2020 KTM 390 Adventure | First Look Review

2020 KTM 390 Adventure
2020 KTM 390 Adventure

The field of lightweight, entry-level adventure bikes will grow by at least one in 2020 with the introduction of KTM’s new 390 Adventure. Ready for touring and light off-roading at a claimed 348 pounds dry with a 33.6-inch seat height, the bike’s high-performance heart is the liquid-cooled, 373cc DOHC single with four valves from the 390 Duke, which has EFI, a balancer shaft, PASC slipper clutch and a Ride-by-Wire throttle for smoother and more refined response. The engine is carried in a steel trellis frame with a bolt-on seat subframe and die-cast, open-lattice swingarm similar to the larger 790 Adventure’s.

Read our First Ride Review of the 2019 KTM 790 Adventure/R here!

2020 KTM 390 Adventure
2020 KTM 390 Adventure

The 390 Adventure’s WP Apex 43mm upside-down fork was originally developed for enduro riding and features 6.7 inches of travel with a spring on both sides; compression and rebound damping are separated into the left and right fork legs respectively. The WP Apex shock has 6.9 inches of travel and adjustable spring preload and rebound damping. Extra robust cast wheels — a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear — are fitted with tubeless Continental TKC 70 tires for a blend of street performance and off-road grip.

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Read our Road Test Review of the KTM 390 Duke here!

2020 KTM 390 Adventure
2020 KTM 390 Adventure

The 390’s Bybre brake package includes a 320mm front brake disc and 4-piston radially mounted front caliper, and a 230mm rear disc with a 2-piston floating rear caliper. An ergonomically designed 3.8-gallon fuel tank gives the 390 Adventure a claimed range of more than 249 miles. Rider aids include Off-Road and Cornering ABS and Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC), and the 390 Adventure comes standard with an adjustable windscreen, LED lighting and KTM My Ride, which allows for a Bluetooth connection to control incoming calls and an audio player through the full-color, 5-inch TFT display with multifunctional dashboard.

An up/down Quickshifter + is optional for the 390 Adventure, along with a number of KTM Power Parts accessories. The 2020 KTM 390 Adventure is priced at $6,199; it will arrive at KTM dealers in March or April 2020.

Check out Rider’s 2020 Guide to New Street Motorcycles

8 COMMENTS

  1. I’ve been waiting for this bike for 4+ years. The 800GS may end up just sitting, or sold. Dealer/old buddy from the big city text me the other day to tell me it’s coming in case I didn’t know!

  2. Hopefully KTM has fixed the many reliability problems that have plagued the 390 engine. Blown head gaskets,valves that are continually out of adjustment,coolant system problems,computer – electrical gremlins,etc. Looks like a Really Nice,Competent > Small Adventure Bike! Hope it Does Really Well! Thanks,KTM! 😳🤔😁!

  3. I have had 3 ktm/husky 390 motors! They have been bulletproof and I ride extremely hard touching redline most of the time! If this new 390 adventure comes with adjustable suspension nothing will be able to touch it! Now they just need to put the new 490 motor in this bike, that would be all she wrote!

  4. Indian made… That is not a KTM. 20 years of Orange bikes and i hang my head in shame. 19 and 17 inch wheels? What is that some kind of joke? Everyone knows there is only one wheel size for an adventure bike and that is 21 and 18 inch. Also cast wheels, what were KTM thinking!? On an adventure bike?! Again another totally dumb choice. Spokes are the only choice for ADV bikes.

    This bike is absolutely laughable. Bring back the KTM glory days. Bring back Austrian. Long live the 990 Adventure S and R. Long live the built proof RFS motor days and golden era.

  5. I purchased the BMW GS310 as this had not been released. I was concerned about the motor stories I had heard on the Duke. My brother bought the 790 and likes it. He is always though having computer gremlins with it. Even the dealer cant get the updates to download correctly. That pushed me to the GS. I am 59 and been riding since I was 6. Had all kinds of bikes over the years. I wanted something light to rip around the beaches on where I live. After a upgraded exhaust and an air cleaner the motor really woke up. A few small other adjustments and I can honestly say it really has worked out. I take it on a rack off the back of the truck when I go to Key West and use to get around all the islands. I like the KTM heritage. May relook at it.

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