Enfield basically shocked most of the industry by actually making small and medium sized bikes at affordable prices. The 350 classic was on the top 5 most popular entry level for the last few years almost surpassing the ninja 400 the 650 interceptor has been a massive success and the him and 411 scram also made massive gains. It’s taken the other major companies this long to make moves. Now we been asking them for these bikes for the last 5 years
In the US a RE 350 Meteor or Classic (+ the $500 required break in service) is priced fairly similarly to a Yamaha MT03 and not too far off from the small Kawasaki. Both of the latter have much better performance, are properly highway rated and features with smooth twins. The RE 350 is popular for the 1970s look as there is a niche market for that in the US. Both the latter are rather unattractive too.
No apologies necessary … been following you for some time now. My first bike was the 2nd generation RE Himy, I learned so much, took it everywhere, dirt, mud, tarmac etc etc. When I sold it, it returned 70% of what I bought it for! I thought that was wonderful. Much better than any used car I’ve sold. Take care of that cold and look forward to more videos! Thanks for sharing!
Great times for us ordinary folk, who can actually afford to buy a bike fit for purpose, not on pcp. Less is more. For me, anyway. A good insight. Safe, happy travels 👍
I agree 100% with your thoughts here.The new Himalayan release has dragged on a bit too long.Triumph just got on with it.I’m sure both bikes will be great successes.
Oh dear Nathan, bit out of sorts? :) I can see the frustration at RE keeping us hanging on but, i have only in the last couple of weeks or so seen anything about it. I knew nothing about the Triumph which, i suppose makes your point. Anyway, you'll be on a 450 before long as having now looked at the 400X and been watching the videos and getting the info. on the Himmy i reckon the Himmy is by far the better bike "for all roads and no road" :) I like the way they have stuck with a long stroke engine albeit this time slightly over square whereas the Triumph is well over square. You were the inspiration that led me to getting my Himmy 5 years ago which i still have and still love as i met you at the Touratech weekend when you had just been round the track on yours and your enthusiasm spilled over to me. I do still have my 2011 80,000 mile BMW R1200GS as well as the Himmy so if i want a bit more power i have it available :). Cheers and i hope you're feeling better, Tony
I've been looking at the new Himalayan for a while and as the stats come out I am continuously surprised. Like everyone I wonder if the build quality is up there with its claims, only time will tell. If it lives up to its expectations I think it will be a huge success. Still watching the videos with a certain amount of suspicion!
I couldn't agree with you more. I too have been waiting for 3 years for this bike. I am in india and today is the official launch date. None of the dealers have any bikes in the showrooms! Incidentally I have already seen the bike (and sat on it) being tested while I was riding in Ladakh last month. I too have become bored with the drawn out teasers and drip drip of specs. As a result, I am on the verge of buying a Scram in the uk at a hugely discounted price. I hired one for my Ladakh ride and was hugely impressed. The Scram is capable of a lot more than I will ever be....it was MY limitations and not the bike's that defined my ride. Besides, I really like the idea of an air cooled single without riding modes, adjustable suspension etc. Reminds me of a 500 single Yam I had in the 80s. BTW, love your channel.
Hello mukka, I would love to go for a ride on my himmy with you in Devon one day soon. Never apologise for the way you sound dude, we love you the way you are.
Interesting points about the new Himalayan Nathan. I tend to agree, the original came out with little fanfare, a cheap , funny looking bike, a bit of a curiosity really. But over time has proved itself and is loved by most who've bought one. Sure my mates are sick of me praising this little bike. The new model launch just seems a bit naff, all hype and then the nonsense about not disclosing details while media bods stood next to it telling you what theyre allowed to. Its one thing to build anticipation but usually once the bikes revealed you get all the details and find out if you can afford it.
That's exactly where I'm at with it all. But just goes to show opinions are like aresholes, because the comment above yours commends the RE PR machine. so definitely we all see things differently
This is excellent news Nathan! I’ll be looking forward to hearing your no holes barred reviews of the Triumph 400 scrambler. Hopefully I will get down to the speed shop to sample the bike in some dirt. Take care and get well soon..
