By: Rahul Priydarss
Two serious adventure bikes. One big price shock. The Honda NX500 takes on the Himalayan 450 — and the comparison may surprise you.
The Honda NX500 is confirmed for India and replaces the CB500X. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is already on sale and dominating the mid-ADV segment. Game officially on.
Honda NX500 ✔ 471cc parallel-twin ✔ Around 47 PS ✔ Smooth highway touring Himalayan 450 ✔ 452cc single-cylinder ✔ Around 40 PS ✔ Strong low-end torque Twin-cylinder refinement vs raw adventure punch.
Expected price of NX500: ₹5.90–6.20 lakh (ex-showroom). Himalayan 450 price: Around ₹2.85–2.98 lakh (ex-showroom). That’s a massive gap nearly double.
NX500: Around 196 kg (kerb) Himalayan 450: Around 196 kg (kerb) Despite similar weight, the Himalayan feels more off-road focused. Honda feels more highway-stable and refined.
NX500 ✔ 5-inch TFT ✔ Honda Selectable Torque Control ✔ Dual-channel ABS Himalayan 450 ✔ Full TFT with Google Maps ✔ Ride-by-wire ✔ Multiple riding mode Tech battle is closer than expected.
NX500 Showa USD forks Long-travel suspension 19-inch front wheel Himalayan 450 USD forks 21-inch front wheel Built for tougher terrain Hardcore off-roaders may lean toward Himalayan.
NX500 expected mileage: 26–28 km/l Himalayan 450 real-world: 28–32 km/l For long-distance touring, both offer solid range — but Himalayan wins slightly in efficiency.
Buy NX500 if you want: ✔ Premium twin-cylinder feel ✔ Smooth highway rides ✔ Global ADV experience Buy Himalayan 450 if you want: ✔ Budget-friendly adventure ✔ Strong off-road ability ✔ Better value for money
The NX500 is premium and refined. The Himalayan 450 is affordable and rugged. Different price brackets. Different buyers. But the competition just got serious. Which one would you pick?