Below are my first impression of the bike after a short test ride. There are exhaustive reviews available in the net and hence I would not be dwelling into the technical details and try to limit it to my own observations and experience.
What I like:
Well refined engine with very little vibration felt compared to other REs
Excellent handling and suspension setup. Soft and low seats add to the comfort.
Mono shocks seems to have helped in improving the handling too.
Serves all purpose. As RE says, it is purpose-built for all roads and no roads.
Braking felt much better in the “Himalayan” compared to the other REs
10, 000 Km oil change is a big welcome especially for a touring bike
Pricing is spot on at around Rs. 1.8 lakhs OTR especially when the target audience are the ones upgrading from the 150/200 CC segment.
The exhaust note is definitely not going to enthuse the “Bullet” enthusiasts. However, I felt it was sweet and gave that subtle ‘thump’ ocassionally. It makes the bike feel more young and peppy than the matured siblings.
What I don't like:
The engine could have been a little more powerful. 24HP might not be sufficient for long drives.
The switches for the lights and the fuel on/off are still of poor quality. Badly needs improvement.
Gear shift is still not as smooth as it should be. Clutch is heavy too.
ABS not offered
The tyres are not tubless tyres. Punctures can be a painful experience.
A 12V charging port would have been an awesome feature that would help charging mobiles / GPS devices.
The Digital compass was a bit confusing.
REs service has not been great and there are enough threads dedicated to service complaints.
Engine Performance:
Let me shout out loud. THE VIBRATIONS ARE NOT FELT ON THE HANDLE BAR EVEN AT HIGH REVS. Yes… the vibrations that the REs are infamous for were hardly felt in the “Himalayan”. That’s a BIG IMPROVEMENT, isn’t it? I was really annoyed by the vibrations that numbed my palms when I rode the Classic 500 a few weeks back. However, this is not felt in the “Himalayan”.
The engine seemed to be relatively well refined and it did accelerate quickly compared to other RE engines. The low end torque is really good and will help the city and the off-road rides equally. However, I could feel a bit of heat from the engine through the jeans that I was wearing. But that’s expected from engines like these.
Handling and ride:
The ride wasn’t plush but it's still very good and the front suspensions did their jobs well. Also, may be due to the wider rear tyres and the mono shocks I felt that the bike was well planted and handled better than anyother RE. I could maneuver the bike easily in traffic. One thing to note here is the seats; from the pics they seem hard but in reality they are really soft and I think they should help in long rides.
Looks & Other observations:
It’s subjective but I really loved the rugged look of the “Himalayan”. The design boasts of its character. It looks slim from the front but once you settle into the seat you will know it’s size. The wide handle bar looks good and was good to hold too.
The 15 liter fuel tank is narrow at the place it meets the seat and does not rub against your knees / thighs. The matte black finish looks cool on the rugged bike, again adds to the character. Didn’t get to see the white colour bike, the only other option available. However, at the showroom there were not many who were after the Himalayan, clearly indicating that the general population would like to go with the other good looking siblings that will make them feel premium. Its only the adventurous at heart who will love this little beast.
The other important change is that the bike comes with electric start ONLY. Kick starter is not available. For the popularity REs have in regard to not starting or simply going dead on certain days, not sure how this is gonna work.
Bike feels longer in traffic.is very nimble to move around.
