I really admire the work that you did in this investigation, and I'm really excited waiting for the Scrambler 400 X review. Thanks a lot for your hard work!
I just noticed that the personality of MOST buyers/owners of Himalayan are not loud. Just like the bike, they prefer to ride and enjoy the scenery, but are equally capable on tough roads if needed to get to their destination. 🍺👍
I suppose it depends from region to region. Here in India from where the company is (now). RE owners are super proud and will DOG on any other bike brand :) So, it's situational. Of course this isn't all RE owners but I can say 80-90% owners.
@@yohaan9 and vice versa i guess,i guess people will throw hate at re no matter what,vibration,no vibration,uses the same engine,doesn't use the same engine,looks retro,doesn't look retro. the ceo must be under pressure all the time 😂😂😂
@@vkrishna0612 aare people will always hate. Fact is their 650's are really good bikes and the new 450 engine is good too. I'm wondering if the 350 engine will be replaced by the 450. RE fanbase is toxic lekin. Sadly :(
@@yohaan9 not just re fan base, re haters too 😂, every other country seems to love the whole re line up, but our country hates that they use the same engine. just because re is open about.
bro, it's my dream bike wanna get one as soon as i can I'm 22 year old from gujrat, India, wann explore whole mother indian with this beast, it's a dream for me.
I am from India, Bought my first bike (Himalayan 450) ever 4 months ago. In love with it man, its beautiful. Like you said that bike spoke to me and sometimes you listen to your heart and not the specifications.
Man, you cover so much details. From when I was still a 450MT fanboy downloading Chinese reviews from Bilibili, downloading both owner's manual PDFs, to seeing and loving the clean kaza brown Himmy and searching for every issue the Indians have in different forums! When I first get the Himmy out of its stand on the MotoMakinaShow, I thought I will live with this, I love the bike anyways. After 2 months, it's an advantage to stand the bike on an incline and offroad. I hope to push myself to better write and tell stories like you!
I've watched so many videos that break these bikes down, but no one has been so detailed and honest in their review. Hats off to you, great great work!!!
Thanks Aaron, great review. I think you covered most if not all of the items that are pertinent. I'm an experienced but older rider 5'10", 178cm, and have owned 8 motorcycles from 1973 until last year. I like the idea of the 450MT based on its price, reasonably low weight and ADV chops, not perfect for on-road or off, but capable at both. I will use it for local routes in the mountains and deserts of the SW USA and for a long trip I plan to Ushuaia. I think this will be the best bike for me. CFMoto is pretty common in Latin America and the USA due to all the CFMoto ATV dealers. I prefer the twin power plants over the thumpers as the vibes bother my arthritic wrists. I'm excited to finally test drive one in a couple of weeks (late in coming here). Great English as well... salamat, love your beautiful country and friendly people
I have owned over 60 motorcycles and watched countless videos of new motorcycles. I loved your description of the rides that handling and features of the motorcycles. I think this video was perfect for me to understand the different motorcycles that you’ve tested. And I am speaking after having bought and ridden so many different motorcycles. I can appreciate your detailed description of your viewpoints. Thank you for a great video!
We've been waiting sooo long for someone to give a proper comprehensive review. Thank you for this one. Wonderful point. I love the way you do these reviews.
I was talking to Engineer brother about this and we both agreed we would go for the Enfield. They have been making bikes forever and even the old bad Enfield's had unmatched durability. I would trust Royal Enfield to build a bike that will last.
Got 1300 km on my MT450 here in Poland. Got unlucky and my clutch lever was delivered without the pivot bushing. Replaced in 5 days, so that is ok. The biggest compliment for me of my MT450 is the short final gearing. At that 125 kmh the motor spins at 7000 on a motor with 8500 red line. Don't like that at all, there is plenty of power for taller 5th and 6th gear. The fueling off idle is shit (let's be honest here). The ecu needs a good, clean tune. Skid plate is paper thin. I am 178 cm and 75 kgs. I soften the front, increased the preload out back a bit. Feels good now, but the front is "firm". Rest of the bike is very good. All the little features, all the little adjustments I was able to do with stock parts, so nice. Again, you do a very nice job with your vids. I hope you become a big success. Thx .
This is how you do a comparison video. A lot of youtubers could learn a great deal from this. I highly commend your work and think this one of the best comparison videos on UA-cam period! Great work and God bless. 👍🏿
Aaron, I wish I had found your videos earlier. I love your "honest" opinions and openness about your choice of bike. You weren't trying to sell me on anything. I'm a new fan of yours.
Good analyse, I went with the Himalayan, then the MT was released at the same price here in Au. The 270deg twin, dual balancer was something I have been hoping for, but I think the 452 is the right choice for the travels & roads I hope to do over the next few years, while I still can. Time will tell, but hay I don't think either would be a bad choice. Cheers
First of all sorry for my broken English. And my opinion, RE Himalayan 450 is the best except the offroad experience. I’ve rode it, for me the power a bit more than expected, manage to put a big smile on my face along my 304km journey, the suspension setup something that we need to address, bring above-average level of comfort yet you still can bring it to the winding road, attacking the corners, and this bike will bring another smile, maybe on your eyes, because you mouth already smile earlier when you got on this bike earlier. P/s : i’ve never rode CF 450MT, and i will never try to do so because of my love towards Himalayan 450 😂😂😂
My 2022 Himalayan 411 will be a forever bike for me. I love simple. I want a Triumph 400s for fun around town and will end up getting a Can-Am Spyder so my wife and I can ride comfortably together on long trips.
Motorcycle rider for 20+ years. Here is the deal. These bikes are not the bloated overweight and unnecessary overpowered money pit, battle ships, like the Tiger 900, IBEX, or GS. They are nimble, tough, relatively simple construction. Easy to ride, especially in the dirt. They are NOT beginner bikes..far from if you ride it how they are intended. Their weight is all on top, which makes them top heavy and unbalance...but for a good reason. Learn how to handle the top heavy nature of these bikes and you have a great class of motorcycle in the stable. Thanks!
Great video! Great assessments and perspectives as well as fun and entertaining. I sat through the whole 31 minutes! Congrats! Keep up the good work/videos!👍💯
I've been searching out all the scrambler videos I can find on YT (in all classes - 400, 900 & 1200). This has been the most engaging by far. Thank you. New subscriber here. (I'm still confused af as to what to get for my next bike).
