KTM 1390 Super Adventure S Evo 2026 — Specifications

The motorcycle, normally, is simple. There’s the roadster, the trail bike, and the sportbike, normally… The Austrian manufacturer KTM has rarely approached motorcycles on the road in a conventional way. Once again, the men of Mattighofen are disrupting the established order and offering what is undoubtedly one of the most versatile machines. And if it’s simply the ultimate Super Moto, capable of bringing together the 3 genres into one?

Fancy a countryside getaway with a passenger? Want to venture onto trails and suddenly discover a racetrack and drop a knee? The new KTM 1390 Super Adventure S Evo is capable of all that. To achieve this, the machine relies on a reinforced frame, according to the press release, compared to the Super Adventure S. There’s no doubt that a Super Adventure S already spends more time on the road than in the dunes.

Having noted this to improve the S Evo version’s ability to taunt the stopwatch, engineers drew inspiration from the efficiency of a Super Duke’s chassis for carving up asphalt. This frame adopts some modifications to the rake with an angle of 65.2°, that’s 0.1° different from an S and the wheelbase is extended to 1558 mm (+1 mm compared to the S). KTM also took care to modify the position of the footpegs (8 mm lower and 10 mm wider) to free up the riders’ legs a bit and offer more comfort off-road. You can see the bike is trying to please both the goat and the cabbage, going faster but in comfort! Tell that to a superbike rider, they’re going to laugh in your face!

From a suspension point of view, the 1390 SUPER ADVENTURE S EVO adopts WP semi-active technology (fork and shock). It uses new PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) sensors and a new cartridge fork with a cross-tube design that combines the design of open and closed cartridge suspension elements. Electronically controlled magnetic valves will ensure variable damping depending on the terrain you are on and your pace, as suspension frequencies are also taken into account. If the range of settings offered seems endless, the rider will have factory modes: comfort, street, rain and sport. My little finger tells me that before delving into the manual adjustment factory settings, the modes developed for hours by the engineers will undoubtedly be sufficient. But if you are still unsatisfied, know that KTM also offers a Suspension Pro pack as an option. The suspensions retain a 200 mm stroke as on a “simple” S model.

Final agreement between the machine and the ground, this superb KTM adopts the new Dunlop Meridian. A hybrid tire that attempts to be good everywhere thanks to its tread pattern that favors grip and water evacuation when the shoulders are more sporty. Their dimensions once again aim for versatility with a rear tire of only 170 mm wide (120 at the front). Another concession to try to do everything, the bike has retained a 19-inch wheel at the front (17 at the rear).

Thunderbolt on the market, KTM temporarily takes the lead in the arms race. The Super Adventure S Evo becomes more powerful than the Ducati Multistrada V4, including the Pikes Peak version. The Austrians have not (yet) allowed themselves to take all the power from their twin-cylinder, since a Super Duke R Evo offers 190 hp.

To achieve this result, the engine is increased to 1,350 cm³ (compared to 1,300 on the Super Adventure S). The maximum power of 173 hp is reached at 9,500 rpm and the torque is 145 Nm at 8,000 rpm. KTM has grafted variable cams onto its twin-cylinder to lengthen or shorten them depending on the engine speed.

At high speed, the "cam shift" system is activated and allows the admission valves to open further and for longer. This increases the volume of air and combustion. With a more powerful explosion in the combustion cycle, there’s more power. At low speeds, the "cam shift" system reduces the duration and opening of the valves, which optimizes engine behavior.

Coming to the rider’s aid to control the horsepower, 5 riding modes are offered: Rain, Street, Sport, Offroad and Custom (customizable). Optionally, a Rally mode can be obtained.

The 1390 Super Adventure S Evo also features an automated manual transmission (AMT). This is a first in the entire range of the manufacturer. The AMT will allow you to choose between a classic manual gear change using the selector or buttons on the handlebar control, or an automatic gearbox. All the details here ->

The cruise control receives braking assistance, collision warning and minimum distance alert. The new adaptive cruise control, combined with the AMT, has a Stop & Go function. When activated, this system completely stops the motorcycle if the vehicle in front comes to a stop. Once the vehicle moves, the motorcycle automatically restarts. To achieve this result, KTM has equipped the motorcycle with a 5th generation radar, signed Bosch. It optimizes performance, improves truck detection, increases the maximum speed and updates the deactivation thresholds, thanks to the Dynamic, Street and Group Ride features.

Although very close to the 1290, this Super Adventure S Evo is actually totally new for its bodywork. The design follows the main lines but everything is modified: headlight, fairing, screen… The lighting is of course full LED and offers that inimitable alien look to the Austrian. You either like it or you don’t. The seat has also been redesigned.

What strikes the eye, however, is the new 8.8-inch TFT screen. Its vertical position gives the sensation of having a huge roadbook under your eyes. It features inductive technology, which facilitates its use even with thick winter gloves. The announced innovative coating is anti-reflective, anti-fingerprint and anti-glare.

Finally, motorcycle starting is keyless with intelligent locking and unlocking of the tank cap, or the top case as an option.

This motorcycle is both a superb demonstration and a possible object of criticism. Indeed, the feat of making a motorcycle that can turn as fast on the track as it is skilled on the trails is a bet that seemed lost in advance. It’s fascinating to think that a machine like this exists. Only, these accumulations of qualities that make it good at everything don’t make it as effective as the specialists in each category. So, is it really useful? It’s up to you to judge but in any case, the bill is necessarily expensive. The 1390 Super Adventure S already exchanges for 21,149 euros; this 1390 S Evo version goes far beyond …

Vincent Beaucousin - Photos manufacturer