RE Himalayan 450 test ride: Interceptor owner shares his perspective

If I have to upgrade to a more practical bike, I will push for the Honda NX500.

BHPian Mach_1590 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So I went to the RE SVC for my Interceptor's 3rd Service, and briefly tested the much talked about Himalayan. The test ride wasn't a very long one but I'll just share the experience anyway from the perspective of the Interceptor owner.

• Feels slightly heavier than the Interceptor to lift off the stand. However, it's easy to move/reverse once it is upright.
• The switchgear quality is okay, and the digital display has good visibility in the daylight.
• Seat height wasn't much of an issue for me even though I was tip-toeing. The chassis balance is good.
• Riding position is spot on! The ergonomics for both rider and pillion will make those long rides quite easy on the body. The stock seat is firm and most will not complain.
• The power delivery is very very linear, the torque feels flat and the bike gradually starts pulling after a certain RPM, and makes good progress provided you are in the right gear. Having said that, at no point, did the bike feel "torquey". Not sure if riders will enjoy the off-road part. The engine isn't tractable.
• VIBRATIONS! They are everywhere and it's bad. There is a noticeable buzz once you start ripping it. I also have a BS4 RC390 which is almost 7 years old now and doesn't vibrate as much. TR's bike was 1200 km old. The engine being the stressed member here, RE needs to provide better mounts.
• Suspension is best in class, none of the RE 650s have this kind of well-engineered and sophisticated setup. The bike is easy to manoeuvre in tight traffic, U-turns are a piece of cake and the bike feels eager to lean on curves. Speed-breakers? You don't need to slow down much. Also, Pillion's comfort is excellent on roads and no-roads.
• Brakes are good and RE has done a good job here. They are progressive yet have enough bite to come to a halt under hard braking.

Will I consider replacing my Interceptor with the Himalayan? I know a few people who have replaced their CGTs and Super-meteors with the new Himalayan!

But If I have to upgrade to a more practical bike, I will push for the Honda NX500 as I have tasted the refinement of a parallel twin. When it comes to Himalayan, RE has nailed the "cycle" part, it's the "motor" which needs to be worked upon. The next iteration (facelift) of Himalayan would be the one to go for.

Thanks.

P.S. Bike is readily available in Noida, Sector-63 showroom. No pre-booking nothing, just pay/finance and get the delivery in an hour.

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