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24 May 2020
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Himalayan or Honda CB500X
Royal Enfield Himalayan. 300 miles, 69 reg
Or
Honda CB500X. 9000 miles fsh with Honda panniers.
Both the same price £3700!!!!!!
Last edited by Chris Scott; 28 May 2020 at 15:03.
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24 May 2020
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Join Date: Feb 2002
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The Honda, I have got fed up with fixing things.
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24 May 2020
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I guess the first question has to be "What for?"
Is this a run-around, weekend toy or travel bike?
I don't know much about the RE (read "next to nothing"), but I can say my father had a CB500X as his run-around and liked it. He'd had a TA 700 and wanted something lighter and this was it.
As a travel bike in more populated areas, I suspect the CB would do well. I'm not sure how self-serviceable it is, as seems to be the case with newer bikes these days.
Unless things have changed, REs are supposed to be easy to work on.
To be honest, and speaking personally only, I'd go with the Honda. I just think it's more useable, day to day.
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25 May 2020
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Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Samaipata / Bolivia
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?
Honda.
dont know what you want to do. but you could give me two RE and I would still take the Honda.
enjoy your ride.
mika 
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25 May 2020
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Never has there been an easier question to answer.
Royal Enfield VS Honda.
I'd rather ride the Honda with 100,000 miles on it than a R.E with 69.
To be fair, the Himalayan has a cult following. And there are people successfully riding it around the world. But that's because its REALLY cheap. And it's design does tick a lot of the boxes for a good Overland bike.
Look up "Itchyboots" on youtube. She's riding hers around the world and not had many issues.
The earlier models were horrendous with frames snapping etc. The suspension and brakes are AWFUL on all of them. They're also really heavy and they're really slow.
Did I mention how cheap they are. That's their only saving grace. And it has a cool name. It's the same reason I bought my first Africa Twin twenty years ago. I'm just lucky it's one of the best Overlanding bikes EVER made.
Anyone with half a brain would buy a second hand Jap bike for the same price which is far better in every way and will still outlast the R.E by decades.
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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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25 May 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mark manley
The Honda, I have got fed up with fixing things.
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I didn't know you had a Himalayan.
Tell me about your experiences.  
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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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25 May 2020
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R.I.P. 25 November 2021
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Join Date: Feb 2010
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Japanese over Indian tech any day of the week, even a classic Jap bikes pisses over anything India can come up with.
Mezo.
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25 May 2020
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Back into the hamster wheel again, in Oslo - Norway. Did a 5 year RTW trip/250 k kms, 2014-2019
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I was in the same dilemma recently - My brain said Honda CB500X but my heart said Royal Enfield Himalayan.
I bought a Honda Crf250 Rally...
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25 May 2020
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Thanks for the replies.
I get it the Honda is bullet proof reliable.
But it needs revs. Is soul less.
The RE looks the part, feels under stressed.
Nora Lee has given one a workout.
A bit similar for me in head says Honda, heart says RE. Had a crf.
Glad I didn't buy a baby gs Ted.
A few horror stories. Ok while in warranty
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26 May 2020
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It doesn't have to be that Honda.
I know what it feels like to hanker for something on an emotional level (the marketer's favourite leverage).
I mean, if you're really in love with the RE, get it. It's your money. It'll be your bike.
Just do so with open eyes as a number on here have already told you what to expect.
Ride it and tick that off.
Maybe you'll keep it, may be you'll sell it, but as you can see from the current prices of the two models you've been looking at, the Honda holds its value more, so if you decide to sell the RE once you've got that bug out of your system, expect to take a bit of a hit.
Or go back to the drawing board and look at what's around.
However, I know what you mean about the soulessness of a revvy parallel twin.
For me, for a 500cc to be charismatic means a single.
My Transalp is a twin 600 and even that can't be described as characterful (namely as it has no quirks and starts every time!).
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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)
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26 May 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by floyd
I get it the Honda is bullet proof reliable.
