[bharath79]

Originally Posted by rahulba

Guys - I am considering H450 after riding CBR 250R for close to 9 years. The bike will soon be completing its 14th year (first 5 years it was owned by another BHPian) and still runs butter smooth. Unfortunately, I have to sell it off due to strict 15-year rule in Delhi NCR otherwise would have happily got it extended by another 5 years and kept it with me.

I recently did a Delhi Jaipur Delhi ride over 2 days with my better half on CBR 250R and she was mostly comfortable and didn't experience much vibrations on pillion set. We were mostly in 90-100 kmph range and occasionally at 120-130 kmph. Now when we tested H450, she could easily feel the vibrations at the speed of 70-80 in 4th gear. So therefore, I am looking at inputs from your end on the vibration part and comfort for pillion rider. If anyone of you travelled long distance with pillion then can you please share your experience and also recommend if changing the seats would be needed or not.

Do consider the NX500!! Atleast test ride it.

[n_aditya]

Originally Posted by rahulba

If anyone of you travelled long distance with pillion then can you please share your experience and also recommend if changing the seats would be needed or not.

My wife and I have done many rides that span 350-400 kms in a single day. Not sure if you consider this long distance.

There is a noticeable vibe or buzz between 5k and 6k RPM and specifically on the right side of the bike. This would translate to 90-120 kmph in 6th gear, IIRC and this is where most of the cruising happens. At 80kmph, there is no buzz and the bike is very smooth. My wife did complain of numbness in her right foot due to the buzz (she was wearing boots with adequate rubber soles for cushioning).

I found the stock seat to be a little "abrasive" on my butt cheeks and I will be getting the touring seats soon.

If you can get the touring seats at the time of buying the bike (without the stock seats), go for it. Othwerise, ride a bit and decide if you need to change both or only the rider seat.

Other than this, the suspension is brilliant and is THE BEST feature of the bike.

If you can look past these minor characteristics which is typical of RE, you will enjoy the bike.

Originally Posted by bharath79

Do consider the NX500!! Atleast test ride it.

The NX500 is 2x the price of the H450 but of course it is a parallel twin, a LOT smoother and better fit and finish. Suspension travel is not as much as the 450, parts and overall maintanence would be significantly costlier and unlike RE, Honda does not have a wide service network or spares availability (for the NX), esp. if one is touring across India.

My suggestion: Ride both bikes extensively. Go with the one that pulls your heart strings

[PatienceWins]

Originally Posted by rahulba

Guys - I am considering H450 after riding CBR 250R for close to 9 years. .

I also ride CBR 250 for touring and doubt if you would be happy in NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) aspect after switching to Himalayan, after being used to Honda. I felt like I switched to an electric motor while riding CBR after test riding Himalayan. You will miss the nimbleness of CBR too. Otherwise Himalayan with its awesome suspension/ size/ VFM etc is a good choice.

Managing NVH over a long distance tour is a different ball game as the long time exposure to vibration/ buzz would tire the rider. You can manage noise with ear plugs/ good helmet, but nothing can be done about vibration/ buzz. I recommend to rent a Himalayan and go on a short weekend tour with your wife. That will give you the best feedback.

[rishi.roger]

Originally Posted by rahulba

Guys - I am considering H450 after riding CBR 250R for close to 9 years. The bike will soon be completing its 14th year (first 5 years it was owned by another BHPian) and still runs butter smooth. Unfortunately, I have to sell it off due to strict 15-year rule in Delhi NCR otherwise would have happily got it extended by another 5 years and kept it with me.

I recently did a Delhi Jaipur Delhi ride over 2 days with my better half on CBR 250R and she was mostly comfortable and didn't experience much vibrations on pillion set. We were mostly in 90-100 kmph range and occasionally at 120-130 kmph. Now when we tested H450, she could easily feel the vibrations at the speed of 70-80 in 4th gear. So therefore, I am looking at inputs from your end on the vibration part and comfort for pillion rider. If anyone of you travelled long distance with pillion then can you please share your experience and also recommend if changing the seats would be needed or not.