I actually find the Scrambler 400X more engaging to ride than the Scrambler 900, hehe. Scrambler 900 has very long gears so a totally different character, very smooth, refined, and relaxed. Better on the open road for sure, but not as fun elsewhere.
I've got the 1200XE and it's a big, tall and heavy bike. It's great for open road touring and a bit of gravel but would be hopeless in countries with bad roads and lots of congestion. It's also a bit big for riding round town, I love mine but it depends where you will be riding, your skill level and your own height. I always think the best thing to do is narrow your search down and go for a ride on each then buy the one that puts the biggest smile on your face. It usually stands out.
Excellent review sir. Thank you. The CF Moto looks interesting to me but I’ll stick with my little Kawasaki 400 because it’s cheap. And it only took me 3 gallons to get to Yosemite from Concord California. I’m not blown away from the performance, but I’m blown away by the fuel efficiency.
Excellent review and I agree with almost all your comments! I've got my eye on the Himy especially that Black and Gold. I've test ridden one and think it handles and performs beautifully for a 450 single, yes, a few footrest vibes but not an issue for me who grew up on British singles. I think both the Triumph 400s look top quality but the Himy is 'more' bike and I like the nakedness too. The CF is too modern looking for me and it's a single I'm after with a longish stroke. If I do take the plunge, the Himy will replace my Hunter 350 which is also a great little bike! I've subscribed so will look forward to your next review on the Himy. All the best, Phil (UK)
Excellent review; the ‘has short legs, but wants to show you how fast it can run,’ comment, put a smile on my face. As a Ducati XDiavel S owner, my dream bike is a Honda X-ADV scooter.
Great job doing this review. I'm also torn between the Himi and the MT. However because I'll be using the bike as a commuter, I'm leaning on the Himi as I've heard from some owners of the MT that they're getting a fuel consumption of only 17 kms per liter significantly lower than the Himi. I also like the bloodline of the Himi. Can't wait to purchase one. I'm just waiting it out for some of the kinks to be improved. Cheers. Ride safe.
To give some perspective, Honda Transalp and Suzuki 800DE give the mileage at around 20kmpl, which are also twin cylinder engines. So why does a MT450 give so less mileage while being lower in weight than Himmy450? If someone knows why please educate us all.
@@varun2250poor engine build and design probably, I watched a video about it from fortnine and the very worst ones were italian and chinese manufacturers, while the best ones were royal enfield and japanese ones.
Thank you for a thorough and balanced review. It was refreshing to hear That it’s OK to make a decision of the heart as well as the comparisons on the spec sheet. This video made me subscribe to your channel and I look forward to watching more.
That, my friend was an excellent presentation. I watched every bit of it, and rewatched many bits. I'm not going to be buying any of these, mostly because I'm too much of a cheapskate, and in part because I don't want to drag 430 lbs into the dirt. I still don't understand why a 250-350cc at 150 lbs less isn't the better choice. But this helped me understand that the Himalayan411 or 450 would be my choice when their used prices are down to my level closer to $2k. Thanks again, well done.
At 25:13...surprised at how much larger the MT looks...considerably larger than the other two! And the RE is much smaller than I thought it was! Thanks for putting them side by side.
Well done Aaron. I just tripped over channel and I too was faced with exactly the same decision. I have owned the, then new, RE650 Interceptor and the CFMOTO 800MT and still own a Triumph Thruxton R (as well as BMW's 1200/900s and Ducatis) so you can see I too had that dilemma! I ended up buying the RE450 without riding any of the above 450's so I really took a punt. I was swayed by that RE 'story' (I was in the press trade so attended a few launches) and the overall principle of simplicity. The biggest part of my decision was dealer backup and very poor resale for the CF which will obviously improve in the future.
Nice and fair review, I understand your choice. I chose the 400x, and after 4000 km every small ride is still just a lot of fun. I have done longer +500 km day trips, and while it´s very comfortable, the lack of wind protection and limited luggage capacity mean it´s certainly no adventure bike. The initial succes of the Triumph 400´s also cause issues with accessories and spare parts delivery, but for the same reason I expect lots of third party products to become available in the near future. The fun is not only for me, the looks and sound of the Scrambler puts a smile on peoples faces along the road as well :-)
Hi! I'm thinking about buying a scrambler 400x but I hesitate it cause the vibrations... are those uncomfortable? Or with what can you compare them? Thanks a lot!
@@MrTime851 The mirrors are vibrating at a certain highway speed (above 120 km or 75 miles an hour), but otherwise I am not bothered by vibrations - you can feel it´s a one cylinder engine, and that´s kind of charming. Anyway, I think you should try to get a test drive. BTW: Acceleration is nice until 130 km/h and my top speed is 150 km/h (showing 160 km/h on display), where the engine cuts off.
I have ridden my 400 X at highway speeds many times. 65 to 75 miles an hour. While I would agree, I would not want to be riding 75 all day on that bike. I have no problem with the mirrors even at highway speeds. Yes, there are a bit of vibrations, but nothing terrible. The pegs remain comfortable and I have not noticed any issues with the bike also, I did find an excellent windshield solution that I ordered from a third-party windshield maker. The Triumph windshield is just cosmetic and absolutely useless. However, the one I purchased for the 400 X with a small attachment on top makes the bike very comfortable at 55 to 60 miles an hour. The set up I have as you looking over the windshield not through it. It is high enough though to deflect most of the wind to the top of my helmet.
I looked at the 400x - but it seemed like it really didn't know what it wanted to be. Too dirt-ish for a street bike and too street-ish for a dirt bike. So I bought its alter ego - the Street 400 (which is a hoot). I wanted something for short day rides when I didn't want to dig out my Tiger Explorer 1200 or Guzzi V85TT. And I want a Himalayan for dirt road and dual track riding. The Triumph and Guzzi are just too heavy for me in my old age (coming up on 79 in a few weeks). My local dealer just dropped the 411's prices by $1000 U.S. - which makes them VERY tempting. But I think that I'll hold out until the 450 shows up. Great video and I appreciate your thoughts and insights.
You definitely put a lot of effort into this video, food for thought 👌 I'm intrigued by the Himy and 450MT, but I enjoy the off-road prowess of my 300 Rally and it has been flawless. Plenty of Honda dealers here in Aus. Royal Enfield dealers also. As for CF Moto, the nearest one to me is about 2 hours away...
