I have a Himmy and a350 Classic, love them both! What you must remember is the LS motor was designed 10 years before the J series, and smooths out in all departments, after 1200 miles or so, good on all roads or no roads as they say, a little noisy, until you get used to it, and TOTALLY RELIABLE in all conditions, every one who has one, loves them. Cheers DINO and Malta Clan.

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Hi Dino, I could tell this Himi felt tight, and as with all the RE singles, could tell it would get better with more miles. Still not my cup of tea, but looking forward to taking the stripped down Scram out for a run. Cheers mate.

@ianhughesroyalenfield

7 ай бұрын

@petergreen7802 yes, I like the stripped down look.

What an awesome review, just getting better and better, plenty more bikes to come, it’s strange seeing all the roads I know, keep up the good work, see you soon Ian

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Thanks Roger. Not being scripted, means I can only say what I feel, hopefully that comes out in the reviews. Thanks for inviting me to take all these beauties out for a bimble.

Probably all the bike that we need for 90% of motorcycling and it has that air-cooled Royal Enfieldness 👍👍Ugly duckling LOL 🤣🤣

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

😂

Hi Ian, good to see you out on a Himalayan at last, around even more of the roads and lanes I used to frequent in my coach on holiday feeder routes! They are indeed a mechanical sounding engine, but as any salesman would say....'they all do that sir!' I use mine for just about everything now, including, in two weeks time, a trip to France, Andorra and Spain.....so watch this space. Good objective review anyway Ian, stay safe. Cheers. 👍

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Thanks Martin, a good bike, just not one that floats my boat 😉 Have a great holiday 😎

I've had my lake blue Himi for about 12 months and here is what I've found : 1. The engine when new is a bit tight but loosens off a lot with use. 2. The CEAT tyres work well on and off road - I've just changed the rear at 9000 Kms, 3. She corners really well especially in a series of tight corners, 4. The motor (a single) is a bit noisy but vibrations get better with age. I've just put a Lextek end can which gives a very nice deep tone. 5. Brakes are great if you use front and rear together. 6. Fuel consumption is tiny ! I get about 105 mpg ! I've had lots of bikes in my life but my Himi gives me the greatest pleasure. Dave.

@ianhughesroyalenfield

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for your input Dave. I imagine many of Himi owners, like yourself, would say the same. From my experience of the 350’s, they do improve well with a few miles under the tyres. What start as a bit vibey, smoothens out nicely. Quite agree about the CEAT tyres on any RE’s, nothing wrong with them, other than a name no one has heard of 🙄😂. Always a perfect way to hide agricultural engine sounds, fit a free flow exhaust, quality 😉😊. All the RE’s are cracking, and have a firm fan base, to bolster this. Cheers

Great review Ian. I like the Himalayan and for the money they are a perfect second bike imo. I've got an Interceptor and seriously considering one of these. Thanks 👍

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Thanks Garry. They are great value for money, and an ideal stablemate for the Interceptor, but just don’t do it for me in the looks department. Having had an Interceptor until recently, I prefer the Hunter 350 over the Himalayan, but I appreciate they are both completely different bikes. What will be interesting, is if RE release the much rumoured 450 water cooled Himalayan, though the question will be how much more expensive it is 🤔 Cheers

@garrysmith9246

10 ай бұрын

Thanks Ian, the problem I've got, probably like most people is that I like so many bikes, in particular the Royal Enfields. The Hunter and the Classic are both great looking bikes, and I love riding the Interceptor. I'm looking forward to seeing the 450 Himalayan if it happens. Cheers Garry

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

@@garrysmith9246 100% agree. Almost (😂) all the RE’s look great 😊

It’s like rough but ready I would imagine it’s very good for small rough lanes , your test rides are fine and very clear 👍🏍

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Thanks Donna.

Good review Ian , they are not bad bikes but not for everyone 👍🍻

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Agreed ABD. 👍

Hey a Willys Jeep! 😁👍 I should take out the Scram for a demo as I quite like the look of it 😁👍 Good review Ian, thanks for sharing 😁👍 Cheers Bruce

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Morning Bruce, I thought you would be chuffed with seeing another Jeep 😎

Roger is the man. 👍😄 Great on the job review Ian.

