Introduction: KTM has offered off-roading and touring enthusiasts a powerful package with its 390 Adventure series. The 2024 Duke 390 Adventure strikes the ideal combination between performance and maneuverability. The improvements and new features of the 2025 390 Adventure, however, are increasing competition in this market.
photo credit: KTM
Does this comparison make sense?
Answer: The 390 Adventure series from KTM is well known for its powerful performance, long-distance touring, and off-road skills. When the company releases new upgrades annually, it becomes imperative that riders understand the changes made to the new bike and whether or not we should upgrade.
In order to determine which model is better for you, we will evaluate the 2024 and 2025 KTM 390 Adventure using the following characteristics.
- Engine and Performance: Is the new engine smoother or more powerful?
- Gearbox and Transmission: Are there any improvements to the quickshifter or new gearing updates?
- Chassis and Handling: Will the new model be lighter, stronger or stable?
- Suspension and ride quality: are there any new improvements for off road and touring?
- Braking and Safety: Any update in brakes, cornering ABS and traction control?
- Features and Technology: Are there any changes to the TFT display, cruise control, or new riding modes?
- Fuel Efficiency and Mileage: Will the new model provide the same or higher mileage?
- Design and Looks: Are there any changes to the body panels, colour scheme or aerodynamics?
- Value for money and pricing: is the 2025 model's increased price warranted?
- For which rider is the model best suited? Which choice will best suit your requirements?
Will you forget about the 2024 model if the 2025 Duke 390 has enough power?
| Feature | 2024 Duke 390 Adventure | 2025 Duke 390 Adventure |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Type | 373.2cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled | 399cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled LC4C engine |
| Power Output | 42.9 hp | 45.3 hp |
| Torque | 37 Nm | 39 Nm |
| Transmission | 6-speed gearbox | 6-speed gearbox |
| Weight (Dry) | 172 kg | 183 kg |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 14.5 liters | 14.5 liters |
| Suspension (Front) | WP Apex 43mm USD fork | WP Apex 43mm open cartridge fork |
| Suspension (Rear) | WP Apex shock absorber | WP Apex shock absorber |
| Brakes (Front) | 320mm disc with four-piston caliper | 320mm disc with four-piston caliper |
| Brakes (Rear) | 230mm disc with single-piston caliper | 240mm disc with single-piston caliper |
| Tires | 19” front, 17” rear | 21” front, 17” rear |
| ABS | Dual-channel ABS | Dual-channel ABS with off-road modes |
| Ride Modes | Street, Off-road | Street, Off-road, Rally (new for 2025) |
| TFT Display | 5-inch color TFT display | 5-inch color TFT display with improved readability |
| Lighting | LED headlights, LED tail light | LED headlights, LED tail light with improved illumination |
| Seat Height | 855 mm | 825 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 200 mm | 227 mm |
| Clutch | PASC (Slipper Clutch) | PASC (Slipper Clutch) |
| Cruise Control | Not available | Available (new feature for 2025) |
| Traction Control | available | Cornering ABS with Traction Control (new for 2025) |
| Quickshifter | quick shifter | bi-directional quick shifter(new for 2025) |
| Exhaust Design | Single-side exhaust with angular design | New, stainless steel underbelly exahust (improved sound and performance) |
| Graphics and Styling | Bold KTM Adventure styling with decals | Refined styling with new graphics, slightly more aggressive look |
| Price (Approx) | ₹3.51Lakhs (India) | ₹3.67 Lakhs (India) |
Performance: The KTM 390 Adventure has already established itself as a contender in the lightweight adventure bike market. However, in terms of performance and ride quality, the 2025 model is more than just an update; it may represent a novel idea. Is this bike only a numbers game, or is it a vehicle that will elevate the riding experience to a new level?
photo credit: KTM
2025 Duke 390 adventure: The goodness of the 390 LC4C engine has been carried on to this side as well; its equal amounts of power and torque while the bottom and mid-range feel quick and feisty. It has no problem revving out for that extra bit of fun. It's not lunatic performance, but it's fast, it's fun, and that's the important bit. Wait, there's more to know.
The KTM 390 design has always been a little whether you like it or not, not so much. It looks good from some angles; it doesn't, but the special paint scheme for the top-end variant really appeals.
