The Backstory
KTM India and their product strategy need more ambition with their recent launches. First, they didn’t launch the full-fledged version of the 390 Adventure but instead gave us a rather road-biased version of their adventure motorcycle, be it with all the technological wizardry. Yet the people wanted more, and instead, we got the 390 Adventure V. The “V” is essentially a lower seat height version of the regular 390 Adventure to make it more accessible for shorter riders. After all the wait, KTM India has finally brought in two new variants, which I think are the ones we should have got all along.
What is the X?
The 390 Adventure X is a barebones package that gives you all the best attributes about the 390 Adventure, minus the tech wizardry. While most folks may think that’s blasphemy, the 390 Adventure never needed more than just ABS, but more on that later. Thanks to the removal of advanced electronics and a full-colour TFT, the price is lowered by a considerable margin, by nearly Rs. 60,000. You don’t get the Metzeler tyres; instead, you get a set of MRF tyres.
What is the 390 Adventure SW?
The “SW” essentially stands for spoked wheels and gives the Indian buyers the variant they’ve all been waiting for. Armed with spoked wheels and adjustable forks, it aims to be the best ADV one can buy in the sub 400cc segment. It has all the necessary electronics and a brand-new orange livery to distinguish it as the ultimate 390 Adventure.
Why the X?
The 390 Adventure X hits the sweet spot and allows you to experience the most enjoyable parts of this motorcycle. While most people think the 390 Adventure needs all the electronics to make it livable, the stellar chassis and potent motor are more than balanced, so you never need a safety net. The KTM Duke 390 was initially launched in 2013 and was as barebones as ever. Armed with only ABS, the Duke 390 blew the audience out of the park. With its agile yet sharp handling package and explosive performance, it was rightfully named a pocket rocket. The 390 Adventure has the same motor that’s been slightly watered down and presented in a different tune. It has the handling credentials and agility, but its relatively linear power delivery makes it very controllable and easy to use.
Why the SW?
Given our country's roads, seeing the lack of homegrown adventure and dirt-oriented motorcycles is amusing. Only in the past couple of years has the number slowly been on the rise, with manufacturers taking note of the shift in demand. Long have customers awaited a more off road-ready version of the 390 Adventure better equipped for our poor roads. Granted, the regular 390 Adventure with its alloy wheels is capable, but the fear of bending a rim may always loom over you. In addition, the adjustable forks aim to make the motorcycle more articulate for riders that wish to fine-tune the suspension based on their weight and the type of riding they’d be indulging in.
Engine – 373cc, single-cylinder
Power – 43.5 bhp @ 9,000 rpm
Torque – 37 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Gearbox – 6-Speed (+Quickshifter)
Front Suspension – 43 mm, USD forks, fully adjustable (SW)
Rear Suspension – Monoshock, 10-step adjustable
Fuel Tank Capacity – 14.5 litres
Weight – 177 kg
Price - Rs. 2,80,652 (X)
Rs. 3,60,880 (SW)
Is the X any good?
The 390 Adventure X brings a delicate balance at a relatively affordable rate. My original scepticism was with the performance of the MRF tyres and how they might hold the 390 Adventure back. In practice, however, they performed phenomenally well and provided more and sufficient grip in the dry. When we took the X onto the dirt, it seemed more willing to slide and playful. I would largely attribute it to the tyres having a lesser grip offroad and the lack of traction control to hold the motor back. The light weight makes the motorcycle easy to handle in low traction environments when one wants to have a bit of fun, and if and when you’re limited to the tarmac, it's still faster than any other ADV in its class. On the bright side, think about all the gear or road trips one can sponsor with all the leftover money. I’m still a tad too sceptical about the MRF tyre's performance in the wet, but I suppose that’s a minor gripe given the easy swap to better tyres should you wish to do so.
Is the SW any good?
The SW variant is quite a sweet motorcycle. Everything from its ride quality, handling and even comfort had me impressed. The spoked wheels add a layer of damping to the ride, making it feel even more plush. The tyres provide more than sufficient grip, and once you begin tinkering with the suspension, you can dial in even more comfort or agility based on what roads lay ahead. We rode off road through the beautiful roads of Tamhini Ghat for the first section.
What's it like on the road?
On the road, it remains just as capable as before and handles as well as you’d expect. Sure, the adjustable forks make things a lot more fun, but without prior knowledge or curiosity to tinker or adjust it, they can be useless. Worst-case scenario, the rider never uses them and leaves them in a setting that’s not best suited for them, ruining their riding experience. However, go through the user manual and put on your thinking cap, and this is one rewarding DIY job that can significantly change how you see or use this motorcycle.
The problem is that the regular 390 Adventure is so well set up that unless you don’t play with the adjustable suspension, you’d never really notice any difference. The second problem is with the spoked wheels not being the tubeless type. Given the amount of debris on our street, a puncture is inevitable, and one would have to replace the entire tube, to say the least, which can make touring a bit more tedious. Whereas with alloy wheels, a simple puncture kit and portable air pump can do the trick even in the middle of nowhere.
What's it like offroad?
As I said earlier, the wheels add an extra layer of damping that makes the SW absorb bumps slightly better. The spoked wheels are more robust against impact and landings and are not nearly as brittle as alloy wheels. The adjustable forks do their part by letting you dial in your preferred settings to accommodate your needs. Combined, this makes the 390 Adventure SW a lot more fun and carefree to ride off road. As accomplished as it may be, it isn’t an outright solution to your offroad needs, and I believe a dedicated off-roading package would fix that. Is this the ultimate off road adventure motorcycle you’ve been waiting for? Perhaps.
But the riding posture, especially when standing, does leave you wanting for more as its forward-included footsteps tend to make you lean a bit too forward. It was tricky for me to find a comfortable enough position to stand upright on the motorcycle. Despite its off-road perks, this motorcycle is inherently more road-biased. That being said, it is still the best ADV you can buy under 400cc and will remain so until one of the future launches dare to dethrone it.
