‘I OWN A HIMALAYAN
… and I’m not convinced by the KTM’
ALEX Age Current 32 Height THORPE bike Royal 6ft 3in Enfield Himalayan Been riding Three years First bike Triumph Thruxton Dream bike Royal Enfield Model K
‘I wanted a runabout – a bike that would be fine to ride to work, not care too much about, be simple and cheap to run, and okay on small lanes. The Himalayan looked easy to service at home and had very good reviews everywhere. It also came with a cheap full set of luggage. Essentially, it was bought as a workhorse rather than a toy. ‘I’ve painted mine because I didn’t like the standard decals or colours. I’ve also added a Scottoiler to make it a bit more practical. Other than that, I’ve got a set of handguards coming as I’ve started using it off-road, plus a taller screen as the stock one causes bad buffeting. Other than that, I’ve just serviced it. ‘Having had heavy bikes before, the ease of a light bike really appeals – and while the Himalayan is light by comparison, it’s still rather heavy. I expect the KTM is more fun and sharper handling, but it looks cramped and there’s a lot of plastic to get damaged.
‘I don’t think the KTM will have the range of ability the Royal Enfield does. I’m sure it’s better in some areas, but it doesn’t look as complete for what I want. If it was a second bike I’d be more tempted, but as a main do-everything bike I think the Himalayan is better than anything else on the market at any price. Another 5-10bhp would make a massive difference, though…’