KTM 250 Adventure vs 390 Adventure: Differences Explained

How different is KTM’s baby ADV from the full-fat 390?

After the years of waiting, we were a bit disappointed when the KTM 390 Adventure finally rolled out -- and a big contributor to the disappointment was the slightly steep Rs 2.99 lakh price tag. If you want a more affordable single-cylinder KTM adventure tourer, the Austrian brand has now rolled out the 250 Adventure, at a more digestible Rs 2.48 lakh price tag. Obviously, the engine has a smaller displacement, but are there any other areas in which KTM has cut corners to drive down costs? We find out by comparing the two bikes:

Engine

The most logical change is to the engine, with the 250 Adventure using the 248.8cc single-cylinder motor from the 250 Duke, meaning output figures of 30PS and 24Nm. The 390 Adventure, meanwhile, gets the beloved, manic 373.2cc powerhouse from the 390 Duke, churning out a healthy 44PS and 35Nm. Not only are the 250’s output figures lower (obviously), but we’ve also found the 250 motor to feature very relaxed and laid-back power delivery, which might not necessarily gel well with the adventure format, which thrives on immediate grunt at low rpms.

Features

On the features front, the 390 Adventure’s highlights include an LED headlight, Bluetooth-enabled TFT display and traction control system, none of which are present on the 250. Instead, it has to make do with a halogen headlight and LCD digital instrumentation with no Bluetooth connectivity. While these are definitely small disadvantages, the absence of traction control on the 250 might just be an advantage, because we found the system to be quite intrusive and troublesome on the 390, especially in off-road scenarios.

Underpinnings

The price might be more accessible, but the bike itself isn’t all that much more manageable than its older sibling. Both Adventures are held together by the same trellis frame and suspended on the same WP components, with the only difference being a 2kg difference in dry weight thanks to the 250’s lighter engine. Unfortunately, the 855mm seat height remains exactly the same, and for the moment, the 250 Adventure will also roll on a 19-inch/17-inch alloy wheel combo wrapped in MRF MoGrip Meteor rubber.