Nathan…Millward? maybe.
Yep, that's the guy 👍
Your trip looks like great fun - enjoy 👍🙂
Not a motorcyclist, so I know nothing of handling technicalities, but looking at the photo above on the filling station forecourt, that front tyre looks a little anaemic, would a slightly chunkier tyre help steering stability at all? I see lots of so-called scrambler-style bikes, there’s one a page or two back, but having big fat tyres front and rear looks a bit wrong, just a bit too much rotating weight, so something in between? My brother has been a biker since he was old enough to legally own one, and despite a near fatal accident, he still rides, but while I’ve never been inclined to buy one, I look at bikes like Africa Twins (a friend has one, in full yellow trim), Tenére, and particularly the little Honda 650 Dominator, (which I’ve had a hankering for ever since they came out), and there’s that feeling that kayak23’s succumbed to!
Slight problem earlier. The bolts worked loose on the new top box and only luck meant I spotted it before it fell off on Salisbury Plain.
Luckily Tidworth garage wasn’t far away so I stocked up on bungees and fuel. First 150 miles came out at 85mpg 🤣
My mum lives the other side of the Plain so I’ve ducked in for toasties, cake and a cuppa and raided the Halfords tool kit 🤣
Heading Cheddar way in a bit to do a bit more. This bike is ace 🤩
I had a peak through the window at Manhattan's this morning. Only 1 Himalayan in sight and no Scrams. The new Hunter 350 looks really nice but I've got the call of the wild and I like getting dirty.
TMF on YouTube just did a review of the Hunter. Looks like a great bike for sunny cafe runs and country lane fun at sensible speeds. Superb value too like all RE.
I may have gotten carried away today 🤣 Ended up doing a 290 mile loop.
Keeping it Rhyl
Beaumaris selector!
Trearddur Bay, Anglesey
Bit more space tonight after last night next to a load of yoot.
Nature hike tent doing it's thing.
I'm absolutely loving the bike. I swear it sounds like a lawnmower 😂🤣
Not missing going 90mph, it really does go plenty quick enough, and it's certainly drawing a few admiring glances and comments. Everyone has heard of a Royal Enfield.
The only issue I have is numb bum and dead throttle hand, but a bit of a stand up seems to sort that for a bit . I was having issues initially with the tripper crashing after a few miles and losing navigation. Cleared data, reinstalled, restarted phone etc and so far ok I hope.
Used to come here to Trearddur Bay every year as a kid. One year, I ran outside through the patio doors of the house, except they weren't open at the time 😳 Good memory though, except the stitches.
Got a long ride home tomorrow and am a bit concerned about reports of thunder storms across Wales and England. Balls.
Some big adventure bike riders waved to me from across the North Wales Expressway. Cracked me up for some reason. Hashtag adventure! 😊
Awesome 👏🏻 looks the business with all the camping gear 😎
I beeped and waved at a black one with front black rucksacks in the Forest of Dean but otherwise saw more Triumphs of various sorts than anything else today.
Jealous. I'd love to be out doing this on days when I can't be bothered to pedal. Which these days is any day ending with a Y.
On a positive note, we're getting a cash settlement from the home insurance for our garage door. No idea how much yet but at least the Himalayan fund will stay mostly in tact.
Once the castle is secure, I'll be bike hunting. And buying a tiny tent.
I’m so pleased with the ammo pouches. I had my Caberg flip-front helmet on today so was able to put a cycling water bottle (and later a bottle of Fanta and a bag of Haribo 🤣) in the left hand one and drink it when conditions allowed.
The right hand one had a power bank and an iPhone cable to charge my phone.
The only annoying thing I found with the Tripper was that I sometimes had to switch off the ignition to be able to re-pair when I hadn’t used it for a bit.
I really love the instruction symbols, you feel like you’re following a Dakar road book 🤣🤣🤣
That’ll be just what the doctor ordered @Sharkattack 👌🏻
I don’t think you’ll regret it.
