Picture this! You have about Rs. 4 lakh in your bank. You want to buy a motorcycle that can be ridden daily and when the travel bug bites you, it can take you to faraway places with the same ease. The idea is to have one bike that does it all. The two motorcycles that do this the best, are the Royal Enfield Himalayan and the new KTM 390 ADV. No introduction needed, really for either of these motorcycles. One is a tech-savvy Austrian machine with legit rally DNA, and the other is a rugged Indian explorer with a solid legacy of conquering the Himalayas. So here we are, not in the Himalayas sadly, but with two of the best ADVs under 500 cc.
KTM 390 Adventure vs RE Himalayan: Off-Road Performance
Going off-road is what I love doing and with these two motorcycles here, I feel like a kid in a candy store. Now, both the 390 ADV and the Himalayan have very different characteristics and approaches to tackling the rough stuff. But before we begin, few quick facts. 830 mm seat height on the KTM, 825 mm on the Himalayan, which can go up to 845 mm. The KTM weighs in at 182 kg, the Himalayan is 196 kg. Ground clearance on the KTM is 237 mm and on the Himalayan, it is 230 mm. Both get 21-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear wheel. Both get tubeless spoke wheels shod with dual-sport rubber. With that out of the way, it’s time to kick up some dirt.
Starting with the KTM first, it is 14 kg lighter, and has a narrower waist. So, it is easier to handle when you are going off road. Standing up and riding is a breeze, and when you give it the beans, the KTM has a sharper yet friendly response. The electronic rider aids do well to keep you from falling over and the brakes have a stronger bite too. But, the proverbial chink in its armour is the suspension. Yes, it is adjustable, but even with a firmer setup, the suspension bottoms out when you jump the motorcycle. And going over rocky terrain, the KTM doesn’t feel as confident but it ploughs through.
On the other hand, the Himalayan has this feel of solidity when you try the more hard-core stuff. The engine does feel anaemic right at the bottom end, but in the middle, the power delivery is nice and meaty. The Showa suspension is near magical, in the way it performs and easily offers more confidence and stability when you jump the bike or go over rocks and stuff. The bump absorption is much better on the Royal Enfield. The bike only gets switchable ABS by way of electronics, so your riding experience is a tad bit purer.
So, which one’s better? It is a tough question and my heart and my mind are in a crazy tug-of-war. I will go with my mind and say that the KTM is better. It is lighter, easier to handle, gets better electronics and more than enough power to get you out of a sticky situation. The Himalayan needs more muscle and skill. It can easily do 95 per cent of what the KTM does. The KTM edges this one out, by a really, really, fine margin.
