dorset Royal Enfield off-road experience

[phatmanace]

I quite fancy a dabble at a little bit of offroading, and found this in Dorset

https://www.superiormotorcycleexperiences.com/pack...

They give you a Royal Enfield Himalayan for the day - I wondered if anyone had any experience of this?

There is another place in herefordshire that do similar, but that's quite a bit further for me to go. Also, Patsy Quick has her desert rose academy, which is quite near me, but I quite fancy the idea of riding the RE.

Cheers.

[merlin75]

have a look at dorothys speed shop in braunton devon.
nathan is a top bloke and will tailor a day to suit

[Bob_Defly]

Do it, the Himalayan is a laugh!

[airsafari87]

A bit OT but ...

Would a Himalayan be better for light off roading/ greenlaning than say a CRF300L ?

Reason I ask is that I'm really struggling to decide what I want to replace my S1000R with and I'm likely going to wait till spring before buying its replacement.
In the meantime I really fancying getting a bit of a dual-purpose type bike to do some light off road stuff on during the winter.

[Ilikemotorbikes]

airsafari87 said:

A bit OT but ...

Would a Himalayan be better for light off roading/ greenlaning than say a CRF300L ?

Reason I ask is that I'm really struggling to decide what I want to replace my S1000R with and I'm likely going to wait till spring before buying its replacement.
In the meantime I really fancying getting a bit of a dual-purpose type bike to do some light off road stuff on during the winter.

As above... go and see Nathan Millward at Dorothy's speedshop in Devon (if you can) - he has both, amongst others, and can tailor days to suit individuals and groups. I've met him a couple of times and been to the speedshop, great location and a great bloke too imo

[KTMsm]

airsafari87 said:

A bit OT but ...

Would a Himalayan be better for light off roading/ greenlaning than say a CRF300L ?

No

Although I wouldn't use a CRF either - too heavy - although it does depend what the lanes are like where you are.

Warwickshire is muddy ruts, Peaks stones and boulders etc

[AceOfHearts]

phatmanace said:

I quite fancy a dabble at a little bit of offroading, and found this in Dorset

https://www.superiormotorcycleexperiences.com/pack...

They give you a Royal Enfield Himalayan for the day - I wondered if anyone had any experience of this?

There is another place in herefordshire that do similar, but that's quite a bit further for me to go. Also, Patsy Quick has her desert rose academy, which is quite near me, but I quite fancy the idea of riding the RE.

Cheers.

I am doing the Desert Rose Academy Stage 1 on the 25th Sep, so can let you know how it goes

[airsafari87]

Ilikemotorbikes said:

As above... go and see Nathan Millward at Dorothy's speedshop in Devon (if you can) - he has both, amongst others, and can tailor days to suit individuals and groups. I've met him a couple of times and been to the speedshop, great location and a great bloke too imo

Spot on, cheers 👍Just checked their website out and the pair of us is keen to do their 1 day package, its a canny old trek down from Newcastle though so we will likely build it in to a week away.

In other news I had a ride over to Newcastle today to try and call in to the Honda dealership and other dealership that sells Royal Enfields.

Unfortunately Honda didn't have any 300L's on the floor to look at.l, but did have a 300 Rally that was awaiting collection at the weekend so the salesman pulled that out for me to have a good look around. And I have to say that I really liked it.
Seems like supply is a problem at the minute though and he is estimating that it will be March 2022 before they can get hold of anymore that haven't yet been reserved. £100 quid down (fully refundable) now though will secure a slot for the next batch. I just need to decide if I fancy a L or a Rally?

Royal Enfield was a bust though, M&S seem to be operating on an appointment only basis still so I didn't bother trying to get in for a look around.
I did catch up with a guy riding one on my way home thiugh and had a bit craic with him about his. If my Mrs is dead set on having one I might pick one up for her for her 50th in November.

[chris4652009]

merlin75 said:

have a look at dorothys speed shop in braunton devon.
nathan is a top bloke and will tailor a day to suit

+1 For Nathan

[KTMsm]

airsafari87 said:

In other news I had a ride over to Newcastle today to try and call in to the Honda dealership and other dealership that sells Royal Enfields.

Unfortunately Honda didn't have any 300L's on the floor to look at.l, but did have a 300 Rally that was awaiting collection at the weekend so the salesman pulled that out for me to have a good look around. And I have to say that I really liked it.
Seems like supply is a problem at the minute though and he is estimating that it will be March 2022 before they can get hold of anymore that haven't yet been reserved. £100 quid down (fully refundable) now though will secure a slot for the next batch. I just need to decide if I fancy a L or a Rally?

Royal Enfield was a bust though, M&S seem to be operating on an appointment only basis still so I didn't bother trying to get in for a look around.
I did catch up with a guy riding one on my way home thiugh and had a bit craic with him about his. If my Mrs is dead set on having one I might pick one up for her for her 50th in November.

If it's an emotional / cosmetic purchase - fair enough but if you look at spec / bhp / kg then you will come to the conclusion that any enduro type bike is far more capable off road and a KTM 690 Enduro / Husky 701 is far better on and off road.

