Honda recently launched the 2021 Honda CB500X adventure touring motorcycle in the Indian market. The middleweight motorcycle will be brought to the Indian market via the CKD (Completely Knocked Down) route and competes with the booming adventure touring segment in the Indian market. In this technical specification comparison, we pin the Honda CB500X against the KTM 390 Adventure which comes with a smaller single-cylinder engine but pack a lot of power and advanced electronics features in the segment.
Powering the Honda CB500X is a liquid-cooled 471cc parallel-twin cylinder four-stroke DOHC engine with electronic fuel injection that produces 47 Hp of power and 43.2 Nm of torque. The engine comes with a 6-speed transmission that features an Assist/Slipper Clutch that not only allows smoother gearshifts but also prevents rear wheel lock-up during aggressive downshifts. Powering the KTM 390 Adventure is a liquid-cooled 373.2cc single-cylinder four-stroke motor that produces 44 Hp of power and 37 Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed gearbox with PASC assist/slipper clutch.
The Honda CB500X features a diamond-shaped steel-tube mainframe and Honda has carefully tuned the chassis by placing the heavier part closer to the centre of gravity and engine in close proximity to the swingarm pivot point. This gives the rider more control over the motorcycle. The CB500X rides on long-stroke 41mm conventional front suspension, a 9-stage spring preload-adjustable Honda Pro-Link rear suspension. The Honda CB500X comes with 181mm of ground clearance and 830mm of saddle height.
The KTM 390 Adventure comes with a strong and agile steel trellis frame with an aluminium swingarm. The 390 Adventure features 43 mm WP APEX upside-down front fork suspension with 170 mm of travel and a preload-adjustable WP APEX monoshock on the rear with 177 mm of travel. The KTM 390 Adventure comes with 200mm of ground clearance and a commanding 855mm of seat height.
The Honda CB500X rides on 19-inch front and 17-inch rear aluminium alloy wheels and 310mm petal disc on the front and a 240mm disc on the rear equipped with Dual Channel ABS. The KTM 390 Adventure features 19-inch front and 17-inch rear alloy wheels as well as a 320mm single disc with a radially mounted calliper on the front and a 230mm disc on the rear equipped with Cornering ABS function and lean-angle sensitive Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC) thanks to the 6-axis inertia measuring unit.
The Honda CB500X comes at an approximate on-road price of INR 8.02 lakh in Mumbai and the KTM 390 Adventure comes at an on-road price of approximately INR 3.72 lakh in Mumbai.