No, I would not. I tested one in the UK and when revving between 5200 -6000 rpm it vibrated so much that my fillings popped out. A show stopper, because that is the exact rev range where you are when doing 60 mph in 5th, and 70 mph in 6th gear. This makes the bike useless for my purposes. From the video it seems that yours didn't vibrate as much, but at 70 mph I really couldn't see a thing in the mirrors of mine because of all the shaking. I get the feeling that these vibes are different for individual bikes. A quality control issue? I'm not going to risk it.
Yes. That statement pretty much got me too. The price is absolutely fantastic. The styling is 'eh' but that's fine. At that price, I can absolutely love it.
We want inexpensive, capable bikes. Not complicated. (We have to put in $2k-$3k to make most of these bikes true ADVs anyway) Sounds like RE got the message. Thanks for the review Ian!
The youtube channel Krankit made a video about RE recently, and one thing that stood out to me was that the himalayan was never supposed to be an international bike. It was originally built for the subcontinent, and for travelling in the Himalayas specifically. We only get it in the west because someone told RE that we've been asking for small, cheap, simple adventure bikes, and they realised that they happened to have already built it.
Yes, reasonable bike, although I'd be happy to pay 1-2k$ more if it would be lighter, like 160kg maximum. Somone should take 110kg enduro as starting point, put himalayan engine (+10kg?), add ferring (+10kg?), add better rearframe (+10kg?), add bigger tank (+15kg with fuel) and we'd land around 160kg
@west_adv just something to consider as far as the weight goes, you can lose 15+ kg off this bike by removing the luggage rack, low front fender, centre stand, and changing things like exhaust, mirrors and probably even lights. The bike also comes with factory fitted crash protection, so to compare apples with apples weight wise, you either need to take the crash protection off, or add it to the weight of another bike you're comparing it to. If there were a safari or acerbis plastic tank for the bike you'd save another 5kg or so. Losing 15-20kg off this bike without modifying the frame, engine, suspension, etc, actually puts the bike within that 160-170kg weight range you're chasing, and you've still only spent around the 2k you're talking about. I believe there are even more weight saving options if you choose the rally seat and tubeless tyres also, but I'm not sure how much, probably another 3kg or so
@leeinwis little bit of a challenge, but it's all fairly easy to get to. I do mine in a 6×6 area (oil changes, chain maintenance, any upgrades, etc.) In my basement
The himalayan is cheaper by at least $2000 usd here in colombia cause Royal Enfield actually cares about us and build an assembly line here, cutting costs. It's a no brainer here.
I'm an absolute noob about motorcycling, and I'm a really happy owner of a himalayan 450. It's my very first bike, and I've done with it 2000km in approximately a month. In my opinion it feels easy on every terrain, it's stable, forgiving and transimts a nice reassuring sensation, yet it's playful and I felt quite confident going on some easy off-road sections during my trips...I'm now on a vacation in Sardinia with the Himmy, and had to go through sand with stock tires multiple times: I have to admit it's not been the simplest task for me, but I still managed to not fall over...more than twice. 🤣 Speaking of that, picking up the bike is definetely easy (I only had slight issues whith the bike fully loaded with luggage and the passenger bars not easily accessible). My only complaints until now are all about connectivity and engine maps switching: the connectivity with my android phone is crap, the app crashes whenever I try to mirror the navigation on the TFT... I'm in contact with RE's support service, we'll see if they manage to fix this bug. The second issue is that sometimes I found not possible to change "dinamically" the engine map or ABS setting for the same map, but instead I had to fully restart the motorcycle. I think this is a software issue that maybe will be fixed with new releases of the firmware..it's a little bit annoying when happens, but it is a minor detail in my opinion, cause 99% of the time I stick to the performance with full ABS, that is the default setting that sets automatically when starting the motorcycle. I bought it based on aestetics, reviews that depicted it as an easy entry level motorcycle with potential to do long trips and some off-road, and (very important) the fuel consuption. I've done like 30 km/l average since i've bought it, less than my 125cc scooter. Overall, I totally agree with your review (but I can't relate for the comparison part not having any experience with other motorcycles at all), and I'm super happy with it. 😁
Both Itchy Boots and Adam Riemann - opposite ends of the hard riding spectrum - have ridden this in higher elevations in India and they sing its praises, too. Sure seems like a capable, approachable, affordable ADV rig.
I impulsively put down a deposit on a first batch preorder at the last min. I was gambling on it being a replacement for my now retired high mileage 99 BMW F650 classic. After your review I am confident I made a smart choice. I respect your opinion and support your channel by watching every video at least twice. Thanks again for all your do
I had the good fortune of riding a tour in the Himalayan’s this summer and used the new RE Himalayan for 1500 kms. Loved it. I have BMW g310 gs and a Harley PanAmerica at home. The new Himalayan definitely has me thinking of replacing my gs. And if anyone wants to do a trip in the Himalayans, I can say the tour company I went with, Motorbike Expeditions were fantastic and very reasonably priced.
rode the new Himalayan 450 in the Himalayan ranges, Leh, to Khardungla pass and around in June 2024...such an awesome bike for those terrains and beyond.. almost perfect, a bit more torque would have been nicer...hands down the best in the class.. the brake light delete is not an issue, the turn signals function as brake lights very well and looks unique..the headlights are good.. minor vibrations at higher revs... brings back the joy to motorcycling..
I got a 22 KTM 1290 Adv R, that thing is expensive and a monster for a BDR or offroad yourself, you can easily break a leg if that falls on top of you. So im on the market for a smaller bike, i got a kawa xlr300 and that thing was a toy, horrible in the road, sold it two weeks after. I believe this type of middle weight bike is what WE adv big bike riders need. Great review as usual and Im glad that there is someone out there that dont enjoy the 300rally as well and talk about it without fear. Thx
Fantastic ride impression review Ian! Your OCD level of detail sets the standard for bike reviews, in my view. Love the fact that you include ‘Dork’s’ thoughts as well …love the snippets of Moto journalist comradeship! I also appreciate the sincere reality that doesn’t edit out the occasional drop …which reveals confident humility. It was cool that you ‘circled back’ commenting about certain aspects for the BEST off-road ride quality, and noted the lighter CRF 300 …integrity wasn’t overwhelmed by new release enthusiasm. The additional effort you put into just a preliminary review …is evidenced by the comparison chart you created. The rare caveat expressed and on-screen text edits, again …show the exceptional comprehensiveness of your work. Excellent coverage! You and Rob Dabney of ‘Adv Pulse’ are my favorite Moto-journalists whom lead the pack.
best motorcycle reviewer - youtuber , i wanted this bike because of its single cylinder low maintance costs and realibility reputation of RE but didnt have an authorized service in my area , Ian's nerdy laughs is the cherry on top ,they assuring you the bike is good and fun
Yes triumph has had this for a long time and I really appreciate motorcycle companies copying each other for good, I mean it's so easy to Just produce another accessory for profit, But this kind of copying off of each other is good for us end users ❤
Well rounded and concise Ian.. Himalayan 450 has definitely turned the table for what affordable yet keeping the spirit of ADV alive for both the noob and an expert alike...
My 2021 Himalayan is approaching 9k miles and has been flawless. Here in the Midwest we have endless alpha & gravel roads. The Himalayan is perfect in that environment.
I'm sold. From the reviews of the cfmoto mt450, it's seams like they failed to give a sort out package, it's better offroad a bit, but failed to give a good highway behavior between 50-90 mph. I'll wait for your review to find out more... + concern about the cf moto quality. I know that the 650 models didn't aged very well. Same with the kove 450, it got the same engine as the fantic caballero, which is very unreliable... Kove 800 are using the 790 ktm engine, which also suffered a lot reliability wise. So for me, himalayan looks the best. + the frame looks very strong for carrying havey loads. Actually I thought I'll get a dr650, but you changed my mind... You are the best 👌 Thanks a lot.