But it needs revs. Is soul less.
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Have you ridden it?
I rented a CB500X for an eight-day trip. It was great. When you're traveling, you don't care so much about "soul" as you do when just doing a weekend ride. You care about the bike not impeding your travel and letting you do what you want, every time.
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26 May 2020
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I rode the Honda about three years back. I guess it didn't leave me enthused.
Probably pitched the wrong bike.
The NC700 on the other hand, I really liked.
Now the 750. Therefore I would like to change the 500 for the 700/750 NC
I rode the RE last year. I liked the engine. I didn't find the front brake that bad. Hard suspenders on the rear! Feet sit back a bit to far. Seat is uncomfortable.
What I do like is you can work on the RE as it is more simple
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26 May 2020
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My 22 month old CB500 will turn over 14000 miles this week. Oil changes are one drain bolt and the spin on filter. The valves were all in spec at 12000, there is a Haynes manual. The closest thing to a fault would be the paint on the brake pedal starting to look a bit thin. Might take ten minutes with a rattle can to refresh.
I had a 2017 Bullet EFI for 11 months. Changing the failed TPS and snapped chain were indeed simple enough. I hope a Himalayan would have moved up a bit, but I doubt it will equal the Honda.
I think the only reason to get the Enfield would be if you really liked the look of it.
Andy
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27 May 2020
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I would hazard a guess that by now a lot more people have ridden a CB500X to more corners of the earth than people have on a Himalayan... and had a painless time doing it too.
The CB is a proven platform: utterly reliable, low maintenance, very economic, all-day and high-hundred mile/iron-butt comfortable if needs be, and can maintain higher highway (freeway) speeds with ease as required.
It's worth noting that the fact that it makes almost twice the bhp of the Himalayan also makes it much more capable of maintaining speed at high elevation too.
The Honda engine has great fuelling, plenty of low end torque (it is certainly not 'revvy' at all, other than the cruising rpms are slightly higher than a thumper at higher highway speeds, mainly because it's a twin) and has a good spread of gears - making it very easy to ride at slow speed in rougher terrain, while not compromising any day-to-day highway ability.
With the right accessories and upgrades it also makes a killer 50/50 all-terrain bike, again one which doesn't compromise the on-road or off-road ability for the sake of the other - but you certainly don't need to go that far unless higher off-road ability is a requirement. A strong skid-plate and some decent tyres ought to see you handle most eventualities when riding in typical 'travel' mode.
For the same money I'd say it's an easy choice to make.
Jenny x
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27 May 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JMo (& piglet)
I would hazard a guess that by now a lot more people have ridden a CB500X to more corners of the earth than people have on a Himalayan... and had a painless time doing it too.
The CB is a proven platform: utterly reliable, low maintenance, very economic, all-day and high-hundred mile/iron-butt comfortable if needs be, and can maintain higher highway (freeway) speeds with ease as required.
It's worth noting that the fact that it makes almost twice the bhp of the Himalayan also makes it much more capable of maintaining speed at high elevation too.
The Honda engine has great fuelling, plenty of low end torque (it is certainly not 'revvy' at all, other than the cruising rpms are slightly higher than a thumper at higher highway speeds, mainly because it's a twin) and has a good spread of gears - making it very easy to ride at slow speed in rougher terrain, while not compromising any day-to-day highway ability.
With the right accessories and upgrades it also makes a killer 50/50 all-terrain bike, again one which doesn't compromise the on-road or off-road ability for the sake of the other - but you certainly don't need to go that far unless higher off-road ability is a requirement. A strong skid-plate and some decent tyres ought to see you handle most eventualities when riding in typical 'travel' mode.
For the same money I'd say it's an easy choice to make.
Jenny x
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Thanks Jenny, I guess you are right. I have seen you giving said bike a good workout on ebay. Especially the touratek version with wheels, suspenders etc.
Do you still have it? What mileage has it or had it done?
Many thanks
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