The KTM 390 Adventure R Is Built for Iceland
Iceland's landscape doesn't fit neatly into categories. You'll find stretches of smooth asphalt interrupted by gravel washboard, sudden climbs with loose volcanic rock, and sections where black sand replaces dirt entirely. Most riders assume you need a 1200cc heavyweight to handle it all, but the new KTM 390 Adventure R proves otherwise.
What Iceland Demands From a Motorcycle
Iceland's gravel roads can be bumpy or dusty with ruts and potholes present, and F-roads and mountain tracks in the Highlands tend to be primarily loose gravel with deep ruts, potholes, washboarding, and other obstacles that require good ground clearance. Most of the island isn't paved. Only 35% of Iceland's roads are paved, with the majority made of compacted gravel.
A motorcycle for Iceland needs three things: enough ground clearance not to bottom out, suspension that absorbs rough terrain without being harsh on pavement, and tires that grip both loose gravel and tarmac. It also needs to be light enough to handle when you inevitably drop it on ash.
The 390 Adventure R checks all three boxes.
The Right Amount of Ground Clearance and Suspension
The KTM 390 Adventure R has 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoked wheels with tube-type Mitas Enduro Trail E07+ tires, suspension travel of 9 inches front and rear, and ground clearance of 10.7 inches. That 10.7 inches of clearance is significant. It clears rocks and ruts that would hang up a standard street bike. The 21/18-inch wheel split—larger front, smaller rear—is the adventure bike blueprint: the bigger front wheel rolls over obstacles more forgivingly, while the smaller rear is easier to handle on twisty gravel.
The suspension handled everything from technical single track and soft sandy climbs to rocky fire roads and long highway sections without complaint, plush enough to deliver a comfortable ride on- and off-road while also maintaining control at higher speeds or under load.
Tires That Work on Gravel and Asphalt
The bike comes equipped with Mitas Enduro Trail E07+ tires. These are the compromise tires do best at: aggressive enough for loose gravel, structured enough for mixed terrain, not so knobby they wear out on pavement. Iceland's riding means you'll do both in a single day.
Light Enough to Live With
With the 3.7-gallon fuel tank full, the new Adventure R tips the scale at 388 pounds. Compare that to a BMW 1250 GSA at 550 pounds, or even many entry-level ADVs in the 430-pound range. In gravel or on a steep incline, that difference is the difference between handling a stall and getting pinned.
Power That Matches the Terrain
The 390 Adventure R is powered by a liquid-cooled 399cc LC4c Single that makes 45 hp and 28.8 lb-ft of torque. This isn't a lot of horsepower. On a highway, you won't feel invincible. But on gravel and in technical terrain, it's the right amount: enough to maintain momentum, not so much you're fighting the bike in sand.
Although the low-end grunt you'd expect on a dirt bike was noticeably lacking, the same power characteristic seemed acceptable on the Adventure R when considering its more-versatile Adventure use. The 390 isn't a low-end monster, but it doesn't need to be. Iceland's gravel sections reward smooth inputs over raw torque.
Range and Practicality
The 390 Adventure R boasts a 3.7-gallon fuel capacity with KTM claiming up to 69 mpg for a theoretical 250-mile range. Iceland's remotest stretches are long, and gas stations are sparse in the interior. A theoretical 250-mile range on a single tank covers most single-day highlands explorations without stress. You won't be running on fumes when you reach the next pump.
The Ride Experience
This is where the 390 shines differently than a 700cc twin or larger single. The engine is lively and easy to manage, the power delivery is just right for dual-sport adventure: fun, predictable, and easy to manage in technical terrain.
You sit more upright than on a street bike but less fully extended than on a hardcore enduro. The bike isn't so tall that average-height riders struggle with their toes on the ground, and not so low that lanky riders feel cramped. It's simply proportional to what you're doing: exploring, not racing.
What It Isn't
The 390 Adventure R isn't a full-sized expedition machine. You're not loading it with enough luggage to spend three weeks in the Himalayas. It's not designed for river crossings—F-roads and mountain tracks often require unbridged river crossings, which means you must feel comfortable and confident. A 390 can cross some of these, depending on depth and current, but it's not a Land Cruiser on two wheels.
It's a motorcycle for day rides and light touring. It's for days when you want to leave at sunrise, ride the Kjölur route without breaking pace, and make it back to Reykjavik for dinner. It's for exploring Iceland without the weight and cost of something bigger.
The Real Advantage
The most underrated advantage of the 390 Adventure R is that it won't intimidate you. A 1200cc GSA or F800GS has the power to go anywhere, but that also means you can mess up anywhere. The 390's modest power teaches you to read terrain, to choose your lines, to understand what traction actually means. By the time you step up to something larger, you'll know how to use it.
For Iceland specifically, the KTM 390 Adventure R with dual sport tires bridges a gap. It's too capable to be casual, too light and accessible to be overwhelming. It fits the terrain almost perfectly—gravel-ready but not boulder-ready, long-range but not expedition-range, lightweight but not fragile.
If you're planning to ride Iceland and don't want to rent a full-size adventure bike, or if you want to understand what you're capable of before committing to a larger machine, the 390 Adventure R deserves your attention. It's proof that the right tool for the job isn't always the biggest one available.
Iceland Bike Rental offers rental bikes and route recommendations for riders of all levels exploring Iceland's gravel roads and highlands.