KTM 390 Adventure vs 390 Adventure X vs 390 Adventure R vs 390 Adventure S

Key highlights

• KTM now offers four variants of the 390 Adventure in India
• The new base 390 Adventure gets a 350cc engine, priced at Rs 2,80,905 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
• The Adventure X, R, and S continue with the 399cc engine

KTM recently introduced a new base variant of the 390 Adventure powered by a 349cc engine but still called the 390 Adventure. Why? GST. Engines up to 350cc attract 18% GST versus 40% for anything above.

So what has changed? Which variant offers what, and how are they priced? Here’s a beakdown.

Prices

That’s a Rs 62,345 jump from the base to the Adventure X, and a whopping Rs 1,16,329 gap between the base and the flagship Adventure S. Big money. So what exactly do you get for it?

Engine & Performance — Is the 350cc a Compromise?

Here’s the headline that will surprise most people: No, it isn’t, at least no perceivably.

The new 350cc engine in the base 390 Adventure produces 41.5 PS at 8,600 rpm and 33.5 Nm at 7,000 rpm, 399cc motor in the X, R, and S produces 47 PS and 39 Nm. This keeps the difference in the performance minimal.  KTM has achieved this through revised bore and stroke dimensions (89mm x 56.15mm), so the power-to-weight story remains as sharp as ever.

On paper, and almost certainly on the road, there is negligible performance difference between the 350cc base model and the 399cc variants. The displacement difference exists primarily to unlock the lower GST bracket.

Head-to-Head — What Each Variant Brings to the Table

KTM 390 Adventure (350cc) — Rs 2,80,905

The value play. Minor dip in performance as compared to the rest of the range, same suspension travel, same ground clearance, same TFT display. This is not a stripped-down budget bike. It’s the full 390 Adventure experience at a lower entry price, made possible purely by the GST advantage on the smaller engine. If you want the 390 Adventure and don’t need the additional equipment or off-road hardware of the pricier variants, this is where you start.

Best for: First-time adventure bike buyers, riders stepping up from 250cc machines, anyone who wants maximum KTM performance per rupee spent.

KTM 390 Adventure X (399cc) — Rs 3,43,250

The sweet spot of the range. The Adventure X steps up in equipment over the base model while remaining the most accessible 399cc option. It retains the core adventure character but adds a more complete specification sheet. If you’re someone who wants the 399cc motor, however marginal the real-world difference may be and a better-equipped package without going all the way to R or S money, this is your bike.

Best for: Riders who want the full 399cc spec and a more complete equipment list without paying flagship prices.

KTM 390 Adventure R (399cc) — Rs 3,78,404

This is the one for riders who actually go off-road. The Adventure R is the most off-road focused variant in the range, built for riders who want to go further than tarmac and mean it. If weekend trail riding or proper off-road exploration is on the agenda, the R’s additional off-road hardware justifies every extra rupee over the base and X variants.

Best for: Off-road enthusiasts, adventure tourers who venture beyond highways, riders who want the most capable dirt-ready setup in the range.

KTM 390 Adventure S (399cc) — Rs 3,97,234

The flagship. The most comprehensively equipped 390 Adventure you can buy. At nearly Rs 4 lakh, the Adventure S is for the buyer who wants the absolute best specification the range has to offer and is happy to pay for it. Top-of-the-line electronics, highest-spec finish, and everything KTM puts into the 390 Adventure, all at once.

Best for: Riders who want the best-equipped 390 Adventure with no compromises on specification or features.

So, Which One Should You Buy?

Four bikes. Same Character. Different use cases. Pick the one that matches how you actually ride.

Also read: Unknown TVS off-road bike leaked in Apache RTX owner manual