[wildbill]

A few days back I thought I had a good deal going on a new 019 plated Himalayan from a dealership which had changed hands and had a couple of leftover he plans to sell. Anyway it was a grand under list but in the end that sale fell through and he changed his mind...lol
Anyway today i got early and into purchase mode and hit the phone and got a dealer roughly 3 hours away who had just taken over as the new Enfield dealer in western Sydney NSW Australia. His quote on a Himalayan was a bit high at $7300 out the door and in Australia that for the carby model too -only one available here no fuel injection. I said i'd be happy to go $6990 cash and in the end that was the exact cash price.





So this time they did take my deposit and its just a matter of getting it registered and then the pick up. Apart from that i will be ready to roll. Same colour Black and Compliance 5/019 as the other unit I inquired about days earlier so they must all be from the same import batch.






I always had plans if I ever bought a Himalayan to actually buy the sleet version but after studying the colour over and over again on various youtube video I decided maybe its not for me. I'd also say I did NOT really like the look of this particular bike at all but over the past few months my opinion has changed there too. Once I hated white cars -now I own a white car and have painted some of my cars white...lol
This new dealership had this Black Himalayan in stock and a White demo. They offered me a demo to ride but I figured if I am going to drive 6 hours in total I might as well just get the Black unit and try this out in the local area once and for all. It may actually surprise me.

[Bilgemaster]

Not usually a big fan of black bikes (Why make yourself even harder to see?), but I like that well enough. Then again, I am presently mulling over picking up a black Moto Guzzi for about $1000 that needs some kind of driveshaft seal. So, maybe that's softened me up a bit.

You gonna lay on that special Himi worldbeater luggage too, Wildbill? Thinking of riding her back from Western Oz or just shipping?

[Richard230]

Looks nice, Bill.  How long are you planning to keep this one?     Got any trips to Papua New Guinea planned?   

[wildbill]

bilgemaster

I think I will pick it up in the hi-ace as the wife said I have noting better to do than drive down and get it rather than waste $500 on freight like I did on that triumph..lol anyway I will see . I suppose its only 3 hours each way but I don't like the idea.

Richard 230

that I  suppose will depend upon how well the bike goes. although saying that I have that street scrambler as a back up and it does appear to be not a bad bike so I am at least happy with that one.

BAD NEWS!

ok guys sorry to burst the bubble. now at first I too was wrapped with itchyboots trek on the Himalayan and how well that bike really runs BUT now I am starting to think that bike may be the exception to the rule. maybe just maybe it gets the long hauls but still gets its easier compared to say if a guy was the main rider. just a thought there.
why do I say this?
this forum has very little to no info on the Himalayan-that's what I think. I bought one so I had to do the research. I've done that over the past couple of weeks over a few web sites.
it appears to me and I will find out one way or the other-the himalayan is just as heavily flawed with defects as the c5 or may even be worse. in the beginning the early versions had problems but its still no better in 019 and one guy recommended first off pull the swing arm and head steady and grease the bearing with quality grease-on a new bike.
some have mentioned too to avoid the swingarm bearing/head/wheel/etc just keep the Himalayan on sealed road and away from water...lol
as for me if it was $10k I think i'd scrap my deposit now and bail but seeing its only $7k and I have bought those accessories or some for it-its too late to pull out and I am going to find out fist hand -if its any good or not!
because unlike some I know I can always cash it for a quick $5K..lol

[Arizoni]

You won't like it.

So far, your track record says you don't like anything Royal Enfield makes so, why bother.  Just sell it now.  That will keep you from having to spend 6 hours picking it up and bringing it home.

[wildbill]

(GRIN)

7 years later and bike -28-or my 25th new bike since my return to two wheelers since 150 cars. ! i wonder further down the track who will get this unit ?

so i decided to head off and do the trip and save the $500 freight. i couldn't pull out of the deal as apart from lose the deposit i have ordered quite a few accessories for the bike. here it is in the van





I had a bit of trouble getting the bike in the hi-ace so had no choice but to remove the screen and mirror





now to confirm some of those Himalayans have problems -look at this one where the welding let go-

[Richard230]

Gee, who knew that RE made a Himalayan extended-fork custom cruiser?  Are you going to modify your bike like that, Bill?   

