on shop runs. The 17-inch rear wheel/
tire combo sits nicely in its stance. Its
utilitarian style matches its performance
perfectly. It's a robust scrambler that can
take on all terrain but feels much more
substantial than an entry-level dual sport
bike. It is the most beginner-friendly bike
here, except for its high weight. It can
even punch above its weight if you want
to get rowdy/irresponsible with your
friends. But beware, it's very close to
being unhappy when pushed at any sort
of speed off-road. And no good has ever
come from an unhappy motorcycle.
The Himalayan 450 is the second heavi
-
est here, pushing 430-plus pounds full of
4.5 gallons of fuel. The chassis handles
the weight well, and the whole package
is in tune for some chill traversing.
The Himalayan runs great. The EFI
mapping and ride-by-wire throttle are
clean. The gear spacing in the six-speed
box is a bit stretched out for some (it's not
a race bike), and it doesn't get too buzzy
at higher rpm; it just rumbles along, mir
-
roring the whole vibe of this bike.
The same goes for the suspension.
It has 7.9 inches of front and rear travel
and is tuned more toward the plush
side of the valving spectrum, making it
ideal for riding the Himalayan the way
it seems meant to be ridden. Suspen
-
sion components include Showa's SFF
fork in front and a fairly basic monotube
VOLUME ISSUE AUGUST , P125
