Finally got it

[Napom]

OK, so I signed up here just about a year ago and have been researching the Himalayan for a couple years now. After a few posts, I think its time for an intro. Normally, I'm a big tour rider, having just rolled over 100,000 miles on my 2011 Kawasaki Voyager 1700 during a Grand Canyon run over the summer. In 2012, I got introduced to Dual Sport riding while doing some Air Force Reserve time in Alaska. For the next 4 tours in Alaska, I would rent a dual sport bike and ride some of the most beautiful roads I have ever ridden - The Denali Highway, the Top of the World Highway, the Seward Highway, and the Dalton Highway to the Arctic Circle. I rode these on two KLR-650's, a Triumph Tiger 800, and a BMW 650 GS. Of those bikes the KLR was my favorite, light, predictable, comfortable, with a good range in the tank. When I rode the Dalton, I only went to the Arctic Circle, not to Prudhoe Bay as I didn't have the extra day or two I would have needed. Next year, I plan on retiring from my civilian job - to celebrate, I want to take an epic retirement ride - from Northern Virginia (just outside of DC) to Prudhoe Bay and back. While I would love to take my Voyager to Alaska (she has hit all the lower 48 and some of Canada already), I know that doing so would mean that I would need to bypass most of the roads I so want to ride . . . So that means a new bike . . . an adventure bike . . . Enter a couple years of youtube/forum lurking . . . Nearly buying a 2021 KLR, but feeling the Himmie pulling me . . . something so beautifully ugly about her, something so simple, something so . . . perfect.

I finally got to ride one in October while riding my Voyager up in the Poconos. I test road two Himmies at 2 different dealerships, one I would definitely go to if I lived in the area, they were a little willing to deal on the prices but not much, and the other, a mainly Harley Dealership that seems to want to make HD profits off every bike they sell. Their no haggle, take it or leave it out the door price for the basic Himmie without titling and reg $6,800. The salesman explained to me, "Hey these aren't $30,000 Harleys, we need to make a profit somewhere" to which I replied, If you don;t like the profit associated with selling $5,000 motorcycles, maybe you shouldn't be in the business of selling $5,000 motorcycles. . . Either way after the two test rides, I knew that I would buy a Himmie. When I got home I started sending out best out the door price requests to Dealers up and down the East Coast.

One dealer came back to me with a decent out the door price. I had stopped in at Triumph of Charleston (SC) over the summer when we dropped by my uncle's house on the way back back from Hilton Head. As I was in flip flops that day, I didn't get to test ride it, but I did get something far more important than that - my wife's approval of the bike. Though she doesn;t ride with me, any guy will say that without her approval, its not a good thing. When I got their offer, which really was a decent offer, I countered with a price that $500 less, explaining that I would need to fly down to get it, but assuring them that if they came tot hat price I would call and put a deposit on the bike. I really expected them to meet me halfway, but Craig, the owner, came back with an offer that was just $50 over mine - I called him and put the deposit down. I flew down to Charleston on November 3, my uncle Garry (who is the guy that inspired me to get into motorcycling) picked me up at the airport and drove me over. The paperwork was fast and easy. When I arranged the purchase, I also arranged the first service for November 4, so once the paperwork was signed and they had the temp tag on the bike, I was off to put that first 300 miles on her.

It really was a great experience. I got to know Jipci, and was thrilled with her performance. I was expecting to be underwhelmed a little, but after my research, I knew that I wasn;t buying a performance bike. I was buying a versatile motorcycle ready for any adventure. The first service went easily and after that I pointed Jipci north to head home, with an overnight at an old Air Force buddy's house in North Carolina along the way. By the time I got her home on November 5, we had gotten to know one another for over 800 miles. November 6th was spent putting some of the accessories that had started arriving at the house on Jipci, and after riding her to my Blue Knights Chapter meeting on the 7th, we had over 1,000 miles together.

Since then, the miles haven;t been rolling as fast, but more stuff keeps coming in. For now I have the following mods: From Enfield Accessories; Pro Mount, Basix Heel Guard, Tank Clip, front fender risers, and some kick ass decals, I put on Enfield Hard bags (black) and a top case from Amazon, Givi crash bars, LED head light and driving lights from Amazon, additional brake light, JFG Racing hand guards, TEC racing air filter and filter kit, TEC racing bar risers, Kaoko throttle lock, Hitchcock's Front side bags, handlebar brace, and tyre Hugger and I just put on the Doubletake mirrors that Santa brought me. I plan on either changing the windscreen or adding an extension (extension on the way as that is the cheapest and easiest to return thanks to Amazon), adding a tuturo auto chain oiler and installing the 16 tooth front sprocket (already have it it from Hitchcocks) as well as beefing up the seat a little. Honestly when I look at all the mods and their expenses, through smart shopping and whatnot, I am right at or slightly below the non negotiable out the door price that the one dealership wanted for the basic bike . . .