[Bilgemaster]

I think you're getting WAY ahead of your typical vehicle consumption curve there, Wildbill. You haven't even given that fine new Himi a chance! Hell, you don't know the back story on that frame crack shown in that photo. For all we know that thing was abused in ways you wouldn't dream of doing to yours.

Fact is, frame cracks are just a reality of "adventure riding" whatever the make or model of bike. I'm currently rewatching those "Long Way 'Round" and "Long Way Down" series on Amazon Prime, and both series feature multiple frame breakages on those huge pricey and supposedly indestructable Beemers they're swanning around on. In fact, at one point in the first series they basically have to write off the cameraman's ride owing to multiple frame breakages, and end up mounting him on a little Russian IZh Planeta 5 2-stroke, which, being sensibly light and tractable like your new Himi, then proceeds to run rings around those corpulent German globs.

So yeah, give it a chance why don't you? One of those things just hauled a Dutch gal and all her shit to Europe from Malaysia without major incident, so as long as you don't jump that thing off Ayers Rock, you should be fine. Relax and enjoy, dude.

[wildbill]

im just showing you guys what some-one posted on another forum. doesn't worry me. I just buy and try...lol

[ROVERMAN]

I am getting ready to buy. I still don't understand why nobody has whined about the windscreen! It buffets my noggin like crazy, no matter where i try to position my head. So, if i get a Himi the first thing to go will be the windscreen followed by the mirrors. Question is, is there an alternative screen out there? Looking forward to your evaluation Wild Bill.
  Does anyone know if Dobeck makes an kit for the Himi? Their site only lists the Bullet EFI.
 Roverman.

[tooseevee]

I'm currently rewatching those "Long Way 'Round" and "Long Way Down" series on Amazon Prime,

           I watched those two series years ago and still try to watch them over every year or so. Like rereading LOTR (and his and Christopher's other stuff) every now and then since the late '60s when I first read it. LOTR and Tolkien became one of my strongest life-long obsessions.

        Long Way Down and Long Way Round are two of THE best! and anyone on here who has NOT watched them - Get On It!

[Arizoni]

im just showing you guys what some-one posted on another forum. doesn't worry me. I just buy and try...lol

The Hemi in those pictures as pretty much been proven to be one of the first models RE released and yes, they had design and welding problems.  In fact, RE stopped production of the motorcycle and redesigned the weak areas and revised their welding procedures for the Hemi they are selling now.

IMO, Noraly's 36,000 km ride goes a long way to prove the revised model doesn't have an issue with frame cracks any more than other brands of Adventure motorcycles being sold.

Also remember, anything that is mechanical can be broken if some dumb shit is using it.  They are quite capable of breaking a hammer.

[symmo]

I saw that photo of that busted Himalyan ages ago, and the owner if I remember had been jumping it off tumps and what ever, and Enfield told him to take a hike.I don't think a frame will brake like that unless you're doing dafty things it wasn't design to do. As for colour they also come in Olive Drab which suits it perfectly, but you have to ask.

[Richard230]

I am getting ready to buy. I still don't understand why nobody has whined about the windscreen! It buffets my noggin like crazy, no matter where i try to position my head. So, if i get a Himi the first thing to go will be the windscreen followed by the mirrors. Question is, is there an alternative screen out there? Looking forward to your evaluation Wild Bill.
  Does anyone know if Dobeck makes an kit for the Himi? Their site only lists the Bullet EFI.
 Roverman.

I just bought a clip-on-to-the-windshield wind deflector that I found on Amazon for only $26 and free shipping from Hong Kong.  Took two weeks to arrive and works just as well as the made-in-Germany version that Wunderlich sells for $220.     Photos attached

[ROVERMAN]

Thanks Richard!