Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 with mods worth Rs 17k: Riding impressions

FuelXPro+ costs some 11.5K and supposedly will improve the low-end torque issue and reduce the increased gearshifts needed.

BHPian khan_sultan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

After doing approx 1000 kms got the bug of modifying the Himalayan 450 to suit my needs.

Got the following mods done on my Himalayan (apart from the usual crash guards/saddle stays, fog lights, etc etc that have been done from 1st week of ownership itself):

Free Flow Filter: From way2speed. Costs 3,200/- and supposedly gives better breathability

FuelXPro+: Cost some 11.5K and supposedly will improve the low-end torque issue and reduce the increased gearshifts needed (compared to Himalayan 411). It is claimed that this is tuned specially for the Himalayan 450 and comes with 10 settings from 1 to 10 ( setting #3 in stock, 1-2 are lean and 4-10 are richer as you go up). Also, supposedly makes the throttle more responsive and addresses the perceived lag in throttle response.

Replace the resonator with a decat pipe: Which costs some 2.5K. Did it just for the sake of it. Nothing else except to make it sound a bit better (not louder) and to just see how it makes the bike feel/sound.

Initial impressions after these mods and running the fuelXpro+ at a setting of 6 and approx 100 km or riding:

• The throttle now 'feels' snappy and instant response. After crossing 3K rpm, there were no such issues earlier also but now it is like a beast unleashed. Below that it is not struggling like before at lower speeds in higher gears. Has the issue completely gone? NO. It is a LOT LOT better than before but it is still not 100% gone. Maybe, need to check with higher settings on the maps.
• The sound is a bit more but not that too loud also. Am sure it will not attract undue attention just because of the sound.
• Overall the bike feels much much more "free/rev happy" and eager to move as a riding experience.
• The bike did stall when I got caught in peak hour jam-packed traffic (in 1st gear). So, at almost crawling speeds, still needed to use the clutch a bit. Earlier I have not been caught in peak hour traffic, so can't say how it was before or if it is a factor of my riding style. In my Himalayan 411, never had a stall issue happen in peak traffic
• It seems strange but even after having the same riding style as before, I noticed fewer vibrations. This needs more monitoring over an extended period if this is just a perceived difference or if it is for real.
• Will be observing more as I ride with different settings of Fuel X Pro+ from 3(stock) and then moving up 1 at a time and seeing how it changes the bike behavior. Need to see what will suit my riding needs and style the best.

Not sure of the warranty aspects due to these mods but will cross the warranty bridge when it comes and if it comes.

Here are some pics of the mods/install:

Bike ready for work on the bench

The free flow filter from way2speed alongside the stock filter

The Fuelx Pro+

The chart of Fuel X Pro+ that shows how much gains one can have at part throttle

The wiring of the Fuel X Pro+ is being done. Though the race-dynamics website has detailed instructions etc, I would still prefer this install to be done by a person who knows what they are doing.It is one DIY that I would skip just because of the tricky access to the lambda sensor placement, the removal of the tank, and some other stuff that needed to be removed.

The wiring and final installation of Fuel X Pro+

The decat pipe that will go into the bike instead of the resonator

Install in progress

The decat is fully installed

And as had no bag on hand, had to carry the resonator in the small dirt-sack bag. :-)

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.