I bought a 390 five months ago, added a bunch of offroad mods, and think it is way more capable offroad than many give it credit. Did a rally in Bisbee, AZ last month, and will be leaving in a week to ride the NMBDR with a friend. I'm having a blast at 64 in my retirement a year ago.
@FewMoto 14 tooth front sprocket Accessory relay under seat Atlas throttle lock Bar risers BarkBusters BestDualSportBikes fuel programmer BestDualSportBikes muffler end cap Better Offroad Tires Black Dog foot pegs Black Dog skid plate Clear headlight guard Crash bar bags for tools Doubletake mirrors Garmin ZumoXT Givi windscreen GPS mount Heated grips Helmet lock High front fender kit Kick stand enlarger foot KTM Ergo seat KTM Radiator guard Lithium Battery Longer clutch cable Made a custom bracket to move rear brake reservoir inward Made my own tail tidy New DID chain to replace horrible OEM chain Progressive front fork springs Rear brake pedal safety cable Rear chain guide Small Rigg Gear tank bag Tusk Highland X2 bags and duffle Tusk rear rack White & yellow driving lights Windscreen extension Wired for SAE & heated jacket plugs Probably some other things I can't recall
Had it for 2 weeks. Nothing but brilliant! Would massively recommend the Coober ECU, header, and air-box kit. +25% torque and 5/6hp. Make a huge difference and super smooth below 6k rpm. Previous bikes: DRZ400SM, Triumph Thruxton 900 and MT-09 Tracer. It is basically a more refined and high performance drz. I miss sitting on the drz's tank in the corners tho...
We have the same sentiments on biking... anything beyond 500cc doesn't make sense to me given my frame. I believe this bike is the best in its class. Your review helped me confirm that
Glad you found it useful, I’ll be posting a clip on its long distance worthiness, just cleared 3k on the odometer 2k on this trip alone, currently in flaming gorge Wyoming 👍
Glad you mentioned rear brakes in your video. Front are great. Back ones suck. I will try replacing pads. I just bought a 2023 and was afraid the engine would be to small what I am used to. I am so happy I bought it. For the price this this is amazing and just fun to ride!!
congrats on the new bike :) Its a pretty strong motor even stronger when you do the exhaust and fuel programmer. There's a lot more in that motor than the factory setup gives you. :) safe riding friend.
I picked up a new 2022 Adventure 390 in Albuquerque a month ago. My first ride was 100 miles to my home in north central NM. I was looking at the KLR, Tenere, 890 R, and Versey X300, but the 390 won me over. Other than getting used to the seat height, no complaint's. Love my 390!
Really great review! Straight to the point and with down to earth points for us "mortals". I really appreciate the respect given to those of us "afraid to make a bad investment" part. It really hit home. Congrats! 💯💯
I am tall 6’4”. I switched to the KTM one piece tall seat. Love it so I have more leg room to slide back on the seat and give me a little more leg room with the pegs.
I really like my 390 ADV bike. It's so light and so easy to maneuver compared to my former 900 pound cruiser. I'm still getting used to that little motor but, so far, I'm impressed with it. I can see myself maybe trading it in for an 890 ADV next spring.
@@thebelligerentmechanic8916 Yeah, the 890 looks like a great ride, but weight is the thing. I'll take my 390 before the 890. I have three other bikes. Price isn't the issue. S
Yeah I bought my 390 about 3 months ago and that 890 looks interesting to me too, If I was to get one I would still be keeping my 390 I wouldn't trade it in, I just love the size of it .......
@@goldog2816 390 is very confidence inspiring especially in the tight twisty stuff 🤗 I’ve got bigger bikes for speed this one’s perfect when I want to take it easy 😀
Hi bought my ‘23 390 about six months ago, I’m very pleased, pleasantly surprised for what an all-around, great bike it is. And being 67 years old., it’s nice not to have to wrestle with GS 1200 around anymore… as you pointed out, yeah, you lose some creature comfort, but the trade-off is the nice light weight! What you spend to get grace suspension, I don’t find it a vibe bike, some people do. It vibrates less then my s 1000 XR did!
This bike is funny.... Non-owners call it a "beginner's" bike, but every actual owner I know/see has been riding for decades! As with most owners, mine is my secondary bike for fun and commuting.
You are selling me on this. I have a few fast bikes in the garage, looking for a little backroad burner for some offroad stuff too... seems good to me!
Hey, great coverage of the KTM 390 adventure! I've been eyeballing the bike, thinking maybe I'll finally pull the trigger & get a motorcycle & it will be my first.. BUT, I saw a leaked image of the 2024 Duke 390, & I'm thinking "Maybe I should wait a little".. b/c I noticed the ground clearance on the new Duke.. & I figure that might carry over to the 2024 ADV, but even better?
