Getting to know my new Himalayan 450 better; Pros & cons after 1st ride

Bike felt quite nimble even on ghats and it totally masks the weight.

BHPian Nilesh5417 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Positives (for the umpteenth time)

• Suspension..got home and didn't sleep! I am totally wound up and need to catch some sleep post a ride on my Monster. This one is easygoing and relaxed
• Ergos..couple that with suspension and things are slot on.
• Dash is clearly visible in all conditions and shows all the useful info in all conditions.
• Top end is truly astonishing - hit 125kmph and it could still go on if I wanted to.
• You can pile on speeds in gear 3-4-5 amazingly quick. Overtakes are a breeze on the highway.
• Stock windscreen now suddenly seems ok. Maybe I wasn't riding fast enough given the rain.
• Doesn't throw much muck at the back. Does throw some on the front including the beak like others have pointed out but unless you are truly riding in slush all the time, it's OK. The bike was not as bad as the Scrambler 400X was from Surjaonwheelz recent beach trip log.
• Bike felt quite nimble even on ghats and it totally masks the weight.

Not so positive

• Stock seat is nice and soft and it tapers at the front but is pretty hard close to the pillion seat. Started getting uncomfortable after 1st hour. Needs a fix for those who do long rides.
• Vibes between 90-100kmph are nuts. Could feel it in the right footpegs and some on the handlebar. Did not have a chance before to maintain such speeds.
• Absolutely and totally lacks any low-end and behaves like the 390. Had to drop to first gear almost every single time there was a climb esp on a hairpin. Was extremely irritating. FuelXPro, if it does fix things, is a must. Am not convinced yet based on the charts since I feel it improves things only post 3200rpm. Guess I need to find someone who has it installed and rides his bike to get a real-world feel. Heard it fixes the vibes a bit as well given that the engine knocks much less at lower rpm.
• First gear is really short. I wished it would hold on for a higher speed as I climbed the hairpins. You drop a gear to find some pull and then it already starts prompting for the 2nd with very little throttle! If you don't, it is crawling and gruffy, if you do, it loses its breath. It's like you got the first but you can't use it much. Did someone experience this?? FuelXPro &/or sprocket change is the fix I guess.
• Ceat tyres are okayish at best. Work well on dry, firm surfaces (e.g. on the road) but not so much on slush and wet roads. But maybe mine aren't broken in much since I just finished 1k kms.

Enjoying the bike so far but it sure needs some prep to make it comfy for longer rides.

All credit to Surjaonwheelz for helping with finding the right rain gear without which this ride would have not happened.

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