#himalayan #royalenfield #motorcycle After a thousand miles under my belt with the Himalayan, I thought I would share some of my thoughts on the motorcycle and whether it was a good choice for me.
'The faster you go, the less you see' I like that phrase. I bought my RE for the same reason. It was only yesterday I was telling my brother that I like the Himalayan because it's simple & he told me his expensive high-tech car has problems but his friends 30 year old BMW is still running smoothly and is easy to repair. I think you pointed out all the reasons the Himalayan has sold so well. People seem to want simplicity nowadays
A photographer friend told me that. He travels the country photographing the landscape. He drives a Jeep Grand Cherokee, a vehicle capable of high speeds. But he goes slowly along the secondary roads and believes if you are going faster than 35mph you don't see much at all. I've ridden with him and he moves at 15 to 20 on empty rural roads. Cars drive me nuts. Both my vehicles are largely devoid of technology but man I wish I could get a vehicle with manual windows. I've had to replace so many window motors. And the tire pressure monitoring system -- those sending units continue to fail periodically creating a bright warning light on the dash. I prefer just checking the pressure myself. There's little choice anymore in regard to simple cars and trucks. There's no such thing unless you are going to pick up something pre-2000. Oh well, enough ranting. It's a New Year!
It only took me 71 years to realize simplicity is best from my RE Int 650 to my melonseed skiff, and now thanks to Eric and you a new scooter thanks for all the fine videos and insights Happy New Year
Simplicity is a hard sell in our culture of marketing innovation and improvement at every turn. And in many cases, it is impossible to choose simplicity. The Himalayan along with most of the Royal Enfield line is almost like an anachronism. I'm glad you found simplicity with your Interceptor and your Melonseed. That boat is a marvel of simplicity. Good riding with your new scooter. I'm glad Eric and I could shine a light on them. Happy New Year!
I've had my 2022 Himalayan (with Tripper) for about 6 months and 4500 kms now and I totally agree with you - I love my Himi !! It's light, cheap to buy and run, great fun on twisty mountain roads and has more than enough power for a biker - not a car driver - you don't need loads of power on a bike to have fun and watch the world go buy. My Himi is probably the best bike I've ever had.
Sounds like the Himalayan has been a great choice for you too. I hope you have many pleasant and exciting rides ahead on all kinds of roads and trails. Have fun!
You're the right fit for the Himmi.. you appreciate the little things. My wife and I are the same, we love low tech character.. the almost human split window vw's, 356's, old pickup trucks, old wood trawlers.. classic MCs and the Himmi, in a league of it's own. Beam me up Scotty! back to 1965. lol
My tastes run along the same lines as yours. There's an elegance in low tech machines. And they seem to more likely have some feeling of spirit and humanity that high tech equivalents. At least that is what fuels many of my dreams and fantasies surrounding machines.
A very different type of review and I fully agree with you about the RE Himalayan Motorcycle. Most reviews on the Himalayan try to compare the bike with a bigger, faster, far more expensive top of the range sports Motorcycle. Most tend to miss the point and the reason for the Himalayan, they just don't get it. It's a straight forward uncomplicated rugged Motorcycle. As you pointed out it is easy to maintain, it's a single, mainly old style /type mechanics, no overcomplicated electronics to go wrong. It's a very good all round Motorcycle and for the money it is hard to beat. I have put up around 16,000 miles on a Himalayan. A very good review!
Thanks for your kind words about the video. You're right about other reviews comparing the Himalayan to more powerful machines. It's apples and oranges to me. The Himalayan is unique. It's best apprised on its own merits and how it might support your riding goals rather than comparing it to something else. People like to shop and compare though hence the reviews.
Another great ride in the winter with warm temps. I'm sorry to hear the hippo hands are giving you some grief. You're off to a roaring start for 2023! Eric
It turns out that the Kill Switch issue was related to how I was moving the motorcycle. Push down on the top of those things and they hit the kill switch. I'm an expert now and won't do that anymore! We have some warm weather for a few days. Hopefully I'll get to do a little riding. And thanks for the Oxford grip covers. They definitely will keep the hands warm. Happy New Year Eric!
