Should You Save Rs 1.5 Lakh On ADV 390 & Buy Himalayan? » MotorOctane

Both the KTM and RE bikes we are comparing today are ready for adventure trails with off-road focused design and characteristics. On the design-front, one can easily distinguish the KTM ADV to be more slim and weigh less than the Himalayan. But, the KTM ADV 390 gets an underbelly exhaust – which is unlike the other ADV bikes. Another con here is the KTM’s ADV uses extensive plastic panels, so the rattling sound and buzzes will be travelling with you on every road. 

The Himalayan on the other hand gets a bulky design with a big fuel tank, small windscreen. Now, putting both side-by-side, one can see how big the Himalayan looks like, a big adventure motorcycle. Here a downside is its 196kg kerb weight, which is 13kg more than the KTM ADV. So, short riders might find the KTM easy to maneuver compared to the RE, but is there any hinge in the ride quality? That we will discuss after this

The light throw on the KTMs are far better than the Royal Enfield ones, even those are best in the segment. It offers better visibility even on darkest roads, where the Himalayan lacks. You might need to equip the bulky adventure motorcycle with a pair of auxiliary lights to not let you crash in some jungle road having no working street lights.

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Ride

So, you were asking about the ride quality, right? Well here’s it – Both the models offer an upright seating position – a bit leaned in on the KTM ADVs, which are far more comfortable for riding long distances. The extended windshield helps to make KTM more fair in terms of long rides, blocking the airflow. The Himalayan even being on the heavier side, you won’t feel the weight on the highways, but maneuvering it in the city during traffic might make you think ‘better to have a KTM’. 

Now, if you are waiting to do some long trips, then obviously you would have thought about mounting your luggage on the motorcycle. Having a bulky design and better dimensions, the Himalayan takes the lead in this matter, even it offers a wide range of OEM accessories which make the ownership experience little fruitful. On the other hand, the slim design of the KTM, might make you spend more on the after market things to take your luggage with you. 

Talking about its performance on the open roads, the KTM ADV 390 stands as a more stable and engaged motorcycle, thanks to the electronics. The KTM’s engine pulls off faster than the Himalayan and holds the above 100s speed effortlessly. The 450 Himalayan, offers better performance in the mid-RPM ranges, but can hold triple digit speeds quite well. But, the torquey engine on the Himalayan feels good-to-ride. But beware of the vibrations over the higher RPMs.

In the suspension setup, the Himalayan outperforms the KTM ADV. The RE’s suspension setup absorbs off-road bumps very effortlessly, compared to the KTM ones even after being adjustable are not as plush as the Himalayan’s. The braking performance on both the motorcycles are kind of similar, but one needs to be careful on the Himalayan as the rear end brake might get locked instantly. 

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Features 

You will find certain electronics present on both the models, this includes a TFT display, switchable ABS and riding aids. But, the Himalayan lacks cruise control, traction control, cornering ABS which are present on the KTM ADV 390. The Himalayan cluster comes enabled with google maps, but you need to keep your phone switched on all the time. The same feature is not available on the KTM ADV, but the TFT here works effortlessly, no lags & no glitches. 

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KTM ADV 390 vs Royal Enfield Himalayan – Which Is Better?

Now, finally it comes to characteristics, your wants and the price. The KTM ADV 390 S is currently priced at Rs 5 lakh (on-road, Mumbai), while the Himalayan’s price ranges between Rs 3.66 lakh and Rs 4.01 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). Putting a lakh more over the Himalayan, you will get a lighter motorcycle, better performance and obviously a varied range of electronics. 

But, on the highways, you will see how an Himalayan rider rides more comfortably with a rugged and better stance. Moreover, the suspension setup is what a basic need is while opting for an adventure bike, in this the Himalayan stands more superior even after lacking certain riding aids. With all the comparison, if you want to have a better touring machine, the Himalayan stands a clear VFM choice compared to the KTM ADV 390. 

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