Thank you for this wonderful review! I have booked the Scram 400x as my first bike. It will also be the only bike I will have(for city commutes, weekend rides and touring) . You are the only person Ive seen on YT choosing the Himalayan with a reason being other than "Its a Royal Enfield". Watching your video reassured me of my choice of going with Scram 400x. Thank you so much
Great video thanks for that. The choice now on makes and models compared to when I started in the mid eighties is amazing. I can't believe how little Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki feature these days. The Chinese are doing what the Japanese did in the 70's. Thumping the old brands.
Thank you. Best review I have seen covering these 3 bikes, and I have watched plenty! The bike I chose was the Himalayan 450 and with just over 1000km now run on this bike I think it was a great choice with many significant improvements on my old 411. The side stand is definitely an issue - I have extended mine 35mm which has been a big improvement. I can't understand how RE got that so wrong. Have yet to take it off road but I feel confident it will perform well with all the improvements in suspension, braking and power delivery.
The side stand had to be like that due to center stand offered in himmy which others don't so it make it go to an angle to fit it other wise it will collide with center stand.
@@hdslytro387 Yes, the extension I have made to my side stand now makes it contact the center stand when both are retracted however I now find the bike much easier to get upright from when it is resting on its side stand. I still feel it is a design element that RE could have resolved without too much effort.
Excellent review, thank you. The CF is not widely available in the UK for a test at present, but I've tried the other two, and your assessment is 100% accurate: I found myself nodding along with your comments frequently. Good luck with the Himi - I'm a rider of similar height, but will be waiting for a lowering kit to become available before I place my order.
Thx for this video my friend! So, I have not been riding long, only 4 years now, and soon we will live in Portugal. So this asks for an adventure bike. I’ve been watching countless about adventure riding and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s best to start small. I’m going to test ride the Himalayan 450, the CF moto 450MT and the Honda NX500. But if you would ask me now, yeah definitely the Himalayan! I don’t even own one yet and it’s already telling me to go on an adventure! What an awesome looking bike!
I'm Watching your videos from the northwest region of the United States. Your videos are amazing and very well detailed. They are far more detailed than a lot of the moto vloggers in the US.
First time visiting your channel and I subscribed. Educational, well thought out and clearly communicated. I can’t stand videos of someone riding while they spew numbers inside their helmet, giving us bad audio and video. All of your video clips were of the bikes you were comparing. I’m not a spec sheet warrior by any means but I found you to be entertaining. Thank you.
Really great review!!! I own a 411 Himalayan and moving from the UK to Australia, so selling up. I've test ridden the 450MT and I agree with everything you say about the bike. I do think that the suspension setup on the MT would potentially solve some of the handling issues, and I think people are reporting better fuel economy than what the spec says. Anyway, for me, the Himalayan is a massive disappointment and isn't the bike I wanted them to make. Too many compromises.
Thanks for this informative video. I would drop the front forks on the MT about 20mm through the yolks to improve the front end feel especially if the rear suspension lowering option on the shock position is used.
This is a brilliant comparison video. The contrast and depth of comparison between the bikes is brilliant and much of which is something i’ve contemplated myself. I have a 400X and love it. having recently completed some off road adventure trials with it i’ve realised how good it is, albeit shown up it’s shortfalls along the way ( albeit minor) and have found myself pulled toward the 450MT as a result. The irony is that now i have the 400x it’s gotten under my skin and for not too much money in upgrades, it could be nearly as much by comparison to change it to a 450MT to get those off road gains. It’s of course a compromise no matter how you look at it, but with a Triumph dealer on my doorstep, it also helps with the buying decisions. Engine Performance wise they’re quite similar so as you say, ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. Think im just going to have to ride one and see. Ironically, i thought the 450MT being bigger would better suit my taller physique but the scrambler seat height is already higher than the others! 😅😂 and so the comparison paradox continues… Great video. 👍🏻👌🏻😎
Excellent review, very impressed with all the topics covered in 30 mins. It's obvious we would all be happy with a 400cc at this price. Manufactures 'appear' to be listening to their customers. I've ordered a MT-450 spares distribution covered by KTM and with a 4 year warranty here in Ireland I felt I couldn't go wrong. Thanks for your review and thoughts. Adrian
Absolutely amazing review / comparison!! Love that you compared these three. Also some of the most comprehensive information I've seen anywhere online, bravo!
In India CF Moto came in with a big bang, but fell flat on its face when compared with KTM, Royal enfield, Bajaj, triumph. CF Moto engines are incredibly bad , after about 10,000 kms they are not the same as above mentioned good brands, C. Moto is a Chinese company which pays more attention to profits, compare to quality. I KNOW ALL THIS BECAUSE I HAVE OWNED CF MOTO 650MT AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP AT 2595 KMS, AFTER ONE YEAR LONG LEGAL BATTLE COURT RULED IN MY FAVOUR AND I WAS RETURNED EVERY SINGLE PENNY. Later, I purchased Royal Enfield interceptor 650 And 79,560 kms in 3.2 years later it’s still running like new.
that's because you shouldn't buy a 650mt, which is a model that is infamous, and every brand has it's infamous models, even honda. you should try out the 800mt or models containing the 450 engine, which is designed 100% by CFmoto and has won tons of fans.
Great! The most useful review of bikes I want to know about. I would like, with adventure and dual sport, to see videos of riding increasingly more extreme offroad trails (singletrack?) and seeing what terrain gives significant problem or failure with riding it.
Wow! I happen to stumble onto this channel. Aaron, thank you for this balanced and insightful comparison review. I am now subscribed and will check out all your other videos posted.
Excellent review. Thank you! I am 67 long time experienced rider. Like many after owning a couple 1200 ADV bikes... went lighter and now own 2022 KTM 390 ADV. So much more enjoyable to push around the garage and for my use, does everything well on road and off alone without the concern of “if dropped” can I pick it up? So often I buy a bike and say “this is it, the perfect do it all bike” ... here I am again as new better small displacement ADV bikes keep coming out saying.... is there a better one out there than my 390? Waiting to see all 3 at my local dealers in Texas so I can decide for myself. Great Review and certainly very helpful. Thank you again,
Can't wait for next year until the new 390 Adventure of KTM comes out to do a comparo with the MT and Himy. Hope you also include ease of basic maintenance for owners like oil change, checking the spark plug, battery changes etc.
