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Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure gets prominent when it comes to biking.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan is an Indian adventure touring motorbike introduced in February 2015 and launched the following year.

In February 2021, the iconic Indian motorbike maker rolled out a new 2021 Himalayan model- BS-VI compliant. The new model got significant upgrades such as a redesigned Jerrycan Holder and tripper navigation powered by Google maps.

KTM 390 Adventure is an adventure touring motorcycle compliant with the BS-VI norms.

The motorbike was launched in January 2021, which marked Austrian motorcycle and sports car maker KTM’s foray into India’s emerging adventure touring motorbike segment.

Though designed for off-roading and adventure touring, the bike can be an excellent choice for regular rides in the city.

This article will get a detailed comparison of the Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure.

Latest updates: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

In July 2021, Royal Enfield increased the price of the Himalayan by Rs 4,469 to Rs 4,617. In August, the road-biased version of the adventurer tourer with minor changes got spotted on the test. The upcoming model has a different headlamp, modified tank extensions, shorter rear fender, and it does not have the Jerry can holders. The new bike is likely to be called the Royal Enfield Scram.

KTM hiked the prices of all its motorbikes sold in India thrice in a span of seven months in 2021, i.e. from January to July 2021. The cost of KTM 390 Adventure was increased by Rs 4,485 in January, by Rs 6,236 in April, and by Rs 11,423 in July.

Price: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

The base variant of Royal Enfield Himalayan bears a price tag of Rs 2.02 lakh (ex-showroom). So, its cost gets less by around Rs 1,15,000 than KTM 390 Adventure, priced at Rs 3.17 lakh (ex-showroom).

Variants: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan is available in three variants:

  • Himalayan Standard BS-VI [2021] priced at Rs 2,02,586 (ex-showroom)
  • Himalayan Dual Tone BS-VI [2021] priced at Rs 2,05,400 (ex-showroom)
  • Himalayan Green and Granite Black priced at Rs 2,09,259 (ex-showroom)

KTM 390 Adventure is available in only one variant:

  • 390 Adventure STD priced at Rs 3.17 lakh (ex-showroom).

Colours: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan is available in six colour options:

  • Gravel Grey
  • Lake Blue
  • Rock Red
  • Granite Black (updated)
  • Pine Green (new)
  • Mirage Silver (new)

The KTM 390 Adventure STD comes in two colour options:

  • White and black
  • Orange and black

Design: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan Design

The design of the Royal Enfield Himalayan is an exciting mix of an adventurer tourer and a classic retro bike. It carries the glorious legacy of the iconic Royal Enfield forward to the future of adventure and off-road biking.

The water-proof round headlamp show light even in the most extreme weather conditions. A windshield, which can get manually adjusted for two positions for height, is attached to it.

A pair of rearview mirrors lets riders see what’s coming behind them and gives the motorcycle a stunning look. The bike’s half-duplex split cradle frame gets built to last.

The fuel tank is uniquely designed and gets mounts on either of its sides, which serves as tank guards and jerrycan holders. The rear comes with a luggage carrier with mounts and aluminium panniers.

KTM 390 Adventure Design

KTM 390 Adventure has a sporty design that gives the motorbike a striking look and a great blend of form and function. The quintessential KTM-style bodywork gives an aggressive look to the bike and great ergonomics to the riders.

The headlamp mask is as compact as possible and creates a lightweight and slim frontend.

A robust steel grill shields well the hexagonal headlamp from flying debris or other hazardous elements in off-road travels.

The fuel tank gets shaped optimally to provide exceptional control and freedom of movement to the rider. The low front mudguard helps in superb aerodynamics and minimises sprays while travelling on waterlogged roads.

Engine type: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan gets powered by a 411 cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled, single overhead camshaft (SOHC) engine that can churn out a maximum power of 24.31 PS at the rate of 6500 rpm and a maximum torque of 32 Nm @ 4000 – 4500 rpm.

On the other hand, KTM 390 Adventure gets driven by a 373 cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled, dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) engine, which can produce the highest power of 43.5 PS and a top torque of 37 Nm.

Mileage: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan offers a mileage of 39.96kmpl per litre of petrol on the highway and 32.04kmpl in the city.

KTM 390 Adventure can cover a distance of 27.90 km per litre of petrol.

Top speed and acceleration: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan clocks a top speed of 122 to 145kmph and can accelerate from 0-60kmph in three seconds and from 0-100kmph in 12 seconds.

