Other Bikes » New Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 purchased

After a delay on getting uk tubeless tyre versions (ordered last november) I picked up my new Royal Enfield 450 Hanle Black (Gold tubeless rims) yesterday.
Many false dawns on delvery - mar/apr, then may/june and july - "it's here" and I arrange insurance - only to find out it was the white version, another wait.
Now have 6 weeks of running in the new engine 4000rpm equates to 50mph, then 6000 for another 800 miles - not quite the 70mph bmw R1200 early use but not going to be an issue on local roads. Really enjoying the first 70 miles and the computer has stalled at 99.9 mpg so I expect 80/90mpg once running in completed.
I did order a few accessories in feb direct from India and they all fit, saddlebag stays, rear rack extender, radiator guard etc and all were around a third of uk prices, which were unavailable or no price yet. Bike looks well made and for £6300 with 3 years warranty it was way cheaper than updating to the R1250rs, let alone the new, as yet not released R1300RS?
Good local dealership, CMS Exeter, kept me updated and they are so busy my first service will be at the end of september.
The sidestand has been mentioned on forums as 'too short' and after the near vertical RS (yes it blew over on dartmoor - luckily only the mirror broke - fall saved by soft grass and stainless steel engine guards) and it does make me 'jump' as the bike continues left before sidestand to concrete impact - first time refuel was a panic to say the least.
Nice handling, light, comfortable it seems, and just a change of direction after nearly 20 years of various R1200 variants.
Still have the R1200RS SE from 2017 - just had the 18k service 4 weeks ago and no plans to make any other bike my 'keeper' !!
All my local roads are A type or minor - dartmoor is now blanket 40mph and the only time I've been om the M5 was 3 miles use to the RE dealership.
Hence - 350 miles since the full service and new Michelin6 and the bikes is showing 70mpg - keeping 'legal' as we now have a devon wide blitz - unmarked ghost vehicles, bus and lorry used to transport police 'hiding in plain sight' with drones and a new computer viewer on a large boom had been catching many riders, drivers etc.
We have just had very sad news, 5 occupants car crash - 2 dead, 2 critical and another crash 2 passed away but these were both at night and away from those monitored routes. Many families having their futures changed and now planning funerals for young drivers. Take care.

Thanks for sharing Dave, enjoy the new RE and keep us posted, I think many on here will be curious on your ownership experiences.

Keep an eye on the chain adjuster.
Thanks for the advice - I will check over the bike in a few days - makes sure the bits I fitted at still there!
So far I am generally impressed - I know a few youtubers thought the larger nuts/bolt heads should have been smaller or torx but RE know their market.
These bikes will be built for Indian market and they know how many garages/home mechanics will work on them (what's a torque wrench anyway?)
If they are built for the locals they will be fine worldwide, I hope!
"What's that funny chain thing where the shaft drive should be?"
Now fitted my old 'loobman oiler' that has been "in a box in the garage, just in case" since I removed it from my Kawasaki which is a good manual oiler.

Where's the photo?

Where's the photo?
Is that like a maths question? you say math, we say maths - so is it photo or photos?
Just to prove the RS is front and centre!
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New light protector and also replaced the plastic radiator guard with alloy/powder coated item
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Really cheap ebay camera £12 with all leads and mountings - I drilled the side of the case (not planning on taking the bike in to 30ft of water) and now have both bikes with all day cameras and no need to stop every hour to change a battery. Couple of rubber grommits and they are fine in rain to keep recording

A few more - total cost of all accessories, 7 items, was £135 plus £80 for the top box and mounting plate.
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Chain oiler is made by loobman - hard to photograpgh but the bottle was moutend near my handlebars on the Kawasaki set up. with a 'delay dripfeed' which kept most of the oil in the feed tube.
Now fitted closer to the chain on a total loss - feed tube empties over 15 mins so fine for local use - any old oil, 80/90w best but I am getting rid of some old 0w30 car oil.
two little cable ties mount on to the assembly, spares provided, and they rub against the rear sprocket, oil runs out on to the chain plates, I think it cost me under £20 but they are dearr now.

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The problem with the device is you have to remember to manually pump it every now and then.
Not too bad in use, one press of that little bottle and you are ok for hours - considering how poorly lubricated and adjusted some machines are on a few bike nights I attended!
It was easy when fitted up at the headstock but this will do for my use and it kept previous chains 'like new' for near to 20k miles..
Should have added - the 7 items for around £135 were - headlight protection grid, satnav X bracket behind screen (my satnav needs a smaller mounting clip) radiator guard, rear brake heal guard, also the fluid reservoir, left and right saddlebag mounts, plus the rear stay over the mudguard, larger rear top plate braket (replaces the original plastic unit) which the new topbox plate mounts.
The quality topbox for £80 did include the heavy duty mounting plate, all black parts were very well powder coated and look like OE supplied. Orderd in january expecting the feb/march delivery so they have been sat in their delivery boxes for 6 months wondering if they would fit correctly - luckily all did and as usual there were a few parts, screws, nuts, washers left over and they sent two sets of saddlebags bolts in error.

All going well although I will be glad to get past 300miles (currently 150) and can go above 4000rpm following a first service. Booked when I collected bike but they are so busy it will be end of september. Good job he trusty RS is avaialble,new michelins and a service 300 miles ago which is now showing over 70mpg and definitely running better @ 18k miles.
The Royal Enfield has gone from 68mpg - first 5 miles/start-up - reset when I collected bike 6 days ago.
Now showing '99.9 mpg' which being only 2 digits.zero I assume this means a 300 miles range before reserve - will check on the next refuel.
Still pleased with purchase and considering at £6300 it is one third the cost of a new RS I do not feel it is one third of a machine.
It would probably cost £12000 to swop in the RS for a new model ( 2 X RE Himalayans) and not justified for me if not going across europe.
Maybe next year, all being well this may alter!
Not the Himalayan but Haytor 2 days ago and road on perfect little lanes I haven't been along in 30 years - this area was my 'home area' when I was a field engineer for bt. Although I did get promotion to engineering contraols I think those were much happier times even in winter than offic control work.

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Out yesterday for a few more miles of 4000rpm running in and had a run in with a car and three bikes 'competeing (Racing?) for the same space of tarmac. Saw and heard them aproaching from behind, slowed and managed to pull over on the first straight road after the end of dartmoor 40mph back towards Moretonhampstead - now 60mph rural road. As the car overtook me, using half my lane, half oncoming lane, the first of three bikes passed the car. Other two bikes couldn't get past before the first of four tight bends ahead - one left, then right, another tighter left and a second to the right!!!
Well I got to the second tight left, about 30 bikes must have been on a 'old timer, old bikes run' coming up the hill towards us -most had now stopped, more were also riding up that hill- the first 'fast bike' that passed me and the car was 'in the hedge' - technical term I believe. I did not stop, too dangerrous, just hope only the one bike was involved and he never hit another oncoming bike.
There will be another insurance claim I guess - looked like the rider was up and walking, probably regretting his stupidity, who knows?
Doesn't have to be your fault to be your 'accident' and glad I let them pass me.
Take care everyone.