[Richard230]

The May (already?) issue of Motorcyclist magazine, on page 10, contains a one-page article about the new Royal Enfield Himalayan. It has three nice photos of the bike and a couple of paragraphs that say pretty much what you already know.  The only new piece of "information" is that the magazine mentions Indian "estimates" of the bike's price as being $3,000 USD. However, the editors are not buying it and believe that $5,000 is more likely.  What isn't mentioned (I guess they didn't watch the entire introduction video) is that RE has no plans to export the Himalayan to the U.S., or anywhere else for that matter, at this time.

Oddly, they compare the size of the Himalayan to the Yamaha FZ-07. 

[Ice]

 Selling above MSRP due to demand exceeding supply, perhaps that may be what they are eluding to ?


 

[Arizoni]

There are many in India who are test riding the Himalayan and writing their views about it.

The current price to buy one including everything to get it on the road was given as 177,000 rupee's.

At todays exchange rate that would be $2666.47

That wouldn't be the price in the US if they decided to import it though.

It would need modifications to meet DOT and EPA requirements.
These would all raise the price some and then, one has to add the price of shipping it half way around the world.

[Ice]

 With the tighter control of the valves that overhead cams provide it could possibly make emissions standards here as a carb/cat design but today's consumer will expect EFI.
 In the official launch video Mr. Lal mentioned EFI and ABS for it being ready to go.

[meph1st0]

I took a short test ride of the motorcycle.
-It has very good ergonomics, motor is very tractable, seats comfortable, very easy to ride standing on pegs (Pegs are palced slightly behind compared to current offerings). Brakes felt adequate, disc brakes front and read with steel braided lines.
-Windscreen could have been of better quality, used to flutter a lot.
-Could hear a lot of engine clatter which was quite disturbing but this could be due to abuse on test ride motorcycle (some others who tested in other showrooms did not mention this)
-First gear can go all the way to 60kmph around 7000 rpm. Motor is vibration free even at higher rpm (found it smoother than my Harley Street 750). Couldn't check top end or highway speeds, will go for longer test ride once the initial rush subsides.
-Suspension is really nice, soaks bumps, potholes, road undulations effortlessly. Bash plate is of good quality.
-Overall fit and finish much better than all REs in the current stable.
-Himalayan is a BS3 compliant motorcycle and it cannot go for sale at all metros in India. It sure cannot be sold in US.
-EFI should be available at later part of year, ABS if government makes it mandatory.
-Overall a good bike, priced well (not many options in this category with Triumph tiger priced 6 to 7 times) and I might go for it

[Ice]

 I think you are the first member here to actually test ride a Himalayan.

 Thank you !

 If you do get one please be prepared for lots of questions 

[Bill Harris]

Check this out.  I like it and I think you'll like it too. 

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Royal%20Enfield/Royal_Enfield_Himalayan.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMb_HSvGZyo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa-3xPJ1kGU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSdInyfUD8M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cip8c0o5Qs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVNThOAK9Vg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib9eFlxFCNY

Royal Enfield people are good people

Cheers,
Bill

[Ice]

 Having a tough time deciding whether to get the flat black one or the gloss white one.

 Flat black doesn't care about dirt but white goes better with decals.

 

[Arizoni]

On a Indian forum, someone posted a few pages of the Himalayan Owners Manual which I found interesting.

A large number of people seem to think the recommended break in speeds given for the Royal Enfield 500's are too low and they are just a carry over from the days of the old Iron Barrel.
According to a table in the Himalayan's manual, they are not.

For those interested, here's the max recommended speeds for the first 500km (300 miles).

1st gear = 15 kmph (9 mph)
2nd gear = 25 kmph (16 mph)
3rd gear = 30 kmph (19 mph)
4th gear = 45 kmph (28 mph)
5th gear = 60 kmph (37 mph)

For 501-2000 km (311-1240 miles) the max break in speed recommended are:

1st gear = 20 kmph (12.4 mph)
2nd gear = 30 kmph (19 mph)
3rd gear = 40 kmph (25 mph)
4th gear = 55 kmph (34 mph)
5th gear = 80 kmph (50 mph)

If anything, these are more restrictive than the UCE break in.  At least the UCE manual said the break in period was done after 1000 Km or 600 miles.
 
Also, some of the things the manual recommends replacing seem rather odd to me:

Clutch plates = 15000 Km, 30000 Km and 45000 Km.

Front & rear brake pads, drive chain & sprocket set and Cush Drive rubber = 10000 Km, 20000 Km, 30000 Km, 40000 Km...

[Kevin Mahoney]

I can tell you with complete certainty that there is not much real science that has gone into RE's break in recommendations. Most of it is carry over from what was always done in the past. For example the rings in UCE engines don't really need to be seated but the factory made a purposeful decision not to bring that up to owners. That may change with the next iteration of engines since RE has hired some top notch engineers to work on the upcoming engines. The twin was pretty far along when they came onboard so it remains to be seen how much influence they have on that engine.

The Iron Barrels really did need to be broken in very carefully.All based on the dissipation or lack thereof of heat from the combustion process. An iron barrel can easily make more heat than it can dissipate when new. The alloy barrel in the AVL took care of that. The UCE engine is brilliant at getting rid of heat. I have copies of some thermal testing results that show the amount of effort that RE put into this.

My guess is that most Himalayan's  will not be used in the mountains where the clutch, brakes etc. will need to be replaced like the factory suggests. Like most 4WD vehicles, Dual Sport bikes etc.  in the US they will rarely if ever go off road. Here in southern AZ because there is no snow they commonly remind drivers to put their vehicles into 4WD a couple of times a year just to make sure it even works.

[DanKearney]

-Himalayan is a BS3 compliant motorcycle and it cannot go for sale at all metros in India.

What's that mean?


Cheers,


Dan K.

[Ice]

What's that mean?

Cheers,

Dan K.

  Baharat Stage 3 equates to Euro 3 for the most part.   
 
 The Himalayan was launched before the BS4 applicability date. The temporary sales ban in the City of New Delhi raised a few eyebrows.

http://www.ibtimes.co.in/royal-enfield-himalayan-will-not-be-available-buy-delhi-670971


 It didn't take long to resolve the issue.

http://www.news18.com/news/auto/royal-enfield-himalayan-goes-on-sale-in-new-delhi-1222987.html


 * that it runs BS3 clean with a carb and no cat is a testament IMHO to the superior valve control that is common to OHC designs.

 

[DanKearney]

Thanks for that explanation.


Cheers,


Dan K.

[Otto_Ing]

 * that it runs BS3 clean with a carb and no cat is a testament IMHO to the superior valve control that is common to OHC designs.

 

Personally I don't believe the OHC valve train has to do much with it at those low RPM's. But it could mean they employed some REAL engineers who have done their homework instead of the "politically correct" ones adding unnecessary things out of prejudice and hype.

[Kevin Mahoney]

What do you guys think? It is inevitable that the other big manufacturers in India are going to try and eat RE's lunch in that market. Not easy but interesting to watch.
http://www.oncars.in/bike-news/will-bajaj-pulsar-cs400-affect-royal-enfield-himalayan-sales/10320]
[url]http://www.oncars.in/bike-news/will-bajaj-pulsar-cs400-affect-royal-enfield-himalayan-sales/10320[/url]