The changing choice of youth in India, the growing craze of long touring and off-roading have made this segment completely mainstream. In the same environment, KTM has launched its new KTM 390 Adventure R, which is designed keeping in mind the straight hardcore off-road riders. Standing in front of it is Royal Enfield’s Himalayan 450 Mana Black, which has already become a name of trust among adventure riders. Now the question is, which of these two bikes proves to be the real adventure partner.
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Price
Talking about the price, the X-showroom price of KTM 390 Adventure R is kept at ₹3.78 lakh. Interestingly, it is ₹18,289 cheaper than its regular 390 Adventure variants, despite it being more off-road focused.
At the same time Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Mana Black is priced at ₹3.37 lakhs (ex-showroom). That is, KTM is close to ₹41,000 expensive. This difference is not small, but KTM tries to justify this extra price with its hardcore hardware and low weight.
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Engine
Now let’s talk about its engine, the KTM 390 Adventure R has a liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine of 399 cc, which generates power of 45.3 bhp and torque of 39 Nm. This engine is known for its free-raving nature and quick response. Off-road or highway, the bike is ready to move as soon as the throttle rotates.
On the other hand, the Himalayan 450 Mana Black gets a liquid-cooled engine of 452 cc, which gives power of 39.4 bhp and torque of 40 Nm. The power here is slightly lower, but due to higher torque, the low-end grunt feels better.
Suspension and Braking
The biggest strength of the KTM 390 Adventure R is its suspension set-up. It features a 20-step adjustable WP Apex inverted front fork, which gives the rider the freedom to tune the bike according to his need. The rear monoshock unit is provided, which also maintains control over the hard off-road.
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The Inverted Front Fork of Showa is found in the Himalayan 450 Mana Black, but is non-adjustable. Monoshock is given in the rear. This set-up is strong and reliable, but does not provide scope for fine tuning like KTM.
The braking gives the KTM a 320 mm front and 240 mm rear disc, while the Himalayan has a 320 mm front and 270 mm rear disc. Himalayan gets a slight edge in rear brake size.
Wheels and Ground Clearance
Let me tell you that both bikes come with a 21-inch front wheel, which is considered essential for off-roading. The KTM rear gives 18-inch tube tires, while the Himalayan comes with a 17-inch tubeless spoke wheel. The tubeless set-up proves to be more practical in long trips.
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In case of ground clearance, KTM 390 Adventure R goes much further. In front of its 272 mm ground clearance, Himalayan seems to be slightly less than 230 mm. Talking about weight, KTM is reduced to 176 kg, while Himalayan is 195 kg. This is the reason why KTM technical trails feel much lighter and controlled.
