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RE Himalayan 450: Riding impressions & a comparison with my Meteor 350

24th January 2024, 11:03 by Dev Shah

I struggled to find the ideal sitting position on the Himalayan that I've grown accustomed to on the Meteor.

BHPian Met_Jazz recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The perspective of a relatively new rider on the New Himalayan, transitioning from the Meteor 350:

The Meteor 350 is my first experience in both bike ownership and riding. Consequently, my perspective is that of a novice rider, transitioning from a cruiser and exploring an adventure tourer for the first time.

With the holidays upon us and no significant plans for the day, I decided on a ride to explore the nostalgic beauty of Bombay and capture some pictures of my bike. Additionally, a craving for the delicious Bun Mask at Jimmy Boy fueled my motivation. Following this plan, I set out from home, reaching Jimmy Boy only to find it entirely occupied by Harley riders. Opting to skip it, I turned back home.

On my way back, my motorcycle caught the eye of some enthusiasts, and she couldn't help but blush!

With half of my plan successful (riding to town) and half drowned (missing Bun Maska at Jimmy Boy), I decided to head home for lunch.

Nevertheless, fate had different plans for me. On my way back, I noticed a couple of new Himalayans parked at the Royal Enfield FMS in Worli and thought, why not take a look at the new Himalayan?

Though I was convinced they wouldn't grant me a test ride, I entered the store, fully prepared for a potential refusal. To my surprise, there was no one around when I arrived. Understandably, it was 10:00 AM on a Christmas holiday. Eventually, a salesman greeted me, and we exchanged pleasantries. After discussing a few things, I sat on the bike to get a feel for it and casually inquired if a test ride was possible. Much to my surprise, he responded with a confident "Yes."

In Hanle Black:

The store impressed me with its cleanliness, classiness, and functionality. The accessories section reflected the Royal Enfield Heritage. After the formalities, the sales assistant handed me the keys and guided me on a 4 km route, telling me to "enjoy". It was an amazing experience at the store.

Filled with enthusiasm, I stepped outside, examined the bike in its Kaza Brown scheme, donned my helmet, and hopped onto the saddle. I embarked on a pleasant 4-kilometer ride along a relatively open road, and here are my observations. I won't delve into technical details, as they have been thoroughly discussed in this thread. Instead, I'll share my personal experience.

Initially, the upright sitting position may take a few minutes to adjust to, especially for a newbie or someone transitioning from a cruiser. Once settled, confidence builds, and the enjoyment begins.

Adjusting to the gear shift took some time due to my familiarity with the Meteor's gear lever. However, the Himalayan's gear shifts were noticeably smoother, and the setup felt better than the old Himalayan. The gear ratios were also improved.

The engine's punchiness became evident with sufficient traction. I experienced no lag, and the acceleration was impressive, delivering a satisfying riding experience.

The seats on the Himalayan are incredibly comfortable. In contrast, one drawback I've encountered with the Meteor is its less comfortable seats for the pillion rider, requiring some adjustments to get used to it. The Himalayan surpasses this issue by a significant margin, ensuring both the rider and pillion can enjoy a comfortable ride without experiencing those bothersome "post-ride body pains."

The suspension was well-tuned, instilling confidence even on rough patches.

The only aspect I didn't particularly like was the seating position of the Himalayan compared to the Meteor. I want to clarify that this might not be the case for everyone. Since the Meteor is my first bike and the only one, I've ridden thus far, my body has grown accustomed to its specific configuration. Even after riding for 20 minutes, I struggled to find the ideal sitting position on the Himalayan that I've grown accustomed to on the Meteor. Additionally, as mentioned by some bhpians, there's a bit of discomfort with the foot pegs' position when both feet are down, requiring careful adjustment. For context, I'm approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, and I could keep my feet flat. I'm uncertain whether the seat height was altered or if it was in its original configuration.

In conclusion, I truly liked the way they designed the new Himalayan. It's distinctly different from the current model and is undoubtedly an upgrade from the Royal Enfield 350s/410s series.