These videos prove absolutely that big trips can be made with small(ish) bikes. Good amount of luggage, comfortable in the saddle and going at a good clip. Good stuff. No need for a big and expensive GS, just load up these smaller (and a lot cheaper) bikes and off you go. Lovely!
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head and the best bit is you can afford to drop it and not cry. It’s not a 20k bike. Easy light and manageable. It’s the future 👍🏍️💨💨💨
First of all, irresponsible behaviour to do drag race in a public road..that too in a narrow road..that too in Indian roads. Second,you were shifting too early on that Himalayan..it goes upto 150 easily
@@hash2shyam after conducting our safety assessment (the road was clear) we were never going to break the land speed record but the RE had a slight disadvantage due to weight I was carrying and wind was a issue especially with the bag on the back. I never saw 150 out of this bike probably because of those reasons but 147 I did achieve 🏍️💨💨💨
Man, my purchase of the Himalayan 450 depends on your feedback after riding the Scrambler 400x. I really like the Him450, but lots of complaints have been pouring in. I need your real-world, long-term user experience reports. 😂 Loving your videos so far.
The Himalayan is a great bike far superior to the old one. If your planning on longer journeys and need that range and ground clearance you’ll be fine with the RE. Plenty more videos to come. 👍🏍️💨💨💨
I LOVE the mountain road you took... I had my test ride yesterday with RE Himalayan 450 and the update after 411 is good enough for me. The episodes are fantastic. Keep doing that :)
Absolutely amazing... You guys have been conquering Indian Roads with these flagship motorcycles !! Summers is terrible and riding is not that easy .. You got some iron in there !! Stay safe and have fun.. Looking for some more videos 🤩
Glad you enjoyed it. Sometimes it’s not always possible to do it live with wind noise from higher speeds but I prefer to do it live. Thanks for yout support 👍🏍️💨💨💨
Loving this series! So glad I found it. Can't wait to hear the conclusion. So, these first three days the Himalayan is looking pretty impressive but it still seems kind of big and gangly for riding everyday in town.
I've ridden on these roads for a long time on different motorcycles. This weekend will be my first on the new Himalayan. And your videos are totally making me look forward to the ride. Hopefully it won't make me give away my RE Interceptor 😇 Keep the content coming guys! And thank you Alex for those little snippets of knowledge Safe travels!
Along with the making of these threnches, the forest department also clears off all the undergrowth by the road side so accidental forest fire is not caused by irresponsible tourists occasionally throwing cigarette butts. The trenches are mainly to deter tourists from wandering off or park on the side of the road for picnics. Great content guys, keep 'em coming...
@@thatbikersimon it's also the bike with the highest dry weight, 181 Kg. Put some effort into weight optimized replacement parts, & performance is likely to improve considerably..🧐
That Royal Enfield didn't have chance in hell in a drag against the other 2 bikes. Good effort though and that was fun to watch =) I'll be keeping an eye out for the rest of the trip.
For me the triumph looks the best. That's why I bought one. I do feel ya on the kickstand. I 'm looking to get a smaler one for mine. I'm 177cm and I just manage getting it down.
The triumph is great and congratulations on your purchase. When you park on even it’s fine I think but as you could see with Jamie in our videos it becomes challenging for some shorter riders. So I’m sure it can be adapted in some way. Enjoy your ride 👍🏍️💨💨💨💨
Enjoying the series so far! Overall, well done. Can't wait for next episode. I do have an old Himi, and yes I do miss the power time to time. But nobody so far could beat the money vs value ratio of it. Maybe 450 can?
Glad your enjoying it. The old Himi was and still is a very capable bike and I still like the kind of the old one. Like you said value for money is fantastic. 👍🏍️💨💨💨
Love the video you guys made my night I got a good laugh watching you All having fun and the little guy on the triumph 400 I was right with you rolling......😂😂😂 Looking forward for more of you All having fun.......... that's what good friends do....... Ride All you can before the good Lord says we gotta go......thank you so much for having me as a passenger loved everything about the ride..
Best looking is the RE, followed closely by the Triumph. The KTM has no style. It’s just a collection of parts that performs well but lacks any aesthetic appeal. Great videos Simon. I rode some of those roads about 10 years ago with Alex. We were on RE Bullets. A very different experience. Stay safe. Chris x
Thanks Chris, good to hear from you. I thought it might bring back some memories. These new bikes are good but maybe to fast for theses roads. The new RE is a great bike. Take care Chris. 👍🏍️💨💨💨💨
People who don't understand KTM's style buy the REs. Both bikes stand on the opposite sides of the spectrum. Whereas people like me who appreciate both designs have a hard choice to make.
thank you Simon, the Kodaicanal road is superb, we stopped for an excess of pepper bahjis at the top, with Alex, almost ten years ago! Hope you don't run out of petrol in the tiger reserve, only a total plonker would do that.
