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.
Looks epic that 🤩 Nice one. You must have almost touched some of the TET there?
Yeah I'm not sure. I've not actually studied the TET route.
Must have a look.
I thought of you today and your new found ground clearance as I was mashing my pegs along the ruttage 😂
🤣 I keep getting swings of emotion each way wondering whether I’ve done the right thing or not.
But yes- I’m hoping tomorrow will show me that deep ruts aren’t quite as hairy anyway 🤣
I’ve gone backwards on the tyre grip front though- but because this has an 18” rear I didn’t think the hassle of taking just the Himmy front tyre off was worth it. It would have looked odd to a buyer too with mismatched treads.
Hopefully these are manageable for a few weeks and then I may go for some kind of ‘road legal mx’ sort over the winter and then maybe switch back to these o/e ones for the summer.
Is this your climb from earlier in the thread @kayak23 ??
67 miles ticked off today. Almost to Birdlip.
Really enjoyed the new bike. It makes the easy bits faster and the hard bits more manageable but maybe makes the whole experience a little less ‘challlenging’ so the fun maybe evens out.
Mostly it’s the position. I was able to stay seated loads more. And when I needed to paddle, my legs were underneath me not somewhere near the front wheel.
Was really surprised with the stock tyres! They clambered up some wet Cotswold stone ascents with ease.
Ha just found the post, you did quite a lot of the TET that day 👍🏻
You know that fallen Ash tree- I had to hold the bike at 45 degrees and trundle it under on the clutch as it was too tall even without the screen extender 🤣🤣🤣
Is this your climb from earlier in the thread @kayak23 ??
Yeah that certainly looks like it. Harder than it looks in a photo I thought. Momentum is everything 😊
Glad you enjoyed the bike. Looks like we're getting into each others territories now. I like it around there.
What size is a male Himalayan's territory? If you stray into each others will there be a fight to the death or will we see the pitter patter of little dirt bikes in a few months time?
😂
🤣🤣
Yeah there was some epic rocky bits. Great fun.
Next up will be from the A417 to Tintern/Chepstow if you fancy riding it together. No idea how much off road or what it’s like mind you 😀
Nice. What sort of length is that section?
How fantastic, I do like the look of that Voge.
I’m not sure. Less than today at a guess. Although then obviously the Welsh section carries on (not downloaded that GPX yet).
Does this link work?
I'll try downloading the TET app 👍
I can change the access if it doesn’t work?
Trying to work out what’s left. I’ve done 313 miles now I think. And that’s 55 miles from Birdlip to Tintern.
So that leaves 210 miles or so in the East.
To fit in around work and life, I reckon I need to do 2x105 mile days. Buzz down to Dover, do 105 miles of TET back this way, then bail out at Hailsham and buzz home. Around a 330 mile day.
Then the last piece will be to buzz back again and finish off the Sussex leg 🎉
In the Spring I’ll then look at doing the Great Western Trail whilst camping. And maybe smash some of Wales early summer.
Does this link work?
No, but I've not got a Strava sub if that's why?
@kayak23 made it public now. I thought it might still work as private with the link.
I think those above pics cover it at the minute. But I did take more 🤣
Just fitted the spots from the Himmy
It's nice that 👌
What are people using for navigation? Do you download the TET onto a device or use your phone?
I'm getting very Garmin curious for the MTB and was wondering if it could do double duty. That would make it easier to justify the expense of a posh head unit.
There's loads of wiggly TET stuff so close to me in Sheffield. I'm dying to explore it.
I personally use my Wahoo Elemnt Bolt which is designed for cycling but works very well on the motorbike.
Obviously it's very basic but I rarely need more than it shows and when I do I have offline OS maps available on my phone.
I believe you can download the TET route and then use a gpx editor to cut it up into sections. I've not done that. I actually haven't focussed on the TET at all, but joined the Trail Riders Fellowship and plotted routes linking up green lanes on their Green Road Map.
Sections of those of course fall into sections of the TET but so far I've not knowingly ridden any TET sections.
At the moment, I use the OS maps app to plot my routes. I have the Green Road Map up on my laptop and then use the OS map on my phone to plot a route of a decent length and then generate a gpx file that I can then upload to the Bolt and follow on the bars.
Works really well.
The only limitation is if you go off course because of a diversion for example, it doesn't route you back on course. You have to use your sense of direction or stop and figure it out on the phone.
Yeah I use my Garmin Edge 530. Or my iPhone with Guru maps. (Usually have both running and have one angled for sitting, one for standing).
