2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan: A First Ride Review

Hey Everyone,

Are you considering the 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan for your next adventure?
In this video, I ride and review this humble plodder bike for the first time and answer the question: is it too underpowered or is it just enough?
With its 411cc single-cylinder engine, the Himalayan is not the most powerful bike on the market, but it’s not pretending to be anything else.
I rode this bike for the first time and enjoyed it. But should you wait for the new Himalayan with double the power? Join me as I give you my opinion and help you make an informed decision.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe if you liked this video!

Thanks again for watching!

Usernamekate 🏁

P.S

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#USERNAMEKATE #royalenfield #himalayan

[AliasMrHackenbacker]

I've owned a Himalayan now for over 2 years and still think it's a great bike for the money. I use it all year round and is my main bike for winter use. My other bikes are stored over winter but not the Himalayan. I wash it down frequently and spray FS125 on it. The mods I have done are to Replace brake pads with EBC HH pads, seat rebuilt to make it higher and more comfy, uprated Halogen bulb, hand guards, panniers etc.The soft power deluvery is great for winter riding and some mild offroading. This is an easy cheap machine to own. Servicing can be done by any competent mechanic without lots of special tools and it sips fuel! The new one does look very good and seems to improve in all areas but I shall be sticking with mine for a while as it ticks all the boxes for me and puts a smile on my face when I ride it. It does feel it will take you anywhere you just have to adjust your expectations about travelling quickly!

[yellownev]

Been to the four corners of the UK on mine. For the roads less travelled its the perfect machine. Get it into Wales or the Scottish Highlands on those little lanes it is perfect. Home maintenance is a breeze, cheap to buy cheap to own joy to ride.... I've found so many little lanes and villages in the Staffordshire and Derbyshire peaks where i live. I traded a ST1300 for mine very different adventures. Got a deposit on the 452 but the 411 will stay as a green laner stripped back.

[TheBezaleel]

Have my Himmi 2 years now. Great fun to ride, very engaging. So impressed with RE, bought a Meteor 350, another excellent bike !!

[EpicAdamMotovlogs]

I'm genuinely impressed you got both cameras in sync so well, I noticed that when you liften your visor & I heard the sound it made.

I've had a Himalayan for a year now & it is good. I did get stuck in a lane, but it was very boggy and I'm not even sure a GS1200 would have gotten through.

It's confidence inspiring in the rain. It does suffer on fast roads but that's acceptable.

Also, maintenance is super easy. I changed all the filters and oil in about 20 minutes.

I was on a dual carriageway for over an hour, sitting at 70mph. It was fine, just boring.

[crashmatsadventures]

I have a '21 Himi in Granite Black. The most important mod was some decent tyres! I use Mitas E09 Dakars. Hard to fit but very confidence inspiring in the dirt and surprisingly good on the tarmac. I am on my second pair of Givi crash bars. The first set saved my engine casing from a drystone wall! I have fitted some stronger braces bars as I bent the original set. I have crashed it a few times off road and it left my trailer once so it has had to be repaired a couple of times. They are cheap and easy to work on yourself. Any niggles they come out of the factory with can be rectified on the warranty and are minor anyway. I have done a few other mods but they are personal to me; Scorpion exhaust( sounds awesome and has a lifetime guarantee, not to mention buying local!) I have put the Pivot pegs on, which I love and have a shorter screen to combat the buffeting. It has luggage racks at the back for my soft luggage, I use Lomo dry bag type luggage.
Fantastic bike for travel, green laning, Moto camping and TET exploring! I have named mine Wiga Assa, which is ancient English for War Donkey. The name suits!! Have a great Christmas and I look forward to more content! X

[RichardWilliams-kfvw]

Great review Kate.
A few months ago I did the zero to hero course to get my licence, having never been on a motorbike before in my life, even as a pillion.
First thing I did was buy a ‘21 plate black himmi, with panniers, Givi bars and double take adventure mirrors, for 4k. Then I took it for a week riding around Cornwall.
It’s a great bike, I love it, and it gets a lot of compliments too. I put in a performance air filter, and gave it a free-flow full exhaust (saving several kilos in weight) and it rides like a dream.
I always tell people it’ll never take you as fast as you’d like to go, but it will take you anywhere you’d like to go. I can’t fault it.
Looking forward to seeing some more videos on it.
Keep up the good work.

[ProrobloxW]

I've got a 20 plate himalayan I use to commute and green lane on. Lowered the gearing and put pirelli mt 21 tyres on and now it's really transformed it. Also have an africa twin adventure sports dct more for road and touring, but love the himi for it's basic biking.
Love your videos Kate . Keep them coming!

