KTM 1390 Super Adventure R
2026 KTM 1390 Super Adventure R: 173 hp off-road adventure bike, 1,350 cc, 231 kg without fuel, €21,549. Full specs, press reviews and rivals.
At a glance
The KTM 1390 Super Adventure R is KTM's big off-road adventure bike: a 1,350 cc LC8 V-twin with variable valve timing, 173 hp and 145 Nm, 21- and 18-inch spoked wheels and 240 mm of suspension travel. Unveiled in December 2024 as a 2025 model but built from October 2025 as a 2026 model year, it sells for €21,549 in France, €650 less than the last 1290 Super Adventure R. Reviewers praise a huge yet tractable engine, a chassis that works on road and off-road and cutting-edge electronics, but criticise a tall seat, paid options (Quickshifter+, Rally mode, radar) and electronic glitches on pre-production bikes.
World press review
Meta-score
6 sources
Press ratings
Torquier engine at all revs, stiffer chassis excellent on the road, improved brakes and outstanding rider aids off-road; only complaint: a paid-for quickshifter on a $21,649 bike.
Outrageous but manageable power, the best dash on the market according to the author, great comfort; screen insufficient for tall riders, knobbly tyres to watch on the road, paid options.
Off-road ability worthy of a middleweight, excellent WP XPLOR suspension, polished electronics; less precise and refined on the road than big road-biased adventure bikes, hard seat, slightly low screen.
Extremely powerful engine, precise on tarmac and stable on dirt (600 km test, 60% off-road); engine heat and exhaust valve noise.
Press synthesis
What the world’s press says
Six reviews cover the 2026 model year, from Cycle World’s first ride in March 2026 to Moto.it’s 600 km test in September. The 86/100 meta-score is the average of the two numeric scores: 4/5 from MCN and 91.5/100 from Motorcycle.com. Cycle World, Cycle News, ADV Pulse and Moto.it tested it without a numeric score (the 10 shown by Moto.it is a readers’ rating, not used). No review of the R has been published by the French press.
What reviewers like: the twin, “huge” yet flexible for MCN, torquier everywhere for Cycle World, “it goes very hard” for Moto.it; a stiffer, composed and nimble chassis (Motorcycle.com, Cycle World), precise on tarmac and stable on dirt (Moto.it); off-road ability rare for a big adventure bike and excellent WP XPLOR suspension (ADV Pulse, MCN); outstanding electronics and a touchscreen Cycle News rates the best on the market. Cycle World sees it as perhaps both the most capable and the most forgiving bike in its class, and MCN reckons that if the price doesn’t bother you, there is no better big-bore adventure bike.
What they criticise: the price and paid options, Quickshifter+ and Rally mode first (MCN, Cycle World, Cycle News); a tall (MCN) and hard (ADV Pulse) seat; a screen too low for tall riders (Cycle News, ADV Pulse); road handling less precise than big road-biased adventure bikes (ADV Pulse); electronic glitches, a sticky starter button and polarising looks (Motorcycle.com, pre-production bikes); engine heat and exhaust valve noise (Moto.it).
Key quotes
"KTM haven't built the 1390 R trying to save the odd penny. This is the biggest, baddest adventure machine they can make."
"The KTM 1390 Super Adventure R continues to push boundaries at the pointy end of the off-road spectrum, but it's well-suited enough to be absolutely at home as a long-haul tourer splitting days between dirt and pavement."
"This is flagship performance made approachable for the masses, or at least anyone with the courage to throw a leg over it."
"It'll out-travel most travel bikes, and out-ADV most ADV bikes. That's a hard trick to pull off."
"It's the full package with everything maxed out and somehow it all works together in synchronized form."
"Awesome! In short? A missile with a wheel attached at each end. Precise on tarmac and stable on dirt."
Pros
- Powerful yet tractable 173 hp twin
- Off-road ability rare for a big adventure bike (240 mm travel, 21-inch front wheel)
- Cutting-edge electronics and 8-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation
- Standard cruise control, steering damper and protection
- Valve checks every 60,000 km
- €650 cheaper than the 1290 Super Adventure R
Cons
- 880 mm seat
- Quickshifter+, Rally mode and radar are optional
- Short screen, little protection for tall riders
- Less precise on the road than big road-biased adventure bikes (ADV Pulse)
- Electronic glitches on pre-production bikes (Motorcycle.com)
- Engine heat (Moto.it)
Our review
Which model year in France?
KTM unveiled the 1390 Super Adventure R on 12 December 2024 as a 2025 model. Production was then postponed: in September 2025, KTM announced that it would roll off the Mattighofen line from October 2025 and move to the 2026 model year. No 2025 model year was therefore actually sold, and KTM France only offers the 2026. It replaces the KTM 1290 Super Adventure R, whose last model year was 2024.
