Every hero needs an arch-nemesis. Batman has The Joker, Superman has Lex Luthor, and by the looks of it, the KTM 390 Adventure has the Honda CRF 250 L. The moment the news of the arrival of the KTM 390 Adventure hit, we received a swarm of comments that pit it against the Honda CRF 250 L. Only thing is, it doesn’t make the best sense. If you’re really going to put the KTM 390 Adventure against a rival with similar specifications, the most likely contenders would be the BMW G310 GS and/or the Royal Enfield Himalayan.

However, we do understand WHY the KTM 390 Adventure was chucked into a pit with the Honda CRF 250L. It appears to be a matter of mistaken identity. The KTM 390 Adventure is not an enduro-tourer, in fact, the company has made it a point to call it a ‘travel-enduro’ machine.  That means it is primarily a tourer that can handle a decent amount of off-road terrain so that when the tarmac ends, your trip doesn’t have to. Still, the KTM 390 Adventure is much more at home on the tarmac. On the other hand, the CRF is a dual-sport motorcycle, built to be as good off-road as it is on-road. It isn’t fair for either motorcycle to be honest.

Although, that does bring us to an interesting conjecture. The majority of Nepal’s motorcycling fraternity isn’t distinctly fragmented into separate disciplines. In this particular case, the Honda CRF 250L is perceived as a capable tourer (which to some extent, it is) while the KTM 390 Adventure is looked at as an adept off-roader (which to some extent, it is); however, their particular proficiencies are different.  Now, if you’re really going to split hairs, there are people who cross geographic zones on a Hero Splendor and there are those who exclusively ride their sportsbike around Durbarmarg.

That is why, for this review, we will be looking into what the KTM 390 Adventure is, what is it best at doing, and who it’s for.

Before you start the engine.

The KTM 390 Adventure has the coveted KTM look and appeal, and people unfamiliar with it find it to be an acquired liking. The design is edgy and the KTM 390 Adventure has no trouble standing out in the crowd. Aggressive design language, accentuated by the massive LED headlights is carried throughout the body. The taillights and indicators also receive LED treatment.

The first thing most riders will notice is the size of the machine. It is properly big, as a midsize adventure tourer should be. The seat height is pretty tall at 855mm, although it is 20 mm shorter than the CRF. That means shorter riders will have a little trouble getting both feet flat on the ground.  Also, it is a heavy motorcycle which we will get into later.

The seats are plush and perfect to accommodate your rear end on any long haul travel you decide to embark on. However, if you are faced with tough enduro trails and find the need to stand up on the pegs, taller riders will find it difficult to grip the tank with the knees. There’s just too much space between you and the motorcycle to find a firm hold. Shorter riders might not find this to be too bothersome. It is also recommended that you take out the rubber inserts on the footpegs if you’re planning to go off-road. We learned that the hard way after slipping off the pegs while standing on it after getting sopping wet in the streams.

In terms of tech support, the KTM 390 Adventure gives you everything but the kitchen sink. You get the MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control), ABS, and the quickshifter+ which we will tell you about in a bit. Controls for all the technological assistance is accessible through the multi-functional menu switch on the handlebars. The buttons for the controls are large and have a good range of travel, which makes it easy to operate even with thick riding gloves on. Everything you need to know is shown on the 5” full-colour TFT display on the cockpit.

Now let’s get this party started.

Why don’t we jump right into the juicy bits? Powering the KTM 390 Adventure is the same, beloved mill that you find in the KTM 390 Duke. And as expected, the performance is up to par with 43 horses and 37 Nm of torque in the control of your right hand-delivered in a linear manner thanks to the ride-by-wire system. However, because of the ergonomics, the KTM 390 Adventure does not feel as amped up as the Duke. Nevertheless, it does provide a confident output of power, especially higher in the rev ranges which is what you would want if you’re looking to munch up endless kilometers of tarmac.

The seating position also makes the 390 Adventure a long-distance hero. You are perched up at a great vantage point, the handlebars are comfortably high (although for taller riders, adding on risers might help), and there’s plenty of space to move around even with luggage or pillion on board. Addressing the heating issues that KTM 390s were plagued by, the KTM 390 Adventure dissipates the heat well.

