Royal Enfield Himalayan
 

I'm looking for unbiased views on all the Himalayan's from early BS3 to latest 2021 model's.
I've been brought up on British bikes, appreciate certain sub 200kg Japanese bikes. But I'm ideally now looking for an air cooled adventure bike, the Himalayan fits the budget, Capacity suitable for our roads, but just how bad or good are they? Local agent here in France won't give a test ride even, no demo's, only new bikes he would deem secondhand.
Hope for some sensible views on maintenance etc, thanks

Why are you looking particularly for an aircooled bike?

The consensus seems to be that the fuel injected models are good - they do what they were designed to do very well, but aren't suited to "serious" off roading.

Have a look at the Himalayan vs 250s thread (HERE) for a lot of interesting opinions. If I was going long distance on unpaved roads it would be my choice, but because I'm more drawn to "serious" off roading I don't think one is in my future :)

I'm 6ft plus, like a decent fuel range that most 250's lack without aftermarket tanks. I'm not doing hardcore off road, more tour/adventure in no hurry. Thanks

Then it sounds like it might be good for you, then :) I'd advise getting a friend to hold a bike up for you in the showroom and sit in a riding position for a minute - the footpegs are a bit forward compared to most bikes and it has a low seat.

I did get a seat on one at local agents, but you're right about footrests; I noticed that on various YouTube clips. My 30 year old XT600 has good footrests, problem is restarts on hills, kickstart only! Here you'd pay almost as much for 600E as a new Himalayan

BS6
 

I would say the from BS6, the initial problems are sorted.
So if you buy a new one: No problem.

I was driving one BS4 in Nepal. I do not know if it was ever imported to Europe. We drove 8 bikes for 2 weeks. Only one issue. The generator on one of the bikes stopped charging. But it could be fixed on the parking outside the hotel.
From other reports. This model still had some issues to sort out. (But no major ones). And RE introduce improvement on the BS6 model.

I think that it is a perfect travelling bike. For all roads except highways. And for no roads. But if you planned to tour Europe on highways and Autobahn, I assume you would not look into this bike.

36 000 km review of the Indian BS4 model

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6sP...C3-e&index=129

11 000 km with BS6 => Service with oil, oil filter, air filter, sparkplug => continue without any issues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msr6...hT6af&index=38


Excellent value for the money.
(The majority of the people having negative comments about this bike, have never used one. )

Thank you Erik, your last comment is true I think, hearsay, rumour, "how can it be so cheap?"
Back in 1980 I bought a fairly fresh MZ250/1, mixed views from other 250 rider's, but it was brilliant, two up at 80mph all day and simple. It's all relative, thanks,

True. Much the same could be said about any negative comments about anything in this world, never mind just a particular model of motorcycle.

Simply said because it is made from an indian motorcycle company for the price sensitive indian market who demands affordable and competitive bikes.

Sometimes hard to understand for buyers in markets where they are used to get shown a premium priced product to affect them to buy a midprice product.

I've had a few days offline, so excuse delay. Yes the price in India must be an underlying factor to the 5,200 euros here in France.. Much as I like my old XT600 I couldn't bring myself to part with 10k for new 700 model with not so much as a centrestand, let alone pricey extras. Other consideration was Voge 500 DSX at 6,200euros with does have centrestand, affordable extras, but it's so new to market and spares might be an issue. Anyway I think I've found a willing Enfield agent for possible testride

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)

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.

I don't know where you are based but if anywhere near the Southwest, Moto Passion 65 in Pouzac near Bagneres de Bigorre are very helpful. :thumbup1:

https://www.madornomad.com/royal-enf...alayan-review/

https://www.advpulse.com/adv-news/20...t-ride-review/

https://adventure-motorcycling.com/2...0-mile-review/

I have written and posted about the Himalayan on several occasions in this forum but until recently I have only testridden it around a couple of blocks around 3 years ago.

But this past week I finally got the chance to do a decent ride on a Himalayan. Im currently in Chiang Mai - northern Thailand (riders paradise) and since my main ride the trusty Crf is waiting for new fork seals and I found a rental that offered different Royal Enfields for rent I took the oportunity and I choose a Himalayan and rented it for a 3 days ride in the mountains of northern Thailand. Or more specific the Mae Hong Son loop and some decent detours in the area as well. Those who know - will know what this means. I had a pillion on the trip and my comparison will be the trusty Crf250 although its not a totally comparable bike of course. I have also done 2 trips in Nepal and Bhutan/Sikkim on Royal Enfield 500 cc Bullets each approx 2000 and 2500 kms and rented a Bullet for 2 days in Goa - India. So I have some previous experience with Royal Enfields.

