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KTM 390 Enduro Review: Trail-Ready Specs and Performance

The Official Blue Moto Account

Written 9 months ago

You've been hearing the buzz, haven't you? It feels like everyone is talking about the new orange machine. You're likely here because you need a real, no-nonsense KTM 390 Enduro review. Well, you've come to the right place.

We're going to break down everything about this motorcycle. I'll give you the honest truth from a rider's perspective, covering the good, the bad, and what it all means for you. This KTM 390 Enduro review will help you decide if it's the right bike for your garage.

A New Challenger at an Unbelievable Price

KTM just threw a massive rock into the small dual-sport pond. The new 390 Enduro R enters a market filled with established names. But KTM decided to play its cards a little differently, creating a statement with this new model.

Let's get the most shocking part out of the way first: the price. This motorcycle carries an MSRP of just $5499. Read that again. It positions itself just above bikes like the Honda CRF300L or Kawasaki KLX300 by a small amount but offers significantly more performance and features.

It also sits thousands of dollars below its bigger sibling, the 690 Enduro R. This pricing strategy carves out a new niche in the market. It challenges the established Japanese models on performance while undercutting European competitors on price, making it a very appealing affordable dual-sport option.

This aggressive pricing is a direct result of KTM's partnership with Bajaj, a major manufacturer in India. This collaboration allows for efficient production without cutting corners on design and engineering. You get the brains from Austria with the manufacturing power of India, packing a ton of value into this dual-sport bike from the factory floor.

What's Powering This New 390?

At its core, the 390 Enduro R uses an updated LC4c single-cylinder engine. This isn't the exact same engine from the older 390 models you might know. KTM engineers gave it a 4mm longer stroke, which is a significant change in engine architecture.

This small adjustment bumps the displacement from 373cc to nearly 399cc. Interestingly, the claimed horsepower stays about the same at 44 ponies. The real story here is the torque and where it is in the powerband.

That longer stroke was all about improving low-end and mid-range pulling power for better traction in technical situations. It now puts out around 28.8 lb-ft of torque, a noticeable improvement that you can feel on the trail. Everything is managed by a modern Bosch Engine Management System, using a ride-by-wire throttle for crisp responses.

You'll also find a slipper clutch inside, which helps keep the rear wheel from hopping during aggressive downshifts on pavement or dirt. A smooth six-speed transmission gives you plenty of range for both tight trails and open highways. It's a very capable and surprisingly modern powerplant for this price.

Our Full KTM 390 Enduro Review on the Ride

So, what's it actually like to swing a leg over this thing? Talking about specs is one thing. The ride itself is what truly matters.

I spent some quality time on this machine, both on the pavement and where it belongs, in the dirt. It's an off-road motorcycle with two distinct personalities. Let's look at how it behaves in the real world.

High Revs and Good Vibes

The power delivery is very gentle off the line. There's no intimidating hit that will catch a new rider by surprise. But as the revs build, the engine really comes to life and shows its sporty character.

This motor is happiest when you let it sing. You need to keep it spinning above 7,000 rpm to get the most out of it. It pulls cleanly all the way to the rev limiter without any drama, feeling more like a little supermoto engine than a lazy thumper.

Riding this bike aggressively means twisting the throttle and clicking through the gears. The optional Quickshifter+ makes this incredibly fun and smooth, a standout feature in this class. It allows for clutchless upshifts that keep the power flowing seamlessly, perfect for fast-paced adventure riding.

There is a small downside, though. Like many high-revving single-cylinder engines, there is some vibration. You feel a buzz through the handlebars and footpegs at cruising speeds. It's not terrible, but it's present, so riders sensitive to vibration should take note.

Handling On the Street and In the Dirt

This bike handles pavement surprisingly well for a machine with a 21-inch front wheel. It feels planted and stable, with plenty of front-end grip to carve through city streets. Its light and nimble nature makes it a blast to flick around town, and it doesn't feel out of place on the asphalt at all.

Once you hit the dirt, its true purpose becomes clear. The 390 Enduro R feels confident and composed on gravel roads and two-track trails. It hides its weight well, feeling much lighter than its spec sheet suggests, making it a joy during long days of trail riding.

I even pushed it through some tighter singletrack and sandy sections. While the stock tires are a compromise for street use, the chassis itself has more to give. It's ready for more aggressive terrain with a simple tire swap, showing its true potential.

The Frame and Suspension Breakdown

A bike's ride is only as good as its foundation. KTM paid close attention to the chassis and suspension. They didn't just slap some long-travel forks on a street bike frame; they built this bike with off-road intentions from the ground up.

A True Off-Road Chassis

You can't miss the signature orange steel trellis frame. It's a completely new design, built specifically for the demands of off-road riding. Perhaps one of the best features is the bolt-on steel subframe.

If you ever have a hard crash and damage the rear of the bike, this makes for a much easier and cheaper fix than a welded subframe. The ergonomics are very welcoming. The 35-inch seat height is pretty standard for this class of motorcycle.

