Nah, bad explanation sorry. I had taken it off and strapped it to the back rack 🤣
Awesome 🏴 Have fun 🗻
So only 24miles of TET ticked off today. It was mostly fiddly ruts and one completely overgrown track but the Plain was just starting to get good when I FUBAR’d myself 🤣
I basically started where these guys started and rode 24 miles of what they did in this vid:
Wow! ASM auto recycling is some place!!! It’s got its own area code I reckon 🤣
Drove up here on the off chance I could get my hands on the swingarm despite the eBay purchase not being fully processed and they were all over it.
Home now to refit 🚙 💨 🏍️ 🔨 🔧
Nice one. Got any pics of what you've actually done?
That’s the damage.
New swingarm all fitted.
Crikey. Well done getting hold of and fitting the new one. 👏
It was only £95 and came with lots of bits and bobs off the back end so have a few other handy spares like that stupid annoying back wheel spacer that hates staying in place 🤣🤣
Another mini-adventure chalked up 🤩
Whilst not yet appearing to be a problem, one of the worries removing the front hugger was the threat of stone strikes on the headlight.
Well, that’s the rough excuse for getting a cool headlight guard anyway 🤣
The only thing left to do is fit some LED spots.
So from bog standard, she now has the following crap bolted on:
-Rear pannier racks and panniers.
-Topbox
-RE handguards
-Oxford heated grips
-3 ammo pouches
-1 tool tube
-screen extender
-usb power socket
-gps mounting bracket
-headlight guard
-Conti TKC 80’s
-quadlock bar mount with anti-vibration adaptor
(And the screen has been painted and the lower fender/hugger removed.)
I guess I could pursue the shorter links and fork extensions to raise her up a bit and maybe get a higher seat but that’s out of budget for this year I’d say.
I saw a Himalayan the same as yours visiting Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on mainland Britain a couple of days ago.
Had a nice bit of Himalayan chat with the couple who'd ridden it up from Yorkshire and owned 3 other Royal Enfields.
Was nice to see amongst the glut of GS's
Cool! I saw another green one on the way to the beach on Wednesday.
Back on the TET. Was sat looking at a deep puddle in Bulford Ranges with no obvious escape route when two KTM adventures appeared behind me.
They assured me they’d ridden it earlier so I followed them through and despite a few unseen obstacles, we all bounced through unscathed 🤣 Onwards….
Wow. That is some route round the plain and surrounding areas. Lots of variety of tracks from Singletrack to 50mph gravel. I pressed start where I broke down the other day and pressed stop when I hit the first main road after following a Byway down off the plain and it was 81miles! And I reckon 70 of that was off road.
It's funny. All week I lust after T7's on YouTube and look sideways at my bike like it's not really up to the job. And then I ride the Himmy off road and realise it is actually the real deal in its own way.
It wasn't too slippery out on the chalk thankfully, although my one near miss all day was losing the front at 20-25mph and saving it with an instinctive flukey dab.
I was relatively brave with the puddles after this morning but there are hole's on this route that regularly swallow jacked up Discovery's! Luckily you can get round most of them. One was deeper than I thought and as I dropped into an unseen hole, it made the bike stall! Luckily it started again in an instant 😮💨
I wouldn't want to ride that route with too much more standing water about as a lot of the puddles have raised sides by 2-3ft so could in theory hold enough water to make them unridable.
I was pretty happy with my riding today. Ended up going well in the ruts and was able to pick and choose my line pretty successfully. The only limiting factor was ground clearance but I managed to ride out the few times my pegs and boots made contact.
On my four outings I think I've done 50, 58, 24 and say 80 miles of the TET Southern gpx now. So 212 miles out of 569. The next leg is still only half an hour away from home (to reach where I left the route today) but after that, it's gonna require a lot of traveling each way. But it's a fun goal to tick it all off this Summer/Autumn if I can.
Sounds mint. 😊👌
Need to get down to that area myself.
I’d happily ride it again with you. Would have been way more fun with company 👍🏻
Strewth! That chalky/muddy water got everywhere. I’ve washed it twice and it’s still leaching out.
Parts of the new loom for the spotlights are literally filled with chalk paste! And I repositioned the relay for it as it was able to collect water.
The bike threw on the engine light again after it’s bath but it’s finally gone off after a few re-starts.
There was quite a bad knocking noise on taking up drive on the way home yesterday but I managed to solve 90% of it by removing the sprocket cover, as weeks of mud fell out including one big clump with roots 🤣
But one small, niggly, notchy, knock remains, usually just as the clutch is fully engaged.
I checked all my bolts from doing the swingarm, and all the rest of the suspension linkage and they’re all fine.