I can only think the people disapppinted with their bikes (given the insane number on Autotrader!)missed the bit where it says it’s a 400cc bike 🤣
Loving the stories about the Enfields. I've got a few weeks off work shortly so will be out exploring on my MT-07 but there's something more appealing about doing it on an Enfield 🙂
Sounds good.
It seems to be mainly under my thighs, where the seat edges meet the frame tubes.
I had a taller padded seat that came with the bike and it was comfy, but I swapped it for the original seat for a lower standover offroad, and frankly it looks better.
I can only think the people disapppinted with their bikes (given the insane number on Autotrader!)missed the bit where it says it’s a 400cc bike 🤣
Thanks for pointing that out, I never check Autotrader for bikes I always forget about it. You're right there's loads of them on there!
This is my closest cheap one and it looks decent Link
Some kind of aftermarket seat and dodgy chilli stickers. It's only half an hour away. I'd go see it if I was ready to do a buy.
Lots of other options on there though.
Looks like a good day out.
That bike I linked to earlier is already gone. It was a 2021 Himalayan in red and black for 3k. It looked really underpriced compared to everything else so I imagine someone swooped in and grabbed a bargain.
Also... Have you seen the very cheap 2 man tents and sleeping mats available in Decathlon? I like the idea of building a very reasonably priced overnight kit to get started with.
No but I love Decathlon nearly as much as I love Wilko’s 🤩 🤣
No one fitted a bicycle rack to one yet?
there's a video on the tube with some guys carrying surf boards on them. Pretty cool road trip
I have a lot of love for my old jap enduro bikes but I do like the look of the himalayan. Although the front mudguard is a bit odd - high or low please, not both!
Great little video by the way! But please please please wear some gloves.
Yeah I do usually but was too far away from home by the time I realised I’d forgotten them. Nearly put it as the video intro 🤣
Just got back from Anglesey.
7.5 hours on the bike today, taking the very scenic route past Snowdon, down through Bala, taking in a cheeky little unclassified road high up above, before heading through Much Wenlock, Bridgnorth and Kidderminster, back to Warwick.
Lots of stopping along the way but my god, my bum is hurting bad 😂
South Stack, Anglesey.
Just a bit special
Trearddur Bay
Llanberis
Pen Y Pas-ish
Unclassified road high above Bala lake
Llangynog
(Was sad to see Revolution Bikepark with loads of its trees gone, on the way past.
Bit of cheeky rut practice.
Bridgnorth
The bike went fantastic, all except for the navigation/tripper which periodically just decided to stop telling me where to go and revert to a clock.
People on the Himalayan group are saying that this can happen if your phone loses signal momentarily.
Bit rubbish 😐
Superb, looks ace!
What capacity is the fuel tank and what range?
Not sure, bit it seems to fill up under £20.
It's meant to be around 80mpg I think
Amazing pics 🤩 Looks like another awesome day 🏍️
⛽️ I worked mine out at 85mpg yesterday so around 300 usable miles!! (I think the tank is technically 4 gallons.)
Had fun this evening riding around the garden 🤣
Lots of slow speed standing drills. It was amazing when I got back on for a second go how much better I instantly felt. Was leaning the bike underneath me for tighter turns by the end.
It’d have felt stupid doing that on, say, my 1150gs I used to have but it felt totally natural on this.
Never did quite manage to turn the ABS off 🤷🏻♂️ Need to watch some vids about how to do it.
Found a bit of 4x2 to experiment with but need to change some nuts and bolts around on my old roof rack mount before I attempt bolting it to it as a prototype bike carrier rig.
Looks massive compared to the front-wheel off jobs but it’s totally sturdy!
“Peak gravel” may have been reached 🤣
Ah cool- figured out the ABS thing now. Ignition on, five seconds on the button and then release and the light flashes.
Adjusted the gear shift lever so I can get my old MX boots (bought off eBay years ago and only worn them once) underneath. It’s probably a little high for sitting down on the road but there’s not really a compromise position.
If I don’t like it I’ll switch it back.
I also adjusted and lubed the chain but after washing the chain clean, the engine mgmt light came on. It was definitely just water as it went off again a few minutes later.
