KTM 390 Adventure - What We Know So Far And What We Can Expect

Five months ago I bought a KTM Duke 390 with a plan of modifying it into an adventure style motorcycle since KTM doesn’t appear to be interested in offering a small displacement adventure style motorcycle to the Indian market, Finally KTM India confirmed that the 390 Adventure would be launched in India in 2019. Now, new details have emerged on the production version of the 390 Adventure, It has been most anticipated bike as the motorcycle that can do no wrong.






The KTM 390 Adventure will get a semi-fairing, long travel suspension and wire-spoke wheels. Image of the 1290 used for representational purpose only.

Himalayan came into the picture and manufacturers realised the huge potential in the adventure segment, particularly in the mid-capacity space. This segment works exceptionally well in India as the bikes in this category are relatively lighter, less complex and easy to handle than full-fledged adventure motorcycles that come packed with all kinds of technology. Kawasaki wanted to grab a portion of the pie with the Versys-X 300, but didn’t exactly succeed due to its stratospheric (but justified) pricing.

Though BMW Motorrad also yearned to be in this segment, the German marque wanted to make sure it does things right, including setting up the infrastructure required to handle its upcoming entry-level twins - the G 310 R and G 310 GS. Last week, BMW Motorrad announced that it has started accepting bookings for both bikes. Unlike KTM, BMW Motorrad says it isn’t focussing on outright sales numbers. Instead, it wants to provide customers with a premium riding experience. However, the real shot of adrenaline came when KTM confirmed the launch of the much-awaited 390 Adventure, which is slated for next year.The math used to infer this is simple. The 390 Duke street bike is already phenomenal, so the Adventure version will be nearly as quick/mad/wild (tick appropriate adjective). Oh, and doesn’t KTM make the best motocross bikes, like, ever? Cut to when the spy images of the near-production model began to emerge. "Wait, this is not as hardcore as I wanted it to be," said some, almost as if in protest.Yes, it isn’t. For that, KTM makes the 350 EXC-F enduro motorcycle, and trust me, it’s not the nicest motorcycle to ride. Rather, it’s not a motorcycle you’ll want to ride every day, or everywhere. I was introduced to KTM’s MX and enduro range early in my motorcycling life (God bless those kind souls), and having enduro-ed everything from indestructible four-stroke 250s to fear-inducing two-strokes and some big 450s (even from Suzuki and Kawasaki), I can tell you that hardcore is not the way to go. At least, it’s not the way to go for a huge chunk of people. KTM is, ultimately, a business and sales numbers matter.Instead, KTM has wisely decided (or so one would interpret) to focus on what the most rational amongst you have been asking for – a long-legged motorcycle that can do sustained high speeds, with the capability to venture fairly deep into the unexplored. 

In effect, here’s a motorcycle you will certainly enjoy – pillion and luggage secured – on the open highway and through a trail, even if you may not necessarily end up conquering the latter. This works for most of us, right? Here’s why it should. Firstly, the 390 Duke sports a high-strung motor – high enough to set off the radiator fan faster than on most other machines in or around its class. This, despite the average rider short-shifting in the interest of engine preservation or fuel efficiency. Off the road, you don’t always have that choice. Therefore, to want a harder-core motorcycle is fantastic, but it comes with a compromise in terms of everyday usability for the average enthusiast. Thanks to its partnership with Bajaj, the Austrian bike maker was even able to manufacture it in a cost-efficient manner and price it at the affordable end of the 300cc segment. So, it was only logical for the Mattighofen-based motorcycle manufacturer to develop an adventure variant for riders with a certain sense of wanderlust. The 390 Adventure was spotted testing in Europe back in 2016. The Dakar-inspired motorcycle looked crude, hinting at the need for a lot more work to be done.

The motorcycle was spotted again in October last year. This time, its featured a more toned down design and in line with the brand’s 790 Adventure concept (remember 2017 EICMA?). If KTM wants to launch the bike in 2019, it is safe to say that it will unveil the 390 Adventure concept at this year’s EICMA.

KTM’s word on the upcoming model:

KTM says the new model will be placed under the Adventure range of motorcycles and will be sold alongside its existing products. According to the manufacturer, the upcoming model will ‘provide the motorcycle-touring community a state-of-the-art package to ride long distances and conquer any terrain’.

