KTM 390 Adventure 20 vs Royal Enfield Himalayan

The KTM 390 Adventure 20 passes its MOT first time more often than the Royal Enfield Himalayan: 91.7% vs 90.0%, a 1.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	KTM 390 Adventure 20	Royal Enfield Himalayan
First-time pass rate	91.7%	90.0%
Outright fail rate	4.1%	5.0%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+2.7 pts	+1.5 pts
Engine size	373cc	411cc
Rank among all models	#524 of 5428	#960 of 5428
Median miles at test	5,373	6,278
MOT tests analysed	605	5,785
Most common failure	lamps and reflectors	lamps and reflectors

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better

Component	KTM 390 Adventure 20	Royal Enfield Himalayan
Lights & signalling	2.6%	2.2%
Brakes	1.3%	1.3%
Steering & suspension	0.5%	1.6%
Structure & body	1.2%	0.9%
Tyres & wheels	0.2%	0.8%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested

Test year	KTM 390 Adventure 20	Royal Enfield Himalayan
2023	91.5%	90.8%
2024	92.0%	88.5%
2025	91.6%	89.4%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test

Mileage	KTM 390 Adventure 20	Royal Enfield Himalayan
0k-10k miles	92.6%	91.1%
10k-20k miles	90.0%	87.4%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

KTM 390 Adventure 20 vs Royal Enfield Himalayan FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the KTM 390 Adventure 20 or the Royal Enfield Himalayan?

The KTM 390 Adventure 20 passes its MOT first time more often than the Royal Enfield Himalayan: 91.7% vs 90.0%, a 1.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the KTM 390 Adventure 20 still comes out ahead: +2.7 points vs comparable bikes for the KTM 390 Adventure 20, +1.5 for the Royal Enfield Himalayan. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the KTM 390 Adventure 20 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.6% of KTM 390 Adventure 20 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.3%).

What does the Royal Enfield Himalayan fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.2% of Royal Enfield Himalayan MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (1.6%).

KTM 390 ADVENTURE 20 91.7% pass · 605 tests ROYAL ENFIELD HIMALAYAN 90.0% pass · 5,785 tests

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.