Thumper Club Forum
Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: Terry James on April 07, 2018, 08:42:59 PM
-
I've just bought a Royal Enfield Himalayan and I'm really impressed with it. My XBR became too uncomfortable as I have an arthritic back and hips. The upright riding position suits me much better. I've got an MZ 251 Saxon for the winter months, but that's in pieces at the moment.
-
Excellent Terry. Great to finally 'meet' someone who has taken the plunge. Please keep us all up to speed on how things go. Where did you buy it from?
-
I was in my local RE dealer last week, I do like the look of them, but they look too high for a short a**e, maybe better off the stand but didn`t get a a chance to sit on it off the stand,
-
Yes, it's a shame they've followed the fashion for vastly more clearance between tyre and mudguard than is justified by suspension travel.
-
As another 'vertically challenged' bloke with short legs I tried one for size at the Dragon this year. It fits beautifully.
I reckon it could be the best rally attending bike there is, off the peg.
-
Hi Terry
Like Timbo I would be interested in your ongoing impressions of the Himalayan. I've got an Enfield Classic and a BMW F650, both of which are great bikes, but if I was to have just one bike I like the idea of the Himalayan.
Ian
-
I must admit that I really like them. If I was buying a new, or newish bike, it would have to be an EFI, or a Himalayan. The only thing about the Himalayan that doesn't appeal is that I personally would prefer if it was a twin shock. Less arsing about maintaining linkages etc :)
-
I must admit that I really like them. If I was buying a new, or newish bike, it would have to be an EFI, or a Himalayan. The only thing about the Himalayan that doesn't appeal is that I personally would prefer if it was a twin shock. Less arsing about maintaining linkages etc :)
Yeah, I'm with you on that one Tim. I really don't get what monoshock rear suspension brings to the party unless you are competing in off road stuff at expert level. Certainly for the likes of me it's a waste of time and a maintenance PITA...
-
If the monoshock has a rising rate linkage, it is far better that twin shocks + it has the ability to travel much further giving a lovely progressive suspension...my DR750 has 8" of travel at the rear....like a magic carpet on poor roads.
If it doesn't have rising rate and is just linear, you get the benefit of more travel over twin shocks, but not much else.
Dave.
-
If the monoshock has a rising rate linkage, it is far better that twin shocks + it has the ability to travel much further giving a lovely progressive suspension...my DR750 has 8" of travel at the rear....like a magic carpet on poor roads.
If it doesn't have rising rate and is just linear, you get the benefit of more travel over twin shocks, but not much else.
Dave.
I could cope with it all Dave, if only the manufacturers would spend a couple of quid on grease nipples, but they don't. >:(
-
Just a short post to answer some of the questions. I bought it from Newcombe Bros. in Chelmsford. The bike is a joy to ride. The frame was designed by Harris Performance. The seat height is low enough to get both feet flat on the ground. It does 80mpg. The clearance at the rear is for improved suspension travel. The finish is on a par with Japanese bikes and is supremely comfortable. The screen doesn't look much, but it works really well.
Terry.
-
Just a short post to answer some of the questions. I bought it from Newcombe Bros. in Chelmsford. The bike is a joy to ride. The frame was designed by Harris Performance. The seat height is low enough to get both feet flat on the ground. It does 80mpg. The clearance at the rear is for improved suspension travel. The finish is on a par with Japanese bikes and is supremely comfortable. The screen doesn't look much, but it works really well.
Terry.
Sorry Terry, I didn't mean to hi-jack your thread with my grumpy old git impression!
Welcome to TC and I too look forward to further reports of the Himalayan as it would be one of the very few new bikes I'd consider buying too.
-
Thanks for that Terry. All sounds good. Enjoy :)
Just out of interest, what do you reckon its happy cruising speed is? Could it sit happily at 70 for instance, say on a motorway? What horse power is it compared to an EFI? Also, any of you lot know what the happy cruising speed of an EFI Bullet is?
