The Rally brings together over 150 riders from across the globe to celebrate the best values of ADVENTURE riding. This includes thrilling rides on scenic dirt roads, exploring uncharted forests, conquering challenging terrains, and connecting with fellow passionate riders. Joining a KTM Adventure Rally lets one embrace the true essence of adventure and the KTM spirit. The Norwegian outing will be immense. The range of terrain and geography defines the KTM ‘adventure’ spirit and the Kvitfjell Hotel is a spectacular base to savor this unique part of the world.

KTM now invites KTM Adventure owners in India to participate in this prestigious rally which is scheduled between 24th to 28th July 2023. Limited seats only!

KTM has sourced the bikes, and accommodation cemented the logistics and confirmed the routes. Adventurers can either form part of guided groups or open their own GPS to tackle more than 180 km daily of gravel roads ‘RALLY’ style. KTM has also planned technical back-up in case of any unwanted issues and laid-on non-riding entertainment with some special KTM ambassadors to further enrich the event.

Participating has never been simpler, especially with the assistance of the KTM India team, which will facilitate the registration process for KTM customers.

The WP APEX suspension hardware is fully adjustable for compression, rebound and preload. This achieves that rare chemistry of tactile grip with the road and confidence-inspiring efficiency for the dirt. Damping at the front USD forks is of 30 clicks each for compression and rebound. The rear mono-shock is adjustable by 20 clicks for a rebound while retaining 10-step preload adjustability. This enables the rider to customize their ride quality, handling, and comfort as per their individual preferences and laden weight.

The bike now has tough yet light spoked wheels (19” front and 17” rear) with black anodized aluminium rims. So, unplanned meetings with roots and stones out on the trail will not bring the journey to a swift halt.

The 2023 KTM 390 Adventure has been launched at Rs 3.60 lakh (ex-showroom). The earlier model along with the recently introduced 390 Adventure X will be on sale too.

Nothing can beat the thrill of riding through the forbidden kingdom of Upper Mustang on a motorcycle. Located in the remote Himalayas, this captivating destination mesmerizes with its rugged cliffs, breathtaking canyons, and profound Tibetan Buddhist heritage. Starting from Gorakhpur, the scenic route goes through Kathmandu – Pokhara – Lete – Jomsom – Lo Mangthang – Nupra Pass – Samar – Muktinath – Tatopani – Pokhara and ends back at Gorakhpur.

The specially curated tour takes the riders through breath-taking routes, including perilous passes, muddy paths and tricky trails, with exhilarating moments awaiting at every twist and turn. Renowned off-road specialists from Nepal will give participants one-on-one instructions and support to hone their skills and unlock their riding potential to the fullest. All this, along with a full-day, high-altitude Adventure Academy at Nupra Pass will be a part of the signature KTM Adventure tour that has become extremely popular with KTM riders who are passionate about off-roading and adventure.

Commenting on the initiative, Sumeet Narang, President Probiking, said, “The KTM Pro-XP is designed to help our owners realize their full biking potential. We want them to know that they are riding a high-performance motorcycle that is built to deliver a superior experience on the street and off-road. This year, we are launching our first tour outside India at Upper Mustang, Nepal. The tour promises to test the capabilities of both man and machine, with a series of experiences specifically crafted for the same. We are confident that the riders who take this tour will witness a remarkable improvement in their adventure riding skills, get a better understanding of their KTM machine and gain the confidence needed to navigate any terrain. We welcome our Adventure owners to register themselves for this flagship experience and undertake a ride of their lifetime.”

To mark this historic occasion, Mr Stefan Pierer, CEO – Pierer Mobility AG and Mr Rajiv Bajaj, MD & CEO – Bajaj Auto Limited were present at the company’s Chakan plant. The duo recounted the remarkable journey of KTM in India and spoke about the extraordinary success story of KTM’s global journey.

The achievement showcases Bajaj Auto’s prowess as a global manufacturing hub for motorcycles across categories. Bajaj Auto’s Chakan plant emerges as a key centre for exports in the country, given that half the KTMs were shipped to mature markets worldwide. Bajaj Auto co-develops and manufactures a range of motorcycles spanning KTM (125cc to 390cc) and Husqvarna (125cc to 401cc) brands.

