" ride.
@@BretTkacs I get it. It is kinda like when the warden takes a prisoner to this tiny little room and sits him/her on this wooden chair with a metal cap, and the prisoner says "this chair is very uncomfortable" and the warden says "don't worry, you won't be sitting on it for very long and then you won't care"? ;)
Just bought a new 2022 klr, my "7th" new klr, been buying them since their inception...I can say this, the KLR is probably the best bang for the buck in the dual sport category...The 2022 has some nice changes..I think the Himalayan is pretty cool, but for a few bucks more you get a much much better bike....Safe trails....
I like the performance run down... I spent 3 weeks riding in the Indian Himalaya. There was a guy in the group who was much much faster than me, who logged every km, and logged all the hours riding. He averaged 19.5 km/h. Given that he always got to the hotel first, and generally hours before me, my average was much less. So "almost 80 mph" sounds way fast in the Himalayas. Edit, it was on a Bullet. Also, my daily rider that I left at home was an XR600R. Boy I would have loved to have had my own bike instead of the Enfield.
With over 50 years on bikes (26 of which were as a Motor Officer) I decided to take the path that travels everywhere…..but does it just a bit slower. My current ride is a 2007 Ural Gear-Up. All weather capable, goes anywhere I ask it to go, and will gather a crowd …..especially when I’m in a hurry. And as I tell anyone considering one, you will work on it…..😉 And, because it fits my chosen lifestyle, I have been giving serious thought to getting a Himalayan. Thanks for the honest review.
As a happy Himmi owner that enjoys chillin and exploring back roads, I think Mick said it best. You can't always get what U want, but for about half the price.. you get what U ne-e-d. 😄
When buying an adventure bike in India early this year, I was choosing between the KTM 390 adv, the RE Himalayan and the Hero Xpulse. I went super cheap and chose the Hero Xpulse. I test rode 2 Himalayan (new bikes) and they already had issues. The Xpulse is 1.4 lakh rupee, and I think it is a better build bike. It is even less powerful, but it also weighs 25% less. I highly recommend trying that one if you can get your hands on one. Thanks for the great videos
Good review. I was fortunate enough work at a Honda / Royal Enfield dealership and we sold alot of 500's of the Bullet style and Olive Green Military Style . Mostly fuel injection issues easy fix. I bet if you kept one on an ethanol free diet it run well and no issues ...I would ride back roads on a Bullet ......see how long you can go in 4th gear without stopping or down shifting ...just keep rolling
Seems like a more comfortable version of my KLR... which I've decided I should replace because I spend 2-3 hours on pavement to get to the gravel roads. It belongs to someone who lives closer to the gravel; maybe even has a field or two to ride it in.
As always another good video, thanks. I bought one of these a little while ago. Still getting the hang of it but it’s growing on me and I’d have no hesitation setting off across Europe next summer….
I wish you were able to get your hands on a new one. The rentals bike shops near the areas of Himalayas pretty much keep the beaten up bikes past their usable limit.
I quess you are right! Maybe this is more of a motorcycle than the most valued ones. It depends on the motorcyclists, how far in the jungle of beliefs, herd behaviour and information (well, disinformation, too) they are.
This is awesome, love it! I was wondering if in the future you can do a video not only doing a cost break down of longer adventures (especially hidden costs) from just a pure get out and go perspective, but also explaining all the added benefits of going with a reputable tour company (such as yours). I don't feel there is a lot of good content for people to help people be more informed consumers with regards to planning their own adventure vs signing up for a tour. Thanks!
Cost versus convenience. Just look at some of the local tour companies versus the uk/us ones. You can do the tours much much cheaper with the local company but won’t have the layers of back up from the western based companies. It’s not rocket science.
I've learnt a lot from Tkacs' vids. Respect to the man. Now, I own a '21 Himalayan. Some of the issues Brett raised are legitimate, and well known in pre '20-'21 models. Particularly and most importantly the frame breakage around the head stem. The models, post the ones he reviewed have, it it seems been rectified. So essentially the review is fairly pointless in regard to the current crop of Himalayans coming onto the road. To be fair, Brett made a point of being clear that he was reviewing a '19 model. To be sure she's slow, a bit ug, etc. Just don't have some big ol Tiger, GS or whatever as a bike to measure the Himalayan against. Peace!