A very thorough comparison, reminds of the kind of detail you would get from a bgrockmoto review. Especially the addition of a spreadsheetm really impressive!
Wonderful video! On paper and reviews I keep thinking I should go the 450MT (or Ibex 450 as they call here in my area), but I look at the Himmy 450 and I just love it. And since I'm newly getting into the whole adv thing, I feel like it just sounds the most balanced for my style. Either way, I plan to see each one in person once they arrive here to be sure, but I sure love the Himmy styling more. 🙂
I appreciate your statement, "no longer the right bike for me." The bikes out there are continually changing, just as your needs, skills, and desires change, so I'm kind of learning that I need to modify my concepts of a "forever bike."
Awesome review. We are a new channel and we just tested the 450MT (which will come out tomorrow) and we agree to all your points throughout, but the way you deliver it is so articulate. We learned a lot from you and your video and we’ll definitely use that on our next content. ❤❤❤
Great review ! I could see that the Himalayan was well balanced on the jump compared to the MT450, I was personally disappointed of the heat of the engine of the MT450 under the tropical weather of Bali, unbearable heat on the MT450 with the low seat, the Himalayan is better built for tropic, didn't had any issues, I still have to try the MT450 with high seat to see if it can solve that problem. I own a CB500X and so far, these bikes are just as capable as mine. But I was seduced by the Himalayan 😍
Thank you. Probably all the same reasons I want to buy the Himi over the other two. I already have a Hunter as my daily commuter but Himi will let me explore more. 😊
The longer I look at it, the more I like the Himie. I think it's one of the best looking bikes currently on sale, and it's one of the best looking bike in many years as well. Royal Enfield did very right when designing the bugger! 🤗
Great vid as always bro! Just wanted to correct the fuel consumption on the mt. Been getting at least 25kml on mixed city, hiway, trail, traffic back on the stock 14t sprocket. Now on the 15t (which is only a very cheap $20 upgrade), not only am I getting 28kms per liter, it also solved the jerkiness of the 1st/2nd gear. Some guys on fb are even reporting 31kms per liter 🙂 welcome back to the dirt side and ride tayo soon!
An outstandingly complete comparison! I'd be interested to know how a larger windshield would affect the light front end of the CFmoto at highway speeds.
Je vous remercie pour votre analyse, j'ai testé l’Himalayan 450 que sur la route et je l'ai trouvée très agréable, j'attends de pouvoir tester la CF moto 450mt dans les mêmes conditions, cela me permettra de faire le choix de la moto qui tiendra compagnie à ma moto guzzi v85tt. Grand ✌ de la Haute Savoie en France.
I watched a video yesterday, the lead designer for the 450 RE said the lean was due to changes in the suspension geometry after the rest of the bike geometry had been decided.
Bought the new Himalayan back here in India, riding with after market accessories(MOTOTORQUE), havent faced any problems yet completed 1500kms and first service, if you plan to get after market accessories make sure you are Bolting the bolts at right torque specs, and yeah there are vibes that I feel, but I dont mind them as they are just fine not much to be worried about, the engine has this kinda raspy character which you cant say is rough but kinda smooth raspy not sure what I am saying at this point difficult to explain, I like it though, enjoying it!!!!
The Triumph Scrambler for me...just a better fit for the riding I do. I am holding off though to see if Royal Enfield can deliver an excellent scrambler with the 450 engine. I would be very happy if RE could simply put the 450 engine in the Scram 411. Thank you for the long and thorough analysis of these three bike.
Check the description for links to the comparo spreadsheet and all the videos mentioned in this review! Thanks for watching.
thanks for spreadsheet 👍
I really admire the work that you did in this investigation, and I'm really excited waiting for the Scrambler 400 X review.
Thanks a lot for your hard work!
@@Ride_XP Thank you for all the work and great video production.
The Triumph benefits greatly from the increase to a 15t front sprocket as out the box its under geared
I just noticed that the personality of MOST buyers/owners of Himalayan are not loud. Just like the bike, they prefer to ride and enjoy the scenery, but are equally capable on tough roads if needed to get to their destination. 🍺👍
👍 I got a meteor 350cc. Don't want the new himmy. A 411 will do fine . Looks nicer ❤
I suppose it depends from region to region. Here in India from where the company is (now). RE owners are super proud and will DOG on any other bike brand :)
So, it's situational. Of course this isn't all RE owners but I can say 80-90% owners.
@@yohaan9 and vice versa i guess,i guess people will throw hate at re no matter what,vibration,no vibration,uses the same engine,doesn't use the same engine,looks retro,doesn't look retro. the ceo must be under pressure all the time 😂😂😂
@@vkrishna0612 aare people will always hate. Fact is their 650's are really good bikes and the new 450 engine is good too. I'm wondering if the 350 engine will be replaced by the 450.
RE fanbase is toxic lekin. Sadly :(
@@yohaan9 not just re fan base, re haters too 😂, every other country seems to love the whole re line up, but our country hates that they use the same engine. just because re is open about.
As an owner of himalayan 450, this motorcycle will surely get into your heart.
Ansioso pela chegada dela no Brasil 🇧🇷. Tive uma 411
@@motoeoffroadtb estou na espera. Demorando demais pra lançar aqui
@@ademarmneto e só sobra pra nós ver vídeo gringo sem saber oque tão falando 😂
Bestttt bessttt and the best , you feel it when u own one.✅
bro, it's my dream bike wanna get one as soon as i can I'm 22 year old from gujrat, India, wann explore whole mother indian with this beast, it's a dream for me.
Rarely do I comment, but I just wanted to say this is probably one of the BEST comparisons I have seen..
Was going to comment the same, to me it is the best one I've seen, awsome job.
I am from India, Bought my first bike (Himalayan 450) ever 4 months ago. In love with it man, its beautiful. Like you said that bike spoke to me and sometimes you listen to your heart and not the specifications.
Ansioso pela chegada dela no Brasil 🇧🇷. Tive uma 411
Man, you cover so much details. From when I was still a 450MT fanboy downloading Chinese reviews from Bilibili, downloading both owner's manual PDFs, to seeing and loving the clean kaza brown Himmy and searching for every issue the Indians have in different forums! When I first get the Himmy out of its stand on the MotoMakinaShow, I thought I will live with this, I love the bike anyways. After 2 months, it's an advantage to stand the bike on an incline and offroad. I hope to push myself to better write and tell stories like you!
