ADVENTURE IS NOW!
...is seeking you. The KTM 390 Adventure is finally here after making us wait for what seemed like an eternity. But is this what we were actually looking for?
We have finally gotten onto the saddle of the KTM 390 Adventure. Here is our full review
ALLOYS. LOW SUSPENSION TRAVEL. Tall seat. Touring rubber. After the KTM 390 Adventure was unveiled, I spent quite a lot of time on social media trying to justify why all this wouldn’t matter in the end. The hype is real. The 390 Adventure’s launch is one of the biggest events of this decade for Indian motorcycling. Probably as significant as the Bajaj Pulsar (calm down Abhishek - Ed). And that is why I was a bundle of nerves driving down to 19 Degree North; one of the more demanding off-road adventure parks in the western part of the country. My palms were sweaty, knees were weak and arms were definitely heavier than dhai kilo as we reached (seriously Abhishek, calm down - Ed).
I make it a point to never read reviews or ask the opinion of other journalists before riding/driving something for myself, but curiosity killed the cat. Chatting with the guys who had ridden it before me saw my worst nightmares come true.
“It’s disappointing”.
“Total fail. Does not work on many counts, especially off-road.”
“It’s good but nothing exceptional.”
That’s it. This is going to be a wet dream for the troll army, I thought to myself. But this is what happens when you’re kept hanging on for so long, your
expectations are already sky high. Were my colleagues right? And have I been wrong all along?
I took a quick glance and a ray of hope gleamed over the matte orange paint. I was already impressed when we first saw it at India Bike Week and boy it looked handsome. The 390 Adventure may be down on capacity (compared to the Tiger, Multi, GS and the like) but is a full-fledged ADV and has a charming presence. Secondly, it’s extremely well-finished and feels better built than most KTMs we have seen in the country, including the 790 Duke. You must have memorised the brochure if you’re reading this, but here is a refresher. Like the 390 Duke, it gets a TFT cluster but with navigation as standard to be used with the KTM My Ride app (`599 on the App Store), longtravel suspension (170/177mm – front/rear), double the radiators, bi-directional quickshifter, cornering ABS and traction control, Metzeler Tourance tyres, an extendable windshield (upto 40mm) and full-size serrated pegs. Phew.
What has been carried over is the same liquidcooled, 373.2cc motor in an identical tune, tightly tucked into the trellis that sits under the wide and tall seat (855mm). The riding position is slightly canted forward and the pegs are mid-set. The commanding
THE 390 ADVENTURE FEELS BETTER BUILT THAN MOST OF THE KTMS INCLUDING THE 790 DUKE
seating position is great for riding while seated. But standing? Nope. A disappointment for sure. There are no tank recesses to hold onto and the handlebar is low as well, at least for my physique (almost 6 foot tall). And as we began the ride straight onto the gravel bits, the engine showed its typical Katoom traits. Lack of low-down grunt means the clutch takes a hit and you ought to keep the engine above 4000rpm to keep the bike moving. After which, power slides are child’s play. The traction control was acting up, though, and had a mind of its own, which led to a lot of unnecessary falls (will be sorted with software updates, says KTM) but what really impressed me is the way the chassis tackled level-3 trails which basically meant riding up a dried up waterfall! Nowhere did it bottom out or scrape and nothing broke even after big crashes! Trust me, not many ADVs are so robust. Limited time meant we had to get out of there and onto the roads where this KTM, despite its name, is meant to be.
And boy oh boy! All the preconceived notions after the chat with my colleagues turned out to be unfounded. There’s a reason why 390 Duke owners (and I’m an owner so I know what I am talking about) have been playing around with the bike’s suspension and plonking a windshield. The 390 Adventure gets it all and then some. The motor is stupendous, and the creamy torque delivery makes picking up speed effortless. The top-end is super aggressive as we have already sampled on the Duke but the quickshifter adds to the overall experience, making it enjoyable to ride it at high speeds. The riding position is extremely comfortable and just about perfect for mile munching and, I believe, it will be a joy to go touring on this one.
The ride and handling, as we expect from a KTM, is the icing on the cake. Despite the additional weight and long wheelbase, the agility is surreal! The handling is better than even the Duke, making for a machine that is super enjoyable in corners. I dare say, it feels like a baby Multistrada even, which is our favourite big ADV on tarmac.
Isn’t that what we were looking for, my dear friends? Which other motorcycle in the country offers as much kit and then teaches the world a thing or two about genius packaging? KTM has already demonstrated this with its Duke and RC range. And Adventure is KTM’s true blood; it is what the brand is all about. That’s how they managed 18 Dakar wins. The 390 Adventure may not make that 19 but if you want to try out the toughest commute in the world (read Indian roads), this is your best bet this side of `3 lakh.
IT FEELS LIKE A BABY MULTISTRADA EVEN, WHICH IS OUR FAVOURITE BIG ADV ON TARMAC