Himalayan 450 will feel like an upgrade in terms of Power and Off-Road capabilities but it will feel like an absolute downgrade in terms of refinement and character.
- Its a large single and vibrations are expected. It's simple physics.
- It's an Indian Brand and therefore there's no matching in refinement and reliability even remotely. It also lags a lot behind in terms of fit and finish. It is something that is going to stick out and haunt you for the entire duration of ownership.
Unless you're extremely practical - I think there are far better options that will satisfy your soul and crave for motorcycling than Himalayan 450. The Himalayan 450 is a bike more closer to Mind than Heart, and that's how I describe it. It's a compromise between a lot of things and yet somehow it emerges as a Winner above all .

Everytime you will look at it, it will look odd and as if the designer was not paid well but everytime you ride it, you will find that the engineer involved was following his passion. Unfortunately its an ADV and that too from Royal Enfield (so there's no such thing as weight management that exists in their dictionary).

Consider these points:
- If you're taller than 5,8" and weight 75kgs upwards
- If you don't care about aesthetics/fit/finish
- If you don't care about engine character/noise/clatter
- You know how to handle a 200KG machine (braking/getting on and off, etc).
- It's not your only go to machine (you don't want Honda/Toyota like Rock Hard Reliability).
- You don't have budget for Imported Bikes
- You don't go into narrow lanes and crowded places.

Just go for it. There's nothing in competition at this point of time. KTM 390 with LC4C engine and BMW450 are going to cost a lot more and are not meant for people who look into their wallet spending (At least BMW for sure).

If I was asked to pick a motorbike and it can't be a Himalayan 450 -> I would have picked the Bear 650 (considering that I'd be coming from a Japanese Machine).

These are my views as a Himalayan 450 owner from ~past a year.
- Weight
- Engine Clatter/Character
- Looks (I call it a Frakenstien Monster because it does what was expected from it - except the looks and chonk!).

[amyntor]

Originally Posted by rishi.roger

...

Unless you're extremely practical - I think there are far better options that will satisfy your soul and crave for motorcycling than Himalayan 450.

I wonder what they are. I own a gen 3 Duke 390 with 26000 kilometres (and counting) on it. I am currently considering switching to an ADV motorcycle. I have both the upcoming 390 Adventure and the Himalayan 450 as my choices to consider.

I test rode the Himalayan when it was launched and didn't like it all. The test ride as short and the Himmy felt very noisy and coarse. This experience wrote it off for me. I must disclose that I was riding a Honda CB350 H'ness back then which was (and still is) smooth as a butter and almost feels like an EV if not for its exhaust note.

After I got the Duke, I realized I didn't mind a buzzy motorcycle as long as it offsets that with oodles of fun. And boy, is the Duke so joyful!

But I rode the Himalayan 450 again recently, thanks to a friend who was glad to let me borrow it for a day. It wasn't a complete stock bike however. He put Decathlon's badminton racket grips on (what an idea!) and replaced the stock air filter with DNA air filter. The ride felt good! The engine was still chatty but the bike wasn't too vibey anymore. It felt much better than my test ride experience and just like that, the Himmy jumped back on my watchlist.

[rishi.roger]

Originally Posted by amyntor

I wonder what they are. I own a gen 3 Duke 390 with 26000 kilometres (and counting) on it. I am currently considering switching to an ADV motorcycle. I have both the upcoming 390 Adventure and the Himalayan 450 as my choices to consider.

But I rode the Himalayan 450 again recently, thanks to a friend who was glad to let me borrow it for a day. It wasn't a complete stock bike however. He put Decathlon's badminton racket grips on (what an idea!) and replaced the stock air filter with DNA air filter. The ride felt good! The engine was still chatty but the bike wasn't too vibey anymore. It felt much better than my test ride experience and just like that, the Himmy jumped back on my watchlist.

1. Triumph 400 Based Scram - this is a very good bike that's comparatively smoother, better quality, more agile and handy except the fact that this lacks the more hardcore offroad capabilities that Himalayan offers.

2. RE's own 650cc Bear - it is heavier but its engine makes up for everything it lacks plus now it's slightly offroad capable now.

3. NX500 - Honestly if you have the money and are not planning to do extreme offroads and more of highway touring then the NX500 is better bike (except the cost invovled).


