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Small-capacity motorcycles are having a moment in 2025.
Doubters need look no further than KTM’s 390 lineup for proof. First, the 390 SMC R crashed the supermoto party with its $5,499 price tag. Now, three new entries — the 390 Enduro R, 390 Adventure X, and 390 Adventure R — court those with an appetite for dirt and a case of wanderlust. It’s easy to see the overlap between the three new models, but key differences make them suited for vastly different aims.
Shared lineage
Before we dive into their differences, it’s worth identifying their common building blocks. All three 390s receive the same updated 399 cc single that debuted in the 390 Duke. That means each model produces 44.3 ponies (at 8,500 rpm) and 28.8 foot-pounds of torque (at 7,000 rpm). KTM then bolts that thumper to a two-piece trellis frame.
The design is derived from the 390 Duke’s frame, but KTM altered the steering head angle, triple clamps, subframe mounts, and rigidity profile to suit each bike’s purposes. The Enduro R and Adventure range also share the same die-cast aluminum swingarm, which yields a longer wheelbase (compared to the Duke). From there, the 390s take slightly different routes, but end up at very different destinations.
(Ad)Venture Out
As the least dirt-curious model of the bunch, the 390 Adventure X is the direct heir to the outgoing 390 Adventure. That’s made abundantly clear by the pavement-biased tires spooned onto the model’s 19-inch front and 17-inch cast wheels. The suspension is but another marker. The 43 mm WP Apex fork is non-adjustable while its WP Apex shock offers preload adjustability. Both lift the Adventure X to 7.8 inches of travel fore and aft. That’s more travel than its predecessor (at both ends), but it’s nowhere near the 390 Adventure R’s.
With nine inches of travel all around, the R-spec model lets its off-road ambitions be known. Its WP Apex front end benefits from 30 clicks of compression and rebound adjustability. The WP shock isn’t far behind, with 20 clicks of rebound adjustability and several preload settings. A 21-inch front wheel, an 18-inch rear wheel, and Mitas Enduro Trail E07+ tires only solidify the Adventure R’s off-road pedigree. It shares many of those components with its dual-sport relative.
The 390 Enduro R boasts the same suspension as the Adventure R. That includes its nine inches of travel and range of adjustability. KTM even designed a different airbox for the two models, which allows the engine to sit higher in the frame for added ground clearance. That’s where the similarities end, though.
A 3.7-gallon gas tank encourages the Adventure R to hit the open road and a rally tower provides extra comfort on those journeys. On the other hand, the Enduro R’s Metzeler Karoo 4 tires and dedicated ABS button are more trail-friendly. It’s also worth noting that the Enduro only receives the essential rider aids and a downsized 4.2-inch TFT display.
The difference in equipment equates to a difference of 37.5 pounds, with the 390 Enduro R weighing a claimed 350.5 pounds and the 390 Adventure R tipping KTM's scales at 388 pounds. That alone defines the two platforms and their intended pursuits. Still, all three models will be working on one common goal: putting more behinds in KTM saddles.
Risky investment?
At the time of writing this, most KTM news isn’t good news. The Austrian marque continues to navigate insolvency procedures, with much attention paid to its outstanding debts and potential financiers. A flood of new model announcements do their best to balance public perception, but the question still looms: Is a new KTM worth buying?
That’s a much easier question to answer for the 390 Enduro R. With the CRF300L, KLX300, and DR-Z4S/DR-Z400S as its closest competition, the KTM holds clear advantages. Its performance far exceeds the Honda and Kawi. Its $5,499 MSRP severely undercuts the Suzuki’s. Despite the 390 Enduro R’s favorable position in the segment, current KTM events could still influence purchasing habits.
That mental barrier to purchase also exists for the 390 Adventure X and 390 Adventure R, but unlike the Enduro R, they have to contend with formidable competition. After all, the small-bore adventure category is becoming increasingly crowded. The Royal Enfield Himalayan and CFMOTO Ibex 450 already staked their claim in the field and BMW intends to do the same with its upcoming F 450 GS. That’s why the X and R are coming out swinging, starting at $5,899 and $6,999, respectively.
I’ll be the first to say that KTM’s new 390 models are the step in the right direction. But, there’s a vast gulf between thinking something is cool and thinking it’s worth purchasing. Now more than ever, that gulf seems bigger for KTM customers.
| 2025 KTM 390 Enduro R | 2025KTM 390 Adventure X | 2025 KTM 390 Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $5,499 | $5,899 | $6,999 |
| Engine | 399 cc, liquid-cooled, four-valve, single | ||
|
Transmission, final drive |
Six-speed, chain | ||
| Claimed horsepower | 44.3 @ 8,500 rpm | ||
| Claimed torque | 28.8 foot-pounds @ 7,000 rpm | ||
| Frame | Steel tubular | ||
| Front suspension | WP Apex 43 mm fork, adjustable for compression and rebound damping; 9.0 inches of travel | WP Apex 43 mm fork; 7.8 inches of travel | WP Apex 43 mm fork, adjustable for compression and rebound damping; 9.0 inches of travel |
| Rear suspension | WP Apex shock, adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping; 9.0 inches of travel | WP Apex shock, adjustable for spring preload; 7.8 inches of travel | WP Apex shock, adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping; 9.0 inches of travel |
| Front brake | ByBre two-piston caliper, 285 mm disc with ABS | ByBre two-piston caliper, 320 mm disc with ABS | |
| Rear brake | ByBre single-piston caliper, 240 mm disc with ABS | ||
| Rake | 27.1 degrees | 27.5 degrees | 27.1 degrees |
| Wheelbase | 58.1 inches | 57.6 inches | 58.3 inches |
| Seat height | 35 inches | 32.4 inches | 34.2 inches |
| Fuel capacity | 2.4 gallons | 3.7 gallons | |
| Tires | Metzeler Karoo 4, 90/90-R21 front, 140/80-R18 rear | 100/90-R19 front, 130/80-R17 rear | Mitas Enduro Trail E07+, 90/90-R21 front, 140/80-R18 rear |
| Claimed weight | 350.5 pounds | 388 pounds | |
| Available | April 2025 | ||
| Warranty | 24 months | ||
| More info | ktm.com | ktm.com | ktm.com |