You are so spot on with what you have said about the Himmy it will be interesting to see if they keep going with the Scram 411 and have the 450 as another model
Must admit I’m quite taken with the new Scrambler and as you say, a great price. The new Himalayan looks to be a big step up from the old workhorse, but people on forums seem to be in cloud cuckoo land thinking it will be £5500 when the original is £4900! Perhaps it’s just a bit of wishful thinking. Probably like you, I feel it will be more like £6200 +. Either way, I’ll be booking a test ride on both 😊
@@mikehurley5052 yes, you are not wrong. I was just trying to compare the new price with the old price as if the new Himalayan hadn't come out, if you know what I mean? I guess I mean a RRP comparison!
Hi there, dont worry about the voice. I`m from Switzerland and i could understand you all the way. And yes i am a 411 owner and really enjoy the bike, especially in the mountains, easy handling , enough power for any situation. Liked your comment on the 452, we have to see how it will perform. Wait for your report on the Triumph.
Yes I didn’t understand a word you said but I guess you were talking about the bike because you kept pointing at it… Anyway, I’ll say that nowadays it’s hard to find bikes with CHARACTER even expensive European bikes don’t have much. And the Himmy seems to have something that says “I might not do anything very well but I’m a real, honest bike that makes a lot of sense”. That’s the beauty of it. It has more character, its more real than any BMW, or Japanese bike, or KTM.
I loved my Himmy and road one in the Himalayas for 2 weeks. My Interceptor was more reliable though over nearly 5 years. The Himmy has been poor and in just 2 years and only 2700 miles has been very unreliable requiring a 2 month stint at the dealers for warranty work recently. I've thrown in the towel, sold both and bought a heavily discounted end of line GS1250TE Rallye which will probably never go off road now I'm 65 but at least there's more room for the missus😂 Keep up the good work great channel. Might have to come down your way to get dirty again 😂 Looking at all the launch pics the new Himmy seems to have very little leg room for a 6'2" 35" leg person like me. Ended up spending loads to get my 2 Enfields anything like comfy for 2 up. The service intervals are poor too when doing European round trips further than that on my Honda Goldwing. 😊
Yesterday evening I looked thru Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki's ranges. They don't have between them many midrange bixe. Kawasaki has the 400 cc versions and Honda has 500 cc. Suzuki's range seems to hop from 125 cc to 650 cc. There are odd scooters or off road mainly bixe with high seat heights but nothing in the capacity that the Himalayan is at 450 cc. I think on that basis alone it will do very well.
It is actually amazing how good of a job the major manufactures are doing giving us bikes most people aren't interested in. For every one person interested in an Africa Twin, there's 5 more interested in a Himalayan. The hottest selling bikes in the US are the relatively low cc ones and the major manufactures have done an amazing job giving us almost no options in that range. This is why they're scrambling to give us the 150cc XR150L and bikes similar to it like the XR125 Nathan mentioned.
The Triumph launch had its own outstanding questions regarding fuel economy and price, which eventually dripped out. I agree that RE have made a big deal about the new model launch and it might have been better for some customers if they said nothing then gave us all the information in one go. From what I have seen, I think you will like it and cannot imagine you do not have one on your test fleet that you can enjoy slipping out for an afternoon on. Cheers Paul
You talk a lot of sense, I agree with your comments 100%, and as a Royal Enfield fan boy I find myself in the odd position of eyeing up the 400x as my next bike. Looking forward to your thoughts on the bike.
I think the way the original Himalayan looked was great, the new one is more general looking bike. The scrambler seems a great bike for the price, always fancied the 1200 scrambler but not the price. Will try out both no doubt
It looks like a Jap bike to me & that's no bad thing, maybe a spiritual successor to the 650 Dommie that l used to own. That segment has got wildly complicated & expensive, l think the Himalayan will be a massive success worldwide, who doesn't like a simple do-it-all dirt bike?
Thanks Nathan. Your opinions are valued. No bullshit. RE have caused other makers to sit up and take note and they are finally joining in the party. Hooray Triumph. I understand you fine. Get well soon.
