Last week I entered a second floor parking garage on my 2022 Himmy 411LS.. The ramp was at least 45 degrees. I tractored up the ramp with my wife on the back and the luggage full. The attendant was visibly shocked and asked how I did it. I told him that it was a long stroke engine, basically a Willy's on two wheels, since we are in the Andes, everyone knows the power of the Willy's Jeep. He laughed and called the bike a beast. It's certainly a one of a kind.
Videos like these is why I pay my internet bills, nice one Ben. Thanks for speaking the facts which no one else were able to till now. Looking forward to how you overcome these shortcomings on your 450.
Either the UA-cam or Royal Enfield suppress this type of videos... I own a 411 Sleet Black color which i purchased on 26th Jan' 2024 and it was the last stock in the Showroom... I thank you for the video before purchasing mine and that i am in love with my 411 ❤😊
I bought the new Himalayan 450, took delivery on 18th Dec 2023, and have completed a little over 1000 kms so far and yes, I agree with you that the bike is insanely vibey. I am facing pain in my right arm - upper arm from elbow to shoulder area. Initially, I thought this was due to a new kind of bike that I am riding (haven't ridden ADV's earlier) and dismissed it thinking that the pain will disappear as my body adjusts to the bike. But turns out, the pain is due to the vibrations. There are vibrations on the foot pegs too but it is not as bad as it is on the handlebar, thanks to my riding boots. I guess I have to install Grip Puppies to absorb the vibrations. These vibrations are strong from 5000 RPM onwards and as I am in the second phase of the run-in, I am staying under 6000 RPM. I rode 300 kms over the weekend with a pillion and same complaint - lot of vibes from the footpegs, especially, the right one, leading to knee pain. Another issue I have is with the tripper dash. I am just not able to connect my phone to it. Checked all the settings, uninstalled and reinstalled the app, even factory reset the phone but the connection failed is the error I get EVERY time. Other than that, the console has a LOT of relevant information to offer without being intrusive. I have installed a phone mount for the time being. BTW, I have an Android 13 phone and as per the owners manual, phones with two versions behind will be compatible with the dash. Did you notice almost all bikes had the handlebar alignment off? Mine was tilted more to the left, I saw other bikes with the same issue and some were more aligned to the right. One other owner at the service center was also complaining of this issue and pain in his left arm. Saw this handlebar misalignment on the BRAND NEW display and test ride bikes as well. I am yet to see one bike with the handlebar correctly aligned to the center. So much for testing these bikes extensively over the last 3 years and NONE of the reviewers pointed out these flaws. What does it take for an honest review, seriously??? I am curious to see if the bikes sold in other countries have the same issues or do they get better quality bikes than us 🤔 Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Ride safe.
I have been riding the beast 411CC for 2 years now and boy! not going to give it up for sure. Your video has only reiterated my resolve all over again.Cheers!!!
You're gonna still buy the new Himalayan and turn all the cons into pros, And Maybe couple of years later you're gonna be proud of the 450 for what you've built. You're gonna make it better and you'll definitely share all the details with us and imma follow it until you create a newer better monster
After having test ridden the motorcycle for 3days consecutivey from different dealership I would strongly disagree with your observation about the vibration specially when compared to the ktm adventure. I found it quite smooth at higher speeds specially compared to the 390 adventure which feels raw and quite rough, maybe it was your unit which may have had issues. Frankly I felt 450 was an easy motorcycle to ride, I love the 411 but I think 450 is a beast in itself. I dont think 411 is better than 450 or otherwise both are different motorcycles. And as far as the matter of low end torque goes I think every bike as its own characteristics and a good rider would know ways to work around the shortcomings, maybe a sprocket change could help get better acceleration at lower end. All this while we had been complaining about the lack of power in 411 RE has certainly addressed that in their own way. Lastly its all about the rider, a rider can have just as much fun in 411 or 450 or ktm390 if he/she know what to do with the machine. I own a classic 350 reborn and on highways it feels so sluggish and in heavy traffic its not agile but still it feels amazing to do weekend rides on it and himalayan 450 did put an ear to ear smile on my face I won't lie.
Since I hate you 😝 so I'll give my inputs on all your points. I just rode home my kaza brown yesterday evening and gave up my 411 to a close friend. Now I have a 650 interceptor and 452. My two cents if you can respect observations of an amateur motorcycle owner ( not biker!😅) 1. I always knew it wont have the grunt of a LS, physics' laws can't be changed but we have to give it to RE for managing the most tractable short stroke compensating it with a higher compression and shorter starting gears (the engine braking is almost at par with 411 in 1st gear). 2. Few minutes of steep hill riding and you'll adapt to the extra throttle inputs without much worries, I did too and mind it I ride in shimla on nastiest of inclines. 3. Strange I didn't find it top heavy, I'm guilty of body positioning maneuvers from the really bad top heavy interceptor. So again all great, rather pleasantly flickable bike for the sheer size. 4. Vibey it's going to be as it's high compression single, the extra BHP is good only for overtakes. In India nothing, literally nothing should be driven at 3 digits! 5. Footpeg Disconnect is agreeable but who has that much brain to understand. 6. DOHC sounds are expected again. *its a beautiful bike* that's why we all are getting it, and kaza brown is for the maturer taste people. Headlights suck.. I'm gonna yellow wrap mine to improve penetration.
Ben: If I ever get a chance to get a new bike it will be the 411 Himalayan. I will build it exactly as you have done. Great video. Thanks for all your great work.
Seems My cb 350 hness is most smooth vibe free machine at 105-110km single cylinder segment. Love honda so much. Honda should make a adv bike like Himalayan with an engine of 350.
Mahindra Mojo (atleast the launch variant) is vibe free even with throttle fully open and above 140kph. Could easily cruise at 120kph plus all day without any vibration or stress on engine.
Reason why i like this man, you just spoke heart out !!! Not every bike is perfect but its necessary to know negatives also as it helps to make decision !!
This is really an eye opener. Thanks for the inputs, I was almost about to book the new Himalayan, now I can make more informed decision. Thanks a lot.👍😊
Thank you very much. A much more useful review than offered by the guys who seem enthralled to have a major manufacturer provide them with a free ride in an exotic location. The wheelbase at nearly 60" seemed to me way too long for ease of use, glad to enlarged upon my impression.
I was looking forward for the power increase but the more I look at the reviews, the more I think my 2021 Himalayan will serve me for a few more years. We have yet to see the new Himalayan at our local Dealer, so the reviews are all I have to go on. Thanks for your honest opinions 😀👍
Totally agree about the 411 being a tractor and love how it behaves in the trails. The 450s delay in the torque delivery will definitely need more skill, I agree. It definitely feels better than the adv390 in this use case. The foot pegs, I'm assuming there would be a work around, probably at the expense of the rubber mountings. Will explore on this once my bike gets delivered too. Kaza Brown here too.
