[navin_v8]

Originally Posted by Ketan

Looking for some inputs by those who ridden RE Machismo LB500 and RE Himalayan on and off the roads.

Ketan mate although I don't own a Himalayan as yet but have rode it a couple of times. About the Machismo LB500 I have ridden it quite a few times. It is similar to its smaller cousin AVL LB350 albeit with more torque and power. Well the Himalayan is everything that a Machismo LB500 is not and vice a versa. Himalayan is an all new bike from RE from ground up whereas Machismo LB500 is based on the same chassis and design as the Bullet Standard 350 except the engine and gearbox. The Himalayan is an ADV Tourer whereas the Machismo LB500 is a Standard motorcycle both are different. Himalayan is more of an all rounder where it feels comfortable on road as well as off it. Himalayan is surprisingly good for city rides as well. The torque band is spread very nicely and you wont miss your LB500 torque as the Himalayan is close where it makes about 32NM of Torque. It has excellent bottom end and mid range grunt for touring as well as city riding.

1> On-road/Highway characteristics - (although I have read a few owners and I feel it's going to give me enough power to ride at the speed I usually do on highways. Very few occasions I cross 110 or more, for a short stretch, REH and LB500 have got similar horses on paper at least)

From my personal experience the Himalayan reaches 100 KMPH comfortably and can stay there for long hours without stressing the engine much thanks to OHC configuration and an oil cooler. If you ride at speeds of 90-100 KMPH the Himalayan wont disappoint you.

2> Off-road capabilities - I'm sure this is why everyone's getting REH and I'm looking forward to test this when I get chance - I'm very much hopeful that the chassis and suspension are the major positives and top on the list for decision making

It has been doing very well on this front too. I have personally seen a couple of Himalayan riders in Bombay pulverising the potholed ridden roads due to monsoon. They go faster than the average speed of any bike over such surface.

3> low end torque - I know this is what REH is designed for. However, my LB500 has got almost 25% additional torque (@40+NM) when compared to REH. I need inputs from someone who has ridden both these and can comment if I'm going to miss this with REH!!!

Mate you will be surprised by the bottom end torque delivery of the Himalayan. I too was surprised considering it is an OHC motor. Remember Himalayan too shares similar engine characteristics like the other RE's which sport long stroke motors delivering awesome torque at the bottom end and mid range. I ride a Tbird500 and although it has more torque than the Himalayan, one cannot really make out the difference unless one is very attentive to the subtle inputs. Again you wont be disappointed with the bottom end torque delivery.

I've been reading about the niggles showing up with REH, I feel none of them are major or can drive the decision change so far and hoping all of them will be sorted soon. Inputs here would help me (and another buddy in similar state I know from this group) take a call on whether I should go for it or not, whether to go for complete off-road package + decent speeds on highways OR retain my trusty LB500 with better torque figures and those slow, thumping rides all the way!!

Mate only you will be the best person to answer this question. If you really need the bike as of now then there is no better option at least from RE's stable that I can think of. Also remember the long stroke character is the only thing Himalayan shares with older RE's(including UCE). The engine is very different in terms of feel and sound. It is an OHC engine so don't expect thump like pushrods make. If you can wait then maybe you can delay your decision by a year or so for RE to sort out all the niggles with initial batches (Exactly the reason why I bought the Tbird500 after two years of its launch). Or better like me if you can wait longer then there is a possibility that the new 750cc Parallel Twin motor(under test) might make it into the Himalayan. Happy choosing.

[nasirkaka]

I should go for it or not, whether to go for complete off-road package + decent speeds on highways OR retain my trusty LB500 with better torque figures and those slow, thumping rides all the way!!

Have owned machismo LB 350 and have ridden LB 500. It all depends on What is you usage going to be like. LB500 is a classic now and a keeper. Is it the alberto green? which i think is the most gorgeous bike to come out of RE stable in recent past. The thump, the feel, relaxed nature of the engine will be difficult to replace. one the contrary, you will have issues of parts/spares availability in future, etc as bike is been out of production for a while. So if most of your riding is going to be on road, and you are not a speed demon and like relaxed pace riding(80-100), then machismo it is. If your riding includes good amount of off-road/trails, and if you have the adventure bent of mind (standing on pegs and riding hard and fast over broken roads), himalayan would be more suited. could you not keep the LB and get the himalayan too.

