Have a read of this French blog, if you have not found it already:
https://motohimalayan.wordpress.com/

My own PoV here: https://adventure-motorcycling.com/2...eld-himalayan/
https://adventure-motorcycling.com/2...0-mile-review/

You will see mine on the front cover of the AMHandbook somewhere on the right.

I would definitely try one first before buying.
It's not like other bikes: some get the Him, some don't.
I found mine great for plodding around the Moroccan mountains and desert but chose to get it vanned to Malaga from UK.
It's as fast as a Jap 250, but with more torque you'll appreciate on tracks.
Also, the 3000-mile valve checks are a right pain. Perhaps they can be extended if it's not revved too hard?

Like
• At £4000, with the stock equipment it’s a bargain
• Low, 800mm seat – at last a travel bike not limited to tall people
• Enfield build quality stood up to it
• Efi motor pulled smoothly up to 3000m (nearly 10,000′)
• Michelin Anakee Wilds (run tubeless) – great do-it-all tyres
• Low CoG and 21-″ front make it agile on the dirt
• Rear YSS shock showed up the rather harsh forks
• Yes it’s 190kg, but road and trail, it carries it well
• Subframe easily sturdy enough for RTW load carrying
• Economy went up and up: averaged 78 mpg (65 US; 27.6kpl; 3.62L/100k)
• 400km range from the 15-litre tank – about 250 miles

Like less
• Weak front brake on the road (fitting sintered pads is a fix)
• As a result, front ABS is a bit docile
• Stock seat foam way too mushy for my bulk
[• Tubliss core failed on the front; replaced with inner tube]
• Centre stand hangs low – but can be raised
• Valves need checking every 3000 miles (according to manual)
• Small digit dash data hard to read at a glance
• Compass is always out
• Head bearings notchy at 4000 miles, despite regressing @ 1200 (replaced on warranty @ 5000)

__________________
Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

The Himalayan is the perfect bike to ride. In India. Elsewhere you may consider something similar like a 1982 Honda XL 250.

The Himalayan is a bike that draws a lot of internet argument.

They have a very loyal and argumentative fan base. But from my experience, most of these flag bearers generally haven't owned many bikes for comparison or don't use it as anything but a weekend toy . Although there are obvious exceptions to this.

Their best argument was "Itchy boots uses one". But that's a sore point now as she's ditched it for Hondas after gaining more bike experience.

I can say that I have about ten good friends or close acquaintances that own or have owned one. I have also had a few on my bench for work, prep and maintenance.

It's worth noting that 90% of those people have sold them after the novelty has worn off or they have self destructed trying to use them as proper adv bikes.

Personally, I think they're an absolute pointless machine other than a cheap novelty to supplement a proper adv bike. Considering what else is out there. They are incredibly heavy, very underpowered, have terrible suspension, awful braking and have pretty poor reliability.


On paper, I can see their appeal. THEY'RE CHEAP. £4000 for a new bike !! WOW !! And they have a low seat. They look like an ADV bike. They're relatively simple too.

However, I don't know anyone with a Himmy who hasn't had electrical problems, oil leaks and other frustrating issues. Although if your a capable mechanic, most issues seem simple to fix. Although one of my friends Himmy jammed up it's gearbox after 25,000 miles and another has had constant head-gasket leaks.


But THINK !! You have £4000 to spend on an adventure bike.

Have you seen what you can buy from used Japanese/European pedigree stock for £4000. Bikes that will last FOREVER, are high spec, well designed and professionally built. With great after sales support and dedicated parts suppliers.

I could list fifty bikes that are better than the Himmy for the same money even with them being five, ten, twenty or even thirty years old.

I'm like a broken record on this forum:

NEW does not mean RELIABLE. CHEAP and NEW means quality is seriously compromised.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

To Svliker.

Do you need any further information on the Himalayan or is what has been posed sufficient for you?

I have ridden a BS4 UK model in excess of 28,000 miles all over Europe from Spain to Turkey. If you want my twopence worth let me know

Let's start with 5.