Anyway - that's my long intro. If interested in my rides, check out my blog where I post pictures and videos of my rides from time to time at: https://two-wheeled-therapy.tumblr.com/

And my YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUSW-quMc4Eukf99-Ekm6nA

As I said - I have been lurking here for a while and you all have been a big part of my decision to buy a Himmie. If I can help get a lurker off the fence . . . My mission is complete!

 

[Morgan60]

Hello and welcome to this forum.

 

[Rednine]

The more I read about the Himmie the more I'm drawn.

 

[Bluestrom13]

Hi, and welcome A good looking bike you have there.
But if you'll excuse me saying..
Looks to me like you could do with a strut from the pannier frame up to the underside of the back box support. They have been known to crack the carrier if overloaded.
5 kgs is the stated limit.

 

[Napom]

Hi, and welcome A good looking bike you have there.
But if you'll excuse me saying..
Looks to me like you could do with a strut from the pannier frame up to the underside of the back box support. They have been known to crack the carrier if overloaded.
5 kgs is the stated limit.

Yeah I have heard that, and I have heard that RE has strengthened them but haven;t verified that . . . Looking at replacement rack or just adding a little safety brace to it myself . . . Tis the season for creative mods!

 

[petespace1]

Welcome great bike.
…and yes the rear rack used to be a problem. But if your bike is the new version with the tripper I believe RE has a stronger rack. But keep an eye on it.

 

[Napom]

Welcome great bike.
…and yes the rear rack used to be a problem. But if your bike is the new version with the tripper I believe RE has a stronger rack. But keep an eye on it.

Mine is a 2021 - no tripper - I may just add a simple support to be on the safe side - and to make mine just a little different!

 

[petespace1]

There are different options to strengthen the rear rack.
Here are three

 

[Bluestrom13]

Or, if you can cut and drill, but not weld,

 

[Napom]

Or, if you can cut and drill, but not weld,
View attachment 4049

That's more what I was thinking!

 

[Roy Gavin]

I put a brace down to the "muffler" support brackets to steady the rack and the sub frame, and to deaden out unwanted vibrations.
Just cut a thread on the two pegs at the back of the rack , flattened both ends of a bit 18mm thick wall cold drawn tube and bolted them to the rack and muffler bracket.
The OEM hard plastic indicators had already shaken themselves to bits , and the new flexible rubbers ones were fitted out of the way of the braces.
No fan of welded on braces, the welding usually reduces the strength of the tube more than the brace adds, and often concentrates the stress just where that loss is the greatest, at the edge of the weld. Which is why quality products are bronze welded ----!
Vibration can be just as much a problem as load , so gussets/ braces which don't address that have even less to commend them.
Hitchcocks have heavy duty P clamps if your rack does not have pegs , mine is and old 17 model which has.

 

[Napom]

I put a brace down to the "muffler" support brackets to steady the rack and the sub frame, and to deaden out unwanted vibrations.
Just cut a thread on the two pegs at the back of the rack , flattened both ends of a bit 18mm thick wall cold drawn tube and bolted them to the rack and muffler bracket.
The OEM hard plastic indicators had already shaken themselves to bits , and the new flexible rubbers ones were fitted out of the way of the braces.
No fan of welded on braces, the welding usually reduces the strength of the tube more than the brace adds, and often concentrates the stress just where that loss is the greatest, at the edge of the weld. Which is why quality products are bronze welded ----!
Vibration can be just as much a problem as load , so gussets/ braces which don't address that have even less to commend them.
Hitchcocks have heavy duty P clamps if your rack does not have pegs , mine is and old 17 model which has.

Sounds good - Any chance you could post pics of your handiwork?

 

[Roy Gavin]

Unfortunately not, for a few reasons.
First is that I do not have a working digital camera or camera phone.
Second is that I am too old and dumb to post a photo even if I did have, note total absence of pics on my posts.
And third , I have removed the top box and carrier and reverted to a tank bag as I did not like the effect on the suspension/ handling that carrying a load high and way outside the wheelbase had.
I have other bikes better set up and more suited to carrying a full load of gear in top and side cases, without compromising the handling, and perhaps performance.
And yes, I have managed to break the luggage carrying equipment on most every bike I have ever owned, although not always for the same reason!

 

[Napom]

Thanks for the insight! My plan for the top case is not to put much in it at all - For my month long Alaska run, the side bags will be tools and repair stuff in one, cooking stuff in the other - Top case will be reserved for camera gear and maybe helmet at stops - most of my gear, tent, clothes etc. will be in a dry bag across the pillion seat and tops of the side bags . . .

 

[Roy Gavin]

My big Ortlieb roll top on the pillion seat is all I need for for most short trips .
Holds all of what was once my backpacking gear, which is all I need for a couple of nights - tools and repair stuff go with me all the time in the tank bag.
It has been totally watertight and stood up well to some rough treatment, I think it cost around $60- 20 years ago too---!
If you have pannier frames it might be easier to just tie the rack into the top of the frames, just shortening the cantilever and damping any vibration should be enough for light loads.