Good afternoon. I am a senior in years but a junior in spirit. Come join me and share the moments of my adventures, my senior moments. I have traveled and adventured for years, mostly sharing snippets of images and videos with friends and family. After Covid-19 changed our lives, I decided to record my adventures and travels so a larger audience could enjoy them. Live young and discover!
Hi Bruce, great video. Regarding your Acerbis handguards, did you have to make any mods to fit them, ie drilling the bars or suchlike. Or, did they fit out of the box? They look like a good upgrade from the stock ones. Regards. Steve
I seen myself in this video. I'm 62, have problems with my knees as well and the only changes I've made are, - The Puig windscreen (just like yours but tinted) - the KTM mounting brackets for the panniers and the top rack. without the stock KTM's panniers or top bag (which I do not care for) - GPS mount for my gps - handlebar mount my cell phone. Next and probably the final item is a set of bar risers. Otherwise it's a stock bike and it's suits me well.
I had an aluminum bash plate on my WR250R and replaced it with a polymer one from Moose Racing. That reflective noise from the aluminum plate was driving me nuts! Some folks have had success painting the aluminum plates with a bed liner paint, but if it did work, it didn't make enough difference for me. They are half the weight of aluminum as well, and almost as strong.
Thanks for the suggestions. The noise is fairly annoying. I hate to give up the $300 I paid for the bash plate, just to buy another, but I may do that just to get a more natural motorcycle sound again. I’ll check out moose racing.
You might spray some bedliner inside the bash plate. There are some heavy plastic? ones made. Don't remember the name. I looked at them for my Tenere but I think I have the same as you do. SW Motech. It's hard to get on bike now and just as hard to get off with this bum knee. But I can ride. That's not a cash cow as bad as the Tenere is. I have AltRider foot pegs, tell you they are great There are some that tilt. I changed my wheels and hubs to the Excel and Hahn units. Yeah, couple thousand bucks. I got mine from Off-The-Road out of Germany. I don't know the status of the USA sales since the importer passed. Woody's Wheels. Good vid Be safe.
Hi neighbor ! ( I live in Weed,Ca.) so close enough in my book ! LOL if you change your front sprocket.... be aware that one tooth on the front sprocket equates to 10 MPH on the street however from the looks of things you enjoy just putting around in the hills and it would probably help alot to go down a tooth with the front sprocket ! but your cruise speed on the street may well be limited .... My XR650L has a 13 tooth sprocket on the front but I can still cruise at 70mph before I changed it that was about 80mph... at the same RPM Foot pegs do not sound like a big change but I have found with replacing the ones on my bike that they make a real big difference ! ( wider and Longer is best!) I too step on the foot peg to mount the bike even though I lowered it 4.5" in seat height ! because I am SHORT ! LOL I would say if you cannot flat foot your KTM 390 then you should lower it ! seriously if you only ride on the street it's not that big of a deal but out on dirt roads and single track reaching the ground easy means staying on top the bike rather than picking the bike up after falling over just because you couldn't touch the ground ! (been there done that!) as we age our strength takes a nose dive.... so switching from the T7 to the KTM390 was a real smart move....the problem is the KTM390 is still a fairly heavy machine .... and when you add all that camping gear on it it gets really heavy ! I was wondering if a camping trailer wouldn't be a better way to go.... that keeps the weight off the bike but enables you to bring it along..... something to think about ! cheers ! have a good'ern
For now, I’ll keep the stock front sprocket as I don’t ride on highly technical terrain or single tracks. I just bought a motorcycle trailer, so I’ll have an upcoming video about it.
Hi Bruce, thanks for the great video. Always good to see your getting out after your leg operation, nice to know of the mods you made on a smaller bike to fit your tall frame. Looking forward to you next one.
Thx. I'm thinking of a 390 but am a little concerned it may be too heavy for me to lift. I bot a single leg ratchet jack but it weighs 4 1/2 lbs.! A ktm 350 exc-f is 234 lbs but is quite a different beast. It wouldn't be very good on paved roads and the maintenance intervals are atrocious.
I thought about buying a Japanese brand dual sport bike as they weigh 325 pound or less, but I need an adventure bike to travel comfortably on pavement and carry camping gear. Unfortunately, most ADV bikes weigh 450 pounds and more, which is too much for me to lift alone. The KTM 390 is one of the lightest ADV bikes at 379 pounds wet. I can lift it alone (as I’ve done a few times). It was my main concern as I have to be able to lift it without assistance.
