EICMA 2019 has seen quite a few interesting launches so far, but what we Indians were more interested in was what KTM had to offer. The Austrian brand has finally pulled the wraps of the much-awaited 390 Adventure along with the 890 Duke R and the 1290 Super Duke R.
After numerous spy shots, speculation, we finally have seen it in the production guise. For those who have been living under a rock, the 390 Adventure is the off-road iteration of the 390 Duke. It shares the same 373.2cc, liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine producing 43.3bhp and 37nm with the naked sibling. However, the components are completely different from the 390 Duke. The KTM 390 Adventure gets traction control and switchable ABS.
The 390 Adventure gets 43mm WP Apex USD forks with rebound and compression adjustability. At the rear, the bike gets WP Apex monoshock with rebound and preload adjustability. The setup offers a 170mm travel at the front and 177mm travel at the rear while the 390 Duke gets only 142mm travel at the front and 150mm travel at the rear. It gets a 19/17-inch wheel setup shod with Continental tyres. Being a true-blue ADV, the bike has a massive seat height of 855mm.
Interestingly, another variant with spoked rims had been spotted testing, however, the bike wasn’t revealed at EICMA.
We recently rode the 790 Duke at the track and we were floored by the scalpel and seeing the 890 Duke R, we just can’t imagine what this KTM could be capable of
For starters, the 890 Duke is powered by a liquid-cooled, parallel-twin 890cc motor. Though the 790 made a respectful 103bhp and 87Nm, the 890 Duke dials it up a notch, producing a menacing 120bhp and 99Nm which 20Nm more than the new Street Triple RS we rode a while back.
Suspension duties are handled by 43mm WP Apex USD forks and a WP Apex monoshock at the rear. Handling the braking department are twin 320mm discs at the front with top-of-the-line Brembo Stylema calipers. Interestingly, the 890 Duke R weighs 3kg less than the 790 Duke.
Styling is identical to the 790 Duke, however, the 890 Duke gets a different paint scheme, rear seat cowl. The electronic suite on the 890 Duke R is identical to the 790 and includes lean-sensitive traction control, cornering ABS, launch and wheelie control along with riding modes that include a ‘Supermoto’ mode that turns off ABS at the rear wheel.
Before Streetfighter V4 and the Brutale 1000 came along, the 1290 Super Duke was the undisputed champion. And now, the 2020 avatar, it still is a champ in a way. Powering the 1290 Super Duke is a 1301cc V-twin motor belting out 180bhp and a staggering 140Nm of peak twist! Yes, the Super Duke packs more grunt than the Streetfighter V4 or the Brutale 1000 Serie Oro.
Electronics on the bike include traction control, 4 riding modes, engine brake control, cruise control and supermoto ABS. Hardware includes WP Apex suspension at both ends, twin 320mm discs at the front with four-pot Brembo Stylema calipers and a 240mm disc at the rear with twin-pot caliper.
The styling of the bike is as menacing as it can get. The tank and shrouds are more aggressive, the new aluminum subframe gives the bike a super compact rear. Adding to the visual appeal is the single-sided swingarm and the five-spoke rims.
The 390 Adventure is slated for a launch at IBW this year. We expect the 890 Duke R to come to India in 2021.