The Green Machine
Mornings starting with single-digit temperatures or worse don’t automatically engender thoughts of motorcycles, scooters, and riding. But for me, thinking about bringing my 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan home has been a major preoccupation. I’m embarrassed to say how many Himalayan YouTube videos I’ve watched. Or how many accessories I’ve considered (and purchased) on SRC Moto and Twisted Throttle.
I’ve been dreaming and scheming about the many and myriad rides I might take with the Himalayan. And bringing it home was the necessary first step.
But First, the BMW K75C
I can fit four motorcycles or scooters in the garage. It would be a tight fit but entirely possible. Knowing myself though, the K75 would be relegated to a seldom-seen life and it’s far too healthy and capable to languish in the garage. So after some discussion with Josh Nolten, general manager of BMW Motorcycles of Tyrone & Kissell Motorsports, he agreed to sell the motorcycle on consignment.
On the day before I went to pick up the Himalayan, I pushed the K75 out of the garage one last time so it could be transported to Tyrone. I was fine with it leaving that day, but writing about it now stirs a bit of melancholy. Strange for someone who doesn’t get emotionally attached to machinery.
Josh did a great job with the BMW K75 motorcycle posting on their website. I hope it finds a new home with someone who will ride it with the same smiles and excitement I did. It was just the wrong motorcycle for my life right now.
The Royal Enfield Himalayan
All packed and ready to go. My friend Howard graciously offered to drive to Battlefield Harley-Davidson with me and haul the motorcycle home in a trailer. I asked him to take a picture of me with the motorcycle. It wasn’t until I downloaded the picture that I saw it showed what I’ve been feeling since I bought it — happy.
Bringing home my 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan was the start of something new. The motorcycle is now resting quietly in the garage, sipping electrons from a Battery Tender and waiting with me for a day when the temperature rises about the freezing mark. Until then I have some things I can do with the bike; install accessories, mount things and become more familiar with the motorcycle in general.
While the weather is still cold, I can always ride the winter-capable Vespa!
The gentle smile of a happy bloke….good luck with it. I am (ever so slightly) envious. Happy riding when the temp. rises slightly. We are currently 8 Celsius here but not sure we are over the worst yet. A ride on my Vespa is uppermost in my thoughts but I just don’t have to motivation at the moment to gear up… Perhaps I need (!) a new machine…
Regards Chris
It snowed again last night and is still snowing now. I could ride the Vespa today if I didn’t have other commitments, but I won’t take out a brand new motorcycle in this mess. And you have a point about gear. The older I get, the more annoyed I seem to get at having to put on so much stuff to ride in cold weather.
That is a quite wonderful smile! If you haven’t already, consider Hitchcocks as a source for accessories. I’ve purchased more than one from them, normally items available from no one else. A great catalog dedicated to the Himalayan. A new set of tires this weekend and a valve check…I’ll be ready.
I hope that you’ll enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine. Safe and happy riding!
I’m smiling a lot more generally. And have more energy too. It can’t possibly be the Himalayan can it?
I’ve looked at Hitchcock and may purchase some fender risers from them if I can’t find something in the US. So far, everything I’ve purchased has been from SRC Moto and Twisted Throttle. Pretty run-of-the-mill stuff.
I’m going to reach out to you by email at some point to pick your brain if you don’t mind. Particularly about the valve checks. I’m not anxious to start wrenching again, but it may be the best option for the Himalayan. And I went and sold my lift table….
Happy to help Steve in whatever way that I can. There are a few tricks to make the valve check a bit more convenient.
OK, that picture of you and the Enfield has settled my spirit about your new choice of motorcycle. I am sure it will bring us many great stories.
The Himalayan will no doubt generate some stories. I’ve been thinking about how they might differ from those generated while riding the Vespa. Time will tell. And while riding either, I’ll be smiling!
Sweet,
Mike, if you aren’t going to buy a Vespa, you should take a look at the Himalayan. You know you want to! And it’s slow and steady and nothing like the machine that caused problems for your brother-in-law…
Awesome! The Himalayan was at the top of my list, too, and would have been my choice if there were a nearer dealer. Seven years ago you inspired me to do the kind of riding I do — country backroads taking a ton of pics (thanks for that!) — but for the past three summers, since I’ve had “real” bikes, my Vespa has simply gathered rather than made dust. I think I’ve given ‘er less than 1,000 miles since the 2018 Cannonball and I then discovered the joy of larger wheels. All of which is to say: that’s a great bike for you!
The bigger wheels change the nature of a ride that’s for sure. Especially when you leave the pavement. People and circumstances change so there’s no reason to think that the choice of what to ride might not change as well. While I don’t think my Vespa will gather dust, I really don’t know for sure. Time will reveal my two-wheeled future.