@@MySeniorMoments That's exactly what I have concluded! I always take a single leg ratchet jack (4 1/2 lbs.) but even then it was a struggle to get my 890-ADV R up. A bothersome factor was the fuel vent was peeing fuel out on the ground the whole time I was struggling to get the bike upright so there was always some urgency (am I going to make it to my next fuel stop?). My worry is the 390 frame size is smaller than my 890 or my Honda CRF250 so would I be too cramped? The KTM350exc-f is a lot larger and taller but it is not set up for overnight camping at all, and it would probably be squirrly on a freeway (although fast enough). Unfortunately the CRF300 R is a 55 mph bike, just as my 250 is. To compete with the 18 wheelers I need to be able to do 75 mph which I'm sure the 390 can do. I have really enjoyed the 890 with the tubeless tires but it is too heavy for me in the ruts and rocks since I'm usually traveling solo. I will study a little further before I jump... I enjoy your videos- I'm 73 and still intend to ride for a couple more years.
If you spray the inside of your bash plate with a good bed liner it will help with the noise. Any auto parts store will carry multiple types of spray on bed liners, it's meant for pickup truck beds, but work on any metal. Do a few layers and take your time on the application so it doesn't run.
Hello, nice video. I have a 390 Adventure as well. My 2023 came with spoked wheels and tubeless tires. They use a rubber seal around the inside of the wheel which seals the spoke holes. You may want to ask your dealer if that’s an option for your wheels.
Hey Bruce, would some kind of sound dampening material help with the bash plate vibration noise? Might be worth a try with the cost of that bash plate. And or maybe some rubber bushings at mounting points. I also kept the stock mirrors on the bike, but put some thin rubber around the ball joint under the boot to stiffen the joint up. Mine would move around a bit in higher speeds and dirt roads.
Good job, Bruce. I have made similar additions to my 390. The footpegs are a must. It makes standing much easier and more comfortable. The front sprocket is another issue. I'm 70, so we have similar riding styles. I found the different shift points and rpm's while riding off-road were improved, on-road comfort was not. So much so, I have gone back to stock. I think tires are more important than the sprocket swap. I am considering TKC70 Rocks in the rear and Dunlop Trailmax Mission in the front. ❤️ my 390. Ride Safe
I love my ktm 390 adventure! Your video has given me some good ideas about mods I might make on the bike. Question: The risers you talked about from Amazon are listed as for model years 2017- 2019. Did you have any trouble getting them installed on your newer 390? (mine is a 2023 model)
Thank you for a really nice and grounded take on Adv bikes. I used to do a lot of long distance offroad racing through the 90s. Unfortunately it got to a point where I chose speed way above my personal safety which made me crash big time in -96/97. Now I've started over in pretty much the same spirit as you describe in the video, I've just signed the deal on a new Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 being delivered early spring -25. I've now reached 56 years of age and I'm looking forward to exploring my home of Sweden with quick adventures in Norway with my bike and my trusted Nikon but without the speed demon chasing me.
Good for you getting over to the coast. Just returned from 6 days riding the Elliott Forest and the Powers, Eden Valley area. Powers is my go to from here in Gold Beach. Shhh. Keep the secret. Support " The Code" Ride Safe my friend.
I‘m living in Switzerland, and I was on Vacation in Oregon and Washington state in 1997. I can say it was one of the nicest times I had in my life. How beautifull is that coast. How nice the almost never ending forests. Nice people everywhere we went, outside the big city of Portland. I loved every minute of it.
Hint: Powers. Eden Valley Rd. Lots of mostly empty USFS camps on Rock Creek. That side of the pass is pretty cool... gets marine air from Coos Bay. Go south over the hill and end up in Agness... will be 15 to 20 degrees warmer ! Take Bear Camp Road back over to Grants Pass. :>)
Great way to spend a few days beating the heat....but watching your video makes me especially grateful to live in a place with VERY moderate summer temps!!
Hi Bruce, I guess everyone else had the same idea of getting some coastal breeze respite from the heat. Sometimes when a few problems stack up, it never rains but it pours, comes to mind, but hey, you had them all sorted by lunchtime, and faith in human nature restored😅. Glad to see your knee holding up really well on your hike to the redwoods, so you’re all brand new again. Take care, Pete UK.
