Just bought my Himalayan, 2nd hand with 12,000km. Only the second one to come up for sale 2nd hand in NZ I believe. Came with the aluminium panniers that cost $1200 here plus fitting. Have been lusting after one since I first heard about the himalayan about 6 months ago. Happy days here we come!
I have done 11k km it is a carb version, fall in love with her daily, soooo comfortable to ride both on and off and still she impress me.. and you are right, it never lets you down!
One of the best review I saw about the himalayan (I saw a lot). You said it all and as other people mentioned before me: owners reviews are the most valuable (no pressure from sponsors...). You bike looks really cool with these tyres and all the dust. You clearly understood and expressed the 'essence' of this bike. Sounds really fun and simple. Back to roots!
I am quite impressed by this bike from the vids I have seen and articles I have read. As long as one just expects a reliable, torquey, low revving engine it is not at all disappointing. This was a good review Nathan. It is a great sounding bike too. I have a 1981 Honda XL500S but that electric starter on the Himalayan sure would be nice for this 67 year old body.
Nice one brother. I found you on a Google Search for Royal Enfield. Love your vids and reviews. Way back in the 60's and 70'ds I rode a 650 Thunderbolt here in the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada. Mainly on the regular roads. Did a bit of off road. BUT NO WHERE near as good as you !! I have subscribed and liked. Keep up your good work. If you are going to ride across the states this year; don't forget CANADA. Stay safe brother.
Everything you say about the Himalayan i have found to be true and on the road with the original tyres builds my confidence on all road conditions and cornering is a breeze, this bike does everything i want it to, haven`t loaded it up yet for my next road trip, i believe i can load the kitchen sink as well, it`s a lot of bike for the money,lovin it!
Nice work mate. That looks great fun on the green lanes. I got myself a Sleet version a month ago and I’m absolutely loving it. I need to do some green lanes though to get the most out of it I think. Keep up the good work Buddy!
Jealous of the way it handles those ruts - my nemesis. Maybe it is riding skill. I love the character of the bike and it was great that you brought it in to show us at the Touretech travel event (the low key presentation was great and fitted the event, also appreciated edition 3 of your Getting into Adventure series - thanks). Not sure I could be tempted off my v-strom 650 as she handled both the off and on road ride outs and trails with pride, but I would love to ride alongside the Himalayan in the years to come just to hear that great sound from the exhaust!
Thanks Drew. Yeah it's a very likeable bike for sure. Honestly, I think it'd be nice to have a bit more go on the road, but the way it rides in rougher terrain makes up for it.
Hi Nathan Mate I can’t wait to come on one of your trips and meet you in person loving your simple down to earth advice guidance and opinion stay safe Brother Atb. Roach
Great to see you're happy with her, Nathan. I came very close but in the end I plumped for the CRF 250 Rally and so far I'm loving it. Still love the REH though. Wish I could afford both!
Happiness with Himalayan will not last long....Wait for another 3 months...60% of the main parts will fall apart. REH build quality no one can match .....Sure to fail... Guaranteed.
Glad you like the REH so far. Hope she takes you safely through your intended rides this year. I wish I could throw my bike around like you. Oh, to be young again! My mate swears (sic) by his CCM. What's your view, is it a contender against the REH?
I am also very interested in a klr650 for safaris in the USA (leave there and trips over within visa limits). But now that RE is established there I would love to see a comparison especially for TAT travel. A trifle heavier than Himalayan but interesting you say the latter feels lighter than spec sheet suggests. KLR would be better for pillion though and probably stronger subframe (once upgraded bolts)
Wondering if you would be able/consider, testing a bike somewhat more road oriented, but with light greenlane ability, like the Husqvarna 401 Svartpilen?
@2.43 he said after bike cross some good lengths vibrations are not that much and you can push to 70 miles. I am also suffering from the same cause, look like hit the SWEET SPOT.
Great video! Am very interested in this bike and have even taken one for a short ride, albeit only onroad. May trade in my GS at some point for one. Only big question is long-term reliability, I suppose. How is the milage? And is the seat really comfortable? Hear lots of reviewers talk pretty negatively about it. Take care and keep those vids coming at us.