I’m glad I could help you along the road with your rides and camera. For me, it’s a simple, rewarding luxury. One that I continually want to repeat for no reason other than the gifts it bears.
Do you think you will attempt more (what they call) technical roads? Like where you stand on the pegs or cross over streams for example?
They “cross over streams” quite well. I know from personal experience that they are very poor swimmers.
Poor swimmers…. that means the Himalayan won’t reproduce right??
I don’t think I’ll be seeking out more technical roads but the Himalayan will make it more likely that I’ll attempt them. I’ve never been a peg-standing rider but it’s been 50 years since I’ve been in situations where that was required. I’ll try that out on the Himalayan and see if it has some utility for me.
Hmmm. That’s an intriguing piece of machinery. I’ve been contemplating for some time a change in what I ride, but I have been thinking more along the lines of something electric, like a Zero FX. The light weight of the FX, as well as the lack of a clutch, has its advantages. I haven’t driven anything with shifting gears in years. But I wasn’t expecting the Enfield to be as relatively inexpensive as it is. The Zero FX goes for not quite twice the price (probably about $10K out the door). Food for thought for the rest of winter! Happy riding!
Ah, the joys of anticipation. Reading this brings a smile to my face as well!
“Next to me in the blackness lay my oiled blue steel beauty. The greatest Christmas gift I had ever received, or would ever receive. Gradually, I drifted off to sleep, pranging ducks on the wing and getting off spectacular hip shots.” – Ralphie, A Christmas Story
You’ll shoot your eye out!
Steve, I’ve reread my silly comments from the other day and recognize I didn’t leave much or any context and barely hinted at my enthusiasm for your new motorcycle. Without making it weird, I simply wanted to say that I am very happy and excited for your new bike and the new adventures you will be enjoying. I’ve always enjoyed “A Christmas Story” because of the way in which the main character (Ralphie) sees the world. The object of his affection grows to be larger than life in his own mind (something I am also quite adept at doing) despite the many naysaying voices in his life: the adults in his life and even Santa Claus. There is something particularly satisfying at the end of the movie when you realize his father saw the importance of exploring a sport that is not without danger by surprising Ralphie with his own BB gun. (sorry for the spoiler)
Again, I couldn’t be happier for you and hope to see your new bike in person someday soon!
Andy, shooting my eye out has a special place in my heart. And I fully embrace the notion that the object of my affection can (and often does) grow to be larger than life. The Vespa certainly fits that bill. And I am already trying to mitigate my obsession with the Himalayan. Time will tell whether I succeed or fail.
The end of “A Christmas Story” where dad knew what to get his son stirs some nostalgia for me in regard to my father and Christmas. While I never got the BB gun, mini-bike, or go-kart I wanted, he did get me things I did want, often without me realizing it would become an obsession. Happy memories. Thanks for igniting the for me!
Wishing you thousands and thousands of trouble-free and smile-generating miles! I too feel guilty about my R80 (Brigitta)’s lack of exercise. Yet, I’ve not been able to part with it.
Sentimental attachment is responsible for a lot of things living unused in my house. The list is long…
This will be a better bike for you Steve. A BMW doesn’t even awaken before 100 miles and yours was setup for some serious Sport Touring. For the riding that you do a Himalayan is the perfect weapon. It will be as nimble as your Vespa for tight going and capable of stints on an Interstate if necessary. Have fun.
My thinking exactly Jim. I’m excited about some new adventures on yet-to-be-explored tracks. This morning I attached the tail bag I had used on the BMW. It was room for all the essentials of a day trip. All that’s missing now is acceptable weather.
Coming in here a tad late (for a change), thanks to several matters, shoveling mounds of snow the most recent.
If I had the means (and room) for a second ride, the Himalayan would at or near the top of the list: in fact, given the road conditions for the moment here, that bike could likely slot in rather well. As things stand, my new GTS SuperTech isn’t parked here yet (still waiting three miles away at the dealer), so there’s still plenty to anticipate. I do anticipate some interesting and insightful entries from you before very long regarding your travels with that Enfield.
You’ve had the rougher time snow-wise with this past storm. We’re suffering some low temperatures which keeps the snow we do have on the ground and not melting. So winter seems longer.
I spent a lot of time considering options for my second ride after deciding to part with the K75. The Himalayan checked all the boxes including the most important one for a photographer — its appearance in photographs. I’ve been tinkering with things on the bike — installed the master cylinder guard this morning, and continuing to organize the garage so that I can do most of the routine service on the bike.
If I had a new Vespa I would likely loathe to take it out in the salt and snow. I came to that gradually and just had to swallow the physical decay it engendered. Still, after 43K miles, the GTS is holding up well. Most of the damage from winter has been cosmetic.
As far as new blog entries go, I’ll be continuing to catch up on thoughts and rides from this past fall…