Exclusive: First Look At Short-rider-friendly KTM 390 Adventure

You don’t have to always launch an all-new product to invite new customers. Sometimes, having different variants with subtle changes to meet different needs does the trick. And it appears KTM is looking to do the same with the 390 Adventure. After the recently launched 390 Adventure X, the 390 Adventure V - a low seat height variant - was spied at a dealership.

What’s different?

Well, just like the 390 Adventure X, the performance, essence and form of the 390 Adventure remains the same on the new 390 Adventure V when compared to the standard variant. However, the main area of change in this variant is accessibility. The standard variant gets a tall seat height of 855mm - the person inset is five feet nine inches tall is tip-toeing on the standard variant. However, on the 390 Adventure V he’s able to flat foot comfortably.

We have been told that this is made possible thanks to the bike running a reworked suspension setup with lower travel front and back, which is significantly lower than the standard variant's - 170mm and 177mm suspension travel front & back.  That said, there’s no official word on how this has affected the ground clearance of the bike, although when we conducted our own mesurements, it is now nearly an inch lower. Currently, the difference in seat height between the 390 Adventure V and 390 Duke (822mm) is just 8mm.

What’s still the same?

You still get the 19/17-inch alloy wheels front and back with the dual-sport tyres and of course, all the electronic aids you get on the standard variant (missing on Adventure X). This is still every bit a 390 adventure but more road biased than ever before. So, if you’re the kind of biker who wants a 390 Adventure primarily for road use and more approachability, this one makes great sense. Lastly, what’s oddly still the same is the price - Rs 3,38,746 - the same as the standard variant.

KTM offering the 390 Adventure in multiple variants is honestly a smart idea. It’s maximising the model’s approachability and acceptability on the basis of use case and need. Now essentially we get the 390 Adventure standard variant - with everything, the 390 Adventure X - with no electronics, 390 Adventure V - with more accessibility and the upcoming 390 Adventure (Rally?) - with wire spoke rims and adjustable suspension. Looks like a good line up to us!