I often found myself wondering why I had so many clever features on my Garmin as I never used them on my push bikes but on the Motorbike I have!
Spots, sticker and paint added 🤣
I think it makes the dash side feel cozier when it’s blacked out and it’s an insanely satisfying job to do 🙄🤣
I watched this video last night. It's interesting to me because if I do get a bike these will be my local trails. It's close to home but I only recognise the very last bit on Houndkirk Moor.
Some of it looks a bit spicy in sections. Knowing how a go-pro flattens everything out, those are some big old rocks he's riding over in places. Probably good for him that he's not on a Himalayan!
Congleton is around 90 minutes away from home. I think going out on the road and coming back via those trails would be a mega day out especially for a noob.
Some nice filming at the start and evidence of the durability of the Enfield motor.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z7tjpAuaJM
Looks like a good run that @sharkattack.
Get it bought! 😉👍
Summer is fading fast @sharkattack splash the cash!
Nay bother for a Himmy 💪🏻
Lovely little evening blast down Gloucestershire way.
109 miles. Some cracking lanes, some of a decent length. A few rocky climbs and a couple of rocky, greasy, woody descents. 😊👌
I went to see this today...www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175771651158
It's been there so long that it's gone down £300.
There's a few tiny chips and scrapes on it but it looks brand new from across the room.
Someone buy it before me.
That looks like a nice one. Hopefully someone buys it before you have to 😉
There's a lot of them about for sale.
That one looks good but I'd perhaps suggest that the extra £300 it's come from is kind of what you might expect a dealer to add.
For reference, mine looks exactly like that but is a 2022, bought with just under 2.5k on the clock and came with pannier racks, bought privately for 3.4k
Fantastic ride today on a section of the TET from the A4170 near Birdlip down to Tintern with Mr @crosshair from here.
I ended up a touch late to meet up due to a navigation error and Crosshair had started down the route. In my stress for being late and because the very first lane was very unforgiving, being really slick, muddy ruts,i ended up dropping the bike and smashing out the two screws from one side of my screen and knocking my mirrors so that they were loose and flapping about.
After a while i settled down a bit and the trails got more rocky rather than muddy. The Himalayan was incredible all day, even when i had to lift the blummin thing several times when we came to one or two impasses, and it weighs about as much as a family hatchback😂
Some really great sections with fun descents and pretty challenging climbs at times.
Incredibly scenic route. Really enjoyed it 👌
Good effort and another great post on this thread!
I think the RE is the nicer looking of the two bikes 😉
Really good thread.
I bought a bmwf800gs back in January for commuting and road riding with the aim of doing some green lanes and tet . It's a very good bike but the weight and height of it makes it scary for proper off road riding,for me anyway ,plus it seems a shame to trash it.
Seriously thinking of adding a Himalayan/ voge/ CRF to the garage!
Bit more of the Trans European Trail today, and a Peak District section from Congleton to Buxton.
Little bit on the edge of my comfort zone riding alone to be honest because there was some pretty gnarly sections and the possibility of breaking body or bike seemed fairly high.
The Himalayan did amazingly well but it is looooowww, and so has a few new battle scars underneath! 😊
Rode up the M6 to Congleton from Warwickshire in just under 2 hours. Bailed at Buxton before the TET started heading Northerer as i was knackered from riding yesterday too and had quite a ride South still to home.
Incredible scenery up there as ever, and a great day out 😊
Seen a lot more of the Peak today doing this that i probably wouldn't have seen had the Tet not been the focus.
Body is already aching!
Wincle Minn (I think)
Clough Brook. The trail actually follows the river here.
Name the hill in the distance for 3 points.
3 Shires head descent.
The descent was technical with a few ledge/rock drops and some boulders.
The climb out was harder, especially with an audience. Lots of big baby head boulders made the heavy bike dance about all over the shop under me! Kept it together and rode it out 😎
3 Shires head descent
A really lightweight flickable bike, perfect for technical balance moves... and next to it, some trials bikes 😂
3 Shires head
Hollinsclough
Fair play for doing 3 shires on the Enfield, I've been dying to have a look there for ages and finally walked down to it last week with the Mrs while we were stopping in the peaks for a few days .I thought it looked hard going for an adventure bike,-I'm not sure I'd try it on my 800 , not alone anyway. Would be a piece of cake on a trials/ enduro I think. That's what got me considering adding a lighter bike to the garage 😂
Would you say that's one of the harder lanes you've come across so far ?
Would you say that’s one of the harder lanes you’ve come across so far ?