So we rode around 750 kms altogether on partially very steep and winding roads in the mountains of northern Thailand on the Himalayan. My thoughts:

Negatives:
* Weight - OMG its a heavy beast. Almost 200 kilos on a 411 cc bike is a lot! And you cannot avoid to notice it. It does carry most of its weight down low - so not topheavy.
* Engine ohmp - wow never have 24,5 horses felt so little. The Crf I own with less HP would have beaten the Hima very very easily on all kinds of speed and accelration comparisions. Even the torque at low rpm the Royal Enfields are known for did not not feel adequate at all in the mountains. As mentioned above I have ridden Royal Enfield Bullets two different trips of 2-3 weeks each in Nepal and Bhutan/India and the Bullets felt much torquier. But thats probably logical as the Bullets are 500 cc and I rode them without a pillion.
* First gear are high - so not great for technical single track duties and rough gravel roads.

On pairs:
* Gearbox - much better and more precise gearbox compared to the Bullets I have ridden. Not as buttersmooth as most japanese bikes though.
* Brakes - positively surprised with the brakes as compared to what I have read previously about them from other Hima riders. They felt relatively adequate even for 2 persons and riding some very very steep downhills with altitude differences of more than 1000 meters in just a very few kms. I noticed that the Hima I rented had steel braided (correct expression??) brake lines so that might have helped. In comparison when I rode the same roads with my 660 Tenere during my RTW trip the rear brakes on the Tenere faded to zero brake action several times riding with a pillion.
* Seat comfort and sitting position. Im 180 cm and around 90 kilos atm - and the seat is a bit soft and after a couple of hours in the saddle the well known bum pain set in. Thats better than on some bikes I have ridden and worse than others.
* Suspension - not the best or most plush - but for what it is its adequate. The Bullets I have ridden felt much more comfortable though…

Positives:
* Low seat hight - for those vertically challenged it would be a comfortable and practical bike to mount and ride. For a very tall person maybe not…
* Cruising ability - for riding country roads, back roads, secondary and tertiary roads - it felt a nice ride. Its a quite big and heavy stallion and it felt stable and comfortable to ride. Long wheel base might help to this. It felt quite flickable for its size throwing it through the sharp curves of northern Thailand roads, even with a pillion. For really tough and winding mountain climbs - not so much as it lacks power and ohmp to climb comfortably.
Fuel milage - for around 750 kms mostly very steep and winding mountain roads with a pillion we averaged approx 34,5 kms to the liter. That equals approx 98 mpg imperial or 81-82 mpg US. Or 2,9 liters pr 100 kms. Not bad at all! That would mean a range of + 500 kms and thats very impressive and practical!
EDIT: A couple of things more that I now remember that was on the positive side…
Gear indicator - its not a big thing for me, but I understand many riders like a gear indicator. The Hima have one and it works.
Indicated speed versus real speed - now this is a thing that have irritated me enormously since I started using a GPS and could compare real speed with indicated speed. The speedo on the Tenere 660 I rode around the world was 10 % off! What a PITA! And so freaking unneccesary! And the Hondas I have owned lately are also 7-8 % off! But the Hima speedo was only 2-3 % off - so thats almot nothing. A very good thing if you ask me!

So will I ever buy one? Probably not. My current ride in Thailand a Honda Crf250L that I have upgraded with bigger gas tank, wind shield, better foot pegs, extra lights etc would outperform the Himalayan on almost all points. Its lighter, faster, more flickable, has better overall performances. Same fuel milage, harder seat though.
The Hima would be better for riding with a pillion though and better luggage carrying capacity - so an adequate touring machine albeit a slow one. I would say the comfortable cruising speed was around 80-90 kms/h. When we got close to 100 kms/h vibration was noticable and engine started to feel stressed. Yes we could cruise at 100 km/h and even a bit above - but that was not a comfortable ride though. So on pair with my Crf250 I would say.

If I was to buy it - for which trip/rides would I buy it?
Well if I wanted a bike to do a trip in India, Nepal and Bhutan - especially two up I would have considered a Himalayan. Or maybe any other Royal Enfield model.
Also now in south America there are plentiful dealers of Royal Enfield afaik (?) - so for a cheap economically two up bike for a south America adventure I would have considered a Hima. For Europe or north America NO. For southeast Asia - NO.

