I picked up the Ngage Air Filter for my Royal Enfield Himalayan because it would complement the functionality of a couple other modifications that I wish to procure in the future.

BHPian WhiskeyTangoFox recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I've been using the Ngage Air Filter for about 1000 Kms now, so I thought I'd post my impressions about its 'performance' so far.

An air filter alone isn't going to change a lot, and that is something that everyone must come to terms with. I picked this up, because I suspect it would complement the functionality of a couple other modifications such as the Fuel X Pro and the NGK Spark Plugs, that I wish to procure in the future.

I didn't want to spend close to six big ones on a BMC Air filter and after reading up a little about this small company called Ngage and watching a few videos, I decided to take the plunge. I ordered it directly on their website, however it is available on bikenbiker as well. From what I understand, most of these filters are Dyno tested as well, and claim to provide an additional increase in power up to 1.5 BHP, at the wheel.

The Quality of the packaging is impeccable no doubt, as is the filter itself. There is virtually no difference between this and say the BMC Filters in terms of fit and finish, as far as I observe. This needs to be cleaned and re-oiled every 6,000 to 10,000 km depending on usage. The Filter for the Himalayan cost Rs. 3000 and the recharge kit is for Rs. 700, which is very economical. The filter can be used for about 1 Lakh Km as per the company's claims.

'Performance' Impressions: There is a definite improvement in the throttle response and the ease with which the bike holds speed between 100-120 kmph. However, this change isn't the holy grail and is pretty minuscule. The Fuel X should make a significant impact I suppose. My agenda with these modifications is not to make the Himalayan suddenly become a performance machine, but are simply to aid its ability to get to and comfortably hold around 110 kmph, purely for touring purposes. IMHO, to try and make the Himalayan into anything else isn't worth it. I haven't had any change in mileage post installation.

For the price however, relative to its competitors, this seems like a bang for the buck product!

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The Royal Enfield Classic 350 Bobber is rumoured to be called "Goan Classic 350".

Royal Enfield plans to launch six new motorcycles this year, which includes the Classic 350 Bobber. Here’s a leaked patent image that reveals new details of the upcoming bike.

The Royal Enfield Classic 350 Bobber is rumoured to be called "Goan Classic 350". It has a circular headlamp with pilot lights on either side, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank and a tall handlebar.

The bike could get the option of a dual-seat setup with a removable pillion seat. Another interesting design detail about the Goan Classic 350 is the white wall tyres that wrap around wire-spoke wheels.

The Classic 350 Bobber is expected to be powered by the same 349cc J Series engine that is offered on the standard Classic 350. It produces 20.2 BHP and 27 Nm and will be paired with a 5-speed gearbox.

The bike will feature a conventional telescopic fork at the front and dual shock absorbers at the rear. The braking setup will consist of discs at both ends supported by dual-channel ABS.

Source: Bikewale

All the services have been carried out at the Royal Enfield service centre only with nothing out of the ordinary done to the motorcycle.

BHPian rajeevsulu recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

It is 14 months since I got the Interceptor. Today, I hit the 18,000 km mark.

My experience so far

I have had a lot of fun with this machine. Though a few things could have been better, I am still very happy with what this machine provides at this price point.

I have stuck to Power 95 petrol throughout, and have an average mileage of close to 27 kmpl. My usage is 100%highway and I just ride in town to get out onto the highway which is just a km away.

All services done at the Royal Enfield service centre only with nothing out of the ordinary done to the bike.

I have swapped out the exhausts to PoweRage end cans, changed my rear tyre at 13,000 kms, fixed bar end mirrors at 5000 kms. Everything else is stock.

Issues

I have used RSA twice, both when the bike was parked at home. The first issue was when the bike refused to start. RSA took the battery, charged it for a day, checked it, put it back and all is well. This was at 11,000 kms.

The second issue was when I had a flat at home. RSA fixed it. This was at 13,500 kms right after I had changed the tyre.

I have been planning to get auxiliary lights fixed, as, the lights are pretty bad and most of my riding is before sunrise but never got around to doing it.

I find the brakes very adequate, the rear has a very good feel, suspension could be a little better, but, it is a very good package and does the job.

Few pictures

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I think Royal Enfield has used a lot of Lithium grease which eventually heats up the relays and spreads over the entire sockets, blocking free conductivity between the relays and connectors.

BHPian raiuday recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Inty’s gone through the first service in a week and done 560 kms overall. Time for a DIY.

