A lot of people have been asking me, now that I’ve ridden the Himalayan 450 in my recent Indian trips, if I’ll be selling my current Himalayan—Billie, my trusty 411. I get it. New bike, more power, fancy tech—seems like a no-brainer, right? But here’s the thing: I’ve spent a lot of time with Billie. We’ve been through a lot together. Dirt roads, long trips, questionable fuel stops where the guy siphoned petrol from a Coke bottle. It’s a bond. And trading her in for something new feels a bit like dumping your partner because someone shinier walked into the room. But still, let’s look at the pros and cons.

The 450 at the top of the Dhinbam Ghat in India. Awesome bike.

On paper, the 450 is an upgrade. It has a more powerful engine (15hp more powerful) and lots more tech including riding modes and a gorgeous TFT dash. But in real-world riding, it’s not a night-and-day difference. The top speed isn’t significantly higher. In fact, the 450 maxes out at around 135 km/h. I’ve had Billie up to that speed (though the petrol consumption goes through the roof). The six gears on the 450 are closer together without adding huge amounts of speed (though they do let you get up to those speeds there faster). Added features like the integrated navigation and the TFT are nice, but nothing I can’t actually do without. And do riding modes really matter in a 39hp motorcycle. (Admittedly, when I rode it in India, I had it in economy mode instead of power mode, but that’s the way I ride.)

And I know, I know—it’s better on hills. But honestly, I don’t mind slowing down a bit to go uphill. It’s just part and parcel of riding a small displacement bike. The overall feel between the two models is surprisingly similar. The 450 is slightly thirstier. It’s slightly taller, which means that even at a manly six feet tall, I don’t get as much control over it as I do on the 411. But that’s not enough to sway me.

The 450 is a great bike. I really liked riding it. But is it worth switching?

My riding companion, Billie. The 2021 Himalayan 411.

Here’s the thing. Billie has 53,000 km on her. I’ve loved every trembling kilometre, but it’s a lot for a four-and-a-bit year old bike. And she’s a 411, which are no longer made. If I sell her, I wouldn’t get much—maybe $3,000. Meanwhile, a new Himalayan 450 costs more than $9,000. That means I’d be shelling out $6,000 to upgrade. And honestly? The advantages of the 450 aren’t worth that price tag to me.

So for now, I’m sticking with Billie. I’ve put a lot of work into her, and she feels like an extension of me at this point.

Maybe in a few years, when we take off to ride around Asia or wherever we end up, I’ll reconsider. But for now, Billie stays. So, at this point, I won’t be upgrading.

Blog: Two Wheels In South India 2025