Anyone Fancy an Indian RE ? Himalayan obviously, although I won't refuse a Jalfrezi once a week!

I guess now that the R1200ST (my last 'keeper' !!) went away when the abs pump failed, my 2017 1200RS has become my new 'keeper'

Looked at the new R1300GS (still too big to get securely into my property with wide handlebars) and where could I store another set of panniers & topbox?

It could be another year before the latest R1300R & R1300RS and I will seventy next year so maybe this new RE will keep me on two wheels a little longer

Looking at £22/24,000 of our English pound for the green GS, fully equipped seemed a step too far for me. Not a financial limit, just a lack of justification.

Would also need a builder to modify the property and new gate for better access - just crazy on too many fronts.

I have now decided the RS is that 'keeper' having modified it to my needs, knowing it will out perform anything I am capable of asking for and worth more to me than a £4/5000 trade-in.

Taken the decision to order a new RE Himalayan 450/452 for next year when they hit our shores.

For £6300 Royal Enfield supply an Indian built bike (same as small bmw triumph ktm etc. for India as 'country of origin') and it has many OE parts we often order after purchase.

It has engine/sump/exhaust guards - Mudguard extender, and bmw copy beak - rear mudguard and a small hugger to protect the shock absorber costing me around £500 on most new bikes.

The two stage seat height is standard, as is a reasonable toolkit (some german marques used to do this!) and the rear rack is OE.

At a rough estimate I acknowledge the £10,000 I will not spend will mean lower expectations but I will be back as a two bike owner again I am happy with my choice.

A few years back I was looking at 'any old single cyclinder' trial bike for a winter project but either they were £2,000 wrecks or double that - think KL650, old XT Yamaha etc.

This way, all new and 3 years warranty and the only motorway worthy of 70mph is going north from here for 100 miles to get any further travel options so this 450 will be fine.

All my Devon, Cornwall use in last 4 years have been local roads 30/30/50 and 60 mph speed limits with average speed cameras, no foreign travel planned, so I think it will be a fun purchase.

Most trips out have been 65 or 70 mpg the last four years and just shows how under utilising ths RS performance I have been although no less enjoyable!

Any thoughts on the advertising campaign, mainly youtube, which may have lead to decision?

My visit to Pune, India seeing many small bikes 125 to 180cc made me realise the balance between 'adding weight/kit' against 'adding lightness' has been going in the wrong direction?

I'll be paying a visit to "mother India" in February. I have been twice before - but not on a bike I hasten to add. The roads are varied but it is always the other road users that limit how much performance you could extract from a machine. A 150cc motorcycle is the everyday family transport. Something like a 350cc single is a prestige ride.

Yesterday I watched the revzila review of the Triumph single in Dheli. Hilarious. While I like Zac and appreciate his videos I did think he was pushing on a bit too much.

Ther are quite a few new youtubes from India on the new Himalayan using the roads as their version of a slalom skiing we get shown the speed and versatility of the bike.
Would love to go back to show my wife, being in India for Aug 15th in Pune and the Ghandi celebrations, Aga Khan Palace was eye opening.
Never saw so many beautiful women in one place and everyone, men included was dressed in their 'sunday best' at work for the day - I was based in the Infosys building (owned by the father-in-law of Rishi Sunak)
Have a look at Infosys Pune google pics - so many bikes parked out front of those 'glass rugby balls' which must have been a construction nightmare.
My tour around the sight from the two ladies I worked with here in uk and met my wife was "that building 5 died whil being built" That building 8 dies" that building more died" and "that one had very few deaths" being the most memorable! - No sign of health and safety worries - pitch black 10pm (working uk hours in India) and only a 60w bulb on a lead for light - crazy ways?

As far as the bikes were concerned, they had a different look to many of the tyres, thicker looking sidewall, not V shaped and a rugged tread pattern - more like an old winter 'town and country type' I have seen on old cars form the 60's and 70's at car shows. My guess is to cope with their roads and possible overloading in use.

Dave, you may like Itchy Boots latest video (issued 2 days ago) reviewing the new Himalayan after 4500KM in northern India. She is impressed ... but thinks it is still a bit heavy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILuhLi_JH3g

I think for my use the weight is no issue, extra stability possibly but as my idea of 'off road' is the grass field of a campsite so hopefully it will be fine..

Not thinking about picking it up, solo use but will fit the lower engine guard, maybe the extra running lights and pannier kit, ready for relaxed uk tour.

Noraly has done more for RE than many and unlike Marc on 'Eve' has some support.#!

Zitat von Ray im Beitrag #5

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Dave, you may like Itchy Boots latest video (issued 2 days ago) reviewing the new Himalayan after 4500KM in northern India. She is impressed ... but thinks it is still a bit heavy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILuhLi_JH3g

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Watched all of Itchyboots, various bikes, USA, South America, Europe and Africa, no doubt her ability exceded and sursprised many men on their "bigger, faster," machines.

The way things are going, bigger bikes, bigger engines while cars are getting smaller engines

My older 1 series bm have 4 cylinder 1.6 (also have 2 litre and larger engines) The new model has a 3 cyclinder 1.5 litre (mini/i8) turbo device.

How long before the 'new R1400 twin' gets turbo/supercharged for the car division?

Maybe not bouncing from R1200 - R1250 - Rxxx was the correct decision, time will tell.

This Himalayan 450 seems a good choice for me (F900 too near the R1300 to be worth a downsize and the GS and R310 is too small)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5EWVcBvWR4 - 155kph 95mph will be fine for my expected local uses.