Did another hour in the garden. Was able to do tick over laps standing up and did a load of dab practice too where I pick a spot and just basically put a foot down from standing then carry on riding. That seemed like useful muscle memory to have.
Might head through the New Forest at the weekend. Thinking of heading down the Test Valley, through the centre of the forest, along the coast to Bournemouth and then take the sandbanks ferry over to Studland, Swanage etc.
Then I could stop for a coffee and plan the next leg from there 😀
I’ll be too busy from the following weekend to be out all day so I’d like to make the most of it.
May have a go at plotting it on the Tripper app but not sure how many waypoints you can have 🧐
Pity it doesn’t take GPX’s although I could just Garmin one I suppose.
New tyre day 🎉
Fairly straightforward to fit.
Also decided to ditch the lower mudguard. I think it looks better 🤔
Will keep an eye on the stones and make sure I’m not suddenly risking a hole in the engine but otherwise I think that’s the way forward.
It’s not a million miles away from the old Tenere 660 now 🤣
Anybody see the Royal Enfield Super Meteor on the Motorbike show on the tele?? Quite a nice looking sled 🙂
New tyre day 🎉
What tyres did you get?
Looks massive compared to the front-wheel off jobs but it’s totally sturdy!
Looks great, but where were you thinking of sitting? 😂
Lying on your belly on the tank?
Bike looks cool without lower mudguard. I wonder how much crap it keeps off the engine in the wet though? 🤔
🤣🤣 Plenty of room to ride! Could in theory touch my right elbow but hardly. Not been brave enough to take it out on the road yet though 🤣
TKC 80’s 👍🏻 🛞
Yeah, I may try just the bottom one and see what that looks like.
Or there is a generic Acerbis type MX one that fits I believe.
Anybody see the Royal Enfield Super Meteor on the Motorbike show on the tele?? Quite a nice looking sled
Each to their own, it looks good untill you get to those upside down forks that look like they've been borrowed off a Chinese 'sports' 125.
I just rode up the Ridgeway for 90 mins. Basically I was chugging along like I have been in the garden but looking for as many rain ruts as I could find. These are my nemesis on all forms of bike but especially so on a M/C as sometimes when following the centre rut, the ruts either side can be so deep you’d never be able to save a fall.
So I just aimed for the worst bits I could find. It was quite good fun but one chalky ascent beat me as it was narrow and over axle deep.
Then coming home, I took a byway I know from the MTB is awful for about two miles.
I did okay, but even better I had a few hiccups that I was either able to save with a dab or I was able to re-start whilst stood up.
Eventually I was able to let the centre rut steer the bike for me at times.
I have zero proper dirt bike experience. I went mtb- quad bike- moped- car as a kid.
Back along when I had a VStrom, Tenere and 1150gs I used to do a few lanes, Byways and gravel tracks but got disillusioned a bit.
So this time around I’m gonna try and enjoy actually learning something.
And despite its weight the Himmy seems pretty forgiving so far.
Wearing the MX boots helped with the confidence but strewth- it makes trying to use the back brake with any finesse almost pointless 🤣
Oh and I saw a squad of Mtb’ers and the whole lot ignored my hellos 🤣🤣🤣🤣
sometimes when following the centre rut, the ruts either side can be so deep you’d never be able to save a fall.
Ummmmm....
So, this happened when I just went out for a quick leisurely blast before dinner. 😳
The lane started out completely innocuous. Just gravel and nice grass with some easily sideline-able dry ruts.
Then it got a bit worse and I should have turned back.
Then it got a bit more worserer, and I really should have turned back.
I thought I could just gently sneak to the side of this massive trench. I suppose being a mountainbiker I didn't really think that much of it.
Then my front wheel went and the bike was on its side.
It was only when I tried to lift it back up that it slid sideways and down into that uber-rut.
I couldn't stop it.
Everything I tried to get it out just took the bike deeper. I tried to drive it out but it just dug itself deeper and now the exhaust was underwater and filling up.