Really Good Mileage buddy, In Imperial units, you'd get about 30-35km Per Litre of Fuel. So Basically You'd do around 100km in about 3L of Fuel, and the Tank is 15Litre of which 5.5L is Reserve Fuel, So Yeah, you're good to go with this Bike.
@@moorshound3243 I did actually sell the old GS and by a Himalayan, which I rode about 10tkm in one year, before trading it for an old Moto Guzzi. I really like the Enfield though, although the seat was really bad and 24 horses is a bit too few. Now have a Suzuki XF650 with 48 hp, and that, for me, is perfect.
Hey Nathan I love your reviews, honest and rugged. I own a classic 500 RE an absolutely love that beast to the bits. Want to buy a Himalayan for touring but waiting for the Himalayan 650 coming late this year. What are your thoughts about it ??? The new Himalayan 650 pros an cons.
Estilo de vida viajante they're better than I was expecting. Good in a straight line - no rumbling feel or noise - and they're fine in the corners. Maybe not as confident as a TKC80 but they are a lot cheaper and look more aggressive
Pls suggest me which bike i should go for as i was looking forward for Himalayan ABS, but its not switchable. can i install a after market switch to on and off it. Or i have to remove fuse only under the seat to switch it off or should i go for non abs version BS 4 . Also please tell me hows the Himalayan performance in terms of durability and other issues as BS 3 variant was a flop. Confused between, Himalayan, Thunderbird 500 single channel abs and CBR250 r ABS and dominar 400( Hate Bajaj). I am 6 feet tall casual city ride and more of a highway touring and Himachal touring i do i usually ride around 80-100 kmph not a fast speed thriller. more of a cruising i like. Please suggest. and Thumbs up for your video
Have you ever ridden a KLR 650? I was just thinking which would be the better machine. The KLR has a lot of fans but the Enfield is a different option.
Hi Dave. I've never ridden a KLR650, mainly because we don't get them in the UK sadly. I do have a Suzuki Freewind XF650 (DR650 engine) and a Husqvarna TR650 Terra. The Himalayan feels about the same weight as the XF, is down on power but is much more suited to the trails as it has the bigger front wheel, better sanding position, better suspension and a more tractable engine for those conditions. The Husky is a good bike, great on the road, but I have to ignore what the claimed weights are as it feels a lot heavier than the Himalayan, and I suspect the KLR would be the same. I think then the Himalayan would be an easier to manage, with a lower seat, arguably a more refined engine (it is very smooth) and I guess just something a bit different. The KLR would probably be better for long road miles on fast roads/interstates etc. and its reliability is proven. I guess it boils down to whether you want to go for the safe and tried and tested option, or go for something a bit different and hope it suits. If you could get a test ride on a Himalayan that would be the best thing. Some find them lacking in power - which they are to a large extent - which you'll either be fine with, or not. Hope that helps a bit.
Hi Nathan, confused by info on net about semi / full oils 🤔 I have a 2003 f650 gs 56.000miles and time to change oil .Now can I use full syn oil in my engine will it cause clutch slip ?? Thx Steve from Scotland
Hi Steve. Not sure. Not the most technically competent people to ask. But I've used fully synthetic in the Himalayan and anecdotally it ran cooler and gave no clutch slip. I would have thought there'll be some consensus on the GS owners forums on what oil to use
@@nathanthepostman cheers thanks , I will put in fully syn , lots of people say not much difference and fully syn will give me longer period before another oil change and no problems with clutch slip etc etc . Thanks great vlogs, my mate is going to buy the Himalayan my bmw f650gs has lots of life left in it , I like it cos you can throw it around nice and lightweight ha ha . Cheers
Yeah I think if you're above 6 ft it could be a bit tight in the leg. I suppose it was designed for people a little shorter who would benefit from the low seat height. I increased my rear preload which has given me a little more space, and I hear some riders increasing the seat height by adding a layer of foam to the seat and having it recovered. There's also a guy in the UK working on a suspension raising kit for it which would help.
