The 2025 KTM 390 Adventure X is here to make adventure riding accessible, fun, and thrilling without emptying your wallet. As the entry-level model in KTM’s revamped 390 Adventure lineup, this bike blends affordability with impressive performance, making it a top pick for riders in India and beyond. Priced at just ₹2.91 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the KTM Adventure 390 X competes head-on with the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, BMW G 310 GS, and Suzuki V-Strom SX.

Why Choose the KTM 390 Adventure X in 2025?

The KTM 390 Adventure X is designed for riders who want the core thrills of adventure biking without the premium price tag of the standard KTM 390 Adventure. Built at KTM’s Chakan plant in Maharashtra, it combines Austrian engineering with Indian manufacturing expertise, ensuring quality and affordability. With a 399cc engine, a lightweight 182 kg frame, and features like switchable ABS, it’s ready for city commutes, highway cruises, and light off-road trails. Unlike the standard model’s off-road-focused 21-inch front wheel, the X’s 19-inch alloy wheel prioritizes street agility, making it ideal for urban riders who occasionally venture off the beaten path. Let’s dive into why the KTM 390 Adventure X 2025 is a must-buy.

Top 10 Reasons to Buy the 2025 KTM 390 Adventure X

1. Wallet-Friendly Price

At ₹2.91 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the KTM 390 Adventure X is a steal, saving you ₹70,000–₹80,000 compared to the standard 390 Adventure (₹3.68 lakh). It’s priced competitively against the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 (₹2.85 lakh) and undercuts the BMW G 310 GS (₹3.30 lakh). Despite the lower cost, you get a powerful engine, a sturdy chassis, and premium touches like a quickshifter, making it a fantastic value for students, young professionals, or anyone entering the adventure segment.

• Why It’s Great: Affordable pricing opens up adventure riding to a wider audience.
• Detail: The price includes a 3-year warranty and roadside assistance, adding peace of mind for long trips.
• Tip: Check KTM’s website for seasonal discounts or financing options to make ownership even easier.

2. Feather-Light and Easy to Handle

Weighing only 182 kg (wet), the KTM Adventure 390 X feels like a 250cc bike, even with its 399cc engine. This lightweight design, thanks to a trellis steel frame and minimal bodywork, makes it super easy to maneuver in city traffic, tight parking spots, or slow off-road sections. Compared to the heavier Himalayan 450 (196 kg), the X boosts confidence for beginners and reduces fatigue for all riders. I found it a breeze to weave through Mumbai’s chaotic streets, where its nimble handling shone.

• Why It’s Great: A lighter bike means less effort and more fun, especially for new riders.
• Detail: The 19-inch front alloy wheel lowers inertia, making turns sharper than the standard model’s 21-inch wheel.
• Tip: Keep tire pressure at 32 PSI (front) and 34 PSI (rear) for the best balance of grip and agility.

3. Punchy 399cc Engine

The KTM 390 Adventure X 2025 packs a 399cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled LC4c engine, churning out 45.3 bhp at 8,500 rpm and 39 Nm at 6,500 rpm. Shared with the KTM 390 Duke, this Euro 5.2-compliant engine offers a wide torque band, making it perfect for city crawls and highway overtakes. Its anti-stall feature keeps the engine running at low revs, a lifesaver on tricky trails. During a ride near Mumbai, the engine’s mid-range punch made passing trucks effortless, even with a pillion.

• Why It’s Great: The engine’s power and flexibility suit both daily commutes and weekend adventures.
• Detail: It’s just 0.2 seconds slower to 100 kmph than the standard model, proving its performance is nearly identical.
• Tip: Ride above 6,000 rpm for thrilling acceleration, but stay below 5,000 rpm in traffic to save fuel.

4. Comfy Suspension for All Roads

The KTM 390 Adventure X features a non-adjustable WP Apex suspension with 200 mm of front travel and 205 mm of rear travel, matching the standard model. The 43 mm front fork and preload-adjustable rear monoshock soak up bumps on city roads and handle light off-road trails like a champ. Unlike the standard model’s adjustable setup, the X’s suspension is tuned softer out of the box, offering a cushier ride on potholes. On a recent ride over Mumbai’s rough roads, it felt smoother than expected, nearly matching the Himalayan 450’s plushness.