I already knew about most of the specs on the 450 almost a year back, and already guessed that it will be a better bike in every department but I had a strong feeling I would be more happy with the 411. So got my new 2023 Himalayan in May last year . Almost the last one off the production line.
You have noticed all the fine details of the Himalayan 450, I really appreciate your take on this and now I am even more interested to see why did you actually go for it even after realising most of it's flaws in such immense detail. I am facing a dilemma after test riding the Himalayan, the Scrambler 400x and I am looking to replace my Dominar 400. I love my Fury (Dominar400) as much as you love your Ben, but the main reason why I am in the market trying to replace it with a better machine is because I am looking for better more forgiving suspensions, an even more exhilarating performance from the engine or at least the same level of performance that I get on Fury and I ride alone 5 days of the week to my workplace but as soon as the weekend comes I ride with a pillion my wife and then my Fury's stiff suspension, poor weight management and the less turning radius becomes even more troublesome for me within the city. Now the Scrambler 400x, is ticking all the boxes but the only crucial thing that it misses out for me on is the Engine performance - the low end is mind Blowing, very easy to filter in the traffic, picks up on any gear no matter how the speed is.. but the TOP END is simply not enough to entice me away from my Fury, after 90-100kmph, the engine feels restricted, strained and buzzy as f***. But aside from this, every small detail on 400x is fantastic be it the suspension setup, the seats, the seat height, handling is amazingly easy. I don't really mind the instrument cluster. Now the Himalayan felt exciting, and was easily the most visceral bike as it has the performance with a lot of buzzy-ness, the suspensions are stiffer than the Scrambler 400x but still were very comfortable than my Fury. The instrument cluster has best in class features. Seats are spacious and comfortable for both me and my pillion, handling is again not as easy as the Scrambler but manageable within the city and confident inspiring on the highways. It doesn't really solve all my issues with the dominar but it feels like a different kind of flavoured bike that I can explore and have fun with.. The suspension and turning radius issues are solved for me coming from the Dominar- both me and my pillion are happy on that front, but the city riding, the extreme buzz on high speeds are a big problem for the both of us but at least it has the capability of doing those kind of speeds unlike the Scrambler 400x. Also, the weight management is still the same if not worse than my Dominar 400. I love my Dominar 400, and that's why I am in this dilemma of which is a better proposition for my above mentioned troubles. For reference I am 6ft 105 kgs and my pillion is 60kgs. I only tour thrice in an year and I ride every day for at least 10-20 kms, exhilarating, very comfortable and easy to manage on a day to day basis are the key attributes for a replacement bike to my Fury. Please do suggest.
Thank you Ben. You saved me. I have been planning to sell my 411 for booking 450 as I cannot keep two at a time. I am not going to think it anymore. You can remember me, who purchased Himalyan seeing you, taking care it himself with your guidance and advice. Thanks again Ben.
Agreed! I like the ergonomics and the design of the older Himalayan. I test rode and didn’t like much. Most of the videos are over selling the new #Himalayan.
Great video Ben, an honest review and made my mind uo to stay with my 411. The GOAT for me. I know that will be controversial but im older and not a great rider so i love my 411.
If you check out the torque curves comparison chart, even as low as 2500rpm the 411 makes only 27Nm while the 452 makes 32N. At 3000rpm the 411 makes only 29 NM while the 452 makes 36. Can you explain your observations about the 452 feeling like it has less torque at the low end?
Thanks for this really interesting video brother 👍🏻 I really do not doubt a single word of what you've said here. I am sure that, as a 411 owner myself, as soon as I get to try a 452 over here in Europe, I will feel the same way. RE have become very good at schmoozing the global press with their launches. So much so that I suspect that the journalists look forward to an RE launch event more than those of many other manufacturers. They may be keen to gloss over any negative aspects of the bikes, just to remain on the RE press list. As you say, it's surprising that none of the motorcycle journalists have picked up on these things in their initial reviews. But that's why we need people like your good self, to come in and offer a more accurate view. The mere fact that you've ordered a 452 despite knowing about these shortcomings proves that these things don't make it a bad motorcycle. But these things make it possibly NOT a better motorcycle than the old 411 and people should be made aware of that. I will probably reference this video in a future video on my channel mate. You have given us European Himalayan owners plenty of food for thought. I will also be interested to follow how you get on with your own 452 when you have it. A really interesting video. Thank you. ER
I took a test drive today for an hour. Pros: Straight line stability is damn good. Well balanced while crawling in traffic. Orgasmic exhaust note. Brilliant suspension and braking. Cons: Lot of reviwer said it is butter smooth until 6k rpm. However, There is lot of buzz felt on peg handle and tank post 4500rpm. Wind blast is too much post 80. Cant sustain more than 80 with stock wind shield for my height(5,11'') Overall, the bike feels like a thumpy ktm 390 adv with a bit better low end. KTM feels alive post 4k whereas Himalayan feels alive post 3k Also, my feels is that it won't be agile in ghat roads especially around a sharp hairpin
Don't think it's productive throwing shade at other moto journalists who somehow 'magically' overlooked some of the problems you had. You brought up some good points, but I think there's a bit of a bias showing for the 411
Thanks a lot for being so honest. Very rare to get such honest opinion on RE bikes especially in India. No disrespect here at all to any RE fans. But RE fans are like a cult, which is good considering it's an Indian company and we need to support them. Our RE fan boys dont want to agree on short comings. But, based on individuals requirement on their usage what u hv mentioned makes sense. For ppl who want to chug along no matter the terrain, the 411 is a gem. But, if u need highway crusing at 130kms/hr, ktm does make sense. Ppl don't understand tat ktm is also part bajaj owned company. Let's go with pure requirements and what makes sense for each of urs usage on a regular basis.
Hi Ben, thank you for pointing out some very interesting not so good points. Just wanted to confirm if the bike you tested was due for oil and air filter change which could have added to the vibey nature. Also there are very niche UA-camrs not very large in scale also talking about the absense of low end torque like Bulu Pattanaik did. But overall thanks for being very straight 🙏
I have himayalan when I ride a few distance timing chain start noise I replace with new one but sound does not minimize any solution to minimize that sound
I agree with you about vibrations, i test ride 2 him450 bikes , 1st one was having more vibration, 2nd one also having more vibration but less compared to the first one. When i compared with my 2023 him411, my 411 is way more smoother.
Great review. Thanks much. I agree with you and low end torque is what I was after for I enjoy riding slow technical trails the most. Yet I end-up spending lots of hours at higher speeds to get to those trails and visit places. So, back to reliabilty and my blown-up engine... I could get better valves from Hitchcock as this seems to be a "frequent problem" with the LS410 engines, I could get the cam and improve fueling as you did; what about the chain tensioner? Are there any other aftermarket parts to minimize those potential catastrophic engine failures? Any other "Achilles heel" on engine parts?
the valves will be fine as long as your fueling is fine, get a fuel commander, the cam will def make things a lot better , surprisingly i have never had a problem with my chain tensioners may be because i have changed them once every 10000 kms even without any damage .