I know us Thumpeteers mostly stick to the back roads, and both the Himalaya and EFI are ideal for our sort of riding, but I just wondered as sometimes we have to join the great unwashed on the monotony of the major routes ;)
-
UCE EFI (2017 Euro 4) will cruise at 60 all day. Will probably do 70 all day but that's so boring I aren't going try it. It'll touch 80 two up :-X. 5000 miles on my 2017 now and starting to find some throwbacks from the iron barrels. Had to rewire the voltage regulator which they mount under the rear mudguard >:( :( and the oil bath outside the sprocket means you cannot fit a modern Japanese chain. The Himalaya supposedly has a lower power to weight ratio but if they've used fewer old Indian bits I'd give it a go.
Andy
-
Thanks for that Terry. All sounds good. Enjoy :)
Just out of interest, what do you reckon its happy cruising speed is? Could it sit happily at 70 for instance, say on a motorway? What horse power is it compared to an EFI? Also, any of you lot know what the happy cruising speed of an EFI Bullet is?
I know us Thumpeteers mostly stick to the back roads, and both the Himalaya and EFI are ideal for our sort of riding, but I just wondered as sometimes we have to join the great unwashed on the monotony of the major routes ;)
Not run it in yet, so have to keep to 50mph for 300 miles. The BHP is modest at just under 25, but being a long stroke 411cc, it has plenty of torque, which is what I was looking for. I won't be using it on motorways. Other RE owners have told me the comfortable cruising speed of a Bullet is 65mph, if you can stand the vibration! The Himalayan has a balance shaft, the Bullet doesn't. The Himalayan also has EFI.
-
Thanks for that Terry. All sounds good. Enjoy :)
Just out of interest, what do you reckon its happy cruising speed is? Could it sit happily at 70 for instance, say on a motorway? What horse power is it compared to an EFI? Also, any of you lot know what the happy cruising speed of an EFI Bullet is?
I know us Thumpeteers mostly stick to the back roads, and both the Himalaya and EFI are ideal for our sort of riding, but I just wondered as sometimes we have to join the great unwashed on the monotony of the major routes ;)
Not run it in yet, so have to keep to 50mph for 300 miles. The BHP is modest at just under 25, but being a long stroke 411cc, it has plenty of torque, which is what I was looking for. I won't be using it on motorways. Other RE owners have told me the comfortable cruising speed of a Bullet is 65mph, if you can stand the vibration! The Himalayan has a balance shaft, the Bullet doesn't. The Himalayan also has EFI.
The frame was designed by Harris performance and I believe the new engine was developed in Switzerland and has a balance shaft. It's a totally new, ground up motorcycle, has longer service intervals and does 80mpg.
-
Thanks again Terry. The Himalaya just keeps getting more tempting. The last few years i toured about on a 2002 Bullet, and a Guzzi Nuovo Falcone, both great bikes, but eventually I got fed up with their happy cruising speed of around 50/55mph. It doesn't sound that much, but there is a big difference between a bike that does this and one that sits happily at 60/65.
Then again, I have the Dommie and the MT500, which are my first and second favourite bikes of all :)
-
I saw one at the weekend parked up at Devil's Bridge and was quite taken by it. I can't believe that you are using the MZ for Winter though when you have a brand new Enfield that can take up that duty and keep the mZ clean! ;) ;)
-
I saw one at the weekend parked up at Devil's Bridge and was quite taken by it. I can't believe that you are using the MZ for Winter though when you have a brand new Enfield that can take up that duty and keep the mZ clean! ;) ;)
Hahahaha, like the way you're thinking there....
-
It's all sounding good for the Himalayan and interesting that it seems to have been produced with a different type of motorcycle ownership than the Bullets. With a Bullet you expect to get the spanners out as Andy M has commented, that's part of the deal when you buy one, though my current 2016 model is a lot more reliable than the 2006 model I had from new.
With the Himalayan Enfield seem to be aiming at less of an 'Indian' ownership and more towards a mainstream owner. That can only be a good thing as I'm tired of people looking at my Enfield and immediately trying to find faults. I remember similar things happening when I used to drive Skodas back in the 80s but people don't laugh at them now do they?