Thing is, the Him was, in its entirety, designed as a ADV bike from the ground up. Other bikes like the CF 450 are a parts bin special, thats probably why it lacks the cohesiveness
Really excited and have been looking forward to this review from Big Rock. Thank you Ian for delivering! Really wanted this to be good after seeing it for the 1st time and after watching the other 1st ride reviews. With all its compromises, for me and my budget, this bike is perfect! Now I have an excuse to put the for sale sign on my 2014 Tiger 800. Shout out to the Dork!
A great wring out with a great prognosis for a new bike. Now if it lasts without failures, for 3 to 5 years..... that will be something impressive. Sounds like the engineers really came up with a good package. Now if the cost accountants didn't screw it up in the implementation with corners being cut.... that will be a blessing. Reviews like this, honest to a fault is why your subscriber base keeps on growing.
I can't wait for you to get your hands on a CFMoto 450 MT. I think a lot of people are in the same boat as myself and are looking to buy one of these two bikes. I'm leaning towards the 450 MT but I keep flipping back and forth. Both are gonna sell like hotcakes though, don't fear.
I cannot wait for mine, I’ve had a deposit on one since they were first announced; I’m holding out for the tubeless edition, coming In October I’ve been told. Thanks for the honest first ride review, while it’s not a perfect bike (what is) it should be a great one for the price! I’m already thinking Oregon to Alaska next summer.
I traveled with this to to Himalayas. From highways to rough roads. 2500 kms or 1200 miles in 7 days. It was a lot of fun. Even tough my friends were on bigger advs like tiger an gs this was able to keep up with them or do better on indian roads. Its perfect for everything. Only complaint are the vibrations on high speed. Otherwise a perfect bike for adventure
Years ago, I rode my well-modded DR650 from San Francisco to Guadalajara MX. 99% pavement. About 3000 miles total. Best trip ever. It lacked power fully loaded at altitude or in a strong headwind. But it worked if not slowly. And I LOVED that bike. So I'm really looking forward to riding this bike and possibly my first in over 10 years... I was VERY impressed that the bike could do 95mph at 8000ft... The DR's limit was around 70mph at maybe 1000ft... And even then, it felt unstable at that speed. Even without bags. So it must be the benefits of fuel-injection along other advancements. I thought I was going to get killed doing 40mph up mountains in Mexico with crazy-fast truck drivers swerving around me to pass. At night.... The thing is... New people tend to think they need an expensive motorcycle to do great trips without big limitations. And part of that is the fault of inexperienced RUclipsrs that think more is better. You've shown that's not the case. This new RE looks pretty much ready to go on big trips right out of the box. Where my DR required at least $5000 in add-ons to get it to where the new RE is. Got to get a new bike... And this is on the list of potentials! Thanks for the great review!
Interesting. I have a lightly modded DR650 that pull 80 mph at 7k-9k feet no issues. Changed out springs and an emulator valve for stability and no issues. My only qualms with the 450 is the weight. At 430 lbs its to heavy to compete with the DR.
You clearly didn't know how to tune the bike properly. My DR650 does 85mph at 5000ft going uphill loaded easy. I know this because I have chased my buddies on their much bigger bikes.
@@intrigue175175 You clearly lack content absorption and critical thinking. Please, stop talking about things that are clearly above the 100 miles a week worth of experience you probably put in every month...
@@ricardorgomez Lol okay buddy. At least two of us have said the same thing in regards to your not being tuned properly. But sure, it's everyone else and I somehow ride less than you even though I'm retired and hit trails every week on my DR650 SMH... lol
@@intrigue175175 What mods are done to your DR and what do you concider fully loaded? Is yours a really old or high mileage DR? Engine wise I put in a JD jet kit, an after market exhaust and opened the air box. This allows my 270 lbs butt and my pack to run from Sturgis SD to Yellowstone pullint 70-80 mph no issues. This is including going over the Big Horn Mountains. I even go over bearthooth pass at 12k with no issues. I'm not speeding past 40 mph on up slope. All of this is done on one jet settings.
The first gen was an odd bike. Heavy, slow, but an excellent introduction to adv for them and I’d argue it got a LOT of people both on adv bikes and bikes in general. It was a bike that would do anything but go fast. I miss mine sometimes, but won’t ever own one again. That being said I’m excited to see how this bike turns out long term. This bike is light years ahead in everywhere other than maybe styling (subjective) I hope it’s successful as I personally like the “small” adv market. Even though I love my Husky, DR, and soon to be Aprilia off-road.
I have the 411 himi among other bikes. I put a fender extension on my front fender to give it more room. Works great. 2 of my favorite people to watch. You and dork. Great video. I may get one but will hold off for just a little while to see how it holds up. Thanks Ian. You’re the best reviewer and Ben also has a great sense of humor. Love it. Happy trails.
Like the review and really like the new upgrade to the Himalayan. My only issue with RE is that we have been “hearing “ all about this bike now for close to 2 years and we are still waiting to get them stateside. What the??? C’mon RE, let’s get your act together and start rolling the bikes into show room floors🥴.
I have mine for just over 3 months. It's fantastic! The handling is so much better on the thigh twisty roads in the Adelaide hills, no concerns with freeway stints (including a steep uphill) and good on gravel.
I've bought the Hanle Black tubeless version (ordered last november but delayed until this aug for tubeless) and am very happy, only 200 miles, so far. Obviously stuck with 4000rpm running in for 311miles(500km) and then 6000rpm up to 1243 miles (2000km) and I doubt many 'test ride bikes' being shown are above 1000miles although all are well over 6000rpm. For me the engine is really tight, first hundred miles needed care, but now the 4000rpm feels fine. I will be following the RE running in procedure so engine unlikely to get past running in until next year. Hopefully things will smooth out as more miles are ridden. Very happy with purchase, paint work, wiring and cable routing is well done and all clips etc do not seem 'down to a price' and this after having 5 R1200's in last 20 years. Still keeping my last bmw but this will make a good local use machine for now and great for a few longer trips next year. Too many road tests are max revs/max speed checks on new engines giving no indication of how owner riders will be using their own purchase.
Oh man! I so had my heart set on an Africa Twin DCT Adventure Sport but I can buy 3 new Himalayas. We run a rental business here in Cambodia 16 years and often have less than experienced riders to beat on our bikes so the 450 Himalaya is a very good fit. As usual Ian you're totally on the ball. I like to see you fired up about a review. I currently have a 2020 Royal Enfield 500 Classic Chrome Edition which is very beautiful and I call it "The Jewellery" but it's only a show off bike for us to ride around town but we do push it's limits like they do in India but... just say NO to any form of Cambodian mud lol. RE is a crazy success story of late.
My experience might be India specific, all I am trying to do is give you a perspective when things go wrong. (And as an Indian, we don't see Chinese products as high-quality,and in my case the stereotype was true) It's a long story but I am going to give you a very short gist , CF Moto being Chinese and I was worried about buying it (650 MT), but I swallowed my prejudice and bought one, 4500 kms and the engine seized up, company blamed it on me for not following running/break in protocol, saving grace was I backed up ECU data beforehand which proved I was well within the limits of breaking/running in period Limitations. Six months and no answer from the company later I filed a court case , after 1.2 years the court ruled in my favour when the court mandated investigation revealed engine had good old crack on the left cylinder Bank, it was absolutely a engine casting issue. Company was ordered to returned every single penny back, with the legal fees, and 100,000 Indian rupees as damages (not a huge sum as its $1192). I got my money back for the motorcycle but did not get the legal fees and the damages sum, later when multiple CF Moto owners had issues with their motorcycles which subsequently let them to sue CF moto made it easier for me to sue them again for my legal fees, this time they had to comply as court cases against them were piling up left and right, they settled all the cases. AS OF NOW CF MOTO IS PRESENT IN INDIA BUT PEOPLE RATHER CHOOSE TO BUY MORE EXPENSIVE MOTORCYCLES THAN TO PURCHASE CF MOTO. CONDITION OF CF MOTO IN INDIA IS SO DIRE THAT IT ONLY SELLS 4 MOTORCYCLES AND LITERALLY NO ONE BUYS THEM.
