Engine: 45 hp, 39 Nm, Rev-Hungry—Know That Going In and It Is Great Fun

The single-cylinder engine from the 390 Duke also powers the Adventure R: 398.7 cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, Bosch EMS with Ride-by-Wire, and Euro 5+. It produces 45 hp at 9,000 rpm and 39 Nm at 7,000 rpm. This is where the assessment needs to be clear: the engine wants revs. Below roughly 5,500 rpm, not much happens. Above that, it spins up with an enjoyably lively character. In everyday riding, that means shifting, working actively, and choosing the right gear. Riders coming from an engine with a broad torque plateau will need some time to adapt. Those who grew up with this kind of power delivery—or simply accept it—will find a low-vibration single that is genuinely entertaining when revved.

The 390 Adventure R can handle highway riding, even if it does not particularly enjoy it. Speeds of up to 160 km/h are possible, but 120 to 130 km/h is the more comfortable range. There are six gears, a slipper clutch, a 520 X-Ring chain, and a 10,000 km service interval. An optional quickshifter is available through KTM PowerParts. With consumption of around 3.5 to 4.0 L/100 km, the 14-liter tank provides roughly 350 to 400 km of range—solid for an adventure bike in this class.

Suspension: 230 mm Travel, 272 mm Ground Clearance, Fully Adjustable WP APEX—This Is the Core Proposition

What separates the 390 Adventure R from the Adventure X and most of its rivals is the suspension. The 43 mm WP APEX Open Cartridge fork offers 230 mm of travel, with rebound and compression damping adjustable tool-free through 30 clicks each. At the rear, a WP APEX shock with separating piston provides another 230 mm of travel, with spring preload and rebound adjustable through 20 clicks. Together, that creates a genuinely tunable chassis package of the kind you do not necessarily expect on an A2 motorcycle. Ground clearance of 272 mm makes it very clear where this bike is intended to go.

The R rolls on a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel—proper enduro dimensions that provide more grip on loose surfaces and greater straight-line stability on gravel than the Adventure X’s 19/17-inch combination. Standard tires are Mitas E07+ in 90/90-21 front and 140/80-18 rear, genuine dual-sport rubber rather than a token compromise. Braking is handled by a 320 mm front disc with a ByBre two-piston caliper and a 240 mm rear disc. The ABS includes an Offroad setting: in Offroad mode, the rear wheel can be locked, and the mode remains active after the engine stalls or the ignition is cycled, so it does not have to be reselected at every off-road section.

Electronics and Ergonomics: Offroad Mode, Cornering ABS, TFT With Navigation—870 mm Seat Height, 176 kg

The 390 Adventure R offers two riding modes: Street and Offroad. Offroad mode allows a degree of rear-wheel slip and switches the ABS to its off-road calibration, allowing the rear wheel to lock—a useful tool for steering on loose surfaces. Cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control operate on the road, and both can be switched off. The TFT display includes turn-by-turn navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB-C charging port as standard. The switchgear is illuminated, and the handlebar controls are intuitive.

Seat height is 870 mm. That is tall, but the frame and tank shape are designed around standing ergonomics, with a wide, well-positioned handlebar and grippy footpegs. Seated, the posture is upright and suitable for long stages. Curb weight is 176 kg, with a dry weight of 165 kg. The chassis uses a powder-coated steel trellis main frame with a bolt-on steel trellis subframe, the same two-piece concept used on the 390 SMC R. Wheelbase is 1,481 mm and steering-head angle 62.9 degrees.

Adventure R or Adventure X? The Decision Is Off-Road or Road

KTM offers the 390 Adventure in two versions that are fundamentally different. The Adventure X uses 19/17-inch wheels, 200 mm of non-adjustable suspension travel, an 825 mm seat height, and more road-oriented tires. It is more agile on asphalt, turns more easily, and is more accessible for riders whose priorities are road riding, gravel, and occasional trails. The Adventure R, by contrast—with 21/18-inch wheels, 230 mm of travel, 272 mm of ground clearance, dual-sport tires, and fully adjustable suspension—is aimed at riders who take off-road use seriously and are willing to give up some road agility in return.

Anyone familiar with a 21-inch front wheel knows the trade-off. It tracks more steadily on gravel and loose surfaces but does not fall into asphalt corners as quickly as a 19-inch wheel. On the road, that means a little more steering effort. On a dirt track, it pays you back. The question is not “Which one is better?” but “What am I actually going to use it for?”

Handling: 176 kg, 230 mm Travel, Rev-Hungry Character—An All-Rounder With a Clear Priority

On gravel roads and unpaved tracks, the 390 Adventure R shows why it was designed this way. At 176 kg, it is manageable enough to keep nerves under control at walking pace. The 230 mm suspension travel and 272 mm of ground clearance provide useful reserves even on more demanding terrain. Back on the road—on winding mountain passes, for example—the small KTM turns, leans, and drives out of corners without requiring much physical effort. The engine wants revs, so you plan around that, and then the road is fun as well. What the 390 Adventure R is not is a dedicated enduro machine for hard trails. In rough, fast terrain, 230 mm of travel eventually reaches its limits—but that is hardly a fair expectation of an A2 all-rounder at this price.