The Himalayan really looks like an adventure bike with the big tank, the KTM looks like a supermoto trying to look like an adventure bike, and the Triumph looks the best of the lot, but the mirror coming loose, the kickstand, the extra gas it uses... I need a Himalayan! But I'd really like one with a 650 in it.
I m sure the hima is a great bike but regarding the way it looks there is nothing that catch my eyes, it look super plain and boring. Time will tell, something can look better once seeing more on the roads.
@@laurentvenet2758 maybe it will be one of those bikes that grow on your after a while, but yes I agree it’s more built for purpose than eye catching. It definitely rides better than it looks 🏍️💨💨
@@thatbikersimon I’m selling my Duke 390 to own 1 Himalayan 450, since I took test drive… I felt much much comfortable driving Himalayan 450 from duke 390… also looking at mileage and stuff Himalayan performs much better than duke 390 and scrambler 400x.. I am waiting for ur next video about scrambler.. anyways I’m from Karnataka too.. wish I knew you guys would drive by would have come to say hi… I mean also first time in ur channel here
I’ve not riden the Benelli as yet, but I shall be doing some work with them in the near future. That is possibly the bike they might send me as a press bike. Let me know how you get on. 👍
I’ve not riden the Benelli as yet, but I shall be doing some work with them in the near future. That is possibly the bike they might send me as a press bike. Let me know how you get on. 👍
That drag race was a bit surprising, but when you start thinking about the weights, it makes sense. I've sat on that KTM, and I purchased the 400X not a week ago. Very different ergonomics, with the KTM being way too small for me. At 6 ft 2 in tall the scrambler fits me great though. It's surprisingly tall. Of course, out of the three bikes, it's the least adventurish. I think KTM missed the mark with that 390. It should have been a bit larger, and had a 21-in and 18-in wheel. They're supposedly working on another one, but we've heard that before. In the meantime, this Himalayan is almost out, and the ibex 450 is about to finally get some English reviews/proper testing. Out of all of them, I'm the most stoked about the CF Moto. It's one damn good looking bike. Thanks for the videos, looking forward to the next one.
Welcome from Sri Lanka! Great vid Simon. Can’t wait to do the tour next year. I’m taking a cooling vest and a Knox armoured shirt to deal with the heat. Quick question, what prompted the camera change?
Hi Stuart, I might see you on it 🏍️💨💨💨 the go gro I used on the Himalayas tour didnt like the heat and I thought il cover myself and try this new camera out. I prefer the go pro audio but this new camera has worked really well.
@@thatbikersimon that’s cool. I find taking the battery out and using a powerbank for all day power helps with the heat issue. We are booked for the Feb 25 trip.
Hope to see your word on the scrambler soon. It’s an interesting comparison of the three good bikes. Watching the whole series. I would like to hear your thoughts about the scrambler when you ride in respect to - the weight difference ( compared to 450 and KTM) , does bike handles well with crosswinds on highways, and the handling on the curves. Cheers
Like the looks of the triumph, but it wasn’t on the market 2 years ago. Not aware of the new 450himalayan til this video, only the older underpowered one so guess what I have.? Yep KTM 390 Adventure. Bloody good performance for a 370cc bike, let down by a few quality issues and not quite right riding position, which is easily sorted other than canted foot pegs when standing up 😀😀
Apologies if someone already brought this to your attention but you hit the limiter on the 5 gear, you had another gear available at your discretion. Hope you win the next time on the HIMALYAN 450
Hello, so far I am determined to buy the scrambler 400, but I would like to know your opinion, which of the three would you recommend more for a tall rider? 6”5'
great videos! adventuring all days on bike is fantastic and you take us with you on board. thanks! Will you say which bike you prefer and why, at the end of this journey? I like re and triumph
Olá do Brasil!! Qual é a melhor, Versys x 300 ou Himalayan 450? Eu uso na cidade e em viagens longas algumas vezes ao ano... Tenho uma versys x 300. Ainda não chegou o Himalayan aqui no Brasil
😂 First drag race on the internet where the Himalayan doesn't win. Now I am convinced. This isn't a paid review! The KTM is just too light to get beaten by the Himalayan in a drag race.
