KTM 390 Adventure: Same Price, Other Options

Have the budget but not that keen on buying the KTM 390 Adventure? There’s one alternative for every other type of rider at the 390 ADV’s price point

After what seemed to be an endless wait, KTM has finally launched its highly awaited motorcycle, the 390 Adventure, in India. At Rs 2,99,000 (ex-showroom Delhi), the Austrian baby ADV is competitively priced for the kind of equipment it offers. While it may be a little more expensive than we thought, it still offers incredible value for money compared to its rivals. However, for riders who have that kind of budget but aren’t that keen on buying the KTM 390 Adventure, here are some of the other interesting alternatives:

Kawasaki Ninja 300 price: Rs 2,98,000

Kawasaki reduced the price of the Ninja 300 considerably after it became a heavily-localised motorcycle back in July 2018. For a brief period of time, it was the most affordable parallel twin-cylinder motorcycle (Rs 2.98 lakh ex-showroom India) in the country, until the Royal Enfield 650 twins stole its thunder. Interestingly, the Kawasaki Ninja 300’s price has still remained unchanged. This fully-faired sporty tourer comes with reasonably comfortable ergonomics, which coupled with the smooth twin-cylinder motor ensures effortless mile-munching capability.

The motorcycle is powered by a 296cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine which churns out 39PS at 11,000rpm and 27Nm at 10,000rpm. It is paired with a 6-speed transmission with assist and slipper clutch. The underpinnings include telescopic front fork and a rear 5-step preload-adjustable bottom-link monoshock. As far as electronics are concerned, it gets dual-channel ABS as standard.

BMW G 310 R price: Rs 2,99,000

At Rs 2,99,000 ex-showroom India, the BMW G 310 R is the most affordable motorcycle from the Bavarian auto major. A by-product of the TVS-BMW Motorrad partnership, this motorcycle comes with a premium fit and finish and a modern 313cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled DOHC motor. With 33.99PS and 28Nm on tap, the motor is a bit underpowered for the price it commands. However, it offers great mid-range grunt. Another grouse is that for a premium motorcycle, the vibrations, particularly at the tank area can get a little too intrusive while cruising at 100kmph.

Benelli TNT 300 price: Rs 2,99,000

Priced at Rs 2,99,000 (ex-showroom India), the Benelli TNT 300 does feel a tad expensive considering its competition. That said, if you want a sweet-sounding old-school Benelli, this is the bike to go for. It is powered by a 300cc parallel-twin motor, which produces 38.26PS at 11,500rpm and 26.5Nm at 10,000rpm. 

The motorcycle gets premium underpinnings like inverted front fork, rear offset monoshock, twin 260mm petal discs up front and a 240mm petal disc at the rear. It also gets a generous 16-litre fuel tank for better touring capability. The only disappointment is that the bike feels quite heavy, thanks to the 196kg kerb weight.

Benelli 302R price: Rs 3,10,000

The Benelli 302R is more of a decent sports tourer than an out-and-out performance machine. Its ergonomics is slightly sporty but is still comfortable enough to help you munch miles effortlessly. With a price tag of Rs 3,10,000 (ex-showroom India), the motorcycle is Rs 11,000 more than the KTM 390 Adventure but its feature list isn’t anywhere close to the Austrian terrain tamer. It gets the same engine as the TNT 300 and makes the same power and torque too. There are no electronics except for dual-channel ABS.

The best part of this motorcycle is its Metzeler Sportec M5 tyres -- though they're slimmer than the ones on the TNT 300, they offer impressive grip, masking that 198kg kerb weight rather beautifully. Suspension bits include a 45mm inverted front fork and a monoshock at the rear. 

Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Chrome price: Rs 3,01,307

Called Mister Clean, the Chrome variant of the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is the most value-for-money motorcycle in this list. At Rs 3,01,307, (ex-showroom Delhi), it is not only the most affordable 650cc motorcycle in this list, but also the most powerful one. The 648cc parallel-twin air-cooled motor with oil cooler produces 47PS and 52Nm. Royal Enfield has ensured plenty of bottom-end grunt in this motorcycle. The motor is also powerful enough to sustain speeds well above 100kmph all day long. 

However, the fairly sporty riding ergonomics may not be comfortable for longer distances on the highway. That said, the motorcycle really comes alive on the twisties, as the low-set clip-on handlebars offer direct feedback from the front-end. But you may have to stop for refuelling more frequently because of the small-ish 12.5-litre fuel tank.