In direct comparison, the Honda XL750 Transalp E-Clutch, starting at EUR 11,749, offers more power, more displacement, fully adjustable Showa suspension, and E-Clutch—but at a much higher price and without such a radical off-road setup. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 452, at EUR 6,499, is cheaper and produces more torque lower in the rev range, but offers less suspension travel and fewer electronics. In the A2 segment, with a genuine 21-inch front wheel and more than 200 mm of suspension travel, the KTM 390 Adventure R has very little competition.

Cost: EUR 7,749 Including Ancillary Charges—A Lot of Motorcycle for the Money

For the equipment on offer—adjustable WP APEX suspension at both ends, Offroad ABS, cornering ABS, traction control, TFT navigation, wire-spoke wheels, 21/18-inch sizes, and 272 mm of ground clearance—the KTM delivers an exceptionally attractive price-to-performance ratio. A quickshifter can be retrofitted through KTM PowerParts.

As with the 390 SMC R, the motorcycle is manufactured by Bajaj in India. The current third generation of KTM’s 390 platform is regarded as considerably more mature than its predecessors. The service interval is 10,000 km, keeping running costs within reasonable limits.

Verdict

The KTM 390 Adventure R is the most uncompromising A2 adventure bike on the market—and the only one below EUR 8,000 combining a genuine 21-inch front wheel, more than 270 mm of ground clearance, and fully adjustable suspension. The engine is rev-hungry. Riders who know that and accept it get a motorcycle that is genuinely fun on gravel, dirt roads, and winding mountain passes. Riders who spend most of their time on asphalt are better served by the Adventure X.

 

Quick Check

+ 21-inch front wheel with Mitas E07+ tires standard: genuine dual-sport setup, not a compromise tire.

+ 272 mm ground clearance—more than any other A2 adventure bike in the segment.

+ 43 mm WP APEX USD fork: 230 mm travel, rebound and compression adjustable through 30 clicks as standard.

+ WP APEX rear shock with separating piston: 230 mm travel, 20-click adjustment.

+ Offroad ABS: rear-wheel lock is possible; mode remains active after an engine stall.

+ Cornering ABS and traction control can be switched off for genuine off-road use.

+ 176 kg fully fueled: lightest fully equipped A2 adventure bike with a 21-inch front wheel.

+ 14-liter tank: approx. 350–400 km range.

+ TFT with navigation, Bluetooth, and USB-C standard.

+ 10,000 km service interval.

+ Ergonomics are very well designed for standing off-road riding.

+ Best price-to-performance ratio in the segment.

+ Warranty: 4 years.

 

– Engine is very rev-hungry: little power below 5,500 rpm, requiring frequent shifting off-road.

– 870 mm seat height: challenging for riders under roughly 1.75 m.

– 21-inch front wheel: requires more steering effort on asphalt than the 19-inch Adventure X.

– Seat is fairly firm and becomes noticeable on very long stages.

– Manufactured by Bajaj in India. The current generation is regarded as mature, but the history of earlier generations remains worth considering.

Technical Specifications: KTM 390 Adventure R (2026)

Country of Manufacture: India, Bajaj plant; third-generation KTM platform. Development by KTM in Mattighofen, Austria

Engine: Liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke, DOHC, Euro 5+; Bosch EMS; Ride-by-Wire

Displacement: 398.7 cc

Power: 33 kW / 45 hp at 9,000 rpm—A2-compliant

Torque: 39 Nm at 7,000 rpm

Transmission: Six-speed, slipper clutch, 520 X-Ring chain drive; quickshifter available as KTM PowerParts retrofit

Riding Modes / Electronics: Two riding modes: Street and Offroad; cornering ABS; Offroad ABS with rear-wheel lock capability and mode retention after stalling; lean-sensitive traction control; ABS and TC switchable; engine-brake control

Frame: Powder-coated steel trellis main frame + bolt-on steel trellis subframe, two-piece construction

Fork: WP APEX Open Cartridge USD, 43 mm, 230 mm travel, rebound and compression adjustable through 30 clicks each

Rear Shock: WP APEX with separating piston, 230 mm travel, spring preload and rebound adjustable through 20 clicks

Front Brake: 320 mm disc; ByBre two-piston caliper; cornering ABS

Rear Brake: 240 mm disc; single-piston caliper; Offroad ABS

Wheels: Wire-spoke wheels; 21-inch, 1.85 in, front; 18-inch, 2.5 in, rear

Tires: 90/90-21 Mitas E07+ front; 140/80-18 Mitas E07+ rear

Display: Color TFT; navigation; Bluetooth; USB-C standard

Lighting: Full LED

Weight: 176 kg fully fueled

Seat Height: 870 mm

Ground Clearance: 272 mm

Wheelbase: 1,481 mm

Steering-Head Angle: 62.9 degrees

Fuel Tank: 14 liters

Range: Approx. 350–400 km at 3.5–4.0 L/100 km

CO2 / Emissions: 79 g/km; Euro 5+

Service Interval: 10,000 km

License: A2

Sister Model: KTM 390 Adventure X: 19/17-inch wheels, 200 mm non-adjustable travel, 825 mm seat height, more road-oriented, less expensive

Price in Germany: EUR 7,749 including ancillary charges

Warranty: 4 years