KTM 1390 Super Adventure R 2026 Review

KTM has been in the wars lately. Reliability concerns, a full-blown financial crisis, and a new majority owner based in India almost 8000km from the brand's Austrian homeland.

You'd think that would be enough to cripple any motorcycle manufacturer.

But KTM is built differently. Its people are motorcyclists first and employees second. It's a company built on passion and performance, and that probably explains why it's won, well, just about everything.

The KTM 1390 Super Adventure R launched as an overhaul of the popular 1290 Super Adventure R, which we named the best big-bore adventure bike back in 2023. The new bike benefits from KTM's latest-generation 1350cc V-twin, updated technology, beefier suspension and a revised design.

And after spending time with it both on and off road, I reckon it might be one of the craziest adventure bikes I've ever ridden.

The KTM 1390 Super Adventure R is priced from $35,995 ride-away.

That puts it on the upper end of the price spectrum for the segment, but it’s still in the ballpark of base-spec Ducati and BMW rivals. And on the spec sheet at least, it stacks up very strongly against both.

The biggest news is that the 1390 Super Adventure R is now the most powerful bike in its class with the 171hp and 145Nm trumping all its rivals. With added “Camshift” technology, the new V-twin is a beast, delivering crisp, urgent power right through the rev range.

It's fantastic on the tarmac and still tractable off road, making it incredibly versatile. But it’s still a monster of a machine and that class-leading horsepower and torque will bite you if you're not paying attention.

Suspension is another major improvement. The old 1290 already led the class with 220mm of travel front and rear, but the new 1390 bumps that to 240mm at both ends.

The suspension feels like a significant step up from the previous bike. Where the 1290 always felt like a big bike, the 1390 glides over bumps, rocks, potholes and ruts like an 890 Adventure R with a bigger engine. Both ends have excellent progression and give you huge confidence when the terrain gets tricky.

Combine that with the fire-breathing engine and a stiffer chassis, and it's hard not to imagine you're riding a rally-ready race bike.

I'm also a big fan of the new vertically mounted TFT touchscreen. It works well, the menu interface looks great, and KTM has finally added a dedicated ride mode button so you're no longer crawling through menus every time you want to change settings.

KTM also made a point of telling people this bike was built in Austria, and the build quality and finish really are superb.

I don’t have many gripes, but there are a couple. 

There are several features that should be standard at this price but instead are optional extras, including radar cruise control, Rally mode, the quickshifter and hill-hold control.

Most brands charge extra for premium features, but what irks me is that the bike already has these features built in. You can quite literally see them in the menus, but they're locked behind a paywall.

The 1390 is also still a tall, heavy machine, and I found the sheer size costs it a little on twisty tarmac. You can still have fun, but don't expect razor-sharp road handling. 

The bike is also quite wide through the flanks, and my knee kept butting up against the fuel tank, but that is more of a personal preference than a hinderance.

If you can afford it, then yes. 

The 1390 Super Adventure R is one of the most exciting and grin-inducing bikes I've ridden. It's a challenge to try and wrap your head around how such a big motorcycle can feel so fast, agile and ready for any terrain.

Naturally, it will appeal more to riders who prefer the dirt over the tarmac, but as the most powerful bike in its class, it’s still a pleasure to ride on the road too. 

Critics will point to KTM’s past reliability issues as a reason to avoid it, but I saw nothing on the bike that gave me cause to concern. As with any bike, meeting servicing schedules and riding with care should help prevent any significant problems. 

This machine is a significant improvement on what was already a great motorcycle. And I’ve got to say it’s one of the most complete large-capacity adventure bikes I’ve ever ridden.