REML Himalayan Bike

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 The Himalayan


The first ever Motor bike that I bought was at a very young age of 57 (Yes, Fifty seven). It was a “now or never” moment for me and I wanted to go for it or as Nike says “Just Do it” 

Before this, I had, in a  show of bravado, ridden my cousin Balaji’s Rajdoot motorcycle during my college days.

Later on, after a gap of nearly forty years, I started tentatively to ride different bikes and get used to the feel. I used a rental agency called “Wicked Rides” #wickedrides . I tried out Harley Davidson and Royal Enfield. I also got a few bike rides from friends and known people who had these brands. That was when REML had launched the Himalayan and it had got mixed reviews. While many praised it performance and how it looked, few had issues with its build quality. I decided to wait for all the initial de-bugging to be done. That is when they launched the “Himalayan Sleet”. I snapped it up.

This being my first ever bike that I owned, it was a moment of happiness, pride, fear, awe and all those sort of  mixed emotions.

It was heavy for me and I could not easily push myself out of the parking (particularly, when it was parked in a slope and I had to get it against the slope). Once in an earlier instance (maybe just after I bought it and took Anita out for a ride), much to my dismay and discomfort, had to take Anita’s help to pull the bike back!


Nevertheless, I liked the bike and we went out on many rides together. The ultimate experience for me was when I got an opportunity to ride out with a team of RE riders to Sakaleshpura and had to do some amount of off-roading. It was an overnight trip and I was the “youngest” guy in the group. Many wanted to help this “uncle”! 



I had so much of fun with this bike.

I had many a fall off this bike and all of them at a top speed of zero KMPH and all during off-roading. Luckily had no major injuries, except for one time, when I went to Manchanbele dam and tried some off-roading stuff. I fell and injured my back and hip area so bad, that I had to stop exercises and allow time to heal. Thanks to a timely intervention by Dr. Gladson Johnson (Physiotherapist and my exercise Guru), I bounced back pretty quickly.


This bike has a special emotional connect with my son Anish too. It was the first time ever (perhaps) that he rode a bike and it was on this Himalayan. We both made a few rides together including places like vanivilasa saagara dam etc.



Anita and I too made quite a few weekend breakfast rides.


Like the saying that “All good things have to come to an end”, I decided that this was a bit too tall for me and decided to sell it away. Luckily, Santosh (Ashwin’s BIL) bought it and I can keep seeing it now and then.

The emotional connect was so deep that it inspired me to write this poem.


My muse

You were my only beautiful one

I had eyes for no other one 

We dated speed and rode so tough

You tested me over many a rough


I fell over you and you over me

We rolled over many a time

Covered together many a mile

Off the road, with a broad smile


Bye my dear, it’s tough to part

Know that you are still dear to heart

I’ll shed not a tear for you

For you’ll be in my mind as I knew


Bye my dear Royal Enfield 

Sorry that I had to yield 

I still have your Himalayan dream

To posses and ride with with my team


Good bye - REML Himalayan. 

An ode to my bike.

- Na Sri Mo

Very prophetically, I had mentioned in the poem that I still have a dream to ride The Himalayan again!

Himalayan 450

There were talks about fitting a higher powered engine to the Himalayan and give it more torque in the mid range too. There were speculations if that would be the 650 cc engine, but that would have made it too heavy and bulky, so that wasn’t the answer.

Then they surprised fans like me. We heard that REML was working on a new engine which is oil cooled (now known as the Sherpa engine). RE did surprise and very positively with the all new Himalayan 450. While the earlier Himalayan was kind-of rechristened as “Scram”, the new Himalayan 450 was “The Himalayan”


I looked and poured over many articles, reviews etc. about this. I was disappointed that the seat here was much more taller than the earlier version (Now it was positioned at 825-845 mm as against the earlier 805 mm). I felt cheated and left out of the fun of riding Himalayan again. 

I spoke to the people at Accelerate Motors (Dealer at Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bangalore). They not only invited me to have a look at it, but gave me the privilege of unveiling the bike (on the India launch day) at their Showroom. I was petrified and while I did unveil the bike, did not dare to sit on the bike, lest I make a fool of myself!



That’s when I befriended  Instagram media influencer “Bigbear Bangalore” (Arun #Bigbearbangalore ). He had tested out the bike and encouraged me to go ahead and that we would have a lower version of accessory seat available later. 


 This encouraged me to book and buy the bike. My 61st year present to myself!

The Himalayan 


While I still have the stock seat, I found it okay and manageable. 


I was again pretty much pleased that my “Dream came true” and wrote this poem to celebrate the new bike..


Himalayan 450

That was the first that I owned

Sleet was it for adventure known

With it I had so much of fun

Taking it out at the crack of dawn. 


A Himalayan it was, seat so tall

My legs didn’t reach & had many a fall 

Off the road we went many a time

Experience i had was sublime. 


Gave it away with a resolve 

I’ll definitely get that call

Maybe it’s a bit more tall

I’ll master it and try not to fall


So, here it is my dream come true

To posses and ride that’s all truly new

With an engine that’s liquid cooled

A bike that makes me always drool. 


Sleet or something near

Kamet is what I chose

Here I am next to it so close

Showing off and trying to pose.  

- Na Sri Mo

I started off with a great 200 kms ride the very next day that I took the delivery of my bike. It was such a nice feeling to be back on a more rugged but yet refined and powerful Himalayan.

Almost a month later, went for a training and learn off-roading. 


A video link to some rides on the Himalayan 450. 

Off-roading training at Bedrock Dirtpark

A ride to kOLLI malai - 70 Hairpin bend Challenge

Riding in the Himalayas

Renting a bike in Leh




Comments

  1. Anonymous23 January 2024 at 21:37

    Dear sir,
    NSM is the other name for adventure. A great balance between risk and safety and yet be adventurous.
    Have a great ride sir

    ReplyDelete
  2. Arun K24 January 2024 at 01:23

    Glad you have stuck with this legendary brand and continue to be happy. Many happy rides to you Mohan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NSM24 January 2024 at 06:35

      Thanks Bosky. You have been great motivator for me

      Delete
  3. Ravinder6 January 2025 at 11:36

    Keep up the good work and continue to live this dream Mohan sir

    ReplyDelete

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