DIRT NEWS
KTM’S MINI ADVENTURER
K
TM’s long-awaited challenger to the
lite-adventure class has finally arrived,
with the new 390 Adventure set to bring
cutting edge technologies to the segment for
the first time.
Priced at just shy of $10k at $9799, the arrival
of the 390 Adventure comes some three years
after the first of the new wave of lite-adventure
class machines landed here. But KTM doesn’t
appear to have sat on its hands in that time,
with the bike presented to Kiwis packing in the
value whilst also outperforming the rest of the
class with ease.
Based around the proven 373cc single-cylinder
powerplant of the 390 Duke and RC390, the 390
Adventure is KTM’s high-spec answer to the
relatively low-spec class where innovation has
been sorely lacking until now.
16 KIWI RIDER
KTM claims peak power is a class-leading 44hp
at 9000rpm and 37Nm at 7000rpm from the
single-cylinder lump, with the 390 Adventure
the only bike in the class to offer high-end
electronic aids such as cornering ABS and
traction control.
The other role the 390 Adventure has,
unsurprisingly, is to offer an entry point into
the KTM Adventure family which until now had
no low-cost and LAMS approved option. While
some will argue the EXC enduro range filled this
role, they lack many of the amenities we expect
from an adventure class machine including
comfort and long service intervals.
Included in the spec sheet is a full-colour TFT
dash unit, switchable ABS braking, traction
control, fly by wire throttle and rider modes,
with optional extras including a quick-shifter.