The ‘actual’ KTM 390 Adventure is here and let’s all be honest, we couldn’t wait to ride it. And finally, when we got our hands on one, instead of flying off rocks and jumping off mounds of mud, we wanted to understand the motorcycle first.
I did a lot of mixed riding, from open highways to chocked Bengaluru streets, and the place I wanted to really test the 390 Adventure — off-road. The motorcycle works as a great tourer, which we will speak about in a separate review. This is all about off-roading. We rode the bike on some gnarly quarry roads in Bangalore and here’s what we have to say.
New KTM 390 Adventure — Does it have the equipment?
The answer is yes. This time, it is an adventure motorcycle. It is based on the same subframe as the 390 Duke but gets a new subframe and a swingarm. That, suspended by fully adjustable USD forks at the front and an adjustable monoshock at the rear all come together as a nice package giving the motorcycle good clearance while keeping the saddle height friendly at 830mm. The 19-inch front and 17-inch rear spoke wheels with tubeless tyres complement the motorcycle well.
The electronics package is also comprehensive and the three ride modes – Rain, Street, and off-road – can be further configured in terms of traction control and ABS. All this gives it the equipment the 390 Adventure needs to go off-road.
New KTM 390 Adventure — Does it behave off-road?
Now, it’s time for a ‘however’. The suspension is soft and bottoms out easily when off-roading. The bike is designed to look like a rally-raid machine, but the suspension is a letdown. Compression and rebound can be tweaked up, but it’s still not the off-roader we were keen on seeing. If that is the case, the 390 Adventure R is the motorcycle you need to look out for.
On the plus side, the ergonomics are brilliant. The rider triangle is exactly how one would imagine — rally bike style. The motorcycle is narrow between the legs and the handlebar is wide, giving the rider enough leverage. When standing up, the motorcycle could be straddled well and the bars were perfect for my 5 foot 7 frame.
The visor is another important factor. On the road, it offers good wind protection and we can say a little too good, as it robs you away from the sense of speed. However, off-road, a shorter screen would surely help and KTM is soon expected to launch an optional shorter screen. When up on the pegs, no complaints.
The engine is definitely the highlight here. The motor has enough low-end grunt thanks to the larger rear sprocket. This makes the engine extremely capable no matter what the situation is. In the off-road mode, the throttle is at its most sensitive form, however, one can go into the menu and configure the ABS, traction control, and throttle response. We went in and turned everything off to keep the motorcycle as plain as possible. And no, there were no overheating issues at all.
| Engine specifications | 390 Adventure |
| Displacement | 399 cc, single |
| Power | 45.3 bhp |
| Torque | 39 Nm |
| Gearbox | 6-Speed |
New KTM 390 Adventure — Should you get one?
The answer is yes, but not if serious off-roading is what you’re looking for. The motorcycle is a brilliant tourer with the capability to keep going when the road ends — with some struggles. If you have been looking at the way KTM does its ads, please understand that the motorcycle used is the Adventure R and not the Adventure that India gets.
Overall, it is a huge step up from the previous-gen 390 Adventure and is way more capable as well. While you won’t go wrong with the new motorcycle, we suggest riding the 390 Adventure X as well, since you’re saving money. However, if off-roading is something on the top of the priority list with the new 390 Adventure, we say wait for the Adventure R.