Enjoyed the video. Will look forward to your thoughts on the CFMoto when they come to the states. One of my bikes is a Kove 450 Rally. The 450 cc segment has some great choices. After having owned a CRF 450L, I found the Kove to be a better value, but the RE Himi and the CFMoto Ibex are crushing it concerning value for money. Just wish they weren't so damn heavy. On a separate note, over the last few years, your production values have gotten so much better. Clearly, you put some effort into these, and I certainly appreciate all you do.
Gotta Love what Royal Enfield is doing. I might give it a year or two to let RE work out the bugs on this new platform. As a KTM 790 Adv owner, I’m looking for a second machine because KTM”s can be a little. Uh hum…. Finicky Great Review !! Thx
Maybe in the owner's manual it says something like: "For on road riding and minimum off road riding, the small front fender provides good spray protection. For longevious off road riding, it is adviseable to remove the small front fender to avoid mud packing". You should check ha ha. Looks like an absolutely phenominal bike for the price. The young CEO of RE has done a great job from the beginning, his father can be very proud of him.
Since ive been riding and discovering what i like and the terrain i find, ive been making mental notes and putting together a bike in my head that i want. Royal Enfield seem to have just made that exact bike. I cant wait to start seeing these everywhere, i hope they sell like hotcakes. As i unfortunately will still need to wait for the secondhand market to afford one.
Another excellent detailed review. I own a KTM 450 6 days, KTM 390 Adv, and a Norden 901, but this bike interests me based on you review. I have never ridden a Royal Enfield because I thought they were underpowered and too heavy. It is still a heavy bike for a single cylinder engine but I assume it carries the weight low. I wish the suspension was adjustable because I like to fine tune my suspension. I trust your opinion after watching most of your reviews, we are on the same wavelength. Adding Dork in the Road to your review is great, he has a great sense of humor, he is intelligent and honest. Well done!
Thanks for mentioning the fuel grade used! RUclips also has multiple videos of methods and kits to raise the front fender to allow more mud to accumulate.
Thank you for the review Ian. Coming from you with your experience means a lot. Especially towards the end when you noted that this is a new vehicle and we all will have to see how it holds up in the long run.
My local Triumph dealer also sells Royal Enfield..... you just opened my eyes to something wicked cool ! Looking for the _anti Harley_ to compliment my '23 Road Glide Special.
Extremely proud of my Interceptor 650 as my first (and currently only) bike. I'm really excited to try this new Himalayan out, may be easily persuaded to pick one up with all the terrain we have available here in CO!
Honestly, the air filter compromise is quite a disappointment. It is not a huuge deal... but in the end, it is small things like this that could be the decisive factor when choosing between this bike and the CFMOTO 450... Looking forward to Ian testing that bike as well an making the comparison 👍
Great review, Ian! RE really did a great job with updating this bike--just a ton of value for the money. Really enjoy your presentation style, so keep up the great work--be safe!
Love your channel. You are most certainly one of the most believable reviewers on RUclips but... as an observation from 16 years in rental business I would really appreciate some 2 up riding reviews please if possible. My wife and I are always together on 1 bike for our fabulous adventures in Cambodia. I had another request but forgot it...?lol.
This is great to hear! I've been waiting to hear how this small ADV, along with the Ibex 450, turned out when I'm able to afford getting back in biking.
WOW, pretty impressive motorcycle, and it's certainly a GREAT value! - IMO...if a person can't find a motorcycle to suit their wants, needs, and budget these days, they live on a different planet.
I got the first batch of the Himalayan 450 Hanle black in India January this year and so far I did put 6300 kms of it. This is my first ADV bike and very good for beginners. Overall I loved it Showa suspension and break power is superb.
Good view. I put my deposit down last December. About to go on my first long ride.👍 PS: Just finished fitting Sump/Engine upgrade, Barkbusters, Rear carry plate & the large screen. Making my own Saddle bag support, mostly to stop slap and under guard intrusion. So far a happy camper. 😊
@@eugeniustheodidactus8890 No, I don't think so. Expanse & having things rattle around unless substantially packed, etc. Using the cheap (relatively) Rinowalk 2x14lt I have used a few times on my KLX400r. Still playing it by ear, as I have not yet packed so much camping gear on the back of any bike. The cost of fuel has me moving away from using my 89 Kombi on longer camping/trips away. So still sorting that out, fewer convenience to carry. A different sort of fun. Cheers
I was disabled on a 650 V-Strom by the clay mud in Oregon. It started to rain, the mud wrapped around the front tire, and jammed under the front fender. It seems the more aggressive the tires, the worse the problem. It also seems when the mud jams under the fender, it squeezes the water out and solidifies. I tried to remove the fender, but stripped one of the bolts. (It was an allen head socket bolt and I stripped the head.) I recommend loosening and retorquing fender bolts to ensure you can do it on the road. On the plus side, I camped that night in one of the most amazing camp sites ever.
Thanks for the video. I was a bit surprised, it's the first time Ian gets carried away by enthusiasm, not really his style.....I would wait for the CF 450MT review....beating the Himalayan in most of the review done so far....beside that, I fully agree it is a very good bike...a pity the almost 200Kg for a 450 cc bike.
Great review. Thank you! My wife and I each had the original model, and sold them due to lack of power and very crappy brakes. Looks like they have a winner with this new version. Glad to see the improvements. These bikes are built like tanks.
Recently got a 300L Rally since I have zero experience in dirt. Wanted something light that I could beat on. This might just be the bike I upgrade too in a few years as I get better on dirt. The 100 pounds lighter weight of the Rally can’t be discounted for pure off road riding. Will also give the market time to determine the reliability of this new 450 engine of theirs. The fact RE released this feature rich bike for less than the Rally though really shows Honda up.
That is basically inspired (in obviously joking) on a beta 4.0 Alp. That was one of the massive selling bikes of the last 30 years in the Alps. In the mountains they loved that bike, was ez to ride and to reach the ground with feet. Seems a really nice bike. Ngl.
Best review I've seen, mate. Spot on about Enfield making their own niche. Why make big bikes when their biggest markets by far are India and Europe. Last month they sold 76000 units . 70000 of which were in the domestic market. The 350? cheap and easy to maintain at home, full of character and a back road joy. The 650 ? It's big enough for highways but again easy to maintain and not expensive. This 450 is way more international, and Imho it's going to sell well because it's again great value easy to maintain but got enough tickle and tech to meet a wider continental market.
I owned a DR 650 for a long time and did many aggressive off road adventures in Baja in technical terrain. The suspension was very soft and forgiving, not good for getting air but great for rock gardens and a comfortable ride. I also own the 390 and I can't take the grin off my face on Banner Grade or Palomar, you are right it is a great road bike. Off road the 390 needs a 21 inch front wheel and 8 inches of travel IMO. Royal Enfield must have nailed the suspension for you to rave about it despite your inability to adjust or fine tune.
I buy a new travel bike this spring. I am probablt speaking for many people when i say i am really looking forward to Ian's head to head with this Himmy and the Cfmoto450. That video will be popular haha
Wait until you ride the CFMoto450MT, it feels more spirited and no vibrations from the twin. I don't think you can go wrong with either the MT or Himi, IMO, boils down to if you want a more classic look of the Himi or modern look of the MT. Another reason I went with the MT is the cost savings given that it comes standard with folding mirrors, folding gear shifter and foot brake, adjustable height windscreen on the fly and you can go from on-road mode to off-road mode (and vice versa) on the fly - just a push the button 'once'. I also feel the MT is better on fit and finish. No need to remove the tank to get to the air box on the MT. I know this is not a comparison video but I am giving you a heads-up on things when you test ride the MT and why someone who was actually in the market for a small adv bike [me] bought the MT over the Himi.