[zendorist]

Hi Kate, thanks for another great review! I bought one of these brand new a couple of months ago as a winter hack. My main bike is a Moto Guzzi V7 special which will stay in my garage until spring. I paid just £4300 (on the road price) for this bike which comes with a three year unlimited mileage warranty! (no brainer eh?) I have to say that I`m more than pleased with this bike and echo many of the comments you made in your review. Thanks, Andy.

[barryjmarling]

Good honest little bike, and fantastic value for money and personally don’t mind the looks, great video and look forward to seeing your upcoming videos on the Himalayan with Mike.👍🏻

[Gingerbiker]

Kate, another enjoyable one. Nearly 47 yrs riding, R1, fireblades ect. There is a pleasure in bikes that are like the basics l had like 500/4 Cb200 no gadgets a simple life which is even more enjoyable on a sunny day. British riders are skilled in putting up with crap roads in the UK 😊

[mysterybiker]

Great review, you ‘get’ what the himmy is all about!!

I bought a 2023 model six months ago, been riding 37 years, all types of bikes and himmy is my favourite. New sintered front pads fixes brakes, tec performance cam fixes speed issue, also improves up to 2k miles run in. Wouldnt swap for 452, 452 being water cooled is less reliable, already issues reported with electronic throttle, more revvy engine (himmy 411 strength is its long stroke motor tractor power off road). Its superb on green lanes with low seat and low weight, very difficult to drop with right tyres. Love mine.

[mslattery]

I've had a 2019 Himmie for just over a year now. It's my every day ride, although I have other bikes I can wheel out. I know that the Himmie is dependable, cheap to own and thus far, has offered no problems. I've put a booster plug in, it's a Euro 4 model, so you can. I've also just installed a DNA air filter which thus far has made the most difference to the way the motor delivers power. It's immediately more tractable, pulls stronger from low revs and accelerates more smartly. Next step will be the Tec camshaft. I've read this makes the biggest single difference to engine performance and that if it's the only mod you make it's the one that makes the most difference. I'm very happy with the two very simple mods I've made so far. They combine to release just enough extra potential in the engine and make my Himmie an even better all rounder.

[peterhobbs]

I did a 4500 mile trip over 8 weeks in the summer across the lesser travelled roads of Spain and Portugal, on my Himi, rever missed a beat and it got so many positive comments everywhere I went

[millinutz]

Being late to the Himmie show is probably a good thing, for you and us. Your thoughts on it will be fresher, when you get to comparing it with the new 450.
This is certainly a bike that I would like to have as a second one, standing in my garage for the quick run to the shops etc. on a grey and messy day. Might find a good deal when the 450 hits the scene..., until then, i've got time to make room in the garage!!
A good review and it was noticable in your voice, how much you enjoyed the bike.

[mikep.]

An older than I, old fart here (78) bought one last year and downsizing from over 1/2 dozen bikes. He wrote a book "The Medallion" based on his motorcycle travels and gps locations but based the start of the book just before the civil war here. Quite the bike and helped IB get to 2 million subscribers. Highways clear here but ice and snow on streets too. Glad you enjoyed the ride (touring seat is better for long rides as IB found out. Take care and stay clear of all boo boo's.

[hartley]

Great review Kate and I think you really get the Himalayan.
I bought mine with reservations on the low power. It’s by far exceeded all my expectations. It’s so easy going you just enjoy the ride with no worries.
I’ve ridden 200 miles on back roads all the way to wales loaded up with camping gear. Spent two day riding off road at Nathan Millward Himalayan weekend. Packed up my gear and rode home again.
I’ve a 1250 GS which is great but the Himalayan puts a smile on my face every time I ride it.

[tommynorum]

Nice review! Bought my brand new Himalayan 411 in december. Haven`t ride it yet because of snow and cold winter. I like the old modell better than the new one.
Cant wait to march/april. Greatings from Norway!

[velocettektt]

I am on my second Himalayan. I love them. But I am the sort of old school guy that likes to service his own bike and likes things simple and uncomplicated. I love the plonky, tough, air cooled engine. I like the fact that the forks are properly protected and not silly upside down jobbies with exposed stanchions. I have had Ducatis and Speed Triples but this simple tough go anywhere bike does it for me. It has everything you need and not a load of expensive stuff that you don't. It is OK and competent on a motorway but not the bike for you if all you do is hammer up and down motorways. This is a bike for fun not counting the minutes as you motor up an endless motorway. It is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slowly. And a bike that goes slowly really well is just what you want when the going gets tough.

[edwelld]

I added one to the "fleet" a couple of weeks ago - £3999 brand new with 3 years warranty. It's a bike I won't be frightened to ride anywhere and already it's been to places in the Peak District where I would never take the GS. You don't have to be an expert to ride it off-road, but best of all it looks like it's home-made.

[danweston]

Marnin Kate. Merry Christmas to you and yours 🎅🥳x