Motorcycle design is very interesting. Cruisers tend to stick to time-tested proportions and design elements because that’s what the target audience wants. The audience for sport bikes, on the other hand, wants space-age designs that get updates every few years. Somewhere in the middle lie naked bikes, tourers, and adventure bikes. The target audiences for these are very wide-ranging, so you will find both conservative and aggressive designs among them.The adventure bike segment can be a little difficult to get right when you design an aggressive one – it needs to look like a Dakar Rally participant without being as uncomfortable as one. It helps if it doesn’t look like any of the competition. Happily, the full-size adventure bike segment has products that look significantly different from one another. But there is one that is styled extremely differently, and it gets our vote for the most aggressive-looking ADV motorcycle in 2026. The KTM 1390 Super Adventure R Looks Pretty Aggressive Rudi Schedl For KTMKTMs are aggressive motorcycles. It is only right that their styling matches the way they ride – but even by those standards, the 1390 Super Adventure R is an aggressive motorcycle. It has an evolution of the 1290’s ‘face’ – the headlamp lens has now moved a little lower to make way for a unibrow that houses the front radar sensor. The insectoid ‘face’ consists of a lot of sharp lines and angles. It continues down the sides with the contrasting orange color for the protection for the sides/fuel tank and frame. It ends with a small tail section, with the exhaust muffler dominating the right side of the motorcycle. KTM has chosen a single-end can for the exhaust, but it has dual exits because of the two cylinders. It might not be pretty, but it definitely is the most aggressive-looking ADV motorcycle in 2026. It Starts At $21,649 KTMThe 1390 Super Adventure R is priced quite reasonably, and this is partly due to its singular focus on being good off-road. It gets WP Xplor suspension with no electronic assistance like the other 1390 Super Adventure does, which is why the price is under $22,000. That price can be bumped up by a few thousand bucks easily by dipping into the Powerparts accessories, but as it stands, the base price is quite a good value when you look at the competition. Over 170 Horses At Your Disposal One Of The Highest Performing Engines In Its Class Rudi Schedl For KTMThis is a standard layout for a large KTM engine, but it has increased displacement and variable valve timing compared to the 1290 Super Adventure. The LC8 here is a 75-degree V-twin and displaces 1,350 cc, has a compression ratio of 13.0:1, and makes 173 horsepower at 9,500 RPM and 107 pound-feet at 8,000 RPM. That makes it the most powerful adventure bike in its class as well, despite having half as many cylinders as the Ducati Multistrada V4. The torque figure is the second highest, after the BMW R 1300 GS. A valve clearance check is required at 37,000 miles, the same as the Ducati, which is a segment-leading figure.Some of these awesome outputs can be attributed to the new-to-KTM variable valve timingon the intake valve, but it is just good ol’ KTM aggression for the most part. The aggressive cam profile is actuated at 6,500 RPM, if you’re interested. The 1390 Super Adventure R is designed for off-road conditions, so it limits itself to a six-speed manual transmission, unlike its sibling. The clutch is hydraulically assisted, and is an assist and slipper clutch with a two-way quickshifter. There is a by-wire throttle and a six-axis IMU, so there is access to ride modes and a full safety suite. KTM 1390 Super Adventure R Chassis If It Ain’t Broke… KTMKTM has seen lots of success with a chromoly steel trellis frame, so that is what it has stuck to, which has worked with the 1290 Super Adventure with the 1390 Super Adventure R. The rear subframe is an aluminum unit, but is strong enough for the rigors of an adventure bike. The 1390 Super Adventure R is an off-road bike, so it opts for a very enduro bike-ish 21/18 inch wheel combination. These are spoked wheels with aluminum rims, and tubeless tires.48 mm WP Xplor split cartridge inverted forks do duty up front, and a link-free rear monoshock locates the rear swingarm. The front offers adjustment for compression, rebound, and preload, while the rear adds high and low speed compression adjustment to the front’s list. There is 9.5 inches of suspension travel at both ends. Unlike the 1390 Super Adventure S Evo, this isn’t electronic suspension.The brakes are what you’d expect: twin Brembo 320 mm discs with radial four-piston fixed calipers at the front, and a 267 mm disc at the rear with a two-piston fixed caliper. Cornering ABS is standard. A steering damper is also standard. KTM 1390 Super Adventure R Dimensions Rudi Schedl/KTMThis is a fairly large motorcycle, with a 62.1-inch wheelbase. What isn’t in doubt is how tall it is: there is 9.5 inches of ground clearance, and the seat is a skyscraper-high 34.7 inches off the ground. Combined with the 547 pounds fully fueled, that’s a tall ask for a normal person (excuse this pun as well). The fuel tank holds 6.1 gallons. KTM 1390 Super Adventure R Features Premium Product, Premium Features Rudi Schedl/KTMThe 1390 Super Adventure doesn't get all the features of the 1390 Super Adventure S Evo, but they are unique in that they use a portrait TFT screen, which is eight inches. This is also an inductive touchscreen, which means it will respond even if you touch it with gloves. It has 256,000 colors, which is a big jump from the old spec. Offline map navigation is also a feature, which means you can activate the navigation without syncing with a phone. The handlebar has two different positions depending on how you mount it, thanks to an eccentric lower clamp.The optional adaptive cruise control is also worthy of a mention here. It is linked to the front radar and does a lot of very interesting things, the most interesting of which is the ‘Group Riding’ mode. It tracks the vehicle ahead, but with a lateral offset instead of the vehicle directly in front. Another optional extra on the 1390 Super Adventure R is ‘Rally Mode’, which tunes the bike’s systems for off-road applications. It allows the rear wheel to lock under braking, allows the front wheel to go airborne, and you can choose the level of the traction control and slip adjustment manually. KTM 1390 Super Adventure R Competition BMW MotorradThere are quite a few big names that compete with the 1390 Super Adventure R, but none of them have a 21-inch front wheel. The three relevant ones are the BMW R 1300 GS, Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally, and Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer. Of these, the BMW and Ducati run 17-inch rear wheels, while the Tiger prefers an 18-inch rear rim. They all also opt for different ways of generating and delivering their power: the BMW has a longitudinal boxer twin and shaft drive, while the Triumph has a transverse inline three and shaft drive. The Multistrada has a V4 and a chain drive.Ducati KTM 1390 Super Adventure R vs. Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally The R 1300 GS ($20,395) and Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer ($24,895) have prices similar to the KTM, while the Ducati is over $10,000 more expensive, although that doesn’t take into account the optional extras you’ll inevitably add to the Super Adventure R. Still, in terms of power it remains the closest competitor to the KTM, and in its V4 Rally avatar is quite well equipped to take on off-road situations.