First look: KTM tease new 390 Adventure R and Enduro R models

KTM tease new 390 Adventure R baby rally bike, plus 125 and 390 Enduro R models at the EICMA motorcycle show.

Among the throngs of people on KTM’s stand at the EICMA show this week in Milan are a couple of new models, so new in fact you can’t buy them yet.

Aping their bigger brothers in the KTM line-up, the KTM 390 Adventure R and 390 Enduro R trade on the popularity of the existing 390-engined bikes but stand as more accessible motorcycles (meaning easier to live with and ride, plus likely less expensive).

The problem is, you can’t buy them. As a tease and potentially a way of gauging opinion and interest in Europe, KTM as showing the two new bikes, along with a 125 Enduro R, at the EICMA show this week.

Using that established 390 Adventure platform – steel trellis frame, 373cc single cylinder engine the R model features a liberal dose of upgrades which promise to make it more off-road savvy and, if they have the suspension right, actually a pretty fun bike to ride.

Those upgrades includes taller, longer travel suspension, 21-inch front wheel, spoked wheels set, one-piece seat unit, larger tank (we’re guessing), wider footpegs, bash plate, high-level front mudguard, fairing, windshield and bodywork all of which mimic the rally bikes.

Baby rally bike

In the flesh all this extra kit transforms the 390 Adventure in a baby rally bike and though the power and suspension will likely be soft still, it’ll surely hit the spot many 390 owners are already pushing for in terms of off-road capabilities.

Making it look the part is more than half the battle here but if this R model is as capable as it looks it’ll not be a fun bike to ride but ultimately bring more people into the off-road who are otherwise put off by inflated price tags, plus the weight and size of the adventure machines on the market.

It has to be said that KTM had to do something to compete with its own Chinese partner, CFMoto, who are currently making a killing with their 450 MT adventure model. We await the official release and new of the price tag on this one.

Baby Enduro R too?

Apologies for the “baby” tag we’ve added too often in this story but it’s hard not to look at these models and not think they’re are younger siblings of the existing bikes in the KTM line-up.

The 690 Enduro R has proved a success globally for KTM. A pretty simple design, dual-sport bike, it’s become what a lot of people tag “unicorn” for a hitting a spot almost unique in the market – not too big, not competition-focused, reliable, economical, and fairly bulletproof.

The 390 Enduro R model will scratch an itch many trail riders have for a smaller, lighter and easier to manage bike. Lighter still than the 690 version, it’ll be a more accessible way of riding trails for a lot of new riders, shorter or (not that we at all want to be stereotypical) but potentially women – in short poeple who might otherwise be put off riding longer distance trails because of either their size and experience or the bikes on the market.

Dolled up in a lot of the aftermarket packs and travel equipment, the 390 Enduro R on the EICMA stand looks for our money like a bike which should already be out there and not left until 2025.

Check out the low-level exhaust and end can, that should make the 390 single sound fruity.

At present these bikes are not official models, they’re due in 2025 we understand and as such we have no technical details or specifications.

Non-Austrian KTMs – what’s the story?

These models are part of the range of bikes not produced in Mattighofen, Austria, although KTM point out the majority of KTM motorcycles are still produced there. The annual tally is around 140,000, they say, and includes all offroad models and bikes over 790cc capacity.

The Pierer Mobility Group partnership with Bajaj means KTM have production capabilities in India which helps their competitiveness (read production costs) in the global marketplace.

This is all normal of course for any major motor manufacturer and although they get some stick for it, this is just the way of the world.

The factory in India specialises in producing small displacement motorcycles like the 125, 200, 250 and 390 Duke as well as the RC 125, 200 and 390.

That also includes this new ‘R’ range talked about in this story and the KTM 250 and 390 Adventure.

The cooperation with CFMoto in China is a little harder to understand fomr the outside although, again, KTM say it “strengthens” their business. Hard to understand because CFMoto frankly seems to be competing with KTM on a number of fronts although they do produce the 790 DUKE and 790 Adventure.

Photo Credit: Future7Media + KTM