Honda NX500 v/s RE Himalayan 450: Which bike to buy for my use case?

I already own a BMW G 310 GS, RE Interceptor 650 and a Hero Xpulse 200.

BHPian nasirkaka recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Just browsed through this thread and interesting to read various opinions and thoughts on the NX500.

It's been a while since I bought a new bike and the itch is growing. I had pinned my hopes on the Himalayan 450 but am not yet fully convinced about that bike. It is still very much under consideration but here comes the NX500 to make decisions messier.

BACKGROUND:

I have been riding a 310 GS (2018, 55k kms), an Interceptor 650 (2019, 30k kms) and an Xpulse 200.

1. 310GS is my daily workhorse and does fairly well on weekend rides as well which is a mix of highways, trails, some off-roading, etc. It served well and is still in very good shape, except for the typical single-cylinder issues or vibes, under-powered feeling, exhaust notes, etc. It does not sell in numbers, so the feeling of exclusivity is there. Also, the bike looks good in my eyes.
2. Interceptor 650 is my love rebound for a 650 twin post parting with my Versys 650 due to health reasons. It's a bike which I have modified a fair bit to make it versatile for relaxed long hours on the saddle, and some off-roading as well. But in the end, we can only achieve so much with mods.
3. Xpulse 200 was bought for weekend trails around town where one could try things off the road which one would not dare on heavier and expensive bikes. Xpulse has its limitations in single pot and unrefined engines, highway capabilities, etc.

I was looking at the Himalayan 450 as a possible replacement for the 310GS. With the NX500 in offering now, there is a line of thought which says sell the interceptor and the 310GS both and get the NX500. I guess the NX500 would be able to do what both these bikes offer.

USE CASE:

Most of my weekends are spent riding to places which offer trails, and off-roading opportunities. My riding involves biting more than I can chew and frequently results in dropping the bike or subjecting it to an environment where scratches, dents, bends, and damages are likely. This works with 'not so expensive' to maintain bikes like the GS, interceptor and Xpulse, but I may hesitate to go to such places on the expensive NX500.

But I also know that if I do get the NX500, I would be going to such places, dropping the bike on trails and slush, and am not sure how that will turn out to be.

DILEMMA:

• The 310GS will have a poor resale value (mine is the first batch, where it was much more expensive to begin with).
• Even with combined sales of these two bikes, I may still have to additionally put in more than half the amount of what the NX500 could cost on-road in Bangalore.
• Some basic assessors would be additional and those are again unreasonably expensive.
• At present, I have other financial commitments as well which means I am looking at a part loan in case I go with NX500. So it's the fight inside the head for a 'no brainier' Himalayan 450 vs the 'double the cost' of NX500.
• I have never owned a Honda before so not aware of their after-sales service, spare availability, costs etc.
• I like how the NX500 looks.

Looking forward to other members' thoughts on this tussle.

Here's what BHPian b16h22 had to say on the matter:

The H450 is the better pick for your use case. You have to consider the availability of spare parts along with the costs involved if you plan on taking the NX500 off-road regularly. If you manage to bend something like a handlebar or damage the bodywork on the trail, the CBU factor might be a drawback.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.