I removed the rear wheel and checked the bearings and did the old inner-tube trick on the Cush drive rubbers (they had tons of play it seemed), then refitted with proper chain tension and the best alignment I can get and it still does it.
I guess I need to let it develop/disappear as I can’t think of anything else to try.
I’m happy enough it’s not dangerous though.
I keep checking this thread to see how much fun everyone is having and it still looks all good. Even the difficult bits.
I'm still planning to go looking for a bike when I have my garage door replaced (24 days to go!).
I've been to see this one because it's on my way to work www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175771651158
There's lots of cheaper ones for sale privately but this one looks mint and I could walk there from home in 10 minutes and bring it back so no traveling around required.
I'm not stressing it though, there's loads of them available. There's also a lot of stuff on YouTube with people riding in and around the Peak so no doubt I'll run into some owners eventually.
That looks like a nice one mate 👍🏻
I guess the trade off is whether you’ll be wanting to throw many extras at it.
I made the mistake of still looking on auto trader after I bought mine. And a couple of weeks later I spotted one with the actual panniers and hand guards that I bought as extras, already fitted, for the same price as mine 🙄 🤣
So I stopped looking as I was happy with mine in the moment so 🤷🏻♂️ 😀
I like the idea of starting with a clean, standard bike. Then I'll just add bits as I figure out what I need.
Nice one 👍🏻
I went back to the beach this evening. Didn’t catch anything but I did get to try out the LED spotlights on the way home and whilst I still think the stock light is pretty good- the extra driving lights are a really satisfying addition.
On the TET again today. Did 44 miles before heading for home. It was kind of a ride of two halves. I was not feeling it at all to begin with and some horrible slippery ruts felt almost impossible.
Once my body had decided it was lethal- that was it. Any chance of getting some flow going was gone.
After an hour though, the tracks got a bit easier and I started to loosen up a bit.
I’d set my home time limit at 14:00 and at 13:58 I turned into the last off road section of the day which of course was the hardest 🤣
It was clay so slippery that I couldn’t stand up, let alone brake or steer.
I sped up a bit too much at one point and the front went into a deep rut before I could switch. I tried to dab a few times but the clay just sucked my leg to the ground and eventually the bike toppled over 🤣
I very nearly bailed on going today but I’m glad I toughed it out as hopefully these tough days will make stuff that used to feel hard feel easy on good days.
Had an absolutely mint ride today in the Cotswolds.
134 mile loop from home, down the Fosse and lanes around Lechlade and ting.
Some really nice long gravel sections, lots of pool splashes, a few 'moments' and some smiling, waving horse operators.
The TKC80s are definitely more sure-footed when it gets sloppy.
After a holiday and missing my bike, coming back to horrendous rain all yesterday and also being ill, it was lush to be able to get out today in some great weather.
Still plenty of mud mind.
Nice one! Looks ace 😀
I stopped at the top of a lovely valley to take a picture but two walkers coming up the hill were in the way. I sat there eating wine gums and by the time they passed, I forgot I hadn’t actually taken the picture 🤣🤣 Need to whack a GoPro mount somewhere instead I reckon.
Back at the bottom of a steep, rocky and soaking wet climb near Snowshill that I bottled (on my own) that is normally a rad little downhill on the MTB.
Started up it but very quickly ran out of traction/skill.
I 'designed' the route at home on OS maps to follow with my Wahoo but actually didn't twig that this was one of my favourite downhill sections on the MTB, so when I got to it I had to double check as it really doesn't look like something you're allowed to ride a motorbike up/down, but yeah, you definitely are.
Might go back some time when dry/with company.
Ooo that looks like a fun one! I find a funny little crouch where you stay on the pegs but stick your trunk out backwards helps with those situations.
I have to leave the thread now! I sold the Himmy yesterday 😭. Delivered it to a guy in Kent.
Tomorrow I have a Voge 300 Rally arriving instead 🤣 I test rode one in the week and as soon as I sat on it, I knew it was a better option for the riding I've been enjoying. Being a taller seat, it put my legs more underneath my body. It's also -40kg and has got 8-10cm more ground clearance for ruts!!
The gearing is a little low so I've ordered a (£9 🤣) +1 tooth sprocket to try, as well as an Ali-Express aluminium bash guard and GPS mount with some Cashback money I had.
I still love the look of my Himmy but it feels like a Harley V a Mountainbike when compared to the Voge.
I have to leave the thread now! I sold the Himmy yesterday 😭. Delivered it to a guy in Kent.
😳😭 You're dead to me man...😉
One of the things I love about the Himalayan is that it's not the best tool for the job, but it'll have a go at anything and do it oozing character.