Ey bro! Been watching your videos as well. Love that Kaza Brown. Appreciate your input as an early Himmy 450 owner.
I've watched so many videos that break these bikes down, but no one has been so detailed and honest in their review. Hats off to you, great great work!!!
Thanks Aaron, great review. I think you covered most if not all of the items that are pertinent. I'm an experienced but older rider 5'10", 178cm, and have owned 8 motorcycles from 1973 until last year. I like the idea of the 450MT based on its price, reasonably low weight and ADV chops, not perfect for on-road or off, but capable at both. I will use it for local routes in the mountains and deserts of the SW USA and for a long trip I plan to Ushuaia. I think this will be the best bike for me. CFMoto is pretty common in Latin America and the USA due to all the CFMoto ATV dealers. I prefer the twin power plants over the thumpers as the vibes bother my arthritic wrists. I'm excited to finally test drive one in a couple of weeks (late in coming here). Great English as well... salamat, love your beautiful country and friendly people
Royal enfield is actually even more common than CFMoto in the Americas.
These 31 minutes of review were filled of super useful information without any dead spots. Super video. Cheers from Italy
I have owned over 60 motorcycles and watched countless videos of new motorcycles. I loved your description of the rides that handling and features of the motorcycles. I think this video was perfect for me to understand the different motorcycles that you’ve tested. And I am speaking after having bought and ridden so many different motorcycles. I can appreciate your detailed description of your viewpoints. Thank you for a great video!
@@joplin777 Thanks for letting me know!
We've been waiting sooo long for someone to give a proper comprehensive review. Thank you for this one. Wonderful point. I love the way you do these reviews.
I was talking to Engineer brother about this and we both agreed we would go for the Enfield. They have been making bikes forever and even the old bad Enfield's had unmatched durability. I would trust Royal Enfield to build a bike that will last.
By a country mile, the best comparison of these bikes that I've seen so far - thank you!
Thank you. I really like the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450.
Got 1300 km on my MT450 here in Poland. Got unlucky and my clutch lever was delivered without the pivot bushing. Replaced in 5 days, so that is ok.
The biggest compliment for me of my MT450 is the short final gearing. At that 125 kmh the motor spins at 7000 on a motor with 8500 red line. Don't like that at all, there is plenty of power for taller 5th and 6th gear.
The fueling off idle is shit (let's be honest here). The ecu needs a good, clean tune.
Skid plate is paper thin.
I am 178 cm and 75 kgs. I soften the front, increased the preload out back a bit. Feels good now, but the front is "firm".
Rest of the bike is very good. All the little features, all the little adjustments I was able to do with stock parts, so nice.
Again, you do a very nice job with your vids. I hope you become a big success. Thx .
Please update after 3-4000 kms.
Creo que me acabo de decidir por la GRAN HIMALAYAN 450 .. GRAN VIDEO Y ANALISIS .. SALUDOS DESDE MÉXICO 🇲🇽
Ok, i have watch approx. 452 reviews/comparisons you are simply the best - from objective-analytical to philosophical! GREAT!
This is how you do a comparison video. A lot of youtubers could learn a great deal from this. I highly commend your work and think this one of the best comparison videos on UA-cam period!
Great work and God bless. 👍🏿
Aaron, I wish I had found your videos earlier. I love your "honest" opinions and openness about your choice of bike. You weren't trying to sell me on anything. I'm a new fan of yours.
Good analyse, I went with the Himalayan, then the MT was released at the same price here in Au. The 270deg twin, dual balancer was something I have been hoping for, but I think the 452 is the right choice for the travels & roads I hope to do over the next few years, while I still can. Time will tell, but hay I don't think either would be a bad choice. Cheers
First of all sorry for my broken English.
And my opinion, RE Himalayan 450 is the best except the offroad experience. I’ve rode it, for me the power a bit more than expected, manage to put a big smile on my face along my 304km journey, the suspension setup something that we need to address, bring above-average level of comfort yet you still can bring it to the winding road, attacking the corners, and this bike will bring another smile, maybe on your eyes, because you mouth already smile earlier when you got on this bike earlier.
P/s : i’ve never rode CF 450MT, and i will never try to do so because of my love towards Himalayan 450 😂😂😂
My 2022 Himalayan 411 will be a forever bike for me. I love simple. I want a Triumph 400s for fun around town and will end up getting a Can-Am Spyder so my wife and I can ride comfortably together on long trips.
Motorcycle rider for 20+ years. Here is the deal. These bikes are not the bloated overweight and unnecessary overpowered money pit, battle ships, like the Tiger 900, IBEX, or GS. They are nimble, tough, relatively simple construction. Easy to ride, especially in the dirt. They are NOT beginner bikes..far from if you ride it how they are intended. Their weight is all on top, which makes them top heavy and unbalance...but for a good reason. Learn how to handle the top heavy nature of these bikes and you have a great class of motorcycle in the stable. Thanks!
Wym they are not beginner bike lmao they are perfectly alright for a beginner bike
@@AswathReacher just keep reading past that point ....
It's OVERWHELMING under powered for Americans' roads, especially in the mid west, where people drive 100 mph, with steep mountain inclines
But it perfectly for Asian and European countries where it's clustered and everything is just smaller
Mountains in the mid-west?? Lol@@funyun
I came here expecting the Royal Enfield to win hands down. I stayed for the well put together content. Subscribed.
That's how every motorcycle review should look like, great job!
Great video! Great assessments and perspectives as well as fun and entertaining. I sat through the whole 31 minutes! Congrats! Keep up the good work/videos!👍💯
I've been searching out all the scrambler videos I can find on YT (in all classes - 400, 900 & 1200). This has been the most engaging by far. Thank you. New subscriber here. (I'm still confused af as to what to get for my next bike).
I actually find the Scrambler 400X more engaging to ride than the Scrambler 900, hehe. Scrambler 900 has very long gears so a totally different character, very smooth, refined, and relaxed. Better on the open road for sure, but not as fun elsewhere.
I've got the 1200XE and it's a big, tall and heavy bike. It's great for open road touring and a bit of gravel but would be hopeless in countries with bad roads and lots of congestion. It's also a bit big for riding round town, I love mine but it depends where you will be riding, your skill level and your own height. I always think the best thing to do is narrow your search down and go for a ride on each then buy the one that puts the biggest smile on your face. It usually stands out.