Hi I’m a senior vet/ nice clear video. I also have an inflatable kayak but I can fit 2 others pretty snugly so I’ve been looking for something wider but not needing a trailer. This could be perfect for us. Can you please provide a link to engine and wheels please? Thank you for the clear video
Charley Sinewan also traveled through some similar tracks in central mexico. Maybe next time you will visit Real de Catorce in San Luis Potosí, a mining town.
Here is something really stupid!!! It's illegal in calif and nevada at least, to ride with your faceshield up ! Yes I have been pulled over but not ticketed. Just got back from there July 2024, had to evacuate because of fire in Likely area.
I like riding solo bc it allows me to absolutely haul ass. Did the Utah BDR with my dad and warned him when I invited him to go with me that it was going to be a world record run bc I had to get back to work lol. We did it in 3 days 8 hours border to border. Fun trip. Went fast the whole time.
Great video. I am in my late 50's and ride a KLR that i dropped in a trail late in the evening, alone (not wise, I know), and I had to use all the strength I had to lift it up, I did get afterwards the Eastbound moto winch and will never ride alone without it.
Since posting the video 2 years ago, I've had 2 off-road motorcycle training classes. Plus, I downsized to a lighter bike. My confidence and skills have improved.
@MySeniorMoments awesome news. Glad to hear you stuck with it and got the needed training. Keep an eye on your acuity as our reaction times drop as we age. Hugs.
Thanks for the video. Just curious, how long after your knee replacement were you able to get up on the pegs without a lot of pain? I've got one coming up in Nov.
It is still difficult to stand on the pegs, 8 months after my surgery. I can stand for 2-4 minutes at a time. Not because of pain, but because my leg is still weak and a bit wobbly. It's improving with time. Best wishes.
Eyes Bruce. Eyes. I always carry saline and distilled water tubes. The amount of times myself or my mates have collected insects / dust / seeds etc in an eye warrants having them handy. Some sort of antihistamine ointment when that pesky wasp or innocent bee ends up trapped inside your visor helps too. Good vid. Cheers mate.❤
Great advice. I carry pretty much all the same on the bike, but there are two absolute musts I carry on my person: the whistle and a folding knife. I also have an InReach Mini, but do not always carry it. Even when using my hydration pack, the whistle (a really loud one from my scuba gear, usually on a lanyard around my neck) and the knife are on me.
Carrying a lot of excess gear you’ll probably never use. Compressor, two tubes, four tyre irons, a jack (lean it on a tree), tubeless repair (when you have tubes), plus a full KTM kit, sockets, etc. That probably adds up to several kilograms of excess weight. I carry a fraction of that and it’s heaps. Overkill mate.
Caution motorcycles. Yes, yes, we all need a safety kit, and I salute you for showing us your kit. Because of your kit, I’m now going to upgrade mine. Again thank you for all you do for us seniors out here riding motorcycles. Anyways, you be safe out there, and enjoy life on those two wheels as long as you can. Peace out.
You can use your trail stand to lift your front wheel off the ground by placing it under your skid plate. I have also swapped out my battery for a lithium battery with a jump start feature, which will allow you to jump start the motorcycle in case you accidentally run the battery charge level down, or have a battery beginning to fail. It saves having to carry a jump starter separately. Push starting a bike can be almost impossible in many situations, especially when alone, ask me how I know. Zip ties and duct tape are the boss when on the trail.
I would strongly recommend all riders take a Motorcycle Trauma First Response class, where you have a hand's on opportunity to learn to respond to a crash scene and provide aid to a crash victim, including controlling the crash scene, stabilizing the victim, tending to injuries (including use of the Israeli bandages and tourniquets). Even though I am a RN and Trauma nurse I found this class to be exceptional in dealing with a crash with injuries. I would also be careful with buying a Trauma kit off of Amazon as much of the supplies provided are sub par, especially with the tourniquets. Being able to know how to respond to traumatic injuries can be life saving, for you or others, and in an emergency situation, it's not the time to try to read instructions and learn how to use things such as a tourniquet. When someone is bleeding out, seconds may mean the difference between life or death. There are a number of organizations that put on these classes, I chose Road Guardians in my area. Here is a link to their website for the basic class, there are also more advanced classes available, but the basic one will be an excellent start. roadguardians.org/100-series-instructor-led-basic/
