Where is KTM's serious small adventure bike?
Recently we reviewed the 390 Adventure.
Our conclusion?
A great price.
A solid performer for anyone wanting a road-oriented adventure bike.
And unlike many bikes, it has a low seat height.
And the ergonomics really suit shorter riders.
But the moment you ride it,
you can tell it's just a road bike with a few modifications to suit dirt roads.
And that's okay if that's all you need.
But our question is...
can KTM create a more dirt-oriented small adventure bike?
Many will say they have already with the KTM 690.
But we believe that is a mid-sized bike with a high seat height.
Here is what we have in mind.
A 350EXC-F.
Adapt the windscreen from one of the bigger bikes.
The same for the seat and a bigger tank.
Then all the invisible stuff.
A 'cush drive' on the rear wheel.
Expanded oil capacity.
Detune the engine enough to ditch that crazy one month warranty and extend it to a year.
How much would it weigh?
The bike would still be a featherweight.
If it gained 10kg or 22lb, it would still be far lighter than a KTM 690.
And more importantly, far lighter than the existing 390 Adventure.
The cost?
I imagine it would be $2000 more expensive, which is a problem
compared to the very cheap 390 Adventure which is made in India.
What I find very interesting is that all of this could be transferred to the 500 model,
and in effect create a very lightweight more dirt-oriented version of the 690.
It's all food for thought.
Regular viewers will know I have messed around with attempting
adventure conversions of various enduro bikes in the past, with mixed results.
And it has always puzzled me
that none of the major manufacturers have made a serious attempt at this.
And when a smaller manufacturer attempts this,
it does not prove popular and the model is discontinued.
This happened with CCM when they created the impressive looking GP450.
Adventure forums are full of riders like me asking why these adventurised dirt bikes don't exist.
And they set about creating their own by putting on big fuel tanks, a comfortable seat,
and a windscreen.
But the problems kick in with the more technical side,
such as trying to adapt cush drive rear wheels and get an expanded oil capacity.
I suspect the reality is it's such a niche market that the accountants say it won't pay.
Most adventure riders are probably only going to be riding on the road
with the occasional easy dirt road too.
And so bikes like the 390 Adventure probably suit the current market.
What do you guys think?
Would you be keen on seeing the manufacturers adapt their enduro models for adventure riding?
Or do you think the current crop of bikes are doing the job?
Let us know in the comments.