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Would you buy again?

Jack

Total noob
Location
Pittsburgh
I am in the last steps to pick up a new 2022 Himalayan. With all the issues I hear about I also hear positive reviews. I feel confused! Should I buy this bike for a local around town and camping bike or look for something else? Thanks!
 

OldGuy

Well travelled
Location
Seattle,WA
I think as long as your expectations aren't too high, it's a great bike for that. It's not a powerful bike, so if you want high performance, I'd look elsewhere. I have many years of experience with motorcycles, and I think it's a great bike. Easy to ride, comfortable (with a few simple fixes) and economical.

I think forums, in particular, tend to concentrate the negative issues, mostly because people with problems turn to forums for help. I'm sure there are hundreds of Himmie owners out there who have few or no problems with the bike, but how often do people post to forums just to say everything's fine? I can say that in the (going on) 2 years I've had mine, I've had no issues that required any repairs or dealer attention.

This is not to say some owners do have problems - they do. Most are easily solved, some are not. But that's also true with cars and other brands of motorcycles, so you have to take all of it into consideration and make your decision. That's just life....
OG
 

Laserman

Well travelled
Staff member
Location
Yuba City, CA
Without hesitation, I would even buy one used. These bikes are modern, yet extremely simple and cheap to maintain. '22 US-spec Himmies still take the easy go-fast stuff that the older ones do, too. This is an extremely friendly bike to ride.

I bought mine in Feb and put 6500 miles on it in 6 months. Out of the box with a bar adjustment it was comfortable for me and I have had no issues with it aside from the common cold start idling issue. This is pretty easy to at least mostly eliminate.
 

RotorWrench

Well travelled
Location
USA
I've been riding dualsports for decades and was ready to let my trusty and loyal Dakar go, for something a little different. My wife and I rented two Himalayans for a day last year, trying them on road and off. It was definitely not as throttle responsive nor as powerful as my prior bikes on the road, but ok. But as soon as I got on a jeep trail and hit a steep, loose gravel and rock hill, I was smiling ear to ear as I got to the top.

This thing is a friggin tractor! Not a speed demon but fun as heck to explore and tour offroad on. I am now a huge fan of low rpm long stroke thumpers.

If you want to slow down a little and enjoy the ride, this is the bike. Confidence inspiring off-road for new or less experienced riders as well. By the end of our rental day, my wife was attacking some trails she would have been a bit more timid on with her XT250. She's now selling the XT and getting a Himmi herself.

Great back country/offroad camping platform as well, which is actually what I use the bike mostly for. It handles the loads well and seems to feel fairly well balanced if you load right.

In answer to your question, I definitely would buy again. I honestly thought I would probably not be able to handle the lower top end speeds and lackluster acceleration, expecting to probably be selling it after this summer, but now I'm hooked. I've owned a lot of bikes, but I think the Himalayan is one of the funnest to ride.

Based on your posted riding needs, I think the Himalayan would serve you well and put a smile on your face to boot.
 

Rednaxs60

Well travelled
Bought mine in Feb from a riding friend. Knew it was a 400 cc thumper and that it suit my riding style and profile. Gets great fuel economy, properly maintained will go anywhere I want to take it, and I do not compare it to my Gold Wing or CanAm Spyder. Each bike has its pros and cons.

Around town, it's a definite. If you want something that will do in excess of 110 KPH (65/70 MPH) consistently, find a different bike. The Himalayan will do 100 KPH indefinitely.

Low maintenance and repairability. These are an agricultural type bike built for the India market and imported over here. We have a road infrastructure not available to most over in India. These bikes are made to be a DIY fix, regardless of where you are.

Always hear about issues, but there are a lot of Himalayans out there that you never hear about because all is well and the owner is using it within its limits.

Be a great camping bike. Can carry everything you would need. Good solo touring bike as well.

It's a budget conscious bike as well.

I'm pleased with mine, good dual purpose bike.
 

Andy131

Well travelled
Location
Manchester UK
Just traded my Himmy in against an Interceptor, really really didn't want to let go.
Was she fault free in the beginning - no, was she fault free when I traded her - you bet, was she good to ride - you have no idea unless you take one for a test ride and that's why I was so reluctant to let her go.

Faults:
Compass - had a mind of it's own for a month or two, then without warning started to work properly and never faulted since.
Clocks steaming up - take them off, remove back (half a dozen screws) and put a thin bead of silicon sealant over the original gasket, 70mph in torrential rain no problem.
Battery drain - if left for a few weeks she would struggle to start, Hitchcocks 92095 loom mod fixed it for good - £25 and an hour playing.
I have to travel 30 miles on the motorway at 70-80mph each way to work, could the Himmy do it - just, but I felt vulnerable, hence the Interceptor, around town the very low first gear, and steering set up to manage rough trails mean that low speed crawling through traffic on the Himmy are good fun (not as much fun on the Inter), the rear panniers took a huge amount of shopping and kept the bike off the ground when she eventually (1 week old!) got knocked over.

rough running or poor starting - mine never missed a beat from day one, totally and utterly reliable, always believed that I was going to get to my destination.
Oh and the temperature sensor is a gimmick, doesn't matter where you put it, it is either heated by the engine or cooled by the airflow - if that matters then maybe you are better off with a Ford.

So if I had the room would I buy another - in a heartbeat, swap the Interceptor mmmm the Interceptor suits my needs better.
 

johnny42

Well travelled
Location
NY State
I have an '18 model. I would buy another one right now (and sell or trade mine in) if they had tubeless tires. I don't ride where I risk distorting the wheels. My understanding is spoked wheels are better because you can true a spoked wheel, but not a cast wheel. Spokes are OK as long as it comes tubeless.
 

Eatmore Mudd

Moderator
Staff member
RE: Would you buy again?
The short answer is yes absolutely. Long answer below.

It checks all the boxes on my lists of required and acceptable and most boxes on my piddly things wish list.

Mines a 2018. I took it to Moab right out of the box with barely 125 miles on it. ORV'd and slabbed around the PNW too.

It does what the maker says it does, and then some.

The manufacturing is state of the art the design is modern, enough, and simplistic enough to be durable and reliable.
It's over built and under stressed.
Every piece and part can be replaced by the novice. Every piece and part can be repaired rebuilt resurfaced remanufactured by the advanced hobbyest.

Yes I'd buy again or will buy a replacement if this one gets destroyed beyond salvage.

That said, imho every rider should take a good long pre purchase test ride, new or used, to decide if that bike is gonna satisfy.
 
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excollier

Well travelled
Location
Ireland
though I love my Himmy, I think, at 60 years old, I'd go for a lighter bike next time - having said that I'm just back from a blast on some rough forest dirt roads and have a big grin on my face. I'm also knackered after the ride
 

Rednaxs60

Well travelled
though I love my Himmy, I think, at 60 years old, I'd go for a lighter bike next time - having said that I'm just back from a blast on some rough forest dirt roads and have a big grin on my face. I'm also knackered after the ride
Took my Gold Wing out and dusted off the cobwebs. Riding an 850 pound bike instead of the light 400 ish pounds of the Himalayan took a few Kms to get used to. The Himalayan is a nice treat after riding a heavier bike.
 

Ser3J

Finally made it
Location
Cornwall
I’m only about 9-months and 3000 miles into ownership but I would buy another without hesitation.

I haven’t ventured seriously off road but regularly complete 4-hour 180-mile+ journeys and really enjoy this little motorcycle.
 
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