Recently, we reported about KTM testing its updated Duke 390 in Germany and how fun this single-cylinder pocket-rocket orange beast is to ride. Well, apparently we’ve got another similar bike that the Austrian company has been testing lately. And this time things have taken an ‘adventurous’ turn.
Our colleagues at Zigwheels have shared a few spy shots of a test mule of the new KTM 390 Adventure. The mule was spotted in Europe and looked pretty much up and ready to hit the production line as there was no camouflage whatsoever.
What’s the 390 Adventure all about?
The existence of the 390 Adventure roots to the original Duke 390 which is a naked streetfighter that is fun to ride in the city, could be taken on highways for traveling long distances, and it even holds up pretty well on race tracks and off-roads. Although it could do all these tasks, it’s like the “Jack of all trades, master of none”. Well, almost.
So to keep things interesting for the adventure lovers, KTM decided to build a separate bike dedicate for the same and hence the 390 Adventure.
Okay, it might not sound too exciting for markets like the Middle East where there are a plethora of big adventure bikes available that are much capable to take you almost anywhere in the world. But that’s the whole point. These bikes are big and difficult to handle, especially for beginners. This is where the small-displacement, single-cylinder KTMs excel. The 390 Adventure would prove to be good, if not perfect, companion for someone who’s into adventure riding and doesn’t want to go overboard.
Technical specs of the 390 Adventure
Being an offspring to the Duke 390, the 390 Adventure shares a lot of parts from its parent like the brakes, frame, dash, suspension, etc.. But there are new ones too that make this bike adventure-friendly. We’ve got a more comfortable seat, a windshield, knobbier tires, protective elements like bash plate, radiator guard, engine guard, etc., and a set of KTM-branded soft panniers along with a similarly designed top box. Of course, most of these will be available as accessories.
As far as the engine is concerned, it’s likely to be the same unit that we’d see in the updated Duke 390 – a 372cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled unit. However, KTM would play around with the power and torque delivery to make them suit the character of the bike.
Availability
The spy shots of the test mule tell us that the bike is very much ready. This makes us quite optimistic about seeing it at this year’s EICMA show in Milan. It’s likely that this one too will be manufactured in India for the Indian population and the rest of the world. So, we wouldn’t be surprised if KTM launches it first in India.