How much does it cost?
KTM France lists it at €21,549 including VAT, excluding registration, in a single dark blue, white and orange colour scheme (code “BLUE”, no published commercial name). That is €650 less than the last price of the 2024 1290 Super Adventure R (€22,199). It costs £17,349 in the UK and $21,649 in the United States, plus $800 freight. There is only one version, for full A licence holders. The optional Tech Pack combines Rally mode, Quickshifter+, front radar, an adaptive brake light and hill hold control; its price is not published in France ($960 in the United States according to Motorcycle.com).
How good is the engine?
The 75° LC8 V-twin grows from 1,301 to 1,350 cc with a bore increased from 108 to 110 mm. It gets the CAMSHIFT system, which switches the intake camshaft between two profiles above 6,500 rpm. KTM’s press release quotes 173 hp at 9,500 rpm and 145 Nm at 8,000 rpm; the Belgian spec sheet and KTM France’s page list 175 hp. Motorcycle.com measured 151.8 hp at the wheel at 9,200 rpm on its dyno. MCN describes huge yet flexible and manageable power, Cycle World an engine torquier everywhere; Moto.it notes engine heat and the noise of the exhaust valve. The engine meets Euro 5+.
How does it ride?
The chrome-moly steel trellis frame keeps the 1290’s architecture, but with revised tubes and the engine as a stressed member: KTM claims 13% more longitudinal, 23% more lateral and 73% more torsional stiffness. The 48 mm WP XPLOR fork and the directly mounted shock are fully adjustable, with 240 mm of travel according to KTM’s spec sheet and the press (the 2026 manual gives 220 and 224 mm, probably carried over from the 1290). Tubeless 21- and 18-inch spoked wheels on Bridgestone AT41 tyres, 242 mm of ground clearance, a steering damper, crash bars and a skid plate are standard. Braking combines twin 320 mm discs with radial four-piston Brembo calipers, described as Stylemas on KTM France’s page. KTM quotes 231 kg without fuel and 248 kg fully fuelled.
Motorcycle.com praises a composed, nimble chassis, Cycle World excellent road handling, ADV Pulse off-road ability worthy of a middleweight, but a bike less precise on the road than big road-biased adventure bikes. Cycle News advises caution with the knobbly tyres on the road.
Which electronics?
Standard: IMU, cornering ABS with Street and Offroad modes, lean-sensitive traction control, Standard, Rain, Street, Sport, Offroad and Custom modes, cruise control, keyless ignition, tyre pressure monitoring and an LED headlight with cornering lights. The 8-inch portrait touchscreen includes offline navigation; Cycle News rates it the best on the market. Optional: Rally mode (9-level traction control, lockable rear wheel), Quickshifter+, radar adaptive cruise control, heated grips and seat. MCN regrets that Quickshifter+ and Rally mode cost extra, and Motorcycle.com suffered electronic glitches and a sticky starter button on its pre-production bikes.
Fuel consumption and maintenance
KTM’s press kit quotes 6.7 L/100 km for the 1390 Super Adventure range, giving a range of about 345 km from 23 litres. The 2026 manual calls for an oil change every 15,000 km or 12 months, spark plugs every 30,000 km and a valve check every 60,000 km, against 30,000 km on the 1290. The Premium Manufacturer Warranty runs up to 4 years. No recall is recorded (NHTSA, RappelConso, Safety Gate).
Who is it for?
With an 880 mm seat, which MCN finds too tall for shorter riders, it targets experienced riders who want to travel far, including off the tarmac. Against the Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer, the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure and the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally, it is the most powerful and the cheapest.
Where does it come from?
The line starts with the 2013 1190 Adventure R (150 hp claimed according to bikesales), followed in 2017 by the 1290 Super Adventure R with the Super Duke R engine. The 2021-2024 generation moved the steering head back and split the tank into three parts (160 hp, 138 Nm, 228 kg without fuel). The 1390 gains 13 hp, 7 Nm and 3 kg.
