Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 vs CFMOTO 450MT 2025 Comparison

The arrival of the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and the CFMOTO 450MT in 2024 created one of the most interesting battles we’ve seen for some time. 

Both bikes were considered very strong sellers last year (many assume the 450MT was the best-selling model in Australia for 2024) and together they blew apart the small-to-mid capacity adventure segment with their incredible value for money. 

Add to the fact that both India’s Royal Enfield and China’s CFMOTO are two of the fastest-growing brands in the industry, and it’s not hard to see why these two bikes are the talk of the motorcycle world. 

But which one is better? That is the question on everyone’s lips, but it’s not an easy one to answer. On paper, the two bikes are very similar, but they also offer some key points of difference. 

To find out which one is the king of the budget adventure bikes, we ventured into the Victorian bushland and put them head-to-head. 

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 was the first of the pair to arrive on Australian shores and hit dealer floors with an “introductory” starting price of $8990 ride away. But, almost one year on from its debut, that “introductory” price still stands. 

It’s worth noting that our Himalayan test unit was fitted with $1900 of “rally” accessories, while ride away pricing goes as high as $9490 depending on which of the four colourways you choose. 

Meanwhile, the CFMOTO 450MT also arrived Down Under with an “introductory” price of $8990 ride away, however that was short-lived with the price now listed at $9990 ride away with 12 months of registration (it was $9490 ride away at the time of filming).

So, as it currently stands, Royal Enfield has the edge in terms of price. But what about the rest of the competition? Well, arguably the closest competitor is the incoming KTM 390 Adventure X, which will be priced at $9995 ride away. There will also be an up-spec R version priced at $11,295 ride away. 

Yes, there are other potential options in this segment, but none that match the Himalayan or 450MT in terms of equipment or performance. 

This is one area where the two bikes differ significantly. 

The Himalayan utilises a liquid-cooled 452cc single-cylinder engine that is a significant upgrade from the previous Himalayan powerplant. It’s good for 40.2hp at 8000rpm and 40Nm at 5500rpm and uses electronic injection with a ride-by-wire throttle system. 

On the other hand, the 450MT is powered by a 449.9cc parallel-twin motor that is capable of 44hp at 8500rpm and 44Nm at 6250rpm. The 450MT also has electronic fuel injection but opts for a cable-actuated throttle. 

In practice, the CFMOTO parallel-twin is a better package, but the differences in power and torque are balanced out with the Enfield peaking earlier.  

Both bikes feature 200mm of suspension travel front and rear, which is quite adequate given the price tags. 

The Himalayan has a Showa fork and shock but only offers preload adjustment on the rear. The 450MT uses KYB suspension and features more adjustability with compression and rebound on the front, and rebound and preload on the rear. The Himalayan has a slightly thicker 43mm fork as opposed to the 450MT’s 41mm fork. 

Braking is handled by ByBre for Royal Enfield and J.Juan for CFMOTO. Both bikes have single 320mm front discs, but the Enfield has a bigger 270mm rear disc as opposed to the CFMOTO’s 240mm rear disc. But the 450MT has a four-piston caliper on the front compared to the Himalayan’s dual-piston caliper. 

The two bikes share 21-inch spoked front wheels – a big plus for off-road use. The Enfield has a 17-inch rear wheel which is smaller than the CFMOTO’s 18-inch rear. The Himalayan has CEAT tyres and the 450MT has CST rubber.

Both bikes roll on steel tubular frames and are quite similar in weight. The Himalayan is 196kg wet, while the 450MT is roughly the same when you add fuel to its 175kg dry weight. The 450MT's 17.5L tank offers an extra half-litre of fuel capacity over the Himalayan.

From what we understand, air filter access is a lot better on the 450MT – an important factor for riding off-road in Australia. That said, we haven’t put this to the test ourselves -we are only relying on the accounts of others. 

The Himalayan is more classically styled and has slightly flatter profile. The 450MT meanwhile offers more of a traditional adventure pose, with the rider sitting “in” the bike. The rally-style nav tower also increases wind protection for the 450MT.

In terms of practicality, the CFMOTO has slight edge with foldable mirrors, an adjustable windshield, and removable footpeg inserts as standard. The Himalayan is a little barer out of the crate but there are a lot of optional accessories available. 

Neither bike has heated grips or cruise control, but the overall comfort of the bikes comes down to personal preference. Luggage capability is also similar for both bikes.

It’s another tight battle in the tech department. 

The Himalayan 450 features a round TFT display with smartphone connectivity. It can display full colour map navigation, as well as phone calls and music. 

CFMOTO’s 450MT has a rectangular TFT display, also with smartphone connectivity. But while the 450MT can’t display full-colour maps, it does have the brand’s T-Box system, which allows for over-the-air updates, vehicle tracking, and ride statistics. 

Both systems are relatively easy to use, although the Enfield’s joystick control is a bit flimsy and the setup is a little more difficult compared to the 450MT’s setup. 

