Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1537523
P124 RIDE REVIEW I 2025 KTM 390 ENDURO R aggressive speeds. But, why are we trying to turn this into a race bike already? I suppose it's because KTM has programmed my brain to expect that if they build it, it's supposed to be a race bike and should be treated as such. It doesn't have to be that way; you can just ride the 390 Enduro R like a normal dual-sporty dirt bike and have a great time. You don't have to stand up around mountain road turns looking for a drift (it will do that, though). You don't have to jump it all the time. You could just ride it like a Honda XR400 and be happy. However, this is far more than that. I have decent experience on KTM 390s and can attest to their durability and practicality. They are more utilitarian than competition-based, Austrian- built weapons, but that's not necessarily a bad thing when you're buying an off-road- focused dual-sport bike. And compared to the rest of the market in this price range and displacement size, they gener - ally bring way more tech and features to the table. I think this bike does that in excess. You simply cannot find a bike with this many features for un- der $8000 in the 400cc world. And the bikes it's priced next to are much more basic in many ways. This bike is manufac- tured in India, but you still get KTM engineering and Austrian- led development with final specs and durability tested and proven right in Cycle News' backyard of Southern Califor - nia. All that for $5400? That sounds like value to me. CN information for your ride mode and ABS status. It can also connect your mobile phone to the KTMConnect system, al- lowing you to sync an in-helmet comms system to the bike and on-bar controls. Full LED light- ing surrounds the bike, includ- ing Automatic Turn Indicator Reset (ATIR) blinkers. This turns your blinkers off after you turn. Thank goodness we have another motorcycle acronym. All the tech built in does not go to waste. Traction control off-road is smooth and non- disruptive, although it is a chal - lenge to get this bike to spin out of control at all on good roads. Likewise, the ABS sys- tem is good, and a button turn- ing it completely off fits the Enduro focus here perfectly. The dash is nice and certainly an upgrade over some dot- matrix options in the space. Honestly, the ATIR is awesome when it works. I always leave blinkers on. This helps me not look like a dork. The 390 Enduro R Ride Riding the new KTM 390 En- duro R is fun. It delivers a great mix of mellow dual-sport cruis- ing vibes and rowdy hooligan shenanigans. It can get down and rip around off-road, with- out a doubt, and I hit the limit: the stock tires will push in the tight and twisty singletrack we rode more than once. This tells me the bike has plenty more off-road chops in reserve, ready for more aggressive tires and more challenging trails or more 2025 KTM 390 ENDURO R ($5499) ENGINE Single Cylinder, 4-Stroke DISPLACEMENT 398.7cc BORE X STROKE 89mm x 64mm VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4 valves FUELING Bosch EFI, 46 mm Electronic Throttle Body ELECTRONICS Bosch EMU, Ride-by-Wire Throttle, Street and Off-Road ride modes with switchable Traction Control HORSEPOWER (CLAIMED) 44 hp TORQUE (CLAIMED) 32.5 lb-ft @ 6250 rpm TRANSMISSION Six-Speed, Optional Quickshift+ CLUTCH Manual PASC Slipper Clutch FRAME Steel frame and removable steel subframe HANDLEBARS Tapered aluminum FRONT SUSPENSION WP 43mm Apex fork, compression and rebound adjustable REAR SUSPENSION WP Apex Split-Piston direct-mount monoshock, preload and rebound adjustable FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 9 inches REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 9 inches FRONT BRAKE Bybre dual-piston caliper, 285mm floating disc, switchable ABS REAR BRAKE Bybre single-piston caliper, 240mm disc, switchable ABS FRONT WHEEL / TIRE 1.85" x 21" Spoked Tube Type / 90/90R-21 REAR WHEEL / TIRE 2.50" x 18" Spoked Tube Type / 140/80R-18 STEERING HEAD ANGLE 62.9° WHEELBASE 58 +/- .06 in. SEAT HEIGHT 35 in. FUEL CAPACITY 2.37 gal. WEIGHT (WET, CLAIMED) 363.7 full of fuel and standard equipment installed COUNTRY OF ORIGIN India