KTM 390 Adventure Review
Bike Tested: KTM 390 Adventure; Road Test No. 1186; Test Location: 19 Degree North, Amby Valley
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 3,58,900/-
The KTM signature orange has finally turned brown with the 390 Adventure
KTM has been setting benchmarks for entry-level performance motorcycles in the Indian market since the launch of the Duke 200. They then got the Duke 390 and set another benchmark for yet another segment. But worldwide, KTM is well-known for the adventure and rally based motorcycles as they have secured quite a few championships too. However, in India, the entry-level adventure category was ruled by the Himalayan for quite some time and it is finally being challenged by the 390 Adventure. BMW had the G 310 GS but didn’t leave a big mark while we find out if the 390 Adventure has what it takes!
Motor Quest: The KTM 390 Adventure is the first single-cylinder travel-enduro motorcycle in this category by KTM. India is the first country where it is produced and we witnessed the launch too. It gets the enduro hardware from the Adventure family while the heart and soul comes from the Duke 390.
The KTM 390 Adventure is a tall boy with sharp looks
Styling – Just like the KTM family, the 390 Adventure picks up the styling from its siblings the Duke 390 and the 790 Adventure. It gets the same LED headlight as the Duke but it is mounted rather higher and on a locked position. Adding more to the adventure characteristics is the new visor and a long-travel suspension at the front with a bigger 19-inch wheel. The body panels have an edgy design in the flow from the tank to the tail. To protect the engine there is a bash-plate finished in metal as well as plastic which basically covers the exhaust pipe. The multi-angle crash protectors are new and they look really purposeful.
LED headlight looks good and has a bright illumination too
The dimensions make the 390 Adventure the largest KTM available in India
You can get the Adventure in 2 colour options – orange and white. While the colour and graphics are quite simple there is no extra orange on the chassis or the wheels. Everything is finished in black and it turns rather brown once you’re out on an adventure. While all the lights are LEDs, the tail light is a brand new unit and it looks quite neat. The massive grab-rail is also new and goes very well with the bike. Design and styling wise if you like KTM, you will like the way the 390 Adventure looks. But then the only thing we didn’t like is the end-can of the exhaust which looks sort of unfinished.
Fully digital console is loaded with a ton of information on offer
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – By the first look, the 390 Adventure’s TFT display might look very similar to the one seen on the Duke. But it is slightly different with a bigger protective cover around it. The numbers inside the cluster are exactly alike with a ton of details being shown. What is new is the ABS and MTC mode that is displayed on the home screen itself. The 390 Adventure has multiple switchable modes for the ABS as well as the traction control. While if you dig deeper you can even control the quick-shifter from the console. The display also has a night mode just like the ones on its siblings and it turns black during the night.
This switchgear is like a proper gaming controller for the loaded screen
Adjustable levers are very helpful while the knuckle guard is quite solid too
The switchgear buttons are exactly the same as we had seen on the Duke 790 as well as the 390. While the plastic feel isn’t top-notch, the haptic feedback makes up for it. The switches are easy on a thumb reach while they are finished in matte grey. There is an optional mount also present to mount the GPS device right between the windscreen visor and the digital console. The console displays all the possible information you can ask from it like the distance to empty, mileage, battery voltage and the rest. But at one time you can only see 4 major details which can be arranged via a preset.
It is one of the motorcycles with the tallest seat height in India
Ergonomics – The KTM 390 Adventure carries the comfortable ergonomics from the Duke and makes it even taller and spacious. The seat height is at a whopping 855 mm making it one of the tallest motorcycles to sit on in India. It will not be comfortable for an average height Indian rider but if you are any taller then you would like it. There is a lot of room to move around while the seating posture is quite upright. The footpegs are centre-set while the height of the motorcycle does not make you feel cramped at all. The tank does not edge near the seat making it comfortable to lock the knees while being seated or even standing on the bike.
Seat cushioning is decent while it is wide and long too
Ergonomics are more like a comfortable tourer with hardcore enduro aesthetics
Even for the pillion there is a lot of space to sit and move around. The big grab-rail does come in handy as it works well to mount something or a sturdy piece for the pillion to grab onto. The task, however, is to get on the motorcycle. As the seat is a split-seat unit, the pillion sits even higher while the rider is already sitting quite high. The pillion gets normal footpegs while the rider gets toothed footpegs with rubber inserts. This is ideal for touring and one can remove the rubber inserts for better grip during off-road riding.