More power to their elbow I say and I for one will be watching the Himalayan with interest. Well unless I test ride an Interceptor first!
Ian
-
Like the way you're thinking Ian :)
I see MCN slated the Himilaya as being under powered. but what would they know :D
-
Personally, I think the MCN reviews are always very helpful. If they say a bike is a pile of carp, there's a very good chance I'll like it! ::)
-
:D :D :D
Well said. You almost had me there :)
-
MCN journalists - couldn't write "arse" on a wall with a spraycan and get it right.
-
Paper journalism is so last century. Performance bikes is actually written by an AI called Journotron 3000. Its really only trying to find the correct 400 word array of the words knee-down, wheelie and doughnut that will gain it the maximum number of website hits.
Andy
-
What! Conspiracy theories on the TC site! Whatever next! ;)
-
MCN journalists - couldn't write "*******" on a wall with a spraycan and get it right.
I've ridden motorcycles for almost 50 years and in that time I've learnt that different motorcycles are built for different roles. Journalists are sucked into believing that power is everything and top speed is paramount. Don't forget, they have to please certain manufacturers otherwise they won't get access to certain machines. The Himalayan isn't aimed at journalists, it's aimed at people who aren't looking for outright power or speed. It has usable power not power that can never be utilised on British roads. I love mine and will be keeping it for a very long time.
-
Here is another gabby person, this time trying to compare a BMW GS800 with a Himalayan! DIP! ::)
Himalayan_road_test_Visor_Down (http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/first-ride-2018-royal-enfield-himalayan)
Further rantings may now ensue.
My regards, Bill
-
Quite right Bill.... this thread is heading towards the 'MCN talk boJJocks' rant section.....
If it aint covered in plastic, with a head down bum in the air riding position, and has at least 200BHP, a top speed of 200MPH+, and a 0 - 60 of approx. 85 milliseconds then MCN staffers get very confused and can't work out why the bike has been built. .... oh... unless it's some kind of 'bobber' custom jobbie... seems to be a bit of a craze at the moment, and here, I to am confused .... what is the point of them?.
Anyway, all credit to Enfield India for sticking with, and improving, developing and marketing a good solid useful machine.
-
I never read MCN or Visordown because of the poor and sycophantic journalism. I want a motorcycle for the real world, not some behemoth with more gadgets and BHP than I will ever use. Bigger isn't always better and it's about time journalists recognised it. A bike that's a nano-second quicker than last year's model or one that has an increase in cubic capacity with no perceptible difference, doesn't interest me at all. The Himalayan is just about perfect for the sort of riding I do, not the sort of riding journalists think we should aspire to.
-
Well said that man. I think more people would be happy with their bikes if they bought what they wanted and what matched their riding style rather than what they think will impress other riders. My Enfield may not be fast or flash but this morning when I was once again out 'brownlaning' with Proper Dave you couldn't have removed my grin with a crowbar.
Too many times I hear motorcyclists at the bike shop telling each other the specs of their bike rather than where they've been on it or where they're going. I once shocked a bloke who proudly told me his Hayabusa 1300 had 190bhp by remarking that this was 145bhp too many for the real world. I think I was supposed to fall down and worship at the feet of this god who could handle such a beast.
I know it is up to the individual but if more people demanded real-world bikes rather than racers* on the road then maybe bike sales wouldn't be dropping.
Ian
*Obviously this doesn't apply to Goldies or Norton Inters!
-
"Nail on the head" award!
-
I was having a good look around the Himalya at Stafford the weekend. I really liked it - had a right purposeful rugged look about it. The new 650 was there too which I quite liked but i think it sgould be in red with conti style graphics instead of "modern" looking ones. Still a big jump forwrds for Enfield though, without going too mainstream.
-
I'm waiting for them to put the 650 twin engine in a Himalayan. Then I'll buy one. It does look to be a very nice bike.
-
I'm waiting for them to put the 650 twin engine in a Himalayan. Then I'll buy one. It does look to be a very nice bike.
'kinell order me one too please!
Ian
-
Yep, put me in that queue as well ;)