This is everything I've noticed on the RE Himalayan. Your commentary and experience is quite spot on. It's everything that my ears wanted to hear or was looking to hear
..bought a Wee-Strom 650 to give me the highway capability my Himi lacks.. Fellow riders ask, ‘Where’s your V-strom?” ..this Himalayan just works so much better ‘around here’ (Blue Ridge of VA). Love yur vids ~
Nice video again Steve, and yes that really is unseasonably warm weather you have for this little ride, and good that you took advantage of it. The Himalayan is a great bike for all my needs, pretty much as yourself. Thanks for the video, and a happy New Year to you. 👍
Thanks 👍. I appreciate you taking time to comment. The more I ride the Himalayan the more ai realize that for the riding I do it’s the only motorcycle I need.
Even though we're in the middle of winter I still am grateful to live where I do. A warmer climate would offer more chances to ride, but the landscapes of central Pennsylvania are beautiful. I'm sitting here looking out the window at the rain. It's 50F and dreary. There was a time I would have donned my rainsuit and gone for a ride. But at 68, I seem pretty content where I am!
Thanks for the video! Your 'views' are philosophically enlightening, you seem to be able to identify positives quite readily. A sort of 'enjoy what you have' approach, and also enjoying the moment.
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate them. You're right about the "enjoy what you have" approach. I've found as I've gotten older that life is more enjoyable when I'm not wishing for something I don't have.
Nice backroad tour! Good audio on ride as well. Like the thoughts on the bike. I admit I like the bike as much because it is styled a little funky as anything else. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you. We have a lot of nice little roads around here. And more remote riding as you head north or south. The Mid Atlantic BDR passes about 10 miles from my house. The Himalayan does look funky compared to the other brands. And so many fine color choices to boot!
Enjoyed your video, Steve. Nice to see another biker from PA riding his Himalayan. I’m in Berks county. My Himalayan is a ‘21 with about 4600 miles. If I didn’t ride other bikes, the mileage would be much more, but the RE seems to be my go to bike. Like you, my peg scraping days are over & I enjoy putting along, enjoying the scenery (although I sold my ‘84 Vespa a few years back). Our youngest son is in Huntingdon, so maybe we’ll meet up somewhere along the way. Great roads & trails out there. Keep the videos coming!
Pennsylvania certainly has an abundance of backroads and byways for which the Himalayan is a fine motorcycle to ride. Some really great riding between where I am and Huntingdon. Many dirt and gravel roads to explore. I'm working on two new videos now. Hopefully I'll post something by Wednesday. Winter makes me lazy!
Lovely ride through your local countryside. Just what was needed - looks lovely and the town at the end looked very festive with everyone's lights up. Thanks for sharing. I'm tempted by an Enfield - possibly a classic 350 to sit alongside my own Vespa GTS300. test rode the Classic and found it a great bike - though not loads of power - but still an enjoyable ride and found myself smiling whilst riding which says it all. Happy New Year to you.
Boalsburg looks rather festive this time of year. It was good I rode through at the end of the day when it was getting darker. I really want to add a Classic 350 to my collection. When I think about riding it the experience must be similar to the Vespa in terms of speed and capability. Granted, it is a motorcycle and has its own unique character, but there's nothing it can do that the Vespa can't. So I continue to hesitate. That and my wife hesitates for me. I hope you have a fine New Year. And perhaps find yourself a new motorcycle as well!
@@ScooterintheSticks Thank you and a very happy new year to you too. Out off interest having ridden both I'd say that the Vespa is quicker than the Enfield 350- certainly away from the lights - due to the CVT. Top end is probably about the same but if I was to guess, I'd say that the Vespa may be marginally faster top speed.