Inty/GT’s relays tend to give up and the bike just stalls abruptly. Several forums online did mention the issues with earlier 5-pin relays but the same persisted with the newer 4-pin relays as well. RE gunks up the relay sockets with Lithium grease, like a lot, and that eventually heats up the relays and spreads over the entire sockets, blocking free conductivity between the relays and connectors.

Solution? Get the factory grease off with an electronic contact cleaner (WD-40 electronic contact cleaner is what I used). You may choose to replace the relays altogether with 4-pin 12V 20A or 30A SPST relays from good brands like Bosch, Panasonic, Denali etc., but I’ve not done it although I had spare relays, as my bike is just a week old. Might do it if I face any issues in the future.

Tools/materials used:

• Allen key to open the left side panel.
• WD-40 Contact cleaner.
• Permatex Dielectric tuneup grease.
• Ear cleaning bud to apply the grease.
• Soft cloth to wipe off the connectors.

First step is to get the side panels and seat off the bike as the relays are accessible under the left-hand side panel. Be careful while pulling the left side panel as it involves getting the Allen bolt off on the frame under the seat and then by holding the left top corner, pull the panel towards yourself and it pops, then pull the panel upwards to get it off.

Once the left side panel is off, you’ll have access to the relays which are held in position by clips behind the sockets.

Pull the relay sockets upwards off the clip and then the relays out. You can see the relays fully covered by grease. If you’ve OCD, go ahead and mark the relays to get them in exact same positions.

The connectors and relays are goofed up with too much lithium grease which hampers the conduction of electricity, heating up the relays and ending up stalling due to the fuel pump not receiving the required wattage.

Now shake the contact cleaner, point the nozzle at the relay connectors and give a thorough spray to get the gunk off. I’ve used a lens cleaning cloth around the smallest Allen key (toothpick does the job too) to wipe any remaining grease and moisture off the connectors.

Let the sockets dry for 15 min while cleaning the relays.

Apply a good dielectric grease very so slightly on the relay ends with the help of an ear cleaning bud as below. Note that when it comes to dielectric grease, a little does a lot and a lot goofs up the connections. Also, at this point, you may choose to replace the stock relays with those of any good brands as stated earlier.

Once applied, access the below male-female plug connection, just above the relays and push the edges to access the connectors, wipe it off as well and apply the dielectric grease, then plug it back.

Plug the relays back into the connectors and you should hear a clicking sound. Wipe the area clean.

Once done, make sure to turn the bike on and check fuel pump priming up, horns, indicators, and lights working, and that no CEL is thrown when started. Run it for a couple of mins to see if the bike idles fine.

After everything is checked and good to go, fit the panels back in. Make sure to tighten the Allen bolt back in place, once the left panel is on. I missed it and had to undo the panels again, then lock it off.

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The best part is the intensity is adjustable from 10% all the way up to full (100%). Installation is a simple DIY.

BHPian aviator1101 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Purchased the costliest accessory for Bagheera (my Himalayan) : a pair of Gold Runway aux lights for ₹20,500.00

The performance of the stock LED headlight is very poor. Hardly anything is visible when any vehicle comes from the opposite direction. Hence, the need was felt to upgrade the lights.

Thanks to fellow bhpian techfreak for recommending these lights to me. But they are worth every penny.

The lights come with all accessories required for installation and nothing else is required to be purchased separately.

The box comes with a pair of aux lights, yellow filters, a pair of clamps, a wiring harness and a switch with rotary control to adjust intensity /brightness and a set of nuts, bolts and washers required for installation.

Installation is a simple DIY.

The lights were fixed to the clamps which were further fixed to the tank guard frame.

This is how the lamps are fixed to the frame.

Photo of both lamps installed on either side of the stock headlight

The performance, I must admit is beyond my expectation.

The best part is the intensity is adjustable from 10% all the way upto full (100%)

The high beam switch makes the intensity increase to 100%

Also, the horn switch activates the strobe function which is a deterrent for oncoming traffic who refuse to switch from dipper to dim.

Sharing a link of the video demonstrating the various functions of the light after installing it on Bagheera.

Video

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Since it was evening, I decided to take the bike to the Royal Enfield service centre the next day. It was a valuable lesson in motorcycle maintenance.

BHPian HillMan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Over the weekend, I noticed the engine check light illuminate and remain lit on my 2024 Bullet 350. Witnessing this on a new bike naturally raised concerns, yet the remedy turned out to be surprisingly straightforward.

