Chasing the Truth
It’s no secret that I’ve been looking for a way to understand my Himalayan motorcycle. Or more precisely whether my sometimes discomfort riding off-road is real or imagined. A slight misfiring of the brain or a cold, harsh view of reality. I’ve poured through hundreds of comments and suggestions about what I should or shouldn’t do in regard to my Royal Enfield Himalayan. In those comments I witness new perspectives. And I also see the fear and anxiety others have regarding the relentless march of time and how it may or may not rear its ugly side today.
One Truth
I love riding the Himalayan. Aside from those occasional moments while riding on questionable surfaces far from the safety of home when I suddenly feel vulnerable, the motorcycle is a perfect companion for riding. It’s fun without feeling dangerous. The sound is reassuring and I can go on and on with a smile.
In an effort to understand the Himalayan and come to some reckoning of its future I’ve been riding it more than usual. A cold morning to ride and retest my beliefs and conclusions about the motorcycle.
Into the Fire
My concerns about riding the Himalayan are simple. First, I’m worried that I may have trouble handling the motorcycle thick gravel, muddy roads, or other situations where traction is an issue. Second, if I do dump the machine I may injure myself and as I near 70 years old healing becomes an uncertain process. Third, if I drop the bike and am not injured I am uncertain whether I can pick it up without help or without injuring my already dicey back. And fourth, I often ride alone in places with no cell coverage where I could be lost or stranded for days. Or worse.
Those are the things on my mind as I have been riding the Himalayan. Working to figure out what to do. Keep it or sell it.
Simple. Easy. Direct.
Remedies and Solutions
Riding on this morning found the roads damp but not slippery except for occasional patches of mud. And the gravel had been beaten away leaving a relatively smooth and hard riding surface. I tested the brakes, various speeds, and generally found myself and the motorcycle completely comfortable. At least in this environment.
If I sell the motorcycle life is simple and easy. No concerns about storage space. No worries about maintenance, insurance, and annual registration fees. Sell the bike and simplify my life.
If I decide to keep it then there will be things I need to do to address my occasional discomfort. Because it won’t go away on its own and the older I get the more challenging it will be to ride the Himalayan.
So here’s my list of possible remedies and solutions:
- Don’t ride alone.
- Use a satellite communication device
- Buy more aggressive tires
- Buy an Eastbound MotoWinch to pick up the motorcycle
- Only ride off-road in good weather and avoid more challenging tracks
- Do some weight lifting for additional strength
Time to Think
I can keep the Himalayan and address many of my concerns. The real question might be “Why keep it?” I now have the Honda Trail 125 to ride and explore in the mountains. On its own in stock condition it eliminates almost all of my concerns. When I stopped for breakfast I began to think about the bigger question of why I should keep the motorcycle aside from I like it.
I want to keep the motorcycle for longer trips where I would want to travel at higher speeds to get to the off-road tracks I want to explore. That was why I bought the Himalayan initially and perhaps why I still want to hold on to it.
Breakfast Magic?
I wish I could say that a hearty breakfast illuminated a path before me with all the answers concerning my desire to understand the Himalayan. All I got was the satisfaction of eating and the knowledge that I would shortly be feeling pretty cold when I got back on the motorcycle and all the blood in my body was rushing to my stomach to digest breakfast.
But I can report that right now I’m a lot closer to keeping the Himalayan than I am selling it. I feel good writing those words…
I think a solution might lie in an evolutionary manner. I did not have another motorcycle to consider when I bought my Trailrider, so I did not go through this process. And I did consider a Himalayan as a possibility. But I will say my one overriding thought in my process was “What would I be able to ride at 80?” And only the Trailrider made it through that question. Not that I expect I will be riding at 80, but what if I am? In your case, I think you’re in a good position to gradually evolve from the Himalayan to the 125. Keep the Himi, ride both the Himi and the 125, and over time, I think the answer will reveal itself to you. Might take a couple of years, but what’s the rush, really? And might I be so bold as to suggest, if you need garage space, the smaller Vespa now feels expendable, as the 125 sort of does what the little Vespa does in many ways. And yes, I still feel a satcom is in order. I think you’re wise enough to know the answer when it appears.
I think you’ve done a good job describing my thoughts about the Himalayan. Today I can ride it. With some improvements and upgrades it will be even more psychologically comfortable. As time passes my feelings and abilities pertaining to the Himalayan will undoubtably change. And I can evolve as you say.
As far as the smaller Vespa goes — my wife will never allow it to leave. It belonged to her father and there are far too many memories with it. I just need to do some reorganizing in the garage….
I’m leaning more and more towards the Garmin InReach Mini over the iPhone capabilities. It will allow me to send text messages to a variety of people as updates and such. And not just use it in emergencies.
I feel wiser already!
I understand the sentimental value with the Vespa. The Garmin InReach Mini is really the state of the art at this point. And I just wanted to take the opportunity to point you to an interesting YouTube channel called Motorcycle Travel Channel (you can google it). Three of his most recent videos (Going Nowhere, I’m In Love, and Not What I Expected) show him riding his 125 and talking about his experiences with it in southeast AZ. I think you’d like them and the perspective they offer about the Trailrider (not to mention the performance of the bike!).
