Bmw GS1200 Owner Buys Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: Explains Why
The BMW R 1200 GS and the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 sit at either end of the Adventure bike (ADV) spectrum. In a recent video shared by Free Miles MC, we get to see Felix, an owner who has bought both motorcycles! He bought the 1200 GS from the pre-owned market and has done extensive touring with it. The 48-year-old now wishes to get into off-roading. He talks about why despite being a 1200 GS owner, he invested in the Himalayan 450.
Why Did This 1200 GS Owner Buy A Himalayan?
Felix says that it was the sheer desire to get into off-roading that made him buy the Himalayan. The GS is indeed a quintessential ADV. It is capable in handling most terrains.
The problem, however, was that it weighed around 249 kilograms and he was 48 years old. He knew he needed something lighter, that's equally capable, especially since he was an absolute beginner at the sport. This line of thought finally made him pick the Royal Enfield.
Secondly, he did not want to be brand loyal. BMW has the G310 GS and other mid-capacity models on sale. But this 1200 GS owner decided to experiment with other brands. He felt the Royal Enfield ADV to be good-looking and most reviews and user experiences were in favour of it. Thus, he did not have to think much.
Another interesting aspect is the price. Felix could buy a brand-new Himalayan for half the price of what the used 1200 GS costed him. Were he to buy a brand-new GS 1200, he could have bought 4-5 Himalayans with the money!
This motorcyclist has explored much of Europe on his GS. His intentions with the Himalayan, however, are different. He prefers to enter off-roading and hone his skills with the motorcycle.
He says he isn't confident about taking the GS on a single trail because of how massive it is, whereas the Royal Enfield would be quite confidence-inspiring for the same. The weight difference also gives the Himalayan an upper hand in maneuverability, especially on slopes.
The Himalayan rides on 21 inch front wheel and has 17 inch wheel at the rear. This makes for a sweet proportion. The large front wheel makes it easy to wade through slush and the rest of the motorcycle follows the path easily. The 1200 GS on the other hand, gets an 19 inch front wheel which could feel slightly shaky. Navigating through mud and slush is thus better done with the Royal Enfield.
Take the duo to the tarmac, and we will instantly have a winner- the 1200 GS. With its 124 hp of power and 125 Nm of torque, meaty engine, excellent frame and immaculate engineering, the BMW will outshine the Royal Enfield in a blink or two!
The Himalayan excels with its road manners and handling, provided we are comparing it to other models in its segment. The 40-ish Nm of torque promises early delivery and the low and mid ranges are quite enjoyable. It also stands unique in offering lower electronics levels of the two. Thus it should feel more oldschool, trail-rated and utilitarian.
Towards the end of the video, this owner says that he'd keep both bikes and has no plans to sell the BMW off. He thinks that there are specific purposes and scenarios in his life, when and where he'd need it- a true biker there...