The 1st point u made, the foot pecks are wider and its smooth af for touring but the reason why its so smooth is because its dampened really well. 2. Point being top heavy? U thought its top heavy because its harder to get off the side stand? Its harder because the stand has more angle and the bike leans further on the side stand than the himi411 to fix the main issue where the old himi was unstable on its side stand, obviously when the bike is leaning more, you have to put more effort to pick it up. The bike itself is actually got lower centre of gravity than the old one. 452 naturally leans into corners because of how good the suspension and chassis is, you can lean the bike into a corner with just your butt. 3rd point the bike not being a tractor and not having low end torque. The engine isn’t a low rpm long stroke engine anymore. Himi411 was never a trail bike either, I’ve owned one and done nearly 20k on it which included south india trips and off road with trails, for trails the only good thing the bike had was low end, but it was too heavy on its feet and it felt like a tractor too, which isn’t a compliment. 4th point the wind screen, u the one u test rode had the stock visor which is small but a bigger one will be available to buy as an accessory from RE. Im 6,2 nd the old himi visor still didn’t do it for me, i had it straight up and the wind would hit the top of my helmet, in the old himi u sat lower and the handle bar position was higher along with the headlights so the visor naturally sat higher. 5th point the coursing speed, ktm and triumph both have shorter stroke than the himi452, the bike can easily do 110 and relax, if you hands got numb after riding the himi452 but does it not feel like its gonna shake off if u try to stick at 110 or above on the 411? 452 has a much higher top speed so u have that tolerance gap, overtake speed opportunities, 411 u stay at 100 and thats it, u cant do over that without feeling like your holding the bike by the neck and asking for more. 6th point and finals few ones, the headlight yes its a low voltage led headlight and it never be match against a aftermarket led. Led should be projector otherwise its just a never ending cycle of trying to buy higher voltage leds, Tapped noise yes its so annoying. U found so many cons in the himi452 because its a stock bike u changed so much about your 411 and wonder why u can’t find manu cons? Make it make sense, if u compare the 452 to 411 then it will win outright in every way but hey your ben is your baby and it’s different than a stock himi411 so u have your personal emotional reasons to back your ben.
It's amazing that so many guys are mistaking the bike to be top heavy when it's the side stand angle. The Himalayan 450 has a lower CoG, higher ground clearance and longer suspension travel in this class. It's not top heavy at all. Surprised people are making such basic mistakes. You're right. And i have seen many people out this out on UA-cam and this will unnecessarily influence a lot of people.
First time seeing your video. Subscribed for the well-rounded assessment and honesty. I noted all these things too and therefore not very keen on the purchase (despite the booking). What better bike do you suggest for someone wanting a machine solely for touring (primarily the mountains) under 5L.
Hi, Rajesh here. I have Himalayan 411 BS4, RR 310 and right now the latest one is the Yezdi Adventure OBD2 2023 model. I think if there is any bike that can perform better than Himalayan 411 is the Yezdi Adventure. I did a Ladakh ride on Yezdi this July, did a Winter Spiti earlier this March on Himalayan. I have both the bikes so can give you the exact difference and which is better in what. I think except the low end torque of Himalayan 411, everything else is better in Yezdi Adventure 2023 OBD2 model not the earlier ones though. Also if you manage to play with the gears l which comes easily even low torque is not an issue with Yezdi Adventure. I easily cruise ar 120 + throughout the day with much gas left in the Engine still. Just did a south India ride a week back with a pillion and I managed to cruise at 120 throughout the day with pillion on. The suspension, acceleration, build quality, handling, overall comfort, etc is better than Himalayan 411. Test drive the bike and you will not be disappointed unless you are a 6 ft + tall guy then your legs might be cramped a little.. Yezdi guys are worse in marketing that's why we don't hear a lot about it but trust me that is the best single cylinder bike in India that I have come across in my 18 years of driving experience.
I prefer a scram kinda vehicle, but now that new Himalayan is announced, I was thinking probably I should wait for a new 450 scram. So based on this am I better off with Scram 411?
While others only ride their motorcycle, you my friend have enhanced the machine (and yourself) in this journey. Compared to other reviews on the internet, your is critical to the point it should be and there is a valid reason for that. Caus of your keen interest in the motorcycle, you have pushed the boundaries to solve problems and customize it at levels beyond general immagination. Its difficult to understand the level of efforts and research you go through. That hard work and attention to detail provides you an edge over the others. Really enjoyed the video. I am literally amazed by all points discussed in this video and yes its very surprising that no one is talking about it. Looking forward to your new HIMALAYAN, and a series of comparison videos along with it. Good Luck !!!
Hello, about the 411. Is the handlebar a weak point? I hear that it can easily break or get twisted, even on stationary or slow speed, falls? Any advice there? Thanks
It took me 3 test rides to realize that there is absolutely nothing in the bike below 3000rpm. Like nothing at all. That's the reason I booked the Classic 350 over the Himalayan 450 as my usage will be 60-70% office commute in city traffic and around 30% highway touring once in 2-3 months. As the hype around it will slowly settle more and more people will start to realize that its not a bike for city commute. The 411 is just brilliant in that aspect. No one is going to go touring everyday. But we will commute to our offices on a daily basis. Its all the media hype that is overshadowing all the cons of the bike.
Aray bhai aapko Sirf Office jana hai toh Koi Bus, Rapido, Metro, ya Scooty kharido and Hamesha Office chale jana that's very Simple🙏🏻 298kg ko leke Office hamesha kyu Jana But Still Office hamesha leke jah sakte hai koi problem nahi hai
@@yomi6387 Just that i want a Royal Enfield for now. Plus, Scrambler 400x is very new with very few ownership experiences out there. The Classic Reborn has been there for a while with known pros, cons and issues.
I too owned Himalayan 411 and just completed a test ride of Himalayan 450. I don't know why RE obsolete the 411 and what they have made in the name of upgradation.
Iam hoping that the QA on the new bikes will be a bitt better than the new Himalayan will be a good bike and can compete with the KTM 390. But in the and i will wait and see what people here in our german forum will report about it when it is in daily use. Because bike that are "tested" by the press so early are often checked before by the manufacturer in every detail. I own the 411 and i will keep it for the reasons you mentioned Ben. The 450 would be an addition because i have some space in the garage left ;)
Interesting, my 411 is in a similar state of tune as yours & I have also ordered a 450 (untested as they will not initially be available to test in the UK). I was always planning to keep my 411 anyway for off road use but am also looking forward to the 450 for more road biased riding. I do find it somewhat surprising though with so many negatives that you still ordered a 450 🤔🤷🏻♂️
I appreciate the fact that finally, someone on the interwebs has written about the cons on the new Himalayan. But, why are you ordering the new Himalayan when good 'ol Ben is as good or better?
