Nice to hear someone discuss this bike for exactly what it is, and what it's capable of, and how it can best be enjoyed. Everyone interested in the Himalayan needs to listen to this entire review. Thanks!
Thanks Nathan, you’ve really nailed the character of the Himalayan! I just love mine as it suits riding little used lanes so well. You’re right about the suspension which is a real strongpoint. A great bike for just getting out and exploring. Well done Royal Enfield for giving us such an honest machine. Safe riding!
Yes, they designed the bike for the Himalayan mountains and that's why it works. Let the clutch grab and it acts like a tractor to get you through the tough spots. It's brilliant!
I chopped in my 1200 Multistrada for a Himalayan and I don't regret it for one second. Everything Nathan says in this video is spot on, sure I miss the 154bhp of the multi but it's more than made up for by the enjoyment of the ride and development of my skills. I was always nervous about dropping the big Ducati, both for the undoubted hit my wallet would take but also as, realistically, it was a bugger to get up once it was on its side! Just relocated to mid France and looking to get out and explore Europe on this little gem.
Greetings David! Funny I am seeing this video today and reading your comment 6 months late. How has your experience been in Europe? How is your Himalayan? Sorry if I am being intrusive:D
@@prashantark i can't see my original comment but I've ridden four Himalayans in total, two I owned (one I still own....bought another last year a 2021, a courtesy bike at the dealers and one from the royal Enfield slide school.
@@peterd3215 Then how come you're negative about it since the Himalayan is a great bike and I've been using it for the last 5 years everyday without any issues! I find it more confident inspiring than my big GS which is unnerving when tackling the rough stuff!
Hi Postman, I'm another Aussie owner and your review is spot on. Like you said it improved with every kilometer and once the engine freed up it was like it found a new lease of life. I have 15000ks on mine and for 10,000 of those ks it's had a good old thrashing on and off road without as much as a whimper from this Mule as you put it. Secret is or most sensible thing is to keep the services up and it keeps on keeping on. Mule I like that. That's my pet name for this no nonsense bike. Keep up the good work Nathan.
Thanks for the update Nathan! Very interesting to hear how you are getting on with the Himalayan. And very useful in helping me make a decision about my own motorcycling future. I especially liked your comments about how much power motorcycles really need. It really is a crazy world where a motorcycle with 90 hp is considered to be underpowered!
I believe Hitchcock's has some upgrades that add a bit more power. Say you wanted to drop a tooth or two on the rear sprocket so that it would be more comfortable on those short but sometimes necessary freeway portages; a couple more HP to take up the slack would not be a bad thing. The nice thing is, is that you can do these mild mods without permanently ruining the bike.
@@Reinemachefrau Ain't that the truth. I cringe when I hear bike reviewers say how they need 150 bhp to overtake cars and trucks "safely". I do that with a 69 bhp Versys 650. In fact, I fly past them every time. The only way you'll ever feel your bike is underpowered with less than 100 bhp is if you do motorways at 150+ kmh regularly, with a passenger, for several hours each time. And let's be honest - who does that? Nobody.
Loved your review, Nathan! I recently picked up a Himalayan and loving it. I live in Kodaikanal, which is a hill station in South India that sits at 2000mtrs above the sea. Today while returning from getting the number plate some 60 kilometres down hill, was fun to overtake pesky buses in steep inclines... :)
Digonta Bordoloi hey buddy I have an himalayan too living in chennai, but I bought it because I wanna ride in kodaikanal and settle there. Am a computer science engineer and MBA graduate, can I get any job there?
Hi postman Aussie Himalayan owner and your bang on with your review mate, I love my little tractor, I have a MV Agusta aswell so got my bases covered..
As a guy who has ridden an 04' Honda XR650 R to Chile S.A .from Kentucky U.S., I appreciate people who ride non traditional or smaller motorcycles on long adventures. Even though the Himalayan is marketed for this purpose, it is not a big GS or KTM. We met folks adventure touring on all matter of motorcycles. You don't need a $15-20,000 dollar motorcycle to do it. I overloaded the stated weight capacity of the XR by well over a hundred lbs. I did not even strengthen the frame. I took a tool kit, brake pads, chain and sprockets, and carb jets for the Andes mountains, an Acerbis six gallon tank and that's it. The stock mx saddle was covered by a sheepskin pad. Long story short: You can travel anywhere on most any motorcycle. Just get going and do it. My friend and I (he rode a 650 Dakar) even dreamed about doing a similar trip on 125-250 c.c. bikes. Note: I'm 6'5" and weight over 260 lbs. This great review of the RE Himalayan is proof that you need nothing other than a well engineered motorcycle to fulfill your dream. I'd ride the Himalayan anywhere.