The Himalayan 450 is still a segment winner but not by appeal, more by practical aspects/VFM.

My unit is running FuelX + PowerTronics ECU + AfterMarket Air Filter + ResonatorBox Removed + LiquiMoly (49T Sprocket Installation Pending). I'm waiting for Service to check if I can get the spark plugs replaced with Ngk Iridum (in case they don't come as stock).
Couldn't think of more performance mods at this time that is available. (I'm not mentioning all the expensive chassis/accessory mods for now but I have thrown all the money I could for parts that are currently available except the Acerbis tank etc.).
The bike doesn't feel anything like stock, but one thing that hasn't changed despite the mods is it's clatterfull annoying character/noise . I have just accepted to live with it knowning that I own a RE motorbike. I don't know if those coming from a Japanese machine ownership will be able to digest it or not for long.

Ps, I did wrap my handlebar with TripMachine genuine leather wraps and it further helped reduce the buzziness but it made the handlebar thicker to hold causing pain in wrist and I had to take them off. The engine mods I did later now helps with the buzziness but they're not for faint hearted and definitely not cheap.

[TheTourer23]

Hello Fellow H450 owners,

Did anyone try Fully Synthetic Engine Oil in your bike? If yes, can you brief your experience here? I am mainly interested in terms of how the oil change affects the vibrations.

Thanks in advance.

[jatinrajpal]

Recent Purchase - Royal Enfield Himalayan 450

Hello Himalayan 450 owners,

I’m Jatin from Delhi NCR. After riding bikes like the Hero Honda CBZ Classic (2001–2013) and Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-i (2012–present), I recently bought the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Hanle Black edition.

It’s been 7–8 years since I last went on motorcycle road trips. In the past, I’ve done many solo and group trips to the Himalayas, as well as to the Western Ghats. My biggest trip was Delhi to Pune (1800 km) in 2011. Lately, I’ve been traveling in my SUV, exploring places like Spiti and Ladakh. But now, I’m excited to return to motorcycling with my new Himalayan 450.

Bike Selection Journey
While deciding on a bike, I considered four options:
1. RE Himalayan 450
2. RE Interceptor 650
3. Triumph Scrambler 400X
4. RE Guerrilla 450

My main purpose for the bike is touring and weekend breakfast rides.
- RE Guerrilla 450: Though comfortable, I ruled it out because of its small 11-liter tank, lack of a windshield, and shorter suspension travel.
- Triumph Scrambler 400X: It’s an excellent, well-engineered bike, but for its price, it felt a bit basic. Its small tank and lack of a windshield made it less ideal for my touring needs.
- RE Interceptor 650 vs Himalayan 450: It was a tough decision. I really enjoyed the Interceptor’s twin-cylinder engine—opening the throttle was an absolute thrill. However, the Himalayan 450 stood out with its superior suspension, factory-ready setup for long rides, and features like Google Maps integration via the TFT display. After going through reviews and giving the Himalayan another test ride (this time not in Economy mode), I came to appreciate its impressive power, torque, and suitability for extended trips.

The Big Day:
On my 36th birthday, October 19, 2024, I gifted myself the Himalayan 450 Hanle Black. I bought it from Lamba Enterprises in Tilak Nagar, New Delhi. While I wasn’t impressed with the delivery experience (the bike had seat stains and wasn’t cleaned properly), I was thrilled with my purchase.

Current Experience:
I’ve done a couple of breakfast rides and one long trip to Mukteshwar (~800 km round trip). The bike has now clocked about 1600 km. I’ll share my detailed impressions after completing 2000 km.

For now, here are some delivery and trip pictures. Stay tuned for updates!

(P.S. I went for the non-tubeless rims due to the salesperson’s advice that if i order tubeless rims separately, i will have an extra pair of rims in about 2-3k for your bike , and later RE stopped taking orders for tubeless rims . Hoping they resume soon so I can upgrade!)

[avikrpandit]

Hello Fellow H452 Owners,

I had a trivial question related to the booking process.

On MIY, if a prospective customer adds the bike + accessories like tubeless spoke wheels + crash guards; will the motorcycle arrive from factory fitted with all these or will it arrive separately to the dealer and have to be installed separately when those arrive?