I love my Himalayan, it does everything I need it to do it is a 2020 EFI version with ABS Which I have made it switchable, it does and keeps up with all the other adventure bike that I ride with.
I did avoid discussing the number of other maintenance related issues we addressed such as wheel bearings, brakes etc. The Frame and charging systems shouldn't be maintenance related. I tried to be as transparent as possible. I just wish we had the newer 2020/2021 bikes.
Nice review, if very forgiving. From my biking buddies who are unfortunate owners, I remember the horror of the 2018 (first model) bikes. And the quiet recall by RE. And the weeks and months in the workshop waiting for simple parts to arrive from the factory. Of the long letter written to the CEO by an absolutely fed-up owner. That's why I bought a BMW 310 GS. Zero issues over 15000 kms in one year. Siachen base camp to Kanyakumari. But weird throttle and gearbox forced me to sell it for a Versys 650. I love high torque at low RPM bikes with a long stroke engine, simple, long travel suspension, zero to minimal electronics, low workshop service costs and easy self service. But, the only reason I haven't bought a Himalayan is the single one of reliability. The expectation that the bike will run without major issues for a reasonable amount of time is something that you just cannot have from this bike. Even the 2021 models. Brett, I honestly think you have been seduced by the whole Royal Enfield brand and presence thing in India to confuse character with reliability. To me, the ability to chug up a hillside at low RPM with huge torque is character. And the ability to do this time and again is reliability. For my kind of riding, the latter assumes greater priority than the former. I have personally seen a chap riding up the Khardung La road on a 100 cc Honda Activa CVT scooter. He made it without a sweat. Where I also saw a couple of 1200 GS's and Tigers stuck. Low power, superb reliability. I wished you had been really brutal in those parts of the review where you spoke about broken frames and failed master cylinders etc. If something on a bike is a piece of crap, saying it is part of the character of the bike is doing injustice to your viewers, perhaps even deluding them into believing something else, and then buying the bike and ending up cursing you. And people here in India know the real reasons behind the success of Itchy Boots so we'll not discuss that. The Himalayan doesn't sell well in India because it is a relatively expensive bike. No. They don't buy the bike because overall, it is perhaps the most poorly designed, fabricated and serviced bike in the country at its price; bikes that are less than half its price are legendary for their superb reliability and excellent workshop attitude. They stretch their budget and go for a KTM 390 Adventure or a BMW 310 GS because they just don't want the incredible headache of dealing with the bike's problems and the attitude of the RE workshops. To paraphrase Mr Lee Kwan Yew, " you have to be candid to be relevant" and in your case, credible.
It is called adventure tourer for a reason. A so-called first-world bike like BMW won't even survive 10,000 miles in Nepal without requiring spare parts that will cost more than a new motorcycle!
Great review. The Himalayan is what is is and does what it can. I love mine and have had bikes much better and some worse. For me and my slower riding style in the mountains of Virginia, it’s just about perfect. Just avoid the interstate roads and you will be fine lol.
The Himmi reminds me of why I loved split window VW vans, you had a relationship with them. Driving one was a unique experience.. Adding a big bore kit gave you more power and pushing it harder, more unreliability. You travelled with a tool kit and was no stranger to tinkering or adjusting valves at a camp site. The Himmi is that kind of bike, Indianna Jones comes to mind. All you need is your imagination, it provides the adventure. 😊
Agree with this. Used my 2020 this past summer for MABDR trip (northbound) and had the most marvelous fun. It handled the mainly slab ride back home... decently.
