[hpwaco]

July issue of RIDER has comparison tests of Himalayan,  BMW G310GS and Kawasaki Versus X300 ABS.

[Merrill]

I got my hands on that issue and read the comparison test.   Pretty good assessment of what the three bikes are about.  It confirmed my decision to purchase a Himmy, but I’m not alone, the list is long..and the line starts way back there ?.......
.
Also they advocated for torque, explaining how real world friendly it is to ride......

[Fragman]

My dealer got a few Himalayans in last week & I took one out today to feel 'er out. For me, the foot pegs are set too far rearward & the seat slopes a wee bit toward the fuel tank which ain't the best posture fer me. The fly screen created a flapping sound behind me helmet that sounded like I was wearing a light nylon jacket instead of the leather one I always wear.

The steering & handling was nice, but I would step up to EBC brake pads in a hurry though as the braking feels too soft fer my liking. I found a fair bit of gear whine when letting off the throttle which reminded me of the sound emitted from the first K series BMW's.

The beasty shifted well and is lower geared than a C5, which it has to be to pull a machine of similar weight. My C5 will easily out pull a Himalayan up to 70+mph.

These bikes have a look that invites a bunch of tinkering which is good. Let's see what happens with the aftermarket. I'm gonna keep me C5 fer now though as it just fits me so well.

[Merrill]

Thanks for the report,,  the Himalayan is kind of
Scarce here in the Northwest.  I’m anxious to see one.

[Fragman]

No worries. I should mention that the suspension didn't feel much softer than on me C5 either, but seeing that my C5 has the sprung seat instead of the solid mounted perch on the Himalayan, I can see why.

The Himalayan will suit folks that do commutes to work or the store & putt down gravel roads easily enough, but an enduro bike it ain't. Me insurance bracket here puts the Himalayan in the 401-750 zone. That's a big gap fer a big gouge. I reckon that if I get the itch fer an enduro bike (An I am.) it will be a 350 Husqvarna. Cheaper insurance and huge performance for the terrain in my area.

[suitcasejefferson]

I would think the Himalayan would be compared more to the KLR and DR650. The BMW G310GS is a Chinese made POS and Kawasaki Versus X300 is made in Thailand, I believe. But the KLR is also made in Thailand or Taiwan.


I am a confirmed BMW hater. Both their bikes and cars always turn up at the bottom of any list of quality and reliability. The little bitty BMW might actually be better quality than the more expensive ones. My "adventure" bike is a highly modified Yamaha XT225. It has never let me down.

[Richard230]

Here is another comparison test. This one by Motorcycle.com.  They compare the Himalayan with the BMW G310GS and the Kawasaki Versys X-300 and ride all three bikes down to Baja and back. The included video is entertaining. The only problem that they had with the Himalayan was that the compass didn't work right (surprise!) and the transmission lost first gear on the way back. The review includes a dyno test of all three motorcycles.
http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/three-amigos-300cc-adv-bike-comparison-bmw-g-310-gs-vs-kawasaki-versys-x-300-vs-royal-enfield-himalayan

[Merrill]

Enjoyed the review... very disheartening about the transmission failure.   I really like this bike and am hoping it succeeds...   for that matter I like the Royal Enfield company and want them to succeed...
.
It would be a shame to lose such a fine well thought out design due to reliability issues.....
.
A lot hinges on the Himalayan,  possibly the future of Royal Enfield as a global player...
.
It is an exciting time !  I hope they make it,  I admire their philosophy and approach to motorcycle design .

[Morgan65]

Merrill, you can’t ding a Himalayan?
Where do you live in the NW? My dealer has two Himalayan’s on the showroom floor as of two days ago. And I would bet more in PDI.  They are Paradise Harley-Davidson in Beaverton, Oregon. Good people to deal with. I think they’ve sold at lest twelve Himalayan so far. If you are closer to Boise, ID, Big Twin Motorcycles had two Himalayan as well. Chuck Gregg is the one to talk to there.

[Morgan65]

Merrill, you can’t find a Himalayan?
Where do you live in the NW? My dealer has two Himalayan’s on the showroom floor as of two days ago. In white and a black one. I would also bet the have more in PDI as well. They are Paradise Harley-Davidson in Beaverton, Oregon. Good people to deal with. I think they’ve sold at lest twelve Himalayan so far. If you are closer to Boise, ID, Big Twin Motorcycles had two Himalayan as well. Chuck Gregg is the one to talk to there.

[longstrokeclassic]

Came across a brand new unregistered black/grey/white camouflage patterned Himmy today.
The model itself is not for me, just a bit too tall to get on it without running a boot over the passenger seat. I don't know if it was a brand new factory colour scheme or a workshop special but to me it looked the better option available of the three.

