Here’s A Lowdown On The KTM 390 Adventure’s Variants

KTM recently launched a top-spec variant of the 390 Adventure with spoke wheels and a rebound and preload-adjustable fork as well as monoshock. This brings the total variant count to four, considering the KTM 390 Adventure already has a low seat height variant (unofficially called 390 Adventure V), an affordable, no-frills X variant, and of course the standard model.

So which variant will suit you the best? We break it down:

390 Adventure (standard variant)

Price - Rs 3,38,746 (ex-showroom Delhi)

All four variants of the 390 Adventure get the same 373cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine making 43.5PS and 37Nm, with a six-speed gearbox, a slipper clutch and switchable ABS. The standard variant also gets switchable traction control, cornering ABS, a quickshifter and a TFT console with bluetooth connectivity for calls and message alerts and music selection. 

Besides, it employs an open-cartridge fork with 170mm travel, and a preload-adjustable monoshock with 173mm travel. Also on offer is a 19-/17-inch alloy wheel setup, and Metzeler Tourance on-/off-road rubber.

390 Adventure X 

Price - Rs 2,80,652 (ex-showroom Delhi)

At a glance, the 390 Adventure X looks almost identical to the standard variant. But look closer, and the differences emerge. For starters, its colourways are different: while the standard model comes in Dark Galvano Black, and Racing Blue, in the X the latter is replaced by Electronic Orange. 

Next, it gets a monochrome LCD console and MRF Mogrip Meteor tyres (both of which are the same as that on the KTM 250 Adventure). Another mechanical difference is the fork, which is a big piston unit (also from the 250 Adventure). That said, it looks the same, and the travel on offer is also an identical 170mm. 

Moving to tech, the 390 Adventure X retains the switchable ABS, but misses out on cornering ABS, quickshifter, traction control and Bluetooth connectivity.

390 Adventure Low Seat Height 

Rs 3,38,746 (ex-showroom Delhi)

The main difference on this variant is the low saddle height (830mm like the KTM 390 Duke) instead of the other variants’ 855mm. KTM has achieved this by changing the internals of both the fork and monoshock. As a result, the ground clearance has also reduced to about 175mm, which is closer to that of the 390 Duke. 

390 Adventure Spoke Wheels 

Rs 3,60,000 (ex-showroom Delhi)

For its Rs 21,254 over the standard model, the top-spec variant gets, first of all, spoke wheels (19-inch front, 17-inch rear, same as the other variants) along with new Continental TKC 70 tubed tyres. Besides, its WP Apex fork gets 30-step preload and rebound adjustability, while its WP Apex monoshock gets a 20-step rebound and 10-step preload adjustability (just like the model sold overseas). That said, the 170mm front and 177mm rear wheel travel, and 200mm ground clearance remain unchanged. Moreover, the spoke wheel variant gets a singular KTM Rally Orange colourway to set it apart from the other variants.

Summing up, the spoke wheels variant are for the serious off-roaders who know what they’re looking for vis-a-vis the adjustable suspension. The standard variant, then, is for those who want the tech as well as the performance but prefer fast commutes, tours and joyrides without too much of the rough stuff.

The same applies for those opting for the low seat height variant, though the benefit of a more approachable seat height comes at a cost of a lower ground clearance. And finally, the X is for those who want all the performance but are on somewhat of a budget, and so don’t mind a few missing features.