After a ride on the weekend and a few honest reviews on youtube....you good sir have sold me.....I'm buying two to take around the world with my beautiful wife....awesome review mate....appreciate it!
Hi Nathan, thanks for the review been waiting for this, I’m really interested in this bike and just finished reading the owners thread on adv. Note to everyone else buy this guys books there awesome travel reads. Again thanks
Cracking! That gives me confidence to purchase. A used one from Scarborough in England with 1000 miles on the clock. Just got to wait 8 weeks to get my grubby mitts on it! Thanks Nathan for your clear and informative video. Happy riding!
I like the originality of the RE Himalayan design and character along with it affordability. Nobody can claim it their's. RE is Indian Harley. Indian should proud of this product.
actually owning a royal Enfield is very controversial here , people don't think before buying a bike , assholes cut off with 125 cc Honda's and pulsars , every guy thinks Royal Enfield are elephants because they're slow , no quick pickup and a vibration issue .. no one cruises on bikes much so general standard is .. speed .. no speed = bad bike and most people can't afford it , they diss on it saying Enfield charges much and stuff nonebthe less I'm gonna get a signals edition airborne blue
Mihir patel well said Mihir. Hope you get yours soon. India really about smaller, zippier bikes. And still, only we could’ve done with RE that is now wowing the world. Here in USA there is huge fascination with this amazing entry from India. I drive an 1800 cc Goldwing, because there wasn’t a usable Enfield in the US when I got mine years ago. Today, the Himalayan, and Interceptor for urban commuting, is hands down one of the best options.
Spot on! You completely sold me the bike. I will definately go try the himalayan. The fact that you did so many trips with the bike without breakdows really is reassuring. Looking forward to seeing your himalayan in Iceland. Keep me posted when the video becomes available. Thanks
Have been using the Enfield Himalyan for the last 3 months.. offroading it mostly... more aggressively than we're supposed to in early stages. And, it has impressed me & gotten me over the initial hesitation I had.. i am a fan.
Great summary, Nathan. You can certainly say you've put the bike through it's paces and by doing so proved that it's perfect within its power limitations. ADV credentials happily intact. That 'gamble' seems to have paid off in spades for you. Viewers take note. Oh and buy Nathan's superb books!
Great review Nathan, I've read and watched everything you've said about this bike over this past year. As far as i'm concerned it has proved itself in your hands. I bought one last week don't what took me so long.
Great video Nathan thoroughly enjoyed your down-to-earth and experienced perspective. I particularly enjoyed when you said "I would buy another one, I would buy a fleet of them for hiring out, I HAVE FAITH IN THE BIKE".
Happened across this channel and so glad I did. This must be the best analysis of the RE Himalayan on the net. Sounds more reliable than I'd been led to believe.
Just bought my first bike, a Himalayan. I'm nearly 50. Brand new to motorcycling. Did my training course last month. So far I'd have to say...I love it! Looking forward to developing my riding skills, on and off the road. Thanks for the content. Great channel mate, keep it up 👍
This is the best video i've found regarding an honest review of the Himalayan. All the other reviews focus on the negatives and put it in direct comparison to bikes 3 or 4 times more expensive which is pointless. Briliant review.
Between you and Noraly, I'm convinced this is the bike for me. My last bike was a Honda Trail 90 that gave me hours of fun in the Santa Monica mountains of California, which I sold in '77. After 29 years in Seattle I see the Himalayan as being perfect bike for a retirement in Mexico, where a mule is definitely needed! Thanks for a great review!