However, KTM 390 Adventure can achieve a peak speed of 155kmph and sprint from rest to 100kmph in 6.07 seconds.

Braking: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan’s base variant gets equipped with disc brakes at both wheels. It receives a dual-channel anti-lock braking system, which means each wheel is modulated individually and receives a separate sensor. The front brake diameter is 300 mm, and the rear brake diameter is 240 mm.

KTM 390 Adventure comes with disc brakes at both wheels and gets equipped with a Bosch 9.1MP dual-channel anti-lock braking system, including Cornering-ABS and offroad mode.

The front brake is a four-piston radial fixed calliper, while the rear is a single-piston floating calliper. The front brake diameter is 320 mm, and the rear brake diameter is 230 mm.

Suspension: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan features telescopic suspension in the front, whereas the rear gets equipped with a mono-shock. The twin forks at the front are 41 mm with 200 mm of travel, while the rear mono-shock with linkage gives 180 mm wheel travel.

KTM 390 Adventure is equipped with a fully adjustable WP Apex 43 mm upside-down fork in the front, while the rear comes fitted with a WP Apex mono-shock.

Wheel size and type: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan comes with a pair of spoke wheels, where the front gets larger than the rear by over 100 mm. The front measures 457.2 mm, while the rear is 431.8 mm.

KTM 390 Adventure features a pair of solid cast wheels, a 19″ front wheel and a 17″ rear wheel fitted with tubeless CONTINENTAL TKC 70 tyres, which provide outstanding performance on the street.

Tyres: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

The factory-standard tyres of Royal Enfield Himalayan measure 90/90 21-inch at the front and 120/90 17-inch at the rear. The tube tyres (of the motorcycle sold in the domestic market) are manufactured by CEAT, while Pirelli (MT-60) manufactures the tyres of the models sold in North America and the UK.

The tubeless CONTINENTAL TKC 70 tyres of KTM 390 Adventure measure 100/90 19-inch, with a 2.5′ rim at the front and 130/80 17-inch, with a 2.5′ rim at the rear.

Ground clearance: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan has a ground clearance of 220 mm.

KTM 390 Adventure has a ground clearance of 200 mm.

Fuel capacity: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

The fuel tank of Royal Enfield Himalayan can store 15 litres of fuel.

KTM 390 Adventure can store up to 14.5 litres of petrol in its fuel tank.

Kerb Weight: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

The kerb weight of Royal Enfield Himalayan is 199 kg.

KTM 390 Adventure has a kerb weight of 177 kg.

Seat: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan features a step-up seat that can comfortably seat two people. With a front seat height of 800 mm, the up-right seating position can provide comfort to the rider even after hours of riding and is designed explicitly with touring in mind.

The rear portion of the seat allows a passenger (pillion rider) to be seated relatively high compared to the rider. The seat gets designed to distribute rider and passenger weight evenly and provide greater comfort with a better riding experience.

KTM 390 Adventure comes with a two-part seat positioned for better control and greater comfort on long rides. The seat height is 855 mm and can get customised for better riding.

The front seat is a bit narrower, making it easy for the rider to reach the ground. The seat cover, made of good quality foam, provides excellent comfort, movement, and grip. The seat can get removed to gain access to the airbox and a small storage compartment.

Bore and stroke: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

The bore of the Royal Enfield Himalayan is 78 mm, while its stroke is 86 mm.

KTM 390 Adventure’s bore is 89 mm, while its stroke is 60 mm.

Starting: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Both Royal Enfield Himalayan and KTM 390 Adventure come with a self-starting mechanism.

Dimensions: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan is 2190 mm long, 840 mm wide, and 1370 mm tall with a wheelbase of 1465 mm.

KTM 390 Adventure is 2154 mm long, 900 mm wide, and 1400 mm tall with a wheelbase of 1430 mm.

Dashboard: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan comes with a sophisticated dashboard that features a tachometer and an analogue speedometer.

The odometer is digitally displayed, and the same goes with the trip-meter, gear position indicator, and the Ambient temperature gauge. It also features a digital compass, an analogue fuel gauge, and a low fuel warning lamp.

KTM 390 Adventure has a full-colour, high-tech TFT display that automatically adjusts to differences in the ambient light.

The five-inch display shows all the vital information such as speed, distance covered, fuel gauge, and more. The critical information is arranged in such a manner that it can be easily seen and read.