Actually thats unlikely. I high revving shorter stroke parallel twin on this type of bike would be a tough bet.

But we do not know what type of bore stroke ratio will have 750 teim have, do we? Going by their pedigree it may not be short stroke. even on the GT they are using UCE 500 bored to 535. And most of the adventure tourers these days have mid-high revving type engine configuration anyways. So a 750 parallel twin on himalayan type frame does sounds exciting. with good rubber, it would be a mean machine on tar and off tar.

IMHO It is the most superior bike built by RE till date, minor niggles apart, and all that torque advantage that you talk about is mostly relegated to paper. It will run circles around all other RE's built till date.

Superior - possibly, but may not be able to run circles around GT535, esp on open roads. GT is quite agile and got some good components on it. Off-Road - yes, himalayan will be difficult to catch on another RE.

[NPX]

Got these photos on WhatsApp captioned "Quality issues with Himalayan"







Mods, please delete this post if photos are already posted.

[anilp]

Originally Posted by NPX

Got these photos on WhatsApp captioned "Quality issues with Himalayan"

Whoa. That's completely strange. Was he running on low tyre pressure or a puncture?

[dkaile]

Originally Posted by NPX

Got these photos on WhatsApp captioned "Quality issues with Himalayan"

Yeah, you ride in a rally event in Coimbatore with a flat tyre and label it as a quality issue. Good one...

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by dkaile

Yeah, you ride in a rally event in Coimbatore with a flat tyre and label it as a quality issue. Good one...

+1 to that, these types of incidents are pretty much common on a track day. How can this be labelled as a quality issue?

Jagat Nanjappa made headline news during one of the national rally events where he rode 70 kms on a flat tire with his wife Anita on the petrol tank. The bike was Yezdi Roadking.

Such events cannot be a direct reflection on the bike's quality and has got to do more with the tuner's skill.

On the contrary it looks like a blown tire gone completely kaput.

[dkaile]

Originally Posted by nasirkaka

but may not be able to run circles around GT535, esp on open roads. GT is quite agile and got some good components on it.

Just the other day my friend on the Ninja 650 had a tough time shaking me off. Though the Ninja can do speeds in the range of 160 but he was managing max 130-140 while I was doing 120~130. I have ridden the GT extensively too and I doubt it's capabilities in this regards even though it has some better components.



No offense is meant to any GT owners, but it always gave me wrist pain within the first 15 minutes of riding due to its stance. I will still stick to my statement and definitely feel that the Himalayan is a superior product both 'on' and off the road, torque and capacity figures on paper not withstanding.

Cheers...

[dkaile]

Originally Posted by NPX

Got these photos on WhatsApp captioned "Quality issues with Himalayan"

Here's what happened from the 'horses' mouth -





Rode 90kms on a flat tyre!! Now let me see a Versys or a Tiger replicate that!!

#Himalayan #whatabike

Cheers...

[TorqueyTechie]

Originally Posted by dkaile

Attachment 1531865

Rode 90kms on a flat tyre!! Now let me see a Versys or a Tiger replicate that!!

That does clear the air! Do pardon my ignorance, but in the last pic where he is standing on the pegs doesn't that harm the wheel? And riding 90kms on the flat tyre again would have caused more harm right?

[dkaile]

Originally Posted by TorqueyTechie

That does clear the air! Do pardon my ignorance, but in the last pic where he is standing on the pegs doesn't that harm the wheel? And riding 90kms on the flat tyre again would have caused more harm right?

This bike is made to stand on the pegs but obviously not on a flat tyre surely. His resilience is exemplary as he kept on riding to complete the challenge. In his words "where completing the event is all we racers think about".

Cheers...

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by TorqueyTechie

Do pardon my ignorance, but in the last pic where he is standing on the pegs doesn't that harm the wheel?

Harm yes, riding on the bare rims will do harm but that 'standing on pegs position' with weight bias towards the front suspension / front forks reduces the load on the rear end of the bike hence damage caused is lesser than what could be of he rode it while sitting in the seat.