In a weird way, it's been the complete opposite for me. This is coming from some filthy hipster Triumph fan boy that's put almost 30k on his beloved Scram 1200! I love the idea of the Baby Scram, love the new single, I think the 400X looks like a capable, affordable and accessible machine, with premium-esque flare, that's finally in the Triumph line-up. This excites me for newcomers and the younger riders alike. However, my interest dipped off, and I have constantly been hooked and engaged on the new Himalayan since the rumours first began. As an ex owner of the OG Himalayan, I've always loved it's charm, it's utilitarian nature and literally bought it for laning and as a winter hack. I did however, just want that extra poke. Everything I have wanted from a new RE variant has come to fruition, and I'm absolutely hyped, not dipped yet. I think Enfield's marketing has certainly dragged out, and withholding simple stuff like specs has been a bit 'meh'. But overall, I've had fun watching these teasers. I've not felt this kind of buzz since I first began riding as a teenager. Just enjoying the potential dream of what may come, and the 'drip feed' delivery has kept me on my toes itching for more. Bottom line, good marketing or bad marketing, I'm just in it for the bike and the experience it will give me, they can do what they like on the PR front. Good things come to those who wait and all that jazz. I think both of these bikes (400X & 452) will excel in their class. I'm just enjoying this race for the most killer single! Ducati throwing theirs out too. Fun times in the motorcycle industry. Look forward to your take on the Scram. Take it easy mate.
Well English is not my native language so I guess I'm proud in myself that I understood fine everything you said. Nice video format; simple, effective, very fitting for the classic Himalayan. Interested to see about that bore kit.
The Triumph 400X looks amazing. If it rides as well as it looks, I'll have one! But I won't be parting with my Scram...it's such a joy to ride on backroads.
The 452 is a COMPLETELY NEW bike. They just kept some stylingelements so they could keep the name. It's actually more a Yamaha T4 then an evolution from the current himmy 411 They even used the same (very long) Yamaha T7 marketing strategy. I guess RE is evolving, and that's probably a good thing. Just look at companies that don't evolve, like HD, they slowly die. That said, It is more complicated, so more difficult to maintain by 3world garages. Anyhow, the King is dead, long live the King !
Is it more difficult though? Been developed in India for their biggest market (India). It is still a simple single cylinder engine, just with water cooling, and a steel frame.
Yep I don't get all this royal Enfield is the underdog bull. Oh I like them coz they the little guy. You have to grow or you die. Also they have already taken huge chunks out of the big boys. Do people really think if they had this huge marketing budget back then they wouldn't have used it for the old himmi? They want to make money not old tractors
I've been looking at a lot of the recent Himalayan 450 reviews and it does look very impressive. Not many weak points at all going by what experienced riders have to say. We'll just have to see what the price is and maybe I'll be buying one. Strangely the big manufacturers seem to have been caught napping in this rapidly growing sector and a lot of newer names are jumping in with impressive offerings.
I'll be fascinated to see what you ultimately think of the new triumph scrambler 400x Nathan. Back in the summer when they first revealed it i was instantly hooked. Within a few days i payed my £99 reserve fee without even knowing what it would ultimately cost. I actually expected it to be easily £500 quid more than it is. I'm sure the new Himalayan will be a more accomplished go anywhere adventure bike than the 400X , but something still tells me in my gut I'll prefer the triumph even if only that it looks sexyer and is lighter. My old Honda 650 Transalp is going to make room for the scrambler 400X. The transalps been a good bike but the minute I venture down a muddy rutted greenlane it starts to feel like I'm wrestling with & trying to control a drunk elephant. I've been waiting for so long for a go most places adventurous sorta bike that weighs under 200kg and not just by a few kilos. Yes I'm fully aware of the KTM 390, BMW 310 etc, but they don't speak to me the way the triumph does. I've no illusions that the 400X will be my unicorn bike, but maybe 🤞 triumph will release an XE version in future?.
This is the first video of your's that I have watched. I appreciate your "meat and potatoes consumer" perspective regarding bikes. Liked and subscribed.