Specifications
| Displacement | 1350 cc |
|---|---|
| Power | 173 hp @ 9,500 rpm (KTM press release; the Belgian spec sheet and KTM France's page list 175 hp) |
| Torque | 145 Nm @ 8,000 rpm |
| Weight | 231 kg (without fuel, KTM); 248 kg fully fuelled (KTM UK and USA spec sheets) |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 1.43 |
| Seat height | 880 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 23 L |
| Fuel consumption | 6.7 L/100 km (KTM press kit, figure given for the 1390 Super Adventure range) — CO2: 139.5 g/km |
| Maintenance interval | Oil change every 15,000 km or 12 months — Spark plugs: 30,000 km — Valves: 60,000 km (KTM 2026 owner's manual) |
| Engine type | 75° LC8 V-twin, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, CAMSHIFT intake variable valve timing, twin spark, liquid-cooled |
| Cooling | liquide |
| Transmission | 6-speed, 525 chain, hydraulic clutch |
| License | A |
| MSRP | €21,549 |
Engine detail
| Bore x stroke | 110 x 71 mm |
|---|---|
| Compression ratio | 13:1 |
| Fuel system | Keihin electronic fuel injection, ride-by-wire, twin spark |
| Valve train | DOHC with finger followers, 4 valves per cylinder, chain-driven; CAMSHIFT intake variable valve timing (two cam profiles) |
| Max power RPM | 9500 units.rpm |
| Max torque RPM | 8000 units.rpm |
| Starter | Electric |
| Euro standard | Euro 5+ |
Chassis & running gear
| Frame type | Chrome-moly tubular steel trellis frame, engine as a stressed member; aluminium subframe |
|---|---|
| Rake angle | 25.3 ° |
| Trail | 112 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1577 mm |
| Ground clearance | 242 mm |
| Front suspension | 48 mm WP XPLOR upside-down fork, adjustable compression, rebound and preload, 240 mm travel (220 mm according to the 2026 manual) |
| Rear suspension | WP XPLOR directly mounted (PDS) monoshock, adjustable high- and low-speed compression, rebound and preload, 240 mm travel (224 mm according to the 2026 manual) |
| Front brake | Dual 320 mm floating discs, radial four-piston Brembo calipers (Brembo Stylema according to KTM France's page), new Brembo master cylinder |
| Rear brake | 267 mm disc, two-piston fixed Brembo caliper |
| Front tire | 90/90-21 (Bridgestone AT41), 2.5 x 21 tubeless spoked rim |
| Rear tire | 150/70-18 (Bridgestone AT41), 4.25 x 18 tubeless spoked rim |
| ABS system | Cornering ABS with two modes (Street and Offroad); in Rally mode (optional), ABS retained at the front and rear wheel can lock |
Electronics & rider aids
| Riding modes | Standard, Rain, Street, Sport, Offroad, Custom, Rally (optional) |
|---|---|
| Traction control | Yes |
| Quickshifter | Quickshifter+ optional (Tech Pack) |
| Cruise control | Yes (Standard cruise control; front radar adaptive cruise control optional (Tech Pack)) |
| Dashboard | 8-inch portrait TFT touchscreen, anti-glare treatment |
| Connectivity | KTMconnect; built-in offline navigation; two USB-C sockets |
| Other features | 6-axis IMU, Lean-sensitive MTC traction control (9 levels in Rally mode), KTM RACE ON keyless ignition with anti-relay protection, also opening the fuel cap, Tyre pressure monitoring (TPMS), LED headlight with cornering lights, WP steering damper, Standard tubular crash bars and skid plate, Optional: Rally mode, Quickshifter+, front radar, adaptive brake light, hill hold control, MSR engine brake control, heated grips and seat |
Ergonomics & rider fit
| Riding position | Off-road adventure: upright, wide rubber-mounted handlebars |
|---|---|
| Wind protection | Short screen adjustable over 70 mm, hand guards |
| Max total weight | 480 kg |
The 1390 Super Adventure R offers an off-road adventure riding position, upright, with a redesigned one-piece seat at 880 mm (878 mm according to MCN, which finds it too tall for shorter riders). Compared with the 1290, the handlebars are 30 mm wider and rubber-mounted, and the footpegs are 8 mm lower and 10 mm further apart. The shorter screen adjusts over 70 mm instead of 55; Cycle News finds it insufficient for tall riders and ADV Pulse a little low. ADV Pulse also finds the seat hard, while Cycle News praises great comfort. The 23-litre tank is complemented by hand guards, two USB-C sockets and a toolkit under the seat. Maximum permissible weight is 480 kg; KTM does not publish a payload figure.
Ownership & maintenance
~~345 km (calculated: 23 L tank / 6.7 L/100 km from KTM's press kit)
km
Estimated range
| Oil change | every 15,000 km or every 12 months |
|---|---|
| Valve check | every 60,000 km |
| Spark plugs | every 30,000 km |
| Chain | Tension checked at 1,000 km, then every 15,000 km or 12 months; chain, sprocket and pinion checked every 15,000 km (525 X-Ring chain) |
Warranty
4 years / Premium Manufacturer Warranty up to 4 years (2 + 2 years, 2025 model year onwards), renewed at each service by an authorised KTM dealer; no mileage limit stated
KTM’s 2026 owner’s manual specifies a first service at 1,000 km, then an oil and filter change every 15,000 km or 12 months (Motorex SAE 10W-50, 3.5 litres). The air filter is replaced every 15,000 km, to be checked more often in dusty conditions, and the spark plugs (two per cylinder) every 30,000 km. Valve clearance is only checked every 60,000 km, half as often as on the 1290 Super Adventure R. Brake and clutch fluids are replaced every 24 months, coolant every 48 months; the 525 X-Ring chain and the spokes are checked every 15,000 km. KTM does not publish a service cost. In France, the Premium Manufacturer Warranty adds 2 years to the 2-year legal warranty, up to 4 years in total, renewed at each service by an authorised KTM dealer; an optional extension runs up to 12 years or 80,000 km.