My 5 baht thought atm…

Thanks Snakeboy - Good comparison there

Enjoy your trip mate :mchappy:

40hp - now you're talking ;-D
 

More power would be great because it definetlively needs that. But it also need to lower the weight considerably and Im not sure the watercooled engine versus a aircooled engine will contribute to that….

So reading the article it is going to have 16bhp more power, still with lots of low end grunt, and a lower weight due to the change in frame design. Plus increased ground clearance and new, longer travel front suspension. Price wise it looks like they are aiming for the same price as an Interceptor 650 so still well priced. Looks interesting. If they can keep the same character as the 411cc bike then I can see myself going for one in the second year of production.

It was in my list until I saw one on Trans America Trail. Power aside very little clearance and looks heavy, crankcase covers are massive.. I think seat will be low for 6-footer. Obviously people are traveling around the world on these.. look at Itchy Boots on YT; I think she has a detailed review. She liked it while traveling but at the end switched to CRF 300L Rally.

If Himas are €5200 in france I would be looking elsewhere Fantic Caballero Rally, SWM Superdual or 6-day, etc

My opinion was formed from a 90 minute or so ride over around 40 miles - it told me I didn’t want to do my commute on the Himalayan (50 miles each way on dual carriageways) but when I took it off the main road and onto country lanes it made for a real blast - I loved it - I took it into its natural environment and it shone.

I don’t expect that many would take much notice of my opinion after that short ride but a 3 day ride is hardly a short test - 750km is not short either - probably longer than most motorcycle magazine test rides. Having a pillion also adds another perspective about the bike’s capabilities that is very rarely given especially as the route taken would appear to be a more adventurous one in keeping with those that many on here would like to undertake. Hardly worth knocking him for it.

a 3 day ride is hardly a short test - 750km is not short either - probably longer than most motorcycle magazine test rides.

A very good point. When you read a test tide article in a mag, often the writer/rider took the bike on a tightly scripted ride of perhaps 100-200 KM over an afternoon. That's not much of a test, yet the magazine article will be three pages long!

Please don't try to get the last word; you'll fail, because I'll start deleting more posts instead of just the worst and most recent offenders.

This thread includes experiences and opinions about the RE Himalayan. All relevant information is welcome, as long as it's free of attacks on other members (and within the usual other guidelines).

Thanks for your cooperation.

Your remarkably tolerant moderator,

Mark

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

So that's what that thing is!

I passed one at work a while ago (carefully de-badged, but obviously a relative of the current Himalayan) but the engine didn't look like a 650 which is what I thought it mught have been. The beak is ugly IMO, I wonder if it's easily removed

Interesting and it makes sense to test it in Europe close to the design centre in the UK but in warmer climate than the UK in winter.

Nah, it was at work for homologation testing. We get heaps of bikes through, but it's not my department so I only know about what I see in passing!

As Ted wrote - that bike looked like a bad photoshop job….

This on the other hand looks very nice and promising (if its just a good photoshop job then….)

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

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.

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.

:oops2:

The Post Touring Ted refers to was edited in error, sorry, now restored. We don't edit posts without detailed explanation why, and much discussion.

"Censorship" is not our bag, keeping it all clean and enjoyable, and not allowing personal attacks is a tricky / slippery slope we try to negotiate with great care, but there will always be differences of opinion as to where the edge is.

In this case I (and other mods) didn't particularly like his comparison of RE and watches and Yamahas, but it was ok by me as it was his OPINION - and that's ok - perhaps offensive to RE, but I think not to RE owners. Or am I wrong?

NOTE: If anyone edits a post, there will be an "Edited" note below the post, and by whom, with an explanation of the edit.

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

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

Well I've owned none of the bikes on Ted's list and the nearest I've got to a Himalayan is someone camping next to me with one. So I'm not in a position to make any substantive comment on the advantages or otherwise of a secondhand Japanese bike vs a new R.E. I suspect however that, given his background, Ted is, and as such his opinion is worth listening to.

Whether you agree with what he says is up to you and there's always room for a different opinion, but his post was - in my opinion - well argued and polite. Even the simile at the end was - also in my opinion, and given what he'd already said - appropriate and amusing. So I'm not quite sure why it was marked up as "2/10, see me" in the red ink of moderation. If there had been some direct ad hominem style attack or he'd used offensive language or anything like that, then yes, the post would have been inappropriate but I don't think his watch comparison fell into those categories.

