KTM 390 Adventure vs Hero Xpulse 400: Buy Or Hold?

The XPulse 400 has a lot going for it, but is it truly worth the wait?

Hero MotoCorp returned to the adventure touring space after a long hiatus by launching the XPulse 200 on 1 May 2019. The bike’s only gotten better over the years and has proved its mettle in the 200cc space. 

But this article isn’t about the small, nimble XPulse; it’s about the prototype Hero showcased two years ago that everyone’s been drooling over since. We’re calling it the XPulse 400 – a much larger, hardcore ADV that will soon take on the likes of the KTM 390 Adventure and the upcoming Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. 

The bike’s been spotted testing in Leh, Ladakh, so it isn’t too far off from its official launch. Question is, if you’re in the market for an ADV right now, should you hold on for the XPulse 400 or opt for the KTM 390 Adventure which is readily available?

Hero already competes in prestigious rallies like the Dakar with its 450RR rally bike. The XPulse 400 appears to be a toned-down derivation of its more hardcore sibling. So it features more bodywork (as a production ADV would), a quarter fairing with a beak, spacious and touring-friendly split seats and a tail rack with a top box.

It’s expected to be powered by a 421cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled mill likely to produce around 45PS, with a healthy dose of torque. These speculated figures should be close if not better than the 390s power output. But the sheer size of the ADV makes us believe it may weigh more than the KTM. So we don’t think the XPulse 400 might be as peppy. 

On the bright side, the touring-focused XPulse should sport a larger 15-20 litre fuel tank which should keep it on the road longer. Other notable features may include switchable ABS, Bluetooth connectivity, and USB charging, much like the 390 Adventure. The latter offers MTC, multiple riding modes, and cornering ABS as standard. 

Both the KTM 390 Adventure and XPulse 400 feature USD forks, a monoshock and cast aluminium swingarm; however, the latter gets 21-inch and 18-inch wire-spoked rims pushing the bike’s off-road and touring ability further. The 390, on the other hand, uses a smaller 19-inch front wheel with cast wheels which aren’t as flexible and more prone to bends or cracks if you hit large rocks hard enough while off-roading. Such instances haven’t been reported yet although, which is a good sign. 

The 390 should drop the anchor sooner owing to its lower weight and larger braking setup. But the XPulse shouldn’t be far behind. 

It’s too soon to quote a price since the XPulse 400 was first spotted testing just early last month. But if we were to guess, it would be somewhere around the ballpark figure of Rs 2.7 lakh. While that’s a competitive price, we do need to keep in mind that it’s Hero we’re talking about, a company known to price its products well. 

Considering the expected price and the kit the Hero XPulse has to offer, we’d say it’s definitely worth the wait. However, if you’re keen on touring and sticking to the tarmac and want your bike absolutely right this moment, then the 390 Adventure is still a good option.