Power delivery improves in a linear manner towards the top-end
Performance – The KTM 390 Adventure is powered by the same 373cc motor that does duty on the Duke. It produces 42.3 BHP and 37 Nm of torque which is exactly same too. But this is the first KTM motor to be BS6 compliant. Probably the only reason there was such a long wait for this motorcycle. The performance delivery from the engine feels exactly the same as the Duke but the final drive gear is altered for better low-end. The motor has a very strong mid-range and top-end but not the best low-end making it quite tricky and slide-friendly in off-road situations. The throttle response is quite sharp and it redlines at same 10,000 RPM. The motorcycle is quick to hit the ton in about 6 seconds while the top speed is close to 165 km/hr.
It is the same motor but you can see the new placement for the coolant
New exhaust might sound bassy but still it has the typical KTM note to it
The 6-speed gearbox is the same but it now gets a bi-directional quick-shifter which aids in better gear shifts while there is a slipper-clutch too. The first BS6 motor from KTM means more refinement which is very likeable in the mid-range but once past that there are some vibrations that can be felt on the handlebar as well as the footpegs but not much on the seat. The 390 Adventure also has the largest fuel tank in the KTM line-up and as it returns close to 30 km/l we can expect a good touring range too. The heating issue has been addressed pretty well as the 390 Adventure gets a new radiator with two fans and it is a bigger curved unit which dissipates heat efficiently.
Very suitable for touring duties, can munch a lot of miles at once
Riding Dynamics – Comfortable ergonomics with a decent seat cushioning make the 390 Adventure a perfect machine for touring duties, while the long-travel suspension both at the front and rear make it capable for enduro duties too. The suspension setup is similar to the Duke but it comes from WP Apex and the suspension is comparatively softly sprung too. We felt the Duke 390 was too stiff for Indian roads but the 390 Adventure just solves it. It gets the same split-trellis frame while it is re-engineered to mount the new radiator, bigger fuel tank and also the coolant box gets a new place. The rake angle is different while it has been made even stronger to withhold the off-road bashing. The feedback from the handlebar is great as it tips into corners pretty well and yet holds the line. Agility and stability haven’t gone for a toss either even though the centre-of-gravity is now slightly higher.
The suspension setup is perfect for Indian road conditions
The KTM 390 Adventure has brilliant riding dynamics even after being the heaviest KTM in India as of now
The 390 Adventure comes equipped with a ton of equipment like the traction control which needs to be switched off for better off-road feedback. With dual-channel ABS, it also gets cornering ABS as standard while one can switch to off-road ABS which turns off the ABS on the rear wheel. It gets a 320 mm disc at the front and a 230 mm disc at the rear while the braking feedback improves as you brake harder, the initial bite isn’t very sharp. Cornering ABS works really well but the tyres are dual-purpose and comparatively thinner than the Duke 390. It gets the same Metzeler Tourance tyres that did duty on the BMW G 310 GS but they are 100-section front and 130-section rear. The tyres might be dual-purpose but they are more road-biased.
With 200 mm of ground clearance it is suitable for both on- and off-road riding
Verdict – The 390 Adventure is the first motorcycle by KTM in the adventure category for India. While it is based out of a combination of the Duke 390 and the adventure family, it actually gives out the best of both worlds. It is the only motorcycle in its category to be loaded with a ton of hardware like cornering ABS and even a bi-directional quick-shifter. The only gripe is that the motorcycle is too tall for the average Indian height rider and it misses out on spoke wheels which are more suited for off-road duties. It is, however, a proper tourer than an enduro machine and at the price, it does make a lot of sense!
I really like the new design of the taillight
What’s Cool
* BS6 motor feels quite refined
* There’s a ton of hardware onboard
* Perfect touring machine with a lot of space on offer
* Suspension setup is suitable for the road as well as off-road
What’s Not So Cool
* Thinner tyres and no spoke wheels on offer
* Seat height is too high for average Indian height rider
* Engine performs only past mid-range, not suitable for off-road
Not the best looking exhaust but it can take some beating
KTM 390 Adventure Specifications
* Engine: 373cc, Liquid-Cooled, Single-Cylinder, FI, BS6
* Power: 42.3 BHP @ 9000 RPM
* Torque: 37 Nm @ 7000 RPM
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Fuel Consumption: 26-30 km/l
* Frame: Split Trellis Frame
* Tyres: 100/90/19 (Front), 130/18/17 (Rear)
* Suspension: 43 mm USD Forks (Front), Adjustable Monoshock (Rear); WP Apex
* Brakes: 320 mm Disc (Front), 230 mm Disc (Rear)
KTM 390 Adventure Dimensions
* Length x Width x Height: 2154 mm x 900 mm x 1400 mm
* Wheelbase: 1430 mm
* Ground Clearance: 200 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 14.5-litres
* Kerb weight: 178 Kgs
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