While it feels tamer than the Duke, the 390 Adventure is in no way a straight-laced, goodie two shoes. The 19-inch front wheel does make an impact on the agility of the KTM 390 Adventure, but it is still very nimble, despite the heft of the machine. The firm suspension setup and grippy Metzellers made riding on the winding roads a lot of fun. Road undulations do little to faze the mighty 390 Adventure, even ones that seem to be a result of a small comet falling to the earth.

What we are getting at here is that the KTM 390 Adventure can take on anything that you throw at it on the tarmac. All 177kgs of it (dry weight) is superbly concealed with the twist of a throttle and you’re riding an eager sprinter-marathon runner mutant. Making sure you don’t find yourself rubber side up is the modern technology and electronics that come with the motorcycle. This is especially helpful if you plan on being on the roads for extended periods of time and pushing your body and concentration levels.

First off, you have the MTC which stands for Motorcycle Traction Control. This is a system that reacts immediately the moment the rear wheel spins out. In a matter of milliseconds, the MTC reduces the engine output until the slippage is reduced and manages your wheel spin and lean angle to keep you upright. You can easily turn it off with the buttons on the handlebars if you want.

Second, you have the ABS. But here, you KTM have gone a step further and provided ‘offroad ABS’ designed for use on dirt, gravel, and more. This system deactivates the ABS on the rear wheel so that you can slip and slide the rear into corners while keeping ABS on for the front wheel so that you have the ability to stop efficiently and safely. Cornering ABS is also a great feature. Another great electronic assist is the bi-directional quickshifter that allows you to up shift and down shift quicker and more safely without the use of the clutch.

Now, to address the elephant in the room. How does it perform off-road?

We are going to be honest with you. As good as it was on the tarmac, we had our apprehension when it came to the KTM 390 Adventure’s ability to tackle the dirt. It was a massive machine and the same competence it exhibited on the asphalt seemed would be its vice when you headed it in the direction of a forest or mountain trail.

HOWEVER, the 390 Adventure shut us up real quick. The hero here has to be the WP APEX suspension system. Upfront the 390 Adv comes with 43mm upside-down forks which was originally developed for enduro riding. So it was no wonder that it was able to accommodate the 390 Adventure so well off-road. It had the right amount of stiffness and travel to tackle rough terrain while keeping the rider confident. The dual-purpose tyres dug into the ground well to supplement the suspension.  The adjustable suspension would have been even better, but we will have to wait for that.

Every time we pointed the KTM 390 Adventure at a section we thought it would have a tough time with, it clambered on and proved us wrong. Even on the iffy bits, the machine maintained composure. The only plausible next step was to really send it over the offroad bits to see if it could manage things. And we’re happy to report, it fared well. All that power works great with the agility and the suspension to allow you to keep the throttle pinned even on rough terrain.

Where it does start to sweat is on technical, enduro bits. Much of that is the fault of the weight, and to some extent the lack of our own skills. Also, finding a crawling pace is difficult on the big engine. You’ll find yourself working the clutch a lot more. Are the alloy wheels going to be an issue? Not likely. Unless you’re really going to be doing serious offroading on the KTM 390 Adventure and really punishing… which brings us to our final verdict.

What is the KTM 390 Adventure, what does it do, and who is it for?

The KTM 390 Adventure is what it says it is: a travel-enduro motorcycle. It is a great tourer. The power output and maneuverability is great for mile-munching errands. You get all of the electronic assistance you will need. It finds poise and comfort when touring and reflects it onto the rider.

When you come to rough bits, it will get you through it. Will it be able to do that as well as more offroad oriented motorcycles like the Honda CRF 250L? No, it won’t. It won’t merrily prance through boulders and it won’t splash through mud, but it will get you through them. It is not a serious offroader, and the way we see it, it does not have to be. In fact, for a mid-size tourer of this size, it does an exceptional job of keeping things fun and exciting on the roads less travelled.

Because the KTM 390 Adventure is not built for the offroad enthusiast. You’re not going to slap on your dirt helmet, put on your Fox dirt jersey, and rip through trails on the KTM 390 Adventure. It is more likely that you will pack up your bags, get on your touring gear, and head on out to get to the other side of the map.

Also, to answer the question in everyone’s mind: yes, it will get you to Jomsom and back.