KTM 390 Adventure Review 

You know people go around the world on bicycles, foot, wheelchairs - so stop the crap about can you tour or have an adventure on a small bike? - FFS.

I really hope KTM adds a R version of this platform....I feel like they will sell a bunch more R's than the regular adventure similar to the 790.

Of course you can tour on a small bike! It's only the media that continually pushes the sham that you need a hugely powerful bike with space age electronic to travel down to the supermarket and mount the kerb when parking the bike. Back in the day I toured much of Western Europe on a Honda CB360, two up with full luggage and that had a massive 34bhp (25.35kw).

This is a beautiful motorcycle review. Really well done! South Africa is much prettier than I had ever thought.

A fun and entertaining yet comprehensive review Donovan put some big smiles on my dail, great little bike.

Didn’t realize you were in ZA, as soon as I saw that sky line it took me back to the years I spent there after high school. Didn’t realize how much I miss that place!

Excellent video thanks guys!

Enjoyed the review, thank you. Loved the snow angel too 😂

I used to own a Honda NX4, not too known in the rest of the world, but in south america, particularly in Argentina and Brazil , it is very popular. Similar concept, single cylinder, 400 cc, Adv bike. I made 100.000 km on that before selling it last year. I did travel, commuting, long trips.. The size and concept is great, especially in 3rd world countries where Adv bikes can get really expensive and not too many can afford them. It was my first bike to have, and to date it will be my first choice to do it all over again. I dont think the concept of the KTM 390 is wrong, is the implementation of it and cost that worries me. I am waiting for them to arrive here, so that I can test one. Love the video. Cheers.

Hi guys, great video again. Thank you. Please please please do comparative test between the KTM 390ADV, BMW 310GS and KAWASAKI VERSYS X. Honestly believe this class has the potential to be an everything bike. You can tour on and offroad on all of them and they are VERY approachable for novice and older riders.

Took mine on a 9 hour drive to a cabin in the Colorado mountains. Did well. I added a more cushy seat, sidebags, and larger windscreen. Once on the cabin, it was a blast to drive on mountain tracks. It usuallyvis a town commuter, fun at tgat, fun for weekends in mountains, and did okay in a long drive. Dio get a more cushy seat uf you plan onvlongcdrives. I love this little bike!

Wow that scenery is absolutely breathtaking!

Great video!

Hi Don, nice work and shame you didn’t find much snow. However fantastic views of the country you live in. Here in the Uk it’s winter but that’s just means cold and wet. KTM looks like a properly sorted bike, any views on any aftermarket mods that might release a few more bhp?

I considered this bike 2 months ago but then went for the Honda Africa Twin instead. I made a mistake and should have bought this KTM 390 Adventure. I love my Africa Twin, it’s an amazing bike! But ... here in New Zealand the max speed limit is 100, so the KTM would still be overkill. And then main reason - well I’m very new to off road and so I have had to pick that heavy Africa Twin up 3 times in one very slippery clay trail attempt. Damn! That Africa Twin is heavy on crash number 3. The KTM 390 would have been better 😏 oh well, I do love my Africa Twin, but this KTM would have been a winner.

I am anxious for the phone in your pocket, Lol! Great video, though!

Bloody hell I was panicking about your phone about to fall out of your jacket pocket!

Love these good old boys from the old world :-)

Snow angel 😂😂😂🔥🔥 what a cool video 🔥

The cb500x is an abvious alternative, no?

Great review! How tall are you? I really like that bike but maybe its to high for me…I’m 171.cm. What do you think?

PS and knowing Golden Gate like the back of my hand I find it quite amusing seeing you going in circles pretending to be going up some mountain.

Can I put a polite request in to have the second go on the KTM MotoGP bike after Matt?

since we saw the KTM motogp bike, Shout out to Brad Binder !

You're good man. Revzilla should hire you as their South African correspondent.

A great watch really I'm interested in touring with a lightweight adventure bike. Sold my Multistrada as I was finding it a real chore due to weight and height. Should never have sold my NC750X I toured all over europe on it 18,000 miles in just over 12 months I've narrowed my choice for a Ducati replacement down to a CB500X and the KTM 390 after watching this the 390 is looking to be a great bike. I've test ridden the CB500 so got to find a local dealer for a test ride on the 390.

