Highs and Sighs: 2026 KTM 1390 Super Adventure R
With the 1390 Super Adventure R, KTM strengthens its grasp on the pointy end of the off-road open-class ADV segment, bringing more performance and tech, while simultaneously becoming a bargain in the class — even after paying extra for software. We came away from our First Romp with the 1390 SA R impressed, but it wasn’t all cherries! Read on for an elaboration of our Highs n’ Sighs.
High: Plenty of Usable Power on Tap
The enlarged 1350cc LC8 V-Twin features larger 60mm throttle bodies and Camshift variable valve timing, delivering an abundance of controllable torque down low that pulls smoothly up to redline. When we ran this beast on the dyno with our friends at Rottweiler Performance, the LC8 V-Twin put 151.8 horsepower down to the rear wheel at 9,200 rpm with torque peaking at 96.6 lb-ft at 8,000 rpm.
High: Composed, Nimble Chassis
Despite its size, the low-slung 6.1-gallon three-piece fuel tank keeps the center of gravity low, while a stiffer frame delivers surprisingly agile and stable handling both on and off-road. We’ve said it before and are about to say it again, a bike of this size shouldn’t handle as well as it does, particularly in tricky sections off-road.
High: Advanced Rider Aids
Supported by a crisp 8-inch vertical touchscreen TFT display, the bike features a sophisticated suit of IMU-based electronic controls, customizable ride modes, and cornering safety features. In addition, you also get built-in map navigation with the ability to route without any sort of cell connection. OTA updates are also possible with the included eSIM.
Sigh: Electronic Gremlins
Is the wheelie control not working, Chris? We kid, but with all this tech, something is bound to glitch here and there. Early software bugs and electronic glitches were noted during testing, though KTM engineers took notes from anyone who had issues and immediately sent the info to R&D during our press event. It's likely that these minor gremlins have already been fixed via a quick OTA update.
Sigh: Sticky Starter Buttons
No, not that one, Chris. The starter/kill switch rocker on our press units seems to get gunked up with dust causing the switch to never fully disengage, while this didn’t cause an issue once the bike was started, it did cause the bike to lurch forward as the starter repeatedly tried to restart the bike once the clutch was dumped by a rider (me) off-road to turn off the bike. Likewise, another tester killed his bike purposefully at a stoplight, pulled in the clutch lever, and to his surprise the bike restarted itself — this was before we nailed down the culprit.
Sigh: Polarizing Facial Features
The aggressive front-end restyling — featuring the redesigned headlight cluster and shorter windshield — remains a love-it-or-hate-it aesthetic choice. Personally, I dig it, but that doesn’t mean you have to. I never liked the look of my 2015 Tuono, but I couldn’t see its face from the cockpit, and the ride made me fall in love. You could argue that point here, too.
The Verdict
As we said up top, KTM’s 1390 Super Adventure R continues to push the boundaries of the open-class ADV market, particularly at the off-road end of the spectrum. The trouble for the rest of the class is that it’s also a hoot on the tarmac and, at $22k, it’s a relative bargain in the class.