Probably why I also love my fat bike and rigid bike.
I had one person on here who might have been vaguely interested. I now have nobody...
So ronery 😔
I watched this the other day as it happens. Not for me. Too sensible for the job in hand. 😂
I vote for more updates (i.e. let's see the new bike;)...we don't need another thread...might even consider CBT!
I had one person on here who might have been vaguely interested. I now have nobody…
I'm still watching! More mucky ruts please.
I walked past Manhattan's yesterday. They had a brand new Himalayan in 'glacier blue' like this...
It's a lovely looking thing. Well, for a Himmy. I still don't want to go brand new though as I'm not sure how long I'll keep it and I might as well save over a grand on one of the many, many slightly used ones that are available.
I had one person on here who might have been vaguely interested. I now have nobody…
Keep the posts and pics coming - I've been reading with interest 👍🙂
I'm a road rider (MT-07) but do quite like the off-road stuff also 🙂
Okay I’ll stay 😀
The Himmy was the best bike I’ve owned. It was impossible to understand how something so ‘unsuitable’ on paper could be so good in real life and it took me off road in a friendly way that my Tenere, VStrom and 1150 could never manage. It is a special little bike.
What did it was that it was actually cheaper to swap bikes than do the Hitchcocks shorter links, and cooper Hagon shock/front riser mods as well as a £300 taller seat that I was telling myself I ‘needed’ to get the Himmy out of the ruts and to get my 33.5” inside leg-legs straightened out a bit.
The new guy loves the Himmy! Already texting me pics of how he’s cleaned it better than I ever did 🤣
Cleaned it?
What's wrong with him? 😂
I understand. I like to start an adventure with a nice clean implement. Then I know that all the dirt and grime is mine and somehow not as repulsive as someone else's mystery-muck.
I did offer to do it but it happened a bit fast 🤣
Was out on my Speed Triple round Kielder last night, and thought a Himalayan would be perfect for all the lanes that I did not dare explore on mine. Currently on Auto Trader 🙂
Keep the thread going, love hearing all the bike updates. I’ve just joined the club, passed Mod2 yesterday first time so happy with that.
Good work. I was buzzing when I passed mine.
(16th November 2021. Haven't ridden a bike since!)
I’m quite relieved and can’t stop smiling. Sounds like you need to sort a bike out, that blue Himalayan is nice…
That’s awesome Skippy. A great feeling 🤩
Definitely keep the updates/ pictures coming.
I went for a closer look...
This is Manhattan's new demo bike but it hasn't been set up yet. I think that's the nicest colour I've seen on the Himalayan.
£4949 is the current new price for a single colour bike. Multicoloured ones are £100 more.
I'm not buying a brand new one. Definitely not.
It is very nice though.
That’s a nice colour for sure 🤩
Just been out for a shakedown ride and to fuel up. First impressions are basically what I had realised on the test ride.
1. It fits me better
2. It’s more focussed. Less jack of all trades. And less versatile.
3. It is different off road. I’d not go so far as better but because of the position I feel I can ride more of the time sitting down.
4. I miss that wave of torque. It’s almost like the difference between a V Twin and in-line four. This only gets going where the Himmy used to run out.
5. Chinese build quality is lagging behind India 🤣
6. It’s insanely under geared 🤣 I used to roughly go 1st- 10mph, 2nd 20mph, 3rd 30mph etc on the Himmy. On this, you in 6th gear by 40mph 🤣
7. It comes with a USB hole but no clock!! I guess I always have my phone on my quadlock but there’s not always a clock showing!!
8. I can’t blip it over holes etc off road yet. Need to figure out the right revs to get the front to pop.
Looking forward to some TET tomorrow hopefully😀
Mint ride today. 193 miles down the Fosse Way to tickle a bit of the Ridgeway in Wiltshire.
Did the off road section of the Fosse way North to South and dropped into various little bits and bobs heading towards the Ridgeway to do a little of that.
There are way longer off road sections down there than we have in Warwickshire so it was cool to experience that. Amazing views too.
I was heading up from Devizes way and about 8 other trail bikes came the other way past me on the Ridgeway.
Some difficult rut sections here. The Himalayan really could use a bit more ground clearance when surfing 4x4 ruts. Leave my feet on the pegs and ride the edges or leave my legs flailing behind me. That felt safer.
Up through Swindon and the magic roundabout then back up through the Cotswolds.
Couple of heavy rain showers but a great run.
Interesting old building on the Fosse Way. I reckon it could have been an old prison or something 🤔
Easton Grey on the gravel Fosse way
Somewhere near Avebury I think
The Ridgeway
Ridge it!
Good day out.