I’ve watched some of the stuff on the Motorcycle Travel Channel. The guy who produces the content is the cinematographer for the BDR films. He has some first rate stuff. I watched him ride his CT125 into the Arizona mountains. Another fine example of the utility and capability of this little motorcycle.
I suspect that the most valid and compelling reason for buying and owning any motorcycle comes down to “Because I want to!” No other reason is really needed. That’s the easy part!
Knowing what you really want is the hard part.
Wise words Clyde. I want the Himalayan.
Look at SPOT devices. Satellite beacons and 2-way coms. No affiliation.
Having said that, the fear of injury or being stranded should be enough to persuade you to sell the R.E. I had to sell a boat that was my entire leisure-time passion for 8 years, because my knees were so shot I couldn’t get in and out of all the spaces you needed to get in and out of to service all the systems. I’m 75. Also there were some ropes I needed to pull and tie and slightly arthritic hands made that a torture. It became obvious that I didn’t have the capacity to keep my passengers safe any more. Admitting that you are getting older is difficult and the first time you confront your mortality is a shock and a surprise.
I would sell the RE because the fear is always there in the back of your mind and it spoils the fun! All you are doing is re-setting your limits. Go gracefully!
I am looking at the Garmin InReach Mini 2.
Fear of injury and being stranded was certainly on my mind. But to this point any physical limitations are slight with the only major concern being whether I would be able to pick up the motorcycle. Riding with a partner or carrying a MotoWinch would eliminate that concern. But I need to remain honest about whether riding starts to affect my safety.
I need to watch whether there is some continual fear while riding the Himalayan or I’m good to go.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I appreciate them.
My pleasure! I enjoy your writings and I am seriously jealous of your riding area.
Just to reinforce my comment on creeping decrepitude, I am going to Montreal tomorrow to get both my knees replaced(!) However, in anticipation of a better life, I just bought a nice Arai helmet to wear after rehab, to continue the journey. Now all that’s left is to trade in the 150 on a 300…
Central Pennsylvania has incredible places to ride. I am indeed fortunate to live where I do with such easy access to both paved and unpaved adventure.
Best wishes for successful and uneventful knee replacement surgery and the subsequent therapy that can lead you back to riding. An Arai helmet looks good on a Vespa 300 rider!
I like the MotoWinch idea. Even if you don’t keep the Himalayan, that thing is really compact and nice to have. I think I mentioned before, when I dropped a KLR in Mexico back country, I had to sit on it and wait for someone to come along.
For $185 plus shipping from the UK I think it’s a good value. And a good tool to strap on the motorcycle for the reason you shared.
Hello Mr.Steve,
It really comes down to you can only ride one at a time anyway.They make all sorts of tools for the task one is performing. I believe the machines in your stable have a place each it’s own for that particular ride. Chosing that is your decision,I’m also nearly 70 so I hop on and twist the throttle and realize injury or even death could occur. My thought if I overthink all that I might as well just stay home.I dont have a deathwish but hell u only go round once…Happy trails sir. Dr. Don in Central Texas.
You’re right on all counts Don. It just has taken me some time to sort through the noise in my head to get to that point.
I now have a plan and I suspect the Himalayan will remain part of the fleet..
You’re riding on memories. Fun memories, but memories of the past. Keep it if you want but it’s no longer practical. I keep suits from a time when I was thinner but I’ll never wear them. Time for both of us to let go, accept reality.
That was certainly the line of thinking I was pursuing. Let go and move on. But I started riding it more and was paying close attention to what was going on in my mind, with my emotions, my body, and the performance of the motorcycle. Turns out that I was identifying some real issues related to riding — slippery surfaces off-road in the winter — and using my emotional reactions to paint a portrait of the Himalayan as more of an issue than it really was. A false reality.
After a handful of rides off-road both on slippery surfaces and typical non-wet dirt and gravel I found myself without any anxiety or concern. It’s not that I’ve grown too fat for my suit but rather I had kind of convinced myself that I would get in trouble if I wore it. Whatever that means.
I’m going to keep it for now, improve the tires, buy a jack, and keep on riding until a risk emerges that isn’t related to poor road conditions. There are plenty of dry days where I can still comfortably ride the Himalayan. That’s my story today and I’m sticking to it. Now on to the return of my Vespa GTS!
Steve, I heartily recommend you try airing down the tires for when tackling the more technical portions of offroad riding. I keep my T-Dub at 8 psi, both front and rear, and it makes a world of difference on the gnarly stuff. Your concerns re injury potential and picking up the motorcycle when you drop it are quite valid too. I can’t address those as they are something only you can decide.
I’ve never aired down the tires but I have been aware that it could help. Laziness on my part I guess. Next time I have the Himalayan somewhere dicey I may do as you suggest.
Since I decided to keep the Himalayan, at least for now, and I have concerns about being able to pick it up, I purchased an Eastbound MotoWinch. I’ve not tested it with the bike but put it together in the living room and it appears entirely able to perform as advertised. So that will ease some of those concerns a bit.
Kim has told me to buy a Garmin InReach Mini2. It wasn’t a suggestion. So it may soon appear in my life.
Life is an adventure!