Here's what occurred

The fuel level dropped, triggering the low fuel indicator. Despite this warning, I continued to ride for a couple of days. Earlier, when attempting to refill the tank after the low fuel indicator activated, the fuel tank neared overflow at around 8 litres, though it's designed for a capacity of 13 litres. Hence, I assumed there was approximately 4 litres left in the tank upon the indicator's activation.

After a few days of operating with low fuel (I missed recording the odometer reading, estimating a low fuel run distance of around 30-35 kms), the engine check light illuminated. Since it was evening, I decided to park the bike in my garage and planned to take it to the Royal Enfield service centre the following day for a quick inspection. However, before doing so, I refilled the tank. Voila! With the low fuel indicator light, the engine check light was now gone.

The likely culprit behind the issue was the fuel pump overheating due to insufficient fuel in the tank to keep it adequately cooled. While I initially suspected the engine check light was related to the pump overheating, I realised this wasn't the case, particularly as I experienced it even during a cold start. It seems more likely that the sensor for low fuel was the trigger. Nevertheless, the problem has been resolved, offering a valuable lesson in bike maintenance.

Here's what BHPian 2wheelsvaga had to say about the matter:

Thanks for sharing this experience. It certainly looks like one has to pay much more attention to fuelling than one used to in the past. The dealers made it a point to explain to me that the tank should never go empty, and also that it should never be completely filled to the very brim.

I wonder what is the best practice to manage it in conditions where one doesn't have access to a petrol pump and the fuel level keeps going down. Pretty common on the route to Ladakh or other mountains even slightly off the beaten (touristy) track.

Also, any recommendations on transporting the motorbike via trains? One of the legal requirements is that the entire fuel tank has to be emptied out. I wonder if that's a good idea given such instructions from the bike manufacturer.

Here's what BHPian HillMan replied:

You can fully empty the tank for transportation. It will not cause any issues. Fuel pump inside the tank is common in cars as well, nothing to worry about it. Pumps don't run continuously, they have automatic cut-off and maintain a range of pressure.

Filling the tank to the brim is also not an issue. I've tried it once and did not have any leak issues as well. I usually fill 5 ltrs at a time for daily use.

These bikes are tested in Leh and people go there regularly. Take it easy. Enjoy the bike. Don't overthink.

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I would prefer to change the oil at max 6000-7000 kms for preserving engine health and peace of mind in the long run.

BHPian aviator1101 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Ownership Update: Bagheera crosses 5000 kms

Second Service done

All inspections are as per schedule.

Following additional activities were also carried out:-

Chain slack adjusted

Engine oil (2.1 litres) was changed though it was not part of the second service schedule.

When the oil was drained, it was found in very bad condition.

RE recommended oil change interval is 10000 kms. However, the condition was pretty bad even at 5000 kms, which even the technicians checked and agreed to.

Thankfully, there were no metal shavings or sludge deposition in the suction filters.

Though my bike ran mostly in hilly terrain, ie low gears, low speeds, and more loads, the condition of the oil was not expected to be this bad in just an interval of 4500 kms.

After seeing the quality of the OEM liquid gun oil, even in plains and cruising on highways or normal city use, I would prefer to change the oil to a max of 6000-7000 kms for preserving engine health and peace of mind in the long run.

The footpeg rubbers also came off in view of the upcoming rides amidst the onset of monsoons.

The total amount for the second service

Service Kit = ₹ 250.00

Engine oil = ₹ 1,150.00

Total = ₹ 1,400.00

The service centre gave me a separate bill for the engine oil and the oil change wasn't entered in the service record either.

Strange ways of RE

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While Royal Enfield should reconsider the tyres that it is providing, the fuel efficiency of the motorcycle is not bad at all.

BHPian parrys recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So, I went for a 350+ km ride on Sunday with the Interceptor 650.

Ride Details: Thane - Panvel - Lonavala - Pawana - Tamhini Ghat - Kolad - Mandwa - M2M Ferry - Thane.

Total distance covered, 363.2 kms.

