KTM 390 Adventure

The KTM 390 Adventure borrows heavy inspiration from the bigger 790 Adventure and almost looks like a scaled-down version of it. The overall design sticks to KTM’s philosophy of making sharp and edgy looking motorcycles, even after the fact that the motorcycle is intended for touring. The tall stance and lean and sharp design of the KTM 390 Adventure make it look purposeful.

At the front, the KTM 390 Adventure gets an angular looking full LED headlamp, which incorporates striking looking daytime running LEDs. The headlamp is fitted within a sharp-looking black plastic cowl, which also integrates a transparent and non-adjustable visor at its top. The front look of the KTM 390 Adventure is completed by LED turn indicators and handlebar crash guards shared with the 390 Duke.

The KTM 390 Adventure looks appealing when viewed from the side. The large fuel tank gets a pointy looking design towards the bottom and has plain knee recesses broad enough for even taller riders. Just below the fuel tank, the engine is placed hiding behind the exposed trellis frame, which also gets a purposeful bash place below it. While the engine and trellis frame has been shared with the 390 Duke, the 390 Adventure gets a different looking and bigger exhaust pipe on the side.

The side body cowls of the KTM 390 Adventure below the rider seat look very plain and come embossed with the name of the motorcycle. These panels merge with the long tail section while moving towards the rear, which looks slim and ends up with a small LED tail lamp with split pillion grab handles above it. The KTM 390 Adventure also gets a small fender attached to the tail section, which comes with fitted LED turn indicators.

The KTM 390 Adventure is equipped with the same and comprehensive backlit switchgear and full-TFT instrument console from the 390 Duke. The console is easily the best of all we have seen in the sub-500cc segment, with a crisp and colourful display with multiple display modes. Apart from offering all the essential data on display, the console also supports Bluetooth connectivity. One can even adjust the settings of ABS and traction control through the instrument console.

The KTM 390 Adventure gets a trellis frame with an attached sub-frame and the WP-sourced suspension combination of 43mm upside-down telescopic forks at the front and a mono-shock at the rear. This is the same mechanical setup that is present on the 390 Duke but has been mildly retuned to suit long-distance touring characteristics. Even the braking setup is the same with a 320mm front disc and 230mm rear disc. However, the set of tyres here is different, with both the front and rear tyres getting broad tread blocks and the rear tyre having a slightly lower section width than the 390 Duke.

The KTM 390 Adventure gets the same four-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 373.2cc engine, which powers the 390 Duke and RC 390. The engine has been retained here without any tweaks, and here on the KTM 390 Adventure too, it pumps out a maximum power output of 43.5 PS and a peak torque output of 37 Nm. While this engine is easily the most powerful one in its class, the KTM 390 Adventure suffers from a slightly weaker bottom end for an adventure tourer, which makes you work in gearing to be on track.

For a sub-500cc motorcycle, the KTM 390 Adventure is nicely equipped with features like switch-able dual-channel ABS, 2-level traction control, ride-by-wire, bi-directional quick-shifter and assist and slipper clutch.

The KTM 390 Adventure might not be an out-and-out off-road tourer like the bigger Adventure models from KTM. However, the premium hardware on offer, a punchy engine and touring-friendly ergonomics and suspensions setup make it a great touring motorcycle.