KTM Duke 390-based Adventure motorcycle: Production version surfaces ahead of launch

Over the past many months, Austrian sportsbike maker KTM has been testing a small capacity ADV motorcycle based on the Duke 390 platform. The motorcycle is getting primed up for launch later this year, and the latest test mules of the KTM Adventure 390 look like production versions. The bike will principally be built in India – a hub for small capacity KTM motorcycles with engine capacities under 400cc. The Duke 390 based adventure motorcycle is likely to go on sale in India from early next year. A date close to the 2020 Auto Expo in February will be when it’s expected to be launched. It’ll be pricier than the street-naked Duke 390, but is likely to sit under the Rs. 3 lakh price mark.

Spyshots courtesy MotorcycleNews

At this price point, it’ll be more than Rs. 50,000 cheaper than the BMW G 310 GS adv bike that’s on sale in India, and more than a lakh cheaper than the Kawasaki Versys 300, which is also on sale here. The KTM Duke 390-based adventure motorcycle will borrow the frame and most mechanicals from the former but will get totally revised suspension, styling, ergonomics and luggage mounting options. The ADV bike is expected to be powered by the same 373cc, four stroke single cylinder liquid cooled engine that does duty on the Duke 390. On the Duke 390, this motor makes 44 Bhp-37 Nm. Similar outputs are likely on the ADV bike but with a flatter torque curve and gearing to exploit the low end and mid ranges of performance rather than the outright top-end.

A six speed manual gearbox with slipper clutch and revised gear ratios is also likely for the motorcycle. Suspension at the front will be a upside down unit while shock absorption at the rear will be handled by a gas charged monoshock. What remains to be seen is whether KTM offers any degree of adjustability with this suspension apart from the regulation, pre-load adjustment option on the monoshock. KTM may reserve such goodies for the R variant, which is likely to follow the KTM 390 ADV, at a much higher price tag. Body work on the near-production test mules of the KTM ADV 390 is similar to the KTM 790 Adventure. The motorcycle will also get a range of luggage options including panniers – both hard and soft options.

The exhaust on the ADV 390 is upswept, and the motorcycle is expected to have at least 180 mm of ground clearance for tackling a variety of offroad conditions. The tune on the suspension of the motorcycle is likely to be soft enough to handle the rough bits while also offering quite a bit of more travel when compared to its street-focused sibling. Disc brakes on both wheels and switchable dual channel ABS will handle braking functions.

Ride modes, a TFT instrument cluster with Navigation function and knuckle guards are other goodies expected on the new, small capacity ADV bike. The KTM Adventure 390 will ride on a 19 inch front alloy wheel and an 18 inch rear alloy wheel, with tubeless tyres standard. The higher-spec R version could have a 21 inch spoked front wheel and a 17 inch spoked rear wheel.