I’m a giant fan of small-displacement, performance-oriented bikes, not simply because they’re reasonably priced, but additionally as a result of they decrease the boundaries to entry in relation to taking over the game of motorcycling. For instance, approachable sportbikes just like the Kawasaki Ninja 400 enable novice riders to sharpen their driving expertise each on the road and the observe.

On the journey aspect of the equation, bikes like KTM’s 390 Adventure, not solely function a wonderful first-foray into the ADV scene, but additionally show that large adventures don’t necessitate a giant bike. The KTM 390 Adventure relies on Team Orange’s tried and examined 390 platform that first hit the scene in 2013 within the Duke bare streetfighter configuration. KTM then slapped on some long-travel suspension, burly tires, and an even bigger fuel tank, and launched the 390 Adventure for the 2020 model-year.

Back when it launched, the 390 Adventure set a brand new commonplace within the entry-level ADV market, providing options beforehand discovered on costlier, larger displacement equipment. Even right now, the 390 Adventure remains to be extra technologically superior than its counterparts within the sub-400cc ADV phase. Nevertheless, KTM is displaying no indicators of slowing down in relation to enhancing the tech and efficiency of its bikes, because the 2025 KTM 390 Adventure is properly underway, and is about to carry some fairly large updates to the desk.

A revised 399cc engine

At the guts of any motorbike is undoubtedly its engine, and the upcoming KTM 390 Adventure definitely has fairly the guts. Just like the most recent 390 Duke, the 2025 390 Adventure will likely be rocking the up to date model of Team Orange’s single-cylinder mill, a 399cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine that’s been tuned to pump out 45.3 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 39 Nm (29 pound-feet) of torque at 6,500 rpm.

This brappy single will then be paired to a six-speed gearbox with a quickshifter as commonplace, in addition to an assist-slipper clutch for extra forgiving shifts in various terrain. Other premium options embrace ride-by-wire that gives a number of experience modes, in addition to different digital doodads we’ll get into extra element with a bit later.

A design aligned with KTM’s nex-get bikes

At EICMA 2023, KTM unveiled the brand new 990 Duke, and never lengthy after, the 1390 Super Duke R. Across the board, KTM appears to be adopting a brand new LED headlight design, departing from the insectoid cut up LED headlight, to a fair wilder, extra alien-looking unit. Even the brand new 390 Duke has a wilder headlight design, and this styling cue is anticipated to hold over to the brand new 390 Adventure, as properly. We can see it within the spy pictures of the brand new bike, which has been noticed testing round Europe lately (an article by Cycle World showcased all of the spy pictures of the upcoming bike, so be at liberty to test it out).

Apart from the brand new headlight design, the 2025 KTM 390 Adventure additionally appears to have a extra off-road targeted aesthetic, as evidenced by minimalist bodywork impressed by rally racing machines. This is well seen by the semi-fairing up entrance, which makes the bike appear like it’s able to sort out the following stage of the Dakar Rally. Additionally, the brand new bike appears to be like a lot slimmer than the earlier mannequin, with a important trellis body and compact subframe making up the bike’s underpinnings.

Groundbreaking know-how

Across all of KTM’s fashions, know-how has all the time been its important level of focus. It was the primary to supply a full-color TFT show within the entry-level phase again in 2017 with its 390 Duke, and it was additionally the primary to include cornering ABS, a quickshifter, and traction management within the beginner-friendly market additionally with its 390 sequence. This time round, the 2025 390 Adventure is anticipated to lift the bar even additional.

Apart from the newly designed headlight, the 390 Adventure is anticipated to return with two wheel choices – alloy and spoked – catering to numerous driving types. Furthermore, the bike is anticipated to get an up and down quickshifter, in addition to cornering ABS and traction management. Of course, all of those digital rider aids may be switched off for full management over the bike’s efficiency in off-road situations. Suspension {hardware} will nearly definitely include premium WP parts with a wealth of adjustability.

Pricing and availability

While all these options are thrilling, and the spy pictures appear to recommend that the bike is production-ready, likelihood is we received’t be seeing this new mannequin within the metallic till the tailend of 2024. After all, KTM had lately introduced the 2024-model-year 390 Adventure for the US market, and that bike bears quite a lot of similarities with the outgoing spec. What we do know is that the KTM and Bajaj partnership will proceed to be accountable for producing its small-displacement fashions, and this can greater than seemingly embrace the next-gen 390 Adventure.