Should You Buy The Himalayan? The Good, Bad & The Ugly

20000 Km Ownership Review Of Royal Enfield Himalayan

I’ve had some of the best and the worst experiences of my life with the RE Himalayan. This is my ownership review of the RE Himalayan.

Why did I choose the Himalayan?

Ever since I started riding my father’s 2004 model Royal Enfield Bullet 350, l fascinated owning a cast iron engine Bullet someday. Soon after I moved to Bangalore for work, I bought my own 1975 model Royal Enfield Bullet. I clocked about 44000 kms on that motorcycle in less than 3 years.

A trip to Kemmangundi and Dabbaguli gave me an interest in exploring off road trails. The bullet was not quite efficient in tackling off road terrain although it did highways very well.

Around that time the government came up with green tax for vehicles more than 15 years old. There were rumours that the government was soon implementing the vehicle scrap policy, post which the resale value of bullets would crash.

So I sold my bullet at the same price I had bought it. Because of my newfound love for off-road, I started looking for options in the ADV segment. Considering my budget I was left with 2 options – X-pulse 200 and the Himalayan.

Since the X-Pulse was lot lighter than my bullet, I felt I wouldn’t get adjusted to it especially in touring. Only because of the weight factor, I decided to go with Himalayan after I test drove it on the highway. A decision I would forever regret because till date I struggle with Himalayan’s weight during off road trail riding.

I’ve had the most beautiful and the ugliest memories and experiences with this motorcycle. I’m happy to share all that so that you can make an informed decision if you are looking to buy one.

The Good

Ride comfort

From the soft seat cushions to the upright seating ergonomics, the ride comfort on the Himalayan on long hours of highway touring is the best. I did lower the handlebar height and attached a pair of footrest on the engine guard to aid me better. Folks taller than 5 6”, stock configuration works perfect.

The wind visor also provides decent wind blast protection so you can cover long distances with little fatigue. For someone taller than 5 10”, an extender would be required to reduce buffeting.

I have covered distances non stop for more than 2 hours on many occasions and haven’t experienced any back aches or limb soreness. And that’s why ride comfort goes on top of the list.

Saddling posture

The saddling posture on the Himalayan is the best compared to any major ADV motorcycles in the Indian market. The straight upright posture gives you a lot of confidence in riding off road trails as well on highways.

For taller guys, a taller aftermarket handlebar or the handlebar risers would make things a little easier. But for me, stock setting itself is perfect. More than the comfort, the top-of-the-world feel you get saddling with confidence, is a kick to live for.

Low end torque

As a beginner off-roader, the maximum pace you can tread over gravel terrains and slush patches would be less than 10 km/h around 2500 rpm. Most of the bikes I’ve ridden would require much of acceleration and clutch coordination to rev up the engine to get yourself some torque to tackle the terrain. This is where Himalayan truly shines.

The low end torque is so fantastic that you can just let go of the clutch and slowly tractor through sticky situations without needing to rev up the engine. The way it treads at lower rpms makes you feel that it was built only for this purpose which in turn lets you tread terrains with confidence and makes it fun too.

Suspension

Although not the softest in class, the suspension is very comfortable both on road and off road. I’ve attempted many jumps and tried to bottom out the suspension but it never did. Even with the lowest preload settings, it has never given any issue even with a pillion and saddle bags full of luggage.

Adding this to the seat comfort and riding posture makes the Himalayan very comfortable in riding long distances as well as off-road.

Luggage mounting

From the front frame to the rear mounting screws, Himalayan has a lot of luggage mounting options that’s got you covered for a long trip. All you might need are bags to put on the frame or even panniers for those who prefer hard casing.

Mileage

I’ve been getting around 28-30 kmpl in city riding and 30-32 kmpl on the highway which considering the fact that I top the motorcycle out at 120 kmph most of the time on the highway, is pretty decent.

