Lynn and I both test rode the new Royal Enfield Himayayan 450 at the Barber Vintage Festival last Fall. A couple weeks later, I dropped into Max Motorsports to see when they were getting any. Turns out, they had just received two the previous day, but both had deposits.I told the salesman, Chris, to call me when they got more in.
A couple days later, I get a call that the guy that had a deposit on the black and gold tubeless model needed to sell a bike before he could pick it up. He told them they could sell it to me if I wanted it and he would get the next one. 4 days later, I had a 450 in the garage.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/RE-Himalayan-450/i-39ZHC8T/0/KnBgvXCLQj6pqhqNqXRmSsBC6x8Nbb8d24Kx2h5BQ/X4/KIMG1316-X4.jpg)
The first 300 miles were hell. Supposed to keep it under 4000 rpm for break in. That was probably a good idea, as when I changed the oil at 300 miles, it was like water. I suppose RE had a light break in oil from the factory.
First off road ride was to Talladega National Forest with friends;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/RE-Himalayan-450/i-4bcntwK/0/LJgPTdGG2tkjgvjmGmJ7vV9gWCJV3N3xpdGwpp7kf/X4/KIMG1318-X4.jpg)
The next day I was pushing the bike out of the garage and it felt like the tires were flat. Turned out the rear was.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/RE-Himalayan-450/i-RqzWjDm/0/LMbgTDRV9vSKpWnmxKFwRJKnwBQWVzJFRMpbvgfF4/X2/KIMG1332-X2.jpg)
419 miles and got the first flat!
Decided this was a good time to replace the tires with something more aggresive.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/RE-Himalayan-450/i-zCcvwsN/0/Kg7q69fFxBKrLx23x462XsFzb2Hq4FGJPPnVTDGQF/X4/KIMG1334-X4.jpg)
Lynn decided she had to have one too!
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/RE-Himalayan-450/i-wXBKssN/0/LVhHfbNBCJWdLwhtKB6rRRhggk5JjdXjVnxmBCFfH/X4/KIMG1365-X4.jpg)
So, in March, she got one!
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/RE-Himalayan-450/i-Rrc5dn3/0/MCmFJ6gsFHbG3JcZdVmv45mvVJpLtt6dk2j4QbsJ2/X4/KIMG1394-X4.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/RE-Himalayan-450/i-zrRz3nw/0/Kbd3mpWWJvwtznb7FttjN34zgRv8hj2TDWGWjQHdC/X4/KIMG1482-X4.jpg)
Tubeless rims and Mitas tires for Lynn's bike
I haven't been riding much recently. I had a knee replacement on July 17th.
Lynn hadn't ridden much while I was laid up, but she by had some errands to run the other day, so decided to ride her Himalayan.
I pushed it out of the garage for her, and decided to sit on it.
No problems getting on and plenty of range of motion to be comfortable. Took mine for a spin yesterday, other than standing on the pegs was a bit much, I'm ready to do some short rides. I think off pavement is going to have to wait a bit though.
Hang in there.... Enjoy what you feel comfortable with and don't over push it.
Chuck