[true_sedan]

Originally Posted by avikrpandit

On MIY, if a prospective customer adds the bike + accessories like tubeless spoke wheels + crash guards; will the motorcycle arrive from factory fitted with all these or will it arrive separately to the dealer and have to be installed separately when those arrive?

Congrats! Welcome to the H450 club.

No, the accessories will be fitted by the dealer. Order it through your dealer beforehand. Also negotiate a discount. 10% is default, you can ask for more.

[rakesh_r]

Originally Posted by avikrpandit

Hello Fellow H452 Owners,

I had a trivial question related to the booking process.

On MIY, if a prospective customer adds the bike + accessories like tubeless spoke wheels + crash guards; will the motorcycle arrive from factory fitted with all these or will it arrive separately to the dealer and have to be installed separately when those arrive?

Congratulations, the bike will come with tubeless rims right from the factory.

[rishi.roger]

Originally Posted by TheTourer23

Hello Fellow H450 owners,

Did anyone try Fully Synthetic Engine Oil in your bike? If yes, can you brief your experience here? I am mainly interested in terms of how the oil change affects the vibrations.

Thanks in advance.

I'm running LiquiMoly Street. Did the change within first 1500kms. Its one of the best you can get.
The experience might not be night and day (particularly when you're on a stock motorbike/tune) for sure but it definitely helps keep the engine feel a bit cooler. I would have opted for this change a bit later after 5k on the odo but the fact that I was running all sorts of other mods on the engine so this was very much needed in my case.
The other noticeable difference I feel when I go nuts with tune (Map 10 on FuelX and Race++ on ECU), the engine doesn't feel strained at all. On a regular engine, you will feel the harshness increasing.

TLDR; its not needed for bonestock tune. Not worth voiding your warranty , but if you're enthusiast then you'd know the difference

[TheTourer23]

Originally Posted by rishi.roger

I'm running LiquiMoly Street. Did the change within first 1500kms. Its one of the best you can get.
The experience might not be night and day (particularly when you're on a stock motorbike/tune) for sure but it definitely helps keep the engine feel a bit cooler.
TLDR; its not needed for bonestock tune. Not worth voiding your warranty , but if you're enthusiast then you'd know the difference

Thanks for the feedback!
Mine's a stock bike and sometimes I do get bothered by the clatter. I think it doesn't make sense to just change the oil to expect a big difference then!

[khan_sultan]

Got the tubeless cross spoke rims installed and used that opportunity to get the 3rd service done and also the handlebar SOP that was missed earlier plus shim adjustment for the clatter / "chan-chan" sound checked as part of the 3rd service SOP. As much as I love the 450, the one thing that I absolutely HATE about the motorcycle is the "chan-chan" sound / clatter / chatter (whatever you call it).

The shim adjustment involves removing the fuel tank, air filter housing and some associated hoses. Very tightly packed and with the H450, the DIY for such things is very difficult to do.


After removing the head cover


The other side -- a horizontal aluminum plate/rod is placed


and beneath you put in a locking nut.


The parts for the tools used for this (thankfully not chargeable as part of this service)


Then marks are put for reference


Then the gap value is 'felt' using the feeler gauges. This is to be done for both inlet & exhaust sides


and the values noted. The standard values are 0.25 for exhaust and 0.15 for inlet side and based on the formula, it is determined if shims are OK or different size shims are to be put.


After several trials and feels, the calculations for my vehicle came out to be


Then further parts are removed to get to the shims




The chain tensioner. It also pays a vital part in the "chan-chan" noise, I am told.


Another view of the head


This entire work of shim adjustment (took some 3+ hours) and post this I notice some difference in "chan-chan" sound but not sure if that is just due to shims or oil change etc. Will have to ride more and see.

Along with this the handlebar SOP was also done.


All the parts used for this work.

[man_of_steel]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

This entire work of shim adjustment (took some 3+ hours) and post this I notice some difference in "chan-chan" sound but not sure if that is just due to shims or oil change etc. Will have to ride more and see.

Thanks for the detailed pics. What is the recommended interval for valve clearance adjustment for the 450?