The Bad

Weight

The one and only major confidence killer in Himalayan is its weight. For a 57kg guy like me, it’s an everyday struggle putting the motorcycle in central stand itself. 200 kg is a lot to pick up and balance especially in off road terrain.

You are bound to fall during off roading sessions but getting back up feels difficult than tackling the terrain. This makes you feel scared and less confident in attempting something which you’d otherwise be thrilled to do with a lighter motorcycle. Moral of the story – get a gym membership before buying the Himalayan!

Hard Clutch and Gear Shifts

Although many off road enthusiasts prefer hard clutch and hard gear shifts, I find the clutch and gear shift of the Himalayan very hard to a point where your left hand and feet will give up way faster than the rest of the body when riding through city traffic or off road terrain.

There are workarounds to this and I’ve tried many but it’s nowhere close to how easy it was on my 45 yr old bullet.

Less power

Himalayan was a major upgrade in terms of the top speed I could cruise on the highway compared to my bullet. But compared to the peers in the market, you’ll feel left out in terms of its mile munching capacity.

Himalayan tops out at 120 km/hr when cruising and engine feels very stressed after 110 km/hr. At speeds above 120 km/hr, the motorcycle gets very wobbly and unstable.

Tube tyres

Yes spokes wheels are durable than alloy but Himalayan should’ve come with tubeless tyres considering that it was made to venture into the wild. I suffered a great deal in Pang where one turn of the lock nut with the spanner to remove the back wheel left me gasping for breath at 15000 feet above sea level, all which could’ve been avoided if it were tubeless.

It’s a minimum 2 person job to remove the back wheel of the Himalayan which again goes against solo riders looking to explore the roads less traveled by. And for those asking about puncture proof liquids, no it doesn’t work in less than ideal conditions.

Engine heat

Given that Himalayan is not the best city commuter, for those riding the city traffic, the engine heat gets really uncomfortable in bumper to bumper traffic.

High Maintenance

I upgraded to a new motorcycle thinking I could get away with the high maintenance of a 1975 model bullet but surprisingly that was not the case. Himalayan has been a high maintenance motorcycle with minor issues popping up at least 3 or 4 times between the services like clutch issues, greasing issues and so on.

Major one being the very low life of the rear tyre. Not to mention the spare parts like the cables or levers are quite expensive. As an off road centric motorcycle, you are bound to take it to places outside your comfort zone. With that you will inevitably drop the motorcycle quite a lot of times.

Even though Himalayan is an ADV bike which should be able to absorb the shocks from minor falls, the handlebar, levers and the stock crash guard are made so soft they bend with a very small impact.

The Ugly

Service Centres

If you look into any forum or WhatsApp groups related to Himalayan you’ll be surprised to see a lot of hate and disappointment towards RE service centres. I’m a victim of it too. Most of the mechanics have absolutely no idea about any major issue regarding the motorcycle.

From one service centre to another, they tell different solution to one problem. And mind you, all of it on a trial basis where they tell it might work or not. Each time I have an issue they seem to do half a decent job on it and deliver the motorcycle with a new issue.

Believe it or not they even have asked me to ignore some critical engine noises which later have turned to be a major issue needing replacement of engine parts! And that’s why third party RE workshops thrive everywhere.

Manufacturing defects

During my first ever trip on my Himalayan, while returning to Bangalore from Trivandrum, the engine started making a noise and the bike slowed down till it stopped on its own. I called the RSA and they arranged a tow service for me but told me it’d take approx. 2 hours for them to reach me. Half hour later I started the bike and it was working properly. Not knowing what had happened I drove it till Bangalore.

In the next service I told them this issue. After days of evaluation, they told me the engine cover and some other parts need to be replaced. After a week of repairs, they delivered the bike and said they have replaced the defective parts under warranty. But the engine noise issue persisted. On the next trip, while returning from Kolar, I faced the same issue. This time service centre mechanics told me that they weren’t able to identify any issue.

