Mix of cruising on 4 lane and 2 lane highways, mild off-roading on broken country roads, mountain twisties, steep up slopes and down slopes, slush, gravel, unpaved rocky surface, name a thing and it was present in the recipe with mild to heavy rains as an additional topping.
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Observations after a 1460 km ride over 5 days
Just came back from a ride to the hills of Arunachal Pradesh. Took Bagheera to its home ground.
Total distance travelled : 1460 kms.
A mix of cruising on 4-lane and 2-lane highways, mild off-roading on broken country roads, mountain twisties, steep up slopes and down slopes, slush, gravel, unpaved rocky surface, name a thing and it was present in the recipe with mild to heavy rains as an additional topping.
A few of my observations after this extensive usage might benefit fellow bhpians.
First the not-so-good ones:-
- The stock headlight is very poor. In normal ambient light also, it fails to illuminate properly, it’s only good for completely dark roads with no traffic from the opposite side. I have installed a set of Gold Runway X4 auxiliary lights. Will post feedback/review on the same later.
- The combined tail light and indicator are good for making a style statement, but the practicality is questionable. The tail/brake light is not that effective in poor visibility conditions.
- The left-hand switch cluster seems cluttered in dense traffic conditions. The left thumb keeps fumbling between the horn button, indicator, and pass switch (which again is oddly positioned) even if we discount the use of the joystick. The pass switch is an ergonomic disaster, it actually requires removing the thumb/index finger to operate it.
- The low-end torque of the OG Himalayan 411 is actually missed. In fact, except for the first gear, there is nothing much below 3000 rpm.
- The tubed tyres will make you always keep your fingers crossed, especially in remote locations.
- The OEM stock windscreen is useless, the OEM taller one is no good either. It is good only till 75-80 kmph, thereafter it fails to stop the wind buffeting effect. For my height, the deflected wind flow hits the top ot helmet and the constant fluttering sound becomes very irritating after some time.
- The engine buzz exists from 4500 onwards, however the intensity is not a deal breaker.
- The engine is cluttery, to say the least. Even after almost 4500 kms, it feels a little rough, though there is no drop in performance or any serious unusual noise. Hoping the clutter reduces with a few more thousands being added to the odo.
- The side stand of an ADV should be such that one can swing a leg over after mounting onto pegs from one side. But this side stand makes the bike lean to such an uncomfortable angle, that one would surely hesitate to do so, more so with luggage strapped.
- At 196 kgs, it’s not a light bike at all. Moreover, with a 17 litre fuel tank, it becomes top-heavy especially when filled up. No doubt it’s nimble on the move, but moving it around in a parking lot and in tight spaces, it takes time to get used to the weight.
- The handlebar is wide and spacious. But the height for my 5’9″ frame was slightly low for saddling, a set of riders should do the magic.
- The fuel gauge has a mind of its own. Up to 250 kms it shows full five bars and suddenly drops to one bar within the next 50 kms.
Now the good points:-
- The engine is a gem despite all the clutter issues. The low end is not impressive, but the way it revs all the way to the redline is fantastic.
- The engine vibes or buzz whatever you may name it are not that prominent in the rev range that you would normally use 90% of the time. On a normal day, it won’t leave u with post ride tingling sensation.
- The bike is a mile muncher. It can easily cruise at 100-110 the whole day without breaking a sweat. In fact, it kept up comfortably with the other bike, a BMW GS 850.
- The ergonomics are spot on. Everything seems to fall in place once astride.
- The height gives you a commanding position, though you actually sit on the bike and not atop it.
- The suspension is the most wonderful thing that has happened to the new Himalayan. Though nonadjustable, its pre-settings work like a charm. You just stand on the pegs and the bike sails over anything.
- The seat cushioning is just perfect. Even after 11 hours on the saddle, it doesn’t give you a sore feeling. Short breaks of 2-3 minutes every 1-1.5 hours also aided to the relief.
- Also, the size of the seat is quite large and allows you to shift around on long stretches.
- A huge tank of 17 litres (taking 15 as usable) and mileage of around 28 in a mix of all riding conditions, it gives you around 400-420 kms range on a tankful which is sufficient in any corner of our country.
- The fuel efficiency is a positive aspect I would say. It gave a min of 27/28 when ridden hard at speeds of 110+ kmph, but min 31/32 at 80-90 kmph which I would say is pretty impressive.
- The heat management in the bike is pretty good. Even after riding at crawling speeds through slush for almost 2-3 kms at a stretch, the fan did come on only twice. Maybe the ambient temperature helped, but still, it’s impressive.
- The weight is a negative at standstill, but on the move, it helps the bike stick to the road and minimizes the cross-wind effect also.
- Despite the weight, it’s quite nimble in city traffic and can serve as your daily commute to the office with a pinch of salt.
- The brakes are a 200% improvement from the previous Himalayan and the bite, especially front inspires a lot of confidence.
- The ABS works well on highways and on a couple of occasions, did what it was supposed to without fuss.
- The stock CEAT tyres did their job well. No major complaints, though something a little more grippier on wet surfaces would have been better.
Overall, I’m happy as an owner of one of the first (December 2023) lot bikes.
No major issues till now and hope it remains that way.
Sharing a couple of photographs from the ride.
You may read the detailed travelogue on my journey through Arunachal Pradesh here (Exploring Arunachal Pradesh on my Royal Enfield Himalayan 450).
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
