Mimicking their larger siblings, these models offer on- and off-road accessibly in a very competent, smaller package.

Originally released in 2020,the KTM 390 Adventure was a good entry-level motorcycle, but lacked some off-road focus. It was a great bike for someone who didn’t know what they were missing in the dirt. Interestingly, the 2025 KTM 390 Adventure R, headed up by celebrated racer Quinn Cody, was in the works since before the original 390 was released, ensuring it would stand up in the segment KTM seemingly created. To list off what has changed between the last generation 390 and this one would be a waste of words, so I’ll say this: the new 390 Adventure and Enduro platform is a new beast that only shares a name with its predecessor. 

Along with the redesigned 390 Adventure R is the 390 Enduro R. Throughout the days riding around California’s Mammoth Mountain area, we got ample time on both 390s, although we weren’t able to ride the 390 Adventure X, which is the base model and more road-going. 

The 390 Adventure R and Enduro R share much of their core, including suspension, engine, and ECU mapping settings. The difference, however, becomes clear while riding these bikes side-by-side. The Adventure R offers a slightly more planted feel at 176 kg fully fuelled, has a lower seat height, a larger 14-litre fuel tank, dual-sport tires, and better wind protection for those long highway hauls. The Enduro R, on the other hand, feels lighter on the front end at 165 kg wet, has a smaller 9-litre tank, the ability to disengage the ABS, aggressive dual-sport tires, and slimmed-down body styling. 

SAME CORE, DIFFERENT RIDE

The 390 Adventure R and Enduro R
features a new two-piece steel trellis frame that’s based on the Gen-3 platform that is shared with the Duke model, but offers a raked steering head angle, and is fitted with 25 mm bar risers, subframe mounts and additional rigidity specifically designed for off-road use. 

The frame is designed for a heightened ground clearance of 272 mm, partly thanks to the new compact LC4c engine. This, paired, with the WP APEX 43 mm open-cartridge fork and WP APEX rear shock, allows for a smooth and incredibly capable ride through chunky terrain while maintaining the ability to comfortably ride at highway speeds without diving or headshake. 

Rider positioning is comfortable on both bikes for a wide range of riders, with a 870 mm seat height on the Adventure R and a 890 mm seat height on the Enduro R. Both the seats and the bodies of the bikes are quite narrow, making it easier for the rider to reach ground while standing, meanwhile, the rider is put in an assertive riding position to tackle aggressive terrain. 

THE LC4C ENGINE

As we rode through the rugged sub-alpine terrain of Mammoth, the new fuel-injected LC4c engine offered a low-down…