KTM 390 ADVENTURE SW

Is this the most capable sub-500cc adventure tourer on sale in India?

- BENJAMIN GRACIAS

The term Adventure Tourer encompasses many facets of riding. You can use an adventure tourer to go touring, ride on trails and go offroading. Heck, you can even commute with one. It is tough being an adventure tourer, having to master many roles. The KTM 390 Adventure is one motorcycle that comes close. It packs a powerful motor and the lightweight frame and long-travel suspension ensures that you can take it further offroad. However, its alloy wheel setup did limit its abilities when it came to hardcore offroading. For 2023, the 390 Adventure gets three additional variants - the new base Adventure X, a low seat height Adventure V and a range-topping 390 Adventure SW (Spoke Wheel) variant. The 390 Adventure SW aims to address the motorcycle's Achilles heel with a new set of spoke wheels but the bigger news is the addition of adjustable suspension.

Design-wise there is not much to differentiate the Adventure SW from other 390 Adventure models. The most obvious ones are the spoked wheels and the exclusive Dakar-inspired Rally Orange dual-tone paintjob. The bodywork remains the same as does the switchgear. It still gets all-LED lighting, a colour TFT instrument console, a 12-volt charging port, a windscreen and knuckle guards.