BHPian charade recently shared this with other enthusiasts: Hi folks, I’ve been lurking on this Himalayan thread for a while now. And, well… life has finally cornered me. Two young kids, a career that’s moving slower than my metabolism, and a waistline that’s expanding faster than my ambitions. Classic mid-life crisis. And to top it off, my once-faithful Thunderbird 350 (2013) has started giving up on me-clearly joining the rebellion. Anyway, moving from existential dread to something more grounded: motorcycles. Over the past few years, my bike has been my primary ride. I mostly work from home, traveling to another city for a week each month. The rest of the time, the bike’s doing dad-duty-school runs, errand hopping, grocery hauls… all within a 5 km radius. Around 70 km a week, give or take. Now, it’s been at least eight years since I did a proper long ride. So, if I looked at this purely rationally, a basic scooter would more than suffice. But-cue dramatic music and internal screaming-yeh dil maange more. I just can’t bring myself to downgrade from the Thunderbird. There’s a yearning to get back on the saddle for at least a few rides every year. I even joined a society riders’ WhatsApp group last year. But I’ve been too wary of taking the old T’bird for a long spin-too many doubts about its reliability. And not without reason. In the last 9 months alone, I’ve been stranded four times-everything from carb choke to random electrical tantrums. To make matters worse (read: more emotionally scarring), my son was with me during most of these breakdowns. He didn’t say anything, but the shame of being “that dad” whose bike needs CPR on the roadside-it stings. So, in a textbook case of treating a chronic issue (mid-life crisis) with topical relief (buying a motorcycle), I started bingeing on Team-BHP threads. Here’s what I’m looking for: 1. Something that feels like an upgrade from the Thunderbird 2. Can handle city commutes AND the occasional long ride 3. Doesn’t need me to sell a kidney – budget around 4L, can stretch 25% in case of irresistible temptation With those in mind, I’d pretty much zeroed in on the Himalayan 450. On paper, it checks a lot of boxes. But a few doubts continue to buzz at the back of my balding head: Ride comfort: The T’bird is incredibly comfy with its laid-back stance. Can the Himalayan match that for longer rides? Vibrations: A few reviews mention Himalayan vibes being a buzzkill (pun intended). But coming from the old UCE, maybe it won’t bother me? Height & Maneuverability: I’m 5’6″, 70 kg. I can flat-foot about 70% on the Thunderbird and don’t struggle with the main stand. But will the Himalayan’s size and height become a pain in traffic? City Riding: I ride mostly in urban chaos. The T’bird is a handful but I’ve gotten used to it. Not sure if the Himalayan makes life easier or harder here. Then came the Bear 650-a dark horse I stumbled upon on the RE website. Not love at first sight, but like a good 90s ballad, it’s been growing on me. Reminds me of my college-days RX135. Nostalgia is real, and so is the temptation. Bear 650 vs Himalayan: My confused comparison Pros of the Bear 650: Parallel twin engine – refined, torquey, and makes the jump from a 350 UCE feel like a true leap Feels lighter and possibly easier for city pottering Cons vs Himalayan: Long-distance comfort? No idea. That fuel tank, or should I say flask-I’m used to the 20L on my T’bird with its 700+ km range. Even the Himalayan feels like a downgrade here. The Bear is… tragic. Suspension: The Himalayan is known for its plush setup. The T’bird isn’t, and I’m not sure where the Bear fits on this scale. So here I am, caught in a whirlpool of emotions, nostalgia, practicality, and existential dread. Open to thoughts, especially from those who’ve successfully emerged from (or embraced) the other side of a mid-life crisis. Much appreciated, The Guy Whose Bike Breaks Down with His Kid on Board Here’s what BHPian VijayAnand1 replied:Cutting it to chase, if comfort is your priority, sincerely stay away from Bear, it will over time add salt to your wounds aggravating your mid-life crisis even further. On the other end of the spectrum, the Himalayan is sincerely a do it all bike. The bike is not vibe free, the bike does have its fair share of RE tantrums, but it’s much much away from being a dismally scary REs of the yore. At 5’7 you can easily manage the RE450 provided its short turning radius gets a little getting used to, along with its weight. On the move, it handles really well for a hefty bike. I would say, the tubeless version of the RE450 is simply a best bet and well, what gives, it would definitely be more than a topical relief for the average weekend warrior. Good luck Cheers! VJHere’s what BHPian rich_heart replied:Similar story here but slight variation! TBTS is 2009 model and kids still young I blindly bought H450 on day 1 of launch, as I had been following it for quite a while. I am 5′-8″ and I stand on half foot on H450. H450 is buzzy but TBTS guys will feel it butter smooth. Considering your height, I suggest pamper yourself with Guerrilla. It would tick lot of your boxes. For long rides there might be scope for slight changes in stance which might make comfortable. I am not sure but the 450 engine is a tasty treatCheck out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
