KTM 390 Adventure spotted undergoing tests in Europe, seems to be a production-ready model.
Just days after KTM confirmed the 390 Adventure’s launch in India for 2019, a spy shot of the bike has emerged on the internet. The KTM 390 Adventure has been spotted testing in Europe and looking at the spy picture, the test bike is most likely to be a production-ready model courtesy the LED headlight, mirrors and the registration plate at the rear.
Lots of cycle parts have been borrowed from the Duke 390 while there are lots of distinctive elements as well. Starting with the front, the LED headlight looks similar to that of the Duke 390 but sports a different encasing. There is also a small flyscreen above the headlight which is flanked by clear panels for better wind protection. The mirrors and knuckle guards are a straight lift from the Duke. The fuel tank has a different shape and is likely to be slightly larger given the touring credentials of the bike. The trellis frame is not as exposed as in the Duke.
The seats are likely to be larger and more comfortable with softer cushioning. The riding position is likely to be more or less similar to the Duke 390’s position. However, the foot pegs are not expected to be rear-set while the handlebar, as seen in the picture, seems placed higher. Another drastically different design element in the 390 Adventure has to be the side-mounted exhaust. There appears to be a downtube from the cylinder head that feeds into a collector box underneath the swingarm pivot which then flows into a large side-mounted upswept end muffler.
Another interesting design element is the spindle offset on the front fork fairly noticeable in the image. What this means is that the front axle is placed slightly ahead of the fork centreline which has the effect of decreasing trail. Since the fitment of a larger front wheel increases the trail, the two together should negate the overall effect to some extent. The spy picture doesn’t reveal any form of crash guard or even an engine bash plate but expect them to be offered.
It still remains to be seen in how many variants the 390 Adventure will be offered in India. It is highly likely that there could be two variants – a road-biased variant with alloy wheels and a proper off-road focused trim with spoke wheels. Lastly, the motorcycle will share the engine as well as the colour TFT instrument console with the Duke 390. Unlike the latter which gets a Supermoto mode, expect the 390 Adventure to get a dedicated off-road mode.
KTM 390 Adventure Spied
– KTM 390 Adventure spotted undergoing tests in Europe
– Expect to see a production-ready bike at the Intermot or EICMA this year
– The motorcycle was recently confirmed for the Indian market
– Will be built at Bajaj’s Chakan facility in India
Source – Bennetts.co.uk