KTM could upgrade a lot of things about the 390 to make it more competent especially off road. My riding is about 80/20 onroad to off , that 20% off road could definitely use some help 😁 .
What a refreshing video. So much negativity out there. You end up just going well no bike is good for me. I'm a bit the same as you mate. I've owned big adventure bikes. But for one, I'm 5'9". At a stage where I don't want to race. I live in Australia where we have comparatively low-speed limits. I just want an enjoyable bike to explore with. Last year I started riding a 390 Duke on track days. And it's the most fun I've had on track. This got me thinking are smaller lighter bikes just where it's at for two wheeled enjoyment.
My thoughts exactly 👍 to easy to find the negative everywhere, never been to Australia but I’ve seen some amazing riding videos 🤗 safe riding friend 👍🙏👍
hey man great video! subscribed I'm considering buying this bike and I was wondering if you think it is good to do like 600 miles long trips with a person on the passenger seat plus some side bags or some other stuff possible extra weight needed for the trip
I can doo 600+ mile trips on mine but i'm not sure about taking a passenger depending on the terrain you intend ride. If you're doing mostly pavement i think you'll be fine just a little crowded on the seat . I did see a RU-vid video of a guy doing pretty rough off-road riding with a passenger on his 390 so it can be done depending on your desired comfort and performance level..
Thank you for the video, I am in 🇨🇷 and just bought a RE 411 Himalayan and saw the KTM 390, very torn because I love the specs of the KTM, worth every penny… Yours is beautiful! I a, thinking either selling the RE now or wait for the 450 to get here in a few months but the KTM still amazing and maybe wait and see if the new 2025 KTM 390 gets a still better look. Any thoughts?
Man, you almost convinced me to swap my 2018 decked out RC390... but mehhh, in the end, I would keep 'em both I think. That's how addicted to these little 373cc marvels I am...
I've had my heart set on a 2024 KLX300( priced $7200 OTD) until I sat on a 250KLX . Not only is it too tall but the seat KILLED my butt bones. (I'm 55 with a 32" inseam. ) Checking other dealers, I stumbled upon a 2023 KTM390 like yours. According to "specs" this bike will suit me perfectly including seat height, the type of riding I plan to do, being able to carry gear, etc. Best part is the price. $6649 on sale ( plus tax etc) with what appears to be alot of factory items already added that I'd otherwise have to add myself, aftermarket on another bike. So basically I'd have more bike for just a couple hundred more than a bike with less power that I'd have to invest MORE into mods to fit me, accessories ,etc. I don't plan on raging through the woods like i did on dirtbikes in my 20's. But I "could" with this. As well cruising dirt roads and everything in between. I've even discovered they make an ACTUAL OEM lower seat If I end up needing lower. As a returning / new rider, I think this just may be the one for me. I'll know after today. Hell, I still have an orange motoX helmet that even matches. LOL. So funny how I started with Honda, worked through Kawwi and right to KTM. A bike I've never even thought of considering. Thanks for the video dude. Helpful more than you may realize.
Hi Bro, Loved your honest review. I would like to know one more thing about the spoke wheels vs cast wheels. Are the rims tubeless? Ride hard.. Ride safe.. God speed! Love from India!
Bro, It got spoke wheels update but its tube tire rather than tubeless tire . Isn’t it downgrade , As tube tire’s after tire puncher it won’t able to travel like upto 10km. Like tubeless tire does .
There are surely some compromises on this bike. Not the greatest on rough trails, but it is a super fun ride on dirt/gravel back roads and also does quite well on the highway. I love it!
I agree ,this bike makes a lot of compromises like you said not the greatest in really rough stuff, This summer I'm riding the Alpine loop in Colorado and I'm not looking forward to the beating I'm gonna get from the short travel suspension 🤣😂
I agree! That seat was hard as a ROCK when I first got it... NOW its AWESOME (after riding it about 1500 miles) There seems to be a "break in" period for the SEAT TOO! So yes, that seat is AWESOME, just needs to break in so CHILL everyone on this stupid "Seat Issue" that is NOT a real thing... after 1000 miles ridden.
Full disclosure, my ass is getting skinnier as I get older so a big seat would probably just be wasted real estate anyway 😂😹 safe travels 🙏 thanks for the comment 😁👍
Maybe I am selling the seat short! Wouldn't be the first time. FYI I did find a 3 or 4-inch taller windshield replacement on an Indian channel. Here in Colombia, doesn't come with crash bars just got spoked wheels though. Is there any reason you didn't do paniers with soft bags on side and a box on the back?
I've used panniers soft and hard on other bikes but I don't like hard bags off road " I've broken them in tip overs , soft bags just squish , the setup i used for this bike is one I've had for years and i like it for its simplicity and ease of removal at the end of the riding day or in a tip over. I always say " Go with what works best for you" . IMHO there's no right or wrong method as long as it works for you .