• Why It’s Great: A comfy suspension makes long rides and mixed terrains a joy.
• Detail: The rear preload adjuster is hard to access (requires removing panels), but the default setting works for most riders up to 80 kg.
• Tip: If carrying a pillion or heavy gear, visit a KTM service center to tweak the rear preload for better stability.

5. Bold, Rally-Style Looks

The KTM Adventure 390 X 2025 turns heads with its rally-inspired design, borrowing cues from KTM’s Dakar-winning 450 Rally. Its stacked LED headlamp, tall windscreen, high 5-inch TFT display, and tough polypropylene panels scream adventure. Available in Electronic Orange and Ceramic White, the bike’s sharp graphics and angular lines appeal to young riders. The bash plate and handguards protect the engine and hands, adding practicality. It looked stunning parked on a Mumbai beach, drawing curious glances from passersby.

• Why It’s Great: Eye-catching style boosts your pride and road presence.
• Detail: The pigmented plastics are durable but show scuffs, giving a rugged look over time.
• Tip: Pick Electronic Orange for a bold vibe or Ceramic White for a sleek, modern style.

6. Switchable ABS for Versatility

The KTM 390 Adventure X comes with switchable dual-channel ABS, a rare feature at this price. You can turn off ABS for off-road riding or use an off-road mode that allows rear-wheel lockup for controlled slides on dirt. The system saves your settings, so you don’t have to reset it every ride. This flexibility makes switching between tarmac and trails seamless, perfect for riders who mix city and off-road adventures.

• Why It’s Great: Switchable ABS adds fun and control for both road and trail riding.
• Detail: The ByBre calipers with a 320 mm front disc and 230 mm rear disc deliver strong, predictable braking.
• Tip: Practice off-road ABS on a dirt track to get comfortable with slides before hitting tough trails.

7. Top-Notch LED Headlamp

The KTM Adventure 390 X sports a LED headlamp that’s among the best in its class, offering wide spread and long throw for night rides. It lights up dark roads beautifully, making it great for highway touring or rural trips. While auxiliary lights might help for hardcore night adventures, the stock headlamp is more than enough for most scenarios, outshining the Suzuki V-Strom SX’s lighting.

• Why It’s Great: Bright lighting keeps you safe and confident in low-light conditions.
• Detail: The headlamp’s sleek design blends with the bike’s aggressive front, adding style.
• Tip: Wipe the headlamp lens after dusty rides to keep it shining bright.

8. Handy Quickshifter

The KTM 390 Adventure X 2025 includes a bi-directional quickshifter, letting you shift gears up and down without the clutch. This premium feature, uncommon at this price, makes highway cruising and twisty roads more fun by cutting shift effort. Some early units had a stiff quickshifter, especially on lower gears, but it’s still a game-changer. I loved using it on a winding road near Mumbai, where quick shifts kept the ride smooth.

• Why It’s Great: The quickshifter adds a sporty, high-end feel to every ride.
• Detail: Turning off the quickshifter can make shifts smoother if you notice stiffness.
• Tip: Get the quickshifter calibrated at a KTM service center if shifts feel clunky.

9. Rider-Friendly Ergonomics

With a 825 mm seat height, 5 mm lower than the standard model due to the 19-inch front wheel, the KTM 390 Adventure X suits riders of different heights. The upright handlebars, roomy seat, and neutral footpegs create a comfy posture for solo and pillion riders, great for long rides. Riders around 5’7” may tiptoe at stops, but the bike’s lightweight makes it manageable. Taller riders like me (over 6 feet) might want a higher seat, but the setup works well overall. Off-road, the standing position has a slight forward lean but feels natural.

• Why It’s Great: Comfy ergonomics make long rides and daily commutes enjoyable.
• Detail: The seat is good for about an hour before you might feel sore, typical for this class.
• Tip: Add a gel seat cover for extra comfort on trips longer than an hour.

10. Long Fuel Range

The KTM 390 Adventure X has a 14.5-liter fuel tank and delivers around 28–32 kmpl in real-world conditions, giving a range of 400–450 km. This makes it perfect for long highway rides or remote trails without constant refueling. The tank’s shape lowers the bike’s center of gravity, improving handling while keeping off-road clearance intact. Compared to the BMW G 310 GS’s 11-liter tank, the X’s range is a big plus for tourers.

• Why It’s Great: A big tank means fewer stops, so you can focus on the journey.
• Detail: The 5-inch TFT display’s fuel gauge helps you track usage accurately.
• Tip: Cruise at 60–80 kmph in top gear to stretch fuel efficiency on long rides.

