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My Mods Thread - Royal Enfield Himalayan
- Thread starter wachuko
- Start date
Roy Gavin
Well travelled
- Location
- Adelaide Australia
At one time we were advised to keep luggage within the wheelbase, evenly distributed and as close to the centre line and balance point as possible.
But looking at some hard layouts they are different sizes or distances side to side, almost completely behind the rear axle and about a foot out from the centre line - just about as far from the old advice as possible!
And fecking expensive!
Go figure!
I have used the H&Bs on road trips on my R75/7, fine if you are cruising the interstate and lightly loaded.
Done a few fly in overseas trips too, the big Ortlieb roll top doubles up fine as general luggage and is easy to strap onto most bikes.
But looking at some hard layouts they are different sizes or distances side to side, almost completely behind the rear axle and about a foot out from the centre line - just about as far from the old advice as possible!
And fecking expensive!
Go figure!
I have used the H&Bs on road trips on my R75/7, fine if you are cruising the interstate and lightly loaded.
Done a few fly in overseas trips too, the big Ortlieb roll top doubles up fine as general luggage and is easy to strap onto most bikes.
wachuko
Well travelled
- Location
- Ocala and Orlando, FL
Well, look what I found in a drawer as I was looking for something else... my old Garmin Zumo 550! I have had this GPS for 15 years and had completely forgotten about it. All that on the screen is just dust...need to give it a good clean.
Last bike I had this on was on my 2012 HD RGC CVO.... and I had a custom bracket for it. I know the stock mounting hardware is around here somewhere as well... need to find that next.
Connected it to the computer and it works! Even the battery is holding charge. There was only one firmware update available (from 2009!! ), installed that... and decided to pay the cost of upgrading the maps (no free updates on this unit). I had to add an SD card as all the maps now occupy a huge amount of space. It is taking forever to finalize the updates, but it is in progress.
I will get it ready to install on the Himalayan. Might see if I can place it on the GT 650 for the next trip in April... Looks like I will not be getting the Himalayan until September.
EDIT: Update finished! Had to manually select to make it fit in the only SD card that I had (4Gig) - NA NT 2024.10 Woohooo!!! Disabled the old version as you can see in the screen.
Last bike I had this on was on my 2012 HD RGC CVO.... and I had a custom bracket for it. I know the stock mounting hardware is around here somewhere as well... need to find that next.
Connected it to the computer and it works! Even the battery is holding charge. There was only one firmware update available (from 2009!! ), installed that... and decided to pay the cost of upgrading the maps (no free updates on this unit). I had to add an SD card as all the maps now occupy a huge amount of space. It is taking forever to finalize the updates, but it is in progress.
I will get it ready to install on the Himalayan. Might see if I can place it on the GT 650 for the next trip in April... Looks like I will not be getting the Himalayan until September.
EDIT: Update finished! Had to manually select to make it fit in the only SD card that I had (4Gig) - NA NT 2024.10 Woohooo!!! Disabled the old version as you can see in the screen.
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wachuko
Well travelled
- Location
- Ocala and Orlando, FL
Added the following to the list... to avoid bending/breaking the gear shift peg if I drop it on that side... Replace stock with this:
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cool. where did you find it?
wachuko
Well travelled
- Location
- Ocala and Orlando, FL
It was shared in the FB page for the Himalayan owners… link should work if you have a FB account: Link
Unfortunately, the shifter failed after about a week according to his last report.
"Well guys, the ninja shifter was a turd. Broke the heim joint on it, and honestly not wanting to extract the bolt. ...."
He says he will now work on a custom one so maybe an interesting one will become available. Kinda have to admire the durability of the steel one, I've bent mine back several times now using a pipe wrench with no issue thus far.
wachuko
Well travelled
- Location
- Ocala and Orlando, FL
Well…so glad you read it all!! I missed that detail.
Roy Gavin
Well travelled
- Location
- Adelaide Australia
Think of it like crumple zones on a car, they make the easiest bits to replace to the ones that bend first. And bend back the easiest.
The stand tubes and some other parts are low cost resistance welded seamed "mild steel" thick wall tube , not more expensive cold drawn thinner alloy steel like the Reynolds stuff on old Brit bikes.
So needs to be bit thicker, but welds easy and doesn't loose much strength during welding. But plates, etc, welded to it need to be thicker too.
Thin wall cold drawn is a little harder to weld as it needs a bit more care to ensure the strength gained by the cold drawing process is not lost during welding.
Just a competition between cost and weight, and cost seems to have won on the Hima!
The stand tubes and some other parts are low cost resistance welded seamed "mild steel" thick wall tube , not more expensive cold drawn thinner alloy steel like the Reynolds stuff on old Brit bikes.
So needs to be bit thicker, but welds easy and doesn't loose much strength during welding. But plates, etc, welded to it need to be thicker too.
Thin wall cold drawn is a little harder to weld as it needs a bit more care to ensure the strength gained by the cold drawing process is not lost during welding.
Just a competition between cost and weight, and cost seems to have won on the Hima!
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Bluestrom13
Well travelled
- Location
- - - "Coventry_ish"
Low tech bike. low tech gear lever.
