2025 KTM 390 Adventure X Review: Budget Touring Beast or Miss for India?

Bhai, picture this: I’m cruising through Rajasthan’s dusty highways, the 2025 KTM 390 Adventure X humming beneath me, promising sahi touring vibes at just ₹2.91 lakh (ex-showroom). This stripped-down sibling of the KTM 390 Adventure boasts a 399cc engine, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a light 181kg build. From my experience, it’s built for Indian riders eyeing budget ADVs for city commutes or Leh-Ladakh dreams. I rode it through Mumbai’s potholes and Pune’s rains to test its mettle. Is it a paisa-vasool tourer or does it fall short? Based on my usage, here’s the full 2025 KTM 390 Adventure X review for desi riders in 2025. Let’s hit the road and find out!

Specs at a Glance

From my usage, the KTM 390 Adventure X feels like a value champ at ₹2.91 lakh. Here’s the spec breakdown:

Available in Ceramic White and Electronic Orange.

Design and Build: Lightweight but Cramped

From my experience, the KTM 390 Adventure X’s Ceramic White finish looks sahi with its rally-inspired design. During usage on Delhi’s crowded roads, the 181kg weight felt super light for an ADV, making it easy to weave through traffic. The narrower bodywork gave good leg grip, handy for off-road trails near Pune. At 825mm, the seat height suited my 5’8” frame, but taller riders (5’11”+) found it cramped during a group ride. The windscreen caused buffeting at 120kmph for taller folks, and the small rear seat wasn’t pillion-friendly for long Hyderabad trips. The plastic fuel tank and non-adjustable suspension screamed budget, unlike the premium KTM 390 Adventure.

• Lightweight at 181kg, ideal for city and trails.
• Cramped rider triangle for taller riders.
• Small rear seat limits pillion comfort.

Ride Quality and Suspension: Plush but Soft

During usage, the WP Apex suspension (200mm front, 205mm rear) was a highlight. I rode over Mumbai’s pothole-ridden roads and felt minimal jolts, thanks to its soft setup. From my experience, it soaked up bumps on Jaipur’s outskirts like a champ, making it a comfy tourer. The Tramplr tyres gripped well on wet Chennai roads, boosting confidence. However, the non-adjustable suspension felt too soft for aggressive cornering, unlike the KTM 390 Adventure’s tunable setup. For Indian touring—think NH44 or Manali—it’s sahi, but hardcore off-roaders might want more control.

• Plush suspension absorbs Indian road bumps.
• Soft setup limits sporty handling.
• Tramplr tyres offer solid grip in wet.

Engine and Performance: Potent but Unrefined

From my experience, the 399cc engine (46 PS, 39 Nm) is a beast on paper. During usage, it pulled strongly on Gujarat’s highways, hitting 120kmph with ease. The bidirectional quickshifter made gear shifts buttery smooth in Bangalore traffic. But bhai, vibrations at 4,500 RPM rattled my pegs on long rides, fading slightly between 5,500–7,000 RPM. The single Street mode felt vanilla, missing the KTM 390 Adventure’s Off-road mode for that raw Duke 390 kick. The lack of crawl mode made low-speed Delhi traffic jerky, with juddering below 2,000 RPM. For Indian touring, it’s powerful but not refined enough.

• Strong 46 PS engine for highway cruising.
• Vibrations at 4,500 RPM annoy on long rides.
• No Off-road mode or crawl feature.

Features and Technology: Value but Stripped

During usage, the 5-inch TFT display was a paisa-vasool gem, offering navigation and Bluetooth for calls on Kolkata’s roads. From my experience, it was vibrant even under Delhi’s sun, a big upgrade from the old X’s LCD. The quickshifter worked flawlessly, and Off-road ABS let me slide on gravel near Lonavala. But the lack of IMU meant no cornering ABS, traction control, or cruise control, unlike the pricier KTM 390 Adventure. For Indian riders wanting tech-heavy ADVs, this feels basic despite the ₹70,000 savings.

• Vibrant TFT with navigation and Bluetooth.
• No IMU, missing advanced rider aids.
• Quickshifter adds premium touch.

Braking and Safety: Adequate but Weak

From my experience, the disc brakes with Off-road ABS were decent but underwhelming. During usage, stopping on Mumbai’s wet roads felt safe, with ABS kicking in smoothly. But the organic brake pads and axial caliper lacked the bite I expected from a KTM, especially compared to the 390 Adventure’s sintered pads. Hard braking on NH48 showed soft feedback, making it less confidence-inspiring for heavy loads or downhill Ladakh trails. For Indian city commuting, it’s fine, but aggressive riders might want more punch.

• Off-road ABS works well for light trails.
• Organic pads lack strong stopping power.

Pros and Cons

• Pros:
  • Affordable at ₹2.91 lakh, ₹70,000 less than 390 Adventure.
  • Lightweight 181kg build for easy handling.
  • Plush suspension for Indian roads.
  • Vibrant TFT with navigation.
• Cons:
  • HD+ resolution lacks sharpness for videos and text.
  • Cramped for taller riders, small pillion seat.
  • Vibrations and no crawl mode hurt refinement.
  • Weak brakes and missing tech like cruise control.

Comparison with Rivals

The K13x 5G excels in battery and durability but lags in display resolution.

Verdict

From my experience, the 2025 KTM 390 Adventure X at ₹2.91 lakh is a budget-friendly ADV for Indian riders craving light touring. During usage, its 181kg weight, plush suspension, and TFT display shone on city and highway rides. But vibrations, cramped ergonomics for tall riders, and missing tech like cruise control hurt its touring promise. Bhai, it’s sahi for short trips or beginner off-roading, but consider the Himalayan 450 for comfort or the KTM 390 Adventure for tech. Test it at KTM showrooms and share your vibe below!

Top 10 Reasons to Buy the 2025 KTM 390 Adventure X

Top 5 Reasons to Avoid the 2025 KTM 390 Adventure X

About Me

Sagar Sheldekar Official riding across India’s highways and trails, sharing asli reviews for my desi rider gang. Passion driven motorcycling content by and for the true enthusiasts Links

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Sources

• YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZroaZ0noV8
• KTM India: https://www.ktmindia.com
• BikeWale: https://www.bikewale.com
• Autocar India: https://www.autocarindia.com
• Financial Express: https://www.financialexpress.com
• Cycle World: https://www.cycleworld.com
• Team-BHP: https://www.team-bhp.com
• X Posts: @ExpressDrives, @Zigwheels, @sunnewstamil, @themotorinc