KTM 390 Adventure X vs Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: Which One Is Better On Rough Terrain?

The Indian motorcycle market is going through its best transformation and the adventure motorcycle segment has also seen new phases in recent years, with brands competing to deliver the perfect balance of performance, capability and affordability. Among the most anticipated adventure tourers of 2024-2025, two motorcycles stand out: the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and the KTM 390 Adventure X. While both cater to riders who love long-distance touring and off-road exploration, they do so with very different approaches.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is the evolution of the legendary Himalayan, designed to offer improved power, modern features and better off-road capabilities. It boasts a new 452cc liquid-cooled engine, a tubular steel frame and a more refined riding experience while retaining the ruggedness that made its predecessor popular among adventure enthusiasts.

On the other hand, the latest 2025 KTM 390 Adventure X takes a different route. It comes with a lightweight chassis, touring-friendly handling and the power of a new 398 cc liquid-cooled engine borrowed from the KTM 390 Duke. The new Adventure X is a lighter version of the KTM 390 Adventure, designed for long stretches.

Unlike the Himalayan, it comes with 19-inch front and 17-inch rear alloy wheels, making it more suitable for touring and mild off-road adventures rather than hardcore trail riding. KTM has also removed some technological features that are available on the KTM 390 Adventure.

Both motorcycles promise thrilling rides but which one is better for you? A top-class Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 or the more affordable version of the KTM 390 Adventure? Let’s find out.

Design, seat height and ground clearance

The KTM 390 Adventure is based on an all-new split-trellis frame (tubular) while the Himalayan 450 is built on a steel twin-spar frame. The KTM’s frame is sturdy whereas the frame on the Royal Enfield is not only sturdy but narrower between the legs, allowing average-height riders to handle the motorcycle more comfortably.

Apart from this, the KTM 390 Adventure comes with an 825mm seat height. The Himalayan 450 also has the same 825mm seat height but interested riders can opt for a lower 805mm seat height option. The KTM 390 Adventure X features a 320mm disc with a radially mounted calliper at the front and a 240mm disc with a floating calliper at the rear. In comparison, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 comes with a 320mm ventilated front disc with double-piston callipers and a 270mm ventilated disc with a single-piston calliper.

The ground clearance of the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is 230mm, which is slightly more than the 227mm ground clearance of the KTM 390 Adventure X. When a brand claims a motorcycle is touring-special, it is essential that the machine comes with a large fuel tank. In this regard, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 features a massive 17-litre fuel tank capacity, whereas the KTM 390 Adventure only comes with a 14.5-litre fuel tank. The kerb weight of the Himalayan 450 is 181 kg while the KTM 390 Adventure weighs almost the same at 182 kg.

Suspension travel is just as important as ground clearance. The KTM 390 Adventure comes with a 200mm front suspension and an adjustable rear suspension with 205mm wheel travel. In comparison, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 features 200mm suspension travel at both the front and rear.

The KTM 390 Adventure X comes with Offroad ABS, Ride-by-Wire, Quickshifter+ and a slipper clutch. The Himalayan 450 comes with a Ride-by-Wire throttle, switchable ABS, a slipper clutch and different power modes.

Performance

The KTM 390 Adventure X is powered by a 399 cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine whereas the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is equipped with a 452 cc engine. However, these two motorcycles are very different in terms of power output. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 produces 40.02 PS of peak power and 40 Nm peak torque. In comparison, the KTM 390 Adventure generates 46 PS peak power and 39 Nm peak torque.

In terms of real-world performance, both machines produce almost identical torque but the KTM has a higher maximum power output. This means you get better top-end performance on the KTM. In contrast, Royal Enfield offers better acceleration since the Himalayan generates peak torque at 5,500 RPM while the KTM reaches peak torque at 6,500 RPM.

Differences

Both motorcycles come with LCD instrument clusters. The KTM 390 Adventure X features a 5-inch rectangular instrument cluster whereas the Himalayan 450 comes with a 4-inch round LCD instrument cluster. You can also add the Tripper console on the Himalayan 450. So, in terms of technology, both are the same but the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 edges ahead with its retro design.

The Himalayan 450 comes with spoke wheels on the base variant but buyers can upgrade to spoke wheels with tubeless tyres. The KTM 390 Adventure X, however, only comes with alloy wheels.

Price and availability

Royal Enfield has launched a total of four variants of the Himalayan 450, with the base version starting from INR 2,85,000. The KTM 390 Adventure X starts at INR 2,91,000. KTM has just started booking for the KTM 390 Adventure X and it is available in only a single variant.

Verdict

The KTM 390 Adventure X and Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 are great off-road friendly tourers for modern-era riders. The Himalayan 450 with its seat height of 805 mm is relatively more accessible and the rough terrain-friendly design makes it suitable for adventure seekers. The 450 cc Sherpa engine beautifully balances high-end power and low-end torque, thus making it ideal to take on the...erm... Himalayas. 

On the other hand, the KTM 390 Adventure X is more suitable for long highway rides with mild off-road capability (thanks to those fancy alloy wheels). It also delivers better top-end performance and is designed to be more on-road-focused. Both bikes are versatile but where the Himalayan shines in truly rugged conditions, the KTM feels more at home for mixed touring and adventure riding.