@@Firebear31my dealer told me CFMOTO don’t check maintenance schedule if a warranty claim comes up. He said just do the maintenance once a year or every 10,000 kilometres. Whatever comes first
As an Ibex 800 owner wait till after your first year with the bike. Ian's initial review hit it on the head. Big on features, low on refinement. I honestly regret buying my Ibex. Got rust on the panniers and crash bars 3 months after I bought it and had to replace the chain the first year because of rust in the winter. And for $12k out the door I took good care of that bike too. Brakes are rusting as well. CFmoto has a bit of a honeymoon period. After the issues me and my friends have had with CFmoto, I'm good with putting them on hiatus for a bit till they get their crap worked out.
@@CabooseifiedI got rust on my Harley Sportster [made in the USA] as well when I stayed at my mom's place for 6 months. We were several miles from a bay. Mate, the chain on my Pan America rusts as well if I don't keep it lubed.
It was the bike until you mentioned air filter access. Like a lot of riders, I'm looking for that perfect dual sport to ride on the road and dirt. It is perhaps a little heavier than some, but it's the air filter access that stops it being the unicorn for me. I ride dust a lot. Cleaning the filter after every ride is a must. I was hoping for and a/f access a port in the tank or under the seat, such that the tank capacity was maintained by having the tank extend to where the current filter is to maintain fuel capacity, lower the c of g and give great access to the a/f. Still, a good effort from RE.
yeah its a bummer. I currently have a bike that I have had to remove the tank a few time to do some maintenance and it a pain when the tank is full of fuel, and your doing it by yourself trying to unclip the fuel lines with one hand and hold a full tank with the other.
I really wanted my 390 Adv to work well off-road and I've been often disappointed. Seeing it so far down on the charts is actually kind of comforting that there's hope in the small-cc capable Adv market.
Great review, Ian. Although not technically in the ADV category, the Triumph Scrambler 400X can and is used by many owners as their ‘adventure’ bike. Being an Indian-made, 398 cc water-cooled single, roughly with the same HP & weight (the Triumph is 395 lbs claimed), and near identical price, it seemed like an instinctual inclusion in the comparison chart. If you can’t tell, I own a Scrambler 400X but was very seriously considering the Royal Enfield New Himalayan. Had it been available at the time I purchased my Triumph, I could have been convincingly swayed. Great review Ian as always. Much thanks!
@@Michael-Masi-911- The 400s are currently being assembled in India by Bajaj who also produce KTM’s 390s. But I did read that Triumph may eventually build the 400s in Thailand as well just like the other Triumph models.
Great to hear! I hope they sell a ton! (Imagine grabbing an gently used one a couple years from now for like $4500!😋) I’m in the market for an small adventure bike and so this Himalayan is sitting at the top until there CF MOTO review. Then I’ll make my decision. Thanks Ian!
The number of bots in these comments asking for the cf moto 450 is astounding. There’s a buddy’s cf Moto broke down in my garage now if that helps. Lol
That's hilarious coming from a modern Royal Enfield Fan though isn't it. You can't apply all critical thought that people have been applying to your favorite brand to CF Moto while continuing to ignore it on RE.
Wtf is a " modern" re fan? 😂 Btw welcome to social media. It's an open field for misinformation and toxicity. And cf moto fans are very good at it. We can all agree on constructive criticisms. But the way they are aggressively dismissing this bike proves that they have an agenda.😊 @@jackinabackpack7599
I've been leaning toward a 300L Rally as a first bike but man, everything I've seen about the new Himalayan makes it seem pretty hard to argue with. As a guy who's also 5'10" the seat height is particularly attractive.
I think they are on the right track. I have a Africa Twin and I was hoping that the Transalp would be a smaller version but was disappointed with it. I think this bike is a little too small and if they could make it a 550 cc or a 600 cc and make it slightly larger, 5 gallon tank, a larger windshield... then I think they'll sell extremely well.
Awesome review, thanks Ian! Its interesting that the 450MT is 2 years warranty in the USA as some countries its 3 & 4 Yrs. I was looking at the RE 450 as well but decided on the 450MT. Glad I did the as the 270 degree crank twin is one sweet engine! Hopefully you get your hands on a CFMOTO 450MT soon! Both are fantastic bikes.
Thanks for the great video and a really good review of a bike that might be in contention for my wife’s second bike, the three year warranty is inviting.
MSRP for the Himalayan 450 in the USA starts at just $5,799 for the Kaza Brown (a crazy value), and add a few hundred dollars for the other colors. I genuinely feel this is my favorite bike of 2024. Would you buy a Royal Enfield Himalayan? Why or why not?
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I would go for CFmoto 450 mt. Sounds better :)
For reference, base MSRP in Canada is 7699.00
So glad I put down a pre-order deposit!
No, I would not. I tested one in the UK and when revving between 5200 -6000 rpm it vibrated so much that my fillings popped out. A show stopper, because that is the exact rev range where you are when doing 60 mph in 5th, and 70 mph in 6th gear. This makes the bike useless for my purposes. From the video it seems that yours didn't vibrate as much, but at 70 mph I really couldn't see a thing in the mirrors of mine because of all the shaking. I get the feeling that these vibes are different for individual bikes. A quality control issue? I'm not going to risk it.
@@yollardabirdeliYep
Me too 🍻🍻
“This is the bike that lets you forget about the bike and just enjoy adventure riding” you sold me a Himalayan, my good sir
Yes. That statement pretty much got me too. The price is absolutely fantastic. The styling is 'eh' but that's fine. At that price, I can absolutely love it.
I bought this bike a month ago as my first motorcycle. Do I know what I'm talking about with bikes? Probably not.
Do I absolutely love it? YES!
True story
@@ricardorgomez everything about it is functional, nothing is just for aesthetics, that's why you are 'eh' about it.
We want inexpensive, capable bikes. Not complicated. (We have to put in $2k-$3k to make most of these bikes true ADVs anyway) Sounds like RE got the message. Thanks for the review Ian!
Well said!
The youtube channel Krankit made a video about RE recently, and one thing that stood out to me was that the himalayan was never supposed to be an international bike. It was originally built for the subcontinent, and for travelling in the Himalayas specifically. We only get it in the west because someone told RE that we've been asking for small, cheap, simple adventure bikes, and they realised that they happened to have already built it.
Yes, reasonable bike, although I'd be happy to pay 1-2k$ more if it would be lighter, like 160kg maximum. Somone should take 110kg enduro as starting point, put himalayan engine (+10kg?), add ferring (+10kg?), add better rearframe (+10kg?), add bigger tank (+15kg with fuel) and we'd land around 160kg
@west_adv just something to consider as far as the weight goes, you can lose 15+ kg off this bike by removing the luggage rack, low front fender, centre stand, and changing things like exhaust, mirrors and probably even lights. The bike also comes with factory fitted crash protection, so to compare apples with apples weight wise, you either need to take the crash protection off, or add it to the weight of another bike you're comparing it to. If there were a safari or acerbis plastic tank for the bike you'd save another 5kg or so. Losing 15-20kg off this bike without modifying the frame, engine, suspension, etc, actually puts the bike within that 160-170kg weight range you're chasing, and you've still only spent around the 2k you're talking about.
I believe there are even more weight saving options if you choose the rally seat and tubeless tyres also, but I'm not sure how much, probably another 3kg or so
Really LOVED this review! Very elaborated wih a lot of extra info and a genuine off-road testing. Awesome work thanks from far away Israel!
" My advice, learn how to do the maintenance yourself ". I love that!
Hard to do if you rent an apartment.
@@leeinwisMuch easier that in the middle of the woods in the rain.
@leeinwis little bit of a challenge, but it's all fairly easy to get to. I do mine in a 6×6 area (oil changes, chain maintenance, any upgrades, etc.) In my basement
Coming from years on GS and KTM, I have now ridden the new Himalayan for 3 months. It’s an absolute joy and a great motorcycle.