Hey Man, I know you, max respect for your exploits. I enjoyed your take on the Enfield, I used to have a 350 Bullet back in the day and that bike was also under powered but great off road partly due to the engines good low end torque
Great review, the information you shared about front rack and luggage mounting is really helpful. Indeed I've seen 100s videos, no one shared that tip, only fuel tank bags mentioned. Very comprehensive review many thanks
Excellent review .. Most "reviewers" just diis the power with out riding the machine. At the end of the day IMO what matters is a good balance of comfort and cost.
great informative video from a position of actually been there and done that, you gotta respect that man! I've a harley sportster and a UJM as well as a Himalayan, what do I get most pure riding pleasure from? which is my go to bike for a warm evenings chill out ride? ............... Royal Enfield Himalayan, they sure have got it right for me too.
Excellent. Subscribed. Mule description is perfick. They remind me of Urals & Dneipers for some reason. Was at my local RE dealer a couple of weeks ago, saw this bike for the first time. Very very impressed. Regards from NE Thailand.
I’ve heard RU-vidrs comment on how they can’t believe how long people still watch their videos. Here I am 2 years in. :-) I’m shopping for a “dirt road” bike to explore the vast unpaved and poorly maintained roads in the hills of Oklahoma and Arkansas. The kids (I’m 61) testing bikes on RU-vid talk about nothing except how much more power and speed you can get from other bikes. You are using this bike in the manner intended and similar to my use case. I appreciate your presenting the bike in the context of its proper mission. Hope all is well.
I bought one to do some trail riding here in chiang mai. I love it and with it's low seat height and luggage carrying capability my Mrs can join me on some tours (I also have a tiger xcx). She's only 50kg so has no worries scooting along on it. I had an old EJK efi controller laying around and wired that in along with deleting the o2 sensor and that made a big difference. Great review, you really nailed what this bike is all about.
Great review! I love getting to hear all these long term reviews that are now trickling out of the western market, especially from y'all travel guides. It's amazing how differently various ppl can view the same bike depending on their riding background. It seems like a good deal of ppl who are accustomed to only riding modern, high-HP bikes can't get over the engine specs, but ppl like you, myself, and others who have spent a lot of saddle time on smaller displacement and/or older bikes (what a lot of us would call "real" bikes) can easily appreciate that the bike has enough power for just about everything short of hypermiling the super slab. Just got to see the Himmy in person finally this weekend. Going to start setting aside some cash cause I want one of these guys ASAP! Howdy from Texas.
I'm a mileage hawk. 65 MPH for me is fine. the trade off benefit is 70ish MPG is well worth it. Because of the lower speed, that means my travels would be on different roads, and that means trending toward smaller roads well away from where I would have ridden before. That all adds up to another motorcycle adventure for me. I'm looking for something capable of riding off road now, and this came up on my radar in the last few weeks.
I agree that 411cc gives it the opportunity to create a market segment that doesn't exist right now, so no competition there. If they add everything it will loose its charm.
Hay Mate Paul from the land of Aus , I think the Himalayan is a great Small to middle weight ADV/Duel sport bike, I own a 2017 SWM 650 Superdual and its fantastic ! it comes with everything ,I have used mine for at least 50% off road in Aus conditions ,with some VERY snotty riding .I now have 7500kms on the bike and it hasn't missed a beat.
So true. Finally found someone who truly understand himalayan and did justice to it. Not endulge yourself in tech specs but ride it for sometime and you will find how good it is in that price range. Perfect and honest review 👌👌
What a cracking review! You've nailed exactly what the bike is about. Royal Enfield have done a wonderful job of creating a bike that fits right in between a road and trail bike. £4000 is an incredible price too.
I appreciate your honesty in this review. I am in the market for an adventure bike this year and it is hard to not be dazzled by the Beemers AT’s Multidtradas or Triumphs. Those are bikes that I would enjoy about 50% of their capability, maybe. The Himalayan looks and sounds like something I could explore 100% of it’s capability 99% of the time. Add to that a price that means you don’t have to be to precious about it. Thanks!
Thanks Graden, and yes, definitely, every time you go out on the Himalayan you feel like you get every pounds worth of value out of it for sure and it is nice being able to use and abuse a bike without the worry of huge bills or a huge loss if things go wrong. I think that's what I like best about it.
