2025 KTM 390 Adventure R Review

We tested two street-legal, off-road-ready motorcycles on the trails and roads in and around Mammoth Lakes, California, in the eastern Sierra Nevada: the new KTM 390 Enduro R and the updated KTM 390 Adventure R. They share the same engine, chassis, and much else, as you’ll see in our 390 Enduro R review and in this 390 Adventure R review.

The 390 Enduro R and 390 Adventure R (there’s also a street-focused X version) join several other models in KTM’s lineup that are powered by a liquid-cooled 399cc LC4c Single that makes 45 hp and 28.8 lb-ft of torque: the 390 Duke naked bike, the RC 390 sportbike, and the new 390 SMC R supermoto. All are manufactured in India in collaboration with Bajaj.

When the KTM 390 Adventure was introduced in 2020, it was a compact, accessible, and affordable entry in the burgeoning ADV market, competing with bikes like the BMW G 310 GS and Kawasaki Versys-X 300. Equipped with cast-aluminum wheels in 19-inch front/17-inch rear sizes and middling ground clearance and suspension travel, its off-road capabilities were somewhat limited.

For 2025, KTM now offers two versions: the 390 Adventure X, which retains the 19-/17-inch cast wheel set, has 7.8 inches of suspension travel at both ends (more than the previous 390 Adventure), and is priced at $5,899; and the 390 Adventure R that we tested, which has 21-inch front/18-inch rear spoked wheels, has 9 inches of front/rear suspension travel, and is priced at $6,999. For its premium price over the X, the R also includes more suspension adjustability, a Rain ride mode in addition to Street and Offroad, and cornering sensitivity for ABS and traction control.

Mammoth Lakes sits at nearly 8,000 feet above sea level on the eastern side of California’s Sierra Nevada range, and conditions were perfect. We had clear, sunny skies, beautiful views of the jagged granite peaks, and a range of road and trail conditions. Our test route included stops at Mono Lake and Convict Lake and a ride up the winding road to 9,943-foot Tioga Pass at the eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park.

The Adventure’s 399cc single-cylinder DOHC 4-valve engine is lively and easy to manage. A counterbalancer dulls some but not all of the Single’s vibration, which becomes most noticeable when wringing the bike out at high revs. The engine is smooth down low, quick to rev, and surprisingly spirited on longer highway stretches – there’s enough get-up-and-go to hit triple digits (allegedly). Power delivery is just right for dual-sport adventure: fun, predictable, and easy to manage in technical terrain. And our test bikes were equipped with the optional up/down quickshifter, which worked seamlessly in the dirt and on the asphalt.

Just as their engine is shared, the 390 Enduro R and 390 Adventure R have the same tubular-steel trellis main frame and bolt-on diecast aluminum subframe. The Enduro weighs 367 lb with its 2.4-gallon tank full, while the Adventure tips the scales at 388 lb wet a full tank (3.7 gallons). Even though the Adventure weighs more than the Enduro, it felt more fitting in the dirt and more enjoyable to whip around. I never felt like I had too much bike beneath me, even when the trail got loose or technical.

GEAR UP

• Helmet: Alpinestars SM10
• Jacket: Alpinestars Stella ST-1 Waterproof
• Airbag Vest: Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma
• Gloves: Alpinestars Radar MX
• Pants: Alpinestars Ardent 3in1 Adventure Touring
• Boots: Alpinestars Stella RT-7 Touring Drystar

Both bikes run WP Apex suspension with 9 inches of travel at both ends, a 43mm open-cartridge fork with adjustable compression and rebound (via fork-top 30-step clickers) and a separate-piston rear shock with adjustable rebound (20 clicks) and preload (via lock ring using the included spanner). Ground clearance is the same on both bikes (10.7 inches), but the Enduro R has a taller seat height (35 inches) than the Adventure R (34.2 inches).

Our test of the 390 Enduro R was on more technical and demanding terrain, including laps on a motocross track. Overall, the suspension performed well, but the rear shock felt too soft for the biggest hits. On the 390 Adventure R, the suspension handled everything from washboard trails to fast sweepers and deep sand without complaint. It was plush enough to deliver a comfortable ride on- and off-road while also maintaining control at higher speeds or under load.

Similar to KTM’s 450 Rally Replica, the 390 Adventure R has a nearly vertical windscreen and a rally tower that places the 5-inch TFT display up high so it’s easily visible when standing up on the pegs, and above the TFT is a mount for a GPS unit. The KTMconnect Bluetooth system allows you to pair the bike with a smartphone app for turn-by-turn navigation and other functions. Intuitive switchgear on the left grip and a full-color display are used to navigate the various menus and change settings. There are three ride modes – Street, Offroad, and Rain – that adjust throttle response, traction control, and ABS, and the modes can be customized. In Offroad mode, ABS intervention is reduced at the front and deactivated at the rear (front ABS cannot be turned off).

Single-disc Bybre brakes – a 2-piston radial front caliper pinching a 320mm (vs. 285mm on the Enduro) floating disc and a 1-piston rear caliper pinching a 240mm disc – are actuated by hydraulic fluid pushed through steel-braided lines, and the front lever is adjustable for reach. Braking power was strong but not grabby, and I was able to easily modulate pressure on steep descents and technical, low-speed trails.

After a day on the 390 Enduro R, I appreciated the 390 Adventure’s lower seat height (I’m 5-foot-6), as well as the saddle’s wider seat area. Both bikes have an open rider triangle that works well whether seated or standing, and the cleated aluminum footpegs are wide and grippy.

What impressed me most wasn’t just the 390 Adventure R’s capability but how in tune the bike felt with any terrain. This bike wants to play! Whether you’re sliding through sandy turns, lofting the front wheel on gravel roads (it wheelies beautifully), or carving through a twisty canyon, the 390 Adventure R hits high notes of enjoyment.

Despite its off-road prowess, the 390 Adventure R is a true all-rounder. Long-distance comfort? Check. Composed road manners? Absolutely. Dirt-ready? Without a doubt. It’s a bike that gives you permission to take the hard route, explore a little farther, and not worry so much about dropping it in the rocks (and if you do, picking it back up is no problem). Like other models in KTM’s 390 lineup, the 390 Adventure R brings a lot to the table – quality, capability, versatility, and technology – but doesn’t demand a king’s ransom. Now I’m thinking I need to add another KTM to my stable – the 390 Adventure R is the perfect match for me!

Check out more new bikes in Rider’s 2025 Motorcycle Buyers Guide 

2025 KTM 390 Adventure R Specs

• Base Price: $6,999
• Website: KTM.com
• Warranty: 1 yr., unltd. miles
• Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse Single, DOHC w/ 4 valves
• Displacement: 399cc
• Bore x Stroke: 89.0 x 64.0mm
• Horsepower: 45 hp @ 8,500 rpm (factory claim)
• Torque: 28.8 lb-ft @ 7,000 rpm (factory claim)
• Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated wet slip/assist clutch
• Final Drive: Chain
• Wheelbase: 58.1 in.
• Rake/Trail: 27.1 degrees/4.3 inches
• Seat Height: 35.2 in.
• Wet Weight: 388 lb (factory claim)
• Fuel Capacity: 3.7 gal.