The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is one of the most hotly anticipated motorcycles of the past year. The company has been teasing details about the bike slowly over the past few weeks and the (ADV) has finally been completely unveiled. Now, if you’re in the market for an ADV, there are a number of options out there. But the main rivals for the Himalayan 450 at the moment are the KTM 390 Adventure, the BMW G 310 GS and the Triumph Scrambler 400 X.
Design
Yes, we know you’re going to say that the Triumph motorcycle is, by nature, a scrambler. But an ADV is supposed to be the essence of a scrambler, a 'go anywhere, do anything' kind of bike. Besides, there is definitely going to be an RE Scram 450 and, like the current Scram, it will also be based on the Himalayan. So, best we get the Triumph out of the way now. As for the 450, it is designed to look more like a trail bike rather than an ADV and that’s down to its stance and dimensions. The BMW G 310 GS is by far the most adventure touring-looking bike out there with its beefy tank and long beak, while the KTM 390 Adventure is more of a taller, naked ADV with its rear-set footpegs, lower tank and sharp styling.
Powertrain
This brings us to the powertrains on each of the motorcycles. Starting off with the Himalayan, Royal Enfield has finally gone the liquid-cooled way. The new 450cc single-cylinder is capable of producing 40 hp of maximum power and 40 Nm of peak torque. Power-wise, the Triumph Scrambler is identical with its 398cc single-cylinder, producing 40 hp maximum, but a lower 37 Nm of peak torque. The 310 GS is the least powerful here and that’s because of its lower-capacity engine. The 312cc liquid-cooled single produces 34 hp and 28 Nm. The KTM, on the other hand, is the most powerful performance-wise, with the 373cc single producing 43.5 hp of maximum power at 9,000 rpm and 37 Nm of peak torque at 7,000 rpm. All engines are mated to a six-speed gearbox, but the KTM is the only one to get a bi-directional quick-shifter while the Himalayan gets a slip-and-assist clutch.
Underpinnings
All the bikes in this comparison come with 17-inch rear wheels. However, the Himalayan is the only one that gets a larger, 21-inch rim rather than the 19-inchers on the others. The KTM and the RE also get wire-spoke wheels, which contribute more to offroading while the other two roll on alloy rims. The standout here, however, has to be the Adventure 390 with adjustable suspension on both ends. In terms of weight, the BMW is the lightest, weighing in at just 175 kg. The upside to the RE’s 193 kg figure, however, is a considerably larger fuel tank: 17 litres. In places where fuel stations are few and far between, this could prove to be extremely useful. Braking is provided by 320 mm front discs on all except the BMW. The rear brake measures 270 mm for the RE; 230 mm for the Triumph and KTM; and 240 mm for the BMW. Additionally, all the bikes get switchable ABS.
Features
Another first for the Royal Enfield family is the first full-digital TFT instrument. The Himalayan 450’s cluster is capable of showing all the information you see on the new-age bikes and also comes with Bluetooth connectivity as well as navigation powered by Google Maps. The Scrambler, on the other hand, gets semi-digital instrumentation. As for the G 310 GS and KTM 390 Adventure, both have already featured the full-colour display for a while now.
Price
Finally, we come to the pricing. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 prices haven’t been announced yet, but we expect a price tag of around Rs 2.60 lakh. This will be in direct competition with the Triumph Scrambler 400 X’s 2.63 lakh. Then you have the KTM 390 Adventure, which is the costliest of the lot, starting at Rs 3.38 lakh and going all the way up to Rs 3.61 lakh. Finally, the BMW G 310 GS is priced at Rs 3.30 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