Simon Steadmab Fits really well, compared to my Tiger the bars feel a bit closer to you and your leg angle is slightly smaller, but only just and it felt really comfortable. It didn’t feel small to ride at all, and you don’t look ridiculous on it as well
This is a GREAT review! For me, living in high altitude Utah in the USA, I'd need more power for 85mph cruising, and to compensate for the altitude. IF they release a 600+cc version, I'm pretty sure I'd buy it in a snap.
Not at 80+ mph. I was passing through Utah a year ago in my car and I was going full throttle to drive the 80 mph speed limit and people were passing me @@VinayKumar-db4qz
I pick my new E5 version up tomorrow! Basically the same bike but with a few minor upgrades and the E5 certification. I cant wait. Yes Honda have upgraded the 250 to 300 for very little extra money but you cant get them without a lengthy wait and the Enfield still looks like far better value and has far better seat, suspension and standard equipment for travelling.
My 2021 has had quite a few small problems like vibration damage to the speedometer and front directionals due to cheap plastic, but overall it does everything it needs to do. I cannot think of another bike that could replace it for mixed off and on road riding with two people and luggage. It handles city, country and the Andes mountains with no problem, and like Nathan says, if it falls and breaks something, the parts are very economical. And it gets lots of attention for it's classic styling. Great vid that pretty much perfectly describes why the bike is so popular.
I've been wondering about a second bike for some time to go places my V Star 1100 isn't suited to and I think you've convinced me. That was an honest and objective review of a bike that has been used to its limits at times and it concurs with Noraly and Karmakaze, two other "max" users and unlike so much of the garbage one gets on You Tube. The Africa Twin "underpowered at 95hp!!!! 650cc machines now classed as "lightweight" and 900 HD Sportsters referred to as "girl's bikes". The mind boggles! Many thanks.
Great review and so encouraging to see someone who is NOT a one day expert. Someone who really properly uses the bike and this is what I call a top class review. Well done and the RE Himalaya looks like a good option. I am guessing it must be good on MPG given it's cc size?
Thanks Dave. Yeah I'd say I'm at least a two day expert! Fuel consumption is great when you're relaxed riding, even up around 85mpg, but on the long slogs on the interstate flat out it's more like 60-65mpg (that's UK gallons). The range then varies from about 180-250 miles depending on how you're riding it.
thanks Nathan and once again a great real world review. The journalists all go to S.Spain and get wined and dined by the big bike makers. So you can tell a one or two day review they do will be skewed. My main worry about the Himalaya (and REs' generally) is the reliability thing. I ride a Kawasaki W 800 (about 50 bhp) and as a Japanese bike it is reiable all the time. I heard mixed reports on the RE Bullet but maybe they have got rid of the bad workmanship now?
No worries at all Dave. I've been on a few of them overseas junkets myself and they are very difficult to come to any meaningful conclusions about a bike, which is why the default position is generally positive, as to be negative about a bike would take reasoning you don't have time to fully form in such a short period of time on a bike. I think also a lot of the journalists don't quite see how the Himalayan fits in and I guess measure it on the usual parameters of performance, power etc. In terms of your predicament, I'd say if you would unburstable reliability then a Japanese bike is always going to be more robust, although having said that the Africa Twin was plagued by problems when that came out and to me is still not a fully resolved machine, so we have to be wary of holding them in too high regard. I think a Royal Enfield is always going to have foibles, but foibles is all that they are on the Himalayan. The dry head bearings, the occasional cold stalling issue, but since BS4 came out I've not read of any serious engine or transmission or electrical issues. You just have to keep up with maintenance and treat it right. I think they've come a long way. Equally, they've built a bike that the Japanese just can't seem to build and the options from Japan are what? Versys 300, CRF250 Rally, Vstrom 250... I wouldn't swap the Himalayan for any of those. So to me any niggle I might have (and it is a £4k bike after all so I don't expect perfection) is worth it for everything else it does well.
Cheers Nathan, thanks for the reply and keep it shiny side up. I am considering chopping in the W 800 and the Himalaya seems as if it will soak up our third world potholed roads here in the UK as well as doing the serious stuff you do too ! Best wishes, dave
Thank you. I rode one through Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and back to Tanzania. Quality control is an issue as is fear of a puncture with tube tyres, but you are right about it's capabilities.