Direct competitors
Compare →| Model | MSRP | Power | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTM 1390 Super Adventure R | €21,549 | 173 hp @ 9,500 rpm (KTM press release; the Belgian spec sheet and KTM France's page list 175 hp) | 231 kg (without fuel, KTM); 248 kg fully fuelled (KTM UK and USA spec sheets) |
| Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer2026 | €23,995 | 150 hp | 261 kg (wet) |
| Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally2027 | €29,490 | 170 hp | 240 kg (weighing condition not stated) |
| BMW R 1300 GS Adventure2026 | €23,900 | 145 hp | 269 kg (kerb, ready to ride) |
| Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports2026 | €18,599 | 102 hp | 243 kg (kerb) |
| Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special2026 | €20,800 | 150 hp | 263 kg (kerb) |
Generations
Compare →- 1190 Adventure R2013 – 2016
1,195 cc · 150 hp · 125 Nm · 217 kg (without fuel)
Off-road version of the 1190 Adventure, with an engine derived from the RC8: 21- and 18-inch wheels, WP suspension with 220 mm of travel, 23-litre tank, Bosch ABS and traction control (claimed power and torque as reported by bikesales).
- 1290 Super Adventure R (1re génération)2017 – 2020
1,301 cc · 160 hp · 140 Nm · 229 kg (without fuel)
1,301 cc engine from the 1290 Super Duke R, 6.5-inch TFT screen, LED headlight with cornering lights, IMU and keyless ignition (claimed power and torque as reported by MCN; 229.3 kg without fuel according to the manual).
- 1290 Super Adventure R (2e génération)2021 – 2024
1,301 cc · 160 hp · 138 Nm · 228 kg (without fuel)
Steering head moved back 15 mm, 15 mm longer swingarm, three-part 23-litre tank, WP XPLOR suspension, 7-inch TFT screen, Euro 5 engine and optional Rally mode.
Compare with this generation → - 1390 Super Adventure R2026 – today
1,350 cc · 173 hp · 145 Nm · 231 kg (without fuel)
Engine enlarged to 1,350 cc (110 mm bore) with CAMSHIFT variable valve timing, stiffer frame (+73% torsional), 240 mm suspension travel, 8-inch vertical touchscreen TFT, built-in navigation, optional radar, 60,000 km valve checks and Euro 5+.
| Generation | Displacement | Power | Torque | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1190 Adventure R2013 – 2016 Off-road version of the 1190 Adventure, with an engine derived from the RC8: 21- and 18-inch wheels, WP suspension with 220 mm of travel, 23-litre tank, Bosch ABS and traction control (claimed power and torque as reported by bikesales). | 1,195 cc | 150 hp | 125 Nm | 217 kg without fuel |
| 1290 Super Adventure R (1re génération)2017 – 2020 1,301 cc engine from the 1290 Super Duke R, 6.5-inch TFT screen, LED headlight with cornering lights, IMU and keyless ignition (claimed power and torque as reported by MCN; 229.3 kg without fuel according to the manual). | 1,301 cc | 160 hp | 140 Nm | 229 kg without fuel |
| 1290 Super Adventure R (2e génération)2021 – 2024 Steering head moved back 15 mm, 15 mm longer swingarm, three-part 23-litre tank, WP XPLOR suspension, 7-inch TFT screen, Euro 5 engine and optional Rally mode. Compare with this generation → | 1,301 cc | 160 hp | 138 Nm | 228 kg without fuel |
| 1390 Super Adventure R2026 – today Engine enlarged to 1,350 cc (110 mm bore) with CAMSHIFT variable valve timing, stiffer frame (+73% torsional), 240 mm suspension travel, 8-inch vertical touchscreen TFT, built-in navigation, optional radar, 60,000 km valve checks and Euro 5+. | 1,350 cc | 173 hp | 145 Nm | 231 kg without fuel |
Manufacturer figures (otherwise specialist press). Weighing conditions differ between generations: compare weights with care.
Available colors
Manufacturer recalls
No known recalls for this model.