I def miss a kickstart. I have a carb and live in hilly terrain so jumpstart is not so difficult. If you had a BS4 efi and jump start it in a flat area would be a right nightmare. Having said that electricals have been pretty reliable so far. 6th gear would have been good but needed a 650cc engine as the 411cc engine is tuned for the torque at low RPM. Would be pretty gutless on a 6th
Thanks Right Stuff (you're not the program on Channel 5 are you?) - the jacket... it's not bad. Not perfect. The outer material has no water repellent to it at all. It soaks up water like any cotton garment - that's disappointing. And it has the fancy flimsy armour which to me I just don't have confidence in, so have switched it to regular foam. I think it's too much money for what it is, but I do like the comfort and style of it. I'd buy one, but not at £450.
No, not the program, just of the opinion that holding a bit of the yellow stuff could be a wise thing to do for difficult times. Thnx again for your input. I agree the jacket seems overpriced. I would like to get into biking again but I am not sure which to buy; I cant make my mind up. The RE Himalayan, the BMW G310 GS, A 2012 but only 800 miles BMW G650 Sertao, or a 4000 miles 2013 Husgvarna TR650 terra. I somehow really like the RE, it seems a bargain and capable on dirt roads but could it go on highway stretches 60-75 mph? The plan is to do as little highway as possible and explore Romania...
Oh interesting. I own a Terra TR650 as well and they're great bikes. Brilliant engine, a much better option than the Sertao, personally speaking... apart from the fact it's a widow bike and so down the line it could be difficult to get parts, although the owners community is currently very healthy on advrider.com. Between that and the Himalayan... as a bike to ride I'd probably go for the Terra. It'll definitely do motorway work. Very smooth engine. The Himalayan will do motorway, but it isn't a quick bike. The 310 GS. I don't know. It's a good bike, great with the Rally Raid kit on, but I see it more as a local explorer/commuter than travel/adventure bike. Just go with the one you want to buy and ride.
Harley Davidson, wake up!!! With all the mountains, parks and desert terrain in the United State’s, this is a market to go for. I hate to buy foreign, because I believe in feeding your family first, however I might have no choice for now.
Yeah it's a great bike that Versys. Not for me this time around, but I loved the engine when you got up high in the rev range. Such a fast little machine and surprisingly comfortable considering that rock hard seat!
If only more supposed 'adventure' bikes were as simple ... Who'd fancy trying to fix a 2018 GS in the middle of nowhere...? Canbus wiring ... Umpteen computers? No thanks!
Nice to hear someone understand the usefulness of a low-stressed, long-stroke motor. From an Oz postman. Ride safe.
Nathan likes Oz Posties ;)
Just bought my Himalayan, 2nd hand with 12,000km. Only the second one to come up for sale 2nd hand in NZ I believe. Came with the aluminium panniers that cost $1200 here plus fitting. Have been lusting after one since I first heard about the himalayan about 6 months ago. Happy days here we come!
I have done 11k km it is a carb version, fall in love with her daily, soooo comfortable to ride both on and off and still she impress me.. and you are right, it never lets you down!
Another tick in the box, well several. Watching you throw it around at the end answers a lot of questions as well. Cheers and happy riding :)
Thanks, you're review is much appreciated! Owner reviews are so much better! They're not affraid to thrash the bike, nor under sponsor pressure.
One of the best review I saw about the himalayan (I saw a lot).
You said it all and as other people mentioned before me: owners reviews are the most valuable (no pressure from sponsors...).
You bike looks really cool with these tyres and all the dust.
You clearly understood and expressed the 'essence' of this bike. Sounds really fun and simple.
Back to roots!
Brilliant delivery sir. Clear and to the point. Ride safely.
Nice to see the bike from a third person perspective. The exhaust sounds nice and it appears to just go wherever you point it. Great video!
Can't wait to see more of your videos on the royal enfield! Big fan of yours I am! And a big fan of this bike! 😀
I am quite impressed by this bike from the vids I have seen and articles I have read. As long as one just expects a reliable, torquey, low revving engine it is not at all disappointing. This was a good review Nathan. It is a great sounding bike too. I have a 1981 Honda XL500S but that electric starter on the Himalayan sure would be nice for this 67 year old body.
Thanks for posting. Great to see video of the bike in action as opposed to on board cameras
Nice one brother. I found you on a Google Search for Royal Enfield. Love your vids and reviews. Way back in the 60's and 70'ds I rode a 650 Thunderbolt here in the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada. Mainly on the regular roads. Did a bit of off road. BUT NO WHERE near as good as you !! I have subscribed and liked. Keep up your good work. If you are going to ride across the states this year; don't forget CANADA. Stay safe brother.
