Hero Xpulse 450 vs Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: how the two adventure bikes compare

A new option may soon be available for those looking to buy an adventure bike. Hero MotoCorp has unveiled its new Xpulse 450 at EICMA 2026. It will be the most powerful bike in the company's entire two-wheeler range. In the market, it will mainly compete with the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450.

Both bikes have a liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine. Even so, there are important differences in power, torque, suspension, features and design.

On the engines: the Xpulse 450 has a new 421cc liquid-cooled, 4-valve, DOHC engine. It produces 46 hp at 9,100 rpm and 38 Nm of torque at 7,500 rpm. The Himalayan 450 has a 452cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, DOHC, 4-valve Sherpa engine, which delivers 39 hp at 8,000 rpm and 40 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm.

The Xpulse 450 is thus ahead on power, while the Himalayan 450 has a slight advantage in torque. Both bikes have a 6-speed gearbox and an assist-and-slipper clutch. However, the Xpulse 450 needs higher rpm to reach its maximum power and torque.

On suspension and hardware, the Xpulse 450 has a 43mm KYB inverted front fork with 225mm of wheel travel. Compression and rebound damping on the cartridge-type suspension can be adjusted in 22 steps. Hero has said the rear suspension is fully adjustable, but its details have not yet been released. The Himalayan 450 has a 43mm Showa inverted front fork with 200mm of wheel travel, and a linkage-type monoshock with 200mm of wheel travel at the rear.

The Himalayan 450 has a 21-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear wheel. It has 230mm of ground clearance and a kerb weight of 196 kg. Its standard seat height is 825mm, adjustable up to 845mm. The low-seat option ranges from 805mm to 825mm. The Kamet-less Mana Black variant also gets an 860mm rally seat. The Xpulse 450's dimensions, kerb weight and remaining chassis details have not yet been disclosed.

On features, the Xpulse 450 comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, which is claimed to be a first in this segment. Riders will be able to use compatible smartphone apps and navigation.

The Himalayan 450 gets a 4-inch round TFT display, smartphone connectivity, full-map navigation based on Google Maps and media controls. It also has riding modes through a ride-by-wire system and a USB Type-C charging port.

On price, the Xpulse 450's price in India has not yet been announced. The bike will first reach international markets, and India is one of its possible markets. The ex-showroom price of the Himalayan 450 starts at Rs 3.08 lakh in Chennai. The top-spec Mana Black variant costs Rs 3.40 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom.

Those who want more power and modern smartphone integration may find the Xpulse 450 a good choice. Those who value a bike already on sale, more torque and released hardware details can consider the Himalayan 450. A sound choice between the two will be easier only after the Xpulse 450's India price and remaining technical details are out.