In a world ruled by dreamy marketing images of giant adventure bikes crossing deserts, KTM’s 390 Adventure flies the flag for small-capacity bikes, ready to take on real-world adventures on an A2 licence.
For 2023 the diminutive do-it-all bike gets more offroad capability and a dollop more attitude, with wire-spoked 19/18-inch aluminium wheels dressed in Continental TKC70 dual purpose tyres. The new wheels certainly give the 390 a more rugged look, without taking it all the way to full offroad spec with a 21-inch front. KTM wants to brand the bike as an ‘everyday’ machine which can tackle your commute and also handle a light offroad blast. That’s probably a very realistic expectation of how the bike will be ridden in the real world. In addition to the new wire-spoked wheel model, there is also a cast wheel option available.
To keep the new wheels in motion is the four-stroke 373cc single cylinder engine shared with the sportier RC 390 and Duke 390. With twin overhead camshafts, four valves, balancer shaft and electronic fuel-injection, it pumps out a respectable 43bhp with 37Nm of torque.
KTM’s electronics package is impressive for a bike in this category, with ride-by-wire, traction control, cornering ABS, OFFROAD mode (more rear wheel slip) and linked OFFROAD ABS (disengaged on the rear, reduced on the front), as well as a 5-inch colour TFT dash.
Equally impressive for an entry level motorbike is the suspension. The WP APEX hardware is adjustable for compression, rebound and preload. KTM reckons this achieves ‘tactile’ grip for the road and confidence-inspiring efficiency for the dirt. Brembo BYBRE brakes bite a 320mm disc at front and 230mm disc at rear. The 390 Adventure weighs 172 kg with its 14.5-litre tank fully fuelled. Seat height is 830mm, with the narrow saddle and low weight likely to make it much more accessible to new riders than bulky middleweight machines.
The fresh look and increased offroad presence should give the 390 Adventure a good chance to fight for the mini-adventure market. It wears the same £6,699 price tag as Honda’s A2 adventure tourer, the CB500X, but is a lot more expensive than the hugely popular Royal Enfield Himalayan, which currently costs £4,949 (plus on the road charges). Direct comparison might not be wise though, as the equipment and performance of the KTM are very different to the Himalayan with its more basic cycle parts and a 411cc single producing 24bhp/32Nm.
The KTM also costs a couple of hundred more than the more offroad-focused Honda CRF300 Rally (£6,499). The CRF runs on a 21-inch front wheel, and offers a bit more trail-cred, but the KTM makes a lot more power than the CRF’s 286cc 27bhp single, as well as offering greater road manners. It’s main competition still arguably comes from BMW’s £5890 G 310 GS, which follows a similar blueprint to the 390 Adventure, but in a slightly less powerful and more basic package.