[BackInTheFold]

Originally Posted by dkaile

Here's what happened from the 'horses' mouth -

Rode 90kms on a flat tyre!! Now let me see a Versys or a Tiger replicate that!!

#Himalayan #whatabike

Cheers...

Impressive indeed!

I respect and admire your passion for the Himalayan. On the occasions I login to TBHP, I also read with interest your well thought mods and travelogs.

However, as an observer with no skin in the game who owns none of the bikes mentioned and is interested in just pure motorcycling, could I suggest that you desist from needlessly comparing the Himalayan with the Versys or the Tiger or potentially the F800 GS or the Africa Twin?

It unnecessarily detracts from the Himalayan's pluses which are:

The Himalayan is unbeatable value, a great entry level adventure tourer and a giant leap for RE. It is also, as in your garage, a great specialist as part of a good motorcycle portfolio. It is a pioneer in that it will likely make adventure touring mainstream in India.

Each or all of the above virtues are great enough in themselves.

Why not just revel in these instead of unnecessarily picking on super bikes on a subjective basis, when we know that an objective i.e quantitative or feature based comparison, would put these bikes in altogether different categories?

Hope you take my friendly feedback and admiration in the spirit it was offered.

Back to regular programming. Keen to learn about first hand impressions of the Himalayan. Good night!

[dkaile]

Originally Posted by BackInTheFold

could I suggest that you desist from needlessly comparing the Himalayan with the Versys or the Tiger

Well that's your point of view but comparisons will be inevitable and I doubt those can be avoided. Though the bikes may be in a different league 'price point' wise and in engine capacities, what they fulfill is a similar kind of craving in a similar category of biking needs. There are still small teething issues with the product, so take these comparisons with a pinch of salt and I see people spreading lot of unnecessary negativity about it, one example being made above, BUT as I have said before, the value proposition of the Himalayan in the Adventure Tourer category, fitting into the 'Indian' riding style and conditions, is hard to replicate as of now. So mate, opening up your mind to this fact would be more beneficial for you than telling me to desist from expressing my opinion.

Cheers....

[Ketan]

Originally Posted by navin_v8

Or better like me if you can wait longer then there is a possibility that the new 750cc Parallel Twin motor(under test) might make it into the Himalayan. Happy choosing.

Originally Posted by nasirkaka

could you not keep the LB and get the himalayan too.

Thank you for your suggestions and reviews guys. I forgot to mention about the emotional part in my post, heart always wants to keep Machismo 500 and I'll surely enjoy riding it for what its meant for. I'm planning to retain it. Thanks again.

[navin_v8]

Originally Posted by TorqueyTechie

That does clear the air! Do pardon my ignorance, but in the last pic where he is standing on the pegs doesn't that harm the wheel? And riding 90kms on the flat tyre again would have caused more harm right?

Mate sitting on a motorcycle with a wheel rim without tyre will send all the shockwaves of the road undulations directly to one's bones. The tyre rubber and the air inside gives some kind of cushioning apart from the shock absorbers. The riders' backbone will be rattled to the T if he were to sit and ride on a motorcycle running just on rims. Also it will be very difficult to control the motorcycle in those conditions as the flat rim will not provide any traction/grip while riding in curves as well as straight. I had a front tyre puncture once on one of my Standard CI's and it was going all over the place despite me holding the handlebar firmly while riding at crawling speeds. But kudos to the rider to continue in this condition, only he will know how he would've controlled the bike and made it to the finish line. Not to mention the RE Himalayan itself, this might sound a bit cliché but it is indeed, "Made Like a Gun."

Originally Posted by Ketan

Thank you for your suggestions and reviews guys. I forgot to mention about the emotional part in my post, heart always wants to keep Machismo 500 and I'll surely enjoy riding it for what its meant for. I'm planning to retain it. Thanks again.

Mate I knew it even before you mentioned. The Machismo LB500 is very rare and is a keeper apart from being a very competent motorcycle. Also retaining it will give you a sense of satisfaction more than selling it off. I too thought of selling my first Bullet Standard CI 350 once I acquired the second one and thought of selling the second one when I got the third one. Guess what? I still have all of them.