I have a booking on the Kamet white (booked on 7th nov). Haven’t seen Kamet white yet, but first impressions are great, I’m gonna retain my booking.
BHPian caveman969 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Setting context, I’m 5’4, owns an fz v3, have been test driving bikes for over a year waiting for the perfect upgrade.
I did two test drives in total. The first one had someone from the showroom sitting pillion and the latter was done solo. TDs are being offered on Kaza brown. Showrooms have Hanle black for display.
Looks and ergonomics
The bike is massive. Especially the tank. It’s long and has a lot of road presence. Makes the old one look lanky in comparison. I think the front end is bigger than the GS and the 390Adv thanks to that 17l tank. Tripper pod is placed at a great angle. The fit and finish is excellent. Nearly as good as the super meteor. Hanle black looks a lot nicer in person and the paint quality is impressive. Here’s me on the Kaza brown:
With my height and inseam I’m able to tiptoe on both sides. The weight is noticable, more on that below. The riders triangle is super comfortable, the narrow seat also aids in better reach. Handlebars are wide and you feel like you’re riding something substantial. Though if you’re short your arms will be extended quite a bit. Seats are also really spacious for both the rider and the pillion.
The clutch feel is medium. Not as bad as the classic, but could have been softer, the reach is a bit problematic and can make dragging the clutch difficult, especially for folks with smaller hands.
The elephant in the room (that nearly 200kg weight):
Its incredibly heavy. You feel the weight a lot more because of the taller seat. It “feels” heavier than the classic 350. Moving it around is gonna be a chore. The side stand also makes the bike lean quite a bit, so you feel that weight every time you dismount. Have to be very cautious when parking at a decline and also this isnt something you can ride wearing unstable shoes. A slip could be devastating. I am able to move the bike around in a decent manner on the flat ground, but might be impossible at a slight incline.
The ride:
Started off with a long traffic stop. The bike had its radiator fan turned on from the very beginning (poor thing has been running all day).
The suspension setup is really great when going over bad roads. It handles potholes and no-road sections like a champ. The riding stance also inspires a lot of confidence. However, this is not something you can flick through traffic with. The length and the weight of the bike means you end up driving more sedately.
Power and torque:
The very low end is pretty non existant. I stalled the bike in first gear doing 5kmph. You also have to downshift or drag the clitch when going over bumps in 2nd. This would be disappointing for the old himalayan fans. But, the suspension is so good that you can go over most bumps doing pretty good speeds (>20) so a downshift can be avoided that way.
Post 2k Rpm, the bike really comes alive. It feels torquey and pulls really hard. I was able to push it to 5k rpm and the bike did not feel stressed and felt like it had a lot more to give.
Vibrations?
There are no vibes under 4k. Theres a zone (around 4k to 5k) where there is a very annoying buzz. Post that the buzz begins to calm down as the revs climb up. I feel if youre touring, you just need to find a spot above or below said band to be comfortable. The vibes are felt more on the footpegs than the tanks. To be clear, these dont feel too annoying. Putting this into perspective, I also drove the new 390 duke the same day and that one is more buzzier throughout the rev range. The himalayan is butter smooth in comparison.
I did a second test drive and pushed the bike to 7k in 2nd gear (it easily does over 60). The vibrations are worst in the 4k to 5k. But it remains all the way to the redline. The handlebar smoothens out but it can be felt down below. This is not a bike that pushes you to ride at high revs, but it doesnt mind if you push it.
Gearbox is crisp and precise. RE has had amazing gearbox since the 650s and this is just as good.
Heat:
The bike heats up in slow moving traffic and also when revved out. It doesn’t make you uncomfortable but your legs will feel warm and sweaty in a while. Heat is only on shins and doesn’t get above. You will feel it especially when stopped in traffic.
The on road price in bangalore goes from, 3.6 to 3.79 for the 4 variants. 60k tax, 25k insurance, 6k extended warranty. Accessories will be available in next month. Deliveries have already started. Insurance costs vary from dealer to dealer depending on the provider. I saw 24.5 and 26.5 on the two dealers I visited.
Deliveries have started but its only for hanle black, and limited to a few units. I have a booking on the Kamet white (booked on 7th nov). Havent seen Kamet white yet, but first impressions are great, I’m gonna retain my booking.
Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.
