KTM 390 Adventure R Review – Has It Finally Earned The R?

The KTM 390 Adventure R promises to be the most off-road focused small-capacity adventure bike KTM has built so far. Proper suspension, 21/18 wheels, rally-inspired ergonomics and the all-important R badge — but does it actually deliver where it counts? In this review, I focus less on spec sheets and more on real-world riding. How it feels off-road, how it handles slower technical terrain, and what compromises you’re making when you choose a dirt-first ADV over something more road-biased. The 390 Adventure R sits in a really interesting space between lightweight enduro bikes and full-size adventure machines. It’s more aggressive than many small ADVs, but that comes with trade-offs that won’t suit every rider. Chapter Times: 0:00 Intro 1:55 Specs 3:52 Commuting 4:39 Brakes 5:15 Fuel 5:51 Off Road Mode 8:08 Drop Test 10:08 Acceleration 12:21 Enduro R Comparison 14:47 Dirt Roads 15:58 Tires 16:23 Rim locks & Crash protection 17:56 Seat comfort 20:32 Standing 21:08 Highway 22:42 Kickstand and flameout issues 24:06 Pro's 25:12 Cons 26:33 Looks 27:38 Suspension 28:51 The competition 30:07 How to decided 32:38 390 vs 890 33:50 Conclusion Thanks for watching, Solid Moto ADV MEDIA