Over the past decade or so, adventure enthusiasts from all walks of life have learned that bigger is not always better. While bigger ADVs are great for longer trips where you cover hundreds of highway miles, once you get off the highway, things take a rather dramatic turn. Splitting the difference with a middleweight bike makes a degree of sense, but the rise of the entry-level segment offers us an even more interesting alternative.
For those looking for a bike that can handle the weekday commute and some weekend exploration, there is now a wide selection of lightweight dual-sport and adventure bikes to choose from. The need for A2-compliant motorcycles all throughout Europe has forced manufacturers to answer the call for more entry-level adventure bikes, in particular, with it being such a popular segment. Out of all these great options now available to us, we feel the one in orange is the best.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from KTM. Whereas, the opinions are our own.
The Affordable Used ADV That Can Be A Wise Decision In 2025 Is The KTM 390 Adventure
One of the best affordable ADVs just got a bit cheaper in the used market
The KTM 390 Adventure R Turns Any Commute Into A Trip
MSRP: $7,699
The latest 390 Adventure R is a great little bike, but before we can even touch on the competition it faces from other brands, it is worth mentioning that there are actually three other KTM 390s worth looking at first. The previous generation is still around, and just like the 390 Adventure X, it is worth a look if you want something a little more street-biased. If you want something a little more off-road oriented, the 390 Enduro R is also worth a look. All three bikes are cheaper, too.
There are several great options from China popping up in this space, but CFMoto’s Ibex 450 most certainly stands out. By all accounts, it offers superior build quality, and thanks to the KTM’s recent price increase, it is now significantly cheaper. It does not get the same level of sophistication, though. KTM’s off-road electronics are a genuine point of difference, and should never be taken for granted.
Kawasaki just launched the KLE500, and while the base model might seem a lot cheaper, the SE version is more comparable to the Adventure R. It is much closer in price, but is still worth a look. If you are willing to wait and have a little more room in the budget, the BMW F 450 GS will effectively be the premium offering in this space. We have no doubt that it will offer the best build quality and the highest level of specification (depending on what options you choose), but you will need to pay for it.
The 390 Adventure R Runs On A Proven Platform
Power: 44 Horsepower
KTM’s little 390 has been around for quite some time now, and although it has endured its fair share of issues in the past, pretty much every conceivable kink has been worked out. Its displacement went up from 373cc to 399cc in a recent update, but this was more to do with Euro5+ emissions than performance. The overall power output remained the same, and it still has the same character we have come to know and love.
Off-Road DNA Is Quite Prominent
Single-cylinder engines have never gone out of fashion. While other engine configurations have all dipped in and out of the industry, singles still make up the backbone, and for good reason. They are simple to manufacture, with fewer moving parts, and offer a fantastic power-to-weight ratio. This is particularly appealing for any off-road platform.
KTM has also been in the business of building off-road-oriented machines for decades, so it came as no surprise that even as a street bike, its performance delivery has always felt more like a dirt bike. Like any configuration, there is a downside. It is pretty much impossible to get a single perfectly balanced – no matter how much certain manufacturers have tried – so vibrations are just part of the deal. While this isn’t much of an issue off-road, long highway runs are far from ideal.
The 390 Adventure R Is Feature Rich
Small bikes come with a lot these days, but KTM takes it to another level with the 390 Adventure R. As previously stated, KTM’s off-road electronics are a major point of difference in this space, and what you get here is very hard to ignore. It has off-road ABS, lean-sensitive traction control, cruise control, and a big TFT dash with smartphone connectivity. Both the ABS and traction control are switchable if you want full control off-road.
But the off-road electronics are so good that most riders won’t even really feel the need to switch them off. Its steel trellis chassis and fully adjustable WP Apex suspension offer solid performance off-road, but it will shine more than one might expect on a nice twisty bit of tarmac. Even with its street bike chassis and all the added features, it still only weighs 388 pounds.
KTM’s Bold Design Language Won’t Appeal To Everyone
No matter the reason we have for buying a bike, the vast majority of us would dearly love to at least like the way our cherished possession looks. Unfortunately, the current KTM design language is objectively ugly. This might seem like a poor reason to overlook what is still also an objectively great little bike, but we are all human after all, and if you can’t find a redeeming feature, it will eventually wear thin on you.
The build quality also leaves much to be desired, especially if you dare look at one of these next to a 2024 model, which was clearly put together on a bigger budget. But, at this price point, you just can’t have everything, and this offers so much value in other areas, it really is possible to overlook its flaws, as long as you don’t hate the way it looks.