Many of the models produced here have cutting-edge technology like Motorcycle Traction Control, Cornering ABS, Supermoto ABS, Quickshifter+, and TFT displays which have been firsts in the segment. Most importantly, these introductions have led to an upgrade in the technology landscape of Indian motorcycles as well as the vendor ecosystem.

The KTM Pro-XP riders underwent off-road training at the high-altitude Adventure Academy at Zimithang at an altitude of over 8000 feet. This gave them the necessary skills to take on the challenges of the tour with ease.

The KTM Pro-XPians conquered about 2,000 km traversing multiple terrains like forests, tarmac, broken tarmac, water crossings, slush, gravel, mud, sand, and twisties under the able guidance of KTM Adventure experts.

The KTM riders took up a challenging ride to Bum La pass, the highest pass in the trip, at an altitude of over 15,000 feet. The riders also visited landmark locations like the Tawang, Sela pass, Tenga Valley, Ziro Valley, Seppa pass.

Sumeet Narang, President, Probiking, said: “The KTM Pro-XP platform is designed to help owners discover their biking potential and get to know the true capabilities of their KTM machines. We are elated to have successfully completed the Northeast Adventure Tour. Curated experiences like visiting Bum La pass, Ziro Valley, and the high-altitude Adventure Academy with KTM Experts are the hallmark of a KTM Pro-XP tour.”

The upcoming calendar includes activities under Pro-Getaways, Adventure Trails, and Adventure Escape. These next set of activities come close on the heels of the successful conclusion of 18 events that were conducted in the first half of September 2022.

Speaking on the occasion, Sumeet Narang, President (Probiking) at Bajaj Auto Ltd. said:

We witnessed passionate riders eager to learn whilst showcasing their skills in September 2022 till date. KTM, which is the most loved European motorcycling brand among biking enthusiasts in India, constantly aims to provide world class pro-biking experiences to every customer. It makes me happy to share that till date, we have encouraged over 10,000 KTM owners who have participated in KTM Pro-XP. With the success of Pro-XP events under the KTM umbrella, we plan to replicate more such events in other cities across the country.

The KTM Pro-XP riders underwent off-road training at the high-altitude Adventure Academy at Nubra at an altitude of over 10000 feet. This gave them the necessary skills to take on the challenges of the tour with ease.

The KTM Pro-XPians conquered over 2,300 km traversing multiple terrains like tarmac, hills, sand dunes, dry riverbeds, slush, gravel, mud, river crossing, forests and twisties under the able guidance of KTM Adventure experts.

The KTM riders took up a challenging ride to Umling La, the highest motorable road in the world, at an altitude of over 19,000 feet. The riders also visited many landmark locations like the Tanglang La, Khardung La, Nubra, Pangong Tso, Tso Morriri.

KTM has successfully concluded its 11-day, 12-night KTM Pro-XP Adventure Tour to Spiti. Guided by KTM experts, a group of 26 KTM Adventure riders overcame some of the most demanding riding challenges at altitudes of over 14,900 feet to return as pros with stories to tell.

The KTM Pro-XP riders underwent off-road training at the world’s highest Adventure Academy at Lari at an altitude of around 11000 feet. This prepared the riders to take on the treacherous passes with ease. Dhar Lung Wooh, at an altitude of 14,900 feet, is a rarely visited location, especially by a large group of riders, due to its steep off-roads.

The 26 KTM riders successfully conquered mind and terrain to achieve this feat. The riders also visited the Kunzum La through the pass. They relived the proud moments of 2021 when the KTM 390 Adventure won the ‘Kunzum Kaiser’ title in 2021 at the Kunzum La pass beating a rally racing car.

The Pro-XP riders tested their limits and learned new off-roading skills while enjoying the beauty of Spiti. The cliff-hanger routes uphill to Spiti at altitudes of over 10,000 feet bolstered their confidence to take on any terrain. The riders also visited many other landmarks, from the world’s highest post office in Hikkim to Asia’s highest bridge in Chicham.

The riders will make the journey to the breathtaking Ladakh, riding across multiple terrains like sand dunes, dry riverbeds, gravel, slush, forest areas etc. Riders will cover an average distance of 1200 kms over 14D13N.

As part of the tour, riders will also get to learn professional riding techniques from the experts at the high-altitude KTM adventure academy. Riders will have the opportunity to ride at 17k+ feet altitude through sites like Khardung La, Tanglangla and an uncharted adventurous route from Pangong Tso to Tso Morri, Siachen glacier to erect the Indian Tricolor.