Five minute review and didn't even mention the compass, the Himalayan's breakthrough ADV class leading feature. Obvious bias. 😁 I looked at the Himalayan, even though I'm not one of the retro guys. They were allocated in the US and sold in some sort of "over MSRP" online lottery a bit over a year ago, when I bought a new two year old 2019 BMW G310GS IN October, just before the 2021 models were arriving. BMW offered a $1000 incentive and the dealer came down another $400. I paid $4920 out the door for a new bike with a full three year factory warranty. It cost less than used 2019 G310GS bikes with 5000 miles. Crazy! My G310GS has been great so far. No regrets. Like the Himalayan, it's built to a budget, in India, but the build quality seems very good to me. Not as many features as the bigger GS bikes but more nimble, not as heavy, and nearly perfect for my needs and wants. I've enjoyed adding the features I want. I do wish it had a larger fuel tank, even though I consistently get 200 miles from the 2.9 gallon tank.
Low budget commuter that is very capable off road. And yes it can actually beat rush hour traffic. I have a himalayan as my primary vehicle East coast usa. Since owning one i am now an enfield fan. But the bike is not for everyone.
Hey, get it right! It's 24 and a HALF horsepower. The Himalayan needs all the extra power it can muster so that extra half horse counts! 😆 "If you buy one of these, don't ever be in a hurry." That sums up the Himalayan very well. Anything above 60 mph is wasted effort on this bike. But it will tractor along from 25 to 55 mph all day. Ride slow, ride far.
@@SunilKumar-nf7ft from 2022 all bike rental in Nepal 🇳🇵will be illegal, you can only subcontract from registered companies in Nepal that operate Motorcycle tours . Any illegal operations will be confiscated
Hi Brett, good review, Ready liking all of your technical videos, you definitely put in the time and know what you are talking about. I'm 6'4 and have a himalayan mainly from budget, and I really like the bike, I was wondering what handlebars/raisers you would recommend for this bike,at my height and What's the best rake for adventure bikes and width of the bars, maybe a future video, cheers from Australia
The major fault with the cracked frames, seems to be solved now and the new model coming out, hopefully a better quality bike, but they need to remain simple for use in those countries.
This is what, 40% fail rate? That's not negligible. Where I live there are only three options ins this category: XTZ 250 (Yamaha - 15 years old bike), XRE 300 (Honda - 25 years old bike) and the Himalayan (I don't even know how old this bike is). They all cost the same and have the same horsepower. For now, I am thinking about buying the Yamaha as second bike for me...
Not a brutal but very honest eval of this bike as usual. It is an inexpensive, have fun off road at scenic watching speeds with a little wrenching thrown in. The look is so old school it does make you want to ride it. If you can ridd them in Nepal then you can ride one anywhere. I love my bike and willl keep it for the known future BUT when my body says no mas and I cant get my leg over my seat then it will be a choice of a max scooter or one of these. Thank you for another great review after obvious extensive running it in so many tough places. You added it to my end bike decision. Thank you my friend! As always, stay well and safe in your travels.
I must be doing something right, I now have two bikes you despise - Pan America Special and Himalayan :) Wouldn't trade them for anything else either...
Bret's sense of humor is somewhere between brutal and honest..the little Himmi mule is well loved by many, warts and all. It was a brutal review of a very well used inexpensive rental bike.. Given his preference for top tier adv bikes, he wasn't particularily impressed with the Himmi. It doesn't mean he doesn't like it, he'd just never own one. 😉
Rented one for a few days, Mechanically it is a dinosaur and slower than US Mail . But I still was picturing my self in a Indiana Jones movie racing down a dangerous mountain road with my trusty whip on my side and Karen Black hanging on to me for dear life.
@@BretTkacs The list is probably a good overall view of Himalayan failures but I bet you were able to get those failed parts in Nepal without too much trouble? Looks like a great trip was had by all, I wanna go!!
Were these rental bikes? If they are getting hammered through this terrain every day by newer riders I'm not surprised there were so many mechanical issues.
Rentals with 10k - 16k kms on them (give or take given the number of non functional speedometers). Even with the abuse broken frames, failed stators and bent valves should not occur. I can give a pass on the failed wheel bearings, fork seals and other wear items.
