For adventure and off-road enthusiasts, there are three flavours to choose from — Hero XPulse 210, KTM 390 Adventure, and the spanking new KTM 390 Enduro R. While all three motorcycles seem to do the same thing, they actually don’t. The Xpulse is a great entry-level tourer and off-roader, the KTM 390 Adventure is a great touring motorcycle with off-roading capabilities, while the KTM 390 Enduro R is a more focused off-roader.
Hero XPulse 210 vs KTM 390 Adventure vs 390 Enduro R — A closer look at the motorcycles
The Hero XPulse 210 is the most affordable choice of the three and is also the one with the least power. The motorcycle gets telescopic front suspension, a monoshock at the rear, a 21-18 wheel setup, disc brakes at both ends with dual-channel ABS, and a TFT instrument console with phone connectivity. The biggest advantage of the XPulse 210 is its approachability in terms of performance.
| Specifications | Xpulse 210 | 390 Adveture | 390 Enduro R |
| Suspension (F) | Telescopic | Adjustable USD | Adjustable USD |
| Suspension (R) | Monoshock | Monoshock | Monoshock |
| Brakes (F) | 276 mm Disc | 320 mm Disc | 285 mm Disc |
| Brakes (R) | 220 mm Disc | 240 mm Disc | 240 mm Disc |
| Seat Height | 830 mm | 830 mm | 860 mm |
| Wheel (F) | 21-inch | 21-inch | 21-inch |
| Wheel (R) | 18-inch | 17-inch | 18-inch |
| Dash | TFT | TFT | TFT |
| Fuel Capacity | 13-litres | 15-litres | 9-litres |
| Weight | 168 kg | 182 kg | 177 kg |
| ABS | Dual-Channel | Dual-Channel, Cornering | Dual-Channel, Cornering |
| Traction Control | No | Yes | Yes |
The KTMs share a lot in common although they are made for different purposes. They carry different designs — the 390 Adventure gets a tall fairing while the 390 Enduro R gets a bikini fairing. They both get the same front and rear suspension with 200 and 205mm travel respectively, along with a TFT instrument console, lean-sensitive ABS, traction control, and dual-channel ABS. A few key differences between the 390 Adventure and the Enduro R is the fuel tank – the latter gets a smaller 9-litre tank – and the wheel setup — the 390 Adventure gets a 21-17 setup while the 390 Enduro R gets a 21-18 setup.
Hero XPulse 210 vs KTM 390 Adventure vs 390 Enduro R — Engine specifications
All three motorcycles use a liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed gearbox. The XPulse 210 does not get a quickshifter while the 390 Adventure gets it as standard and for the 390 Enduro R, it’s an optional accessory. On paper, and in the real world, the KTMs make the most power and amongst the 390 Adventure and Enduro R, there is a small difference as the the latter weighs just 177kg.
| Engine specifications | XPulse 210 | 390 Adventure | 390 Enduro R |
| Displacement | 210 cc, single | 399 cc, single | 399 cc, single |
| Power | 24 bhp | 45.3 bhp | 45.3 bhp |
| Torque | 20.7 Nm | 39 Nm | 39 Nm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-Speed | 6-Speed |
Hero XPulse 210 vs KTM 390 Adventure vs 390 Enduro R — Which one should you choose?
Amongst the three motorcycles, the Xpulse 210 is a great motorcycle for those looking to enter the touring and off-roading segment. The KTM 390 Adventure is a great motorcycle to step up to, as it is a great tourer with off-roading capability and loads of power. The KTM 390 Enduro R is designed to be an off-roader first, with road-going capabilities.