KTM’s newest big-bore adventure bike has been revealed ahead of the EICMA show in Milan, and it definitely is a big step forward for the brand, although some riders may not initially appreciate some of its features.
However, some of the upgrades are almost certainly going to be massively popular right out of the gate, starting with a new 1390 engine that debuted in the Super Duke lineup last year. It’s now spreading to other models including the Super Duke GT and the Adventure series. The V-twin (liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, naturally!) is bumped in displacement to 1350cc and now has a variable valve timing system, done by cam phasing, similar to BMW’s Shiftgate design. All these changes reduce emissions while allowing the engine to run more efficiently, and boosting power to 173 hp. That puts it atop the heap of current-production ADVs.
Even more significantly, the V-twin engine gets the AMT gearbox as an option. This has no clutch lever; with a centrifugal clutch design and electronically-activated gearbox, riders can either use the AMT gearbox like a full-auto, twist-and-go setup, or they can shift manually via foot lever or paddle shifters on the handlebars.
This is optional, let us stress again; you can also buy the new 1390 with a standard-shift six-speed gearbox. But if you want the AMT, there is no added cost.
KTM’s other updates to the engine include clever engineering that reduce valve clearance intervals to 60,000 km. In other words: The first owner of most of these machines isn’t going to be stuck with that maintenance bill, if they sell the bike before hitting that mark.
The rest of the bike sees similar changes. The frame gets the usual tweaking for improved handling, and the front and rear semi-active suspension system are updated with new WP SAT fork and shock. These use electromagnetically-controlled valves to control damping by regulating oil travel, and have a “through-rod” design. Riders have four different damping modes to choose from on the TFT screen, and if they pay for the Suspension Pro package, they can tweak them even further.
The 1390 Adventure S EVO has a 19-inch front rim and a 17-inch rear, as it’s the street-oriented version of the new flagship ADV (the R version will get a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear). KTM spec’d Dunlop Meridian rubber, intended to handle wet-weather conditions with aplomb.
The Austrians added new brake master cylinders and pads, but otherwise didn’t seem to change the stopping system’s hard parts that much. But the electronics? That’s a different story, as the bike now has Bosch’s most recent version of its safety electronics package.
That means leaning-sensitive ABS and traction control, of course, and other electro-trickery that we’ve come to see as standard or at least readily-available accessories on KTM bikes.
But it also means a new radar-powered adaptive cruise control system (which maintains a constant speed until it detects a vehicle in the lane in front—and then it maintains a constant following distance). That’s increasingly common on the top-tier touring bikes, and not particularly controversial. What is controversial is a new emergency braking system, which detects an emergency braking situation, determines whether or not the brakes are being applied fast enough—and if they aren’t the electronics will auto-apply more brake, to slow the rider down faster.
Some riders have spoken out against such tech, while others welcome the idea of another safety system that should be generally unobtrusive, and could perhaps save their life in a pinch.
If you ride enough long, hard miles, these might come in very useful, though. And touring riders, the target market for the new 1390, will certainly appreciate the new adjustable windshield, the adjustable ergos and the lower, wider footpegs, designed for comfort.
Add it all up and the bike takes a bit step forward. Unfortunately for Canadian customers, it’s not coming here as a 2025 model; we would not be surprised to see it arrive late next season as a 2026 machine.
The 2025 KTM 1390 Super Adventure S EVO looks like a game changer with its powerful 1390 engine and innovative AMT gearbox! The added safety features, like the adaptive cruise control and emergency braking system, show KTM’s dedication to rider safety and comfort—can’t wait to see it in action!