Bought mine at noon on Saturday & Love it.. have been chilling in the hospital since 2 pm on Saturday 👍🏻 Lol. Don’t go on trails you’re not familiar with. 2 broken ribs and slightly punctured lung after landing on a tree root ☹️
Oh man I’m sorry 😞 hopefully you’ll heal with no issues, bikes can always be fixed but the body is another story. These things happen to the best of us 🙄 .
You can connect your phone to the KTM screen as well for GPS no? This makes this bike an appealing choice for me. I don't think any other MFG has that for their adventure bikes.
i haven't ridden a 22 model but i have ridden a 21 duke and the seat was pretty bad. I can ride this stock seat all day with no issues but apparently some folks really don't like it. we're all different I say go with what works for you . 😁
Great video! Question, I own a 2021 Honda CB500X and I’m thinking seriously of trading it in for a 2023 KTM 390 adventure. What are your thoughts? I am 5’7” with a 30” inseam, I only weigh 145 pounds but I’m very strong for my size. 90% of my riding is on country roads and the rest on dirt roads. I’d appreciate everyone’s feedback. Thanks.
If you lived near me i'd let you ride mine so you could do a back to back comparison :) . I haven't yet ridden the 500x but i may have an opportunity soon i have heard good things but otherwise i cant speak to it. My experience with Honda in general has been quite good ,they make good bikes across the board. The KTM is a bit tall especially for its displacement . It is however very light and more so when rolling. My advice is to ride them both and make your decision accordingly . 👍
They are tubeless tyres fitted to a tubed rim. Causing lots of confusion. So the tyres are compatible with tubeless rims so the tyres are tubeless, but the 2023 390 does NOT have tubeless rims so you need to use tubes with these tyres on this bike.. hope that makes sense
@SLAKK oh wow!! That makes perfect sense man. Thanks a lot. Much much appreciated !! They have just released this version in India and I was curious to know about the tyres ! Cheers 🍻
there was a time when i couldn't afford a new bike like this in fact most bikes i've owned were bought used many years after they were popular. In time this one will not be popular and that is a good time to buy it. It will still be good and capable and fun and it will be a bargain. :)
@@PuineaGip hi mate, i just bought a 2023 250 adventure about a month ago.. and all i can say is, it is a great bike.. almost similar with the 390 in term of size (chassis, seat height, weight), but without all the fancy electronics and adjustable suspensions.. i'm 5'5" and 120lbs asian, i can ride the bike comfortably.. being 250cc single cylinder, please expect it to vibrate a little.. but other than the vibration, i've got no complaint on the bike.. i'm not really into the "top speed" thing, but i managed to get 158km/h on the bike, and it actually can go further, it was just me who don't have the balls to pull the throttle more.. 😅 i use the bike as my daily ride to work.. no problems at all wading through traffic.. i'm living in south east asia, the most densely populated area on earth, bet you can imagine the traffic here..
KTM 390 is a really good value dual purpose bike. BUT.... I am afraid it does have cons. The main one being the clearance, which is a serious limitation when going Off-road. This, in my opinion, is the biggest flaw of this bike. You WILL be hitting bottom in rough terrain. Another thing that bothers me is the limited turn radius. Making a U turn with this bike in some places won´t be a given. Still, it is a GREAT light weight BIKE. Price is ok and power, for a 390cc, is rather acceptable. I would say this bike is ok for a 65% road and 35% light off-road use. Mainly because of its height. (The chasis comes form a road bike, the Duke).
i bought a himalayan and feel like i made a mistake. The ktm offers so much more. My himalayan lacks power , and the headlight is not great. But i scheduled a test drive for the ktm 390 adv.
Buyers remorse is a drag. I haven't ridden a Himalayan yet ,some people really like them but i hear they are heavy and underpowered . best of luck with your choices :)
@@thebelligerentmechanic8916 thanks! The only time i enjoy himalayan is at low speeds and offroad its actually quite fun. How is ktm offroad? Is it easy to maneuver?
KTM is easy to ride off road , however the shock is a bit oversprung for my weight and the stock tires could use some help :) otherwise its a breeze offroad.@@miha4443
I'm so close to buying one of these....just not sure about the negatives. I have a CRF250L and it's too slow on the highway. Would the 390 Adventure be more capable to keep up to highway speeds on hills?
mine does fine on hiways. Its pretty underwhelming when its brand new but after the break in it really perks up. Also a 14 tooth countershaft makes a huge difference. I've done alot of miles at 70+ mph with no issues. It should be much more highway friendly than the 250l just by engine size alone. best of luck with your decision 👍
the bike is good overall.but i have a question about the front end of this bike.seriously the guy who design it still have a job.?? maybe the most ugly headlight i ever seen so far on any bike on any category.i like more vespa headlight than this.
Hi brother Recently I bought 390 adventure standard model in india, and I have some doubts if you give your insta id or any contact I clear it brother 😊