Excellent review sir. Thank you. The CF Moto looks interesting to me but I’ll stick with my little Kawasaki 400 because it’s cheap. And it only took me 3 gallons to get to Yosemite from Concord California. I’m not blown away from the performance, but I’m blown away by the fuel efficiency.
Excellent review and I agree with almost all your comments! I've got my eye on the Himy especially that Black and Gold. I've test ridden one and think it handles and performs beautifully for a 450 single, yes, a few footrest vibes but not an issue for me who grew up on British singles. I think both the Triumph 400s look top quality but the Himy is 'more' bike and I like the nakedness too. The CF is too modern looking for me and it's a single I'm after with a longish stroke. If I do take the plunge, the Himy will replace my Hunter 350 which is also a great little bike! I've subscribed so will look forward to your next review on the Himy. All the best, Phil (UK)
Teary eyed when you finally said the Himalayan 450. This is my sign to own one. Great video po!
Excellent review; the ‘has short legs, but wants to show you how fast it can run,’ comment, put a smile on my face. As a Ducati XDiavel S owner, my dream bike is a Honda X-ADV scooter.
Great job doing this review. I'm also torn between the Himi and the MT. However because I'll be using the bike as a commuter, I'm leaning on the Himi as I've heard from some owners of the MT that they're getting a fuel consumption of only 17 kms per liter significantly lower than the Himi. I also like the bloodline of the Himi. Can't wait to purchase one. I'm just waiting it out for some of the kinks to be improved. Cheers. Ride safe.
To give some perspective, Honda Transalp and Suzuki 800DE give the mileage at around 20kmpl, which are also twin cylinder engines.
So why does a MT450 give so less mileage while being lower in weight than Himmy450? If someone knows why please educate us all.
@@varun2250poor engine build and design probably, I watched a video about it from fortnine and the very worst ones were italian and chinese manufacturers, while the best ones were royal enfield and japanese ones.
Excelent, really detailed, and pertinent review. Keep the good work man. Greetings from Colombia, South America.
Thank you for a thorough and balanced review. It was refreshing to hear That it’s OK to make a decision of the heart as well as the comparisons on the spec sheet. This video made me subscribe to your channel and I look forward to watching more.
That, my friend was an excellent presentation. I watched every bit of it, and rewatched many bits. I'm not going to be buying any of these, mostly because I'm too much of a cheapskate, and in part because I don't want to drag 430 lbs into the dirt. I still don't understand why a 250-350cc at 150 lbs less isn't the better choice. But this helped me understand that the Himalayan411 or 450 would be my choice when their used prices are down to my level closer to $2k. Thanks again, well done.
dude I've been waiting for so long for you to review the scrambler 400x, great video man!
At 25:13...surprised at how much larger the MT looks...considerably larger than the other two! And the RE is much smaller than I thought it was! Thanks for putting them side by side.
Well done Aaron. I just tripped over channel and I too was faced with exactly the same decision. I have owned the, then new, RE650 Interceptor and the CFMOTO 800MT and still own a Triumph Thruxton R (as well as BMW's 1200/900s and Ducatis) so you can see I too had that dilemma! I ended up buying the RE450 without riding any of the above 450's so I really took a punt. I was swayed by that RE 'story' (I was in the press trade so attended a few launches) and the overall principle of simplicity. The biggest part of my decision was dealer backup and very poor resale for the CF which will obviously improve in the future.
So are you happy with your RE450 or not?
Nice and fair review, I understand your choice. I chose the 400x, and after 4000 km every small ride is still just a lot of fun. I have done longer +500 km day trips, and while it´s very comfortable, the lack of wind protection and limited luggage capacity mean it´s certainly no adventure bike. The initial succes of the Triumph 400´s also cause issues with accessories and spare parts delivery, but for the same reason I expect lots of third party products to become available in the near future. The fun is not only for me, the looks and sound of the Scrambler puts a smile on peoples faces along the road as well :-)
Hi! I'm thinking about buying a scrambler 400x but I hesitate it cause the vibrations... are those uncomfortable? Or with what can you compare them?
Thanks a lot!
@@MrTime851 The mirrors are vibrating at a certain highway speed (above 120 km or 75 miles an hour), but otherwise I am not bothered by vibrations - you can feel it´s a one cylinder engine, and that´s kind of charming. Anyway, I think you should try to get a test drive.
BTW: Acceleration is nice until 130 km/h and my top speed is 150 km/h (showing 160 km/h on display), where the engine cuts off.
I have ridden my 400 X at highway speeds many times. 65 to 75 miles an hour. While I would agree, I would not want to be riding 75 all day on that bike. I have no problem with the mirrors even at highway speeds. Yes, there are a bit of vibrations, but nothing terrible. The pegs remain comfortable and I have not noticed any issues with the bike also, I did find an excellent windshield solution that I ordered from a third-party windshield maker. The Triumph windshield is just cosmetic and absolutely useless. However, the one I purchased for the 400 X with a small attachment on top makes the bike very comfortable at 55 to 60 miles an hour. The set up I have as you looking over the windshield not through it. It is high enough though to deflect most of the wind to the top of my helmet.
Brilliant review and reasoning from a normal adventure rider’s perspective. Very well presented as well. Fab👍👍
I looked at the 400x - but it seemed like it really didn't know what it wanted to be. Too dirt-ish for a street bike and too street-ish for a dirt bike. So I bought its alter ego - the Street 400 (which is a hoot). I wanted something for short day rides when I didn't want to dig out my Tiger Explorer 1200 or Guzzi V85TT.
And I want a Himalayan for dirt road and dual track riding. The Triumph and Guzzi are just too heavy for me in my old age (coming up on 79 in a few weeks). My local dealer just dropped the 411's prices by $1000 U.S. - which makes them VERY tempting. But I think that I'll hold out until the 450 shows up.
Great video and I appreciate your thoughts and insights.
You definitely put a lot of effort into this video, food for thought 👌
I'm intrigued by the Himy and 450MT, but I enjoy the off-road prowess of my 300 Rally and it has been flawless.
Plenty of Honda dealers here in Aus. Royal Enfield dealers also.
As for CF Moto, the nearest one to me is about 2 hours away...
I love your philosophy & attitude about 'bikes. Great presentation, thanks.