What is that device attached to the centre of the handlebar? That square screen that looks like an apple watch. Also, very engaging video, have been watching the whole series without getting bored. Really Awesome
Bikerheadz.co.uk is the website but I’ve put the links below if your interested Jacket bikerheadz.co.uk/product/forsair-pro-mesh-jacket-blk bikerheadz.co.uk/product/rogen-jeans-regular-leg bikerheadz.co.uk/product/bering-bakunda-glove
Do you know of the brand of engine bars what are fitted to the Himalayan ?I've ordered my Himalayan and would like to buy some .been told it arrives in uk in April /may time.
You must have been gasping everyday in that heat. The KTM and the Triumph are lighter bikes so no surprises on the drag race result. A true test of the bikes and your nerves.
Another enjoyable to watch day ride,I was wondering how your scorpion helmet was performing in the very high heat. Does your helmet have plenty of air vents & do they work well to cool you down?
I wear the white RE jacket your friend is wearing. The black jackets are not advisable for the summer. Yours doesn't look like its ventilated either. 😮 Try your friends jacket and you will understand what i mean.
The jacket I were is amazing. It’s very well designed and is super vented with impact armour D30. I was with my buddy when he bought the jacket and he’s very pleased with it 👍
@@KarthikSoun the heat was only a issue in the afternoon, black does generally absorb heat but as you know these jackets only work when it’s hot, if it’s cold it’s freezing 🥶 👍
@@DAILY_FACTS_TREAT not many really RE have produced a really little adventure bike. The main issue was the side stand for me. If you was parked off road and the lean angle was quite far over on the bike. It’s not a deal breaker but I personally would prefer the bike to stand more upright to step onto the bike. I’ve rode the older Himalayan and this is far superior.
@@thatbikersimon whats your take on engine and perfomance,vibration,Reliability for long years,mileage,Spare parts quality.was it all better than triumpj and ktm ?
You asked witch is the better looking, I think it tough one between the Triumph and Enfield. I like the Triumph better then the Enfield... I'm not into the KTM looks, but I believe a lot will like it. I'm predicting the KTM will be the best riding then the Enfield and the Triumph ....
Interesting thoughts 💭 I’ve still got lots of decisions to make on my last ride. You’ll need to watch the other episodes to catch up with the triumph 👍🏍️💨💨💨💨
@@thatbikersimon ....we did very similar trip in the same region as you now, between day-after Xmas until mid Jan...temperatures bit cooler then....I clocked about 2500 km in 14 days of riding....reflecting back: sometimes it felt we were chasing km rather than enjoying the beauties of those regions, small towns, villages, and fascinating nature...perhaps! next time I will plan 'less chasing km and relish more of those beautiful places'....just my thoughts!
Hmm.. performance difference between the bikes can pretty much be boiled down to the difference in dry weight.. remove some 20-30 Kg's from the RE, & would end up heads & shoulders ahead of the others... & It's not very hard to do either..🧐
I want to buy the 450 but think i will get KTM890R. In Australia we have long distances with junk roads, long straight stretches and the wind blast off B doubles and road trains. The 450 would be better in the dirt perhaps because of the weight. So hard to find the right bike!.
Funny enough im having the same problem, I’m thinking about the 890r as well for similar reasons, I think I’m going to buy a second hand 890r and run it for a bit and if I feel it’s not much for what I need I’m going to buy the RE. One thing this tour has done is open to eyes to how capable the bike is over longer distances and reliable and manageable
@@thatbikersimon no probs . Found it on a later vid . Tell Alex I’ll hopefully see him in the Himalayas in 2026 ! I’ve got a 450 on order, having tried recently. Fabulous basic bike ! Just watched all 10 of the India vids . Nicely done !
How tall is your friend on the Triumph? I'm planning to buy it next month and worried about getting on and off it now! I would just swing my leg over the seat but with the luggage I dont think theres a dignified way of doing it 😅Thats a real issue you would only spot in a real world test.
I like the look of all three motorcycles. As an Austrian, I have a KTM in my heart, but the Triumph looks extremely good. I find the navigation on the RE very practical and I also like the retro look, but the workmanship on the RE is too sloppy for me. Technically, the KTM is the most modern and powerful, the RE is the cheapest, and the Triumph has the nicest speedometer.
the Himalayan 450 Simon I had seen itchy boots doing one of the first ride even before they launched it then was following bike India in fact if you know what I'm trying to say the 450 Himalayan is the best to go all over