Is a 24bhp Adventure Bike Enough for 2022? | Royal Enfield Himalayan

Is 24bhp enough for a small capacity adventure bike?

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Gear;
Helmets - Arai Tour X4
Summer Gear - Richa Daytona 60s and Revit Lombard 2 Cordura Jeans
Touring Gear - Halvarssons Walkyr Jacket and Wish Trousers
Boots - Daytona Roadstar GTX, Sidi Adventure 2 and Daytona AC Classics in Brown
Gloves - Knox Handroid Pod Mk2, Dainese Corbin D-Dry, Gerbing X12 heated gloves

Camera Set Up;
Main Camera - GoPro Hero 9 Black
B Camera - GoPro Hero 8 Black
Drone - DJI Mavic Mini (1st edition)

Enjoy!

[timeandtorque]

I absolutely love the Himalayan (as long as you stay off the highway), just a tank that calls to you to use it from buying milk to heading up a hilly pass. Also I was shouting use the rear break for most of the video 😅 I think the weak front is an Off-road thing. Ride safe 👍🏼

[markymarknj]

Sam, as a Royal Enfield owner (Meteor 350), I'd like to comment about the service intervals. Yes, you have to do the valves a lot more often than on a Japanese bike. HOWEVER! However, RE use a simple screw & locknut system, which is easy-peasy to adjust yourself; if you can adjust your clutch or throttle, you can do the valves-same concept. Since RE bikes are simple and straightforward, the owner can do the majority of the maintenance, thus saving money. Just take your time, don't rush, and you can easily do it. If you don't know how, there are a ton of videos and forum posts that'll tell you how. I'd never done a valve adjustment before, but I was able to do my Meteor's just fine. Oh what a great feeling it was to feel the improved performance afterwards!

OTOH, modern Japanese us a shim & bucket system. This is a lot more complicated, as it can involve removing the cam. Once you do that, you have to try different shims to get the valve clearance right. Not only do these shims cost money; you may have to special order them. SO! While a Japanese bike can go much longer between service periods, you'll most likely have to take it to the shop to have the valves done. With a Royal Enfield, you won't have to.

[whatsstefon]

I’ve been on Busa’s, Ninjas, in all iterations over the last 2+ decades. I love my Himalayan. No thrills… maybe, however it’s the best for smiles per miles bike I’ve ever owned. Compared to most other adv bikes, it lacks tech, and any modern touches apart from EFI and ABS. But that’s what I love about it. It’s an extremely frugal fuel sipper. I have done 400km on a tank, and only filled up 12.6L out of the 15L tank. At a push, I would fathom 450km before I’m really sweating for a petrol station.

The valves are tappets, so the check is easy. But it is checked every service. Oil is every second service.

That relaxing “we’ll get there when we get there” attitude is really what it’s about.

[jacksjaunts]

I just bought one five weeks ago and have done 1850miles on it so far. Longest single trip was 357miles. It sits all day at 60/65mph and returns around 90mpg. Fully loaded the performance isnt noticeably diminished. I bought a TEC cam, but it isn't fitted yet and to be honest, it has had all I need in standard for. I keep motorway to a minimum and as you found yourself, I don't find myself wanting to go fast so I'm happy enjoying the ride. I have had XRV750, CRF1000dct, multi trad ds1000, gs1200, gs800 and tiger 955i over the years. I am only now finding out you don't need a big bike for an adventure or to cover a distance. Just so long as you are not in a hurry.

[couplebikes]

We picked up 2 Euro 5"s end of last year. They suit us perfectly and do anything we want. If you accept beforehand what they are going to be like they don't disappoint. Nice review and honest opinions.

[andrewkolb]

Just bought my first Himalayan. I’m not a speed junkie, so this should be a good first ride. Mostly wanna cruise back roads and local gravel.

[geraldprost]

Actually the bike is not light, it’s just that the weight is low, making it easy to handle. I think this is a fair review.

[geraldprost]

I’m 5’4” and I have no wind problems. As far as the brakes go, on the street I could use a bit more bite but off road, I’m really happy with them. I have a 2021 with switchable ABS, but honestly, I don’t turn it off. Last summer I went on a ADV bike rally to work on my off road skills. I went down a very steep, loose and rocky downhill. The ABS saved my ass. If I had turned the ABS off, I’d locked up the rear wheel and lost it. If I was riding my Africa Twin I’d have had no braking power on the rear wheel with the ABS on. I feel very confident with these brakes. Yes on the street people can stop shorter than me but no matter what the conditions I can slam on the brakes and stay upright.

[geraldprost]

I have been doing my own oil changes, as the local RE dealer is too busy. I did get the 500 km check after I did the oil change. I think Himalayan owners, if they are not dyi guys, will become them. As far as the valve clearance checks, you can follow the recommendations in the manual and pay people in the shop to check to see if it is ok or you can just ride it until you have a problem. Valve clearances are not like a timing belt problem where all of a sudden your valves are pounding into the pistons. If your valve clearances are off you may experience some performance drop off or you may hear some valve clatter. I’m not worried about it.

[momchilyordanov]

As I said before under some of these videos - if they make a 500cc with like 35 h.p. one, I will break my neck running towards the dealership....

[michaelmclarney]

Nice review Sam. If it's the same as the interceptor, the 3k service is purely inspection and checks, I'm sure valve checks are 6k. It should be very simple to do at home when out if warranty.

[galerinha]

maybe a little more like 30-35 would be enough, I'm waiting the 450. a 650 would be too heavy, not suitable for off-roads...
this engine is from 2016 originally without EFI, it's time to update the project as a whole.

[robertpadfield]

Put the tec cam in, 16 tooth sprocket, very happy with the result, irid plug, lith battery, d.i.d. 112 tooth chain, do all servicing yourself.

[scottlance]

Super cool oddball motorcycles… I had one. Handled really good. Easy to work on. Adjust your own valves. Brakes suck. Pretty sure you could install poplar wood in place of the pads and get the same results. Build quality is unfortunately terrible. Some fasteners are tighter than a nun’s crunt and three men and a small boy can’t break them loose. Other fasteners gall and strip easily. Motor and exhaust sound like a genuine agricultural implement. If you want to putter around on backroads and smooth dirt roads, it’s a lot of fun. Anything more aggressive off road will piss it off. I couldn’t make mine go any faster than 72 miles an hour on flat pavement with my rather fat ass. Great bike for a beginner on a budget.

[ru]

This is a very good review, i mean content wise, you asked and answered most of the questions i would ask, straight forward and clear, no ego as well - great job. The only bit, and maybe i missed it, you said it was light but does it feel top heavy? Is it easy to manoeuvre by hand, say compared to the big adv bikes ? Also the clutch action - is it heavy?

[newhorizon]

This is built for off road and the entire review and perspective is of on it on tarmac which is unfair to the bike. If your want to do touring then get a triumph.

[JINXTA]

Nice Vid, thats a very cool helmet too. Never seen that style with a risible visor.

[kymstock]

I heard on one review that EBC brand GG pads make the front brake work better. A slightly less than aggressive front is ideal for dirt roads.

[biscuits]

How did you find the Himalayan compared to the NC750X of Emma's (presuming you've put in some miles on the NC yourself?).

From my profile pic, I obviously have a dog in this race, but I do like the look of the Himalayan...but that 3k miles service intervals on the RE vs. 8k miles on the NC, plus the extra pull of the NC (relatively speaking) for the motorway miles to get out on tour did it for me when I was buying this time last year.

[danmorrissette]

its not a hwy motorbike... hope you get to try it on dirt road .... feel the torque and low gearing just chugging along~! ;-)