Author Topic: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?  (Read 3231 times)

Online Huzo

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #30 on: December 03, 2021, 03:28:40 PM »
I had a ride on a Himalayan in UK, and found it a nice, inoffensive and tough little piece of kit. Simple and devoid of gimmickry.
We did a day in the Cotswalds with me on my Norge, Paul on his Bellagio and Serena on her Himmy. She did not hold us up at all in reality.
It feels like it has a heavy flywheel and I like it.

Offline bigbikerrick

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #31 on: December 03, 2021, 03:44:20 PM »
And as a chineasuim offering the Tao Motors 250. $1500 + $279 shipping and you can get a decent back road exploration dual sport bike that is able to be registered and plated. Buddy of mine has been researching them and they get good reviews. He’s picking one up for a snow bike since his Lifan is about corroded into a monolithic entity.

This is the guy who had a Guzzi dealership has over 1.5 million miles on motorcycles and just passed 80,000 miles for 2021. I trust he researched them enough to be confident.

We test ride one last week and for the money you’d be hard pressed to find better.

The Tao Tao sounds interesting, and may fit the bill for an occasional trail bike. Where do you buy them for that price? Any other details/ suggestions you would like to share?
Thanks
Rick.
"You meet the most interesting people on a Guzzi"

Offline Guzzistajohn

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #32 on: December 03, 2021, 04:32:22 PM »
None of the above????

ебать Россию!   Not anti social-pro solitude

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #33 on: December 03, 2021, 07:45:27 PM »
Himalayan One Year Later Review, How has it held up? ( Royal Enfield Himalayan 2021 USA Model )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20rlLnFo_0U

Wildguzzi.com

Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #33 on: December 03, 2021, 07:45:27 PM »

Offline Lee Bruns

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #34 on: December 03, 2021, 07:56:22 PM »
The DR is a big dirt bike.  The KLR is an inexpensive ADV bike.

KLR weighs 50 lbs more, makes the SAME HP and costs more than the DR.  KLR has fragile body work and radiator, chain driven counterbalancer. DR has only a small oil cooler to worry about and gear driven counterbalancer.  With the change to 1 tooth bigger front sprocket, I toured the US on a DR650 cruising at 80 mph just fine.

Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #35 on: December 03, 2021, 10:57:08 PM »
I'm not sure I follow this. What make's the KLR the Adv bike vs the DR? Is it the 99 pounds more weight? Is it the worse road/off-road manners. Is it the 2 less HP? Is it the shim and bucket valve adjustments? Is it the 2 less inches of ground clearance but the same seat height?

Frame mounted fairing with windshield.  Better weather protection.  Anything else you would like to know?
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Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #36 on: December 03, 2021, 10:59:33 PM »
Its the old quandry with dual sports. Get a light small bike for off road or a heavier faster bike for the pavement. The OP says he plans to ride 45-55 mph to get off the pavement. That might seem OK for a while but pretty much limits you to locations close to home or having to trailer your bike much further. I can't see riding the Enfield cross country at 55 mph.

I could see doing that when I retire.  Stay on the mostly deserted backroads and enjoy the ride. 
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Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #37 on: December 03, 2021, 11:04:19 PM »
KLR weighs 50 lbs more, makes the SAME HP and costs more than the DR.  KLR has fragile body work and radiator, chain driven counterbalancer. DR has only a small oil cooler to worry about and gear driven counterbalancer.  With the change to 1 tooth bigger front sprocket, I toured the US on a DR650 cruising at 80 mph just fine.

What does 80 mph have to do with the conversation.  We aren't talking about road touring bikes here. :wink: 
Everything else you say confirms what I said.  The DR is a large dirt bike, and the KLR is an inexpensive Adventure bike. The DR will go places the KLR wont, but the KLR will be more comfortable and has a longer range from the factory. 
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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #38 on: December 03, 2021, 11:49:03 PM »

Offline Sye

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #39 on: December 04, 2021, 07:28:55 AM »
I had a ride on a Himalayan in UK, and found it a nice, inoffensive and tough little piece of kit. Simple and devoid of gimmickry.
We did a day in the Cotswalds with me on my Norge, Paul on his Bellagio and Serena on her Himmy. She did not hold us up at all in reality.
It feels like it has a heavy flywheel and I like it.

The Cotswolds are perfect for the Himalayan and the UK is full of places like that. Maybe that's why it does so well here and is not such an attractive proposition in the US? You can't travel more that 20 - 30 miles here without finding the next town or village but distances are far greater in the US and OZ. Keep off the motorways and 65mph is as fast as you need to (can) go anyway.

Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #40 on: December 04, 2021, 08:11:39 AM »
So, to be an ADV bike it must have frame mounted fairing and windscreen? If as bike does not have these it cannot be considered an ADV bike??

Not my definition dude. Do your own homework and come to your own conclusions. It’s a free country. Call whatever you want an adventure bike. The definitions of many words are fluid.
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Offline Darren Williams

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #41 on: December 04, 2021, 08:59:44 AM »
None of the above????