My favorite Enfield trick is that they manufactured the old Bullet footrest support rod out of the same hexagon bar needed to strip the forks.
Now, I can't say if this was deliberate or not.
BUT I read somewhere on the internet that a bloke stuck somewhere (Timbuktu?) used this fact to his advantage when he had a fork leg damaged.
wachuko
Well travelled
- Location
- Ocala and Orlando, FL
On another subject... if all goes well, by tomorrow, I should have a used Versahaul VH-55 RO to carry the bike when driving makes more sense than riding to the start of a ride... I will also use it to replace the carrier that I have for our Vespa (a PITA to use because of the small wheels/tires on the Vespa)
Can't wait to get rid of this one. It is good, but not designed for the bikes that I have...
Can't wait to get rid of this one. It is good, but not designed for the bikes that I have...
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wachuko
Well travelled
- Location
- Ocala and Orlando, FL
Got it!!
wachuko
Well travelled
- Location
- Ocala and Orlando, FL
And testing with the Continental GT 650 since they weigh about the same…. I already ordered the trailer lights…
wachuko
Well travelled
- Location
- Ocala and Orlando, FL
I wanted to see two bikes. I just need to be sure and avoid buyer's remorse... just in case... Went to take a look at this one:
Kawasaki Versys-X 300
Was not able to ride it as I got to the dealer late today... was able to see it, sit on it, and get a feel for it. Of course it would need different pegs, tires, underbelly protection, etc. But it felt good. But greedy dealer... OTO US$8,100.00 for a bike with current MSRP of 5,399.00 (500.00 rebate from Kawasaki).
So got that off my head...
The second bike I would like to look and ride is the Honda CB500X...
Kawasaki Versys-X 300
Was not able to ride it as I got to the dealer late today... was able to see it, sit on it, and get a feel for it. Of course it would need different pegs, tires, underbelly protection, etc. But it felt good. But greedy dealer... OTO US$8,100.00 for a bike with current MSRP of 5,399.00 (500.00 rebate from Kawasaki).
So got that off my head...
The second bike I would like to look and ride is the Honda CB500X...
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Andy131
Well travelled
- Location
- Manchester UK
If you are going to look at a CB500X then don't discount the NC750X while you are at the Honda dealership. Very similar power output to the Interceptor, not remotely off-road focused but does similar MPG to the Himalayan and similar riding position. Bought a 2017 one just before Christmas as a winter bike.
wachuko
Well travelled
- Location
- Ocala and Orlando, FL
Thank you for the suggestion, but I do not want to go to a wider/bigger bike... and I do want it more friendly to trails and some light off-roading. Not sure if the photos I looked at did not do it justice, but the NC750X looked big and wide. It does look like a comfortable bike.
I thought I had made up my mind with the Himalayan... to the note of creating this thread... and look where I am... researching a few more options before taking the plunge.
Now looking at:
Kawasaki Versys-X 300 -felt good but not paying the dealer for insane BS fees... OTD $8,100.00!!! I do not think so!!
Honda CB500X - if I can find a dealer with one to test and get OTD pricing...
KTM 390 Adventure - concern with seat height so I need to see how I fit in that one... on paper it looks too be too tall for me, but I need to get the feel for it. To find out if it is top heavy and how is my reach to the floor. But seeing a few reviews of 5'6" riders having no issues with it... More expensive than the Himalayan... Will see if I can get an OTD pricing from the local dealer when I stop to look at it.
RE Himalayan - got the OTD price from a local dealer: $6,664.36
I will go away for now until I decide what the heck to go with... No sense making more updates to the thread until I do...
Hopefully I have not wasted your time with my ramblings
Finding the right bike is harder than finding a the right woman for most, but I owned a 2018 Versys300x and it won't work for your hwy interstate you will get blown around and its top heavy and underpowered. I kinda like the Honda cb500x myself, but vids show it does ok offroad and was just a little less top heavy than the suzuki 650xt adv I sold. If you are mainly hwy and some good hardpack any adv tourer will do that is not too tall.
The KTM is a detuned motorcross bike: the NC750X a sensible road bike wearing dirt bike clothes.
The Himalayan is like a Series I Land Rover. Rugged, slow, solid. With character.
No bike does everything.
I use my Himmy for slower rides exploring small roads and tracks. It is nimble, has a great tractable engine, but I don’t use it for motorways or long distances although I know it could do those rides if pushed.
For faster twisty summer roads I ride my Moto Guzzi V7. Which is a bit like your Continental.
For longer journeys and in colder weather my BMW R100R with panniers, leg shields and screen is used.
All have their good and bad points, it depends what you want - but if you bought a Himmy and did not make too many changes you could always resell?
The Himalayan is like a Series I Land Rover. Rugged, slow, solid. With character.
No bike does everything.
I use my Himmy for slower rides exploring small roads and tracks. It is nimble, has a great tractable engine, but I don’t use it for motorways or long distances although I know it could do those rides if pushed.
For faster twisty summer roads I ride my Moto Guzzi V7. Which is a bit like your Continental.
For longer journeys and in colder weather my BMW R100R with panniers, leg shields and screen is used.
All have their good and bad points, it depends what you want - but if you bought a Himmy and did not make too many changes you could always resell?