The Most Exciting Adventure Bike Coming In 2025

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The Honda Africa Twin is revered as the first to popularize automatic transmission among ADVs. Now, BMW has its own version of an automated gearbox in the R 1300 GS. The newest member to join this club is a highly anticipated upcoming KTM adventure motorcycle. But apart from its highly anticipated gearbox option, this motorcycle is also slated to be the most powerful adventure motorcycle by Team Orange.

That would be courtesy of its hooliganistic 1,350cc V-twin straight from the 1390 Super Duke R. So we are looking at a worthy rival to the mad bunch of ADVs, including the Ducati Multistrada V4, the Triumph Tiger 1200, and the BMW R 1300 GS. For all these reasons, the upcoming Super Adventure gets our vote for the most exciting ADV coming in 2025. We're sure you'll feel the same way after reading through the article.

The information compiled in this article was sourced from the respective manufacturers’ official websites to ensure accuracy. Any speculation in this article is based on prior trends of similar models. This concerns the motorcycle's engine specs and performance rating mentioned in this article.

We're placing our bets on Yamaha to leave us jaw-dropped for MY25

The 1290 Super Adventure duo has had a lasting effect with its on-road and off-road finesse. Topping that was always going to be a task, but KTM has been cooking hard with the 1290 Adventure's successor. Called the 1390 Super Adventure, the upcoming ADV will be KTM's most powerful ever made.

Apart from packing a streetfighter-derived engine (more on that below), the ADV will also be loaded with some cool technology features. We even saw its impressive off-road abilities when the prototype was pushed to its limits at a Red Bull Erzbergrodeo event. KTM also deployed the 1390 Super Adventure prototype in the Iron Road Prolog and finished in seventh position. So it's already making waves, even though the real deal is yet to debut.

Just like how the 1290 Duke and Adventure models shared similar engines, the new 1390 Super Adventure models will also be powered by a 1,350cc V-Twin engine derived from the mighty 1390 Super Duke R. Compared to the 1290 V-Twin, there are a lot of upgrades here. It is 49cc bigger, achieved by increasing the bore from 108 mm to 110 mm. The 71 mm stroke remains unchanged, meanwhile.

A very cool new feature of this engine is the cam-shift. This lets the engine switch between two inlet profiles for different rev bands. In other words, it's a more aggressive and sophisticated cousin of VVT. This, plus updated engine internals, ensures an increased output to 187 ponies (or 190 PS as KTM mentions). This is around 10 up from the outgoing 1290 mill.

While the engine will be shared between the ADV and the streetfighter, the power and torque curve will differ. The 1290 Super Adventure has 17 horsepower less than the 1290 Super Duke. So assuming a similar trend, the base 1390 Super Adventure will have a power output of around 170 horsepower and over 100 pound-feet of torque. We expect an upgraded six-speed PANKL transmission to be used, too.

Engine Configuration

V-Twin; Liquid-Cooled

Engine Displacement

1,350cc

Power

187 HP

Torque

107 LB-FT

Transmission

6-Speed

The most exciting feature we look forward to in the 2025 KTM 1390 Super Adventure is a semi-automatic transmission. This will be the first-ever KTM to have the just announced AMT. We got a glimpse of this when two-time World Enduro Champion Johny Aubert went full-send with the prototype at a Red Bull Erzbergrodeo event in June 2024. A few days ago, KTM officially unveiled its automated manual transmission (AMT). Being up front as ever, KTM quotes:

This isn't your granddad's auto transmission.

The company wants to clarify that the automatic transmission will be a lot of fun. The system will offer a choice between a manual mode (M) and a throttle-and-go automated mode (A). With the latter, the rider has to just twist the throttle to get going. The "M" mode, on the other hand, means you'll have to shift manually via the dedicated left-side switchgear, including two cute-looking paddle shifters. Both are housed neatly at the bottom of the switchgear.

It makes more power than the Yamaha MT-09 SP and Kawasaki Z900

Unlike traditional gear sequences (1-N-2-3-4-5-6), the AMT features a distinctive sequence (P-N-1-2-3-4-5-6) where P is for parking and prevents the motorcycle from rolling. Also, the manual mode (M) can initiate High Rev limiter shifting, allowing the bike to shift gears at high RPMs. This can be turned on or off to cater better to riding situations. The automatic mode (A) also offers three shift modes (Comfort, Street, and Sport). Various parameters are used to curate distinctive riding experiences.

Another cool feature that will work wonders when in tandem with the AMT is KTM's Bosch-sourced radar-assisted motorcycle technology features. Features like radar-assisted cruise control, blind spot detection, and more ride-assistive features will work seamlessly with the AMT to offer a cozy riding experience. Since the 1290 already has these, we can be sure the 1390 would build on the idea.

Currently, KTM has confirmed that two 1390 Super Adventure models will be unveiled on October 22 and 24, 2024. The S EVO will first break cover, which we suspect will be the top-spec model loaded with all the latest and greatest engine and technology features. These include the AMT gearbox, the radar-based assistive features, and the semi-active suspension setup. The 1390 Super Adventure S is the second model launching on the 24th, which will most likely be marginally toned down lower than the EVO.

Once here, the all-new 1390 Super Adventure will dart head-first into a segment populated by huge technology-packed ADVs. Its closest competitor (if the 1390 Adventure packs 170 horses, as we suspect) is the mighty Ducati Multistrada V4. It would also be fun if KTM pushed the 1390 Adventure S EVO's power rating to 180 horsepower. If so, the undisputed Multistrada V4 RS will have a bone to pick. While less powerful, the R 1300 GS and Tiger 1200 are also worthy rivals to the upcoming KTM ADV. Aside from these, there's another rival: the Moto Guzzi Stelvio. It impressed us with its advanced features, especially its active aero.

Two road-going 1390 Super Adventure models are confirmed for 2025. But we have yet to hear of a 1390 Super Adventure R model. The 1290 Super Adventure has one and was hooned to be an off-roading hooligan. While it's not official, the 1390 Super Adventure was modified to be a dirt machine, as seen in the above-embedded video. So this gives us a strong reason to believe that the off-road-ready 1390 Super Adventure R will soon join the list. You can expect plenty from the R, some of which are mentioned below.

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