KTM 1390 Super Adventure S EVO Hits EICMA: Clutchless AMT and 173 HP Camshift V2
173 hp and 145 Nm + Clutchless AMT gearbox with 8-inch portrait touchscreen + KTM brings automated shifting to its flagship travel enduro without muting the LC8 bite.
Part of Throttle Times’ live coverage of EICMA 2026.
KTM has officially unveiled its new heavy-artillery touring flagship at EICMA 2026 in Milan, pulling the wraps off the 2027 KTM 1390 Super Adventure S EVO. Designed to sit at the absolute pinnacle of high-speed continental transit, the machine introduces the Austrian brand’s revolutionary Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), a bored-out 1,350cc LC8 V-twin with Camshift variable intake timing, a portrait-oriented 8-inch touchscreen display, and fifth-generation Bosch front radar.
The move marks KTM’s direct technical salvo against the BMW R 1300 GS with Automated Shift Assistant and the radar-guided Ducati Multistrada V4 S.
The AMT Shift: Ditching the Left Lever for Electro-Mechanical Logic
The undisputed technical centerpiece of the 1390 Super Adventure S EVO is KTM’s Automated Manual Transmission. The handlebar is completely devoid of a traditional cable or hydraulic clutch lever. Instead, an electro-mechanical centrifugal clutch and automated shift actuator manage gear engagement directly within the crankcases.
Riders can operate the system in two primary configurations: fully automatic Mode A, where the ECU decides shift points based on engine speed, lean angle, acceleration, and selected ride mode; and manual Mode M, which gives the rider total gear selection control via left-hand handlebar trigger paddles or a traditional foot-shift lever. Crucially, the gearbox features a Park position (P) alongside neutral to lock the transmission when parked on steep mountain gradients.
“Our riders wanted the fatigue reduction of an automatic on 1,000-kilometer transit days across the autobahn, but with the lightning-quick manual engagement required when carving Alpine switchbacks. AMT delivers both without adding slushy torque-converter weight.” — Mattighofen Street R&D Division
Chassis management is directed by the latest generation of WP Semi-Active Technology (SAT). Using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) magnetic valves in the 48 mm inverted fork and rear shock, the suspension processes real-time stroke sensor inputs at several hundred hertz, stiffening or softening damping instantaneously to prevent chassis pitch under hard deceleration.
1,350cc Camshift Engine: 173 Horsepower and 145 Nm
Nestled within the laser-cut chrome-molybdenum steel trellis frame sits the enlarged 1,350cc LC8 75-degree V-twin, sharing its Camshift variable intake camshaft technology with the recently announced KTM 1390 Super Duke GT. The bore increases from 108 mm to 110 mm, pushing peak power to 173 hp (127 kW) at 9,500 rpm and peak torque to 145 Nm at 8,000 rpm.
The Camshift system utilizes dual intake cam lobes per cylinder, shifting axially across the rev range via an electro-mechanical actuator. Below 6,500 rpm, milder cam profiles optimize gas velocity, combustion efficiency, and low-speed torque delivery for effortless urban filtering. Above that threshold, aggressive high-lift lobes take over, turning the machine into a tarmac weapon capable of deep triple-digit cruising speeds.
| Technical Metric | 2027 KTM 1390 Super Adventure S EVO | 2024 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S | BMW R 1300 GS (with ASA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Architecture | 1,350cc 75° V-twin, Camshift DOHC | 1,301cc 75° V-twin, DOHC | 1,300cc Boxer twin, ShiftCam |
| Peak Horsepower | 173 hp (127 kW) @ 9,500 rpm | 160 hp (118 kW) @ 9,000 rpm | 145 hp (107 kW) @ 7,750 rpm |
| Peak Torque | 145 Nm @ 8,000 rpm | 138 Nm @ 6,500 rpm | 149 Nm @ 6,500 rpm |
| Transmission Type | AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) | 6-speed manual w/ Quickshifter+ | ASA (Automated Shift Assistant) |
| Cockpit Display | 8.0-inch Portrait TFT Touchscreen | 7.0-inch Landscape TFT | 6.5-inch Landscape TFT |
| Suspension System | WP SAT Semi-Active Generation 2 | WP SAT Semi-Active Generation 1 | Dynamic Suspension Adjustment (DSA) |
| Fuel Capacity | 23.0 liters | 23.0 liters | 19.0 liters |
| Estimated European Price | €23,490 | €21,290 | €22,850 |
The Rider’s Trade-Off: Electronic Omnipresence vs. Mechanical Simplicity
The obvious friction point for traditional travel-enduro purists is the complete removal of mechanical clutch modulation. While AMT eliminates stalled engines on technical uphill hairpins and relieves forearm fatigue during stop-and-go border crossings, low-speed friction zone feathering is now entirely at the mercy of actuator software mapping. Riders cannot slip the clutch by hand to pop the front wheel over sudden road hazards or control traction in loose gravel.
Furthermore, the towering 8-inch portrait TFT and radar-laden nose push the bike firmly into the digital realm, introducing electrical complexity that cannot be serviced in a remote Moroccan bivouac. Yet for riders seeking continental hyper-touring competence that rivals the BMW R 1300 GS vs Ducati Multistrada V4 class, the S EVO offers unprecedented velocity and effortless endurance, complementing the newly announced KTM 390 Adventure R.
European customer deliveries are slated for late spring 2027, with retail pricing expected to start around €23,490 across key European markets.
Media citation: Editorial outlets and forums may quote excerpts with attribution and a link to Throttle Times.
Official source: https://www.ktm.com/en-int/models/travel/2027-ktm-1390-super-adventure-s-evo.html
Reporting via: motorcycle.com
