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Tried a 2021 Himalayan yesterday

DRugerH

Well travelled
Good morning all. I pre-ordered a 2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan a few weeks ago. Now, I have never seen one of these bikes in person, let alone sat on one, or ridden one. When I pre-ordered the bike, I was taking a leap of faith that I would like it based on reviews and YouTube videos of the bike. I am 6'2", so I was concerned that the bike was going to be too small for me, so I've worried about whether or not I made a good decision on the pre-order. However, RE said it was a refundable deposit, so I thought it was a good chance to take.

Well, yesterday, the dealership where I secured the bike had a Royal Enfield Demo Day. I cleared my Saturday morning and made my way up there. I got there just before they opened, but the sign up for a ride was already going on. I was the forth person in line to sign up. I asked if I could ride a Himalayan, for which they had two. I was given the go-ahead and I went to the bikes.

When I saw my very first Himalayan, I got a little excited, especially since one of the demos was the same color scheme (Rock Read) that I preordered, so I proceeded to the bike. However, my heart sank a little. Those bikes are so much smaller than I expected. I knew the seat height was going to be low, but I didn't think it had such a short wheelbase. Well, as soon as I started to look at the bike, the salesman that I arranged the pre-order with came out and we started to talk. I mentioned that I had brought my pre-order and deposit receipt with me just in case the bike didn't work out. He asked me to give the bike a try, take the ride, and let him know what I thought when I came back.

So, I sat on the bike, and, yeah, the bike felt pretty low. The seat was really soft, and felt like it sank down a couple of inches. I put one foot on the peg to make sure my knee didn't hit the tank crash bar, and I was about 1" away. That made me feel a bit better. The instrumentation looked really small, smaller than I expected. The mirrors seemed a little flimsy, but I know that had been mentioned in videos, so I already figured I'd replace them anyhow, IF I purchased the bike. Also, the seating position felt about the same as it did on my 1981 Honda GL500, which I sold 40-miles after restoring the bike as it made my hips and back hurt after just a couple of miles of riding. Not good, and my heart kept sinking.

Well, it was ride time. After a briefing on riding, where we're going, etc., I started up the bike, and got into formation. As we took off, and I was trying to get used to the bike, I was starting to notice the quarks. For example, I know when the bike wanted to shift as there would be a weird vibration whine coming from the instrument panel. So, once I heard that, shift. The throttle had a lot of travel in it. When I went to shift, I had to twist forward farther than I am used to. I got used to that pretty quickly. On the first right turn, I sort of felt like I was going to dump the bike as dual-sports tend to be top heavy. So, with this in mind, I took the turn a little wide, but then felt the bike firmly planted on the ground, with the center of gravity being much lower than I expected. As the ride went on, I started really enjoying the bike. I started to forget about the weird "I want to shift" vibration, I started to forget about the goofy throttle, I started to forget about the squishiness of the seat. I just really enjoyed a nice, relaxing ride. AND, most importantly, no aches or pains!

Well, we got back to the dealership. I parked the bike, turned it off, took off the helmet and just smiled. I felt good about the purchase. The salesman walked out to see if I needed my $500 deposit back, and I told him to keep it. I WILL take delivery of the bike when it arrives. We kept on talking for a few minutes after this when I realized I still hadn't dismounted the bike. I was truly feeling like the bike was right for me. Yes, it was small, it was quirky, it wasn't the fastest thing on two wheels, but it was extremely enjoyable.

Also, the folks from Royal Enfield were really cool. They let me ride an Intercepter 650 as well since it was still early and not many folks had shown up for the demos, and I got to talk to one of the reps who was really cool. So, I guess you all are stuck with me as I am most definitely a Royal Enfiled pre-owner :)

Thanks for reading,
Dan
 

Robert

Well travelled
Location
Holland
Buying a motorcycle is always a bit of a gamble when it's completely new to you. I bought my Hima without a test ride, I just sat on one at the dealership. It felt solid and I from experience with other bikes I knew that lots of things regarding the sitting position are adaptable. So, since I took delivery I changed the position of the handlebars an added some seat height. It feels comfortable enough to ride several hours without complaints.
Hope you get yours soon and enjoy it!
 

G Man

Well travelled
Location
Northampton MA
That's great you got to ride one. The things you mention are all easily dealt with to make the bike your own. The noise just before shifting can be dealt with by making sure everything is tight up front and some, including myself, have added a bit of silicone around the headlight and the headlight bucket. It also sounds like you would do well with a Seat Concepts Tall seat, and some have found just adding height extenders to the mirrors helped a bunch, me, I went with some Double Take Adventure mirrors and couldn't be happier. Anyway, you're going to love the bike once you take delivery.
 

