KTM Shakes Up 390 Adventure Line with Two Fresh Models
KTM's legendary "R" badge is no longer reserved for the flagship 1290 Super Adventure or the upcoming 2025 890 Adventure.
KTM just dropped a bombshell in the small-displacement adventure bike market. The Austrian brand's coveted "R" badge - usually saved for heavyweights like the 1290 Super Adventure - is finally trickling down to the 390 range. But that's not all - they're also rolling out a street-savvy "X" model this fall.
https://enduro21.com
The R version means business off-road. It's basically a dirt-hungry mini ADV, while its new X sibling plays it safer with a more road-friendly character. Both bikes pack the latest LC4c engine, pushing out 44.2 horses and 39 Nm of grunt - enough to make things interesting on any terrain.
KTM's marketing team isn't shy about hyping these bikes as the best 390s yet. They might be right, especially looking at the suspension setup. We're talking WP Apex hardware here - 43mm forks up front and that fancy WP Apex Split Piston arrangement out back.
https://enduro21.com
The R model's not messing around with suspension travel - a whopping 230mm at both ends. Tall riders, rejoice: the seat sits at 870mm, with ground clearance stretching to 272mm. That's proper off-road territory.
Braking? Bybre's got both bikes covered with dual twin-piston radial calipers up front and a single-piston setup rear. The X shares these stoppers but takes a different path with its suspension - no fancy adjustment options like its R sibling.
Speaking of the X, it's clearly aimed at riders who prefer more sealed surfaces than sand. Travel drops to 200mm front and rear, while the seat height comes down to a more approachable 825mm. Ground clearance sits at 232mm - still plenty for the occasional dirt road detour.
Here's a plot twist: the 390 Adventure R breaks tradition as the first "R" badge KTM that's not rolling out of Austria. Instead, it's coming from their Indian partners at Bajaj Auto - a sign of changing times in the motorcycle industry.
While January's 390 Enduro clearly influenced these newcomers, KTM's thrown in some key differences. There's a beefier 14-liter tank (5 more than the Enduro) and fresh rally-raid inspired bodywork featuring full LED lighting.
The move marks KTM's aggressive push into the growing small-displacement adventure segment, where riders increasingly demand big-bike capabilities in more manageable packages.
