If you are highway hauling, the Himalayan is not for you. 90km max is realistic, possibly closer to 80 for extended periods. Redline should see it reach 120 but I have never even tried that with mine. It feels better at slower speeds. More like its comfortable rather than working. In all honesty for the dodgy roads (or tracks(?)) they are built for speed is not really an issue. They handle terrain well and run on the smell of an oily rag. The 15 litre tank will get me over 350km comfortably. The newer one may even be better at both speed and economy with the shift to Fuel injection. Very practical. I use mine as my daily to get to and from work as I have a nearly 40km commute, most of it on 80km roads making it well suited for it. And at $7500 brand new they are not an expensive bike. Mine has the fancy trekker panniers and a givi topbox just to finish the ensemble off...
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rugerman what size bandit do you have? I was thinking about something like that in the stable next to the Virago and the RE. That or the V Strom though I was preferring to stay under 600cc.
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Finnwolf I found mine pretty good from Chch to Blenheim recently. Timewise it was a longer trip as I sat mostly around 80km letting stuff past as soon as I could. You can also get an after market touring seat, along with a myriad of other bits and bobs for them. And most of it is pretty good value. The Panniers were on the dear side but they are Givi Trekker side boxes fitted with RE racks for RE which is why they are dearer, but ironically Givi trekkers are dearer still......