Launch Alert: KTM 390 Enduro R Is Finally Here - A More Hardcore Offroader Than The 390 Adventure

Quick Highlights: 

• KTM has launched the 390 Enduro R in India

• Gets the same engine, chassis and suspension as the 390 Adventure

• Priced at Rs 3,36,500 (ex-showroom, Delhi) 

KTM has been on a roll this year, and has launched the much-awaited 390 Enduro R in India. Priced at Rs 3,36,500 (ex-showroom, Delhi), the 390 Enduro R has no natural rivals in the segment. You can get the Kawasaki KLX230 for Rs 3,30,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi), but the KTM is a much more capable, more well-rounded alternative to the Kawasaki in the affordable Enduro space. Offroad junkies owning an XPulse 200 and are looking to upgrade should be happy to know that the 390 Enduro R is the right step forward. The 390 Enduro R is powered by the same 399cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine as the 390 Adventure, which makes 46PS and 39Nm, and is paired to a 6-speed gearbox with a bi-directional quickshifter. We absolutely loved the performance in the 390 Adventure, so there’s no reason to doubt the 390 Enduro’s capability in the dirt and trails.

That said, the KTM 390 Enduro R is not going to be your perfect one-bike-garage motorcycle as it has a small 9-litre fuel tank and gets 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoke wheels but with tubed knobby Mitas E07+ Enduro Trail tyres. So if you want a do-it-all bike which will commute, travel long distances and do a bit of offroading,  you're better off with the 390 Adventure.

Born With The Same Blood

The KTM 390 Enduro R shares the same chassis, the 399cc engine and the long travel adjustable suspension setup at both ends as the 390 Adventure. It has a fair bit of difference which sets itself apart from the ADV. The most prominent being the design language. While the ADV has a beefy front, the Enduro has a more minimalistic design. It gets a different headlight, which is a single unit, unlike the ADV’s dual, vertically stacked ones. To suit the 390 Enduro’s offroading purpose, KTM has played around with the sprocket size at the rear and has given it a 48-teeth unit, while the ADV gets a 46-teeth unit. This will enhance the Enduro’s low-end performance needed for going offroad, but at a slight expense of top-end gain. 

The brakes have changed as well, it gets a 285mm disc at the front and a 240mm disc at the rear, whereas the ADV has a 320mm disc upfront while the rear remains the same. To keep the Enduro’s weight in check, it has a smaller fuel tank of 9 litres than the ADV’s 14.5 litres. All the mechanical changes have made the 390 Enduro R weigh 5kg less than the ADV, and it has a kerb weight of 177kg. The 390 Enduro R has a ground clearance of 253mm and a seat height of 860mm, while the ADV has a ground clearance of 237mm and a seat height of 830mm. Sure, the seat may be tall for some riders, but the profile is narrow, so it should be fairly manageable, especially considering the fairly light kerb weight. The Enduro also gets an adjustable handlebar clamp 

The differences are not just limited to mechanical changes. The Enduro R gets a smaller TFT display, which has a neat and simple layout. It comes with two riding modes: Street and Offroad, switchable traction control and switchable ABS. The Enduro misses out on the ADV’s IMU (Inertial Measuring Unit), which enables cornering traction control and cornering ABS. 

An Indian Twist

Internationally, the KTM 390 Enduro R has a dry weight of just 159kg while the Indian version weighs 170kg, dry. The difference is due to the stringent government norms which make it mandatory for a road legal motorcycle to be sold with a saree guard, grab rails and engine guards. The international version also has a ground clearance of 272mm and a seat height of 890mm which is 19mm and 30mm more, respectively. The reason for this is that the international version gets longer travel suspension at both ends than the India spec bike’s setup. While people have raised questions as to why we are getting a different suspension setup, KTM has done so only because the average height in India is lower than that of the Europeans and Americans. The lower seat height will make the bike accessible for a wider range of audience.  Don't feel dejected yet, there's good news for enthusiasts! KTM will be offering the international-spec suspension as an accessory soon.

ZigSays

While KTM tip-toed in the Indian market with a road-biased adventure bike back in 2019, they've witnessed the market grow and are now coming with much more capable bikes in the dirt. The manufacturer is making full use of their Dakar-winning reputation and applying its learning onto its road-legal bikes which one can buy without needing to empty their wallet. 

The launch of the 390 Enduro R is great news for offroad enthusiasts who want a capable off-road friendly motorcycle that also has enough grunt to tackle highways. KTM bikes are also known to have affordable maintenance costs, not to mention affordable spare parts and a wide service network, so these aspects should really make the Enduro R a holistic motorcycle for those who like to get down and dirty.