New bike time! RE Himalayan 450

[crofty1984]

rev-erend said:

crofty1984 said:

All home. Good ride, apart from nearly hitting a cat on leaving the dealership. Just really impatient to have it run in!

Come on, that's not a Royal Enfield.

It's a modern great looking bike not something designed in the 1950's.

Not having it

I'm perfectly happy to say that it's a modern Indian bike that happens to share a name (in reality the tires are a lot closer, but you get the point)
Only done 100 miles on it so far because when I get the good weather I've been focusing on fixing up the lotus in my al fresco workshop!
Impressions are good, feels solidly made. The fact that I'm currently limited to 4k/50mph while running it in is killing me! Main negative is the side stand leans over really far, and being pretty top heavy as a short bloke that can be a struggle, but I'm generally happy with it.

[gareth_r]

A side stand foot extender would lengthen the stand a little.

Could even lift it a bit more with some alloy plate or flat bar, some longer bolts, and a bit of work with a hacksaw, file, drill, and countersink.

[RoadToad84]

Just put when a deposit on a 410. 2022 model with 4,000 miles on the clock. Hadn't planned on getting another bike for a while, but it was calling to me

[Biker 1]

I read somewhere that these things require valve clearance checks every 3k miles (??)
If true, that sounds like quite an expensive service regime!
I do like the look of RE bikes, but I'd want a 1000 cc version of their Interceptor or Shotgun, with at least 150bhp & huge amounts of torque....

[guitarcarfanatic]

Biker 1 said:

I read somewhere that these things require valve clearance checks every 3k miles (??)
If true, that sounds like quite an expensive service regime!
I do like the look of RE bikes, but I'd want a 1000 cc version of their Interceptor or Shotgun, with at least 150bhp & huge amounts of torque....

The 411 does I think, but you could do it on the roadside with simple tools - it's a very easy undertaking.

[Bob_Defly]

guitarcarfanatic said:

Biker 1 said:

I read somewhere that these things require valve clearance checks every 3k miles (??)
If true, that sounds like quite an expensive service regime!
I do like the look of RE bikes, but I'd want a 1000 cc version of their Interceptor or Shotgun, with at least 150bhp & huge amounts of torque....

The 411 does I think, but you could do it on the roadside with simple tools - it's a very easy undertaking.

Wow, why does it need that kind of maintenance? I thought RE engines were fairly low tech?

[Krikkit]

Bob_Defly said:

Wow, why does it need that kind of maintenance? I thought RE engines were fairly low tech?

They are, which is why it doesn't have hydraulic tappets or shims to worry about, just a proper old-school screw and locknut style.

[guitarcarfanatic]

Krikkit said:

They are, which is why it doesn't have hydraulic tappets or shims to worry about, just a proper old-school screw and locknut style.

Exactly - it's a 5 min job to adjust. The bike is designed to be really robust and easy to maintain...it's designed for Indian roads etc.

[Krikkit]

guitarcarfanatic said:

Krikkit said:

They are, which is why it doesn't have hydraulic tappets or shims to worry about, just a proper old-school screw and locknut style.

Exactly - it's a 5 min job to adjust. The bike is designed to be really robust and easy to maintain...it's designed for Indian roads etc.

The ultimate expression of that would be to fit hydraulic adjusters so you never need to touch it while touring except an occasional oil change. Not as cheap though.

[SteveKTMer]

Krikkit said:

guitarcarfanatic said:

Krikkit said:

They are, which is why it doesn't have hydraulic tappets or shims to worry about, just a proper old-school screw and locknut style.

Exactly - it's a 5 min job to adjust. The bike is designed to be really robust and easy to maintain...it's designed for Indian roads etc.

The ultimate expression of that would be to fit hydraulic adjusters so you never need to touch it while touring except an occasional oil change. Not as cheap though.

I don't know for sure, but I'd have a guess that the 411 has many of the same parts as the other RE bikes, so the many hundreds of RE repair shops all over India can maintain them without having to re-train all the engineers.

[Wacky Racer]

So how are you getting on with them, Crofty and Road Toad?

[RoadToad84]

Wacky Racer said:

So how are you getting on with them, Crofty and Road Toad?

Pick mine up tomorrow. Watch this space!

[Krikkit]

SteveKTMer said:

I don't know for sure, but I'd have a guess that the 411 has many of the same parts as the other RE bikes, so the many hundreds of RE repair shops all over India can maintain them without having to re-train all the engineers.

Agreed, but if you're going for robust and easily maintained then hydraulic self adjusting is surely the best way? All you've got to do is change the oil.

[jumpingloci]

The old 411 is officially 3000 miles between valve checks but once you've done them at first/second service you'll find they don't need checking half as regularly if at all. It's only for warranties sake that you might do it by the book.

The new one is 6000 valve check but shim and bucket so is going to be harder/more costly to check.

[SteveKTMer]

Krikkit said:

SteveKTMer said:

I don't know for sure, but I'd have a guess that the 411 has many of the same parts as the other RE bikes, so the many hundreds of RE repair shops all over India can maintain them without having to re-train all the engineers.

Agreed, but if you're going for robust and easily maintained then hydraulic self adjusting is surely the best way? All you've got to do is change the oil.

Hydraulic valve systems need more complicated oil system and the oil needs to be very clean. Also at high rpm the lifters can pump up and cause valve float, especially in older less complex designs, which RE would probably use. The oil in an Indian RE will often stay in the engine until it's used up.... then more is added to take its place.

Manual adjustment takes half an hour and is accurate, doesn't depend on oil, works at all RPM and all of the workshops already know how to do it.

[SteveKTMer]

jumpingloci said:

The new one is 6000 valve check but shim and bucket so is going to be harder/more costly to check.

Very modern for RE . Just like fuel..... taken in 2022.

[RoadToad84]

Wacky Racer said:

So how are you getting on with them, Crofty and Road Toad?

Have put 500 miles on mine since Thursday, 480 of which have been with my girlfriend on the back. Averaging 85mpg, which is pretty bloody impressive.

Can honestly say it's made me fall in love with riding again. Really confidence inspiring handling, low centre of gravity, and a nice neutral riding position belies its 200kg weight.

So at 410cc and 25bhp it's not gonna win any races, but it soaks up everything the crappy Lincolnshire roads throw at it, and generally feels unstoppable.

Minimum electronic nonsense on it as well. No frills, solid and (hopefully) reliable. I'm a fan.