VOLUME ISSUE SEPTEMBER , P107
The best of the Himalayan comes out
in the dirt. The bike handles well and
predictably, and the suspension is quite
good right out of the box. For my 165
non-gear-laden pounds, I didn't feel any
immediate need to make suspension
adjustments, though I did raise the seat,
which took all of two minutes, if that, to
complete.
As we climbed, the dirt roads be
-
came increasingly challenging, mainly
because of deep ruts and seemingly
hundreds of ridiculously slippery clay-
like mudholes that had formed from
thunderstorms the previous day and
were to blame for several minor get-offs
among the many journalists on the ride.
No one blamed the bike for the mishaps,
but the street tires certainly didn't help.
in the dirt. The bike handles well and
predictably, and the suspension is quite
good right out of the box. For my 165
non-gear-laden pounds, I didn't feel any
immediate need to make suspension
adjustments, though I did raise the seat,
which took all of two minutes, if that, to
complete.
came increasingly challenging, mainly
because of deep ruts and seemingly
hundreds of ridiculously slippery clay-
like mudholes that had formed from
thunderstorms the previous day and
were to blame for several minor get-offs
among the many journalists on the ride.
No one blamed the bike for the mishaps,
but the street tires certainly didn't help.
that a long day in the saddle would not
be a problem. The Himalayan has a tiny
windscreen, which I prefer over larger
ones—no helmet buffeting or visual
distractions here. Even the small, round
dash is discreetly positioned but is easy
to decipher. For me, the Himalayan eas
-
ily passed our short road test.
Approximately 90 percent of our
120-plus-mile ride took place on the dirt,
mostly Jeep roads, some deeply rutted,
as we gradually climbed in elevation
on what was a sunny, 80-degree day in
the Rockies. Our bikes were fitted with
the original, Indian-made CEAT—I'd say
80 (street) / 20 (dirt)—tires, so I was a
bit cautious when we first transitioned
onto the dirt but found the tires to offer
better-than-expected grip.