How do you say the low end torque is low for Sherpa 450 when compared with LS410? The torque graph from RE shows Sherpa 450 is superior in low ends too.
Omygod... U r 100% right... After the test ride.. I also felt the same... Its so front heavy.. Doesn't have the flickable nature of the old one.. No one have talked about it.. I wonder why.. Will wait for the HERO🤩 now😂 unless Honda brings in something new
Nothing less than a true view of the bike. Yes, people are entitled to their opinions and choices. The way I see it, the new Himmi has no low end torque. In your experience from upgrading bikes, can we do something about it through any 3rd party mediums, Ben? 😏
My height 5.6 . And i have booked new Himalayan. While test drive i didnt feel it since i am not pro rider. Now i am worried about your comment on U turn scenario . Is that an issue.?i am worried now
I have an interceptor, and a Himalayan that I use for touring. Was looking forward to changing to a more powerful bike. Was disappointed that RE came with a single cylinder 450cc. Wasn’t very happy with a test ride to switch between the 2 Also a 450 cc with a single cylinder is too big.
Pol Torres Thrashes his T7 and make it look like its a toy but behind the scenes that T7 has many drops and crashes. I did a side by side comparison of the Himalayan and T7 and found that they both share the same design flow, although the Himlayan suits more to the tourer catagory than the T7 offroad. Test rode a 136 km ridden Himalayan and i dont see any issues with the bike's engine and the low end torque . Have seen the T7 in person and i can confirm in that as aspect Himalayan is the closest we can get to a T7 Minus the one extra cyl. Al the shorter stroke of 81.5mm compared to 86mm on the 411 speaks why 411 feels like a tractor. This does not look a flaw rather the 411 was something that was something that had issues and flaws. People still can buy the Scram 411 if they prefer that kind of riding and engine tractabality.
I don't understand how these people are scrutinising and reviewing the bikes just riding for 30 minutes or few kilometer without experiencing fully, it's completely new bike, New chassis new engine, it take some time to understand how to ride this type of bikes, it's not fair enough to criticise bikes without experiencing fully 🤞
Hi Ben, I took the test drive in Madikeri last week and 100% agree with all the aspects that you talked about. I think there are some major flaws in the new Himalayan, I have a BS4 Himalayan myself.. and frankly I was so disappointed with the new Himalayan 452. In addition to what you said, about the looks that you said are subjective. I thought.. they have literally destroyed the appeal that outgoing Himalayan has. The balance and the confidence that you have while driving on the toughest terrains is excellent on Himalayan 411. I did a solo Winter Spiti on my Himalayan this year, which was the toughest that I have ridden.. and probably because it was Himalayan 411 I could complete that ride with black ice and toughest terrains.. For me the new Himalayan is a big disappointment. I seriously think it is going to backfire Royal Enfield in the long run.. and they should find a way to continue the old Himalayan.
The 411 is a beast in off roading and climbing(it is a Tractor). No doubt. The 452 is for the highway tourers. With button tires, the 452 will become more capable.
What a coincidence! Just test rode the new Himalayan yesterday and didn't feel anything like my rock red Himalayan. The rider's triangle as you pointed out isn't perfect on the new one. Also this should have been a 650 and not a 452. It would have made much more sense then.
sir you mentioned word tractor its true in hard rough terrain its the most efficient bike of himalayan 411 than new sherpa which has complex engine and easy to get break down during off-roading as those water cooled system using radiator its risky during off-road to get broken and sir Main thing there is no Main stand to set Chain lube or in case tire Got flat and it do vibrate and use of more plastic componant made it vibey that also mention by Sagar Sheldekar as well and now days after failure of Royal Enfield Meteor & hunter they messing up Himalayan legacy so hat's off Siddhartha Lal better had launched Sherpa 600 than 450 with 6 gear it defiantly would be viby than dual cylinder 600cc
Excellent and objective analysis of the things we have to live with rather than the hype of a journalist or reviewer smitten by the promise of something not yet proven. I've feared the 452 will be a disappointment against the 411. I have a Scram and adore it, faults and all. For me, faults amount to just wanting about 5hp more - that's all, but I can live with what either of the superb 411s offer. It was inevitable that the new 452 engine would be very different, and lose so much of the character of the 411. I still don't appreciate the radical restyle. What this does, with the engine, is create 'another' machine - almost a competitor to the existing Himalayan/Scram.
The reason why most reviewers don’t talk about the flaws( Most reviewers only and not everyone else) pointed in this video is becoz 1. They have more experience in talking with silver tongues rather than riding 2. Yes they have been bought or want to be bought by the manufacturing companies 3. They have no experience in riding so they can’t gauge a vehicle properly P.S they just want to grab eyeballs and views for their reviews don’t really care about passing proper information to a prospective buyer rider
Last week I entered a second floor parking garage on my 2022 Himmy 411LS.. The ramp was at least 45 degrees. I tractored up the ramp with my wife on the back and the luggage full. The attendant was visibly shocked and asked how I did it. I told him that it was a long stroke engine, basically a Willy's on two wheels, since we are in the Andes, everyone knows the power of the Willy's Jeep. He laughed and called the bike a beast. It's certainly a one of a kind.
Videos like these is why I pay my internet bills, nice one Ben. Thanks for speaking the facts which no one else were able to till now. Looking forward to how you overcome these shortcomings on your 450.
Either the UA-cam or Royal Enfield suppress this type of videos...
I own a 411 Sleet Black color which i purchased on 26th Jan' 2024 and it was the last stock in the Showroom...
I thank you for the video before purchasing mine and that i am in love with my 411 ❤😊
I bought the new Himalayan 450, took delivery on 18th Dec 2023, and have completed a little over 1000 kms so far and yes, I agree with you that the bike is insanely vibey. I am facing pain in my right arm - upper arm from elbow to shoulder area.
Initially, I thought this was due to a new kind of bike that I am riding (haven't ridden ADV's earlier) and dismissed it thinking that the pain will disappear as my body adjusts to the bike. But turns out, the pain is due to the vibrations.
There are vibrations on the foot pegs too but it is not as bad as it is on the handlebar, thanks to my riding boots. I guess I have to install Grip Puppies to absorb the vibrations.
These vibrations are strong from 5000 RPM onwards and as I am in the second phase of the run-in, I am staying under 6000 RPM.
I rode 300 kms over the weekend with a pillion and same complaint - lot of vibes from the footpegs, especially, the right one, leading to knee pain.
Another issue I have is with the tripper dash. I am just not able to connect my phone to it. Checked all the settings, uninstalled and reinstalled the app, even factory reset the phone but the connection failed is the error I get EVERY time. Other than that, the console has a LOT of relevant information to offer without being intrusive. I have installed a phone mount for the time being. BTW, I have an Android 13 phone and as per the owners manual, phones with two versions behind will be compatible with the dash.