@ianhughesroyalenfield

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Charles. Roger is a top chap 😎

Far from not being good at reviews you're one of my favourites. You review as you go rather then preparing an essay so it's much more raw and, to me, valuable. I agree with the console, usually I prefer a minimal look but the Himalayan's busy console looks neat, an almost plane like instrument cluster. As for the bike as a whole I can never decide whether it's ugly or nice, it changes on the day and the angle 😂

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Thank you my friend, nice of you to say. I couldn’t script anything, as my memory won’t let me hold information like that, so as you say, it’s just what I feel at the time. As for the looks, I wanted to like the Himi, when it was first released, but somehow, I just can’t 😂

Nice review Ian. You were very fair with your review of the the Himmy. All the things you said are very accurate, fair and positive too; praise to you for that. Yes, my wifey Ann loves riding on our Himmy and we regularly ride more than 250 mls with no ill effects whatsoever. Just got back from a lil jaunt to the Highlands and covered 1602 mls whilst in Scotland. Thank you for a lovely review Ian. Ride safe bud.

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Thanks Neil. That was some mileage, well done 👍

@mrgrizzlyrides

10 ай бұрын

@@ianhughesroyalenfield cheers Ian; top man.

I really like the Himalayan it's like an old Land Rover it just plods along like a little Donkey not a fireball but virtually unstoppable and I like that utilitarian nature to it and yes I know you can travel main roads and motorways but for me I'd only consider owning one if it had more power and was capable of carrying two up and luggage comfortably. I did look into it and the legal payload is woeful I think it's something like 175kg so two normal people plus riding gear already puts it overweight before you put any luggage on it which is a real shame.

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Morning Mike, that official payload isn’t great, but Mr Grizzly and his lovely wife go touring on their Himi. I don’t do facts and figures, so can’t help on that score. As I mentioned though, I too wouldn’t be keen on motorways etc, back lane blasting with the occasional (not too rough) green lane would be ideal. Cheers

@MauriceTarantulas

9 ай бұрын

Am 17st and had tent etc plus was soaked Himmy did fine for 5hrs plus on motorway was very wet and slow but so far have been impressed that for 24bhp can still cope with all my camping gear (which I did choose lighter stuff)

Very much like the looks of the bike.

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

It's a chunky monkey for sure 😀 Cheers

I had one of these too! It was my first Royal Enfield! Wife couldn’t ride it pillion though so I sold it and bought the Bullet 500.

Loving mine so far! Loosening up after 1200 miles. Yep being 6"1 def been a bit blowy n noisy but have got good earbuds now. Gonna do my own review soon! As a first bike made the right choice, very easy going bike to learn on plus can get cracking on some maintenance etc.

@ianhughesroyalenfield

9 ай бұрын

Excellent news, look forward to the review, put a link on here 👍

@MauriceTarantulas

9 ай бұрын

​​​@@ianhughesroyalenfieldAm now really intrigued to try another Royal enf. Always wanted the classic but the Himmy for camping etc...you can do a lot cheaper than full priced panniers etc. (My reason was if really love that side invest more later) At the end of the day you can get out touring n camping for say 5k less than on a Tenere etc...(never a bad thing. You def have bike envy when camped next to a BMW GS, Tenere and a Transalp😂. But the adv guys dont care its about being out)

I'm on my 2nd one now sold the 1st missed it that much not being in the garage so got another one. Your right about the screen bloody awful eneded up cutting it down and it's not so bad now. Also have the classic 350 that I'm trying to get use to, good honest review cheers👍.

@ianhughesroyalenfield

6 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed my review. Funny how we regret selling something. You will love the Classic once you become accustomed to it, I love my Clementine. The 350 continues to surprise 😎 Cheers

Better late than never. Nice review. Thank you.

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Thank you.

Ian, you do some of the best reviews, especially this one, probably because you mentioned me twice 😂 the Himalayan is definitely a Marmite kind of bike. 140 miles on the M62 and M1, and because of the traffic, she was excellent, and 92 mpg, but would I recommend one ? For a little shorty like me (5'7"), the screen is very good over 60mph and the seat is only good for about 50 miles for riders around 16 stone 😒 ugly duckling yes but stunning after 4 pints 😅😊😅😂

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Thanks James, did I only mention you twice 🤔😂. I think where the Himi is the ugly duckling, maybe the Scram is a Swan (doubt it, I think that title goes to the Super Meteor). That review is yet to be done 😉. We are back off to Nantwich in just over a week, hope to test ride a couple more, weather permitting.

@icedidi

10 ай бұрын

I was expecting to hear Mr Tea 😁

10 ай бұрын

Stunning after four pints indeed 😂

@aussiebikerdude6563

10 ай бұрын

Ainsworth rider…. Everything looks better after a few beers 😂😂😂😂

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

😂

Compared to the Classic the Himmy is very agricultural, I was given a brand new Himalayan when the first 300 mile service was done on my Classic. To be honest I was glad to return the Himmy when the service was completed, also like you I hate screens on bikes. 😊

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Thanks Peter, I don’t hate screens, but I haven’t found one yet that doesn’t cause buffeting. The tracer 900 was much better when I removed the screen completely. Cheers

nice one Ian

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Thanks Mr ice.

