KTM expanded on the popularity of its 790 Adventure model with the new 2022 KTM 390 Adventure Motorcycle model, which will be available in 2020. Much of the design DNA of the 390 Adventure comes from its larger-displacement brothers. It’s designed with an off-road inclination, but it also promises decent road manners. A torquey thumper combines power with minimal safety necessities and rides comfort to create a necessary riding experience.
2022 KTM 390 Adventure Motorcycle – Features and Specs
Performance and Capability
Because the 2022 KTM 390 Adventure Motorcycle is a small-displacement KTM, it comes standard with a thumper for power distribution. It boasts a 373.2 cc displacement and 12.6-to-1 compression ratio thanks to an 89 mm bore and 60 mm stroke, as well as twin overhead cams to time the four-valve head and reduce the reciprocating mass to a minimum.
Throttle control is entirely electronic. It allows the Engine Management Unit to automatically resolve the discrepancy between what the rider wants and what the engine can offer for smooth transitions throughout the range.
KTM used the electronics package from the 790 Adventure to provide the most miniature Adventure corner-sensitive traction control like its bigger brother. The piston has a diamond-like carbon covering to reduce wear, and an oil jet strikes the bottom side of the crown to take heat away from the hottest regions.
Power figures for the KTM 390 Adventure are identical to those of the 390 Duke, with 43 horsepower and 27.3 pound-feet of torque. Power delivery is also comparable. That power is routed via an anti-hopping clutch, which allows for a specific amount of slip to bleed out excess back-torque, preventing you from losing traction or over-revving the engine during heavy downshifts and engine braking.
You can maintain the mill in its power band using a six-speed gearbox. It has a chain final drive and overall gearing that produces a 390 Adventure peak speed of 93 mph in top gear.
Design
To create the 390 Adventure model, the manufacturer used a 390 Duke as a starting point and drew cues from the 450 Rally bike. Because inverted front forks need protection down low, the manufacturer added tall uprights to the swept region of the inner fork tubes.
The uprights also support the close-fit front fender, making the Adventure seem more like a sport bike than a dirt bike. That design thread continues through the basic headlamp housing, which houses the front turn signals and is topped off with a short, transparent, rally-style, movable windshield.
Short-rise handlebars put your hands in a natural, comfortable posture. For rugged terrain and complicated labor, the rest of the rider’s triangle is designed so that you may sit with an upright back or control the bike from a standing posture.
The contours of the headlamp housing echo those of the angular dangles that sweep forward to produce a cowling reminiscent of KTM. It, more than anything else, visibly connects the gasoline tank to the front end. The radiator’s side galleries hide the profile of the actual heat exchange, making it as inconspicuous as feasible. It simply kind’ of disappears into the black hole behind the identically blacked-out forks and fender.
In a departure from what has been usual for adventurous models, the 3.8-gallon gasoline tank is kept low to the ground. The seat extends forward over the tank, allowing for some fore-and-aft weight adjustments while also shielding the tank finish from rubbing on your britches.
A modest shoulder separation separates pilot and pillion, with just enough offset to keep your butt in position. Other touch points for your riding companion include large J.C. handles and fold-up foot pegs.
The grips and flattish pillion cushion create an ideal area for some open-air storage, but the upholstery, like with other KTM items, is “stiff.” If you’ve been taking the no-ass-at-all tablets like me, the stock seat will tax your buttocks and make you feel like this is less of a tourer.
LED taillights and turn signals guarantee that you are visible to oncoming traffic regardless of how brilliant the ambient lighting conditions are. The full instrumentation is centered on the adjustable, five-inch color TFT display at the handlebar. The Adventure has an infotainment feature that allows the system to network with your smartphone for phone and music features.
Chassis
The 450 Rally’s influence can be seen again in the design of the 390 Adventure’s steel Trellis frame, which keeps real weight low by utilizing the engine as a stressed unit to complete the construction. The steering head, clearly designed for off-road use, creates a rake angle of 26.5 degrees across a 56.3-inch wheelbase, firmly placing the Adventure in the nimble category.
To complete the fixed construction, a steel Trellis subframe is finished with a cast swing arm. The cast wheels are a deviation from the standard for an off-road motorcycle since steel-laced, steel, or aluminum rims are often used for such activities.
WP Apex suspension components provide a completely adjustable ride in the 43 mm inverted front forks and the coil-over monoshock that supports and tames the swing arm. A four-pot caliper bites a single, 320 mm front disc and a twin-piston anchor bites a 230 mm rear disc to provide stopping power.
A two-channel Bosch ABS function includes street mode, off-road mode, and “Off,” so you may dial in your chosen intervention levels, as well as an IMU for lean-sensitive intervention. The standard hoops have vast street flats, but the tread pattern indicates that they are designed for grip in soft conditions.
2022 KTM 390 Adventure Motorcycle – Price
The new 2022 KTM 390 Adventure is priced at $6,599.
Two paint packages are available, each with variable quantities of black, orange, and white components and artwork.
BMW G 310 GS vs. KTM 390 Adventure
I merely need to go to the nearby Bayerische Motoren Werke to find a possible topic in the G 310 GS. With spikey features at the cheeks, loads of visible frame construction, and that unmistakable adventure-bike fly line, Beemer harnesses much of the same spirit in the overall build.
One significant difference between the KTM 390 Adventure and the BMW G 310 GS is that the KTM is equally at home on and off-road, while the BMW is designed for the urban jungle.
The 313 cc BMW thumper produces 34 horsepower and 20 pound-feet of torque vs. 43/27.3, giving the Austrian ride a significant performance edge. The Motorrad ABS on the G 310 GS provides proper anti-lock safety, but this is the closest it comes to higher electronics, so it’s a rather rough ride.
That is not to imply that it is necessarily a negative thing. It explains the pricing disparity, with the G 310 GS starting at $5,695 MSRP.
KTM 390 Adventure vs. Suzuki Versys-X 300
Another rival comes from Japan, notably Kawasaki, with the Versys-X 300. With a short bill, rally-style windscreen, steep fuel-tank hump, and deep-scoop pilot’s seat, the Versys packs lots of ADV-bike yummy goodness.
It also qualifies as a street-oriented commuter, despite the laced wheels that deviate from the norm. Suspension is substantial for the street but barely enough off-road, measuring 5.1 inches in front and 5.8 inches in back.
At 296 cc, displacement drops to 296 ccs, while torque drops to 19.2 pound-feet. It leaves the Kawi with a $6,099 sticker price and a razor-thin edge at the cash register.
2022 KTM 390 Adventure Motorcycle – Technical Specifications
Engine
Transmission | 6-speed |
Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
Power in KW | 32 kW |
Starter | Electric starter |
Stroke | 60 mm |
Bore | 89 mm |
Clutch | PASC™ anti-hopping clutch, mechanically operated |
Displacement | 373 cm³ |
EMS | Bosch EMS with RBW |
Design | 1-cylinder, 4-stroke engine |
Chassis
ABS | Bosch 9.1MP Two Channel-ABS (incl. Cornering-ABS and offroad mode) |
Rear Brake Disc Diameter | 230 mm |
Chain | 520 X-Ring |
Frame Design | Steel trellis frame, powder coated |
Front Suspension | WP APEX 43 |
Rear Suspension | WP APEX – Monoshock |
Steering Head Angle | 63.5 ° |