Is The 390 Adventure X The Do-It-All ADV You Need?

It’s now Rs 60,000 cheaper than the standard variant, but does that make it a better purchase than the competitors

The KTM 390 Adventure X’s mouth-watering price tag of Rs 2.80 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), has made the performance of the manic 373.2cc much more accessible than before. Now, the most affordable variant of the Austrian ADV slots bang in-between the Royal Enfield Himalayan and the BMW G 310 GS. So, if you were to purchase one of these ADVs, which one should you go for?

Royal Enfield Himalayan: For The Hardcore Tourer And Adventurer

If you are someone who’s looking to do long-distance touring and hit trails often, the Royal Enfield Himalayan has a lot to offer, even if you are a new rider. The Himalayan’s long-stroke air-/oil-cooled 411cc single-cylinder engine produces 26PS and 32Nm, which makes it the least powerful bike amongst the three, but it floors you with useability.

Much of its torque is accessible in the lower-end of the rev range, which makes trail riding an easy affair. Furthermore, having a 21/17-inch wheel setup makes off-roading easier. Yes, the Himalayan is the heaviest bike here, but its 800mm seat height also makes it easier to manage.

KTM 390 Adventure X: For The Highway Tourer And Rough-roader

The KTM 390 Adventure’s 373.2cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine makes 43.5PS and 37Nm, which makes it the most powerful bike here. Its comfortable ergonomics, coupled with its engaging performance makes up for a great highway tourer. Unlike the Himalayan, which feels slow for highway touring, the 390 Adventure is a great mile-muncher.

Yes, it doesn’t get traction control, cornering ABS and the TFT console that the standard variant gets. It does get switchable ABS, but for someone who’s learning offroading, these electronic aids go a long way in keeping the bike in control.

BMW G 310 GS: For The New Explorer

The BMW G 310 GS is a great choice for someone who’s looking to buy their first ADV. It doesn’t have the manic performance of the 390 Adventure, nor is it heavy like the Himalayan. This German ADV has performance that’ll keep you entertained on the highway and decent hardware to have fun. However, it is the most expensive motorcycle on sale among the three, at Rs 3.20 lakh (ex-showroom India).

The G 310 GS also has top-notch build quality too. What it lacks is features. Apart from the dual-channel ABS, there are no features, and even though this is true for the other bikes as well, they are much more affordable than the G 310 GS.

But apart from the motorcycles itself, there are a bunch of other perks of buying each of these bikes. While Royal Enfield introduces you to its big community and curated rides, and lures you with its big list of accessories, the other two bikes too bring you all of that, but in moderation and limited number.