New bike time! RE Himalayan 450

[crofty1984]

I'm excited! Test rode a KTM 390 Adventure and a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 last week. Loved the Himalayan (KTM was OK, but felt cheap and had various annoyances).
Sold my GPZ500 to a nice chap yesterday who collects tomorrow. Then on Saturday I'm heading into town to put my deposit down. I'll put some pictures up when the time comes.

[crofty1984]

Omaruk said:

Congrats- when does it arrive? Looks like the perfect bike to go as far as you dare

I don't know yet, dealer has placed an order with the factory in good faith earlier this week. I'm going in to sort the finance on Saturday. I'm guessing about a month. They're having real trouble with the tubeless wheels I hear, but I don't care, the spec I want comes with tubes so hopefully won't be too affected.

[crofty1984]

Neal H said:

Congrats, I think it will make a great bike. What lead time are they quoting on these?

To answer your question, I'm on the bus on my way to collect

I think they're talking late June/early July for the tubeless variants though.

[crofty1984]

All home. Good ride, apart from nearly hitting a cat on leaving the dealership. Just really impatient to have it run in!

[crofty1984]

Biker9090 said:

Master Bean said:

It's 16hp more.

One of the bike mags was claiming they're only 28hp and not the 40 ish they say?

40 bhp. Well, 39.5 bhp. Though I guess maybe they are talking about RWHP. But it's comparable to similar bikes in that regard. One thing I noticed against the KTM is that the RE definitely feels torquier, and earlier.

[crofty1984]

carinaman said:

crofty1984 said:

All home. Good ride, apart from nearly hitting a cat on leaving the dealership. Just really impatient to have it run in!

Is that your Excel SE?

The bike looks smart too. Black and gold is a bit JPS.

I didn't know these are 20bhp more than the old ones.

How did the test ride compare to the 390 Adventure? I've ridden at two Duke 390s so I know what they're like.

It feels sturdier (heavier) than the Adventure, which felt a bit cheap, the gear indicator and finding neutral was mostly guesswork on the orange bike. That said, the change was almost too smooth on the RE.
RE was very confidence inspiring on the move.
The kickstand on the KTM was also nearly unusable for someone so short in the leg (I'm 5'4"). On the RE it's much better use-wise, but it is far too short, makes getting it off the stand a bit of work and putting it ON the stand is basically a trust-fall exercise.
To get the KTM lowered was another £300, whereas on the RE, you pop the seat off and move two mounting bars.
I thought the KTM was fun to ride, but the engine felt thrashy at the top end, the RE is a bit torquier lower down so was more fun more of the time.

I can 100% see why people like the KTM, but of the two, I didn't prefer it. the fact that the 60-mile-old demo bike already had a rusting fastener, a check engine light on and wasn't run in so the dash kept flashing red at 6krpm at me didn't help my opinion of it.
I've never ridden the 411 Himalayan, so can't compare, but this one certainly feels like enough power for my riding. Thrashing about round Norfolk country lanes, or just sat pootling along on A-roads. Plus maybe I'll get brave and go down some dirt lanes

And yes, that's my Excel (non SE). I dug him out of a hedge 12 years ago and have spectacularly managed to not restore him in that time, as he was living at my in-laws house. Just had him transported to mine the other week (lovely present from the wife) and I've probably done more work in 3 weeks than in 3 years. Including 7 hours doing a cambelt change yesterday. My back's killing me!