KTM 250 Adventure vs Royal Enfield Himalayan: Spec Comparison

Does it make sense to spend half a lakh over the RE for the KTM?

After months of speculations, KTM finally launched its smallest bike in the Adventure lineup, the 250 Adventure. However, its price tag of Rs 2.48 lakh (ex-showroom) could be a put-off for many potential customers, especially when it misses out on many features that we’ve seen on the 390 Adventure. On top of that, with the trusty Royal Enfield Himalayan in the picture, does it even make sense to shell out an extra Rs 56,000 for the Austrian ADV?

Engine

KTM has plonked the 250 Duke’s engine into the 250 Adventure. With no changes to the engine’s tuning, the bike lacks the bottom-end grunt. The Himalayan, on the other hand, offers ample bottom-end grunt, which is not only advantageous when it comes to getting out of sticky situations but also when tackling the rush hour traffic. That said, the KTM’s oversquare engine will have the advantage when it comes to highway touring, compared to the RE’s low-revving, long-stroke motor. That said, we know the KTM’s motor is super smooth at pretty much any RPM, and will allow the 250 Adventure to hold faster highway speeds far more comfortably than the Himalayan.

Underpinnings

The Himalayan’s old-school charm continues here as well and while that may not have played in the bike’s favour earlier, it definitely outshines the thoroughly modern KTM in the more critical aspects. To start off with, the telescopic suspension on the Himalayan offers 30mm more travel than the KTM. The RE also gets a linked monoshock which offers more composure over bumps. Both the bikes feature a dual-disc setup and are aided by dual-channel ABS with the provision to switch off this safety net at the rear wheel.

The Himalayan gets a 21/17 wheel setup which is better suited than KTM’s 19/17-inch setup when you go off the beaten path. However, the 250 Adventure’s alloy wheels are shod with tubeless tyres while the Himalayan gets tubed units, which are a bit of a hassle to fix if you get a puncture in the middle of nowhere.

Dimensions

In addition to being 22kg lighter than the Himalayan, the KTM 250 also has a shorter wheelbase which should make it more nimble than the RE. However, the long-travel suspension coupled with the bigger wheel gives the Himalayan better ground clearance. Despite the better ground clearance and tall appearance, the Himalayan has an incredibly accessible seat height, short enough for riders of any height and this makes it easy enough to plant your feet on the ground in case of emergencies.

Price & Verdict