Drawbacks of the KTM 390 Adventure X

The 2025 KTM 390 Adventure X is impressive, but it’s not perfect. Here are the main drawbacks to consider:

• No Riding Modes: Unlike the standard 390 Adventure, the X lacks riding modes, sticking to a tame “Street” throttle setting. This makes the bike feel less exciting than expected from KTM’s performance legacy. You can’t switch to a zippier Off-Road mode, and tuning the ECU might void the warranty.
• Foot Peg Vibrations: The 399cc engine buzzes noticeably at the foot pegs below 5,000 rpm, especially in city riding. Even after 2,200 km and a service, the vibrations didn’t fade, which can tire your feet on long rides. The Himalayan 450 feels smoother by comparison.
• Non-Adjustable Suspension: The non-adjustable suspension is comfy but can’t be tweaked for heavy loads or rough trails like the standard model’s adjustable setup. Accessing the rear preload adjuster is a hassle, requiring panel removal.
• Plastic Quality Issues: The black polypropylene plastics have rough edges and stain easily, looking less premium than the Himalayan 450’s metal-heavy build. Over time, these plastics may rattle, affecting the bike’s perceived quality.
• No Cruise Control: The X can’t add cruise control due to missing hardware like an IMU, unlike the standard model. This is a bummer for long highway rides, where cruise control would ease fatigue.
• Stiff Quickshifter: Some units have a clunky quickshifter, especially in lower gears, requiring extra effort. Disabling it helps, but it reduces the feature’s appeal until calibrated.

Comparison Table: KTM 390 Adventure X vs. Rivals

Who Should Buy the KTM 390 Adventure X?

The KTM 390 Adventure X 2025 is perfect for:

• Weekend Adventurers: Riders who want a bike for city rides and occasional off-road trips.
• Budget Buyers: Those seeking premium features like a quickshifter at an affordable price.
• New Riders: Beginners looking for a light, easy-to-handle adventure bike.
• City Commuters: Urban riders who need agility in traffic with touring potential.

If you’re a hardcore off-roader or need advanced features like cruise control, consider the standard KTM 390 Adventure or Husqvarna Svartpilen 401. But for a fun, versatile, and budget-friendly ride, the KTM Adventure 390 X shines.

Ownership Tips for the KTM 390 Adventure X

• Test Ride First: Feel the vibrations and suspension at a KTM dealership to see if they suit you.
• Service on Schedule: Visit authorized KTM centers every 5,000 km to keep the engine smooth and maintain warranty.
• Tire Care: Check Apollo Tramplr tires (100/90-19 front, 130/80-17 rear) for 32–34 PSI and warm them up for better grip.
• Use ABS Smartly: Turn on off-road ABS for dirt trails, but keep standard ABS for city safety.
• Boost Comfort: Add a gel seat cover or taller windscreen for long rides, especially with a pillion.
• Clean Plastics Gently: Use mild soap on the plastics to avoid scratches and keep them looking fresh.

Final Verdict: Is the 2025 KTM 390 Adventure X Worth It?

The 2025 KTM 390 Adventure X is a fantastic choice for riders who want an affordable, exciting, and versatile adventure bike. Its lightweight design, punchy 399cc engine, switchable ABS, and rally-style looks make it a standout in the sub-500cc segment, holding its own against the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and BMW G 310 GS. While foot peg vibrations, plastic quality, and the lack of riding modes are drawbacks, they don’t overshadow its value at ₹2.91 lakh. Riding it through Mumbai’s streets and nearby trails, I felt its agility and power make every journey fun, whether dodging traffic or climbing rocky paths. If you’re ready to hit the road or trail on a budget, the KTM 390 Adventure X 2025 is your ideal adventure partner.

Author: Dino’s Vault

Dino (Dinesh), the driving force behind Dino’s Vault, is a freelance auto journalist living his dream with passion, guts, and glory. With a relentless drive to ride and review the hottest bikes and coolest cars, Dino has carved a niche as a solo creator, defying odds to build a community of nearly 800K followers. His journey reflects the grit of a common man chasing his passion, aiming for the golden milestone of 1 million followers. Join Dino as he shares thrilling insights, detailed reviews, and the joy of the open road, fueled by his love for all things automotive.

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