.png "Duke 390 Adventure Headlight")
photo credit: KTM
The sprocket size at the rear has increased by three teeth, which is why the acceleration feels aggressive. 390 gets a bigger radiator to keep things chill. KTM has taken notes and corrected a lot of things with this generation of the 390 ADV. A lowered seat height, a narrow seat profile, and more ground clearance because somehow the earlier one wasn't enough. A quickshifter—that is how it also gets a crawl function, which isn't really new tech, but it avoids the motorcycle from stalling at lower RPMs, as you can see, without the use of a clutch, with mirrors that actually work, setting that remain the same even when you turn the motorcycle off and back on.
.png "Duke 390 Adventure Exhaust")
photo credit: KTM
2024 Duke 390 adventure: The 390 Adventure SW, or spoke wheels, as the name suggests, has wire spoke wheels where the rims are made of aluminum while the spokes are made of steel. KTM says that this helps keep the weight of the wheels in check while benefiting from the impact absorption capabilities of the steel spokes, but one small disadvantage of having non-tubeless WINSPOKE rims is that you have a tube inside over here, so in case you have a puncture, you will have to take these wheels off and then get to the tube inside and fix the puncture. That is time-consuming, and you don't want to be stranded somewhere in the middle of nowhere without a puncture or repair kit.
Comfort & features:
Old 390 duke adventure: The rider and pillion comfortability on the seats of the old 390 is because you can notice that the seat height of this is higher at 855 mm, the seat is also wider, and I'm not sure how long it is, but if your height is 5.5 or 5.6 inches, then you look like a small pair with the pillion standing behind you. Be careful when putting your feet down. The visor is short, and the pillion seat is very comfortable..
New 390 duke adventure: This one is similar, and the overall seat is also quite slim, with a seat height of 825 mm. The handle position and everything else are 5.6 feet, which is very nice. The foot pads also are not as intimidating. In this bike, we get to see a single-seat setup. There is less space given in this, so if you are going to have pillion duties with you for the whole time, the newer motorcycle will be less comfortable compared to the older one because the older one gets a bigger seat, and the new bike seat is better for a solo ride.
For more details check out: official website KTM
Differences:
- The first difference between both motorcycles is the face. The newer one gets a projector face setup; this projector reduces high beam and low beam. In the older 390, we have to see the normal just a pilot light setup and the LED DRLs. Everybody liked the headlight, and most people liked that projector headlight, but the thing is, the intensity of the older one on the bike is very nice, but the spread is not good. The face of the projector spread; it is so good even in foggy conditions when we are riding in the night. This one has some visibility going around.
- The second difference we see is in the visor: the newer visor is tall and comes at nose level to the riders and blocks the wind. If you look at the older 390, then you see a small non-existent visor, which cannot block much wind.
- Everyone feels that the suspension of the old Duke 390 will fit comfortably in the suspension of the newer one; there is nothing like that; both motorcycles have a similar size cluster. But the newer one has better stability and a finish with contrasting color over here because this is a lot clearer in the daytime. The cluster has been shaded in many of the newer motorcycles, and the contrasting details over here with the different kinds of modes and everything look much better. The newer model gets a heavy beak. This beak actually gives it more purpose, so that face over here, the tallness, and the overall structure give it a very adventurous face, more like a Dakar bike.
- Both the discs up front are the same at 320 mm; however, the older one has a 230 mm rear, and the newer one gets a 240 mm. The braking feedback for the new motorcycles feels a lot better and crisper.
- In the newer one, we get navigation data when you have connected with the app. In the older one, you get navigation data in the bike itself..
- newer one me The switchgear setup is actually more usable because you get tick-tackle buttons much better. The title button in the older one wasn't great..
- The best difference-saving point is the cruise control engagement, and you can ride for longer distances on the highway, maintaining the speed if you downshift and upshift while riding the motorcycle using the quick shifter. This one will not turn off, so that is definitely an advantage of this function. The quickshifter on the old 390 does work, but the new 390 ADV is so much better.
- The feel and feedback from the throttle is a lot more crisper and better compared to the old 390. It used to offer; the engine feels a lot more tractable while both produce different kinds of power. Both are different engines.
conclusion: However, the coater binding capacity for this one, the newer one, is much better compared to that of the older one, and the overall feel feedback is actually quite nice on the new one. If you are going off-roading, if you want to play around with the motorcycle a lot more, if you are short, if you want a comfortable motorcycle, and if you want an easier motorcycle only, then the newer one comes into play. However, the older 390 is still a very good option in the used market right now. If you are looking for a motorcycle in a budget, want a 390, and want to go adventure but not so much adventure touring, you can definitely consider the older motorcycle.