Both bikes feature switchable ABS, but the CFMOTO ups the ante with switchable traction control (the Enfield has no traction control). The Enfield gets one back though with power modes – something the 450MT can’t do thanks to its cable throttle. The CFMOTO does have an “Off-Road” mode, however, which switches off ABS and TC with the simple press of a button. 

Neither of these bikes are designed for hardcore off-road use, but they do a very good job as versatile dual sport machines. 

The Himalayan’s flatter profile feels a little more like a dirt bike and allows for more movement from the rider when standing. The 450MT meanwhile feels more like a traditional adventure bike and feels a little bigger overall (although the Enfield has a taller seat height). 

Suspension is great on both bikes, but the CFMOTO gets the nod here thanks to its impressive KYB front fork and superior adjustment. The fork offers a good degree of front-end control and features a nice progression through the stroke. For this scribe, at least, it resulted in more confidence to push harder and faster in technical terrain. 

The Enfield’s suspension is still very good, and it will get through most obstacles if you give it time, but the CFMOTO just seemed to be a little more battle-ready. 

Engine performance is also a tick for both machines. The Enfield has a nice delivery and is torquey enough at the bottom for technical terrain, but being a single-cylinder, it does present more vibrations at higher revs. The 450MT’s twin was more powerful and a touch smoother, although the delivery tended to be twitchier. I’m not sure if this is because of fuelling or the cable throttle, but it has been a reoccurring issue for CFMOTO. 

On the tarmac, both bikes are comfortable and easy-to-handle, and the respective powerplants are up to the challenge in most scenarios. Neither bike is particularly fast, but highway speeds are no issue. That said, the CFMOTO has a better top-end for those higher speeds. 

Overall, it’s hard to fault either of these bikes when you consider the price tags. As far as the small-to-mid capacity adventure bike segment goes, there is not much else that matches these two for pure value-for-money. And while they offer all the mod-cons of contemporary adventure machines, they also have plenty of dirt capability in the same spirit of dual sport legends like the Kawasaki KLR650 and Suzuki DR650. 

Picking a winner is incredibly tough, but if we must, the 450MT gets the win thanks to its superior suspension and engine. But the Himalayan arguably has more style and character which will appeal to a lot of riders – me included. 

At these price tags, however, you shouldn’t be disappointed with either bike. Together, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and CFMOTO 450MT have rewritten the rule book, and we only hope other manufacturers stand up and take notice. 

ENGINE
Type: Liquid cooled, single cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves
Capacity: 452c
Bore x stroke: 84mm x 81.5mm
Compression ratio: 11:5:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection, 42mm throttle body, ride by wire system
Lubrication: Semi-dry sump

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 29.44kW (40.2hp) @ 8000rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 40Nm @ 5500rpm
Claimed fuel range: 450km

TRANSMISSION
Type: 6 speed
Final drive: Chain
Clutch: Wet multiplate, slip & assist

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame type: Steel twin spar tubular frame
Front suspension: 43mm upside down fork, 200mm travel
Rear suspension: Linkage type mono-shock, 200mm travel
Front brakes: Hydraulic disc brake, 320mm ventilated disc, double piston caliper 
Rear brakes: Hydraulic disc brake, 270mm ventilated disc, single piston floating caliper
ABS: dual channel, switchable
Front tyre: 90/90-21”
Rear tyre: 140/80-17”

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Ground clearance: 230mm
Wet weight: 196kg
Seat height: 825-845mm standard (805-825mm low option)
Wheelbase: 1510mm
Fuel capacity: 17 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $8990 ride away
Colours: Kaza Brown, Poppy Blue, Himalayan Salt, Hanle Black, Kamet White
Warranty: 3 years unlimited kms + roadside assist

ENGINE 
Type: Liquid-cooled, four-stroke, DOHC parallel-twin, 270 degree crankshaft
Capacity: 449.9cc 
Bore x stroke:72mm x 55.2mm 
Compression ratio: 11.5:1 
Engine management: Electronic fuel injection 
Emissions: Euro 5 

PERFORMANCE 
Power: 32.5kW (44hp) at 8500rpm 
Torque: 44Nm at 6250rpm 

TRANSMISSION 
Type: Six-speed 
Final drive: Chain 
Clutch: Wet, multiplate, CF-SC slipper 

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR 
Frame: Tubular steel 
Front suspension: KYB Ø41mm USD fork, adjustable compression and rebound, 200mm stroke
Rear suspension: Single KYB rear shock, adjustable preload and rebound, 200mm stroke
Front brakes: J.Juan four-piston caliper, single 320mm disc
Rear brake: J.Juan ingle-piston caliper, 240mm disc
Tyres: 90/90 R21, CST (front), 140/70 R18, CST (rear) 

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES 
Claimed wet weight: 175kg 
Seat height: 820mm 
Fuel capacity: 17.5L

OTHER STUFF 
Price: $9990 ride away 
Warranty: Three years, unlimited kilometres (if serviced within authorised dealer network) 
Colours: Zephyr Blue or Tundra Grey