Great production man. You have some awesome insights on these bikes and bring up some valid points.
second comment, I know this video is older but this comparison is beautiful brother!
Thank you for this wonderful review! I have booked the Scram 400x as my first bike. It will also be the only bike I will have(for city commutes, weekend rides and touring) . You are the only person Ive seen on YT choosing the Himalayan with a reason being other than "Its a Royal Enfield". Watching your video reassured me of my choice of going with Scram 400x. Thank you so much
Himalayan has that look and it acts as both a touring bike as well as adventure ❤
Great video thanks for that. The choice now on makes and models compared to when I started in the mid eighties is amazing. I can't believe how little Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki feature these days. The Chinese are doing what the Japanese did in the 70's. Thumping the old brands.
Thank you. Best review I have seen covering these 3 bikes, and I have watched plenty! The bike I chose was the Himalayan 450 and with just over 1000km now run on this bike I think it was a great choice with many significant improvements on my old 411. The side stand is definitely an issue - I have extended mine 35mm which has been a big improvement. I can't understand how RE got that so wrong. Have yet to take it off road but I feel confident it will perform well with all the improvements in suspension, braking and power delivery.
The side stand had to be like that due to center stand offered in himmy which others don't so it make it go to an angle to fit it other wise it will collide with center stand.
@@hdslytro387 Yes, the extension I have made to my side stand now makes it contact the center stand when both are retracted however I now find the bike much easier to get upright from when it is resting on its side stand. I still feel it is a design element that RE could have resolved without too much effort.
Great video!🤩 So much useful information and so much charisma. Thank you from Italy!
Great video, from a future Tasmanian rider torn between the CF and Himi
I'm not even in the market for a scrambler but enjoyed the whole of this video immensely! 👍👍👍
Well that was all really useful info throughout, with no fluff. Thank you!!
Excellent review, thank you. The CF is not widely available in the UK for a test at present, but I've tried the other two, and your assessment is 100% accurate: I found myself nodding along with your comments frequently. Good luck with the Himi - I'm a rider of similar height, but will be waiting for a lowering kit to become available before I place my order.
I was also looking for lowering kit 😢
Thx for this video my friend!
So, I have not been riding long, only 4 years now, and soon we will live in Portugal. So this asks for an adventure bike. I’ve been watching countless about adventure riding and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s best to start small. I’m going to test ride the Himalayan 450, the CF moto 450MT and the Honda NX500.
But if you would ask me now, yeah definitely the Himalayan!
I don’t even own one yet and it’s already telling me to go on an adventure!
What an awesome looking bike!
I'm Watching your videos from the northwest region of the United States. Your videos are amazing and very well detailed. They are far more detailed than a lot of the moto vloggers in the US.
The best comparison video i've ever seen. If i wanted an on-off bike at 200kg, i would take the Himaiayan too. Thank you
First time visiting your channel and I subscribed. Educational, well thought out and clearly communicated. I can’t stand videos of someone riding while they spew numbers inside their helmet, giving us bad audio and video. All of your video clips were of the bikes you were comparing. I’m not a spec sheet warrior by any means but I found you to be entertaining. Thank you.
Really great review!!! I own a 411 Himalayan and moving from the UK to Australia, so selling up. I've test ridden the 450MT and I agree with everything you say about the bike.
I do think that the suspension setup on the MT would potentially solve some of the handling issues, and I think people are reporting better fuel economy than what the spec says.
Anyway, for me, the Himalayan is a massive disappointment and isn't the bike I wanted them to make. Too many compromises.
Yes, I own the 411 Himi as well. It is definitely a dog. I do think the new 450 will solve all those issues.
@@LordHolley You might have misunderstood the OP. I think he likes the old one and hates the new one.
I think you’re the best man . Keep going
You got a new subscriber from Morocco.
next month I’m gonna pick my new motorcycle (the Himalayan)
You are very articulate and do great detailed reviews.
Thanks for this informative video. I would drop the front forks on the MT about 20mm through the yolks to improve the front end feel especially if the rear suspension lowering option on the shock position is used.
This is a brilliant comparison video. The contrast and depth of comparison between the bikes is brilliant and much of which is something i’ve contemplated myself. I have a 400X and love it. having recently completed some off road adventure trials with it i’ve realised how good it is, albeit shown up it’s shortfalls along the way ( albeit minor) and have found myself pulled toward the 450MT as a result.
The irony is that now i have the 400x it’s gotten under my skin and for not too much money in upgrades, it could be nearly as much by comparison to change it to a 450MT to get those off road gains. It’s of course a compromise no matter how you look at it, but with a Triumph dealer on my doorstep, it also helps with the buying decisions. Engine Performance wise they’re quite similar so as you say, ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. Think im just going to have to ride one and see. Ironically, i thought the 450MT being bigger would better suit my taller physique but the scrambler seat height is already higher than the others! 😅😂 and so the comparison paradox continues… Great video. 👍🏻👌🏻😎
Excellent review, very impressed with all the topics covered in 30 mins. It's obvious we would all be happy with a 400cc at this price. Manufactures 'appear' to be listening to their customers. I've ordered a MT-450 spares distribution covered by KTM and with a 4 year warranty here in Ireland I felt I couldn't go wrong.
Thanks for your review and thoughts.
Adrian
Absolutely amazing review / comparison!!
Love that you compared these three. Also some of the most comprehensive information I've seen anywhere online, bravo!
Amazing comparison, no doubt best video on this. Kudos 🎉
In India CF Moto came in with a big bang, but fell flat on its face when compared with KTM, Royal enfield, Bajaj, triumph.
CF Moto engines are incredibly bad , after about 10,000 kms they are not the same as above mentioned good brands, C. Moto is a Chinese company which pays more attention to profits, compare to quality.
I KNOW ALL THIS BECAUSE I HAVE OWNED CF MOTO 650MT AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP AT 2595 KMS, AFTER ONE YEAR LONG LEGAL BATTLE COURT RULED IN MY FAVOUR AND I WAS RETURNED EVERY SINGLE PENNY.
Later, I purchased Royal Enfield interceptor 650 And 79,560 kms in 3.2 years later it’s still running like new.
I'm buying the RE bullet. Best looking of the bunch and has the suspension upgrade that the other RE650's need.