Did you notice almost all bikes had the handlebar alignment off? Mine was tilted more to the left, I saw other bikes with the same issue and some were more aligned to the right. One other owner at the service center was also complaining of this issue and pain in his left arm. Saw this handlebar misalignment on the BRAND NEW display and test ride bikes as well. I am yet to see one bike with the handlebar correctly aligned to the center.
So much for testing these bikes extensively over the last 3 years and NONE of the reviewers pointed out these flaws. What does it take for an honest review, seriously???
I am curious to see if the bikes sold in other countries have the same issues or do they get better quality bikes than us 🤔
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Ride safe.
❤️ thanks for taking the time to write this review. People are become increasingly insensitive to the idea of speaking truth nowadays.
I have been riding the beast 411CC for 2 years now and boy! not going to give it up for sure. Your video has only reiterated my resolve all over again.Cheers!!!
In depth. Technical. Erudite. Thoughtful. Nicely done!!
You're gonna still buy the new Himalayan and turn all the cons into pros,
And Maybe couple of years later you're gonna be proud of the 450 for what you've built.
You're gonna make it better and you'll definitely share all the details with us and imma follow it until you create a newer better monster
Truly 1st authentic review man. I was determined to keep my 411. Now I have your support.
After having test ridden the motorcycle for 3days consecutivey from different dealership I would strongly disagree with your observation about the vibration specially when compared to the ktm adventure. I found it quite smooth at higher speeds specially compared to the 390 adventure which feels raw and quite rough, maybe it was your unit which may have had issues.
Frankly I felt 450 was an easy motorcycle to ride,
I love the 411 but I think 450 is a beast in itself. I dont think 411 is better than 450 or otherwise both are different motorcycles. And as far as the matter of low end torque goes I think every bike as its own characteristics and a good rider would know ways to work around the shortcomings, maybe a sprocket change could help get better acceleration at lower end.
All this while we had been complaining about the lack of power in 411 RE has certainly addressed that in their own way.
Lastly its all about the rider, a rider can have just as much fun in 411 or 450 or ktm390 if he/she know what to do with the machine.
I own a classic 350 reborn and on highways it feels so sluggish and in heavy traffic its not agile but still it feels amazing to do weekend rides on it and himalayan 450 did put an ear to ear smile on my face I won't lie.
true man
Well said 😁
Perfect 👌
Since I hate you 😝 so I'll give my inputs on all your points. I just rode home my kaza brown yesterday evening and gave up my 411 to a close friend. Now I have a 650 interceptor and 452. My two cents if you can respect observations of an amateur motorcycle owner ( not biker!😅)
1. I always knew it wont have the grunt of a LS, physics' laws can't be changed but we have to give it to RE for managing the most tractable short stroke compensating it with a higher compression and shorter starting gears (the engine braking is almost at par with 411 in 1st gear).
2. Few minutes of steep hill riding and you'll adapt to the extra throttle inputs without much worries, I did too and mind it I ride in shimla on nastiest of inclines.
3. Strange I didn't find it top heavy, I'm guilty of body positioning maneuvers from the really bad top heavy interceptor. So again all great, rather pleasantly flickable bike for the sheer size.
4. Vibey it's going to be as it's high compression single, the extra BHP is good only for overtakes. In India nothing, literally nothing should be driven at 3 digits!
5. Footpeg Disconnect is agreeable but who has that much brain to understand.
6. DOHC sounds are expected again.
*its a beautiful bike* that's why we all are getting it, and kaza brown is for the maturer taste people.
Headlights suck.. I'm gonna yellow wrap mine to improve penetration.
Ben: If I ever get a chance to get a new bike it will be the 411 Himalayan. I will build it exactly as you have done. Great video. Thanks for all your great work.
Seems My cb 350 hness is most smooth vibe free machine at 105-110km single cylinder segment. Love honda so much. Honda should make a adv bike like Himalayan with an engine of 350.
Mahindra Mojo (atleast the launch variant) is vibe free even with throttle fully open and above 140kph. Could easily cruise at 120kph plus all day without any vibration or stress on engine.
That's why.. i bought New original Himalayan 411 Last week ❤🎉
Congrats buddy. Keep rocking 😇
🥰@@jaihind3595
Reason why i like this man, you just spoke heart out !!!
Not every bike is perfect but its necessary to know negatives also as it helps to make decision !!
This is really an eye opener. Thanks for the inputs, I was almost about to book the new Himalayan, now I can make more informed decision. Thanks a lot.👍😊
I do enjoy your videos. You make me smile. Hi from here in the UK.
Thank you very much. A much more useful review than offered by the guys who seem enthralled to have a major manufacturer provide them with a free ride in an exotic location. The wheelbase at nearly 60" seemed to me way too long for ease of use, glad to enlarged upon my impression.
I was looking forward for the power increase but the more I look at the reviews, the more I think my 2021 Himalayan will serve me for a few more years. We have yet to see the new Himalayan at our local Dealer, so the reviews are all I have to go on. Thanks for your honest opinions 😀👍
Thanks for wonderful review bro. I own a 411 and will never think about selling it and buying a new one.
After test riding the 450 i realised that the 411 is the OG.
Absolutely spot on analysis, Ben spitting facts 💯
Totally agree about the 411 being a tractor and love how it behaves in the trails. The 450s delay in the torque delivery will definitely need more skill, I agree. It definitely feels better than the adv390 in this use case. The foot pegs, I'm assuming there would be a work around, probably at the expense of the rubber mountings. Will explore on this once my bike gets delivered too. Kaza Brown here too.
Nice that you are bringing some real issues with the 452 while some other are busy bootlicking.
100% agree with you, I test drove it & I found the handlebar is way further away & the instrument cluster & windshield.
I already knew about most of the specs on the 450 almost a year back, and already guessed that it will be a better bike in every department but I had a strong feeling I would be more happy with the 411. So got my new 2023 Himalayan in May last year . Almost the last one off the production line.
You have noticed all the fine details of the Himalayan 450, I really appreciate your take on this and now I am even more interested to see why did you actually go for it even after realising most of it's flaws in such immense detail.
I am facing a dilemma after test riding the Himalayan, the Scrambler 400x and I am looking to replace my Dominar 400. I love my Fury (Dominar400) as much as you love your Ben, but the main reason why I am in the market trying to replace it with a better machine is because I am looking for better more forgiving suspensions, an even more exhilarating performance from the engine or at least the same level of performance that I get on Fury and I ride alone 5 days of the week to my workplace but as soon as the weekend comes I ride with a pillion my wife and then my Fury's stiff suspension, poor weight management and the less turning radius becomes even more troublesome for me within the city.
Now the Scrambler 400x, is ticking all the boxes but the only crucial thing that it misses out for me on is the Engine performance - the low end is mind Blowing, very easy to filter in the traffic, picks up on any gear no matter how the speed is.. but the TOP END is simply not enough to entice me away from my Fury, after 90-100kmph, the engine feels restricted, strained and buzzy as f***. But aside from this, every small detail on 400x is fantastic be it the suspension setup, the seats, the seat height, handling is amazingly easy. I don't really mind the instrument cluster.