[Merrill]

Morgan I purchased one from big twin in Boise around the 1st of this month.  At 750 miles the EMS light came on.  Took it back to Boise.  It’s been there 3 weeks now.   I like the dealer . I like the bike. Just hope things work out okay.   I’m in the center of wa. St. Moses Lake,  six hours to Boise one way.  For me it’s a day down , and a day back.... the bike is  terrific  To ride.    I’m choosing to stay positive  through this ordeal  ...
Also the bike won’t idle for any length of time

[voodoochild]

Came across a brand new unregistered black/grey/white camouflage patterned Himmy today.
The model itself is not for me, just a bit too tall to get on it without running a boot over the passenger seat. I don't know if it was a brand new factory colour scheme or a workshop special but to me it looked the better option available of the three.

That sounds like the Himalayan "Sleet edition". Didn't think they'd imported any stateside. Where did you see it?

[longstrokeclassic]

Mirus55 motorcycles, Gillingham, UK

[Richard230]

BTW, I was impressed when Motorcycle.com reported in their comparison that the Himalayan was able to hold a steady 80-85 mph on the freeway apparently without complaint. That had to be right at redline for the engine. I was also interested to see that the engine makes about 22 hp at the rear wheel, that is about 10% more than the 500cc models.

[Merrill]

Richard ,  I enjoyed the review,  but saying the Himalayan can run 80-85 , is not realistic .  At 700 miles I began riding my machine in a manner that would keep pace with traffic.  Seed limits ranged from 50 to 65 .   A good head wind will hold the bike between 60 - 65 at near full throttle.  If capable of 85 ( which I doubt) it would take a long time to reach that speed and letting off the throttle would require a long stretch to regain such speed.   Realistically the bikes are 70 to 75 top speed .  And that is what people should be told .   I enjoyed the article, but reading that the Himmy could cruise at 80/85   Tainted All that was said....
Keep it real.

[Richard230]

Richard ,  I enjoyed the review,  but saying the Himalayan can run 80-85 , is not realistic .  At 700 miles I began riding my machine in a manner that would keep pace with traffic.  Seed limits ranged from 50 to 65 .   A good head wind will hold the bike between 60 - 65 at near full throttle.  If capable of 85 ( which I doubt) it would take a long time to reach that speed and letting off the throttle would require a long stretch to regain such speed.   Realistically the bikes are 70 to 75 top speed .  And that is what people should be told .   I enjoyed the article, but reading that the Himmy could cruise at 80/85   Tainted All that was said....
Keep it real.

And here we go again:  The September/October issue of Motorcyclist magazine has an 8-page article, starting on page 56, about someone riding a Royal Enfield Himalayan off-road in the desert, to and into a mine located in southeastern California. Frankly, the article doesn't provide a lot of text, mostly large photos, although it does include the usual general description of the Himalayan. This includes a comment that the bike produces 24 hp and that the rider was able to ride the bike on Highway 395 "at its top speed of 85 mph for hours". So what can I say?  Now we have that claim from two professional motorcycle reviewers about the bike being able to run at 85 mph for hours.  Kind of makes you wonder if the SoCa magazine reviewers of the Himalayan are either lying or have been given a "ringer" by RE?    

If you want to read this article, I recommend checking it out at a book store or large magazine stand. Reading it and looking at the pretty pictures should only take you about 5 minutes. Frankly, if you are looking for information about a motorcycle, this is not the magazine for you.  It is all "fluff". I am getting this publication because I had a subscription that extends to 2020 when they converted from my favorite monthly magazine into a tabletop version that is only distributed every couple of months. Motorcyclist magazine now contains a lot of large-format photos, but little informative text. Plus, the newsstand per-issue price has been doubled to something like $12 an issue.

[Morgan65]

Morgan I purchased one from big twin in Boise around the 1st of this month.  At 750 miles the EMS light came on.  Took it back to Boise.  It’s been there 3 weeks now.   I like the dealer . I like the bike. Just hope things work out okay.   I’m in the center of wa. St. Moses Lake,  six hours to Boise one way.  For me it’s a day down , and a day back.... the bike is  terrific  To ride.    I’m choosing to stay positive  through this ordeal  ...
Also the bike won’t idle for any length of time

Sorry to hear of the three weeks no bike. I have a new 500 Pegasus Edition on order from them only because I was told each dealer only got one bike and my buddy beat me to the punch here in Portland. I think I’d be calling the toll free number to RENA to ask if they can give your dealer some technical help to get you back on the road as these are new bikes to the US and still is in the leaning curve.

I feel you pain.? Moto Guzzi used to be my main ride and I had take it to the north side of Seattle for service. Hang in their the Himmy is a awesome bike.

[ace.cafe]

I suspect that the reviewers are reporting the INDICATED speeds that they see on the speedo.

Regardless, riding at top speed for a large percentage of a bikes life, just because it didn't die the first time on the road test, is folly.

Not recommended.

[Richard230]

I suspect that the reviewers are reporting the INDICATED speeds that they see on the speedo.

Regardless, riding at top speed for a large percentage of a bikes life, just because it didn't die the first time on the road test, is folly.

Not recommended.