The auto major has also confirmed that the bike will be inspired by the 1290 Super Adventure. It will also draw its lineage from KTM’s rally racing history. This could hint at bulletproof build quality and impressive touring capability.

What we think:

Going by the Duke’s feature-laden proposition, we expect the 390 Adventure to be loaded with ride-enhancing goodies. Expect the multifunction colour display to have navigation capability in the Adventure. We expect the Adventure to sport a larger 17-18-litre fuel tank for enhanced range too. The ergonomics should be upright, with the footpegs positioned for easy stand-up riding. The WP suspension setup will have more travel than the Duke’s.

While the bike is likely to share the engine with the Duke, we expect it to be tuned for more bottom-end torque. Also, since it already has ride-by-wire, it does open up the possibility of having multiple ride modes like ‘Road’ and ‘Rain’. Amit Nandi - president of Probiking, Bajaj Auto Ltd., said, “KTM is a niche brand for a select few. With the 390 Adventure we would be making our long awaited entry into the niche premium dual-sport segment which is a very apt segment for Indian roads.” Going by his statement, it’s likely that the bike will be offered with the option of both spoke wheels (likely a 21-inch front and a 17-inch rear, shod with knobbies) for the off-road variant and alloy wheels (possibly 17-inch units on both ends with road-biased tyres) for the touring version.

Chassis & Swingarm

KTM, in 2015, had developed an enduro prototype based on the 390 Duke platform. However, that project was shelved owing to a high saddle height and not-so-great ground clearance. The new frame on the KTM 390 Adventure is specially developed and is reported to be a steel trellis unit but will be quite different from the 390 Duke. That said, the swingarm is expected to be carried over from the Duke range.

Engine

The engine on the KTM 390 Adventure will be carried over from the 390 Duke, albeit, with a different state of tune. The 373.2 cc mill on the 390 Duke is capable of producing 43.5 bhp of power and 37 Nm of peak torque, mated to a 6-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch. KTM likely would redo the engine maps to provide better low-end and mid-range torque curve or just opt for a bigger rear sprocket. The gear ratios might also be altered to suit the off-road/touring capabilities of the bike.

Suspension

Being an adventure tourer, the upcoming KTM 390 Adventure is likely to come equipped with long travel suspension at the front and rear. Reportedly, the front forks will have a spindle offset on the front forks, which means that the axle position will be slightly ahead of the forks. This should help in negating the trail created by the larger front wheel. The rear mono-shock will reportedly get preload adjustment.

Wheels

According to spy shots that have surfaced online, the KTM 390 Adventure will reportedly receive a 19/17-inch front and rear setup with wire-spoke wheels. The bike will get moderately knobby/dual-purpose tires; however, these are likely to be tube tires.

Features & Electronics

The KTM 390 Duke has already set benchmarks for providing best-in-segment features and electronics. The 390 Adventure is also expected to get the same tech as that of the 390 Duke. Expect it with a digital LCD instrument cluster with Smartphone connectivity, switchable ABS with supermoto mode, full-LED headlamps, and a ride-by-wire system. That said, we will be surprised if KTM provides it with traction control.

Variants

Since we’ve gotten so far and so patiently, some speculation is well-deserved, right? First, the milder one. I’m of the opinion that KTM will offer the 390 Adventure in two variants – one for the highway-only types (with fewer utilitarian bits), and the other for the more adventurous lot (with all the bells and whistles). The latter could be priced higher, and be kitted out with a substantial luggage rack we’ve seen in some of the spy images and also more expensive Excel rims (seen on all the spy images, though these could be for the Euro-spec versions only or be made available as optional extras). The 390 Adventure is certain to give KTM’s cherished baby – the PowerParts division – a big boost. It’s going to be an add-ons fest. Considering the propensity of the target audience to add more touring friendly features on their bikes, we expect KTM to provide a range of official accessories, either at the time of launch or at a later stage. This could include parts like panniers, saddle stays, headlight guard, auxiliary lamps, crash guards, sturdier bash plate, centre stand and radiator guard. we can expect the bike to be priced at a premium of Rs 60,000-Rs 70,000 over the390 Duke, which retails for Rs 2.4 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). With such value for money, the bike will surely garner the attention of a lot of riding enthusiasts. The Indian two-wheeler segment just got a whole lot more interesting !!!


source:- wiki, google, autocars, rushlane..etc.