The Indian variant gets the quickshifter plus and auto blipper as standard. But skips upon the front adjustable suspensions.. And in kmph it can touch 178kmph max on Indian road...rpm at 10k

Nice work Don.

Woah there, Donovan. I don't know where you're getting your information from, but we Indians do love our bikes to have really good brakes. It's just that the manufacturers ignore the Indian motorcycle enthusiasts and make bikes for the masses here. We get all kind of shitty bikes here. We don't even get the adjustable front suspension here in India on the 390 Adventure.

How is this compared to the zontes 310 t2?

We have similar weather in San Diego.

Small bikes are fun ... when you ridind by yourself 🤔 or , your riding buddy's all got the same size bikes .. Did this trip and more , a few times on my KLR 650 , and the only time it was not fun ... is when one is trying to keep up with mates , with big adventure bikes.. Would, I ever go small capacity again 🤔 ?? Nah , thanks ... but , no tanks ! Nice , review though.. 👍🏻

Good review. Wonder if u lost your phone at all. Just about falling out of your right pocket. lol.

Bib dreams about it being warm enough to go riding on dry roads in the middle of winter...

Has KTM addressed the issue concerning its 390 motor blowing head gaskets?

I found an issue with the CRF. It was being VERY light and had long travel suspension, it was able to get to 120kmh but at those speeds it feels VERY unsteady and unstable. Not to mention strained (at sea level) That's where more planted bikes like the X300, G310 and KTM390 have it nipped (on the road at least), this is a touring review isn't it... As usual, all good bikes, but what are you using it for...

people in India don't like sharp brakes .......is not true , actual reason is we get the "budget range" of Brembos called "BYBRE" which is technically brembos but their sub brand's products , these are cheaper to fit on budget bikes so bikes are more affordable , without harming the image of premium Brembos parts

Have KTM ironed out all the problems the 390 Duke had? It looks good. Why does it struggle in the thinner air? It's fuel injected. CB500X? Or is a 471 cc engine not regarded as small enough?

I take it you guys have never heard of the Honda CB500X?

Finding that "snow" cracked me up

a 490 twin would be epic!

Watching from India

The Rally’s suspension is too soft on the 250 and the new 300

Would like a Royal Enfiel Hamilayan but here in SA we do not know what's going on with Royal Enfield, as they have one here that's for homologation, but in homologation for almost 2 years now

7000km service interval means that I'll need to time my service to fit in between tours.

👍🏻

2:10 i thought ktm detuned the 373engine to comply with emissions... ADV is less powerful than the Duke, no?

I live in England...we rarely get white Christmas's here either. 2 in 57 years for me....

👌

Snow angels. Haha. You musta froze your ass off up there.

KTM 390 Adventure amazing bike, #TyagiRider

No chinese bike like the zontes?

It can - I did 600km over 2 days on a Husqvarna 401 - through dirt trails/ fire roads and pavement.

That's not snow, just frozen mist, or morning dew

The 390 is an Indian and South American commuter bike made to look like an Adv bike. Same as the GS310. Use it for that and its a great bike.

Did you get lost?? Fouriesburg is past Clarens coming from Joburg

🌬❄❄❄ 👨‍👩‍👧 ❤

The bike is struggeling due to the mass it has to carry :-).

I want 390 adventure plidz gift 47slep

No view 1 like RU-vid is drunk 😵😵

This is NOT the bike people wanted. We all want the 390 motor in a EXC-F frame. Wish I could work on the KTM design team. I'd take a new 500 EXC-F...fire up the cutting torch...cut the 500cc motor out...fire up the welder...weld the 390 motor in its place. It be a CRF450L killer! It have 3000 mile oil changes! It would be super fun! Also, I'd sale it for less than $7k, in the U.S., out the door!!!! KTM would have 100% market share for adventure/enduro!!! Is anyone listening?

"Disappointingly the sun is out" *Cries in British

Off-road circus bear.