Covering the most iconic locations of Ladakh, the tour is set to the flag-off from Manali and covers Jispa; Sarchu; Tanglang La; Leh; Nubra Valley; Pangong Tso; Hanle; Tso Moriri; Tsokar.

Riders will get to visit several famous places, offering unique experiences during the tour, which include: Rohtang Tunnel; Zanskar Valley; Singo La; Baralacha Pass; Lachung La; Nubra Valley; Daulat Beg Oldi; 250-year-old Insta Monastery; Karzok village.

KTM Adventure Trails are aimed at introducing the owners to adventure biking by taking them on single-day rides exploring exciting trails. These nature trails have been carefully selected and curated by KTM Experts to provide a wholesome riding experience and to impart basic riding techniques for navigating terrains of different kinds.

The Adventure Trails are curated in a way that within the vicinity of their cities, riders discover hidden paths that they have never seen before. They also help in familiarizing the riders with the capabilities of their KTM Adventure bikes and their versatility both on and off the road. KTM Adventure Trails are organised exclusively for KTM Adventure owners and customers who wish to enrol can reach out to their respective dealerships as per the schedule.

KTM Adventure Trails are led by KTM Experts who are accomplished off-road & multi-terrain specialists. They are the guiding force behind this property and take special care in ensuring that riders of different skill sets are able to successfully navigate the trails. The Adventure Trail in Mumbai began from KTM Vashi to Karjat. The ride was accompanied by KTM Expert Rider Varad More along with Sangram Devekar.

During the course of the day ride, the owners get to experience a hands-on session focusing on crucial off-roading essentials like vision, body control, bike controls, etc. An explanation and demonstration of the tech features in the Adventure bikes like the MTC, Off-road ABS, Cornering ABS, Quickshifter+, etc. enrich the day with loads of learning and trail riding fun.

KTM Adventure Academy is aimed at impacting crucial trail riding & off-roading skills to the owners of the KTM Adventure range. The closed-circuit program is specially designed under the guidance of KTM International Athletes and is anchored by KTM’s Master Trainers. The participants were awarded a Bronze Level certification for clearing the single day training program.

This edition of the Adventure Academy was conducted at the training ground Pro-Dirt Adventure near Mumbai. The event, aimed at delivering an exciting, premium, and pro-biking experience was met with an overwhelming response. The program was attended by KTM Adventure customers from Mumbai, who went through multiple drills to sharpen their off roading skills and discover the adventurer in them, all under the guidance of KTM Master Trainer – Varad More along with Sangram Devekar and his team of experts.

KTM Adventure Academy is conceptualized with the purpose of spreading the culture of Adventure riding amongst the Indian riding community. The event promises to engage experienced riders with some of the best off-roading drills & rides while beginner riders get an opportunity to make their first move towards developing their skills off tarmac. At the event in Mumbai, customers were trained on the theory of bike setup & controls, bike lifting, postures, long distance tour planning and improved their ride skills through multiple drills like slalom, hill recovery, figure of 8, power turns, etc.

Since its entry into India in 2012, KTM has grown its presence to over 365 cities & 460 stores. KTM has built a strong customer base of over 3.1 lac biking enthusiasts in this short period of time making India the largest global market for KTM.

The KTM PRO-XP App allows the riders to record and track their riding experiences with metrics like the number of trips, distance, pictures, and maps across time. Owners can start a ride, or search and join rides of fellow KTM owners. The App facilitates the seamless creation of automated travel stories and videos.

The owners can also connect with like-minded KTM riders through the App and share their experiences with the owner community. The ‘Discover’ tab on the App allows riders to book KTM’s curated PRO-XP events which cover a range of exclusive, exciting, premium and differentiated riding experiences, across Off-Road Adventure, Street and Track. The app has been developed in partnership with KOGO, India’s leading road trips platform.

Speaking on the occasion Sumeet Narang, President (Probiking) at Bajaj Auto Ltd., said, “The new KTM PRO-XP app is designed for new age bikers who want to amplify their biking experiences through recording, sharing and engaging with other KTM owners. It’s a unique platform where bikers can announce their rides, join each other, and record special moments for sharing. It’s the one-stop destination for bikers to engage with one another, document their rides, set up groups or sign up for specially curated KTM led pro-experiences. We are sure KTM owners will love this app and add a new dimension to their biking passion.”