Roy Gavin

Well travelled
Buying a motorcycle is always a bit of a gamble when it's completely new to you. I bought my Hima without a test ride, I just sat on one at the dealership. It felt solid and I from experience with other bikes I knew that lots of things regarding the sitting position are adaptable. So, since I took delivery I changed the position of the handlebars an added some seat height. It feels comfortable enough to ride several hours without complaints.
Hope you get yours soon and enjoy it!
Bought mine, secondhand, without taking a test ride either .
The owner was surprised, asked me if I had ridden one elsewhere.
Nope, I replied, but if there is anything that doesn't suit me it will be easy enough to change, and that is part of the fun!
Hope you have fun on yours too!
 

DRugerH

Well travelled
Thanks all for the confidence. My problem wasn't so much that I didn't take one on a test ride, my problem was that I had never even seen a Himalayan in person. I was purchasing it totally blind. I know a lot of motorcycle dealerships and even private sellers won't let you take a bike on a test ride. But the fact that I had never seen one to even get an idea of the size is what made me nervous. But, it's all good now.

G Man, thanks for the ideas. I was thinking of getting the touring seat from RE. I sat on an Int 650 with the stock, soft seat, than one with the upgraded touring seat, and it made a huge difference. That Seat Concepts seat, is that just a cushion with a cover that you put over your existing seat, or is it one where you have to strip your seat down to the pan and replace it with that? I guess if I get the RE touring seat, I could sacrifice the stock seat and try the Seat Concepts cover. Also, I like those mirrors you pointed out. They look really nice on the bike, and I like the adjustability of them.

Anyhow, I will certainly report back once I take delivery of the bike. Sounds like I will get it just in time to store it. It's fine as I can farkle it out while it's waiting for Spring. I already ordered the RE handlebar riser (I felt like I needed them just s smidge higher) and the crash bars. Sure, a bit premature, but as I added stuff to my eBay watch list, a couple of sellers offered me a discounted price that I couldn't pass up.

Dan
 

TN_twowheeladdict

Well travelled
Location
Tennessee
The seat is the only thing I changed . I removed the rubber peg inserts, rotated the bars forward a little , and added the pannier racks. That's it in 18 months of ownership
 

blender

Well travelled
Location
Wisconsin
I was thinking of getting the touring seat from RE. I sat on an Int 650 with the stock, soft seat, than one with the upgraded touring seat, and it made a huge difference.
I see you're in SE Wisconsin, I'm in Madison. You're welcome to borrow my touring seat for a day or two to see if you like it. Frankly I don't find it much of an improvement over the stock seat. I plan to go with the Seat Concepts over the winter.
 
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DRugerH

Well travelled
Hi Blender, that's very generous of you. I may take you up on that, though it sounds like I may be taking delivery of my Himalayan just in time to winterize it and store it in the garage. However, if you have it come Spring, or are selling the seat after the Seat Concepts upgrade, I certainly would take you up on that.

Dan
 

blender

Well travelled
Location
Wisconsin
Who knows, by springtime you might be able to test ride both the touring seat and a Seat Concepts.....

Hope you get the bike before our crap weather kicks in and are able to put a few break-in miles on it.
 

grymsr

Well travelled
Location
Maine
I bought mine without a test ride too. Throwing a leg over gave me such a good feeling that I was sold right then. My first test ride was taking it home 100 miles away. The more I rode, the better I like it.
 

Spydie

Finally made it
Location
New Mexico
I see you're in SE Wisconsin, I'm in Madison. You're welcome to borrow my touring seat for a day or two to see if you like it. Frankly I don't find it much of an improvement over the stock seat. I plan to go with the Seat Concepts over the winter.
I'm from Richland Center, WI and my wife from Janesville. I just picked up my 2021 Lake Blue Himmy. Only got a little over 100 miles on it. It's been so cold and windy since I picked it up a few days ago. I live in Deming, NM now and have lived in NM for about 39 years. We left WI in 1982
 

Spydie

Finally made it
Location
New Mexico
Hi Blender, that's very generous of you. I may take you up on that, though it sounds like I may be taking delivery of my Himalayan just in time to winterize it and store it in the garage. However, if you have it come Spring, or are selling the seat after the Seat Concepts upgrade, I certainly would take you up on that.

Dan
Where in southeast WI are you? I'm from Richland Center.
 

imnvegas

Well travelled
I have the exact opposite problem. I am only 5'7" with a 29" inseam. and most every motorcycle except for my Fatboy and the old school classic styles are too flippin tall for me...I have a 2021 Himmy and with the panniers I have to step on the left footpeg like getting on a horse..LOL

I have been riding motorcycles for over 50 years and can ride most anything, but I am really tired of modern bikes that are all too tall....WTH, I thought the average height for guys was about 5'9". I even looked at the GS310 before I bought the Himmy and it was taller..