But something that motorcycle reviewers like to do. After all they didn't pay for the vehicle and feel that their job is to see if it will last a month under rent-a-car conditions. 

[voodoochild]

And here we go again:  The September/October issue of Motorcyclist magazine has an 8-page article, starting on page 56, about someone riding a Royal Enfield Himalayan off-road in the desert, to and into a mine located in southeastern California. Frankly, the article doesn't provide a lot of text, mostly large photos, although it does include the usual general description of the Himalayan. This includes a comment that the bike produces 24 hp and that the rider was able to ride the bike on Highway 395 "at its top speed of 85 mph for hours". So what can I say?  Now we have that claim from two professional motorcycle reviewers about the bike being able to run at 85 mph for hours.  Kind of makes you wonder if the SoCa magazine reviewers of the Himalayan are either lying or have been given a "ringer" by RE?    

If you want to read this article, I recommend checking it out at a book store or large magazine stand. Reading it and looking at the pretty pictures should only take you about 5 minutes. Frankly, if you are looking for information about a motorcycle, this is not the magazine for you.  It is all "fluff". I am getting this publication because I had a subscription that extends to 2020 when they converted from my favorite monthly magazine into a tabletop version that is only distributed every couple of months. Motorcyclist magazine now contains a lot of large-format photos, but little informative text. Plus, the newsstand per-issue price has been doubled to something like $12 an issue.

I believe the specific article you're referring to is by Abhi Eswarappa of Bike-Urious. He has now released it on his website here: https://www.bike-urious.com/bike-review-2018-royal-enfield-himalayan/

"...Leaving Los Angeles with the goal of achieving solitude typically requires a few hours of droning on the highway, and this trip will be no different. Reward Mine is 225 miles away from my front door, and all but 8 of those miles will be on pavement, usually with a speed limit above 65. This is going to be the tedious part of the journey, but I have to suffer through it to get to the good stuff. At sea level on flat ground, the Himalayan is content to cruise at 75 miles per hour, and I don’t have anything to complain about.
...It may not be a huge difference, and it’s definitely not a RE-specific problem, but as I’m trying to ride uphill fighting a headwind at elevation, I can no longer maintain 75 miles per hour. In fact, I can’t keep the speedometer needle pegged at 65. I have to downshift to 4th gear (the transmission has 5 speeds) just to be able to hold steady at 55. Now things are starting to feel tedious."

I thought it was a fair review of the motorcycle. Given that the top speed doesn't work for the author's geographical region (or his preference) doesn't mean that it won't work for others in the United States and he clearly states this at least a couple of times while diving into other aspects of the motorcycle that might make it appealing (price, style etc.) or not so appealing (quality reputation, power etc.) to the North American market. No big revelations here compared to other past reviewers but some pretty pictures and a neat trip to a rad mining spot. 

[Merrill]

Voodoo,,  this artical is  indicative of what the Himalayan actually is and reflects well the bikes  prowess .   Thanks for posting the link.  I enjoyed reading it. .........
In Eastern Washington there is still lots of great areas to ride none of which require interstate miles to access.   Like the artical mentions ,  the bike is a good fit for our  region  .   

[Richard230]

I believe the specific article you're referring to is by Abhi Eswarappa of Bike-Urious. He has now released it on his website here: https://www.bike-urious.com/bike-review-2018-royal-enfield-himalayan/

"...Leaving Los Angeles with the goal of achieving solitude typically requires a few hours of droning on the highway, and this trip will be no different. Reward Mine is 225 miles away from my front door, and all but 8 of those miles will be on pavement, usually with a speed limit above 65. This is going to be the tedious part of the journey, but I have to suffer through it to get to the good stuff. At sea level on flat ground, the Himalayan is content to cruise at 75 miles per hour, and I don’t have anything to complain about.
...It may not be a huge difference, and it’s definitely not a RE-specific problem, but as I’m trying to ride uphill fighting a headwind at elevation, I can no longer maintain 75 miles per hour. In fact, I can’t keep the speedometer needle pegged at 65. I have to downshift to 4th gear (the transmission has 5 speeds) just to be able to hold steady at 55. Now things are starting to feel tedious."

I thought it was a fair review of the motorcycle. Given that the top speed doesn't work for the author's geographical region (or his preference) doesn't mean that it won't work for others in the United States and he clearly states this at least a couple of times while diving into other aspects of the motorcycle that might make it appealing (price, style etc.) or not so appealing (quality reputation, power etc.) to the North American market. No big revelations here compared to other past reviewers but some pretty pictures and a neat trip to a rad mining spot.

That is a much more informative and interesting article than the version printed in Motorcyclist.  The version published in the magazine had all negative comments about the Himalayan removed, along with any comparisons with similar Japanese motorcycles in it price range. However, they did use some of the photos in the story written by Abhi Eswarappa.  So there you go. Some creative editing and the hook is out for an RE ad or two.   

I bet the previous version of Motorcyclist magazine that I have subscribing to since the Peterson Quarterly days in the early 1970's, would have published the entire article without neutering it.