2024 Himalayan 450

[Mr Derek]

A 1 or 2 Yr old V85TT would be under £10k ....80hp and the most comfortable bike you'll ride....try a test ride

229 kg. Too heavy. Might be great but weight is a big problem. My KTM weighs 170kg dry. Big difference. Looks like I'm on a unicorn hunt.

 

[Arsey]

229 kg. Too heavy. Might be great but weight is a big problem. My KTM weighs 170kg dry. Big difference. Looks like I'm on a unicorn hunt.

Aprillia Tuareg 660

 

[Jazbee]

229 kg. Too heavy. Might be great but weight is a big problem. My KTM weighs 170kg dry. Big difference. Looks like I'm on a unicorn hunt.

208 kg dry......21L tank it sure doesn't feel heavy ...... Good luck in your quest

 

[Mr Derek]

Aprillia Tuareg 660

Interesting. My neighbour had the RS660 and loved it. Deserves a look. I feel a jaunt to Fowlers in Bristol coming. They have multiple franchises and have looked after me well in the past.

 

[Wapping]

I hate this thread. You make the bike sound really good, and far more suitable for me than my gs for most rides. I struggle with the concept of going to such a relatively low powered bike, but the ability to cruise at motorway speeds for my regular rides to Norfolk, along with decent comfort, light weight and decent affordability all appeal to me. I would miss the ability to carry a pillion and luggage for touring, but we don't do that much now.

I can feel a test ride coming on.

Bastards!!

See:

450 1,000 miles in

My idea to knock off 700 miles over a long weekend to and from Luxembourg, came up trumps; 999 miles displayed just as we pulled into a cafe on the last day. The bike cruises at a genuine 70 mph in sixth at (give or take) 5,800 rpm. By cruise, I mean that the bike will accelerate reasonably...

www.ukgser.com

Power (or the perceived lack of it) is not - on its own - a very good measure. The Honda CBR 600 RR is ‘only’ 120 bhp but it will wipe the floor with the uber powerful 1300 GS with its 145 bhp.

 

[TIJ650]

Just got back from my test ride. Very interesting, but ultimately, not for me.

1st impressions were that it's much bigger than the 411. No problem getting it off the side stand and the engine chugged away quite steadily. Into 1st. Much smoother than the gs, and away we go. Fuelling is spot on while bimbling through slow town traffic and out onto a dual carriageway, where it picked up speed, with more vibration than I am used to, and settled comfortably at 70 mph.
On to an A road. Heavy traffic, but it got past without problems, although I was waiting for bigger gaps than normal. Very comfortable between 50-60 mph. Onto a B road with a poor surface and it was great, riding over bumps and very good at B road speeds. All in all, rather good. I like it. Same route in reverse back to the showroom.

Good bits. Excellent gearbox when changing up. Brakes adequate. Quicker than a 411 by quite a margin. Simple TFT and switchgear. Looks good. Much lighter than my gs, obvs. Nice riding position for my dodgy back. Handles well.

Bad bits. Gearbox far less good on downshifts, especially when going down more than 1 gear. Seat. Not sure why and possibly sortable, but uncomfortable almost from the start. Not enough oomph for me. Wind noise. Lack of any weather protection. It rains here, doncha know. Did I mention the lack of oomph?

Do I like the Himalayan 450. Yes, without a doubt. Could I have one as my only bike, or even as my main bike? No. The lack of power and the poor seat (for me) rule it out. Would I want one in my garage? I'm not sure I would ever look at a choice of bikes and think, today I'll take the Himmy. At no stage on the ride did it make me smile.

Back to the drawing board as I search for a lightish weight adventure style bike that will never go off road further than Waitrose car park, but that has performance similar to my 790 Duke. I would look at the KTM adventure bikes but stories of cam problems, along with my own experience of their electrics on my Super Duke put me off. Suggestions? Ideal max £10k.

Know my fellow countryman has already suggested Guzzi 85TT and this would be my first choice too. Under £10k brand new with a sexy paint job is tough to beat?! Granted it's too heavy for your rigid specs, but it sits low and weight is negligible compared to the bikes I own (GSA and Harley! lol). I'd definitely try before condemning
My 2nd choice (about back) would be one of the 750 Hondas - and call me crazy, but even(if not especially) the Forza scoot. Think you'd love it! There's also one with greater ground clearance and knobbies for "Waitrose". Again, try before thumbs down.
Over 200kg, but you'll never notice with scoot.

 

[Kitsilano]

...and that would suggest a total range of nearly 300 miles...

....ot if you keep fuelling at Costco, it won't... With the type of fuel economy that you are achieving,, why not but better petrol at Shell or BP?

(I fuelled-up a VW Tiguan, 20k miles on the clock, at a Morrisons near Cambridge and 40 miles later, on the side of a M-road in 39C heat, my fuel injectors were stuffed.... Now, £800 later, I won't go near supermarket fuel)

 

[Wapping]

Now, £800 later, I won't go near supermarket fuel

Yet bods who say this are definitely more than happy to buy supermarket fuel, when away across the Channel. It must be just UK supermarket fuel that troubles them.