interesting how things take a turn , I subbed to your channel about a month ago based on vour vespa gts posts because i was buying one last week ,I have driven many older vespas and lmls but never even sat on a gts , anyway last week i went to my local city to see a vespa in the main dealers 6 hour trip oneway , so i loved the look of the green and Yellow and white raceing 60s (6400euro..quite expensive) they had in the shrowroom ,but imagine my dissapointment when I sat on it and just didint like the feel of it, my vespa dream was shattered ,and besides always loving the brand it wasent for me ,Im 58 and have a bad back due to motorcycle accidents in my past so the auto gts sounded perfect .But my friend! in a strange twist of faith ,like yourself I also loved the look of the Himalayan , 2 hours later im in the Enfield shrowroom and for the first time ever i sat on a Himalayan ,I was thrilled I was just so perfect for my 58yo bad back ,29 inseem , chubby body and on a winter special offer of 4600 euros.... 5,200US Dollars ,and only 50 Euro to register no other fees its mine ...Im collecting it the end of this week after securing with a large deposit , I really enjoy your easy going relaxed style of posts ....off course I will now still be subscribed but for your Himalayan content , greetings from an Irishman living in Latvia ,Off course I have changed the name of my channel in view of not being a scooter channel now in the future ! haha
Congratulations on your detour around a Vespa onto a Himalayan. It's a fine motorcycle at an affordable price. I've not ridden for the past 5 days because I tweaked my back, an old pole vaulting injury from high school which rears its head every few years. But I did sit on the Himalayan yesterday and it felt great and the sciatica pain didn't bother me. Perhaps the Himalayan is a good choice for old men with bad backs! Have fun with the Himalayan!
Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment. I appreciate it. I'll be making more Himalayan riding videos in the coming weeks. As long as we don't get more snow!
@@ScooterintheSticks I recently watched a guy in Chicago tractor through some snow on a Hima. Thoroughly impressed. Definitely looking forward to more Himalayan stuff from you. Hopefully you’ll get that Sundae!
Tested a lot of bikes during autumn and will test some more as we are looking for one for my son and Himalayan was really great and I was very surprised by it. It is way better then Voge DS500 and DSX650 (which is horrible thirsty tractor full of vibrations :-D). BUT for the roads outside of city with a lot of turns and in mountains I found RE Scram 411 so much better. It was like completely different bike. In same arena was Classic 350 which was king of the scenic ride :-)
I've heard good things about the Scram 411 but I don't have any direct experience. I hope you find a bike for your son that covers the bases he needs. Royal Enfield offers a lot of choices and the cost for all of them are reasonable.
I still have mixed feelings about my 2021 Himalayan. I love the looks and size but the engine still sounds rough even after 2000 miles. Ride safe. I’m loving the Vespa content.
The 2022 Himalayan I ride definitely sounds "rough" compared to the mechanical perfection of sound in some of the other motorcycles I've ridden. The Himalayan reminds me of the Ducati Multistrada I've ridden -- a noisy mechanical clatter. The Himalayan roughness is part of the character that I've come to embrace once I realized there was nothing wrong with the engine! More Vespa content will be sure to come. Happy New Year!
Mine didn't feel nice until it got a tappet adjustment at 3000 miles and another 1000 to run in properly. Yep, it does take that long. 7,000 mikes on mine and it starts, idles from could and pulls to red line in top gear Still sounds mechanically noisy and clunky, its how they are, think 1980s XL Honda's.
Nice review. I’ve been thinking about a winter bike and have been looking at secondhand Himalayans as a potential solution. I already have a Interceptor, so already have the RE vibe in me! 👍
While the Himalayan, or rather I can handle the cold, I'm not sure I would call it a winter bike. At least not in the way I have used my Vespa. But with the right gear to keep the cold air off the skin, on dry cold days the Himalayan will be fine. Any excuse for another motorcycle!
It's remarkable how many people extoll the virtues of the Himalayan they bought and then explain why they sold it within a year. I'm looking to sell mine and it only has 700 miles on it.
@@jamesgossweiler1349 I've not run into any Himalayan owners yet. I seem to be the sole owner around here. I'm constantly checking the Pennsylvania Royal Enfield dealer's stock both new and used and seldom see any used Royal Enfields. Or on Craigslist either. I'm sure there are people disappointed or realizing they made a mistake in buying a Himalayan, but that's probably true of any motorcycle or scooter. It should be pretty easy to sell your Himalayan if the price is right. What disappointed you with the bike?
