The KTM 390 Adventure name now belongs to the downsized platform bike, which also serves as the most affordable entry point into KTM’s 390 Adventure lineup. The smaller 349cc engine produces 41.5hp and 33.5Nm – down from the 46hp and 39Nm figures of the older 399cc motor – but retains the same styling, features, and alloy wheel setup as the Adventure X. If you’re considering the new 390 Adventure, here are a few reasons it makes a compelling case, along with a couple of factors that might make you look elsewhere.
Reasons to buy the KTM 390 Adventure
Excellent value for money
The biggest draw of the 350cc 390 Adventure is its price. At Rs 2.81 lakh (ex-showroom), it is around Rs 62,000 more affordable than the Adventure X – which itself recently saw a price hike to Rs 3.43 lakh following new GST regulations. That's a significant difference, and it makes the 390 Adventure accessible to a much wider set of buyers. Despite the lower price, you're not getting a stripped-down product – the full feature set, including the TFT display, traction control, cruise control and quickshifter, has been retained.
Calmer, easier character for touring
During our time with the bike, the power delivery felt smoother and more linear than the 399cc motor. The aggressive rush of the larger engine has been replaced by a calmer, more progressive pull that builds from around 8,000rpm. For the kind of long-distance touring the 390 Adventure is designed for, this actually suits the bike well – it's less demanding to ride over extended distances and sits comfortably at 100kph at around 6,000rpm in sixth gear. Fuel efficiency is also in line with what you'd expect from a smaller motor, with around 23kpl in the city and 29kpl on the highway in our tests.
Full feature set and unchanged styling
The 350cc 390 Adventure looks identical to its more expensive siblings and uses the same 19/17-inch alloy wheel setup as the Adventure X. The complete electronics package – TFT display, traction control, quickshifter and cruise control – carries over unchanged, which is genuinely impressive at this price point. It's one of the most well-equipped adventure motorcycles you can buy under Rs 3 lakh.
Reasons to skip the KTM 390 Adventure
Noticeably slower than the 399cc version
The performance drop compared to the outgoing 399cc motor is real and measurable. In our tests, the 350cc Adventure completed the 0-100kph sprint in 6.82 seconds – around a second slower than the 390 Adventure S we tested previously. The roll-on figures tell a more telling story for everyday riding: in third gear from 30-70kph, the 350cc motor takes 4.08 seconds versus 3.34 seconds for the 399cc version. For touring riders this may not be a dealbreaker, but anyone who enjoys spirited riding or needs strong mid-range punch for overtakes will notice the deficit, and has to rev the engine harder to compensate.
Vibrations remain a persistent issue
Refinement was already a weak point on the 399cc 390 Adventure, and the smaller engine hasn't fixed it. During our tests, vibrations crept in from as low as 2,500-3,000rpm through the handlebars, footpegs and tank – and became increasingly prominent higher up in the rev range. On longer highway stints, this is something riders will have to contend with. We also noticed that once the engine reached operating temperature, it tended to stall at low revs in first gear, which could prove irritating in city traffic.
Ved Janve
