I have toyed with the idea I must admit but I got to thinking why I'm riding the Himalayan. Obviously it wasn't for reasons of great power or speed .
In the past, my dirt riding has been on Sherco's both 300 and 510, very fast and bloody noisy. Thinking back to those rides I remember catching a glimpse of the odd mountain lion as it blurred into the woods away from me, a bobcat blur as it speeds away, moose crashing off into the forest, the ass end of the odd bear tearing away from the noise.
Then I started riding my R100GS a lot more, quiet exhaust and seeing a lot more animals not panicked but just moving out of the way as I approached. We have seen so many bears just ambling off the road and turning to look as we go by, saw a Lynx walk across the road, and sit like a dog on its ass as I pulled up beside it. Moose just lifting their heads to watch us go by.
Now it's the Himalayan that is allowing me to ride up on critters without panicking them and I realize this is why I have this bike, to explore and see wildlife, to be able to hear some birdsong as I sneak through forest roads.
I figure for me any minimal gain in horsepower just isn't worth it for what I know I would lose in critter sightings.
Thoughts?
In the past, my dirt riding has been on Sherco's both 300 and 510, very fast and bloody noisy. Thinking back to those rides I remember catching a glimpse of the odd mountain lion as it blurred into the woods away from me, a bobcat blur as it speeds away, moose crashing off into the forest, the ass end of the odd bear tearing away from the noise.
Then I started riding my R100GS a lot more, quiet exhaust and seeing a lot more animals not panicked but just moving out of the way as I approached. We have seen so many bears just ambling off the road and turning to look as we go by, saw a Lynx walk across the road, and sit like a dog on its ass as I pulled up beside it. Moose just lifting their heads to watch us go by.
Now it's the Himalayan that is allowing me to ride up on critters without panicking them and I realize this is why I have this bike, to explore and see wildlife, to be able to hear some birdsong as I sneak through forest roads.
I figure for me any minimal gain in horsepower just isn't worth it for what I know I would lose in critter sightings.
Thoughts?