KTM ups the off-road ante with its 2023 390 Adventure model with revised looks, a spoked wheel option and all for three grand less than an EXC.

“Sheer useability” decent power and handling, not to mention the cracking price tag have all made the 390 Adventure one of KTM’s most accessible bikes. Popular with city commuters, newbies (capacity restricted license holders) and those who just don’t need a big bike, it’s also worthy of that adventure bike tag, albeit at one end of the spectrum.

As long as your gut isn’t telling you 180BHP from a Super Adventure is imperative, the 390 has plenty going for it.

For 2023, KTM have added a bit more of what the baby Adv model needed – basically a bit more clout in the dirt so you can take it out on the trails with stronger steel spoked rims the headline act here.

2023 KTM 390 Adventure highlights:

• New tougher spoked wheels for improved offroad potential
• 19inch front, 17inch rear sizes fitted with Continental TKC70 tyres
• New 2023 colours and graphics
• 373cc, twin OHC, 4V, fuel injected, four-stroke single cylinder engine
• 44hp at 9000 rpm & 37Nm of torque at 7000 rpm
• Euro5 ready
• Six-speed, chain drive
• Steel trellis main chassis with adjustable WP APEX 43mm forks and shock
• Bosch electronics with traction control, and cornering ABS systems
• 379 lbs (172kg) fully fuelled,
• 3.8-gal (14.5-litre) tank
• 830mm seat height at lowest setting
• Two different spoked and cast wheeled versions available and black/orange or blue/orange colour schemes

KTM call it one of the most versatile bikes in the KTM range, blending the ‘everyday’, serviceable and dependable package for the commute or first bike with something which is now actually more off-road capable than you might expect.

There’s no shortage of Adventure riders who won’t take their Adv bike anywhere near the dirt for fear of its weight/girth/power/scratching it. This is an antidote to that with paired down proportions and a price tag and parts which pitch it closer to a trail or dare we say enduro bike (for comparison, if you only want a bike for trail riding, this bike is three grand less than a 350 EXC-F).

Sure, it’s not designed to do what an EXC can do not least because of ground clearance but for docile trail riding, long weekends camping in the hills, getting away from it all and then buzzing to work on Monday morning? The 390 has that in the bag. 

Spokes = stronger wheels

Enduro21 knows only too well the stock cast rims are fine on the street but can easily get bent on rocks when you take a bike like this of-road. That’s why KTM has introduced a spoked wheel option to beef up that trail potential.

19inch front, 17inch rear rim sizes will give you plenty of options when you wear out the original equipment Continental TKC 70 tyres with more knobbly possibilities out there if you wanted more bite in the dirt and more cred on the street.

There are plenty of options for spicing up the 390 Adventure in the KTM Power Parts catalogue or elsewhere too if you wanted, for example, to cut the weight of the exhaust system considerably and improve handling.

Reliable, single cylinder power unit

The 390 boasts the reliable and compact four-stroke 373cc single cylinder engine which uses twin overhead camshafts, four valves, a balancer shaft to reduce the vibes and electronic fuel-injection for smooth and uninterrupted power.

44hp and 37Nm of torque at 7000rpm won’t blow anyone’s socks off but not everyone wants their socks blowing off an that’s clearly part of the appeal (and point of) the 390 Adventure.

Two catalytic converters ensure the system breathes within Euro5 emission targets, while the 14.5-litre fuel tank vapour design has KTM boasting further eco-friendly points scoring.

Looking good covered in dirt

KTM also say the bodywork has been “angled to protect zones of the bike” as much as help rider in both standing and seated riding positions. We gotta say it does look good covered in dirt in these images and though it is marketing hype, it does shed a brighter light on this bike.

There’s a two-tier seat (that is removable to reveal storage space or can be swapped out for other seats in KTM Power Parts range). Add a taller windshield with two positions and wider footpegs and the adventure capabilities start to take shape.

Electronics from the bigger models

The 390 Adventure naturally has smaller dimensions and specs compared to some of its larger siblings but it carries many of their spec: ride-by-wire throttle, Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC), Cornering ABS, OFFROAD mode (more rear wheel slip) and linked OFFROAD ABS (disengaged on the rear, reduced on the front) are feathered by the 46mm throttle body and the slipper clutch while being administered through the 5” colour TFT and intuitive handlebar switch.

Price and availability dependent on your country. For more information visit: www.ktm.com