Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 vs KTM 390 Adventure X: Specs Compared

The KTM 390 Adventure stands out as a truly capable motorcycle for fast-paced offroading. The Adventure X is a budget variant of the same, priced slightly lower, bridging the gap between the 250 and the 390. The introduction of the new Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 into this segment further intensifies the competition. The price of the KTM 390 ADV X is ₹ 2.81 lakh(ex-showroom), which is on par with the top-spec model of the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 at ₹ 2.84 lakh (ex-showroom). With a minimal price difference of ₹ 3,000, it poses a tough decision on which one to pick. To simplify this choice, here's a spec sheet comparison.

Engine

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is powered by the latest Sherpa engine, a 450 cc liquid-cooled DOHC motor. It delivers 40 bhp and 40 Nm of torque. In contrast, the KTM is propelled by the trusty 373 cc engine, producing 43.5 bhp and 37 Nm of torque. The New KTM Duke 390 gets a LC4 engine which is an updated version. We do not expect KTM to update the Adventure series with this engine till mid 2024. Regarding how each one of these delivers its power, the Himalayan may feel slightly more relaxed and yet still quite as capable of keeping up with the KTM. The 390 ADV X lacks the cruising calmness that one might seek from an adventure motorcycle, something that is quite easy to attain on the Royal Enfield Himalayan.

Underpinnings

The Himalayan 450 features a newly designed twin-spar frame, suspended by an open-cartridge USD fork and a preload-adjustable monoshock, both sourced from Showa. This model also boasts a proper long-travel suspension, offering 200 mm of wheel travel at both ends. On the other hand, the KTM 390 Adventure X has a split steel trellis frame with a bolted sub-frame. Handling the suspension duties are a 43 mm USD fork and a preload-adjustable monoshock. The front suspension provides 170 mm of travel, while the rear has an additional 7 mm of travel. 

The new Himalayan is equipped with 21/17-inch wire-spoke rims (F/R) that come fitted with tubed CEAT tyres – 90/90-21 at the front and 140/80-R17 at the rear. Additionally, there's an announcement about optional spoke tubeless tyres that customers can choose later. In contrast, the KTM features a 19-inch front and a 17-inch rear wheel. 

The braking system on the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is managed by ByBre, featuring a single 320 mm disc at the front and a 270 mm disc at the rear. It's worth noting that the braking on the Himalayan lacks the sharpness required for off-road use, which can be a drawback on the road. On the other hand, the KTM 390 Adventure is equipped with a front brake consisting of a 320 mm disc with a Radially Mounted Caliper, and the rear brake is a 230 mm Disc with a Floating Caliper. The braking system on the KTM is more road-biased, offering a sharp initial bite and a smooth progression. 

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 has a higher ground clearance of 230 mm, surpassing the KTM's 200 mm by 30 mm. The KTM, with a seat height of 855 mm, feels tall, making the Himalayan 450 a much more approachable bike with a seat height ranging from 805 mm to 825 mm. The only area where the KTM 390 Adventure X feels more sorted is its weight as it is lighter at 177 kg, 19 kg lighter than the Himalayan 450.

The fuel tank on the KTM is 14.5 litres, claiming to provide a range of 400+, which might appear to be an exaggeration. In comparison, the Himalayan boasts a larger capacity of 17 litres. Until a proper road test is conducted, we can't comment on the fuel economy, but in terms of sheer fuel carrying capacity, the Himalayan 450 takes the win.

Features

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 comes equipped with a colour TFT display featuring Bluetooth connectivity and Google Maps navigation, known for its user-friendly interface. On the other hand, the KTM 390 Adventure X utilises the LCD instrument cluster from the Adventure 250, which is one area where it falls behind. Although this display provides most of the required information, it lacks connected features. Additionally, the left handlebar's switch cube has been removed, as it is unnecessary with this display. Both of these bikes feature dual-channel ABS with an offroad ABS setting, ride-by-wire technology, and a slipper clutch.

Price

The KTM 390 Adventure X is ₹ 2.81 lakh (ex-showroom). On the other hand, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is available in three variants - Base, Pass, and Summit. These variants are launched at introductory prices of ₹2.69 lakh, ₹2.74 lakh, and ₹2.84 lakh (ex-showroom), respectively, valid until December 31. If with the additional price of ₹ 3,000 you are getting a bike that offers a newer design and gets a slightly better instrument cluster then it is a no brainer to pick the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. Do let us know which one would you pick?