Which suits you
- There is little in the weight: 194kg against 196kg wet.
- The Himalayan 450 has the lower seat by 45mm, which matters more on a rutted lane than on the road if you are shorter in the leg.
- The Himalayan 450 has 45mm more ground clearance (230mm against 185mm), useful over deep ruts and rocky steps.
- Both take a 90/90-21 front tyre, so the same front tyre options fit either bike.
Holloway ratings side by side
Kawasaki KLE500 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
Green lane
Technical off-road
Beginner friendly
Road
KLE500 vs Himalayan 450 specs
| Kawasaki KLE500 | Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 | |
|---|---|---|
| Green lane score | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Price | £5,999 | £5,799 |
| Wet weight | 194kg | 196kg |
| Seat height | 870mm | 825mm |
| Ground clearance | 185mm | 230mm |
| Suspension travel (f/r) | 210mm / 200mm | 200mm / 200mm |
| Wheels (f/r) | 21" / 17" | 21" / 17" |
| Tyre sizes (f/r) | 90/90-21 / 140/70-17 | 90/90-21 / 140/80-17 |
| Engine | 451cc | 452cc |
| Power | 45.4hp | 40hp |
| Fuel tank | 16L | 17L |
| Real-world range | ~248 mi (claimed) | ~250 mi |
| Licence | A2 | A2 |
A tick marks the better figure for green laning. Manufacturer figures; weights are wet unless marked as estimates.
Where they sit against every other bike
Wet weight against ground clearance across the whole Bike Finder. Light and tall, top left, is where the easiest green lane bikes sit.
Our take on each
Kawasaki KLE500: A simple, affordable A2 adventure bike that copes well with typical byways but grounds out on its sump guard when the lane gets rocky.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: A genuine step up in capability from the old 411, comfortable and confident on moderate lanes, just heavier than you'd expect to lift back up.
Remember: rider ability, tyres and the weather on the day move the real answer more than the bike does. Check each lane's own difficulty and legal status before you ride.
Find where to ride either one
Plan a day of legal green lanes across England and Wales on Holloway's map, with each lane's difficulty and status.
Open the map