2026 KTM 390 ADVENTURE R
SHOCK AND AWE
The KTM 390 Adventure R shocked the shit out of me.
I didn’t hold particularly high hopes for a small-capacity KTM adventure bike made in India – although I have, after spending much quality time with it, been a long-time fan of the marque's 390 Duke, which shares similar DNA. What I didn't expect was to climb off it thinking, "I'd happily own one of these." Yet that's exactly what happened.
Perhaps my initial opinion was rather rash. After all, even on paper there’s a lot to like – a sprightly single-cylinder engine, a solid suite of electronics, relatively light weight as adventure bikes go, and a four-year factory warranty – what's not to like?
The Adventure is powered by KTM's latest 399cc LC4c single-cylinder engine, and while it won't win any arm-wrestling competitions down low, don't write it off too quickly. Spend a bit of time with it and you'll discover an engine that's happiest when it's allowed to breathe. Keep it in the sweet spot of the rev range, make good use of the gearbox and it punches far harder than its modest capacity would suggest. The test bike I rode was fitted with KTM's optional Quickshifter, which helps keep the little Kato on the boil nicely.
Out on the open road, the Adventure is an easy bike to spend time on. It'll cruise along at 110km/h without complaint, and the rally-inspired fairing provides far better wind protection than I was expecting. It feels surprisingly at home knocking over highway miles.
Like its Enduro sibling, the Adventure rides on fully adjustable WP APEX 43 mm open-cartridge forks and a split-piston rear shock with both preload and rebound adjustment, with 230 mm of travel at both ends. I actually preferred the suspension on the Adventure over the Enduro off-road. KTM doesn't list any differences in spring rate or valving, but the Adventure felt more composed to me. Add in the bike's relatively light 165kg weight and you've got a machine that’s pretty easy to chuck around for an adventure bike.
The Adventure changes direction willingly, never feels cumbersome and encourages you to push a little harder every time you climb aboard. The only blemish on an otherwise excellent package is a tendency for the front end to become a little nervous over rough ground once speeds creep beyond about 80km/h. A steering damper would cure it, but it's something worth keeping in mind.
KTM has absolutely nailed the riding position. The bike feels slim between your knees, the relationship between the bars, seat and pegs is spot on and moving from a seated to a standing position is completely natural. The interface between your boots and the bike is flat and easily gripped, and the pegs are generous in their width. The windscreen deserves a mention too. It provides excellent protection on the road without becoming something that’s likely to throat-punch you the moment the track gets rough.
There’s a 14-litre steel fuel tank, which, combined with the engine's frugal appetite for fuel, should give a range of about 300 kilometres. The trade-off, of course, is that a steel tank is more susceptible to dents if the bike takes a nap.
A 5-inch TFT display sits front and centre, backed up by Bluetooth connectivity for navigation, music and phone functions, plus a USB-C charging port and illuminated switchgear. Street, Rain and Offroad riding modes are all standard, although I left the bike in Offroad mode for pretty much the entire time I had the bike. Rear ABS is deactivated in Offroad mode, but there is no dedicated ABS switch on the Adventure as there is on the Enduro, so you’re stuck with front ABS. Traction control can be turned off but requires a bit of a dive into the menu. Thankfully, the Adventure remembers your previous settings, so you don’t have to stuff around each time you shut the bike down.
Final Thoughts:
Braking is handled by Bybre hardware, with a larger 320 mm front disc than the Enduro's 285 mm disc. The brakes offer predictable power, good feel and never once left me searching for extra stopping performance. The rear is equally good and provides plenty of feel for controlled fat skids.
The biggest compliment I can pay the 390 Adventure is that I genuinely didn't want to hand the keys back. KTM has built a lightweight adventure bike that's approachable for newer riders and fun for experienced riders without ever feeling basic or underdone. Throw a steering damper at it, a slightly larger plastic tank and spend a little time dialling in the suspension and you’d have yourself a serious off-road-capable adventure rig. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that, even as it rolls off the showroom floor, it's probably the most off-road competent single-cylinder adventure bike on the market, and that's about as strong an endorsement as I can give it.
