Royal Enfield’s most recent salvo came in the form of the Himalayan 450 and it created a buzz that exceeded our expectations. It is the Chennai-based brand’s biggest launch so far and also one of the highlights in its product portfolio. Now, Royal Enfield is yet to announce the prices of the new Himalayan but its specifications have already been revealed. It rivals the KTM 390 Adventure, which many consider to be the segment benchmark. So, we have compared the specifications of both bikes on paper and here is how they differ in terms of engine, power figures, hardware, features, and more.
Design
The new Royal Enfield Himalayan’s design is surely a welcome change when compared to its predecessor. But, it isn’t radically different as you get similar elements like the round headlight, slim and tapering fuel tank, and a tall stance. Now, this has worked in the bike’s favour and we like how the Himalayan looks. The KTM 390 Adventure, on the other hand, is its polar opposite. Its bodywork has cuts and creases and the approach is quite uncanny. The 390 Adventure borrows its fascia from the 390 Duke, so it gets vertically stacked LED lights with boomerang-shaped LED DRLs on the periphery. Then, the fuel tank cover looks massive and adds to the 390 Adventure’s visual heft.
Features
Royal Enfield has offered the Himalayan 450 with a bevvy of usable features. It comes with LED illumination, including an integrated taillight and rear turn indicator setup, ride-by-wire, four-inch TFT with smartphone connectivity for media controls, call and SMS notifications, and navigation via screen mirroring. Then, the list of rider aids includes switchable ABS, ride modes (Eco and Performance), and a side-stand cut-off feature. The 390 Adventure gets full LED illumination, ABS modes, traction control, bi-directional quickshifter, and a fully digital TFT with smartphone connectivity for similar functions as the Himalayan. However, the 390 ADV’s unit doesn’t get screen mirroring. Moreover, the base variant, dubbed the 390 Adventure X, comes with fewer features than the mid and top-spec models.
Engine
Powering the new Himalayan 450 is a 450cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that makes 40bhp at 8,000rpm and 40Nm at 5,500rpm. This is an almost perfect square engine and comes linked to a six-speed gearbox. On the contrary, the Austrian ADV comes with a 373cc, single-cylinder motor that dishes out 43bhp and 37Nm. This is a proper short-stroke engine and it, too, comes with a six-speed gearbox and a quickshifter.
Hardware
Royal Enfield has kept it pretty simple when it comes to the Himalayan 450’s hardware department. The bike gets USD front forks and a preload adjustable offset monoshock. Then, the brakes comprise a 320mm front disc and a 270mm rear disc mounted on a 21-inch front and 17-inch rear spoke wheel, respectively. These are wrapped in 90/90 front and 140/80 rear tubed tyres from CEAT. Royal Enfield also plans to offer cross-spoke wheels with tubeless off-road tyres but that will take some time. On the other side, the 390 Adventure comes with alloy wheels for the base and mid-spec models, while the top trim gets a tubed spoke setup. Moreover, it also gets fully adjustable suspension at both ends. Its braking hardware includes a 320mm front and 230mm rear disc.
Price
We expect Royal Enfield to price the new Himalayan 450 at around Rs. 2.60 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) onwards. This would make it notably more affordable even when compared to the KTM 390 Adventure X’s price, which is Rs. 2.81 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