That whining aside, I love the Himalayan even more so than my HD for other than highway traveling.
 

dbhunter

Getting there...
I have the exact opposite problem. I am only 5'7" with a 29" inseam. and most every motorcycle except for my Fatboy and the old school classic styles are too flippin tall for me...I have a 2021 Himmy and with the panniers I have to step on the left footpeg like getting on a horse..LOL

I have been riding motorcycles for over 50 years and can ride most anything, but I am really tired of modern bikes that are all too tall....WTH, I thought the average height for guys was about 5'9". I even looked at the GS310 before I bought the Himmy and it was taller..

That whining aside, I love the Himalayan even more so than my HD for other than highway traveling.
I am 70, in fairly good physical condition, but you still get stiff at my age. With the panniers mounted I struggle a little getting on and off. I saw videos of people mounting like you said, using the foot peg. My manual did state that the stand is only meant to support the weight of the bike and not to put other weight on it. I guess you are not having a problem so far. Wondering what everyone else's opinion on this is and is it safe?
 

Morgan60

Well travelled
Location
USA
Hello Dan, 6’2” is a little tall for a Himalaya, but in late 2021 models RE is moving the front tank racks a little bit forward and will come with a taller windscreen to accommodate taller riders. I saw and sat on a Himalayan at the Dallas TX IMS show back in February of 2018. I was very excited to buy mine. Come the following May I bought the first one in Oregon with out riding it. It was however my third RE so RE was not new to me. I really love the bike. I did buy a top handlebar clamp and flipped it to make a spacer giving me now the perfect handlebar heigh. It was really cheap like only $14.00 to $15.00 at my dealer.

My Himmy has the stock seat and it fits me very well. I have easily done 650 miles in one day of riding with no butt pain.
 
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Roy Gavin

Well travelled
I am 75, 30" inseam and also find the wrong things are getting stiff and clearing the rear seat needs a good swing.
I have removed the rack, slimmed the rear seat cushion and don't have panniers , but have not tried standing on the footpeg.
At 38,000 km the pivot on my sidestand is pretty worn , to the point that the bike is on the point of leaning too far over, and am about to fit a adjustable replacement which can go both longer and shorter than stock.
Stand itself looks strong enough and in any event is easy to replace, but the frame mounted part of the pivot may not be as easy to fix, if that is where the wear is.
 

Spydie

Finally made it
Location
New Mexico
Hello Dan, 6’2” is a little tall for a Himalaya, but in late 2021 models RE is moving the front tank racks a little bit forward and will come with a taller windscreen to accommodate taller riders. I saw and sat on a Himalayan at the Dallas TX IMS show back in February of 2018. I was very excited to buy mine. Come the following May I bought the first one in Oregon with out riding it. It was however my third RE so RE was not new to me. I really love the bike. I did buy a top handlebar clamp and flipped it to make a spacer giving me now the perfect handlebar heigh. It was really cheap like only $14.00 to $15.00 at my dealer.

My Himmy has the stock seat and it fits me very well. I have easily done 650 miles in one day of riding with no butt pain.
The 2021 models in India will be the 2022 models here in the US. I have a new 2021 and it's a 2020 model in India. We get them a year late here in the US. But I didn't want the stiffer saddle or the Tripper navigation and the associated price upgrade, so I went for the US 2021 model, which I just got to my first oil change today. I'm almost 70 years old and have always stood on the peg to mount the horse with saddle bags and never had a problem. The problem with the Himmy is you can put a bolt in the side stand mount instead of the peg they use and tighten It up to alleviate the spread of the metal tabs when it starts getting loose.
 

Morgan60

Well travelled
Location
USA
The 2021 models in India will be the 2022 models here in the US. I have a new 2021 and it's a 2020 model in India. We get them a year late here in the US. But I didn't want the stiffer saddle or the Tripper navigation and the associated price upgrade, so I went for the US 2021 model, which I just got to my first oil change today. I'm almost 70 years old and have always stood on the peg to mount the horse with saddle bags and never had a problem. The problem with the Himmy is you can put a bolt in the side stand mount instead of the peg they use and tighten It up to alleviate the spread of the metal tabs when it starts getting loose.
Not always, remember the 650s came later in the year after being released in India, so did the Trials 500 if I remember correctly. A Tripper navigation and a new seat is also coming with the new Himalayan.
 
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