Best review I've seen of these yet - the only thing missing was a handstand. All the best to ya
Everything you say about the Himalayan i have found to be true and on the road with the original tyres builds my confidence on all road conditions and cornering is a breeze, this bike does everything i want it to, haven`t loaded it up yet for my next road trip, i believe i can load the kitchen sink as well, it`s a lot of bike for the money,lovin it!
I think I was waiting for this video on the wrong channel 😅 thanks for sharing... looking forward for the next vids!
A “Pull you through” bike, “Torque you through” bike. Love it, am getting one soon.
Nice work mate. That looks great fun on the green lanes. I got myself a Sleet version a month ago and I’m absolutely loving it. I need to do some green lanes though to get the most out of it I think. Keep up the good work Buddy!
Just bought one of these, and the final few mins of your video made me eager to get past the 'running in' period asap and have some fun on it
Hey! What about your experience with thz himalayan ypu bought? Are you a happy owner? Would you recommend me to buy the himalayan?
beautiful video. thank you.
Jealous of the way it handles those ruts - my nemesis. Maybe it is riding skill. I love the character of the bike and it was great that you brought it in to show us at the Touretech travel event (the low key presentation was great and fitted the event, also appreciated edition 3 of your Getting into Adventure series - thanks). Not sure I could be tempted off my v-strom 650 as she handled both the off and on road ride outs and trails with pride, but I would love to ride alongside the Himalayan in the years to come just to hear that great sound from the exhaust!
That bike is amazing. You take that where most BMW rides will never go. It's a great little bike. I might have to get one for the collection.
I love the exhaust sound. Not offensive when passing thru’ bird song
Thanks! Glad to see a good BS4 review. Seems to be a real world right-sized bike that's simple and rugged.
Thanks Drew. Yeah it's a very likeable bike for sure. Honestly, I think it'd be nice to have a bit more go on the road, but the way it rides in rougher terrain makes up for it.
Hi Nathan
Mate I can’t wait to come on one of your trips and meet you in person loving your simple down to earth advice guidance and opinion stay safe Brother Atb. Roach
Great video + Info! Cheers!
Looks a great bike!
It is prettier than all the plastic clad motorcycles made today. LOL!
Keep the videos coming. Would like to know the really long term reliability of these bikes?
Great review. Nice to see some 'off bike' footage of you riding the bike.
Great to see you're happy with her, Nathan. I came very close but in the end I plumped for the CRF 250 Rally and so far I'm loving it. Still love the REH though. Wish I could afford both!
pgod1960 indee. A garage full would be nice! But great choice on the Rally. Can't go wrong really!
I am currently torn between these to bikes!
Happiness with Himalayan will not last long....Wait for another 3 months...60% of the main parts will fall apart. REH build quality no one can match .....Sure to fail... Guaranteed.
Glad you like the REH so far. Hope she takes you safely through your intended rides this year.
I wish I could throw my bike around like you. Oh, to be young again!
My mate swears (sic) by his CCM. What's your view, is it a contender against the REH?
Thanks for the nice review
Is that stock exhaust? Sounds not bad at all
Hi Nathan, did you run your bike in the way the manual says, 60kph max for the fist 500k and then 80kph max till you get to 2000k
Well said !!!
Maybe the best reviewer on line.
I am also very interested in a klr650 for safaris in the USA (leave there and trips over within visa limits). But now that RE is established there I would love to see a comparison especially for TAT travel. A trifle heavier than Himalayan but interesting you say the latter feels lighter than spec sheet suggests. KLR would be better for pillion though and probably stronger subframe (once upgraded bolts)
Wondering if you would be able/consider, testing a bike somewhat more road oriented, but with light greenlane ability, like the Husqvarna 401 Svartpilen?
How much it cost?
@2.43 he said after bike cross some good lengths vibrations are not that much and you can push to 70 miles.
I am also suffering from the same cause, look like hit the SWEET SPOT.
Great video! Am very interested in this bike and have even taken one for a short ride, albeit only onroad. May trade in my GS at some point for one. Only big question is long-term reliability, I suppose. How is the milage? And is the seat really comfortable? Hear lots of reviewers talk pretty negatively about it. Take care and keep those vids coming at us.
