KTM has ventured into the lightweight adventure bike market with the launch of the 390 Adventure at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan.
The bike resembles a smaller version of the Austrian manufacturer’s 790 adventure which has proven a highly competent and thrilling bike to ride on and off road.
Despite this, the 390 Adventure actually uses elements of the naked KTM 390 Duke as its base, including its 373cc, 43 bhp, single cylinder engine, with a six-speed gear box and slipper clutch. The bike is A2 licence compatible and will likely be an attractive proposition for new riders looking to step into the world of adventure biking.
Despite being the baby of the KTM Adventure family, the 390 comes with an impressive list of equipment and features, including fully adjustable WP Apex suspension, providing 170mm travel at the front and 177mm at the rear.
The bike also features a ride-by-wire throttle, a TFT display, an adjustable windshield and ABS which can be disengaged off road.
The 390 Adventure is built around a trellis steel frame with a removable sub frame, and sports 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels made from cast aluminium. The bike’s seat height is a relatively high at 855mm, which is 5mm taller than the 790 Adventure. The 390 also boasts 200mm of ground clearance.
The fuel tank will hold 14.5l which KTM says will take you around 250 miles between fill ups. The bike weighs 158kg (dry) and comes in two colours, white and orange.
When it hits dealerships next year, the 390 Adventure will go up against the likes of the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 and the BMW G 310 GS. If it’s anywhere near as capable on and off road as its bigger brother the 790 Adventure, the German and Japanese manufacturers will have a real fight on their hands.
Specs at a glance
DISPLACEMENT: 373.2 cm³
DESIGN: 1-cylinder, 4-stroke engine
BORE: 89 mm
STROKE: 60 mm
STARTER: Electric starter
LUBRICATION: Wet sump
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed
COOLING: Liquid cooled
CLUTCH: PASC antihopping clutch, mechanically operated
EMS: Bosch EMS with RBW
FRAME DESIGN: Steel trellis frame, powder coated
SUSPENSION TRAVEL (FRONT): 170 mm
SUSPENSION TRAVEL (REAR): 177 mm
FRONT BRAKE: Four-piston radial fixed calliper
REAR BRAKE: Single-piston floating calliper
FRONT BRAKE DISC DIAMETER: 320 mm
REAR BRAKE DISC DIAMETER: 230 mm
ABS: Bosch 9M+ Two-channel ABS (incl. offroad mode, disengageable)
CHAIN: 520 X-Ring
STEERING HEAD ANGLE: 63.5 °
GROUND CLEARANCE: 200 mm
SEAT HEIGHT: 855 mm
TANK CAPACITY (APPROX.): 14.5 l
DRY WEIGHT: 158 kg