 

[Mr Derek]

See:

450 1,000 miles in

My idea to knock off 700 miles over a long weekend to and from Luxembourg, came up trumps; 999 miles displayed just as we pulled into a cafe on the last day. The bike cruises at a genuine 70 mph in sixth at (give or take) 5,800 rpm. By cruise, I mean that the bike will accelerate reasonably...

www.ukgser.com

Power (or the perceived lack of it) is not - on its own - a very good measure. The Honda CBR 600 RR is ‘only’ 120 bhp but it will wipe the floor with the uber powerful 1300 GS with its 145 bhp.

Power on its own is not my yardstick. I have tried very powerful bikes and they are too much for me, e.g. my Super Duke GT. My old VFR 750 was about perfect for me at about 96 bhp. I could use it all and, 25 years ago it was very comfortable. The passage of time, the onset of arthritis and a broken back last year have limited my flexibility and made many bikes uncomfortable, hence the need for an adventure style bike. If power had been the only thing I wouldn't have tried the Himalayan in the first place.
I need to find the right balance of power and comfort. The weight of my 790 Duke is much easier when stopped than that of my 1250 GS. Lighter is better for me.
The VT85 is a good bike, without a doubt, but it doesn't float my boat. I may end up with a bike as heavy as it, although unlikely. A big scooter is also unlikely, having sat on one at the Enfield dealership. It was instantly uncomfortable on my back. I will sit on others as it may have been just that model.

To TIJ650, as I don't know how to multi quote, my rigid specs are determined by injury and nothing else. My flexible specs are determined by, amongst other things, does the bike make me smile when I look at it. The Guzzi doesn't. Does it make me smile when I ride it. The Himalayan didn't.

I will find the right one. I can't imagine being without a bike. I haven't been since 1973. Fowlers of Bristol soon for a sit on plenty and a ride on a couple.

 

[Posh Pete]

Know my fellow countryman has already suggested Guzzi 85TT and this would be my first choice too. Under £10k brand new with a sexy paint job is tough to beat?! Granted it's too heavy for your rigid specs, but it sits low and weight is negligible compared to the bikes I own (GSA and Harley! lol). I'd definitely try before condemning
My 2nd choice (about back) would be one of the 750 Hondas - and call me crazy, but even(if not especially) the Forza scoot. Think you'd love it! There's also one with greater ground clearance and knobbies for "Waitrose". Again, try before thumbs down.
Over 200kg, but you'll never notice with scoot.

I should have said, it was 97 Ron which is cheaper at Costco ( just down the road from me) than 95 anywhere else!

 

[cookie]

I use mostly supermarket petrol and the ONLY fuel I have ever had issues with was a tankful of 98 RON Super Duper Esso from a proper Esso station in the UK. Made my 1190 misfire and misbehave quite badly, though it was rideable. Drained it out and replaced with 95 RON supermarket value petrol I had lying around for my lawn mower and it ran right as rain.

 

[Arsey]

Tough bikes .
Watch from 9 minutes

 

[parkys100]

Tough bikes .
Watch from 9 minutes

On Ebay Kawasaki Leicester has some ex ABR festival bikes for just under £5K.
On careful owner 500miles

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

1050 miles registered on mine now in 2 months . Averaging around 75-80 mpg. It's a cracking bike, seat/comfort/gearbox/suspension/handling all brilliant for me. Not missed my GS one bit while out riding the Himalayan, character in bucket loads and great fun.

 

[Arsey]

Ready for Brittany next week and Picos next month

 

[Mr Derek]

Have a good trip. I look forward to hearing how you get on riding that distance on the Himmy. I know Orinoco goes miles on his 411, so you should have no problems and it should be perfect in the mountains.

 

[Arsey]

Have a good trip. I look forward to hearing how you get on riding that distance on the Himmy. I know Orinoco goes miles on his 411, so you should have no problems and it should be perfect in the mountains.

I’m only nipping to Brittany to do 300 miles to get first service done end of month as busy with a wedding and work .

But early Sept I’m off with Skid06 on his Kove 450 and Stevie4Scoops on his 300 Rally to Picos for some off-roading. Then Stevie and I riding home via France so should be 1500 miles or so .

Looking forward to it as bike seems way better than I expected.

 

[Arsey]

I’m only nipping to Brittany to do 300 miles to get first service done end of month as busy with a wedding and work .

But early Sept I’m off with Skid06 on his Kove 450 and Stevie4Scoops on his 300 Rally to Picos for some off-roading. Then Stevie and I riding home via France so should be 1500 miles or so .

Looking forward to it as bike seems way better than I expected.

Having a bit of fun running it in . Might need a wash .

 

[Arsey]

Ian at BRM likes it

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

IMO he is spot on with his assessment (not taken mine off-road yet so cant comment on that part).