The handlebar features a multi-functional switch that allows riders to select the information they prefer to display.

Side indicators and tail lights: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

The headlamp fits two orange side indicators in the front of Royal Enfield Himalayan. The rear mudguard gets fitted with similar side indicators as held in the front. The tail lamp gets equipped with light-emitting diodes.

KTM 390 Adventure gets equipped with a pair of sleek, arrowhead-shaped side indicator lights adjacent to the headlamp. A similar pair of lights get fitted below the rear grab rail and right adjacent to the tail lamp, equipped with light-emitting diodes.

Exhaust system: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan gets equipped with a chrome-plated, upward-sloping exhaust pipe that gives its thumping sound.

KTM 390 Adventure gets fitted with a precision-crafted, lightweight exhaust system consisting of a stainless steel pre-muffler and header pipe that serves entirely into a thin silencer.

Rear (pillion) grab rail: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan features a small, traditional grab rail for the safety of pillion riders. In the previous BS-IV version, a rear luggage rack was in the place of the rail.

KTM 390 Adventure features a pair of split rear grab rails that gives a pillion rider the option to hold on to it comfortably.

Warranty: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Royal Enfield Himalayan comes with a standard warranty of three years or 30,000 km, whichever comes first.

KTM 390 Adventure comes with a standard warranty of 24 months or 30,000 km, whichever comes earlier from the date of sale.

Pros: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

Pros Royal Enfield Himalayan

  • Good power and torque despite meeting BS-VI norms
  • High ground clearance
  • Excellent suspension
  • Good touring and off-roading abilities
  • Comfortable riding stance
  • It gets fitted with several mounts and carriers, which can carry a wide range of luggage.
  • Equipped with modern features such as LED lights and tripper navigation
  • Some components feel and look more premium and rugged.

    Pros KTM 390 Adventure

  • It comes with sophisticated safety features such as ABS and a traction control system.
  • Its build and overall performance make it an excellent touring motorbike
  • Most affordable touring motorcycle in KTM’s line-up
  • Provides excellent wind protection
  • Has great highway cruising abilities
  • One of the fasted adventure bikes under the 500cc segment
  • Cons: Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure

    Cons Of Royal Enfield Himalayan

  • Misses out on kickstart
  • The seat height of 800 mm can be a bit too long for short riders
  • Heavier than its predecessor
  • The front screen has considerable optical distortion.
  • Cons Of KTM 390 Adventure:

  • It does not come with wire-spoke wheels
  • Lacks low-end torque
  • Relatively low ground clearance
  • The suspension could have been better
  • A tall seat height of 855 mm could deter short riders from buying and riding it.
  • Conclusion

    The bikes- Royal Enfield Himalayan vs KTM 390 Adventure are strong competitors in the adventure touring motorcycle space.

    Though KTM 390 Adventure is expensive by over a lakh rupees compared to Royal Enfield Himalayan, it offers more power and speed to adventure bike lovers. It is also more comfortable for tall riders because of its seating length and overall dimensions.

    Royal Enfield Himalayan is more functional and practical for tourers, off-beat and long-distance travellers because of its high ground clearance, better mileage, more tank capacity, and in-built mounts that allow riders to carry extra fuel in Jerry cans.

    Frequently asked questions about Royal Enfield Himalayan and KTM 390 Adventure

    Which of the bikes is more powerful?

    KTM 390 Adventure is more powerful as its 373.3cc DOHC single-cylinder engine produces 43 bhp of maximum power and 37 Nm of peak torque. Royal Enfield Himalayan’s 411 cc SOHC single-cylinder engine generates 24.3 bhp and 32 Nm.

    Which of the bikes has more ground clearance that is suitable for off-road biking?

    At 220 mm, Royal Enfield Himalayan has more ground clearance than KTM 390 Adventure’s 200 mm.

    Which of the bikes can travel a longer distance on a full tank?

    Royal Enfield Himalayan can cover a longer distance than KTM 390 Adventure because of its slightly bigger tank capacity and mileage.

    Which of the bikes can travel faster?

    KTM 390 Adventure can achieve a top speed of up to 155kmph, and it’s faster than Royal Enfield Himalayan.

    What is the starting mechanism of both bikes?

    Both Royal Enfield Himalayan and KTM 390 Adventure come with a self-starting mechanism.