Hi Nathan, I have to say I fully agree with you on the 450 Himalayan, but would like to add a few observations of my own. I too have ordered a new Scrambler 400X and am very much looking forward to riding and tinkering with it. Like you I have become a little bored with the way RE has released bikes lately, but the main reason I have gone cold on the Himi 450 is the RE customer service in the UK. Since RE took over from moto gb as importers .Dealers and customers have been left in limbo. Used prices of almost new RE bikes all in freefall , so they may be cheap, but overall cost of ownership is high compared with mainstream brands like Triumph. RE have fallen into the trap of giving the customer what they think they want, more power, better features etc, etc. But what they really want this at the same low prices. Jump into big brands pricing and things become very different and you have lots more choice, If they try to go head to head with Triumph, KTM, Honda, CFMOTO (KTM) Plus many new bikes in this class coming soon. Customers will walk away. I am normally very loyal to the RE brand and hope this bike is good from the start and not plagued with early problems like first gen Himi's. I am also concerned that the new bike has an oversquare motor and will be very different in character to the 411cc long stroke motor.
You are absolutely right! I am sick of this hype and embargo from royal Enfield they are playing with consumer emotions. I have booked T scrambler 400x looks like even I would pick the same if RE doesn't announce the price and if the bike is not available in the dealership by end of this month.
Nathan, you made the right choice! (With the new Triumph) You are all about “using your skills” , supporting and maintaining your own bike fleet. can you imagine, removing the fuel tank to maintain the air cleaner on the new Himalayan (the Sherpa ) ..it’s madness !!
Hi Nathan, I agree 100% about the build up and hype of the new Himalaya. One of the things that appealed to me about the original version was its underdog status! The fact that your average rider could explore places on this bike that you'd be reluctant to take an expensive bike or would not have the skill to use. Really looking forward to the test ride of the big bore version Himalaya you spoke about, does it have the TEC cam fitted? Always enjoy your "Meat and Potato" insights in to motorcycling and I find your accent easy to understand having been born in Bolton and then traveled extensively with my time in the British Army. All the best Marcus
I just stumbled upon this video - and was thoroughly entertained. And, though I had to turn up the volume, I loved the accent. I'm not a perspective 400x or Himalayan buyer (I'm a DR650 rider) but I appreciate the growth of this size bike in the market. I believe you about the original Himalayan. It's just too bad most buyers, including myself, get skewed by specs. I went with a Suzuki product because I had, and never had an issue with a DL650 I put 45k miles on, and because its an established Japanese brand. I'm not trying to sway interested buyers. The DR is still a carburated bike with no ABS and needs some carb tweaks right out of the box. I also owned and loved a Tiger800 XRx and currently have a '11 T100 and am impressed with Triumph build quality. I'll be interested to see your review of the 400X.
Whether one is offended by RE's slow reveal or not, the proof will be in the pudding when we ride it. I personally am a RE fan; the slow reveal and embargo on journos, plus watching Itchy ride it through the Himalayas, adds spiciness to the anticipation, much like when the Triumph lingerie page pops up on the screen when we actually intended to search for Triumph Motorcycles.. 🤗 I will, as I've done with many motorcycles, probably buy the RE before I ride it.. this also adds to the spiciness, as I have done this with my current RE INT650 and MotoGuzzi V85tt.. so good when one's intuition turns out to have been correct! 😄
Yeah I think it's been a great pr campaign from them and got so many people talking about the bike. A resounding success really. They've made it look to be the inevitable choice to make. They've given it credibility before a customer's even turned a wheel. Much better than when they launched the first one and showed the footpeg snapping off in the promo video!
The himalayan teasers started a little early because of triumph. Basically letting people know it's pretty much ready to go. The marketing seem okay to me, for how long they have been testing and developing its reasonable to market it a little. I am quite looking forward to it. So far what I have seen it looks pretty capable. As for the price they should reveal it after eicma. It would be triumph price, it is primarily built for the emerging markets.
Maybe because I've got my ear so close to the ground in the Himalayan community it's felt like it's dragged on forever. Speculation of the bike, then the delivery. If it's triumph money then to me it's a much bigger bargain than the triumph.