Nope. That bike is not a single track explorer. It is evil to its core and will have you ripping along at immature and unsafe speeds, while popping wheelies at every opportunity. Definitely nor for gentlemanly conservative back country riding.

If one wants to experience great outdoor trail riding at its base elemental level, the Trail 125 is the ticket. Just resign yourself to taking your time getting there.   :wink:
The best part of riding a motorcycle is to tilt the horizon and to lift the front coming out of a corner and to drift the back end powering thru loose dirt and to catch a little air topping a hill and... yeah it's all good!

Offline Lee Bruns

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #42 on: December 04, 2021, 10:12:41 AM »
What does 80 mph have to do with the conversation.  We aren't talking about road touring bikes here. :wink: 
Everything else you say confirms what I said.  The DR is a large dirt bike, and the KLR is an inexpensive Adventure bike. The DR will go places the KLR wont, but the KLR will be more comfortable and has a longer range from the factory.

The ability to tour in the bike is literally one of the points. "ADV Touring" is the actual name of the class of bike. So the fact that the DR can comfortably cruise at 80 with a top speed of over 100 mph is also relevant. And again, the DR makes a fine touring bike. Just add windshield and bags. The larger tank on the KLR is only relevant if buyers leave the bikes stone stock. Which no one does anyway. The bigger tank for the DR is inexpensive. What is with the weird cult loyalty to the KLR? As long as the DR is still available, there is no reason to consider a KLR.

Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #43 on: December 04, 2021, 11:01:52 AM »
I'm not the one who posted "Frame mounted fairing with windshield.  Better weather protection.  Anything else you would like to know?"
No, you are just the one who wants to argue. I get it.  I posted what the industry calls an adventure bike, but you took it as my personal definition. Simple mistake.  I will use more words from now on so it is clearer.
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Offline usedtobefast

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #44 on: December 04, 2021, 11:46:27 AM »
Like a well tuned forklift ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ybMIgmtsPc

What a great review!!  Very entertaining.  Makes me want to buy one!   :grin:
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Offline usedtobefast

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #45 on: December 04, 2021, 11:50:50 AM »
Here is a picture of my Stornello:






And interesting ... I believe zero people have said "use the Stornello!  Get it muddy!  Maybe drop it and not worry about it."

I'm 99% on the Himalayan decision. 
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Offline Off @ 90

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #46 on: December 04, 2021, 02:28:12 PM »
I've taken my Stonello on some steep and rutted 4 WD  tracks . Lowering tire press to 22 psi helped the limited suspension travel a lot  and low seat height  . Did have a problem with the eng developing a off throttle stalling  issue after a long decent ie engine braking all the way down . I have read of other Mk2 engines having the exact same problem  after long descents off road. Never found out what the problem was but doing a reset with Guzzidiag fixed it.
Just installed some Honda Goldwing foot pegs big improvement over OEM solid ally cap pegs .My boots tended to slip off them and no vib absorbtion. Mainly use the Stornello for road use commuting 40 km/ day and longer road  trips round South Is .
Duncan

Offline sidecarnutz

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #47 on: December 04, 2021, 03:53:33 PM »
Take a cue from Hawkeye in the new Marvel movie and just take the fenders off a RE650 and put knobbies on it! LOL

I did another 100 miles on my RE 650 GT today and mostly back roads and it was awesome fun. Great way to see the countryside. Its a very easy bike to enjoy and care for. Got almost 61 mpg on it today and it takes regular gas!
yeah, I might be addicted to brake fluid. But I can stop any time I want.

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Offline steven c

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #48 on: December 04, 2021, 06:14:03 PM »
 Here is some inspiration to use the Stornello. Not a Guzzi but my friend using his BMW R80ST. .Which is kind of a rare bike.I was on a KLR.

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Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #49 on: December 04, 2021, 06:23:00 PM »
Here is a picture of my Stornello:






And interesting ... I believe zero people have said "use the Stornello!  Get it muddy!  Maybe drop it and not worry about it."

I'm 99% on the Himalayan decision.

If you could weld a 3rd contact point to the tip over bars they might protect that expensive tank in a slide.  To me the Stornello just has the look of a scrambler, like the early air cooled triumphs.  Sure, in the hands of an expert any bike can be ridden wherever.

As long as you have no need for prolonged 70 mph riding you should enjoy the Himalayan.  I'm heavily tempted to buy another one.
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Offline Beowulf

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Re: Stornello vs RE Himalayan vs KLR650?
« Reply #50 on: December 04, 2021, 06:46:54 PM »
If you could weld a 3rd contact point to the tip over bars they might protect that expensive tank in a slide.  To me the Stornello just has the look of a scrambler, like the early air cooled triumphs.  Sure, in the hands of an expert any bike can be ridden wherever.

As long as you have no need for prolonged 70 mph riding you should enjoy the Himalayan.  I'm heavily tempted to buy another one.
couldn’t said this any better. If I was in your position keep the Guzzi clean ride the piss outta off the Himalayan and enjoy both for what they are. Royal Enfield while cheap in some of its fittings has made a sensible well priced product that’s actually fun. I love Guzzi but I wouldn’t hesitate to buy the Himalayan. If my Guzzi is toast I just might.

 

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