450 Himalayan - New wheels and a cruise controller

[Wapping]

My 450 was an early edition, with the tubed wheels. Inner tubes do not bother me per-se, but the convenience of an easily repairable puncture in a tubeless tyre is probably worth extra.

Royal Enfield’s UK spares department wants an awful lot of money for two wheels. That said, some investigation on the internet found us an Indian supplier at a very significant discount, so we’ve taken a punt on them. I say “We” as my dealership has bought them and will be fitting them to my bike, simply as a ‘test run’. If all is good, then they’ll order some more in. I get the wheels at cost, simply as I am the test mule. The tires can be moved across, as the tubed and tubeless tyres are identical and I’m happy enough with the CEAT tires that were fitted from the factory.

I have also bought a Veridian cruise controller. Whilst I do not do a lot of motorway work and the throttle of the little 450 is not heavy, I thought I’d try one out. Again, it was something that the dealership was interested in, so my bike is the test mule. They’ll fit it as a part of my service…..and as they owe me £30 from the past, it’s a good way to square the accounts.

 

[The Other PaulG]

Excellent, when do you expect the parts to arrive?

 

[Wapping]

The wheels are in. I have just picked up the cruise controller from Wapping post office. Booked in for next Tuesday.

I dropped into the dealership yesterday, on my way back from Ireland, where we checked that Royal Enfield fit the same tyres to their tubed and tubless wheels:

 

[JoeBiff]

Chrissakes.
Don’t let that flyer bloke hear of all the money you’re sinking into your dream bike in extras to “make it yours”.
He’ll wobble off the runway before he gets airborne…

 

[Wapping]

There is some small measure in my madness.

God willing, I plan on being in Germany for two months or more, a lot of it in rural areas. Whilst punctures are pretty rare, it’s easier to mend a leak in an untubed tyre on the roadside, than a tubed one

The cruise controller? Simply a ‘Why not’. It has decent reviews on the bike and on other makes / models.

 

[JoeBiff]

There is some small measure in my madness.

God willing, I plan on being in Germany for two months or more, a lot of it in rural areas. Whilst punctures are pretty rare, it’s easier to mend a leak in a tubed tyre on the roadside, than a tubed one

The cruise controller? Simply a ‘Why not’. It has decent reviews on the bike and on other makes / models.

Go for it. It’s yours. And it’s your hobby. It’s also your money, there’s no pockets in shrouds as they say.
Enjoy it before someone else does.

 

[The Other PaulG]

God willing, I plan on being in Germany for two months or more, a lot of it in rural areas.

The cruise controller? Simply a ‘Why not’. It has decent reviews on the bike and on other makes / models.

The German people will applaud your control. It might even be a door opener.

 

[karlp]

How do you find the Himalayan - they seem to be getting more popular and with good reviews. How would you compare it against other bikes you have had.

Reason I ask is that I am considering but when I had a casual look at one I thought the clutch was a bit heavy

 

[Wapping]

How do you find the Himalayan

I just open the garage door and there it is.

Boom tish!

 

[simondippenhall]

I just open the garage door and there it is.

Boom tish!

And on all week at the Wapping Odeon

 

[Wapping]

How do you find the Himalayan - they seem to be getting more popular and with good reviews. How would you compare it against other bikes you have had.

Reason I ask is that I am considering but when I had a casual look at one I thought the clutch was a bit heavy

On a more sensible level…

It is a very good motorcycle. Previously, I had its smaller sister, the 411. That too was (and remains) a very good motorbike; its bigger brother is simply ‘better’ not least as it gains about 20 horse power, which makes some aspects of riding it easier. Let’s though be clear, this is no rocket ship, nor does it pretend to be. If you want more umph…. Buy a different bike; it’s that simple.

Good things include:

A. It’s cheap. Cheap to buy and cheap to run.

B. It is well made.

C. It is all day long comfortable.

D. It creates a degree of interest.

I rode it to and from the west of Ireland, in the company of assorted Tossers. It was by far the smallest bike (capacity wise) on the event. It arrived at each destination at the sane time as everyone else.

Is the clutch heavy? No. If you want to try a heavy clutch, try a Honda SP1 in heavy London traffic.

How does it compare with other bikes? That’s like comparing chalk and cheese.

 

[karlp]

On a more sensible level…

It is a very good motorcycle. Previously, I had its smaller sister, the 411. That too was (and remains) a very good motorbike; its bigger brother is simply ‘better’ not least as it gains about 20 horse power, which makes some aspects of riding it easier. Let’s though be clear, this is no rocket ship, nor does it pretend to be. If you want more umph…. Buy a different bike; it’s that simple.