Himies are a very utilitarian looking bike that you would think their isn't anywhere you could not get to and places where a BMW GS won't go either 😊 and I agree that the dash looks pretty good too .Most definitely not one for the motorways though I wouldn't think but on UK roads probably just what you need these days Ian 😉 good one 👌👍

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Agreed Mal, especially with the state of our roads 😂 Cheers

@MauriceTarantulas

9 ай бұрын

Was kinda forced onto motorway recently on mine, did 70 ish fully loaded with tent and I was soaked. No issues bike got me home in need of a hot bath n cuppa. P.s Enough for middle lane n getting past lorries but yes better country lanes best but the option is there which I love!

@ianhughesroyalenfield

9 ай бұрын

@@MauriceTarantulas Ainsworth Rider found it good too.

@MauriceTarantulas

9 ай бұрын

@@ianhughesroyalenfield My first time on motorway but had lost gps due to wet phone etc! The Himmy got me out of a pickle plus I was shivering etc.

@ianhughesroyalenfield

9 ай бұрын

@@MauriceTarantulas I don’t do rain 😂

You found same as myself. Screen noisy for my height. Noisy motor although not a problem. My knees too close to that frame. I found seat very poor. Must have changed it from early ones. I did sit on one with touring seat which was very comfy. But a good functional machine. I prefer the scram. But no room.

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Good morning Charlie, having watched my review again, I really don’t sound very enthusiastic about the Himalayan. It’s not that it’s a bad bike at all, it just doesn’t hit the right buttons for me. The seat seemed fine, but I get what you are saying about the pegs drawing you legs into the frame, and yes the motor is noisy, but as I was editing, I felt I had experienced similar when I had a Honda CRF250L. I rectified that, by fitting rubber grommets to the sump guard, which cured it. I wonder if better isolation rubbers could be fitted to that on the Himi 🤔, just a thought. Cheers

Told you I’d watch one of yours tonight! 😁 I’m looking at buying one of these in Thailand. Recommend for a bit of dodgy roads and off roading?

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Morning Patrick, definitely ideal for those roads. The Himi feels like it’s built out of girders, yet quite nimble. 👍

@PGTripsMedia

10 ай бұрын

@@ianhughesroyalenfield Great news! Need to arrange a test! 😁

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

@@PGTripsMedia definitely. Apparently, as with all RE’s, they do improve with mileage.

The dash panel looks good, but the bike's appearance itself does't appeal to me; to each their own. Out of curiousity, where is the weight? Is it high or low? I rode the 231kg CF Moto 800MT earlier this year and it was very top-heavy.

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

Morning Chris. The Himi didn’t feel top heavy, felt quite neutral.

@chrisweeks6973

10 ай бұрын

Thanks Ian; appreciated.

A new bike with no miles on it will be tight. Keep revs down and run it gently for around 1000 miles and then it will loosen up and be much more responsive. Change the oil fairly early on. say 500 miles as it runs in and keep an eye on valve clearances.. The performance is very similar to my first new bike years ago, a 1955 Ariel 350cc pushrods instead of OHC. That engine was originaly a 1930s design although very much updated. Top speed was around 80mph, fuel consumption 100mpg, I was in a motorcycle club and found acceleration insufficient on club runs with mostly 500cc twins so I eventually moved to a 1955 Ariel 650cc Huntmaster, plenty of power and acceleration although much thirstier, around 65mpg

@ianhughesroyalenfield

9 ай бұрын

Yes, I have run a couple of Royal Enfield’s in, and they do free off very nicely after about 1000 miles. Cheers 👍

You like the Classic 350 riding position better ?

@ianhughesroyalenfield

9 ай бұрын

Yes, but the Himalayan is a different animal. I wouldn’t take the Classic 350 where the Himalayan could go 😉

Agricultural sounding. I struggle with the up swoop seats on bikes too with my short legs & dickie ankles.

@ianhughesroyalenfield

10 ай бұрын

…and I don’t trust side stands enough to take the weight of me getting on that way. Cheers

@ruahinesrider

10 ай бұрын

@@ianhughesroyalenfield The spring in side stand wears out quicker too I trust them either let alone getting on that way every time. If I did I would of got the Tiger 🐅 660.