Here are some observations

• Started to get a hang of the weight. Now I am able to lean into a corner more confidently. Did overshoot a couple of corners, but nothing scary. As the mind always keeps telling me you are on an INT 650 & not 390 ADV anymore.
• The touring seat kept me happy. Did not have a sore bottom after coming back home.
• Do miss the gear position indicator. The INT 650 is so smooth higher up in the revs as well, that sometimes I was riding in 5th, and then noticed that I still had another upshift left. So I hope, RE offers this with their updated meters on the newer models.
• Love looking at the needles. Hard on the throttle, nothing more satisfying than watching the speed & RPM needle climb. And the dials look good to me.
• Riding posture for me, my height of 5'8''; no problem at all. At times I feel that the tank is LONG, when I look down. It makes me wonder does this make me sit too far? But the posture, I find nothing wrong with it.
• It does heat up at slow speeds. No denying that fact.
• End up kicking the left bend pipe often while trying to get the side stand down.
• Not even once have I used the USB charging yet. I must at least try to see if it is functional.
• Ceat Tyres - HORRIBLE. Not enough grip for fast cornering. Forget corners, while riding at 80-90 kmph, I once encountered a very very small wet patch. The tyre went sliding for a split second. Experience helped me maintain the line, but a scary moment for sure. Especially when you have no traction control. RE must surely reconsider the rubber. These Ceats, I will plan to change soon.
• Headlight looks good, when you look at it. The illumination at night, very poor.
• Mileage, around 27 kmpl. Not bad at all. Including slow crawls, high revving speeds and cruising too. Satisfied.
• Brakes surprised me. Even with the weight, I now have enough confidence to put the anchors down. Decent bite for my riding style.

On Sundays, we bikers spend thousands of rupees. Why? To ride our motorcycle for hours. Food cost is almost 10-20% of fuel cost. But worth it. Every single time.

Most of you here on this post, might have seen the Tanners Pride custom leather tank protector. It went flying off at triple-digit speeds. Thank god it did not hit someone else riding behind. Never going the magnetic route ever again. This was my first and last time. And this, while flying off, or when I picked it back and placed it on the tank; HAS SCRATCHED THE TANK. So it has defeated the whole purpose.

Tamhini Ghat route is so beautiful. It was raining last weekend around Pune. So we got lovely weather throughout this section.

Even after having seen that scratched tank, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. The bike kept flowing smoothly, and the AEW 102s kept playing some sweet music.

I can never get tired of this. My dad owned a Yezdi Roadking when I was a kid. I guess I have had a thing for twin pipes since then. Looks iconic. Or maybe, twin pipes look right (symmetry). Also noticed, the number plate mounting is crooked. Need to fix it soon.

Mesh gear always. Summer or winter. This is my Rynox set. My other RevIt is also maximum mesh.

So, here's the heartbreaking bit from Sunday. Scratches on the tank. 2-3 spots like these. I think I had tears in my helmet when I saw this.

The cut was deep. So no amount of detailing could resolve this.

So had to go the PPF way. Not my thing. But no choice.

Got a black PPF. Surprisingly, it matches the colour 100%.

But, one will always notice the PPF cut / edge line. Which again, troubles my OCD.

Before I placed the magnetic tank cover, I had also ordered this unit from Sahara Seats. So this is a placeholder, to ensure that I don't spot those PPF cuts easily. The PPF is cut wider than this cover, so the cover does not damage the paint. My friends say I have gone crazy.

More to follow, about how I maintain my tank.

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Had removed the baffles from the AEW 102 megaphone. But it was too loud, and grabbed too much attention.

BHPian parrys recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

23 days with the RE INT 650. Still in love.

I don't know how many times I would just go on the RE MIY site, and customise this motorcycle, the way I have it. Sometimes I wonder, what if I picked the chrome one? But then, one can always buy a tank in a year or two.

Had removed the baffles from the AEW 102 megaphone. But it was too loud and grabbed too much attention. With the baffle, it is pleasantly loud, and only when hungry on the gas. So put these back in. Took less than 5 minutes.

Going to stick to V Power, as long as it is available wherever I am, throughout the ownership.

Everything looks and feels romantic when you are on a new motorcycle. I would never stop at this location before. But today, I thought why not. And noticed that the place had received a major makeover. (Gaimukh, Thane)

Pointless. But why not? Looks good.

Ask a child to draw a motorcycle, and he will draw a similar silhouette. I am happy to own a motorcycling canvas. Too much praise, for a motorcycle which is not perfect, but they say love is blind.

Cleaned, fuel tank full, parked in the right direction on a Saturday night; so we blast past early on a Sunday morning.

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I do have multiple motorcycle accessories installed but I won't be getting any aftermarket exhausts because the stock ones sound perfect.