The seat itself is wide and flat, offering plenty of room to move around. The rider triangle felt comfortable for my six-foot frame, both sitting and standing. The bike is also slim between the knees, which provides excellent control when you're up on the pegs.

There is one small issue to mention with the layout. The kickstand safety switch is a bit exposed. When riding aggressively off-road while standing, your left heel can accidentally hit it, which will cut the engine power. It is something KTM is aware of and reportedly working on a fix for.

Let's Talk About the WP Suspension

This is where the review gets interesting, as the WP suspension is a major selling point. The performance is a mixed bag, with one end outshining the other. You get a fully adjustable 43mm WP Apex fork up front, which is incredible for a bike at this price.

You can adjust both compression and rebound damping with easy-to-use clickers right on the fork caps. This allows you to fine-tune the ride for your weight and the terrain without needing any tools. It provides a level of control you just don't expect in this segment.

The front fork is very impressive. It handles a wide range of bumps without feeling harsh or bottoming out too easily. I added a couple of clicks of compression and was very happy with its performance all day long.

The rear shock, however, is a different story. It's a simpler WP Apex monoshock with adjustments for preload and rebound only. It lacks a compression adjustment, which limits its performance when things get rough.

Around town and on mellow dirt roads, it's perfectly fine and comfortable. But when you start pushing the pace on rougher terrain, its limits appear quickly. The shock can bottom out abruptly on big hits and tends to rebound too fast, making the bike feel unsettled in whoops or G-outs.

An aftermarket shock would be the first upgrade for any serious off-road rider. As a bike from the KTM Enduro line, it holds its own, but the shock is its clear weak point for hard riding.

The Tech Package is a Game Changer

If there's one area where the 390 Enduro R completely outshines its rivals, it's the motorcycle electronics. You get a suite of electronic aids that are typically found on bikes costing thousands more. It's a huge part of what makes this motorcycle such an incredible value.

The main feature is the selectable ride modes: Street and Off-Road. These modes adjust the throttle response and traction control settings. In Off-Road mode, the traction control allows for more wheel slip, and you can disable the rear ABS to slide the bike.

You can also turn the ABS off completely for dirt riding, a must-have feature for experienced riders. It's important to know that the traction control and ABS are not lean-angle sensitive, as there's no IMU. However, they work very well based on wheel speed calculations.

All this is controlled through a beautiful 4.2-inch full-color TFT display. The screen is bright, clear, and easy to read at a glance. It even has Bluetooth connectivity through the KTMConnect system to handle music and calls. Another clever feature is the Automatic Turn Indicator Reset (ATIR), which turns your blinkers off for you after a turn.

Who Should Buy the 390 Enduro R?

So, after all this, who is the ideal rider for this machine? This bike sits in a really interesting spot. It's an approachable and easy-to-ride lightweight dual-sport that's perfect for new riders or those returning to the hobby.

It works exceptionally well as a beginner dual-sport. Its mellow power delivery and manageable seat height won't intimidate you. It provides a solid platform to build skills on, both on and off the road.

At the same time, it has that classic KTM hooligan DNA lurking just beneath the surface. It begs you to rev it out, stand up on the pegs, and slide it around corners. More experienced riders will find a capable platform that can be pushed hard and customized to their liking.

It's not a full-blown race bike like its EXC-F cousins, which are part of the broader KTM Enduro line. But it's far more capable and technologically advanced than other bikes in its price class. If you're looking for one bike that can handle daily commuting, weekend backroad exploring, and genuine trail riding without breaking the bank, this could be it.

2025 KTM 390 Enduro R Specifications

Feature Specification
MSRP	$5499
Engine	Single-cylinder, 4-stroke
Displacement	398.7cc
Bore x Stroke	89 x 64mm
Fueling	Bosch EFI, 46mm electronic throttle body
Transmission	Six-speed, optional Quickshifter+
Front Suspension	WP 43mm Apex fork: compression and rebound adjustable.
Rear Suspension	WP Apex Split-Piston direct-mount monoshock; preload and rebound adjustable.
Front-Wheel Travel	9 inches
Rear-Wheel Travel	9 inches
Front Wheel / Tire	1.85 x 21 in. / 90/90R-21
Rear Wheel / Tire	2.50 x 18 in. / 140/80R-18
Seat Height	35 in.
Fuel Capacity	2.37 gal.
Weight (wet, claimed)	363.7 lbs

Conclusion

KTM has delivered something really special with the 390 Enduro R. It brings a level of technology and performance to the lightweight dual-sport class that was previously unheard of at this price point. It's an incredibly fun and versatile motorcycle for a massive range of riders.

This is more than just another bike; it's a new benchmark for the category. It successfully blends approachability for newer riders with the high-performance DNA that experienced motorcyclists expect from the brand.

My final take after this KTM 390 Enduro review is that you simply will not find more features for your money. The combination of an adjustable front fork, ride modes, and a modern engine creates a value proposition that's almost impossible to beat.

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