Really Good Mileage buddy, In Imperial units, you'd get about 30-35km Per Litre of Fuel.
So Basically You'd do around 100km in about 3L of Fuel, and the Tank is 15Litre of which 5.5L is Reserve Fuel, So Yeah, you're good to go with this Bike.
You could buy 3 for the money you'd get from the GS so you'll have a new one ready to go if one goes down.
@@moorshound3243 I did actually sell the old GS and by a Himalayan, which I rode about 10tkm in one year, before trading it for an old Moto Guzzi. I really like the Enfield though, although the seat was really bad and 24 horses is a bit too few. Now have a Suzuki XF650 with 48 hp, and that, for me, is perfect.
Hey Nathan I love your reviews, honest and rugged.
I own a classic 500 RE an absolutely love that beast to the bits.
Want to buy a Himalayan for touring but waiting for the Himalayan 650 coming late this year.
What are your thoughts about it ??? The new Himalayan 650 pros an cons.
Himalayan 650 will not be released until 2021. As continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650 market will be affected if Himalayan 650 will be released.
how are the brakes for on road riding? can it handle the start-stop nature of american roads and drivers?
What do you think of it on duel carriageways cruising at 60 mph?
how are those tires performing on the road? would you recommend them?
Estilo de vida viajante they're better than I was expecting. Good in a straight line - no rumbling feel or noise - and they're fine in the corners. Maybe not as confident as a TKC80 but they are a lot cheaper and look more aggressive
Pls suggest me which bike i should go for as i was looking forward for Himalayan ABS, but its not switchable. can i install a after market switch to on and off it. Or i have to remove fuse only under the seat to switch it off or should i go for non abs version BS 4 . Also please tell me hows the Himalayan performance in terms of durability and other issues as BS 3 variant was a flop. Confused between, Himalayan, Thunderbird 500 single channel abs and CBR250 r ABS and dominar 400( Hate Bajaj). I am 6 feet tall casual city ride and more of a highway touring and Himachal touring i do i usually ride around 80-100 kmph not a fast speed thriller. more of a cruising i like.
Please suggest. and Thumbs up for your video
Nice one 👍👍👍
Sounds great, is that the standard exhaust?
Hi Splodge. Yes it is the stock exhaust. I did try and aftermarket end can but wasn't convinced by it so switched back to stock.
Do you own the carb version or the FI one?
How tall you are Nathan?
Have you ever ridden a KLR 650? I was just thinking which would be the better machine. The KLR has a lot of fans but the Enfield is a different option.
Hi Dave. I've never ridden a KLR650, mainly because we don't get them in the UK sadly. I do have a Suzuki Freewind XF650 (DR650 engine) and a Husqvarna TR650 Terra. The Himalayan feels about the same weight as the XF, is down on power but is much more suited to the trails as it has the bigger front wheel, better sanding position, better suspension and a more tractable engine for those conditions. The Husky is a good bike, great on the road, but I have to ignore what the claimed weights are as it feels a lot heavier than the Himalayan, and I suspect the KLR would be the same. I think then the Himalayan would be an easier to manage, with a lower seat, arguably a more refined engine (it is very smooth) and I guess just something a bit different. The KLR would probably be better for long road miles on fast roads/interstates etc. and its reliability is proven. I guess it boils down to whether you want to go for the safe and tried and tested option, or go for something a bit different and hope it suits. If you could get a test ride on a Himalayan that would be the best thing. Some find them lacking in power - which they are to a large extent - which you'll either be fine with, or not. Hope that helps a bit.
Thanks for the response.
Hi Nathan, confused by info on net about semi / full oils 🤔 I have a 2003 f650 gs 56.000miles and time to change oil .Now can I use full syn oil in my engine will it cause clutch slip ?? Thx Steve from Scotland
Hi Steve. Not sure. Not the most technically competent people to ask. But I've used fully synthetic in the Himalayan and anecdotally it ran cooler and gave no clutch slip. I would have thought there'll be some consensus on the GS owners forums on what oil to use
@@nathanthepostman cheers thanks , I will put in fully syn , lots of people say not much difference and fully syn will give me longer period before another oil change and no problems with clutch slip etc etc . Thanks great vlogs, my mate is going to buy the Himalayan my bmw f650gs has lots of life left in it , I like it cos you can throw it around nice and lightweight ha ha . Cheers
I am a 6 ft tall rider and I find the seat height low. Anybody feel the same?