Excellent review. One question, at 6' 2", 36" inseam, 160 lbs... would I be comfortable on the bike? Would I be resting my elbows on my knees? Otherwise, as you say, it seems a "brilliant machine". I find the bike attractive in that it looks very functional. The whole "form following function" thing. Utilitarian. I like that. I never could warm up to the whole sci-fi angular look of modern bikes, and at 68 years of age I'm not likely to. But then, the A 65 BSA power egg is, for me; a thing of beauty...
Thanks for your long(er) term review. As many have said, a 6th gear and 10hp would make it a market killer. Although the lack of either aren't deal breakers for me.
The engine has an excessively long stroke to boost the piston speed and is tuned for indians where fuel is expensive. Another 10 HP means that the vibes will be too difficult to eliminate. 5HP is doable, and it would have given the bike that extra oomph.
A lot of people love the amount of thought that’s gone into the design, and think the bike is great at what it does do, but would love a few extra hp. Being old enough to remember the Yamaha XT 500 single from the late seventies to early eighties, it’s specs were around 31.5 hp & 26.5 ft lbs of torque versus the 24.5 & 23.5 of the Himalayan. The XT was good for about 90 mph flat out, no motorway cruiser, but enough to have that little bit in reserve at motorway speeds. The XT engine wasn’t long stroke like the Himalayan but it wasn’t massively over square either - 87x84 mm vs 78x86 in the Himalayan. Dunno if a big bore kit would throw everything out of whack with an engine that has a balancing shaft, but 86x86 works out as 499.5 cc. Just an idea if someone really wanted it, but you’d probably have to sort the front brake too. A big bore kit would probably move the torque a little further up in the rev range, but you’d have more of it, so the effect may well cancel out as far as dirt riding. Agree that a 650 engine would make it more of a road bike rather than the 2 wheeled Land Rover it is currently.
Love it... 😄 Excellent!... 😊 I agree... It’s good... but a bit more power would be better... because on the road it Does feel Underpowered. I think. More power - and you have the Best Bike in the World. 👏👏👏 😎😍😎👍
I am going full circle in my motorcycling. Started out on air cooled simple bikes, have had liquid cooled 160 hp bikes and am now gravitating toward air cooled simple bikes. Currently have a Road Glide and a Moto Guzzi and looks like I am getting a Himalayan today after exhaustive research on whether the price is too good to be true.
I haven't thrashed mine like you, but I'm really loving it still. The top end power did almost make me consider switching bikes, but I stuck with it for 3 more months and I'm over 1300 miles now and it's really breaking in nicely as you stated. I have found that it seems to prefer high octane fuel and gain probably 3-5 HP feeling from just running Shell High test. I also seem to be getting closer to the factory stated 78 mpg now even with the panniers installed. I've not done a lot of off-road, but what I have done it's terrific. Handles dirt and even washboard roads well and really eats up the Michigan pot holes when you cannot get around them. I've decided that over the winter, I'm going to install heated grips, a heated seat and a few other small conveniences and get me a better full face helmet. The wind here is already getting quite cool in the 40's. I was able to stack (3) rifles, a double pistol case and fill the pannier's with ammo for a range day, so that was fun as well. For the money it really is the best dual sport I've had. As an aside, It was cool to see your first bike, because my 1986 Honda CT110 was my first bike as well. ;)
Greetings. I have heard that the Himalayan's electrical system is not really up to supporting a lot of ancillary systems like heated grips or fog lights. Be interested to hear about what your experience is.
Excellent Nathan enjoyed your views on the Himalayan certainly for me bikes are becoming too powerfull and needlessly complex ie quickshifters, keyless, coloured screens ,etc. Regarding you comment on the GS310 yes BMW have the capability to design and build a robust "Travel Bike" where less is more but choose not to.Give me decent suspension anyday over all that extra pish that seem to adorn bikes these days.(I ride a Honda Africa Twin and BMW R100GSPD 1993) .Will give the Harry Enfield a wee test ride. Cheers Wull
Great no nonsense review, just what I needed to convince me. I'm getting one, as a dedicated BMW owner of 44 years I couldn't agree more about the 310 it was awful compared to a Himalayan not at all suitable for travel or off road especially for a beginner's bike. I love my current 1250 GSA until it gets rough or slow it's just so physically big, I'll miss it's power to overtake and the gadget's but at 65 it's time to rationalize 🥰