Yes and no. I think a few bits me and Crosshair did on Saturday down the Wye valley were fairly difficult. I suppose greasier and tended to be more kind of rooty and gravelly with pronounced 'steps' to get up.
The climb out of 3 Shires was definitely more sustained difficulty. The main difficulty was the sheer amount of baby head rocks, which made picking lines pretty much a waste of time. I just kept it rolling at a decent pace in 1st, kept my body and grip loose on the bike and hoped for the best.
You get bounced about all over but i think just staying loose helps a lot. Also try to ignore the sounds of your bash plate getting mullered! 😂
It's actually harder with people watching/walking.
I hate to upset walkers but you've no choice when you start, you're committed.
They were fine though. I think they enjoyed seeing me getting thrown about on an unsuitable bike 😂
I think you could do it on most bikes to be honest. It's ground clearance that matters and the Himalayan hasn't got much.
I was worried about smashing my foot into boulders a few times so had some interesting one-legged moments, but it worked.
This is a great thread, and good on those who get out there and give it a go!
Have you thought about removing the centre stand? I've heard of a few people removing them so they don't get hung up on rocks and ruts. Also a lot of the clattering noise you can hear is actually just the stand flapping up and down.
Now sure how true this is, I haven't ridden one yet!
Although, I did sit on a couple on Saturday morning. The seat is a bit low for my long legs and I'd want a nicer handlebar but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Trials bikes on the other hand... I've had one experience day at Inch Perfect and I loved it. It was like riding a DH bike but flying up cliffs and river beds. I felt like I'd found my new obsession but I haven't been on one since.
If I still had a van I'd be shopping for a Sherco or TRS not a Himalayan. Maybe I need both.
Have you thought about removing the centre stand? I’ve heard of a few people removing them so they don’t get hung up on rocks and ruts
Yes very much so. I'm pretty close to doing it but having had a bad run of punctures,i can't help enjoying the ease of putting it up on the centre stand to whip the wheels out.
There are ways of doing it without the centre stand, but i can't help feeling that things are already such a mare with such a heavy bike that making it harder still for yourself isn't immediately appealing! 😂
A couple of ways of doing it I've seen, with a strap to a tree, or a stick under the bash plate.
I can see myself doing it pretty soon anyway. Maybe have a bit of practise first with other methods.
Yay! Back from the Gulag 🤣
Was a brilliant day last Saturday. I feel bad now for setting off alone but sadly I’m always against the clock to return home.
The peaks sounded amazing too. I made the choice to head east on Sunday and do Lewes back this way on the TET.
As expected- the SD NP is lacking in trails but still enjoyed lots of nice views.
I have finished 420 miles of the Southern GPX now and I need to figure out how to have a crack at the remaining 140 odd miles from Dover —> Lewes.
One thing that may help is fitting a 15t front sprocket yesterday. It’s knocked about 800rpm off of 60mph so should make covering the motorway miles there more bearable. And it’s smoothed out the few vibes it used to have too.
Welcome back to the thread 😊👊
Thanks! This is the only tread I'll be posting in from now on so hopefully won't get interrupted again 🤣
Deposit paid. Bike going in for a PDI. It was bought new from Manhattan's and has FSH from Manhattan's and it'll be going straight into Manhattan's for the next service as well because it'll be about a 90 second ride from home.
I 'might' have it by Monday it depends how busy they are this weekend.
If I get it on Saturday, I'll be riding it straight up to the Lakes for the family holiday and coming back on my own on Tuesday night for work on Wednesday.
If it's later than that, I'm home alone all week so I'll be commuting and doing after work missions into the Peak District. Work is about 20 minutes ride from Ladybower, 30 from Hope and I finish at 4:30 every day so plenty of daylight to enjoy.
Now, I've always thought that Tabernas Desert looks like an amazing place to visit...
YES Sharkattack! 😊👏👊
Brilliant stuff.
I reckon you're in for some fun times 😊
I'm a bit nervous about picking it up and riding straight out into the bedlam of Sheffield city centre traffic. It's a war zone out there.
It'll also be my first ever unsupervised ride with no instructions coming through an earpiece. When I get home I'll be able to chill out a bit and plan some adventures. I'm interested to see if I've got the horsepower to get up Winnats Pass.
I’m a bit nervous about picking it up and riding straight out into the bedlam of Sheffield city centre traffic. It’s a war zone out there.
Dominate the road through vehicle position, there’s a horn on it for a reason, keep your eyeline up and as far forwards as practicable, earplugs for every ride.
Nice looking bike, you’ll have a blast!
Enjoy the bike sharkattack, keep us updated on your adventures