I can understand why he's taken umbrage. It takes a substantial amount of time to write a post like that and why would you bother if it's going to be struck out via some kind of hair trigger moderation process. If someone doesn't agree with what he's written then arguing back publicly with equal passion and knowledge is the way to go so we can all benefit from the interchange. Getting rid of his post - even part of it - benefits nobody.

I don’t have an RE view to post but i do want say I appreciate both the insights that Ted gives as a bike professional, and also Grant’s post above. Thank you both!

£70 for a water pump kit (Many never leak and those that continue to leak are bodged by hamfisted mechanics) and £70 for a reg/rect (which don't go wrong once re-positioned). Then you're good for another 50,000 miles.

In my experience with RE, they're an old bike at 20,000 miles. With most parts failing and needing replacement in months rather than years. Assuming they ever leave the garage.

Age is irrelevant. Correct engineering, quality of components and skill of assembly is far more important than manufacture date.

It's not just with RE. It's the same with all budget bikes. This is why I get asked to change "factory fitted" wheel bearings on Hondas after 15 years and get asked to change entire motors on Chinese/Indian bikes after 12 months.

You're not daft. You know that too. But you're absolutely right. You can buy a lemon which has been messed with by a previous owner. So as always, due diligence is required.

Very kind of you to say so. And I absolutely agree. Polite debate and mixed opinion is the real value in a forum.

Cheers.

Moderation is thankless and difficult task. I know as I mod/admin many FB groups. So I realise that probably prematurely spat my dummy. And yes, I realise that I do post rashly and often passionately. It's just my way !!

I didn't appreciate my post being changed. I'm happy for my posts to be deleted if they don't fit the rules of the forum, but to be edited without permission is another story.

Anyway. I've had my warm milk and been burped. So all is well in the world again. bier

@TouringTed

I could not agree more!! Bravo!

This bike is astonishingly beautiful, and dirt cheap. It is capable for sure - but far from the most suitable low budget bike. Even if the bike had bulletproof reliability (which it is far from being) - it is a poor bike in every performance aspect.

Estetics and the recycling of old tech for cost cutting purposes, simply takes away far more than it ads. In the same budget range, if one consideres bikes that has only been slightly used for a season or two only, you have sooooo many far more superior options to choose from!

As mentioned, itchy boots chose the Himalayan (much because if where she was in the world), and later opted for a Honda CRF after having gained tremendous experience.

A CRF300 Rally might cost a penny more than the Himalayan, and it is ugly as a troll (when comparing it to the Himalayan) - but it's value is twice as great! It will beat the Himalayan in every single reliability aspect that comes to mind, as well as every single performance aspect - and on top of that be more comfortable, practical and fun to travel on.

Why someone still shies away from fuel injected engines is beyond me. This tech is now ancient, tried and tested, and more bullet proof than a carburetor. Should it fail (unlikely), swapping parts is easy and not too expensive (if you are too worried, carry a spare). Combined with liquid cooling, it translates into; lower fuel consumption, more power, better power distribution, less engine servicing (in addition to not having to swap jets), reduced engine wear (improved longevity and reliability), and more.

As for air cooled. When you have to push the bike (heavy loads, rough terrain, steep hills, scorching heat, or what not) - and you start hearing that pinking sound (if you are lucky enough to catch it in time before your engine seizes)? When you know you are close to have the engine seize on you... When you know you are adding a crap tone of wear every minute... If you are so lucky to notice, do you stop for an hour to cool down, or do you ease off and push through "carefully" - saying your prayers and hoping for the best? Can you even ease off to get you up the final climb, out if the sand or mud?

A liquid cooled engine ,where you take steps to protect and maintain the system, gives more peace of mind. On a few bike models, the pump might be prone to fail (just carry a spare) - but on most bike models it is extremely reliable.

On most bikes the radiator and other parts is too exposed (simply add a protector).

If the bike gets close to dangerously hot hot, the injector will change the fuel mixture too cool the engine more. If that is not enough, it will come up on the display in time for you to save the engine from seizing up. All of this gives far more peace of mind than a carbureted air cooled engine.

The Himalayan is less than a relic from the past. In the rush to make a nostalgic and dirt cheap bike with curb appeal, they did a whole lot of senseless engineering - some which has been mentioned. I just wrote in another post about the knee indents on the tank, which really doesn't fit a human. It takes away fuel consumption and knee grip. The sole purpose is looks and being cable to recycle parts to keep cost down. The front wheel has both an upper and a lower fender. What for? The upper has no purpose other than estetics. It adds weight in addition for something for the side winds to act up against (impair steering). The entire bike is more or less designed like this. It is beautiful, but senseless.