Our friends in India have become trend setters. Helping remind the rest of us what motorcycles are about.
Just hope the build quality is better than the Himalayan.
Exactly right
@@TommyNitro Only the very early ones were below par. My 2019 was good.
I rode yesterday the Shotgun 650 and you are right; I found again the fun of riding.
@@Ozsmallbore My dad has a 2021. Terrible engine knock that the RE mechanic said isn't normal but couldn't fix in addition to electrical problems.
The himalayan is cheaper by at least $2000 usd here in colombia cause Royal Enfield actually cares about us and build an assembly line here, cutting costs. It's a no brainer here.
Ecuador agrees..
I’m planning on buying one in Colombia 🇨🇴
I'm an absolute noob about motorcycling, and I'm a really happy owner of a himalayan 450. It's my very first bike, and I've done with it 2000km in approximately a month. In my opinion it feels easy on every terrain, it's stable, forgiving and transimts a nice reassuring sensation, yet it's playful and I felt quite confident going on some easy off-road sections during my trips...I'm now on a vacation in Sardinia with the Himmy, and had to go through sand with stock tires multiple times: I have to admit it's not been the simplest task for me, but I still managed to not fall over...more than twice. 🤣
Speaking of that, picking up the bike is definetely easy (I only had slight issues whith the bike fully loaded with luggage and the passenger bars not easily accessible).
My only complaints until now are all about connectivity and engine maps switching: the connectivity with my android phone is crap, the app crashes whenever I try to mirror the navigation on the TFT... I'm in contact with RE's support service, we'll see if they manage to fix this bug.
The second issue is that sometimes I found not possible to change "dinamically" the engine map or ABS setting for the same map, but instead I had to fully restart the motorcycle. I think this is a software issue that maybe will be fixed with new releases of the firmware..it's a little bit annoying when happens, but it is a minor detail in my opinion, cause 99% of the time I stick to the performance with full ABS, that is the default setting that sets automatically when starting the motorcycle.
I bought it based on aestetics, reviews that depicted it as an easy entry level motorcycle with potential to do long trips and some off-road, and (very important) the fuel consuption. I've done like 30 km/l average since i've bought it, less than my 125cc scooter.
Overall, I totally agree with your review (but I can't relate for the comparison part not having any experience with other motorcycles at all), and I'm super happy with it. 😁
I purchased this bike after your review…..your reviews are so detailed and on point….this bike is simply amazing overall
Both Itchy Boots and Adam Riemann - opposite ends of the hard riding spectrum - have ridden this in higher elevations in India and they sing its praises, too. Sure seems like a capable, approachable, affordable ADV rig.
it totally is
Both Itchy Boots and Adam Reiman'ns trip in the upper Himalyas were sponsored and supported by Royal Enfield
Try to get what marketing is.
@@BigRockMoto when you, Adam and Noraly sing a bikes praises, that gives me great confidence it’s a good buy 👍
Plus, you really don’t want to ride huge heavy bikes into the upper Mustangs or alike. You’d be a fool in all the alpine traffic on terrible roads
I impulsively put down a deposit on a first batch preorder at the last min. I was gambling on it being a replacement for my now retired high mileage 99 BMW F650 classic. After your review I am confident I made a smart choice. I respect your opinion and support your channel by watching every video at least twice. Thanks again for all your do
I had the good fortune of riding a tour in the Himalayan’s this summer and used the new RE Himalayan for 1500 kms. Loved it. I have BMW g310 gs and a Harley PanAmerica at home. The new Himalayan definitely has me thinking of replacing my gs. And if anyone wants to do a trip in the Himalayans, I can say the tour company I went with, Motorbike Expeditions were fantastic and very reasonably priced.
Ive bought two Enfields in as many years and now it looks like I need a third.
rode the new Himalayan 450 in the Himalayan ranges, Leh, to Khardungla pass and around in June 2024...such an awesome bike for those terrains and beyond.. almost perfect, a bit more torque would have been nicer...hands down the best in the class.. the brake light delete is not an issue, the turn signals function as brake lights very well and looks unique..the headlights are good.. minor vibrations at higher revs... brings back the joy to motorcycling..
Greetings from NC, east coast USA.... I appreciate your input!
I got a 22 KTM 1290 Adv R, that thing is expensive and a monster for a BDR or offroad yourself, you can easily break a leg if that falls on top of you. So im on the market for a smaller bike, i got a kawa xlr300 and that thing was a toy, horrible in the road, sold it two weeks after. I believe this type of middle weight bike is what WE adv big bike riders need. Great review as usual and Im glad that there is someone out there that dont enjoy the 300rally as well and talk about it without fear. Thx
Yeah. Plus no one likes to drop their expensive bikes. The himmy is inexpensive and also built like a tank; It does not hurt as much if we drop it.
You do the most thorough and relevant ADV bikes than anyone else on the Tube. Thank you for what you do and for another awesome review.
Fantastic ride impression review Ian!
Your OCD level of detail sets the standard for bike reviews, in my view.
Love the fact that you include ‘Dork’s’ thoughts as well …love the snippets of Moto journalist comradeship!
I also appreciate the sincere reality that doesn’t edit out the occasional drop …which reveals confident humility.
It was cool that you ‘circled back’ commenting about certain aspects for the BEST off-road ride quality, and noted the lighter CRF 300 …integrity wasn’t overwhelmed by new release enthusiasm.
The additional effort you put into just a preliminary review …is evidenced by the comparison chart you created.
The rare caveat expressed and on-screen text edits, again …show the exceptional comprehensiveness of your work.
Excellent coverage! You and Rob Dabney of ‘Adv Pulse’ are my favorite Moto-journalists whom lead the pack.
best motorcycle reviewer - youtuber , i wanted this bike because of its single cylinder low maintance costs and realibility reputation of RE but didnt have an authorized service in my area , Ian's nerdy laughs is the cherry on top ,they assuring you the bike is good and fun
Actually the seat tooless adjustment blow me away, well engineered holy shit
Triumph tiger had that for a long time.
Yes triumph has had this for a long time and I really appreciate motorcycle companies copying each other for good, I mean it's so easy to Just produce another accessory for profit, But this kind of copying off of each other is good for us end users ❤
@@shree397 Yes, it should be standard on most bikes. But of course, manufacturers rather sell you a low and high saddle.
Well rounded and concise Ian.. Himalayan 450 has definitely turned the table for what affordable yet keeping the spirit of ADV alive for both the noob and an expert alike...
My 2021 Himalayan is approaching 9k miles and has been flawless. Here in the Midwest we have endless alpha & gravel roads. The Himalayan is perfect in that environment.
Bet everyone that bought one last year is thrilled 😅
I'm sold.
From the reviews of the cfmoto mt450, it's seams like they failed to give a sort out package, it's better offroad a bit, but failed to give a good highway behavior between 50-90 mph.
I'll wait for your review to find out more...
+ concern about the cf moto quality.
I know that the 650 models didn't aged very well.
Same with the kove 450, it got the same engine as the fantic caballero, which is very unreliable...
Kove 800 are using the 790 ktm engine, which also suffered a lot reliability wise.
So for me, himalayan looks the best.
+ the frame looks very strong for carrying havey loads.
Actually I thought I'll get a dr650, but you changed my mind...
You are the best 👌
Thanks a lot.
Absolutely agree with you 👍
Thing is, the Him was, in its entirety, designed as a ADV bike from the ground up. Other bikes like the CF 450 are a parts bin special, thats probably why it lacks the cohesiveness
Royal Enfield is making a really impressive comeback, hope to see more.
Really excited and have been looking forward to this review from Big Rock. Thank you Ian for delivering! Really wanted this to be good after seeing it for the 1st time and after watching the other 1st ride reviews. With all its compromises, for me and my budget, this bike is perfect!
