Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 vs Honda NX500 Comparison | Which ADV Motorcycle Can “Tour” Better?

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 has given the popular Himalayan moniker a new lease of life. It looks, feels, and performs better than its predecessor. However, there is enough competition in the ADV or adventure-tourer motorcycle segment. One such rival for the Himalayan 450 is the Honda NX500, which replaces the CB500X in the Indian market.

So, how do these ADVs or touring motorcycles compare in terms of touring capability? We find out and help you decide which is a better tourer.

Performance: The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 draws power from a 452 cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine churning out 39.5 bhp and 40 Nm of torque. This engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox.

Ergonomics: Both motorcycles have good riding ergonomics. The Himalayan 450 has a wide handlebar, and the Honda NX500 has an upright and tall handlebar. Both offer a good rider’s triangle and feel comfortable on long rides.

Suspension: The Honda NX500 gets Showa 41mm USD fork and monoshock suspension. On the other hand, the Himalayan 450 is equipped with a 43mm USD fork and a monoshock suspension.

Brakes: The Himalayan 450 has a 320mm disc at the front and a 270 mm disc at the rear. The Japanese counterpart has better braking hardware: 296mm dual discs at the front and a 270 mm disc at the rear.

Features and Tech: In terms of tech and features, the Honda NX500 gets traction control, which is old-school and can be irritating at times. On the contrary, the Himalayan misses out on that but gets ride-by-wire throttle, which the NX500 lacks.

Both motorcycles get a digital display for the instrument cluster. The one of the Himalayan feels more intuitive and easy to go through various options. Another big plus point on the Himalayan is that you can cast Google Maps on the digital display. The Himalayan also gets a USB Type-C port for your charging needs, whereas the NX500 gets an old-school 12V socket. Apart from that, the Honda NX500 gets alloy wheels with tubeless tyres, whereas the Himalayan gets spoke wheels with tube tyres, at least for now.

Pricing: The Honda NX500 carries a price tag of ₹ 5.90 lakh, and the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450’s price stands between ₹ 2.85 to ₹ 2.98 lakhs. Both prices are ex-showroom (Delhi).

Arun’s Riding Gear
Helmet: KYT NF-R
Jacket: ViaTerra Miller
Pants: RE X Levis
Gloves: Rynox Ridge Pro Off Road
Boots: TCX SP Master

Jehan’s Riding Gear
Helmet: KYT R2R Pro
Jacket: ViaTerra Miller
Pants: RE X Levis 512
Gloves: ViaTerra Shifter
Boots: TCX RT Race Pro

Jump to your preferred section:
0:00 - Introduction
1:55 - Performance
6:58 - Ergonomics
10:19 - Underpinnings
15:36 - Features
17:58 - Price And Verdict

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