[ecenandu]

We started with a clean sheet of paper to build a motorcycle that was as comfortable fording a rocky river as it was to crunch hundreds of highway miles; substantial enough to hold its line in high cross winds, and to carry a pillion and lots of luggage, but light enough to pick it up when it falls; simple enough to mend a broken part yourself (as a result of that previous fall!) or to start even if the battery is dead (seriously, you can push start it and put on your headlamp even if the battery is missing!)."

Read more, here

Source:

[daretodream]

Can the experts please clarify my doubt-



What do call the part/component that I've circled in red?
What is the aesthetic/mechanical/practical purpose of that part?
Can that be removed?
If removed, what could be consequences?

To me - it looks so ugly.

Image Source

[Viju]

Originally Posted by daretodream

What do call the part/component that I've circled in red?
What is the aesthetic/mechanical/practical purpose of that part?
Can that be removed?
If removed, what could be consequences?

It is a raised front fender. You will find it on all off-road or dual purpose bikes. It helps to prevent debris (like small stones, rocks etc) from being thrown up too high by the front wheel.

It may look ungainly - but it serves a purpose. I think buyers of such purpose built motorcycles prioritize function over form.

Of course it can be removed.

[bblost]

Originally Posted by daretodream

Can the experts please clarify my doubt-

When you are riding on roads with tiny stones on it, you will suddenly hear a clink hit on your helmet visor. There will be no one around but somehow that stones just flew up and hit it.

I was always confused about this till I realized that it was the stones thrown up by my front tire.

This helps prevent that.

[navin_v8]

Originally Posted by daretodream

Can the experts please clarify my doubt-
What do call the part/component that I've circled in red?

Mate I ain't no expert but that circled component is called a beak/nose in ADV motorcycle parlance. It is technically a high rise mudguard.

What is the aesthetic/mechanical/practical purpose of that part?

The high rise mudguard can be seen in dirt bikes. It protects the motorcycle and rider from flying dirt while doing offroading. It serves a lot of purpose and is a perfect example of form over beauty. For example I was once caught unaware while offroading during rains. What happened was the space between my front tyre and box mudguard of yesteryears Bullet 350 was filled with thick muck and a couple of stones which stuck to the clay like mud and got jammed between the front tyre and mudguard. I had a terrible time dislodging the muck and those stuck stones from the little gap between mudguard and tyre. A high rise mudguard both front and rear helps overcome these issues. So they are there for a reason.

Can that be removed?

I believe it can be removed. RE motorcycles are mod friendly.

If removed, what could be consequences?

I gave you an example above, like these there are several reasons for that high rise mudguard. It is an integral part of the ADV motorcycle design.

[petrolhead_neel]

I have a question. I had read sometime ago that Royal Enfield had hired ex-Ducati designer Pierre Terblanche. Link

Was he involved in designing the bike? The reason I ask this is because he was not seen in any of the videos.

I am very curious about how this bike turns out to be.

Neel

[petrolhead_neel]

360 degree video tour atop the seat of the Himalayan released!

Link

Exhaust note sounds wicked! Also notice that this is the white bike which we saw spy pics of some pages ago, with Himalayan written on the tank.

Neel

[maker_of_things]

Originally Posted by petrolhead_neel

360 degree video tour atop the seat of the Himalayan released! Link

Exhaust note sounds wicked! Also notice that this is the white bike which we saw spy pics of some pages ago, with Himalayan written on the tank.

Neel

Thanks for this. Can't wait to get a test ride myself.

[amitc7]

Noticed on the RE website today -http://royalenfield.com/motorcycles/himalayan/sid-speak/
Himalayan should be close to release

[maker_of_things]

Originally Posted by amitc7

Noticed on the RE website today -http://royalenfield.com/motorcycles/himalayan/sid-speak/
Himalayan should be close to release

Yes. It is due for release on 2nd of February at a press conference in New Delhi.

[ringoism]

Originally Posted by navin_v8

The high rise mudguard can be seen in dirt bikes. It protects the motorcycle and rider from flying dirt while doing offroading...

my front tyre and box mudguard of yesteryears Bullet 350 was filled with thick muck and a couple of stones which stuck to the clay like mud and got jammed between the front tyre and mudguard. I had a terrible time dislodging the muck and those stuck stones from the little gap between mudguard and tyre.

Originally Posted by Viju

It is a raised front fender. You will find it on all off-road or dual purpose bikes. It helps to prevent debris (like small stones, rocks etc) from being thrown up too high by the front wheel.

Being that a high mud guard (if used alone) would actually INCREASE the potential angles of forward/upward trajectory for debris (think about it), and being that I've ridden bikes with high or low mudguards for years, I would NOT agree that it has any positive effect as far as flying debris goes. The main benefit is elimination of potential jam-ups that Navin mentionedI (I've had it happen with snow, too, and it is a real pain!); and also the potential for larger gravel caught in a smaller gap between a tyre and low plastic mudguard to actually crack/break it (and with no mudguard at all, you're certainly going to have tons of debris thrown up in your face [ask me how I know] ).

That said, a lot of the high guard is simply dual-sport "image", and not every rider will realize the benefits; there are real ADV/dual-sport bikes that have standard low mudguards, like Honda's NX250 / Dominator of yesteryear, etc, etc... Unless you're riding in really mucky / gravelly stuff, the low guard generally works fine and throws a lot less water up on your legs when riding in rain or through puddles (it is a real pain to have to put on my gaitors every time I go out in those conditions, and to take them off muddy / wet at my destination).

As an aside, having BOTH high and low installed (as a number of dual-sports come delivered) seems to negate any advantage of the high one, except I suppose that you'd have the option of removing the low one before certain types of rides, and reinstalling it for your road commutes.

-Eric

[//M]

2nd Feb is not too far away.

Himalayan

[Gordon]

It's getting unbearable. I hope they deliver a good product. After so much excitement and curiosity, I do not want to be disappointed.

[21Archer84]

Originally Posted by //M

2nd Feb is not too far away.

Yeah you are right. It's already 2' Feb. Am waiting for the bike or should I say bikes?
D-day for the Himalayan.

[tharian]

Is there a live web cast for the launch?
Today is also the launch for the new Maruti Brezza.