New KTM 390 Adventure released for 2020

With the engine lifted from the KTM Duke 390, there have long been calls from the off-road and trail riding market for a KTM 390 Adventure. And here it is. Described as a ‘breezy, agile entry model for riders keen to discover the adventure sensation’ the A2-licence compatible 390 Adventure is the baby brother of the 790 Adventure…

Is the new KTM 390 Adventure the best small adventure bike?

The new KTM 390 Adventure is powered by the same 373.2cc motor as the KTM 390 Duke. Making 43bhp (32kW) @ 9,000rpm and 27lb-ft (37Nm) @ 7,000 rpm, it’s completely unchanged, with the same gear ratios and cable-operate slip/assist clutch.

The frame remains a powder-coated steel trellis, but the Adventure gains WP’s APEX fork, adjustable for compression and rebound, and APEX shock, adjustable for rebound and preload.

Front braking is still carried out by a four-piston radially-mounted ByBre caliper on a 320mm disc, and the wheels are cast aluminium, but there’s now a 19” at the front, up from 17”.

The KTM 390 Adventure weighs about 158kg dry, so with its 14.5 litre tank full of fuel, and oil and battery in place, we’d expect it to weigh around 175kg.

Given that in 2014, KTM 390 Duke owners reported to Fuelly.com that their motorcycles returned an average of 57.6mph, it’s possible that the KTM 390 Adventure will have a range of about 184 miles.

BMW’s G310GS has a much smaller 11 litre tank, and Fuelly reports of 65mpg put its range at 158 miles. Though it is lighter at 169.5kg ready to ride.

The KTM 390 Adventure’s seat is surprisingly high at 855mm when you compare it to the BMW’s 835mm, though it also makes 10bhp and 7lb-ft more.

Honda’s CRF250 Rally is another popular small adventure machine, but its’ a long way down on performance at 24bhp and 17lb-ft. Though it does have a 21” front wheel and 18” rear, making it more of an off-road-capable machine. And those are spoked wheels.

The Honda’s tank is 10.2 litres, but Fuelly logged an average of 65.8mpg in 2017 – that’s a range of 146 miles. It’s the lightest bike of these three at 157kg, but the off-road capability comes at the expense of a daunting-for-some 895mm seat height.

Ultimately, we’ll soon have the first review of the 2020 KTM 390 Adventure, which is when we’ll really be able to find out how good it is…

New KTM 390 Adventure Specification