Now I have an excuse to put the for sale sign on my 2014 Tiger 800.
Shout out to the Dork!
You laughed a lot in this video and I Iike it when you are laughing, sharing your joy riding a motorcycle. That speaks volumes about the experience.
A great wring out with a great prognosis for a new bike. Now if it lasts without failures, for 3 to 5 years..... that will be something impressive. Sounds like the engineers really came up with a good package. Now if the cost accountants didn't screw it up in the implementation with corners being cut.... that will be a blessing. Reviews like this, honest to a fault is why your subscriber base keeps on growing.
I can't wait for you to get your hands on a CFMoto 450 MT. I think a lot of people are in the same boat as myself and are looking to buy one of these two bikes. I'm leaning towards the 450 MT but I keep flipping back and forth. Both are gonna sell like hotcakes though, don't fear.
I cannot wait for mine, I’ve had a deposit on one since they were first announced; I’m holding out for the tubeless edition, coming In October I’ve been told. Thanks for the honest first ride review, while it’s not a perfect bike (what is) it should be a great one for the price! I’m already thinking Oregon to Alaska next summer.
I traveled with this to to Himalayas. From highways to rough roads. 2500 kms or 1200 miles in 7 days. It was a lot of fun. Even tough my friends were on bigger advs like tiger an gs this was able to keep up with them or do better on indian roads. Its perfect for everything. Only complaint are the vibrations on high speed. Otherwise a perfect bike for adventure
I'm so glad I waited for your take on it before ordering. Thanks for the comparison screen!
Years ago, I rode my well-modded DR650 from San Francisco to Guadalajara MX. 99% pavement. About 3000 miles total. Best trip ever. It lacked power fully loaded at altitude or in a strong headwind. But it worked if not slowly. And I LOVED that bike.
So I'm really looking forward to riding this bike and possibly my first in over 10 years... I was VERY impressed that the bike could do 95mph at 8000ft... The DR's limit was around 70mph at maybe 1000ft... And even then, it felt unstable at that speed. Even without bags. So it must be the benefits of fuel-injection along other advancements. I thought I was going to get killed doing 40mph up mountains in Mexico with crazy-fast truck drivers swerving around me to pass. At night....
The thing is... New people tend to think they need an expensive motorcycle to do great trips without big limitations. And part of that is the fault of inexperienced RUclipsrs that think more is better. You've shown that's not the case. This new RE looks pretty much ready to go on big trips right out of the box. Where my DR required at least $5000 in add-ons to get it to where the new RE is.
Got to get a new bike... And this is on the list of potentials! Thanks for the great review!
Interesting. I have a lightly modded DR650 that pull 80 mph at 7k-9k feet no issues. Changed out springs and an emulator valve for stability and no issues. My only qualms with the 450 is the weight. At 430 lbs its to heavy to compete with the DR.
You clearly didn't know how to tune the bike properly. My DR650 does 85mph at 5000ft going uphill loaded easy. I know this because I have chased my buddies on their much bigger bikes.
@@intrigue175175 You clearly lack content absorption and critical thinking. Please, stop talking about things that are clearly above the 100 miles a week worth of experience you probably put in every month...
@@ricardorgomez Lol okay buddy. At least two of us have said the same thing in regards to your not being tuned properly. But sure, it's everyone else and I somehow ride less than you even though I'm retired and hit trails every week on my DR650 SMH... lol
@@intrigue175175 What mods are done to your DR and what do you concider fully loaded? Is yours a really old or high mileage DR?
Engine wise I put in a JD jet kit, an after market exhaust and opened the air box.
This allows my 270 lbs butt and my pack to run from Sturgis SD to Yellowstone pullint 70-80 mph no issues. This is including going over the Big Horn Mountains.
I even go over bearthooth pass at 12k with no issues. I'm not speeding past 40 mph on up slope.
All of this is done on one jet settings.
The first gen was an odd bike. Heavy, slow, but an excellent introduction to adv for them and I’d argue it got a LOT of people both on adv bikes and bikes in general. It was a bike that would do anything but go fast. I miss mine sometimes, but won’t ever own one again. That being said I’m excited to see how this bike turns out long term. This bike is light years ahead in everywhere other than maybe styling (subjective) I hope it’s successful as I personally like the “small” adv market. Even though I love my Husky, DR, and soon to be Aprilia off-road.
I have the 411 himi among other bikes. I put a fender extension on my front fender to give it more room. Works great. 2 of my favorite people to watch. You and dork. Great video. I may get one but will hold off for just a little while to see how it holds up. Thanks Ian. You’re the best reviewer and Ben also has a great sense of humor. Love it. Happy trails.
Like the review and really like the new upgrade to the Himalayan. My only issue with RE is that we have been “hearing “ all about this bike now for close to 2 years and we are still waiting to get them stateside. What the??? C’mon RE, let’s get your act together and start rolling the bikes into show room floors🥴.
I have mine for just over 3 months. It's fantastic! The handling is so much better on the thigh twisty roads in the Adelaide hills, no concerns with freeway stints (including a steep uphill) and good on gravel.
We should go for a ride bud👊
What dealer has them in Adelaide? Ill have to get down there and take a test ride.
@@waimser Yamaha world South Road.
Nobody can match Ian’s comprehensive reviews. Well done!
I've bought the Hanle Black tubeless version (ordered last november but delayed until this aug for tubeless) and am very happy, only 200 miles, so far. Obviously stuck with 4000rpm running in for 311miles(500km) and then 6000rpm up to 1243 miles (2000km) and I doubt many 'test ride bikes' being shown are above 1000miles although all are well over 6000rpm. For me the engine is really tight, first hundred miles needed care, but now the 4000rpm feels fine. I will be following the RE running in procedure so engine unlikely to get past running in until next year. Hopefully things will smooth out as more miles are ridden. Very happy with purchase, paint work, wiring and cable routing is well done and all clips etc do not seem 'down to a price' and this after having 5 R1200's in last 20 years. Still keeping my last bmw but this will make a good local use machine for now and great for a few longer trips next year. Too many road tests are max revs/max speed checks on new engines giving no indication of how owner riders will be using their own purchase.
Have been waiting for this first riding impressions!! Thank you Ian!! Greetings from Guatemala
Hope you enjoy it!
Love that you are riding with the dork
Should ride to biker eateries in tandem and call the show "two dorks with forks" :')
Oh man! I so had my heart set on an Africa Twin DCT Adventure Sport but I can buy 3 new Himalayas. We run a rental business here in Cambodia 16 years and often have less than experienced riders to beat on our bikes so the 450 Himalaya is a very good fit. As usual Ian you're totally on the ball. I like to see you fired up about a review. I currently have a 2020 Royal Enfield 500 Classic Chrome Edition which is very beautiful and I call it "The Jewellery" but it's only a show off bike for us to ride around town but we do push it's limits like they do in India but... just say NO to any form of Cambodian mud lol. RE is a crazy success story of late.
An Africa Twin should not be compared with this bike.
You plan to buy the Himalayan to rent out? I would come up from Phnom Penh for that.
Yeah, the AT is a bloated, over priced bike bought by people who rarely go off-road. @@mrjay4000
Dude, this and all your reviews are so thorough and informative. Reviews like this make adventure riding so tempting to get into.
ditto
Excellent review. Looking forward to the CFMOTO 450mt one for final conclusions for the category in 24'.
My experience might be India specific, all I am trying to do is give you a perspective when things go wrong.
(And as an Indian, we don't see Chinese products as high-quality,and in my case the stereotype was true)
It's a long story but I am going to give you a very short gist , CF Moto being Chinese and I was worried about buying it (650 MT), but I swallowed my prejudice and bought one, 4500 kms and the engine seized up, company blamed it on me for not following running/break in protocol, saving grace was I backed up ECU data beforehand which proved I was well within the limits of breaking/running in period Limitations.
