Sometimes riders just want the most cost-effective way to get about, with a motorcycle that can do justice to both paved and unformed paths. This is the domain of the KTM 390 Adventure, updated for 2023 with new style, wheels and colours.
The dual purpose machine is designed to handle the daily commute and occasional off-road blasting, along with extended weekend rides when need be. Moreover, it has the safety items you’d want and expect as standard.
For 2023 the 390 Adventure takes on a fresh look with more off-road credibility thanks to new black anodized lightweight aluminum rims and spoked wheels (19” front and 17” rear). Tyres are Continental TKC70s.
Its compact 373cc single-cylinder engine uses twin overhead camshafts, four valves, a balancer shaft and electronic fuel injection, creating 33kW at 9000rpm, and 37Nm of torque at 7000rpm. With twin cats it also meets Euro5 emission standards. A 14.5L fuel tank ensures plenty of riding range.
Special features include ride-by-wire throttle, TC, cornering ABS, a dedicated off-road mode (allows more rear wheel slip) and linked off-road ABS (disengaged on the rear, reduced on the front). There’s also a slipper clutch and five-inch colour TFT screen.
Other items include a steel trellis frame and subframe, and fully adjustable WP Apex suspension that’s optimised for both road and dirt duties. There’s also a two-tier seat, LED lights, a two-position windshield, and a 320mm front disc with four-piston radial-mount caliper.
The bike weighs in at 172kg ready to race/ride, while its 830mm seat height makes it practical for a range of different rider heights.
New paint and graphics round out the updates for the 390 Adventure.
The spoked wheel edition will be on sale in May this year, while a version with cast wheels will continue to be available. The smallest KTM ADV will come with orange and black or blue and orange paint schemes.