BHPian raiuday recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I finally got my Inty Black Ray home last Saturday and the experience till now has been nothing short of awesome. I’ve completed 200 kms in the last 2 days with late-night runs to the airport, accessories stores and food joints.

Buying experience:

I initially made a booking in November and was waiting till mid-March with no sign of delivery. The tentative date kept moving away. Decided to cancel and make a custom booking at the same Company Store, Hyderabad which mentioned that the bike’s chassis number would be allotted to my booking in 48 hrs and would be delivered in 11-15 days. But it took 35 days and I didn’t make a fuss about it. At the time of delivery, few accessories were unavailable like the Deluxe touring dual seat and tall fly screen. The same were ordered on Amazon and the store guy fixed the tall flyscreen while the seat arrived later.

They royally messed up the clutch free play when the handle is tilted to the left by routing the cable below the large engine guard’s middle ‘rod’ that I figured out once I was home and rectified myself by rerouting the cable. They’ve also given Form 22 of Classic 350 Stealth Black of some other guy which I noticed once I was home and when called, they sent it via Rapido and guess what, I had to pay for it. Didn’t make a fuss about it and let it end there. So, to speak, the booking to delivery experience was a mixed bag with no updates or mess-ups.

The extended warranty I opted for 5 years is yet to be updated. They’re very humble though, and don’t try to include any additional charges, or credit card fees or charge high on insurance premiums and that’s the upside. In Hyderabad at least, unless you are ok with waiting longer, for a normal booking of any of the 650s, from my personal experience wouldn’t recommend them.

Initial impressions:

• Torque: The bike is a peach. Torque is everywhere and riding it slow or fast, you’ll always grin ear to ear.
• Weight: It definitely is heavy and has a slippery feel due to polish while getting used to it, I had to be mindful of the weight while taking tight u-turns or reversing down a steep incline.
• Engine heat: It definitely gets hot and reminds you of a hot parallel twin between your legs in traffic but doesn’t throw any hot air if you get the point unlike the liquid-cooled engines directing hot air in traffic at the shin. You’ll feel the heat but not the hot air blowing.
• Fit and finish: I haven’t seen any imperfections on the contact points and RE did improvise on the fit and finish levels of Inty. Paint on the Black Ray is just perfect but demands maintenance. No screws or nuts were loose.
• Comfort: I don’t have any experience riding with stock seat nor have I ridden long enough till date to comment on the touring seat which comes with custom booking but it was comfortable for in-city runs. My father as a pillion was fine with the seat as well but complained of grab points due to the torquey nature even when I was gentle on the throttle. The knee bend was an issue for the pillion though and I addressed the same by relocating the pillion footpeg using HDT customs pillion footpeg relocater. I didn’t have any problem with rider footpegs coming from a CBR250R and never hit the shins even in city runs or while moving the bike in parking but the footpegs being close to the engine meant I had to be very mindful of the boots touching the engine very often and addressed the same by installing the pro-spec eazy brake.

These were my initial impressions and will add further experience once I ride more. Just to add, the exhaust note is sweet, a faint whistle with mild burps and rumbles, as sweet as a parallel twin can sound and perfect for my requirement of touring or short rides. Won’t ever be going for the aftermarket exhausts or air filter as the aftermarket exhausts are bassy only to the people nearby but not to anyone at least 5 metres away and I don’t want to create any noise. No offence to anyone who has them on but just my perspective!

List of accessories currently on:

• Deluxe touring dual seat
• Pillion footpeg relocater
• Large engine guard - black
• Sump guard- black
• Tall flyscreen
• Pro-spec eazy brake
• Raida rainpro XXL cover

Accessories to be installed, ordered or upgrades planned

• Pillion footrest to be installed behind stock pillion footpegs on the HDT customs frame.
• Clean the relays off of RE’s stock grease and apply Permatex dielectric grease.
• Ordered spare relays just in case and will carry them along.
• Aux lights from Maddog in the upcoming months as the stock LED headlight is all show, no go. Halogens were much better.
• ADV style foldable mirrors.
• Will install the tank bag for grocery shopping which I already have from earlier.

Will add my further experience after the first service as and when I get to open a bit more, albeit gradually.

Sharing pics of the bike at the depot, delivery day, and accessories on it.

At the depot for inspection:

D-day

Tall flyscreen:

Deluxe touring dual seat:

Footpeg Shifter - pillion:

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