Royal Enfield Himalayan BS6 vs KTM 390 Adventure: Real-world Performance Comparison
The two bikes cater to the same genre but with very different personalities. How different are they when it comes down to performance?
The two bikes cater to the same genre but with very different personalities. How different are they when it comes down to performance?
The BS6 Royal Enfield Himalayan and the KTM 390 Adventure may compete with one another in the adventure touring space in India, but they behave quite differently thanks to their engine characteristics and hardware. One’s quite frantic and easier to handle, while the other has a torquier engine better suited for off-road. Naturally, the performance difference between the two is pretty obvious. But by how much?
Acceleration:
It goes without saying that the KTM 390 Adventure is the more powerful of the two. It’s high compression, high-revving engine borrowed from the 390 Duke is 1.31 seconds faster from 0-60kmph compared to the Himalayan. The gap widens even more during the 0-100kmph run where the Adventure shaves off 4.65? seconds off the Himalayan’s time.
Roll-Ons:
However, the BS6 Himalayan does manage to claw its way back to some extent with its roll-on figures. The torquier engine is just 1.22 seconds and 1.45 seconds slower than the 390 Adventure in the mid-range. What works for the Himalayan is its bottom-end torque that allows you to amble around at low speeds even in 5th gear. The 390 Adventure’s rev-happy engine, on the other hand, will push you to shift down a couple of gears to get the most out of the engine.
Also Read: 2020 KTM 390 Adventure: First Ride Review
Braking:
The KTM 390 Adventure weighs less (around 168kg kerb) and packs better brakes compared to the Himalayan which tips the scale at 199kg (kerb). And the results are pretty clear. The Adventure puts down the anchor 5.78 ?metres earlier than the Himalayan while braking from 60-0kmph. The distance widens to 9.21? metres while stopping from 80-0kmph.
Also Read: Royal Enfield Himalayan BS6: Road Test Review
Fuel Efficiency:
The one and only area where the BS6 Himalayan beats the thirsty 390 Adventure is fuel-efficiency. Its long-stroke engine is more frugal, be it in the city or on the highway. However, the bike runs out of steam post 100kmph.
Granted, the KTM 390 Adventure beats the BS6 Himalayan when it comes to performance. But the Himalayan is much better to ride both on and off-road. It’s more comfortable and more importantly, it has an engine and hardware setup that’s more attuned for adventure.