@@arnohag1A classic 650 is on the way. Not to hold you off or something.
another hallucination made up story by an indian 😁
and how exactly is this "blew up" means, like pistons jammed or blew up like in the movie or something?
that's because you shouldn't buy a 650mt, which is a model that is infamous, and every brand has it's infamous models, even honda.
you should try out the 800mt or models containing the 450 engine, which is designed 100% by CFmoto and has won tons of fans.
Thank you! I'm sure this was a much awaited video for a lot of us!
Absolutely excellent video. Well articulated and you covered EVERYTHING. Well done!
Great! The most useful review of bikes I want to know about. I would like, with adventure and dual sport, to see videos of riding increasingly more extreme offroad trails (singletrack?) and seeing what terrain gives significant problem or failure with riding it.
Wow! I happen to stumble onto this channel. Aaron, thank you for this balanced and insightful comparison review. I am now subscribed and will check out all your other videos posted.
Great video, you think about bikes and bike ownership like a rider rather than a dealer, manufacturer or UA-camr. Keep at it. I’m subscribing.
Good review dude! From America.
great vid! very well-articulated, meticulous and informatively objective impressions and fair subjective insights. good stuff man!
Excellent review. Thank you! I am 67 long time experienced rider. Like many after owning a couple 1200 ADV bikes... went lighter and now own 2022 KTM 390 ADV. So much more enjoyable to push around the garage and for my use, does everything well on road and off alone without the concern of “if dropped” can I pick it up? So often I buy a bike and say “this is it, the perfect do it all bike” ... here I am again as new better small displacement ADV bikes keep coming out saying.... is there a better one out there than my 390? Waiting to see all 3 at my local dealers in Texas so I can decide for myself. Great Review and certainly very helpful. Thank you again,
Can't wait for next year until the new 390 Adventure of KTM comes out to do a comparo with the MT and Himy. Hope you also include ease of basic maintenance for owners like oil change, checking the spark plug, battery changes etc.
Brilliantly comprehensive review sir !!
A very thorough comparison, reminds of the kind of detail you would get from a bgrockmoto review. Especially the addition of a spreadsheetm really impressive!
Really listenable review. Super useful as I'm in the market for the Him or the 400x.
Tremendous comparison. Non-nonsense, articulate, clear and satisfiyng. 450MT is close a unicorn with its broad appeal
Best comparison review I have seen and heard. Thanks Aaron.
Very nice and honest review slash comparison, taking care of the heart side, thank for the light
Excellent Aaron. Congratulations!
Wonderful video! On paper and reviews I keep thinking I should go the 450MT (or Ibex 450 as they call here in my area), but I look at the Himmy 450 and I just love it. And since I'm newly getting into the whole adv thing, I feel like it just sounds the most balanced for my style. Either way, I plan to see each one in person once they arrive here to be sure, but I sure love the Himmy styling more. 🙂
I appreciate your statement, "no longer the right bike for me." The bikes out there are continually changing, just as your needs, skills, and desires change, so I'm kind of learning that I need to modify my concepts of a "forever bike."
Awesome review. We are a new channel and we just tested the 450MT (which will come out tomorrow) and we agree to all your points throughout, but the way you deliver it is so articulate. We learned a lot from you and your video and we’ll definitely use that on our next content. ❤❤❤
Good luck guys! Thanks for swinging by. ☺️
Wow what a review, thank you. It would be the cf moto for me
Great review ! I could see that the Himalayan was well balanced on the jump compared to the MT450, I was personally disappointed of the heat of the engine of the MT450 under the tropical weather of Bali, unbearable heat on the MT450 with the low seat, the Himalayan is better built for tropic, didn't had any issues, I still have to try the MT450 with high seat to see if it can solve that problem. I own a CB500X and so far, these bikes are just as capable as mine. But I was seduced by the Himalayan 😍
one of the most if not the most comprehensive review of the 450MT and the others.
Thank you. Probably all the same reasons I want to buy the Himi over the other two. I already have a Hunter as my daily commuter but Himi will let me explore more. 😊
The longer I look at it, the more I like the Himie. I think it's one of the best looking bikes currently on sale, and it's one of the best looking bike in many years as well. Royal Enfield did very right when designing the bugger! 🤗
Great vid as always bro! Just wanted to correct the fuel consumption on the mt. Been getting at least 25kml on mixed city, hiway, trail, traffic back on the stock 14t sprocket. Now on the 15t (which is only a very cheap $20 upgrade), not only am I getting 28kms per liter, it also solved the jerkiness of the 1st/2nd gear. Some guys on fb are even reporting 31kms per liter 🙂 welcome back to the dirt side and ride tayo soon!
Thanks for the input bro!
Awesome review and details. Thanks for posting.
great video from the philiphines...greatings from Malaysia
An outstandingly complete comparison! I'd be interested to know how
a larger windshield would affect the light front end of the CFmoto at highway speeds.
Je vous remercie pour votre analyse, j'ai testé l’Himalayan 450 que sur la route et je l'ai trouvée très agréable, j'attends de pouvoir tester la CF moto 450mt dans les mêmes conditions, cela me permettra de faire le choix de la moto qui tiendra compagnie à ma moto guzzi v85tt. Grand ✌ de la Haute Savoie en France.
I watched a video yesterday, the lead designer for the 450 RE said the lean was due to changes in the suspension geometry after the rest of the bike geometry had been decided.
Good video by the way, very balanced review
Bought the new Himalayan back here in India, riding with after market accessories(MOTOTORQUE), havent faced any problems yet completed 1500kms and first service, if you plan to get after market accessories make sure you are Bolting the bolts at right torque specs, and yeah there are vibes that I feel, but I dont mind them as they are just fine not much to be worried about, the engine has this kinda raspy character which you cant say is rough but kinda smooth raspy not sure what I am saying at this point difficult to explain, I like it though, enjoying it!!!!
The Triumph Scrambler for me...just a better fit for the riding I do. I am holding off though to see if Royal Enfield can deliver an excellent scrambler with the 450 engine. I would be very happy if RE could simply put the 450 engine in the Scram 411. Thank you for the long and thorough analysis of these three bike.
they released RE guerila 450. did u check it out?
@@prasanth_m7 The Guerilla 450 looks like a street bike. I want a tough scrambler that can easily handle rough dirt roads.
@@detch5307 guerilla looks like an intercept of scram and roadster. why do you think its not a scram?
Love that you covered the intangibles. Awesome comparison!
I like your personal taste opinions. Sometimes being good on paper just doesn't sing too😂