KTM 390 Adventure 2026 — Specifications

The first KTM Adventure lived up to its name. A true challenge for the brand and an aesthetic very marked by function. It was in 2003 that KTM launched onto the road with its first large-displacement model, fueled by strong off-road ambitions tinged with touring. The miniature version appeared much later, in 2020. A friendly, fun motorcycle, one would gladly take in their pocket. But it is time for it to give way to a new generation, which sees the road differently.

Redesigned, amplified, expressive, this version of the 390 Adventure has little in common with the model of yesterday. Formerly a scarab of the roads, it now announces itself as a June beetle. With its more advanced and enveloping fairing, its large bubble with marked cheeks and its redesigned handguards, it looks much more protective.

More striking too. Its face inspired by the 1390 Super Adventure and its cross fender give it a very distinctive look, both hybrid of genres and troubled adventurer. However, its mission as its name suggests is not to clear paths and adventures. Its sister in Rest version is intended for that. She, the 390 Adventure X, prefers to ride on the road, be less demanding, and claim a mini-trail-GT status.

This is quickly guessed by judging its spoked rims. Then by looking a little, many things separate them: dimensions and a less off-road profile than on the R, less suspension travel, a shorter wheelbase, deletion of the Rain Riding Mode, an LCD screen, and fewer available settings. The WP 41mm inverted fork will be content with factory-set parameters. The shock absorber allows a little more, with preload adjustment.

From the previous model, the 390 Adventure X recovers little. The two Street and Offroad Riding Modes, the rims, the switchable ABS... and not much more. It loses the TFT screen, the Cornering function of the ABS and the Traction Control, as well as the suspension settings. Repetition? Indeed, these are the same elements that differentiate the Rest and the X currently. Which, we will see later, has a very direct impact on the price.

On the other hand, it recovers the latest generation 398 cm3 engine from the latest Duke. This engine gains a little displacement as well as a more compact cylinder head, a new injector, a better speed guidance in the gearbox, an optimized airbox (to raise the block and gain ground clearance) and a minimized exhaust. Its design allows you to do without a silencer and thus save two kilos. Equipped with this block, the Katoche approaches the A2 limits, will chain the roads with joviality and without exuberance with its 45 horsepower and its 4.1 mkg of torque.

The frame has also changed. A part shared with the SMC Rest and Enduro R of the same tonnage, whose steering column and rigidity have been redesigned from the 390 Duke. On the braking side, a Bybre 2-piston caliper is there to officiate on a 320 mm disc at the front. The rear one measures 240 mm.

Unlike the old 390 Adventure and SW which differed only by their rims, the descendants mark their divergences much more. The X prefers the road, the R the hikes; and the dose of equipment changes a lot of things. Hence a much more acceptable price. 1,000 euros less.

M.B - Photos manufacturer