Thanks Dom!

Dirt riding is in my far, distant past. Teenager time riding in strip mines in Western Pennsylvania. All I remember is crashing a lot.

I’ll spend some time on YouTube looking for some training. Did some standing on the pegs today. Something tells me I might need some bar risers if I get serious about it.

Thank you for the positive comments about your experience with the Himalayan. I’m looking forward to a lot of not-in-a-big-hurry rides!

I’ll be reporting on the reliability as I put more miles on the bike. I’m hoping that a lot of the problems in the early models have been resolved.

I agree, it does seem a perfect pair. Time will tell if that’s true!

I’ve plotted several dirt rides of a hundred miles or more. It’s amazing how many trails I just never engaged with the Vespa. As soon as the weather warms I’ll start exploring. There is still a lot of ice and snow on those mountain roads now.

Being able to pick up a motorcycle when you’re likely to be alone is important. Even though the KLR and Himalayan weigh about the same, the Royal Enfield feels lighter.

I briefly considered the KLR but dismissed it largely due to how tall it is and how it feels more top-heavy than the Himalayan. I’ve ridden a few hundred miles on an older KLR and enjoyed it, but now ten years older, the lighter feel of the Himalayan is important.

I expect to ride this motorcycle into old age!