As someone who is in the market for a small, beginner friendly, all arounder in the small ADV or dual sport class, for extended trips among other things, I am fairly drawn to the RE Himalayan, it seems like a good compromise between a lot of things, I would be interested to hear some alternative options at a similar price point.

If this is not the proper place to discuss this, shoot me a PM.

Thats easy. I could pick five from each manufacturer

In no order of preference. And I'll stick to fuel injected bikes that can be bought for less than a new Himalayan. Otherwise the list will be 50 deep

1)Yamaha XT660 series (Although the 660R is closest to Himmy height) -
2)Honda CB500X
3) Honda Transalp 700
4) Suzuki V-strom 650
5)Kawasaki Versys 650
6)BMW F650 single (GS, Dakar, Sertao) or F650/800 parallel twin GS.

If you don't mind an older bike (which I believe are still far more dependable than a new RE) you could look at the:

XT600, DR650, XR650L, DRZ400S, Africa Twin 750, Transalp 600/650 etc.

I know I could get on my 25 year old Africa Twin and circumnavigate the world twice without it giving me trouble. There would be a mountain of dead RE's for the same trip.

Obviously, the problem with old bikes is that you don't know their history. So you need to buy smart. So if you're not overly confident of sniffing out a lemon, you should stick to something ten years old or less from the top list.

I would love to do a side to side Comparison with an XT660R and a Himalayan. They are similar in so many ways.

Comparing a Yamaha to a RE is like comparing a Rolex to a plastic watch out of a Christmas cracker.

Look at this on ebay. It's like new bike.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194498810...AAAOSw92xhxUmd

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

You might have noticed that since @markharf's initial intervention on this thread a further dozen posts have disappeared. I removed these as they were attacking other members (or responding to the attacks) and added nothing of value to the thread.

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

I am posting a public apology. To all Himalayan owners that I have offended and upset on this thread by suggesting anything in the contrary that their bike isn't perfection on two wheels.

This apology is a result of a private message I received telling my that my post has been "Edited".

So..I have deleted my last post on this thread as it had been cut and edited by a Moderator. Sorry, I mean censored.

Because I compared a motorcycle to a cheap watch. Which apparently is now offensive.

It was deemed derogatory. As it might upset any said owners of said bike.

Perhaps members of this forum should think twice about the posts they now read. As they could likely changed or censored to fit the narrative of the moderator. RE owner ?

How can a forum be objective if opinions of bikes/equipment are changed and deleted by moderators.

I think I'll suspend myself from this forum for 30 days. Save the moderator the hassle.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Hello


To be fair, the RE is available NEW, most of the bike in your list are not available as NEW bikes (for example in the european market), and if they are, only for asking prices beyond any reasonble value of what you actually get in form of the bike (in the market of my country and some of my neighbours).


sushi

__________________
My RTW:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrXt660ztenere

I've owned three of the bikes on Ted's list

The Rotax Aprillia/BMW's have specific weaknesses in the water pump and charging systems. If you can find a low mileage one and have the skill to get into the mechanical stuff you can probably make a decent bike. By the time you've done you will have spent Himalayan money and still have an old bike. Get one that's been cooked by a previous owner and bodged back together and there can be a world of pain.

V-Strom's are top heavy and lardy as a Glaswegian take away. Despite the capacity I'd put these in competition with 800GS's etc. for road only trips and people built like prop forwards.

The CB500X is a bit of a lump. In its standard form it was not capable of doing UK green lanes except the driest and most road like. Fix it with shocks and a lot of Rally Raid stuff and you've spent a lot. You can't get over basic service problems like the spark plugs being near the sump with the rest of the bike piled on top.The slippy clutch and ABS without an off-road mode were very poor on steep gravel.

I've had a short ride on a Himalayan and wish I'd bought it instead of the CB500X. Performance was fine, no previous owner bodges, seems simple to live with. I've had Bullets which maybe conditions you for what is normal. I wouldn't rate my knowledge of these as a serious opinion though, 30 minutes round Wakefield is rough and uncivilised but not in a good way.

There are no right or wrong answers. If I was going to India I'd get the RE. For the UK, if I lived near any of the last bits of legal unpaved road I'd go with a CRF250. As I don't I'll stick with the V7 for now.

Andy