@@jamesgossweiler1349 Because for many those are just theoretical virtues, but in reality their personality can't accept "slowness" and enjoy the ride and view. They want speed and power and then it is really wrong bike. And if something more offroad then they are more looking for stuff like KTM 950/990 or 790/890 adventure. Had some motorcycles in the past, currently having Monkey 125, Yamaha XVZ 1300 RSV and PCX 125 ..... so talk about unfitting combination :-D For some time in that was Ninja ZX-9R as well. What a great sports tourer these days, BUT as I am in Europe and because I prefer the similar style as Steve then when having the brain you quickly find (had it over 2 years) that it's not a road bike. Good for learning the power as there is no electronic, but when you find yourself regularly going 160 - 250km/h even in heavy rain or winter (yes, including turns) then it's time to reconsider. Under 100km/hod it does not work properly and your hands are getting tired so you must go quicker because let's face it is sportbike and those are for tracks where no incoming traffic, no obstacles around the round and so on. Marketing makes you want it and power too of course, but in reality for normal rides and traffic is pretty pointless. RSV will probably go too. It improves your clutch handling a lot because you can't fight such heavy bike with your weight and so you must use its engine, but as I like scenic rides like Steve no matter if in city or close mountains you quickly find that you can't stop on so many places like with smaller bikes because then you will not be able to get out even if you had reverse (which it does not have). Plus very surprisingly it is not so comfortable for long rides if you keep relax cruise because then you do not move much and your butt sturts to hurt thx to frame construction under seat. If I go in pace like with Ninja then it is way better, but way more adrenalin then on Ninja as you need to hang out A LOT in turns as you can not do such lean as on other bikes plus you really feel those 600kg and more when loaded. It is fun to test and ride various bikes to find what you like and what and so I think after RSV I will go for AJP SPR250 or Rieju Ranger 300 as those bikes offer plenty of power I need for a road, are light and can move more with them on some tracks to learn more off stuff. Plus our rodes are mostly terrible even after repairs so those bikes are providing best comfort 😀
@@jamesgossweiler1349 Why James and where is your Location. Did the bike not have a warranty? Supposedly RE was ironing out these issues before they broadened their horizons.... Has the dealer tryed to support your concerns?
Hello. I just bought a new 2022 Himalayan today and am looking forward to ride exactly in the same fashion. I live in Erie but will be riding in the Allegheny river area in between Kane, Warren, and Bradford areas.
Congratulations on adding a Himalayan to your life. The part of Pennsylvania you've indicated is fine riding. But if you're like me, you won't want to stop there and before you know it you'll be in the Appalachian mountains on the many dirt and gravel roads there. Did you get your motorcycle at Street Track and Trail?
@@robertpowell4802 I have purchased parts and accessories from Baxter Cycle in Kansas, things like fender risers and mirror extensions. From Twisted Throttle I bought my GIVI engine guards along with guards for other parts. And for my tank bag I've ordered directly from SW-Motech. The hand guards came from India, OEM guards, and I got them on eBay. And oil filters on ebay too.
@@ScooterintheSticks okay. Thank you. That’s a good start. Hopefully Royal Enfield will open up a supplier here in the states to carry oem parts and aftermarket parts as well to simplify and speed up the process.
I concur with just about everything you've said. Makes me wonder what the average age of US Himalayan owners is, I'll bet it skews heavily toward the Boomers.
I share the same thoughts as you. I enjoy the visceral feeling of riding a motorcycle. No need to go fast enjoy the scenery. Do you have any stalling issues at idle or when you're riding it? The 2023 model has the same engine mapping as the scrambler 411 eliminating the need for that fast idle lever. Also feels a tad peppier.
I bought mine from Battlefield Harley Davidson in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. They are the closest dealer but still 2.5 hours away on the freeway. Longer using backroads. I wish I had a trailer and something to haul it with. Or a pickup truck.
The one thing that’s missing on the Himalayan is a Kickstarter, like on the little Honda CT125. That would be cool, and a big help if battery goes dead.
Love at first sight. Being somewhat remote, I bought my 2018 over the phone based entirely on the specs and it's industrial vibe. A kick start would have been great when my batt died. No abs and no bull.. It's all mule. 👍👍
New subscriber here. I’m looking at adding a RE to my bikes and I was wondering what kind of MPG you are seeing, riding it sensibly. I’m also looking at the 350 Classic as I’m just looking at a simple to maintain smaller bike.
I'm sorry to report that I've never checked the fuel mileage on the Himalayan. And it's been over a decade since I checked it on my Vespa. Even though both have fuel gauges, I monitor with the trip odometer. I set it to "0" when I fill up and add fuel around 100 miles. Royal Enfield has done a good job keeping things simple so far. I hope they continue.