Good things include:

A. It’s cheap. Cheap to buy and cheap to run.

B. It is well made.

C. It is all day long comfortable.

D. It creates a degree of interest.

I rode it to and from the west of Ireland, in the company of assorted Tossers. It was by far the smallest bike (capacity wise) on the event. It arrived at each destination at the sane time as everyone else.

Is the clutch heavy? No. If you want to try a heavy clutch, try a Honda SP1 in heavy London traffic.

How does it compare with other bikes? That’s like comparing chalk and cheese.

Thanks

Umph - don’t need that anymore - I usually tour at abut 50mph
Reliability is what I want

 

[Wapping]

Thanks

Umph - don’t need that anymore - I usually tour at abut 50mph
Reliability is what I want

It should suit you perfectly.

Try a test ride.

 

[Posh Pete]

I can only echo Richard's comments. I've now done over 8k miles on mine. I find the seat a bit hard but that's easily sorted. I've also lost a couple of offside chain adjusters due to vibes (which are not really an issue otherwise.) I now keep the adjuster in the tool tube and plug the 'ole with a bit of foam sprayed black!

Daughter #2 got a job in Freiburg recently so a jaunt to the Black Forest is on the cards next year. I'll be taking the Himmie. Deo Volente

 

[Wapping]

New wheels and cruise controller fitted.





The wheels (we dodged any import duty) come with new disks, spacers, cush drives etc. I kept the existing discs in place, as there is nothing wrong with them. The new discs I can keep, should I ever need to replace them.

The wheels are a different colour; more ‘bronze gold’ than the original tubed ‘golden gold’. That doesn’t bother me.

The cruise controller works well. The plus button increases the pre-set speed in about three mph increments. One oddity: If the cruise controller is off, you can push the plus button and the bike will keep accelerating…. And keep accelerating…..

There is no cancel or re-set buttons, so (understandably) it’s much more basic than the cruise controller on my 1600. Hardly surprising.

It held a dead steady 50 mph on the A406 North Circular. I see no reason why it won’t hold a higher speed (or lower) when I come to trundle down the M20 to Folkestone. Nice to have? I guess so. ‘Must have’? Of course not.

 

[peepingtom]

Looking very smart now and far more practical

I for some reason thought that the cruise control was going to be a "clamp" type affair , but had a look on their website to find its far more sophisticated than I was expecting. Good to know . I thought you would of had to press the same button to stop it as you did to activate it.
turns out there's several ways .
info here if anyone is curious, available for many others too

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Cruise Kit – Veridian Cruise

veridiancruise.com

 

[Robbi]

New wheels and cruise controller fitted.

View attachment 444252

View attachment 444253

The wheels (we dodged any import duty) come with new disks, spacers, cush drives etc. I kept the existing discs in place, as there is nothing wrong with them. The new discs I can keep, should I ever need to replace them.

The wheels are a different colour; more ‘bronze gold’ than the original tubed ‘golden gold’. That doesn’t bother me.

The cruise controller works well. The plus button increases the pre-set speed in about three mph increments. One oddity: If the cruise controller is off, you can push the plus button and the bike will keep accelerating…. And keep accelerating…..

There is no cancel or re-set buttons, so (understandably) it’s much more basic than the cruise controller on my 1600. Hardly surprising.

It held a dead steady 50 mph on the A406 North Circular. I see no reason why it won’t hold a higher speed (or lower) when I come to trundle down the M20 to Folkestone. Nice to have? I guess so. ‘Must have’? Of course not.

That's looking very smart indeed.

 

[Wapping]

The Veridian cruise controller (very popular on Suzuki bikes, I hear) is basic in operation but it’s well made, for sure.

There is no cancel or re-set buttons, so (understandably) it’s much more basic than the cruise controller on my 1600. Hardly surprising.

I think I have typed this incorrectly.

 

[yoyo]

Looking at getting the Veridian cruise for the other half Suzuki 800RE, did you get stung for import duty when you bought it? I'm guessing it came from Canada?

Sent from my SM-S921B using Tapatalk

 

[Wapping]

That's looking very smart indeed.

Thank you.

It really is a very good motorcycle. Sure, it will never rip your or an out of their sockets or push your eyeballs back into your head, but so what.

My 1600 is proving too heavy for my right knee now. Fine on the move but sometimes verging on dangerous when I stop. I’m booking up to see a consultant about it, as it’s becoming quite painful sometimes. Hey ho, the joys of getting older.