Frustrated with their dealing, I gave my bike to the only company owned service centre in Bangalore at BTM Layout. They kept the bike for a week for detailed evaluation and told me that there’s manufacturing defect in the engine bore, cylinder and the piston. They replaced all parts under warranty but I still had to pay labour and consumable charges. Although the bike never stopped after that, the engine noise persists. The mechanics asked me to ignore the persisting noise!

Apart from these two major issues I faced lots of minor issues for which the ordeal of dealing with service centre officials was more taxing than the issue itself. I came to know that many folks who bought the bikes from 2016 to 2019 faced similar engine manufacturing defects. Many got their entire engines replaced and some even got their motorcycles replaced. So be on the lookout for issues like these when buying any RE motorcycle. Reliability is far from the equation for RE.

Delayed shipment of parts

Speaking of defective parts, the most common issue Himalayan owners face is fogging inside speedo console. RE promises replacement of the part under warranty but it’d take on an average minimum 6 to 10 months for them to send the replacement.

I got mine replaced after 10 months of complaint and the replacement console had the same issue just a week after replacement. I have given order for yet another replacement for which only God knows how long it’s going to take. I’ve heard stories where some owners had to keep their bikes in their garages without using for months because of delayed shipment of some critical parts.

Should You Buy The Himalayan? – Ownership Review Conclusion

Even though RE Himalayan is near to perfect in design and is good fun to ride anywhere and everywhere, the ownership really sucks all the joy you get from riding. You have to weigh a great deal of pros and cons in considering buying one since owning a motorcycle doesn’t just include riding it but the service quality, cost and maintenance.

RE majorly fails in the latter aspect of owning a motorcycle. If you’re willing to sacrifice free services and go to third party service centres for any major repair, Himalayan will be the best choice in class. If you are looking for ride comfort and fun off road riding experience, Himalayan is the best choice.

Although I don’t see myself keeping this motorcycle for another 3 or 4 years, I’m sure whatever experience I get from riding different terrains on the Himalayan will be worth cherishing for a lifetime. This has been my honest ownership review of the Himalayan.

Check out a list of must have accessories on the Royal Enfield Himalayan here – https://bulletstrings.com/must-have-accessories-on-the-royal-enfield-himalayan/

Check out 5 repairs that you should know – https://bulletstrings.com/5-basic-motorcycle-repairs-you-must-know-before-your-ladakh-trip/

Don’t fall for Ads! Check out 5 accessories that failed – https://bulletstrings.com/5-motorcycle-accessories-that-failed/

If you like to check out the ownership review of the Himalayan video, go to the link below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Royal Enfield Himalayan worth buying?

Royal Enfield Himalayan is worth buying for both off-roading and Indian highway touring.

The comfort level on the saddle, saddling ergonomics and the long stroke motor which gives plenty of low end torque makes Himalayan worth the buy.

Is Himalayan good for beginners?

The great low end torque of the long stroke motor makes the Himalayan a breeze to ride on off road terrain and in city commuting for beginners. Although the weight can be a bit intimidating for beginners, one will quickly adapt to it.

Is Himalayan costly to maintain?

Himalayan is a high maintenance motorcycle. Owing to the adventure nature that most riders use the motorcycle for, the wear and tear of parts is high. It calls for frequent replacement of parts and frequent visits to the service centre.

Is Royal Enfield Himalayan good for daily use?

The low end torque of the long stroke motor helps in city commute by lowering the need to change gears often. But the weight and engine heat makes it difficult to ride in bumper to bumper traffic.

Is Himalayan good for highway touring?

Himalayan is amazing as a highway tourer provided you don’t like to cruise above 110 kmph. The comfort on the saddle and the seating ergonomics makes highway touring for long hours a breeze on the Himalayan.

Is Himalayan heavy?

According to Royal Enfield, Himalayan weighs 199 kg dry. Add to that the weight of saddle stays, crash guards and other mods, it’ll weigh more than 210 kg. It can be a little intimidating for beginners at first.