I like its robustness and low fuel consumption, but I’m still afraid of getting a flat tire.

BHPian Shobhitsaxena recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am sharing this update after my extensive daily rides. So I ride my motorcycle to work and back 3-4 times a week, a total of 75 km. That means a monthly ride of about 1,000 km.

Daily riding experience

Most of my journey is on a 35 km stretch of the Delhi-Jaipur highway. The highway has been in sub-par condition for the past year, with some much-needed flyover construction, significant delays in projects and sub-optimal alternative transport planning.

Most of the time I’m lucky enough to be on a Himalayan. I don’t know the extent of it, but I’ve been forced into serious off-road situations, navigating around mud, rocks and water, all on what I thought was a highway. Every time I get into one of those situations I know the bike has a lot more to offer than I can get from it. The torque and the big front wheel are a blessing.

The overall highway handling is stable and I am happy with all aspects of the machine and the driving experience.

Service experience and repairs

All maintenance is done at RE and a couple of times I’ve been there for an oil change at 5,000 (the company’s recommendation is 10,000).

There was a puncture on the rear which was promptly repaired by RSA in the office car park. Overall I really admire the CEATs. I did a tyre change at 23k and the rear tyre was worn out but I have to say even then there was still grip.

Long solo rides – two short

1. I met up with a few colleagues on a weekend tour via Alwar to Jaipur. The rest were in cars and my solo experience was super enjoyable. I rode at my own pace and had no worries in the world for two days. I made the mistake of taking the motorbike up to Amber Palace, traffic was congested and I had to make the most awkward U-turn of my life (managed a 180 degree turn mainly by pushing the front suspension)
2. Another 300 km solo ride when the family was away for a day. I drove towards Meerut with no destination just to find a place where I could eat some Chole Kulche on the river bank and then turn back. The Upper Ganga Canal Road is a scenic route but the dangers on this single lane road are beyond high. I saw local drivers under the influence of alcohol more than once in 2 hours.

Falls

I share this because I had the idea to do a survey on the forum about how many crashes motorcyclists have per 5,000 km. I share mine and if others want to share it could be an interesting experience. Below are my three crashes over a distance of 23,000 km:

• When parking (1): In the parking lot in front of the office, I thought about five things that happened at work, traffic, etc. and had the bright idea to reset the odometer, which is hard to press. One second later we are down. No injuries.
• Slow rides (1): This could have been serious. I was again driving through a construction site on the side of the road where there were several lanes of motorcycles where no car was supposed to drive. I was hit from behind by a huge Haryana Roadways bus against the muffler. In a second I fell on another motorcyclist. With help I was able to get up again. Minor bruises on my leg and an even greater psychological shock.
• Medium speed one (1): Those who know this stretch know what a nuisance the construction of a flyover on Bilaspur in 2024 has caused, with no end in sight. I was doing about 40 on the shoulder of the service lane and wanted to get into the main service lane. Lacking street lighting, the headlight with poor lateral reach and my own poor judgement, I did not expect the service lane to be more than a few inches above the ground and fell at high speed. A few bruises on the bike and my wrist and again, a lesson learned.
• Special Mention: The rear got stuck (1): Once again, one fine day, due to this man-made breakdown on Bilaspur, I came up with the brilliant idea of ​​taking the service road on the opposite lane. In short, I had to fight my way through the heavy oncoming traffic for a good 10 km. The rear got stuck in a stone and a few minutes later I realized that the only way out was to ask for help. A random Samaritan came to my rescue. A suggestion to everyone: ask for help and you will be surprised how helpful people generally are.

Continue to love:

1. Possibility to drive at 80 km/h all day
2. No complex maintenance and overall robust nature
3. The multidimensionality of the motorcycle – highway cruiser and off-road capabilities on demand
4. Mileage in the range of 30-32

Still unusual:

• The fear of a flat tire is still there. As a solo rider, I cannot ride the Himalayan into unknown territory.
• Poor headlight light: This is an important consideration if you have to ride after sunset. I have considered additional lights, but since I generally tend to keep all the essentials in storage, this is on the waiting list.

What’s next:

My daily riding habits are unlikely to change. While I have a strong desire to move to a more maneuverable bike, I am in no hurry to part with the Himalayan. I am patiently waiting for genuine interest in my Team BHP roster.

For more insights and information, see BHPians’ comments.