Six months and no answer from the company later I filed a court case , after 1.2 years the court ruled in my favour when the court mandated investigation revealed engine had good old crack on the left cylinder Bank, it was absolutely a engine casting issue. Company was ordered to returned every single penny back, with the legal fees, and 100,000 Indian rupees as damages (not a huge sum as its $1192).
I got my money back for the motorcycle but did not get the legal fees and the damages sum, later when multiple CF Moto owners had issues with their motorcycles which subsequently let them to sue CF moto made it easier for me to sue them again for my legal fees, this time they had to comply as court cases against them were piling up left and right, they settled all the cases.
AS OF NOW CF MOTO IS PRESENT IN INDIA BUT PEOPLE RATHER CHOOSE TO BUY MORE EXPENSIVE MOTORCYCLES THAN TO PURCHASE CF MOTO. CONDITION OF CF MOTO IN INDIA IS SO DIRE THAT IT ONLY SELLS 4 MOTORCYCLES AND LITERALLY NO ONE BUYS THEM.
OHH YOU BOTS
I bought one for my wife, awesome bike !
Cant' wait your test of the scrambler 400x, I chose it to go with her, great bike toi !
Enjoyed the video. Will look forward to your thoughts on the CFMoto when they come to the states. One of my bikes is a Kove 450 Rally. The 450 cc segment has some great choices. After having owned a CRF 450L, I found the Kove to be a better value, but the RE Himi and the CFMoto Ibex are crushing it concerning value for money. Just wish they weren't so damn heavy. On a separate note, over the last few years, your production values have gotten so much better. Clearly, you put some effort into these, and I certainly appreciate all you do.
All that on what appear to be road tyres.
Great review Ian.
Ian, you've convinced me to buy this bike.
Gotta Love what Royal Enfield is doing. I might give it a year or two to let RE work out the bugs on this new platform. As a KTM 790 Adv owner, I’m looking for a second machine because KTM”s can be a little. Uh hum…. Finicky
Great Review !!
Thx
Maybe in the owner's manual it says something like: "For on road riding and minimum off road riding, the small front fender provides good spray protection. For longevious off road riding, it is adviseable to remove the small front fender to avoid mud packing". You should check ha ha. Looks like an absolutely phenominal bike for the price. The young CEO of RE has done a great job from the beginning, his father can be very proud of him.
Can't wait for the long-term review!
Since ive been riding and discovering what i like and the terrain i find, ive been making mental notes and putting together a bike in my head that i want.
Royal Enfield seem to have just made that exact bike.
I cant wait to start seeing these everywhere, i hope they sell like hotcakes. As i unfortunately will still need to wait for the secondhand market to afford one.
Another excellent detailed review. I own a KTM 450 6 days, KTM 390 Adv, and a Norden 901, but this bike interests me based on you review. I have never ridden a Royal Enfield because I thought they were underpowered and too heavy. It is still a heavy bike for a single cylinder engine but I assume it carries the weight low. I wish the suspension was adjustable because I like to fine tune my suspension. I trust your opinion after watching most of your reviews, we are on the same wavelength. Adding Dork in the Road to your review is great, he has a great sense of humor, he is intelligent and honest. Well done!
Thanks for mentioning the fuel grade used!
RUclips also has multiple videos of methods and kits
to raise the front fender to allow more mud to accumulate.
You are literally in my back yard!! I hope you enjoyed Duchesne county. 🤘
So much good riding in your neck of the woods!
That's kinda like central Utah.
Myself riding a bmw but I genuinely think that’s a good bike. I like it
Thank you for the review Ian. Coming from you with your experience means a lot. Especially towards the end when you noted that this is a new vehicle and we all will have to see how it holds up in the long run.
Glad it was helpful!
Congratulations on the promotion to CRO!
When you’re also the CEO,promotions are easy to come by!😅
@@verlinswarey507 I think the last one I saw was junior leaf collector or something funny like that, I like that Ian keeps the bit up.
My local Triumph dealer also sells Royal Enfield..... you just opened my eyes to something wicked cool ! Looking for the _anti Harley_ to compliment my '23 Road Glide Special.
They are going to sell a ton of these. Incredible value, awesome bike. Yes, I'd buy one.
Extremely proud of my Interceptor 650 as my first (and currently only) bike. I'm really excited to try this new Himalayan out, may be easily persuaded to pick one up with all the terrain we have available here in CO!
Honestly, the air filter compromise is quite a disappointment. It is not a huuge deal... but in the end, it is small things like this that could be the decisive factor when choosing between this bike and the CFMOTO 450...
Looking forward to Ian testing that bike as well an making the comparison 👍
Great review, Ian! RE really did a great job with updating this bike--just a ton of value for the money. Really enjoy your presentation style, so keep up the great work--be safe!
Yeah. This may be my next bike. Thanks man.
Love your channel. You are most certainly one of the most believable reviewers on RUclips but... as an observation from 16 years in rental business I would really appreciate some 2 up riding reviews please if possible. My wife and I are always together on 1 bike for our fabulous adventures in Cambodia. I had another request but forgot it...?lol.
This is great to hear! I've been waiting to hear how this small ADV, along with the Ibex 450, turned out when I'm able to afford getting back in biking.
WOW, pretty impressive motorcycle, and it's certainly a GREAT value! - IMO...if a person can't find a motorcycle to suit their wants, needs, and budget these days, they live on a different planet.
I got the first batch of the Himalayan 450 Hanle black in India January this year and so far I did put 6300 kms of it. This is my first ADV bike and very good for beginners. Overall I loved it Showa suspension and break power is superb.
Good view. I put my deposit down last December. About to go on my first long ride.👍
PS: Just finished fitting Sump/Engine upgrade, Barkbusters, Rear carry plate & the large screen. Making my own Saddle bag support, mostly to stop slap and under guard intrusion.
So far a happy camper. 😊
you wouldn't consider using their rectangular aluminum luggage bags?
@@eugeniustheodidactus8890 No, I don't think so. Expanse & having things rattle around unless substantially packed, etc. Using the cheap (relatively) Rinowalk 2x14lt I have used a few times on my KLX400r. Still playing it by ear, as I have not yet packed so much camping gear on the back of any bike. The cost of fuel has me moving away from using my 89 Kombi on longer camping/trips away. So still sorting that out, fewer convenience to carry. A different sort of fun. Cheers
I am never going back to a monster bike, like the Africa Twin I had for a few years. Weight and Agility counts...Thank you for your honest review.
I was disabled on a 650 V-Strom by the clay mud in Oregon. It started to rain, the mud wrapped around the front tire, and jammed under the front fender. It seems the more aggressive the tires, the worse the problem. It also seems when the mud jams under the fender, it squeezes the water out and solidifies. I tried to remove the fender, but stripped one of the bolts. (It was an allen head socket bolt and I stripped the head.) I recommend loosening and retorquing fender bolts to ensure you can do it on the road.
On the plus side, I camped that night in one of the most amazing camp sites ever.
A lot of guys I know who do proper off-roading replace their fender bolts with nylon bolts for things like that.
Thanks for the video. I was a bit surprised, it's the first time Ian gets carried away by enthusiasm, not really his style.....I would wait for the CF 450MT review....beating the Himalayan in most of the review done so far....beside that, I fully agree it is a very good bike...a pity the almost 200Kg for a 450 cc bike.
Great review. Thank you!
My wife and I each had the original model, and sold them due to lack of power and very crappy brakes. Looks like they have a winner with this new version.
Glad to see the improvements. These bikes are built like tanks.
Recently got a 300L Rally since I have zero experience in dirt. Wanted something light that I could beat on. This might just be the bike I upgrade too in a few years as I get better on dirt. The 100 pounds lighter weight of the Rally can’t be discounted for pure off road riding.
Will also give the market time to determine the reliability of this new 450 engine of theirs. The fact RE released this feature rich bike for less than the Rally though really shows Honda up.