If you've not bought a bike purely because of the marketing which will long be forgotten, and not on specification, price, then that's quite sad really,
I would agree with you till the supposed "launch" at EICMA today. Watched 40 odd minutes of their launch only to see what I had already seen before from RE itself. The fact that they didn't announce the price or even when the deliveries will start is just outright disrespectful. Like Nathan said, these guys should be thinking of us as muppets and sir, in a world where there are options, if not the potato, I'd happily take home an apple.
Thumbs up to Nathan for going for the Triumph 400 Scrambler. It's a great looking bike. When you buy a bike with your heart and not your head, then looks are important. A win for the Triumph.
You are f**king legend, mate! I loved my himi and you taught me a lot on how to get more out of it. I moved on to a few other bikes since (ride a bmw sertao now) but you are spot on why the himi is brilliant.
I currently have a KLR 650 and have been riding it for about 10 years. I still love it and ride it every chance I get. I commute to work with it daily. That being said. I wanted something a little more refined, lighter, more up to date(my KLR is a 2005), tubeless tires, and a little more street leaning. The Scrambler 400X checks off all those boxes. I currently have a deposit on the matte green and white. Can't wait to get it. I definitely want the saddle bag, motor guard, aluminum sump plate, and windscreen. My plan is to commute to work and the occasional trip to the mountain forestry roads for overnight camping. I'm giving up a little bit of top speed and weight on the highway. But I like slower anyway.
I think Royal Enfield have only fed the public demand with the continual requests of were they going to build a more powerful version of the 411.For the past few years among RE enthusiasts in Forums and elsewhere there was a lot of discussion on this topic.
Agreed regarding the RE got fed up waiting, all the secrecy being ridiculous. So I’ve ordered a Triumph 400 and RE can swivel 😊 I’ll have it before next year’s riding season begins which is great.
Is secrecy ridiculous whilst the bike is under development? I'm sure the bike has changed a lot over the course of its development, and that RE want it right from the outset. New water-cooled engine (a first for RE), new chassis, outsourced suspension, new electrics (the speedo looks great). Is the Triumph a Triumph, or another bike with a few Triumph parts added? Time will tell
Love my 23 Himmy. Yes its a bit weak in the mid range but otherwise I love it. Cant see me changing it for anything else in the foreseeable future. If the Triumph had been available when I got my Himmy I dont know if I would have gone for the Triumph, but we are were we are. But for now im keeping the Himmy.!!
Great assessment. Having ridden the old Himalayan, I was looking forward to the new one, but I had expected them to be first to market versus the 400X. I will try to test them all.
Having read specs, reviews, watched numerous vids etc this looks to be the old form vs function conundrum. The Triumph is a real looker but the specs would suggest the new Himilayan will be the more serious and capable all roads mount. Could I please have one of each?
@nathanthepostman It is the same blueprint what was used for the launch of the original Himalayan. Only the last time, it was launched outside of India at a later point in time so you missed the drama.😂. I own one of the first lot bikes with carburettor. In fact I had booked mine ahead of launch and had to wait for test ride bikes to arrive. Even the price was unknown.
Thanks for your run-down of the Triumph and the Enfield. I still love my little Honda CRF300 Rally. For my 135lbs. weight, it’s perfect on or off road. I’ve been wanting a Triumph Tiger, but will probably go with the new Honda TransAlp for my next bike. Unfortunately, I’ll probably be selling the old first generation Kawasaki KLR 650. It has been a joy to ride these past sixteen years. At 80,000 + miles, it still runs and handles as good as new. Happy Trails
I like your style bud. Old Scottish cure here for you, and it really does work. Pour a scalding hot deep bath, lie in it for 15 minutes and drink a half bottle of whisky then straight to bed. You will be right as rain in the morning.
The new Himalayan has been in development for a long time, hopefully all minor niggles encountered have been ironed out by now. Testing in the most hostile of terrains has been done, not just on a dyno and in big fridges/cookers. The Himalayan got Enfield into the lower end of mainstream bikes in UK and Europe. The new model will take it further. So they need to get it right. Their long, long promotion of it shows they must have it sorted by now. No broken footpegs this time?
