I’m a giant fan of small-displacement, performance-oriented bikes, not simply because they’re inexpensive, but in addition as a result of they decrease the limitations to entry in terms of taking over the game of motorcycling. For instance, approachable sportbikes just like the Kawasaki Ninja 400 permit novice riders to sharpen their driving abilities each on the road and the monitor.
On the journey aspect of the equation, bikes like KTM’s 390 Journey, not solely function a wonderful first-foray into the ADV scene, but in addition show that large adventures don’t necessitate a giant bike. The KTM 390 Journey relies on Group Orange’s tried and examined 390 platform that first hit the scene in 2013 within the Duke bare streetfighter configuration. KTM then slapped on some long-travel suspension, burly tires, and a much bigger fuel tank, and launched the 390 Journey for the 2020 model-year.
Again when it launched, the 390 Journey set a brand new normal within the entry-level ADV market, providing options beforehand discovered on dearer, greater displacement equipment. Even right now, the 390 Journey remains to be extra technologically superior than its counterparts within the sub-400cc ADV section. However, KTM is displaying no indicators of slowing down in terms of bettering the tech and efficiency of its bikes, because the 2025 KTM 390 Journey is effectively underway, and is about to carry some fairly large updates to the desk.
A revised 399cc engine
On the coronary heart of any motorbike is undoubtedly its engine, and the upcoming KTM 390 Journey actually has fairly the center. Identical to the newest 390 Duke, the 2025 390 Journey can be rocking the up to date model of Group Orange’s single-cylinder mill, a 399cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine that’s been tuned to pump out 45.3 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 39 Nm (29 pound-feet) of torque at 6,500 rpm.
This brappy single will then be paired to a six-speed gearbox with a quickshifter as normal, in addition to an assist-slipper clutch for extra forgiving shifts in various terrain. Different premium options embrace ride-by-wire that gives a number of trip modes, in addition to different digital doodads we’ll get into extra element with just a little later.
A design aligned with KTM’s nex-get bikes
At EICMA 2023, KTM unveiled the brand new 990 Duke, and never lengthy after, the 1390 Tremendous Duke R. Throughout the board, KTM appears to be adopting a brand new LED headlight design, departing from the insectoid cut up LED headlight, to an excellent wilder, extra alien-looking unit. Even the brand new 390 Duke has a wilder headlight design, and this styling cue is predicted to hold over to the brand new 390 Journey, as effectively. We are able to see it within the spy photographs of the brand new bike, which has been noticed testing round Europe not too long ago (an article by Cycle World showcased all of the spy photographs of the upcoming bike, so be at liberty to test it out).
Aside from the brand new headlight design, the 2025 KTM 390 Journey additionally appears to have a extra off-road centered aesthetic, as evidenced by minimalist bodywork impressed by rally racing machines. That is simply seen by the semi-fairing up entrance, which makes the bike seem like it’s able to deal with the following stage of the Dakar Rally. Moreover, the brand new bike appears a lot slimmer than the earlier mannequin, with a foremost trellis body and compact subframe making up the bike’s underpinnings.
Groundbreaking expertise
Throughout all of KTM’s fashions, expertise has at all times been its foremost level of focus. It was the primary to supply a full-color TFT show within the entry-level section again in 2017 with its 390 Duke, and it was additionally the primary to include cornering ABS, a quickshifter, and traction management within the beginner-friendly market additionally with its 390 sequence. This time round, the 2025 390 Journey is predicted to boost the bar even additional.
Aside from the newly designed headlight, the 390 Journey is predicted to come back with two wheel choices – alloy and spoked – catering to varied driving kinds. Moreover, the bike is predicted to get an up and down quickshifter, in addition to cornering ABS and traction management. After all, all of those digital rider aids will be switched off for full management over the bike’s efficiency in off-road eventualities. Suspension {hardware} will nearly actually encompass premium WP elements with a wealth of adjustability.
Pricing and availability
Whereas all these options are thrilling, and the spy photographs appear to recommend that the bike is production-ready, likelihood is we gained’t be seeing this new mannequin within the steel till the tailend of 2024. In spite of everything, KTM had not too long ago introduced the 2024-model-year 390 Journey for the US market, and that bike bears a number of similarities with the outgoing spec. What we do know is that the KTM and Bajaj partnership will proceed to be chargeable for producing its small-displacement fashions, and this can greater than possible embrace the next-gen 390 Journey.