Now the Himalayan felt exciting, and was easily the most visceral bike as it has the performance with a lot of buzzy-ness, the suspensions are stiffer than the Scrambler 400x but still were very comfortable than my Fury. The instrument cluster has best in class features. Seats are spacious and comfortable for both me and my pillion, handling is again not as easy as the Scrambler but manageable within the city and confident inspiring on the highways. It doesn't really solve all my issues with the dominar but it feels like a different kind of flavoured bike that I can explore and have fun with.. The suspension and turning radius issues are solved for me coming from the Dominar- both me and my pillion are happy on that front, but the city riding, the extreme buzz on high speeds are a big problem for the both of us but at least it has the capability of doing those kind of speeds unlike the Scrambler 400x. Also, the weight management is still the same if not worse than my Dominar 400.
I love my Dominar 400, and that's why I am in this dilemma of which is a better proposition for my above mentioned troubles. For reference I am 6ft 105 kgs and my pillion is 60kgs. I only tour thrice in an year and I ride every day for at least 10-20 kms, exhilarating, very comfortable and easy to manage on a day to day basis are the key attributes for a replacement bike to my Fury. Please do suggest.
Wait for a year if buying 452, till then stick to fury. No indulgence please... Owning 411 from the first batch and saying this.
Nobody commented on the top heavy part. Its the only reason I stayed away from TRK502. Again a gem of video as always
Thank you Ben. You saved me. I have been planning to sell my 411 for booking 450 as I cannot keep two at a time. I am not going to think it anymore. You can remember me, who purchased Himalyan seeing you, taking care it himself with your guidance and advice. Thanks again Ben.
I got a modified Himalayan 411 as well and it is absolutely amazing.
07:47
Brilliant observation 👏
🙏
Thank you so much brother ❤️
Brilliantly laid out Ben..
Great Job Brother!!!
Genuine person n genuine review n feedback 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Merry christmas 🎄 and thank you for the sensible review cheers u got a regular subscriber 🤘🏻❤️⭐️🧿👍
Agreed! I like the ergonomics and the design of the older Himalayan. I test rode and didn’t like much. Most of the videos are over selling the new #Himalayan.
Great video Ben, an honest review and made my mind uo to stay with my 411. The GOAT for me. I know that will be controversial but im older and not a great rider so i love my 411.
The 411 is for sure a more versatile machine
If you check out the torque curves comparison chart, even as low as 2500rpm the 411 makes only 27Nm while the 452 makes 32N. At 3000rpm the 411 makes only 29 NM while the 452 makes 36. Can you explain your observations about the 452 feeling like it has less torque at the low end?
Thanks for this really interesting video brother 👍🏻
I really do not doubt a single word of what you've said here. I am sure that, as a 411 owner myself, as soon as I get to try a 452 over here in Europe, I will feel the same way.
RE have become very good at schmoozing the global press with their launches. So much so that I suspect that the journalists look forward to an RE launch event more than those of many other manufacturers. They may be keen to gloss over any negative aspects of the bikes, just to remain on the RE press list. As you say, it's surprising that none of the motorcycle journalists have picked up on these things in their initial reviews. But that's why we need people like your good self, to come in and offer a more accurate view.
The mere fact that you've ordered a 452 despite knowing about these shortcomings proves that these things don't make it a bad motorcycle.
But these things make it possibly NOT a better motorcycle than the old 411 and people should be made aware of that.
I will probably reference this video in a future video on my channel mate. You have given us European Himalayan owners plenty of food for thought.
I will also be interested to follow how you get on with your own 452 when you have it.
A really interesting video. Thank you.
ER
I took a test drive today for an hour.
Pros:
Straight line stability is damn good. Well balanced while crawling in traffic.
Orgasmic exhaust note.
Brilliant suspension and braking.
Cons:
Lot of reviwer said it is butter smooth until 6k rpm. However, There is lot of buzz felt on peg handle and tank post 4500rpm. Wind blast is too much post 80. Cant sustain more than 80 with stock wind shield for my height(5,11'')
Overall, the bike feels like a thumpy ktm 390 adv with a bit better low end. KTM feels alive post 4k whereas Himalayan feels alive post 3k
Also, my feels is that it won't be agile in ghat roads especially around a sharp hairpin
I'm considering a new 411 Himalayan or a Voge 300 rally. Hoping to purchase early in the New Year.
Don't think it's productive throwing shade at other moto journalists who somehow 'magically' overlooked some of the problems you had. You brought up some good points, but I think there's a bit of a bias showing for the 411
Thanks a lot for being so honest. Very rare to get such honest opinion on RE bikes especially in India. No disrespect here at all to any RE fans. But RE fans are like a cult, which is good considering it's an Indian company and we need to support them. Our RE fan boys dont want to agree on short comings. But, based on individuals requirement on their usage what u hv mentioned makes sense. For ppl who want to chug along no matter the terrain, the 411 is a gem. But, if u need highway crusing at 130kms/hr, ktm does make sense. Ppl don't understand tat ktm is also part bajaj owned company. Let's go with pure requirements and what makes sense for each of urs usage on a regular basis.
Hi Ben, thank you for pointing out some very interesting not so good points. Just wanted to confirm if the bike you tested was due for oil and air filter change which could have added to the vibey nature. Also there are very niche UA-camrs not very large in scale also talking about the absense of low end torque like Bulu Pattanaik did. But overall thanks for being very straight 🙏
such a honest video Ben ... 🔥
I have himayalan when I ride a few distance timing chain start noise I replace with new one but sound does not minimize any solution to minimize that sound
Perfect review
I agree with you about vibrations, i test ride 2 him450 bikes , 1st one was having more vibration, 2nd one also having more vibration but less compared to the first one. When i compared with my 2023 him411, my 411 is way more smoother.
Great review. Thanks much. I agree with you and low end torque is what I was after for I enjoy riding slow technical trails the most. Yet I end-up spending lots of hours at higher speeds to get to those trails and visit places. So, back to reliabilty and my blown-up engine... I could get better valves from Hitchcock as this seems to be a "frequent problem" with the LS410 engines, I could get the cam and improve fueling as you did; what about the chain tensioner? Are there any other aftermarket parts to minimize those potential catastrophic engine failures? Any other "Achilles heel" on engine parts?
the valves will be fine as long as your fueling is fine, get a fuel commander, the cam will def make things a lot better , surprisingly i have never had a problem with my chain tensioners may be because i have changed them once every 10000 kms even without any damage .
Agree with you, i too felt the same 😊
The 1st point u made, the foot pecks are wider and its smooth af for touring but the reason why its so smooth is because its dampened really well.
