Interesting review, Jon, but the RR is even better Great pics!


PS: I did parts of that on a push-bike, but that was years ago. Nowadays I'd also prefer the m/c

__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

I posted originally in October 2019 and at that time the bike had covered about 8,000 miles. The bike now has 19,000 on the clock and here is a small update to my first post.

I replaced the Pirelli MT60 tyres with Mitas E07's at 10,000 miles. The MT60 rear was bald at that mileage. The E07 rear has don9,000 and there is still a lot of tread left although squaring off now.

I changed the brake fluid at 10,000 miles (2 years old) and this made a big difference to the braking. much better.

I also replaced the standard seat with a RE Touring version, very hard, almost as bad as sitting on the very soft original.

I replaced the spark plug with an iridium one, NGK CR8EIX, at about 12,000 miles and I noticed a slight increase in power, the bike can now sustain long gradients without dropping down a gear.

At, 16,000 I eventually gave up the ghost with the OEM drive chain. Water had gotten inside the o-ring seals causing corrosion, which in turn was causing tight spots etc. Not wanting a catastrophic chain failure, I replaced the 520 with a DID 525. I put the replacement chain on to the original sprockets as I could not get 525 width replacements. Seems fine.

The bike developed a small oil weep from the rocker cover, new gasket paste solved that issue. Apart from that no other issues.

The bike has been ridden on all types of roads and surfaces, Motorways, fast A class roads, back roads, dirt tracks, very poorly maintained roads with lots of repair patches, potholes, lumps, bumps, fully laden at all times and no problems for the suspension.

Overall, the bike has performed better than I thought it might.

Value for money? Absolutely no question.

Economical? Again, absolutely no question.

Robust? Absolutely.

Reliable? Absolutely (never failed to start and never broken down)

Powerful? No

Comfortable? Sometimes

Overall it does what it says on the label. Goes anywhere cheaply and reliably as long as you do not want to go there quicker thant 70mph (110 kph)

This is a quick update on my experience with my Himalayan.

The bike has now done 25,000 miles (40,000 km)

Despite taking it off road and dropping it a couple of times on the dirt it sustained no major damage, just the usual cracked indicator stems. A bit of black insulating tape sorted those out. Other than that no problems.

Nothing has fallen off, it has still never failed to star nor broken downt, and apart from a vacuum chain oilier it is bog standard.

Still not had to adjust the clutch.

Great to hear positive feedback.

I almost bought one for my wife, but ended up with the Vstrom 250. Just suited us a little better.

Have fun.

Put the 650 engine from the interceptor in it and I'll b first in the queue.

Why stop at 650cc? Go straight to the 1250 flat twin with CANbus'd ashtray!

You make it heavier, you lose the advantage.

Andy

I get that , but it would open the bike up to a larger audience. Also some of us have to use a motorway occasionally.......heresy I know . The interceptor sells like hot cakes , a 650 version of the Himalayan would too imho . Its going to be a commercial decision......given the japs/ Italians arent really interested in that market....