Owners can download the KTM India App on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The App has 2 sections – KTM PRO-XP & KTM_SERVICE.

In one of the leaked images (above), we can clearly see the adjusters on top of the front forks. The left fork top has a white adjuster whereas the right fork top has a red adjuster. This setup is identical to the one which is available on the international-spec KTM 390 Adventure that features adjustable compression as well as rebound damping for the front forks. This suggests that the new KTM RC 390 would offer the same level of adjustment options.

Also Read: KTM 790 Adventure Spied in India, to Launch in Upcoming Festive Season?

As for the rear suspension, the new motorcycle will be equipped with a monshock with pre-load adjustability and might also offer rebound damping.

The adjustable suspension setup on the new KTM RC 390 is indeed tempting and will be welcomed with open arms, especially by enthusiasts. It will provide riders with the option of tuning the suspension settings as per their liking and extract the maximum out of the fast motorcycle. However, it would be interesting to see whether KTM introduces the new RC 390 with adjustable suspension in the Indian market or not because the Austrian brand had opted for a similar strategy with the KTM 390 Adventure.

Well, to know exactly what KTM has in mind, we will need to wait a bit more. Since the new RC 390 has already been revealed thanks to these leaked images, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the updated model getting launched in India very soon.

Timeline & Route

KTM India has collaborated with Padma Shri awardee Ajeet Bajaj and his award-winning adventure tour company Snow Leopard Adventures for the Great Ladakh Adventure Tour. It will be conducted from 21 August to 3 September and promises to be an experience perfectly suited for KTM 390 Adventure and 250 Adventure motorcycles and owners.

Also Read: KTM Duke, RC, Adventure Range in India Becomes Significantly Costlier

Special routes have been curated through the less travelled paths of Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri and Siachen. Riders will conquer over 2,300 km traversing multiple terrains like tarmac, hills, sand dunes, dry riverbeds, slush, gravel, mud, river crossing, forests and twisties. The route planned is as follows - Chandigarh - Manali - Jispa - Sarchu - Leh - Nubhra Valley - Pangong Tso - TsoMoriri - Sarchu - Manali - Chandigarh.

The Great Ladakh Adventure Tour will be led by KTM Experts - Varad More, Nilesh Dhumal & Sangram Patil - who will also conduct pre-tour mentorship sessions and train the riders for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. There will also be a special motivational talk by Padma Shri Ajeet Bajaj which will set the tone for the tour. One of the key highlights of the tour is the special set of high-altitude Adventure Academy training at Nubra, which will be conducted at 12000+ ft.

Also Read: KTM 790 Adventure Spied in India, to Launch in Upcoming Festive Season?

How to Participate?

KTM 390 Adventure and 250 Adventure owners can register themselves for the Great Ladakh Adventure Tour online. Only 20 seats are available and will be provided on a first-come-first-serve basis. For the safety and convenience of the riders, the tour would be accompanied by a breakdown vehicle, service support, expert doctors, and paramedic. There would also be an Adventure Sports Insurance cover up to INR 5 lakh per person. All logistics and stay arrangements would be expertly managed by Snow Leopard Adventures. The entire tour will cost INR 35,000.

This year, prices of KTM Duke, RC and Adventure models in India were increased for the first time in January followed by a second hike in April. And now, we have yet another price revision.

Also Read: Watch KTM 390 Duke Reach 160 kmph in Under 20 Seconds

With the implementation of the latest price change, the KTM 125 Duke will cost you INR 1.70 lakh, a hike of nearly INR 10K. And, for a reminder, this is the most affordable and entry-level product in KTM India’s entire lineup and it costs nearly the same as the Suzuki Gixxer 250. On the other hand, the KTM 390 Duke now retails at INR 2.87 lakh, more than INR 11K more than before.

Following is a detailed price table for your reference.

Also Read: New KTM RC 390 - Is it Worth the Wait?

We can see in the table that in the Duke series, it is the 390 model that has received the highest price hike. Similarly, the RC 390 sees the highest price change in the RC range. The KTM 250 Adventure price has not been increased by much because, as per the reports, only the freight for this model has seen a change.