2. Point being top heavy? U thought its top heavy because its harder to get off the side stand? Its harder because the stand has more angle and the bike leans further on the side stand than the himi411 to fix the main issue where the old himi was unstable on its side stand, obviously when the bike is leaning more, you have to put more effort to pick it up. The bike itself is actually got lower centre of gravity than the old one. 452 naturally leans into corners because of how good the suspension and chassis is, you can lean the bike into a corner with just your butt.
3rd point the bike not being a tractor and not having low end torque. The engine isn’t a low rpm long stroke engine anymore. Himi411 was never a trail bike either, I’ve owned one and done nearly 20k on it which included south india trips and off road with trails, for trails the only good thing the bike had was low end, but it was too heavy on its feet and it felt like a tractor too, which isn’t a compliment.
4th point the wind screen, u the one u test rode had the stock visor which is small but a bigger one will be available to buy as an accessory from RE. Im 6,2 nd the old himi visor still didn’t do it for me, i had it straight up and the wind would hit the top of my helmet, in the old himi u sat lower and the handle bar position was higher along with the headlights so the visor naturally sat higher.
5th point the coursing speed, ktm and triumph both have shorter stroke than the himi452, the bike can easily do 110 and relax, if you hands got numb after riding the himi452 but does it not feel like its gonna shake off if u try to stick at 110 or above on the 411? 452 has a much higher top speed so u have that tolerance gap, overtake speed opportunities, 411 u stay at 100 and thats it, u cant do over that without feeling like your holding the bike by the neck and asking for more.
6th point and finals few ones, the headlight yes its a low voltage led headlight and it never be match against a aftermarket led. Led should be projector otherwise its just a never ending cycle of trying to buy higher voltage leds, Tapped noise yes its so annoying. U found so many cons in the himi452 because its a stock bike u changed so much about your 411 and wonder why u can’t find manu cons? Make it make sense, if u compare the 452 to 411 then it will win outright in every way but hey your ben is your baby and it’s different than a stock himi411 so u have your personal emotional reasons to back your ben.
It's amazing that so many guys are mistaking the bike to be top heavy when it's the side stand angle. The Himalayan 450 has a lower CoG, higher ground clearance and longer suspension travel in this class. It's not top heavy at all. Surprised people are making such basic mistakes.
You're right. And i have seen many people out this out on UA-cam and this will unnecessarily influence a lot of people.
Nicely put up ben.. But Why to book a motorcycle with so many cons when compared to your current himmy??
Why do you have the chain guard removed from your bike?
Hi tx I will keep my 411 😊
First time seeing your video. Subscribed for the well-rounded assessment and honesty. I noted all these things too and therefore not very keen on the purchase (despite the booking). What better bike do you suggest for someone wanting a machine solely for touring (primarily the mountains) under 5L.
Hi, Rajesh here. I have Himalayan 411 BS4, RR 310 and right now the latest one is the Yezdi Adventure OBD2 2023 model.
I think if there is any bike that can perform better than Himalayan 411 is the Yezdi Adventure. I did a Ladakh ride on Yezdi this July, did a Winter Spiti earlier this March on Himalayan. I have both the bikes so can give you the exact difference and which is better in what.
I think except the low end torque of Himalayan 411, everything else is better in Yezdi Adventure 2023 OBD2 model not the earlier ones though.
Also if you manage to play with the gears l which comes easily even low torque is not an issue with Yezdi Adventure. I easily cruise ar 120 + throughout the day with much gas left in the Engine still. Just did a south India ride a week back with a pillion and I managed to cruise at 120 throughout the day with pillion on.
The suspension, acceleration, build quality, handling, overall comfort, etc is better than Himalayan 411. Test drive the bike and you will not be disappointed unless you are a 6 ft + tall guy then your legs might be cramped a little..
Yezdi guys are worse in marketing that's why we don't hear a lot about it but trust me that is the best single cylinder bike in India that I have come across in my 18 years of driving experience.
Thanks for the ggod information, i decided to stay my 411. greetings from germany.
Saved my money❤
Interesting revelations indeed. Perhaps you may ride another 452 to reassure about the vibrations
Old is gold 😊
I prefer a scram kinda vehicle, but now that new Himalayan is announced, I was thinking probably I should wait for a new 450 scram. So based on this am I better off with Scram 411?
*Thank you. Good video/points.*
Can you be more specific regarding the changes you've made to the 411? (I couldn't find it on your channel) :]
could you do one of these videos for the scrambler 400x?
While others only ride their motorcycle, you my friend have enhanced the machine (and yourself) in this journey.
Compared to other reviews on the internet, your is critical to the point it should be and there is a valid reason for that.
Caus of your keen interest in the motorcycle, you have pushed the boundaries to solve problems and customize it at levels beyond general immagination. Its difficult to understand the level of efforts and research you go through. That hard work and attention to detail provides you an edge over the others.
Really enjoyed the video. I am literally amazed by all points discussed in this video and yes its very surprising that no one is talking about it.
Looking forward to your new HIMALAYAN, and a series of comparison videos along with it.
Good Luck !!!
Yes it is true ....my himalayan almost done 20k km now it is totally smooth at speeds of 100 kmph.
Did you ride in Eco mode or Performance mode?
Hello, about the 411. Is the handlebar a weak point? I hear that it can easily break or get twisted, even on stationary or slow speed, falls? Any advice there? Thanks
I live in nz and proud of my FREEDOM 411 my himmy never disappointed me never stalled. Here 100km is limit on roads. My FREEDOM is awesome
It took me 3 test rides to realize that there is absolutely nothing in the bike below 3000rpm. Like nothing at all. That's the reason I booked the Classic 350 over the Himalayan 450 as my usage will be 60-70% office commute in city traffic and around 30% highway touring once in 2-3 months. As the hype around it will slowly settle more and more people will start to realize that its not a bike for city commute. The 411 is just brilliant in that aspect. No one is going to go touring everyday. But we will commute to our offices on a daily basis. Its all the media hype that is overshadowing all the cons of the bike.
Himalayan 450 to classic 350? You could’ve still got the 411.
@@akhil1781 They have discontinued the 411.
I wanted something with good low and mid range torque.So Classic 350 was the only best option after that.
Aray bhai aapko Sirf Office jana hai toh Koi Bus, Rapido, Metro, ya Scooty kharido and Hamesha Office chale jana that's very Simple🙏🏻
298kg ko leke Office hamesha kyu Jana But Still Office hamesha leke jah sakte hai koi problem nahi hai
@@_abhimanyu. y not scram 400x?
@@yomi6387 Just that i want a Royal Enfield for now. Plus, Scrambler 400x is very new with very few ownership experiences out there. The Classic Reborn has been there for a while with known pros, cons and issues.
I too owned Himalayan 411 and just completed a test ride of Himalayan 450. I don't know why RE obsolete the 411 and what they have made in the name of upgradation.
Possible to compare 2023 bmw gs 310 and himalayan 452 and share on all these parameters? Could be explosive insight for the crowd.
Wouldn't it be possible to help the 450's low-end by replacing the wheel sprocket with a larger one? Maybe not as much though?