I had absolutely zero purchase on the ground. I was almost waist deep in the rut, one boot came off and there was just not enough strength in me to move that 200kg out at all.
I struggled for ages just not knowing what the hell to do, and heard a tractor in the distance.
Left the bike and walked out of the lane and eventually found the tractor. It was a really busy evening farm operation and the guy was really hesitant to say that he could help. Said he'd try and get someone on the radio and drove off. All I needed was a bit of a pull.
Meanwhile I called my bro in law, who was happy to come and help but was half hour away.
The tractor guy came past eventually (there had been a steady stream of them with massive loads of....farmy stuff coming past but nobody stopped) and he basically said they were flat out and couldn't help.
Bro in law turned up after a while and we made our way up the lane. With just brute force we hoiked the back end out of the ditch a little and tried to wedge a log under the back wheel.
Then we dragged the front up a bit (the kickstand and pegs were digging deep into the mud) and then the back a bit more, then the front, then the back.
Eventually we managed to pull it clear and get it upright. I was able to start it and give it a blast to blow the water out.
I thanked him profusely. I owe him big.
I carried on the rest of the lane keeping well away from any more ruts and texted him when I'd got to the road.
Holy carp. That was a little more excitement than I needed on a school night.
Lesson learned. Don't be cocky, and only attempt stuff like that with company!
😂
You can all call me an idiot now 😊👍
Wow, that’s another proper adventure 🤣🤣
It’s crazy how fast things can go wrong isn’t it!
Well done on getting it out- glad you’re both okay 😮💨
Cheers. I think I need some of those TKC80s too. The stock tyres are not much up on slicks.
I did ponder just walking off and leaving the bike forever to become a fossil, I was so embarrassed about having to ask for help 😂
Was lovely after that at least.
Excellent story, the Himalayas seem to be very good bits of kit but maybe a winch as well as knobblies?
Chatting to a guy in northern Sweden years ago about snowmobile crashes and he said it isn’t the crash that kills you, it’s the heart attack trying to free the bloody thing afterwards!
Thanks for making me laugh. It reminds me of one of those cartoons of someone stepping in a puddle and disappearing up to their neck.
Glad you got out and sorry about the schadenfreude 🙂
The new bike looks great and could almost tempt me to ride a motorbike.
Wow! No water in the engine? Whereabouts is the air intake on these? Looks like the exhaust was close to swallowing a load of water. I might have been tempted to crank it over with the spark plug removed before trying to start it. Fair play that it seemed to take it all in its stride though. Proper adventure bike!
Kayak you mentalist 😆 🤣
There has to be some kinda prize for giving it a go. 👍
Glad the bike was OK though,and the only thing damaged was your pride 😃
This summer the Midlands....Next year Dakar 😉
Nice😆
Reminds me of that Danny Mac video from a few years back.
Just to be clear, I didn't try to ride through the puddle like Danny Mac, the bike slipped into it sideways 😉👊
The air intake is behind the Lh side panel but I don't think that ever got low enough to be submerged.
The exhaust did though. Sounded like a Venice motor launch!
It started no issue and I let it burble a bit before giving it a rev to clear the water.
It drove home without issue about 30 minutes.
the bike slipped into it sideways
Of course it did 🙂
I took one out for a demo today, partly off the back of reading this thread. I really enjoyed it, felt smoother than I expected and was nice and light, dead easy to ride. I found I was using the gears a lot but the lack of power was not an issue most of the time. Took it on a short bit of potholey gravelly road, and some cobbles but nothing too adventurous.
I don't think it would work for me as my only bike. It really felt like a great second bike for weekend exploring and getting muddier than usual (as demonstrated above!). It made 30mph fun, which is good. But I wouldn't want to do all day/hundreds of road miles on it, without at least an extra gear.
Now weighing up whether to look at something else to trade my V Strom in for. It's a great bike, but I really want something with more character. My head says keep it as it does what I need very well (and maybe look at upgrading suspension and tarting it up), but...
They had a Kawasaki Z900RS in there which looked lovely. Maybe I'll just save up a bit longer and try some other bikes.