All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi

We can see in the video that the KTM 390 Adventure and KTM 390 Duke are lined up parallel to each other at the starting point. For some reason, the speedometer of the ADV isn’t working, however, the rider has enabled his action camera’s GPS which shows the actual speed of the motorcycle.

Also Read: KTM 750 Adventure Showcased via its First Digital Render

In the first attempt, both motorcycles get off the mark almost at the same time, however, we think that the KTM 390 Adventure rider has a better start as he begins to slowly pull away from the KTM 390 Duke. He is quick to gain speeds and it appears that the windscreen of the 390 Adventure is acting in his favour; well, at least for some time. The KTM 390 Duke isn’t far behind and after a few seconds, it’s able to catch his adventure sibling and even get past it. Based on the GPS data, the 390 Adventure manages to achieve a top speed of 153 kmph whereas the 390 Duke touches 156 kmph on the speedometer and wins the race.

For the second attempt, the riders switch motorcycles to keep the game fair and square. This time, it’s the KTM 390 Duke that gets off the mark first thanks to the rider’s skills. The motorcycle then takes off leaving the KTM 390 Adventure behind. We can see in the footage that the rider is properly crouched trying to reduce some windblast. As a result, he manages to reach 160 kmph (speedometer indicated). On the other hand, the 390 Adventure rider pushes the motorcycle to its limits but there’s no chance of catching the 390 Duke. The gap is so big that he can’t even try using slipstream. So, the winner of the second drag race is the 390 Duke.

Even though the KTM 390 Adventure and 390 Duke share several parts, it doesn’t mean they’re going to be equally quick; of course, there are many factors to consider in such drag races. However, we think that both motorcycles are amongst the best models in their respective segment and do what they are meant to do very well.

For more such interesting stories, keep checking IndianAutosBlog.com.

Furthermore, KTM also revealed that the production of these new models will commence in the coming months, with the bike manufacturer aiming to unveil them by next year. The exact details about the new 750cc powerplant are yet to be revealed. The idea behind KTM introducing a new range of 750cc bikes is quite simple. KTM is planning to discontinue the 790 Duke because KTM’s 890 models are already on sale in several foreign markets. Moreover, the two-wheeler manufacturer is also planning to introduce its 490cc parallel-twin range in the near future. These will be manufactured at Bajaj’s Chakan production facility.

The new 750cc range from KTM will act as a bridge between the 490cc and 890cc motorcycles in the global markets. As a bonus, the upcoming 750cc range of KTM motorcycles will be more affordable than the 790 Duke. On the other hand, the new 750cc twin-cylinder engine will be used in KTM bikes along with CF Moto bikes. The KTM 790 Duke was discontinued in India last year due to BS6 emission norms coming into place. Right now, the KTM 390 Adventure is its company's flagship bike in our market. Hailed as one of the most capable adventure bikes in its segment, it draws power from a 373cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that develops 42.3bhp of maximum power, 37 Nm of peak torque and comes paired to a 6-speed gearbox. It carries a price tag of INR 3.16 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The video has been uploaded by YouTuber “Bigbang Biker”. To test out the top speed of the KTM 390 Adventure, the rider do three attempts. On his first try, he is able to reach 156km/h. This is a trial or practice run and we can see in the footage that the motorbike isn’t pushed to the limits. In his second attempt, the rider attains 166km/h. He can’t go any faster because of the intense wind blast.

Also Read: Ashish Raorane On A KTM 390 Adventure Sets World's Highest Hill Climb Record

For his last and final go, the KTM 390 Adventure rider gives it all and achieves a top speed of 173km/h. As we can see that there are still some revs left before the redline, thus, we think that the motorcycle would have gone a bit faster if pushed a little more. We would also like to point out that the weight of the rider, as told, is 95kg. The outcome would have been different if someone weighing less was riding the motorcycle.

So, can KTM 390 Adventure surpass 173km/h? Yes, we think it can. If you have a 390 Adventure, do let us know in the comments below the top speed that you have touched on your motorcycle.

In other news, KTM has recently revealed the limited-edition 1290 Super Duke RR. It is the angriest beast in the Austrian brand’s stable that comes with the most powerful V-twin engine to be ever used in a naked motorcycle. Just to put things into perspective, the 1290 Super Duke RR has 180hp and it weighs a mere 180kg.

For more such interesting stories, keep checking IndianAutosBlog.com.