Weight is key offroad
Very good review really enjoyed it and to see dork in the road i which the two of you as you make great videos
Cheers from new Zealand
Glad you enjoyed it
Man, such a great review. Ian, Kudos! Couldn't agree more with your verdict on the Himalayan 450.
Regards from Germany
Thanks Ian. Great job. Good info. God bless. Happy trails.
Danke!
thanks
That is basically inspired (in obviously joking) on a beta 4.0 Alp. That was one of the massive selling bikes of the last 30 years in the Alps. In the mountains they loved that bike, was ez to ride and to reach the ground with feet. Seems a really nice bike. Ngl.
Best review I've seen, mate.
Spot on about Enfield making their own niche.
Why make big bikes when their biggest markets by far are India and Europe.
Last month they sold 76000 units .
70000 of which were in the domestic market.
The 350? cheap and easy to maintain at home, full of character and a back road joy.
The 650 ? It's big enough for highways but again easy to maintain and not expensive.
This 450 is way more international, and Imho it's going to sell well because it's again great value easy to maintain but got enough tickle and tech to meet a wider continental market.
Thanks man! Ive been waiting for your review before pulling the trigger on this ADV.
I owned a DR 650 for a long time and did many aggressive off road adventures in Baja in technical terrain. The suspension was very soft and forgiving, not good for getting air but great for rock gardens and a comfortable ride. I also own the 390 and I can't take the grin off my face on Banner Grade or Palomar, you are right it is a great road bike. Off road the 390 needs a 21 inch front wheel and 8 inches of travel IMO. Royal Enfield must have nailed the suspension for you to rave about it despite your inability to adjust or fine tune.
I buy a new travel bike this spring.
I am probablt speaking for many people when i say i am really looking forward to Ian's head to head with this Himmy and the Cfmoto450.
That video will be popular haha
Wait until you ride the CFMoto450MT, it feels more spirited and no vibrations from the twin. I don't think you can go wrong with either the MT or Himi, IMO, boils down to if you want a more classic look of the Himi or modern look of the MT. Another reason I went with the MT is the cost savings given that it comes standard with folding mirrors, folding gear shifter and foot brake, adjustable height windscreen on the fly and you can go from on-road mode to off-road mode (and vice versa) on the fly - just a push the button 'once'. I also feel the MT is better on fit and finish. No need to remove the tank to get to the air box on the MT. I know this is not a comparison video but I am giving you a heads-up on things when you test ride the MT and why someone who was actually in the market for a small adv bike [me] bought the MT over the Himi.
great info
only real downside of the cfmoto 450 is the maintenance intervall of like every 6k oil change (compared to the other bikes)
@@Firebear31my dealer told me CFMOTO don’t check maintenance schedule if a warranty claim comes up. He said just do the maintenance once a year or every 10,000 kilometres. Whatever comes first
As an Ibex 800 owner wait till after your first year with the bike. Ian's initial review hit it on the head. Big on features, low on refinement. I honestly regret buying my Ibex. Got rust on the panniers and crash bars 3 months after I bought it and had to replace the chain the first year because of rust in the winter. And for $12k out the door I took good care of that bike too. Brakes are rusting as well.
CFmoto has a bit of a honeymoon period. After the issues me and my friends have had with CFmoto, I'm good with putting them on hiatus for a bit till they get their crap worked out.
@@CabooseifiedI got rust on my Harley Sportster [made in the USA] as well when I stayed at my mom's place for 6 months. We were several miles from a bay. Mate, the chain on my Pan America rusts as well if I don't keep it lubed.
Love this channel. Great integrity and honesty. Another nice one, Ian. Thank you!!
Much appreciated
Great review. Been waiting for this for sometime!
It was the bike until you mentioned air filter access. Like a lot of riders, I'm looking for that perfect dual sport to ride on the road and dirt. It is perhaps a little heavier than some, but it's the air filter access that stops it being the unicorn for me. I ride dust a lot. Cleaning the filter after every ride is a must. I was hoping for and a/f access a port in the tank or under the seat, such that the tank capacity was maintained by having the tank extend to where the current filter is to maintain fuel capacity, lower the c of g and give great access to the a/f. Still, a good effort from RE.
yeah its a bummer. I currently have a bike that I have had to remove the tank a few time to do some maintenance and it a pain when the tank is full of fuel, and your doing it by yourself trying to unclip the fuel lines with one hand and hold a full tank with the other.
Looks like you all had a fun time. Great info on the 450 Himi.
Now I just have to wait and get the pick of the litter on the used 411 HIMI market lol
I really wanted my 390 Adv to work well off-road and I've been often disappointed. Seeing it so far down on the charts is actually kind of comforting that there's hope in the small-cc capable Adv market.
Great review, Ian. Although not technically in the ADV category, the Triumph Scrambler 400X can and is used by many owners as their ‘adventure’ bike. Being an Indian-made, 398 cc water-cooled single, roughly with the same HP & weight (the Triumph is 395 lbs claimed), and near identical price, it seemed like an instinctual inclusion in the comparison chart. If you can’t tell, I own a Scrambler 400X but was very seriously considering the Royal Enfield New Himalayan. Had it been available at the time I purchased my Triumph, I could have been convincingly swayed. Great review Ian as always. Much thanks!
Triumph manufactures their bikes in Thailand.
@@Michael-Masi-911- The 400s are currently being assembled in India by Bajaj who also produce KTM’s 390s. But I did read that Triumph may eventually build the 400s in Thailand as well just like the other Triumph models.
Great to hear! I hope they sell a ton! (Imagine grabbing an gently used one a couple years from now for like $4500!😋)
I’m in the market for an small adventure bike and so this Himalayan is sitting at the top until there CF MOTO review. Then I’ll make my decision.
Thanks Ian!
The number of bots in these comments asking for the cf moto 450 is astounding. There’s a buddy’s cf Moto broke down in my garage now if that helps. Lol
😂 why even?
You didn't say it's a 450mt though 🤫
That's hilarious coming from a modern Royal Enfield Fan though isn't it. You can't apply all critical thought that people have been applying to your favorite brand to CF Moto while continuing to ignore it on RE.
Wtf is a " modern" re fan? 😂 Btw welcome to social media. It's an open field for misinformation and toxicity. And cf moto fans are very good at it. We can all agree on constructive criticisms. But the way they are aggressively dismissing this bike proves that they have an agenda.😊 @@jackinabackpack7599
There are videos of water getting inside the subframe of 450mt.
Thanks Ian. Great review! I enjoyed watching you have fun.
I've been leaning toward a 300L Rally as a first bike but man, everything I've seen about the new Himalayan makes it seem pretty hard to argue with. As a guy who's also 5'10" the seat height is particularly attractive.
Go for Himalayan. 300 is at its best when it's suspension is able to do is job at it's fullest.
The 300l will be much lighter to manouvre offroad
Looks like they nailed it. Great review!
I think they are on the right track. I have a Africa Twin and I was hoping that the Transalp would be a smaller version but was disappointed with it. I think this bike is a little too small and if they could make it a 550 cc or a 600 cc and make it slightly larger, 5 gallon tank, a larger windshield... then I think they'll sell extremely well.
Awesome review, thanks Ian! Its interesting that the 450MT is 2 years warranty in the USA as some countries its 3 & 4 Yrs. I was looking at the RE 450 as well but decided on the 450MT. Glad I did the as the 270 degree crank twin is one sweet engine! Hopefully you get your hands on a CFMOTO 450MT soon! Both are fantastic bikes.
KLR killer
a lightweight Versys/KLR 450 could be spicy! Just do it Kawi
Pricing on this bike is good, in Australia the cheapest model is AUD $9,000 and if you want tubeless it is AUD $10,000 including all on road costs
Thanks for the great video and a really good review of a bike that might be in contention for my wife’s second bike, the three year warranty is inviting.
A personal thanks to you and Ben for doing this! 👍🏼👍🏼