It's just not possible to make a Short stroke perform like a long stroke
Riding triangle for me on low seat isn't good but if you adjust up it's better
Iam hoping that the QA on the new bikes will be a bitt better than the new Himalayan will be a good bike and can compete with the KTM 390. But in the and i will wait and see what people here in our german forum will report about it when it is in daily use. Because bike that are "tested" by the press so early are often checked before by the manufacturer in every detail. I own the 411 and i will keep it for the reasons you mentioned Ben. The 450 would be an addition because i have some space in the garage left ;)
In every gear engine is vibe free till 6500rpm post that it has a lot of buzzing all-around. I rode test bike vehicle.
one n only honest review 😅
Interesting, my 411 is in a similar state of tune as yours & I have also ordered a 450 (untested as they will not initially be available to test in the UK). I was always planning to keep my 411 anyway for off road use but am also looking forward to the 450 for more road biased riding. I do find it somewhat surprising though with so many negatives that you still ordered a 450 🤔🤷🏻♂️
Hi sir just we are waiting for the build new himalayan on your way 🙌
Will gonna really miss Himalayan 411 Legend n First ADV in this segment n adventure culture
I can totally relate to this ❤ cuz I own 411
I appreciate the fact that finally, someone on the interwebs has written about the cons on the new Himalayan. But, why are you ordering the new Himalayan when good 'ol Ben is as good or better?
You were the one who said keep your old bike and not the new himalayan. Now getting new one 😂😂
How do you say the low end torque is low for Sherpa 450 when compared with LS410?
The torque graph from RE shows Sherpa 450 is superior in low ends too.
Yeah i went to showroom seeing that graph came back with a diff opinion. I think graph was incomplete 😂
Omygod... U r 100% right... After the test ride.. I also felt the same... Its so front heavy.. Doesn't have the flickable nature of the old one.. No one have talked about it.. I wonder why.. Will wait for the HERO🤩 now😂 unless Honda brings in something new
Ben I just brought 411 in april and drove only 900 kms but i'm happy as my wife passed away 2 months back so I was not using the bike
Wtf
@8:18 that's exactly my 2022 411 himalayan is compared to the 2020s... the torque kicks in post 3000 rpm.
Nothing less than a true view of the bike. Yes, people are entitled to their opinions and choices. The way I see it, the new Himmi has no low end torque. In your experience from upgrading bikes, can we do something about it through any 3rd party mediums, Ben? 😏
My height 5.6 . And i have booked new Himalayan. While test drive i didnt feel it since i am not pro rider. Now i am worried about your comment on U turn scenario . Is that an issue.?i am worried now
I have an interceptor, and a Himalayan that I use for touring. Was looking forward to changing to a more powerful bike. Was disappointed that RE came with a single cylinder 450cc.
Wasn’t very happy with a test ride to switch between the 2
Also a 450 cc with a single cylinder is too big.
How is Triumph Speed 400
Pol Torres Thrashes his T7 and make it look like its a toy but behind the scenes that T7 has many drops and crashes. I did a side by side comparison of the Himalayan and T7 and found that they both share the same design flow, although the Himlayan suits more to the tourer catagory than the T7 offroad. Test rode a 136 km ridden Himalayan and i dont see any issues with the bike's engine and the low end torque . Have seen the T7 in person and i can confirm in that as aspect Himalayan is the closest we can get to a T7 Minus the one extra cyl. Al the shorter stroke of 81.5mm compared to 86mm on the 411 speaks why 411 feels like a tractor. This does not look a flaw rather the 411 was something that was something that had issues and flaws. People still can buy the Scram 411 if they prefer that kind of riding and engine tractabality.
I don't understand how these people are scrutinising and reviewing the bikes just riding for 30 minutes or few kilometer without experiencing fully, it's completely new bike, New chassis new engine, it take some time to understand how to ride this type of bikes, it's not fair enough to criticise bikes without experiencing fully 🤞
im also wondering the same 😂
Better to go 350 multipurpose but mainly concern higway and hilly then go 650
Hi Ben,
I took the test drive in Madikeri last week and 100% agree with all the aspects that you talked about. I think there are some major flaws in the new Himalayan, I have a BS4 Himalayan myself.. and frankly I was so disappointed with the new Himalayan 452. In addition to what you said, about the looks that you said are subjective. I thought.. they have literally destroyed the appeal that outgoing Himalayan has. The balance and the confidence that you have while driving on the toughest terrains is excellent on Himalayan 411. I did a solo Winter Spiti on my Himalayan this year, which was the toughest that I have ridden.. and probably because it was Himalayan 411 I could complete that ride with black ice and toughest terrains.. For me the new Himalayan is a big disappointment.
I seriously think it is going to backfire Royal Enfield in the long run.. and they should find a way to continue the old Himalayan.
A true monster⚡⚡⚡
The 411 is a beast in off roading and climbing(it is a Tractor). No doubt. The 452 is for the highway tourers. With button tires, the 452 will become more capable.
What rims did you use Ben ?
RCB 6000 series . Mods playlist
What a coincidence! Just test rode the new Himalayan yesterday and didn't feel anything like my rock red Himalayan. The rider's triangle as you pointed out isn't perfect on the new one. Also this should have been a 650 and not a 452. It would have made much more sense then.
sir you mentioned word tractor its true in hard rough terrain its the most efficient bike of himalayan 411 than new sherpa which has complex engine and easy to get break down during off-roading as those water cooled system using radiator its risky during off-road to get broken and sir Main thing there is no Main stand to set Chain lube or in case tire Got flat and it do vibrate and use of more plastic componant made it vibey that also mention by Sagar Sheldekar as well and now days after failure of Royal Enfield Meteor & hunter they messing up Himalayan legacy so hat's off Siddhartha Lal better had launched Sherpa 600 than 450 with 6 gear it defiantly would be viby than dual cylinder 600cc
Excellent and objective analysis of the things we have to live with rather than the hype of a journalist or reviewer smitten by the promise of something not yet proven.
I've feared the 452 will be a disappointment against the 411. I have a Scram and adore it, faults and all. For me, faults amount to just wanting about 5hp more - that's all, but I can live with what either of the superb 411s offer. It was inevitable that the new 452 engine would be very different, and lose so much of the character of the 411.
I still don't appreciate the radical restyle. What this does, with the engine, is create 'another' machine - almost a competitor to the existing Himalayan/Scram.
The reason why most reviewers don’t talk about the flaws( Most reviewers only and not everyone else) pointed in this video is becoz
1. They have more experience in talking with silver tongues rather than riding
2. Yes they have been bought or want to be bought by the manufacturing companies
3. They have no experience in riding so they can’t gauge a vehicle properly
P.S they just want to grab eyeballs and views for their reviews don’t really care about passing proper information to a prospective buyer rider
Royal Enfield has completely ignored the saying ‘never fix something which is not broken’