It’s back again—our every-few-months rumor that KTM is planning new versions of the 390 Adventure. But this time, it seemsa lot more likelythat those rumors are real.
The current rumor from India says KTM is planning a “Low” version of the 390 Adventure, and a “Rally” version.
The prediction of a lowered KTM 390 Adventure is something that we haven’t heard before, but it would be very much in-line with what we see from the rest of the industry right now. Kawasaki currently offers lowered versions of its entry level dual sports (KLX230 S, KLR650 S) and now Honda has the CRF300L S. This is a feature buyers want, and the OEMs seem to be realizing that tall seat heights are a barrier that they can easily do away with.
In this case, KTM is said to be working on a 390 with lowered suspension and probably also a sculpted saddle to reduce seat height, but with no official release, that’s all we have to go on.
The other rumored version of the 390, a Rally edition with jacked-up suspension, is a prediction we’ve seen for a few years now. Not long after the first-gen 390 Adventure debuted in 2019, we saw suggestions that this Rally version would follow shortly. That hasn’t happened, but no doubt supply chain shortages and COVID disruption have interfered with plans.
One prediction for that machine was a set of spoked wheels, and now we see those alreadyas standard on the basic 390 Adventure model.
While you might have thought this project wasn’t going to happen, after four years of rumors, consider this: KTM’s 490 project is dead. That means the companycouldvery well be looking to sell an up-spec’d machine to buyers looking for a middleweight that’s a bit more capable than a stock 390 (which has a 19-inch front wheel, and 6.7 inches of travel in the fork, 7 inches in the shock). Many riders assumed the 490 would fill this hole, but since that isn’t happening, an updated 390 might look like a good option instead.
If either of these machines is ever going to happen, we’d expect to see some more solid news by next fall’s show circuit.