Had my Himmy for a year and a half and it's been the perfect bike for leisurely touring small country roads, gravel roads and greenlanes with my wife as pillion. Taking the road less traveled literally and figuratively attracted me to the underdog RE Himalayan over the Japanese, Austrian or German brands. The new Himalayan, unfortunately, has lost this appeal. On another note, as a non native English speaker, if I may, the immense variety of British accents, including your own, are delightful! As for that cold, a few hot toddy's should do the trick!
I had the 411 Himmy and loved it but eventually sold it and brought a triumph trident 660. The 660 is streets ahead in quality … but here’s the thing , I just don’t enjoy riding it as much as the Himmy and so I’m going to test ride the new one to see wether I go back to a RE.
I want to see more of those bras 1.08 haha. Think the Triumph is a seriously tempting proposition at that price, and understand your decision entirely, nice one. 😊
for all those who think Himalayan took lot of time, they are actually testing since past 1 year to work on the issues it seems , few other brand have that long stroke single cylinder setup for experiencing the raw feel😊
Nice one Nathan, I completely agree with your analysis. I have always been impressed by RE but I do think they are gearing up to have a punch at the big boys... which to me is a shame. I think they were creating their own niche ... I love the look and price of the new Triumph. I have always preferred the scrambler aesthetic. Ill be really interested to see what it rides like... especially in the dirt. I have already contacted you about trying to organise a date in N Devon with you. Ill email again, now you aren't quite so busy. Get well!!
Good video, chap and relevant in today’s cost of living difficulty. I agree about the preference for the Triumph 400X….just think it’s going to be better value and a better bike. Also, the new Himalayan in price terms looks a tad salty compared with the competition. About £6K…..I’d prefer the new Honda NX500, even though the RE may be better off road. Anyway, just opinions…..
THAT… is an interesting choice. But then what else should we expect from you Mr M? Thought provoking stuff. Plus the Voges backing. Great, left field thinking. Thanks for the update.
Very interesting Nathan, can't disagree with much you've said and I really like the look and spec of the Triumph but don't see it as a replacement for me 411 Himmy as I think it will be just too flimsy for what I use it for - muddy lanes and bye ways much as you use your 'fleet'. I need to sort another ride day over at yours when you get the scrambler and see how it rides and what you think once you've put it to use
Agree with you, I've got a 411 and love it, Re the 452 I also noted that Itchy boots seemed to find it a bit tricky, walking it through a river. Perhaps you are right.. a bit top heavy. Cheers
The marketing for the Himalayan was so loud and long because of the indian market. Indian population is very socially active and they are addicted to the internet. "Meat and potato" of sales is the indian market so they have to cater to that
The Thoughts of Chairman Nathan! And good ones, as ever. I’m not in the market for the RE nor the ‘Umph, but I’ve got a bit hacked off with the drip-drip marketing of both, TBH. But I’m VERY interested in your views on both bikes, because I think both will become very important machines, as long as they don’t flop due to some manufacturing fault. Hey! Get that cough sorted, but nothing wrong with your English, as a soft Southerner living in the lower NW of England I have no problems with it👍 Les
Your views on the original Himmy is exactly why I bought an MZ nearly fifty years ago. It is what it is/was a basic bike, no bull, you find out and learn the bike after you have bought it. The MZ was the first bike I bought that was brand new in 1978 £440 on the road and I rode home from Sheffield to Denby Dale in a hail storm wearing an anorak and an open face helmet. My 2019 Himmy is the second bike I have bought brand new and I liken it to the MZ in it all roundability but with better fuel consumption. And brakes. And electrics. Same horrid seat, though.😢
5:40 The gripe about the marketing is a valid one, BMW & Harley are prime examples of this, but I simply ignore the hype & wait for the actual product to be released & the full specs made available. Play by your own rules, not someone else's. As for the 400X I'd like to see tubeless spoked wheels as an option, but I'm certainly interested.
As ever very interesting and insightful comments. Surprised you’ve gone for the triumph ahead of the New Himmy without knowing the price. Still think the basic model will be circa 5,500K. I slightly disagree about the marketing …. I think they’ve got it right but about a week too early …. I know everything about the bike apart from the price the absolute buying decision… the price ! Always enjoy your videos keep them coming.