Just for clarification - the Himalayan now has fuel injection (and has from the BS4 model) and has always been oil, not air, cooled. The engine is not derived from the Bullet series of engines and it was designed, from scratch, in the UK - as was the all new frame.

As always, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Good clarification. I see how my comments are easily confused. The original post mentions that he ideally wanted an air cooled bike. I didn't read that as he believed the Himalayan to be air-cooled (though he might). It deserved a comment that air cooled is a novelty in 2022.

The Himalayan has been improved upon continuously in everything from newer tech to better reliability, now with Google nav onboard if I'm correct. But even if the engine and more was designed from the ground up, and it now has absand injection as standard, etc to comply with minimum legal stuff in Europe, etc, it is still very much old school and "just enough". Just my opinion.

Royal Enfield certainly seem to have responded in an appropriate manner to some of the issues that affected their early Himalayans and they have continued the development process with each version. In reality not all manufacturers have done this, and I include Enfield with their Bullet based bikes until recently - they seem to be receptive to acknowledging weaknesses by sorting them out and making the bike better.

Now that it looks like there could be a bigger engine with water cooling and more power for the Himalayan they will, hopefully, have retained the character of the original and not affected the balance of the different parts, so improving braking, suspension etc. Part of the charm it has comes from the way the different components work together.

As far as the novelty of an air cooled engine is concerned I have to say that I am very happy with my Moto Guzzi V85. It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I like it - and wouldn’t the world be boring if we all liked the same bike or even the same style of bike. Having said that, there is no excuse for cruisers:innocent:.

I love my classic air cooled and carbureted Vespa with 12HP and 10 inch wheels... enough that I opted for that bike over my Bimmer Dakar or my Yammie Enduro I had at the time - when I entered into the 9000 km Budapest-Bamako Enduro Rally, uassisted (after having ridden it half way through Africa once before). It made it to the finish line in Guinea Bissau in approximately 3 weeks - so proven capable. The bike is lovely. It is capable... a lovely piece of capable crap, but crap none the less. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
So, when there is talk about the Himalayan, I really do get it. But, when it comes to recommending a bike/tool - for any specific purpose what so ever (or multiple purposes)... for that amount of money - it simply doesn't make the list... any list! Even if we are talking about markets with poor selection of bikes to choose from, I'd be hard pressed. Let's say India, the mother of this bike, is also the mother of the KTM 390 adventure - which only costs a few pennies more. Now, I do own a KTM 390 Adventure - and it is mindblowingly good for it's price (but still a bit still to be desired in terms of ergonomics, etc). Still, for travel - if the Honda CRF is an available option (far more primitive and less powerful than the KTM), I would recommend that over the KTM that I own - it is just more suitable for RTW type stuff. But I would also recommend the KTM over the Himalayan (but with a new sprocket).

RE Himalayan
 

I have now owned a Himalayan for three years and driven over 12,000 km on backroads in eastern Ontario, Canada.
I previously have owned various Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki and Harley bikes of various sizes for 43 other years.
I would like to only offer my two cents on the topic of reliability and functionality.
The Himalayan has served me very well, only suffering a bad fuse once which the dealer replaced under warranty. Nothing else has broken or died.
The seating position is great and I upgraded to the RE touring seat after the first year which never puts my butt to sleep even after 3 hours. I also installed an iridium plug which immediately stopped the cold start stalling issues. Other than these items, nothing else has been necessary.
The bike performs very well and it's 24 bhp powers it up to 120kph at 6K rpm without issue. I don't ride freeways as I hate trucks anyway and don't need them to get anywhere I'm going. Gravel roads are no issue, the suspension never has been any trouble and the front brake which took a month to get used to is just fine. After three years the finishing on the paint and chrome looks brand-new and there is no rust. I have put on a replacement rear Continental 60/40 tire but the front still looks new.
All that to say, if you only want to spend $6200 Cdn on a brand-new functional motorcycle that brings a smile to your face every time you ride it, buy a Himalayan. If on the other hand, you think you need at least 6 modes of traction control, water cooling and at least 140 bhp so you can exceed the speed limit in less than a quarter mile, then there are dozens of bikes you can spend more than $12,000 Cdn at every dealer. When you can find one of the latter used it will still be more than a brand-new Himalayan with a 2-year unlimited mileage warranty. My personal brand of risk management says the Himalayan was an excellent purchase.