@@ScooterintheSticks Thank you for the reply. No worries, I haven’t paid too close attention to a couple of my vehicles as well. I’ve heard that the 350cc RE bikes can get around 100 MPG and that just blows my mind because I’m used to MPG around 40-50 MPG.
@@pinkiewerewolf I've read that the Himalayan will give between 50 and 60 mpg but I've not tested that. It seems shocking to me as well that a 350 would get 100mpg.
@@ScooterintheSticks 60 mpg would be nice. 👍 My Ultra Classic and my 890 Adventure S get somewhere the mid to high 40mpg range but that’s at California Highway speed. Bay Area you get ran over on the freeway if you aren’t doing about 80 mph. It’s crazy.
I was surprised when I read the weight specification. But it seems light while riding. Certainly much more manageable than my BMW K75. It's been a long time since I've been on a 250 dirt bike though so I can't make a comparison to something like that. My Vespa is 100 pounds lighter but doesn't really feel a lot lighter than the Himalayan in use.
If I understand your question correctly, you're wondering about these rural roads in the video. They were originally old lanes and wagon roads that connected the farms in the valley to town. As the farms got divided, sold, and developed, home building meant paving. As you go farther out the valley into the Amish areas you'll still find dirt farm lanes that they use at times to spend less time in their buggies on the main roads. All the forest roads are in the mountains and they are almost all gravel or dirt now. There remain some jeep trails that are unimproved and rough, and some fire fighting access roads though those tend to be gated. Definitely plenty of laid back riding choices here.
@@ScooterintheSticks Exactly. We still see that here in the UK but obviously not to the same extent. We have BOAT's, By-ways Open to All Traffic. These are technically still roads but not metalled and some are little more than broad footpaths. This is out in the more rural counties of England and Wales. Due to your geography your network on untopped roads will be huge. It's nice. It slows stuff down.
@@clangerbasher There are 23 thousand miles of unpaved public roads in Pennsylvania. And thousands more of private roads. Plenty to keep a rider busy for a long time. And you're right -- things do slow down a lot on them.
I have a 2020 Royal Enfield Himalayan. Most infuriating piece of garbage I've ever owned. Battery is always dead...endless battery replacements. You can't do highway speeds without redlining the engine. Almost no one sells them or services them. Big disappointment. Buy something...anything...else.
That certainly was a concern when I was looking at them. I had read so many negative comments about performance, reliability, and stalling issues. My 2022 Himalayan has experienced none of those issues thankfully. But for those who have what is disappointing is how they're unable to resolve the issues. I have to remember though that I have read similar negative comments about the Vespa GTS, my BMW, and everything else from cameras to computers. The real issue for me is service. The closest Royal Enfield dealer is 100 miles away. Thankfully, the local BMW dealer will do everything but warranty service. But I can understand your frustration, especially with dead batteries. Buying something else may solve the problem. But then buying another Himalayan may as well. I have a friend who had been pulling his hair out with his Ducati. Eventually the company bought it back from him. No one could sort out the issues. But a singular failure doesn't necessarily paint an entire product line defective. What have you replaced your Himalayan with? If I wasn't riding this I would likely be on a Honda CRF300 Rally.
Got a 2021 MT03. I put a dual sport tires, saddlebags a skidplate. Its only 300cc but can do 112mph. Zero problems as of now. Its an all rounder. Its fantastic.
@@danl5632 My concern with that motorcycle is the same as with the KTM 390. To access the torque you need to be at high RPMs. Off road that makes for a more aggressive riding style than I want to engage. The beauty for me with the Himalayan is that torque is accessible at much lower RPMs. It’s why it can feel like an old farm tractor chugging along. And it ends up being much easier to ride in rough terrain. The top end speed is of no consequence for me. Even riding liter bikes, I seldom exceeded 70mph unless I was testing or not paying attention.
I don't think your Himmi likes you, you've got the wrong attitude! Reminds me of a neighbor that put 3 christmas cactus out on the street one winter. They never bloomed for her so she chucked them. My wife took them in, they've since bloomed 2 and even 3 times a year. Plants like her. My 2018 had issues but I never gave up on it, I methodically solved them. Now it's my favorite bike! we're best pals. 😊
