KTM 390 Adventure Spied Testing On Indian Roads

From the looks of it, KTM could offer two variants of the 390 Adventure

• The KTM 390 Adventure has been spotted testing in India.
• Unlike the test mules spotted abroad, this one features alloys wheels hinting at a road-biased version.
• We could expect a more off-road focused variant as well.
• The bike is expected to be priced just under Rs 3 lakh (ex-showroom).

The KTM 390 Adventure, one of the most anticipated bikes of 2018 has finally been spotted testing in India. We’ve already seen a bunch of spy pictures of the bike testing overseas, but never a clear shot revealing the bike’s details. And while the bike remains largely unchanged compared to the one seen abroad, there are subtle differences. This could mean that the Austrian bikemaker is likely to offer two variants - a standard and a more off-road focused variant.

Currently, the bike spotted testing in India seems to be the road going version as it gets alloy wheels rather than spokes, has a lower seat height and more comfort-oriented ergonomics. Its exhaust end can is a larger unit compared to its naked sibling, which suggests that the bike could comply with BSVI emission norms. On the other hand, the test mule spotted abroad featured spoked rims and knobby tyres hinting at the fact that it could have better off-roading capabilities. 

While the 390 Adventure borrows its engine and trellis frame from the 390 Duke, its subframe seems to be altered to some extent to accommodate for the slightly larger seat. In terms of suspension duties, the bike employs USD forks and a rear monoshock. And, from the looks of it, the former now gets some sort of adjustment which can be confirmed thanks to the red knobs on top of the fork legs. Moreover, the mounting point for the forks has been moved slightly forward to make room for the larger front wheel. This also reduces steering effort without hampering stability. Also, compared to the 390 Duke, the tourer gets a wider handlebar along with a different triple clamp and handlebar mounts.  

In terms of design, the folks at Kiska have toned down the 790 Adventure’s overall design language to fit the smaller package. It features an LED headlamp, flanked by small wind deflectors. Pan to the midsection and you’d immediately notice bigger tank extensions similar to the 790 Adventure. However, its fuel tank itself seems to be smaller than previously anticipated. In essence, long-distance touring on the 390 Adventure could be a bit problematic. The rear section is a fairly simple design with large panels and small LED tail light. Furthermore, the bike gets an elongated rear grab rails which could be offered as an optional extra.

Other components come in the form of an engine guard, a belly pan and bear-claw footpegs with rubber inserts. These inserts could be removable to provide better grip while off-roading. The instrument console on the 390 Adventure looks like the same TFT unit from the 390 Duke which reads out a host of information.

Powering the ADV is a 373.3cc, single-cylinder, DOHC liquid-cooled engine. Though it's supposed to deliver the same power output of 43.5PS 37Nm, we could expect it to use a different power map which is better suited for off-roading. The motor comes paired with a 6-speed transmission.

While there’s no official word from the manufacturer, we could expect to see the KTM 390 Adventure in India in the second half of next year. And considering the price sensitive market that India is, the ADV is expected to be priced just under Rs 3 lakh (ex-showroom). Once launched, it’ll compete with the BMW G 310 GS and the Kawasaki Versys X-300.