Cheers nev. To be honest it's not really about the price, although it was a factor in why I bought the triumph but wouldn't be a factor in whether I went for the himi or not. Personally I think it'll be top side of £6000 and deserves to be given the ground up design. And it'll be a far better travel bike than the triumph I think. But yeah, I've just got fed up with the stage managing of it all. Petulance on my part probably, but I'm just not feeling it.
Nathan - With you on this completely! I saw the Triumph at the NEC a couple of weeks back and I was much more impressed by that bike than I was the new Himalayan (even though I have the 411). I have really fallen out with the brand and given the new bike is at £6250 for the black one with tubeless tyres, it's just too much money. I am probably going to get a Honda NX500 which is a renamed CB500X with new dash. As for your accent - I always suspected that you were from my neck of the woods (I grew up in Alfreton), even though I'm in Gloucester now. Small world!
Love RE as a brand (Interceptor 650 owner), but agree wholeheartedly with your view. Totally over the top and drawn out run in to the new Himalayan like hyping for the next moon landing. Completely unnecessary and had the effect of me being a bit underwhelmed at first sight of the new bike. Still, I remain an RE fan and will be keen to take one for a test ride!
Unless you are an RE fan, I don't think many riders in the UK or Europe are aware that there is a new Himalayan coming out. Its a brand that has a small but devoted following. Now, and quite rightly, is the time for them to push the new bike as much as they can. I cannot see them discontinuing the 411 when it is still selling well in India and Worldwide. Look how long the Bullet has been in production with few changes. They need to maintain their home market with durable, and above all, cheap bikes. The air-cooled engines allow this.
@@jerzywoking1699 they can push new bikes all they want - and I hope they do. It’s just the style and drip-feeding of info that bored me to tears with the new Himalayan.
I agree with your point that these days companies spend lot of time beating around the bush. First they will release teaser then a reveal, then specifications reveal and then launch and price reveal. For people like me it’s detrimental. Same is going on with aprilia rs457. But duke 390 was a welcome exception.
I hope you're feeling better. I'm an American and I understand your english perfectly. People in the remote parts of Scotland have a dialect that is definitely much difficult for the uninitiated to understand.
You're spot on with what you say about the marketing campaign. Do you not think it's an "Indian" thing though? Looking back at the BSA Gold Star marketing, it was exactly the same format, teasers, glimpses with not a lot of actual specifications. RE are very good at it though and I wonder what the advertising budget was because they certainly haven't held back
Personally, I just want a bike with a centre stand, reliable, cheap to service, and not too expensive to buy. I,m not brand loyal and it's a big market out there. Choices choices.
Same here, too much for me to properly take off road but I loved falling for that promise of capability 😂 and it's a dream of a bike, still can't believe I have one.
I agree. I think the new Himalayan might be aimed at the tourer market, with the range of the big new tank and sacrificed the low centre of gravity and offroad stability as a consequence.
@@darklord9102 Ill have to check some out, cheers! I wonder if maybe it's better offroad for riders already well versed in offroading but won't be quite as accessible to newcomers?
I really felt the same way about how they attacked the new marketing strategy of the Himalayan. There's something to say for it because it would be very much anticipated. But it really felt to hyped and also the design seems to try and hit to many people as well taking notes from the BMW and Xpulse. But to me it feels like i'd rather use this chance to hit up a hardly used old Himalayan for cheap now instead of the new one.
If RE want to be seen as mainstream, getting the press and media on your side by having a bike that is good, is a priority. It's the way of the World these days.
What a great, honost revelation. I have to agree with a great deal of what you said. I ride a 2022 Himy, (having had a 2014 Indian Vintage for nearly 10 years) and have been pleasantly surprised by its friendly nature. My ONLY problem has been the highway speed. So, of course, I waited patiently for this new Himalayan. Sounds like it will be perfect for me. Only thing is, I don't know what the price is going to be, or when it will be available in S. America. I am now going to try the TEC cam and 16 tooth pinion, and if that gets me to the speed I feel is necessary, then to heck with the new Himalayan.
I'm with you on all this marketing but it seems to work, look at how long the T7 was drawn out like a painful splinter but how well did it do? Any idea when your 2004 events/rides will be posted on the website?
