Motorcycle description sheet KTM1390 Super Adventure R 2025 Rhinoceros Austriacus

What kind of creature can chop down a tree in the morning, dodge a rock in the afternoon, cross a country in the evening, and wash up with sand at night? This is the wish of the 1390 Super Adventure R. KTM pushes the limits and specifics of the trail bike on steroids even further. It seems that it's no longer satisfied with crossing the line; it now wants to slaughter it.

A ferocious beast unleashed on the trails

This vitamin-packed motorcycle has what it takes, and its power is improving all the time. One wonders why! There was already a huge dose of muscle with the 160 hp of the 1290, but apparently not enough: the Super Adv' family has switched to an even more generous twin with 1350 cm3 displacement and a variable valve timing system. The benefits are substantial, with 13 more horses in the tank and improved torque. The machine now boasts 173 horsepower at 9,500 rpm.

That's incredible. Let's not even talk about torque. At around 15 mkg, it'll put a redwood to sleep before the clutch is even warmed up. But that's not enough for this new generation. The Camshift system shifts the intake cams at a given rpm, making the big twin more usable at normal revs. Then, after 6,500 rpm, the configuration changes in milliseconds to draw in more gas mixture and boost the cavalry's load. As you can see, the Super Adventure doesn't fear anyone in its field.
Perhaps high-fury hypertrails like the M 1000 XR or the Multistrada V4 RS... But they only know the road or the circuit; the KTM strives to take its performance off-road.

Its big crash-bars show this with ferocity. Katoche takes the opportunity to reinforce them. Along with the rally-team spirit decor, they are the main distinguishing feature of the Super Adventure S. Between the GT-oriented model and this more expansive R, a good number of elements assert the adventurer's side: spoked rims, Bridgestone AT 41 mixed tires, 20 mm more suspension travel, a one-piece seat, a shorter windscreen for a better view ahead and of obstacles, and of course the frame painted orange like all Mattighofen R models.

Since the 1290, the bike has certainly put on 3 kilos, but its formidable increase in watts more than compensates for the extra weight. It has also gained a more complicated but no less tortured face, a package holder, wider handlebars, a stiffer frame, footrests lowered by 8 mm, a new Brembo master cylinder, and a color TFT screen with new layout. Now with an 8.8-inch diagonal, it rotates 90° for a more "road-book" view.

While the Super Adventure R and S share the same heart and backbone, they don't have the same suspension refrain. Adventure is best realized with unmanned components, experience and hand-tuning. No servo-motors or electronics in the WP elements present here, designed for hard use on rugged trails. The 48 mm XPLOR inverted fork with inner tubes and XPLOR PDS shock absorber are, of course, adjustable in all directions.
The wheels, too, are geared to the challenges ahead, and have a perfectly off-road profile, with 110 mm for 21 inches at the front and 150 mm for 18 inches at the rear. And to think that this poor gumshoe is going to have to put up with a hypersportive potato..

Not for little hands

Although the Super Adventure R has an even crazier stance, and is designed to take you far from the asphalt, you mustn't forget that it's a big machine. With a seat height of 880 mm, 231 kilos plus 23 liters of fuel and power at every level, the Austrian is clearly aimed at warriors, adventurers with a fairly high level of technical expertise, or fans of big trails who won't push it to its extremes.

Before you get there, you'll have to get past the electronics. Abundant, all-round, multi-sensitive, it watches over the Super Adventure R with traction control, cornering ABS, Street, Sport, Rain, Offroad and Custom riding modes (calibrating ABS, MTC, HHC, throttle response and engine braking) and has little extras like two USB-C ports, cruise control, the KTM Connect multimedia system, tire pressure monitoring and keyless entry.

There's even more for safety and/or technology fans in the options corner. These include an additional Rally driving mode, a shifter, hill-start assist, an adaptive brake light and a front radar system. The latter provides adaptive cruise control, collision warning, automatic brake assist and minimum distance alerts.

the big Adventure has been available in an R version for over 15 years. And even further back with the S version. The basic idea hasn't changed, but its strength has become surreal. A true conqueror's machine, with a level of technology far removed from the sense of resourcefulness .

M.B. - Manufacturer's photos