The 300 doesn't stand scrutiny as a bike - too little power, too much weight and crap suspension but it's cheap - but so's a far better, used bike

[Prof Prolapse]

KTMsm said:

If it's an emotional / cosmetic purchase - fair enough but if you look at spec / bhp / kg then you will come to the conclusion that any enduro type bike is far more capable off road and a KTM 690 Enduro / Husky 701 is far better on and off road.

The 300 doesn't stand scrutiny as a bike - too little power, too much weight and crap suspension but it's cheap - but so's a far better, used bike

27bhp, 150kg (Rally model), Honda built, 250 mile range(!), screen, decent lights, better brakes, different suspension. The CRF300L comes in at under 143kg and under five grand, for a brand new bike.

I don't think it's natural rival is a used European bike with an engine twice the size, I think it's probably something like the Himalayan, which I doubt really has the same "rugged/reliable" image as the Honda which potential buyers may be looking for.

I bet they sell loads personally.

[KTMsm]

Prof Prolapse said:

KTMsm said:

If it's an emotional / cosmetic purchase - fair enough but if you look at spec / bhp / kg then you will come to the conclusion that any enduro type bike is far more capable off road and a KTM 690 Enduro / Husky 701 is far better on and off road.

The 300 doesn't stand scrutiny as a bike - too little power, too much weight and crap suspension but it's cheap - but so's a far better, used bike

27bhp, 150kg (Rally model), Honda built, 250 mile range(!), screen, decent lights, better brakes, different suspension. The CRF300L comes in at under 143kg and under five grand, for a brand new bike.

I don't think it's natural rival is a used European bike with an engine twice the size, I think it's probably something like the Himalayan, which I doubt really has the same "rugged/reliable" image as the Honda which potential buyers may be looking for.

I bet they sell loads personally.

Perhaps they will - I've never understood cosmetic / emotional purchases nor the fascination with "new" particularly if you're going off road

If I'm buying a bike with a £5k budget, any bike that is £5k or less is considered - I'd buy a KTM 690 Enduro 148kg,70bhp, fully adjustable WP suspension

[Prof Prolapse]

Are the KTMs reliable though?

Genuine question.

[poo at Paul's]

Prof Prolapse said:

Are the KTMs reliable though?

Genuine question.

Not as reliable as they might be. That’s not the best choice of KTM, too heavy, 70hp sounds a lot, and it is, but they don’t actually make that, and the 690 is a bit archaic now. You don’t need 70 hp off road, in fact it’s counter productive.

I reckon you’d be better with a Crf450x model road reg’d, 50 hp, 120kg, and it’s a Honda, that is more spanner friendly.

If you want a KTM, get a 2T. Or a husky version if you want more conventional rear sussers

[R1 Dave]

A mate of mine bought a Himalaya on a whim as it was cheap.

It was st.

He sold it soon after.

The end.

[jumpingloci]

merlin75 said:

have a look at dorothys speed shop in braunton devon.
nathan is a top bloke and will tailor a day to suit

Really kind Merlin.

Yes I have Himalayans, CrF250 and 300 Rally, KTM 390 Adventure, BMW G310 GS and a Rally Raid CB500x for people to ride back to back.

www.dorothysspeedshop.com

But for me the Himalayan is a great trail bike, just limited by its ground clearance at the pegs.

The CRF300 Rally is a big step up from the 250 as well. Much torquier.

I also have CT125s.

(edited to add: I personally find for a novice rider a CRF250L/Rally or Himalayan would be a better bet than a 701/690 etc. Just more manageable)

Edited by jumpingloci on Thursday 2nd September 20:27

Edited by jumpingloci on Friday 3rd September 10:29

[KTMsm]

Prof Prolapse said:

Are the KTMs reliable though?

Genuine question.

Generally yes - IIRC it's the highest bhp single ever made so will it go on for 50k with just oil changes - unlikely but they should do 25k+ with the only question mark being the rocker arm

[KTMsm]

poo at Paul's said:

Not as reliable as they might be. That’s not the best choice of KTM, too heavy, 70hp sounds a lot, and it is, but they don’t actually make that, and the 690 is a bit archaic now. You don’t need 70 hp off road, in fact it’s counter productive.

I reckon you’d be better with a Crf450x model road reg’d, 50 hp, 120kg, and it’s a Honda, that is more spanner friendly.

If you want a KTM, get a 2T. Or a husky version if you want more conventional rear sussers

If either were asking about an enduro or strictly green lane bike you'd be right - but they were asking about predominately road bikes that you can take off road.

Name me a better bike for that than the 690 Enduro at £5k ?

All the other options are generally heavier, have less power, worse brakes and suspension

[airsafari87]

KTMsm said:

If either were asking about an enduro or strictly green lane bike you'd be right - but they were asking about predominately road bikes that you can take off road.

Name me a better bike for that than the 690 Enduro at £5k ?

All the other options are generally heavier, have less power, worse brakes and suspension

How well do they work when you out the wrong oil in them?

[KTMsm]

airsafari87 said:

How well do they work when you out the wrong oil in them?

I wouldn't know as I never have, but probably cheaper than not being able to ride a BMW on track