9 observations on the RE Himalayan 450 after a 3,000 km road trip

A Super Meteor 650 and Triumph Tiger 900 gave me company during the 8-day road trip.

BHPian rookieraj recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Last weekend I completed a 3,000 km trip on my Himalayan 450 with two other friends who were riding a Super Meteor and a Tiger 900, respectively.

The itinerary I followed was:

Day 1: Nagpur - Akola - Jalgaon - Nashik - Trimbak

Day 2: Trimbak - Saptashrungi - Ahmednagar

Day 3: Ahmednagar - Pandharpur - Solapur

Day 4: Solapur - Tuljapur - Kolhapur

Day 5: Kolhapur - Panhala - Ganpatipule

Day 6: Ganpatipule - Murud (Dapoli) along the coastal road

Day 7: Murud - Dapoli - Mahad - Mahabaleshwar - Pune

Day 8: Pune - Ahmednagar - Aurangabad - Jalna - Akola - Nagpur

Here are my observations about the characteristics of the H450:

1. The suspension of the H450 is the standout feature of the bike. It takes every road imperfection with aplomb be it potholes, surface undulations or loose gravel. I have realised that over a long ride, you invariably have to negotiate stretches which are under construction or in a state of disrepair. It is over these stretches that you pat yourself for having chosen the H450. On good surfaces, the bike feels extremely planted and encourages you to go as fast as you can dare. Cornering on twisties is so much fun!
2. The perceived lack of torque in the lower revs is relative to what the rev-happy motor delivers in the medium and higher revs. I did not encounter any problems in this regard. The Super Meteor and the Tiger 900 would accelerate quicker after crossing an obstacle but I was always able to catch up and match their speeds. Negotiating slopes in the 1st or 2nd gear did not pose any problems at all. I did have to play with the clutch though. Gear changes in stop-and-go traffic are more frequent than some other bikes but it is not a major problem as the clutch is pretty light.
3. Vibrations are felt at the foot pegs (more on the left side) and the handle, more so when the motor is struggling to churn out power in the 4k - 5k zone. It was barely noticeable the second day onwards so I guess I had got used to it by then. I have installed grip puppies so that mitigate the handlebar vibrations to an extent.
4. Thank god for high-ankle/mid-shin riding boots. The engine heat does make its presence felt. The cooling fans, however, came on only when the bike was static for a couple of minutes.
5. The rear brakes bite hard. On a couple of occasions, the bike fishtailed when I applied the front and rear brakes simultaneously. Thereafter, I mostly used the front brakes which are progressive and get the job done even if they leave you with your heart in your mouth.
6. The stock seat is comfortable for long rides. I carry a petite pillion rider's weight over my ideal body weight and yet I could easily ride for two hours at a stretch.
7. The stock headlight only serves the purpose of being a DRL. Auxiliary lights are a must for riding during the dark hours.
8. During the fag-end of the trip I felt that down-shifting gears had become a tad hard. I need to double-check on this though.
9. The bike is top-heavy. I stand 6'3" tall so mounting, dismounting or manoeuvering it did not pose any major problem but I had to be careful. I did, however, manage to spill once at crawling speeds. I would rather get into shape to handle the bike rather than complain about its weight distribution.

Overall, the bike is a pleasure to ride over long distances while being forgiving of riders' errors. In my opinion, it fits the bill of being an ADV tourer better than any other bike in the 3-4 lakhs budget range.

I have barely finished one ride and I am already planning the next one.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.