Upcoming KTM 390 Adventure Rivals – Royal Enfield, Honda, Hero

Hero Xpulse 200 4V Rally Edition
Hero Xpulse 200 4V Rally

 

The Adventure motorcycle space has seen plenty of launches in recent years, and three more models are expected to arrive soon as rivals to KTM 390 Adv

KTM 390 Adventure has firmly established itself as one of the best options for touring and off-road enthusiasts on a not-too-big budget. The electrifying performance makes it easy to pull away from traffic or climb mountains, while the ride-handling balance makes it fun to handle on roads and offroad terrains alike. Its popularity in the Indian market, thus, comes as no surprise.

Other manufacturers are working hard to weaken KTM’s dominance in this segment, with powerful Adventure tourers of their own. Let’s take a look at three upcoming Adventure tourer motorcycles, which are expected to launch in India this year.

1. Hero Xpulse 400

hero xpulse 400 2

Hero MotoCorp is working on a new ADV for the Indian market. Dubbed ‘Xpulse 400’ by the media, this forthcoming motorcycle has been spied multiple times during road tests. It is expected to be powered by a 421cc single-cylinder engine, which will likely belt out 40 bhp of peak power.

Spy shots reveal that Hero Xpulse 400 will look butch and muscular, significantly more than Xpulse 200. Also, it will get upside-down telescopic forks, high-mounted exhaust, raised handlebars, and wire-spoked wheels.

2. Royal Enfield Himalayan 450

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450

The upcoming RE Himalayan 450 has also been spied multiple times, and it looks production-ready in the most recent spy pictures. The design of the forthcoming model is an evolution of the current Himalayan, with a redesigned tank, sleeker front subframe, sculpted windscreen, a round LED headlamp, etc.

Apart from that, the bike will get a completely new instrument console, likely a fully-digital unit. The engine is expected to be a liquid-cooled, 450cc, single-cylinder unit. The peak power will likely hover around the 40-45 bhp mark, making it significantly more powerful than the current Himalayan.

3. 2023 Honda CB500X

2023 Honda CB500X

Earlier this year, in January, Honda globally unveiled the 2023 CB500X. The motorcycle featured a few noticeable changes over the outgoing model, like a dual-disc braking setup at the front, USD front forks, and a new ‘Pearl Organic Green’ paint option.

The liquid-cooled, 471cc, parallel-twin engine remains unchanged though. It generates 47 bhp of peak power and comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox, along with an assist & slipper clutch. We expect the 2023 Honda CB 500X to enter the Indian market in the next few months. That said, it would be significantly more expensive than the KTM 390 Adventure.