Yeah I think if you're above 6 ft it could be a bit tight in the leg. I suppose it was designed for people a little shorter who would benefit from the low seat height. I increased my rear preload which has given me a little more space, and I hear some riders increasing the seat height by adding a layer of foam to the seat and having it recovered. There's also a guy in the UK working on a suspension raising kit for it which would help.
I'm still tempted... Just a bit let down they got rid of the kickstart.
I feel like a kickstart and 6th gear would make this the perfect bike.
I def miss a kickstart. I have a carb and live in hilly terrain so jumpstart is not so difficult. If you had a BS4 efi and jump start it in a flat area would be a right nightmare. Having said that electricals have been pretty reliable so far. 6th gear would have been good but needed a 650cc engine as the 411cc engine is tuned for the torque at low RPM. Would be pretty gutless on a 6th
Are you using Different Seat Cover for Rider Seat
Yeah it's a Cool Cover seat cover, you just slip it over the standard seat and makes it a bit more comfortable in hot weather.
Glad you like it. Am I the only one bugged by the redundant mud guards?
Will Ashmore the top one is aesthetic, the lower one effective. You can easily unbolt either and some people have. I don't mind it tho so have left it
Yes, me too. I would take the top one off I think. @nathan: Thnx for the review/experience on the Himalyan. Could you do a review on your jacket?
Thanks Right Stuff (you're not the program on Channel 5 are you?) - the jacket... it's not bad. Not perfect. The outer material has no water repellent to it at all. It soaks up water like any cotton garment - that's disappointing. And it has the fancy flimsy armour which to me I just don't have confidence in, so have switched it to regular foam. I think it's too much money for what it is, but I do like the comfort and style of it. I'd buy one, but not at £450.
No, not the program, just of the opinion that holding a bit of the yellow stuff could be a wise thing to do for difficult times. Thnx again for your input. I agree the jacket seems overpriced. I would like to get into biking again but I am not sure which to buy; I cant make my mind up. The RE Himalayan, the BMW G310 GS, A 2012 but only 800 miles BMW G650 Sertao, or a 4000 miles 2013 Husgvarna TR650 terra. I somehow really like the RE, it seems a bargain and capable on dirt roads but could it go on highway stretches 60-75 mph? The plan is to do as little highway as possible and explore Romania...
Oh interesting. I own a Terra TR650 as well and they're great bikes. Brilliant engine, a much better option than the Sertao, personally speaking... apart from the fact it's a widow bike and so down the line it could be difficult to get parts, although the owners community is currently very healthy on advrider.com. Between that and the Himalayan... as a bike to ride I'd probably go for the Terra. It'll definitely do motorway work. Very smooth engine. The Himalayan will do motorway, but it isn't a quick bike. The 310 GS. I don't know. It's a good bike, great with the Rally Raid kit on, but I see it more as a local explorer/commuter than travel/adventure bike. Just go with the one you want to buy and ride.
Harley Davidson, wake up!!! With all the mountains, parks and desert terrain in the United State’s, this is a market to go for. I hate to buy foreign, because I believe in feeding your family first, however I might have no choice for now.
is that british accent ???
New York to Los Angeles in 1,000 miles? What am I missing here?
I was talking about a trip that I was to do, not had done. There's a 16k mile update video about that.
@@nathanthepostman Cool. Thank you for responding.
Mad Max bike..i think its best budget adv after green machine Versys300X..
Yeah it's a great bike that Versys. Not for me this time around, but I loved the engine when you got up high in the rev range. Such a fast little machine and surprisingly comfortable considering that rock hard seat!
If they ever issue this with a bigger engine I'd be interested.
Then it will be a completely different thing.
This bike has no horsepower, but mulepower
If only more supposed 'adventure' bikes were as simple ... Who'd fancy trying to fix a 2018 GS in the middle of nowhere...? Canbus wiring ... Umpteen computers? No thanks!