Thanks for watching! Check out the description for links to all the reviews and other videos mentioned. Check out my weekend adventure ride vlog on the KTM 390 Adventure: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--hj-ieJG-0Q.html
i came from a 390 adventure then converted to himalayan. the tall seat height, random stalls and irritating traction control on off roads made me sold the bike and bought the Himalayan. I'm not really a fan of speed and tech so the hima is perfect for me.
I get you! Perfect example of what I mean by one bike will suit you more. Simple on-paper comparisons of these bikes don't do justice to how they ride.
What's with the KTMs random stalls? It's all over their bikes being produced in India. I swear one day this issue would kill me. I almost dropped the bike once 'coz my fucking Duke stalls while I'm making a tight U-turn maneuver. It's a shame how good their bike looks only to be smeared ugly with this one FATAL FLAW!
So I am that new rider looking to move to their first 'big' bike. So far 1000km in I have to say that this review completely nails it. Absolutely spot on. From the seat height / width to the stalling. Given its price point here in UK build is OK but KTM remind me of porsche - they just don't seem to give a fig about their customers and trade on reputation. It's a difficult machine to love, but ticks many boxes for us as it can be accommodated in our motorhome thanks to dimensions and weight. I find it completely unacceptable that such a major flaw as the repeated stalling is not subject to recall given its safety implications....even Porsche have a conscience (or maybe just recognise the legal dangers this exposes them to - esp in US.....).
Hey Aaron! Hello from Florida, just wanted to say I really appreciate your ability to be objective and I feel like you hit a lot of very valid points for people looking into these particular bikes that you talk about. I think you are one of my favorite content creators and I hope you keep up the good work!
DR650. Final year to grab one! 54 nm of torque, and 162 kg wet.. also, checking valve clearances is as simple as popping off the tank, and minimal electronics:)
Love your reviews, not only due to the bikes....but also because of all the astonishing landscapes of your country. It looks like a fun bike-adventure offroad country!!! Hello from Norway
Well after trying to buy the cb500x and being on a wait list, I gave up. I now have a 2022 KTM390 Adventure. I am only 65 years old and have been a biker since I was 16 years old. The 390 will cruse at 75 mph all day. 63 mpg at speed. Will smoke the Royal E. Himmy. Plus off road kicks cb500x's butt. When the cruse control is back in stock I will install it. 390 adv. Is an all rounder good bike. It has zip as well. I hate gutless bikes and the enfield has no power, No more dogs in my garage.
Had the 390 adventure for some weeks last year. Its a fantastic low weight bike! Sold it for a 2021 cb500x. If you go more tarmac than gravel its perhaps the betrer option. Cb500x plus: better windscreen, 2 cylinders, more comfy, way better long distance capability, way more better clutch, Hondas top notch quality 390 adv plus: low weight, bit more flickable, better offroad, quickshifter upgrade, better suspension, better frontlight, better screen, electronics like switchable abs, bluetooth connect via phone (navigation)
My 2020 svartpilen 401 was the least reliable bike in my life sadly I wanted it for a year, sold it within a month. It was new and broke down right away... throttle just stopped working mid ride. Tons of warnings always on the dash, quick shift sucked sometimes, I went back to another drz supermoto and didn't regret it. Well here I am, just bought a 2021 390 adventure. Wish me luck it's more reliable!!!
That generation for sure had issues. Someone I know had the rear brake come off or stop working (can't remember which) on the highway just a few days after coming out of the dealer. Hoping you have a better experience on the 390! A finicky bike it can be but I know happy owners of them.
You nailed the reason I got mine. Compare this to any other dual sport or adventure in this price range the 390 adventure absolutely is in a class all it’s own.
This was the first video of yours that I’ve seen and it was a thoroughly impressive and informative review. I’ve watched many on this bike because I briefly owned one about a year ago. You really addressed many details often forgotten. You also gave us a lot of unbiased information to ponder and decide if it matters to us or not. Any review will ultimately include the author’s opinion and that’s great. But it’s helpful when, like you did, there is a plethora of detailed information that helps us compare the bike to our own preferences to see if it stacks up. You’ve earned another sub, good sir.
Intersting perspective. I own the 390 adventure and the himalayan. The Himalayan is a donkey and the ktm is a mustang. The Himalayan is easy to ride, the KTM dares you to ride harder and faster. Surprisingly, I've had zero reliability or any other issues with the ktm , but the Himalayan has broken down 4 times now, once involving a complete failure of the main printed circuit board. I ride the KTM on the road like a Supermoto. As a taller rider , at 6ft, the 390 is transformed by a change to flatter footpegs (I have the swmotech ones) and bar risers. If I had to have only one, that would be a hard hard choice. The Himalayan is just so relaxing and chilled out to ride, but when you are out somewhere and just want to get home, it's lack of performance is a massive downer.
So many people say that the foot pegs need changing to the flatter type. Okay, I believe you, but I still have the OEM pegs and, except for being a bit too small, the angle doesn't bother me at all. Just wear some solid boots and there is no discomfort. S
@@sdefiel3719 It's not a discomfort thing, it's a foot angle thing, and genuinely makes standing up riding a lot more comfortable, plus much better control through the pegs and knees pushing on the tank in bends. At least for me at 6ft tall. I wear mx boots, the soles are solid. I've never in 40 years of owning bikes , changed footpegs before :)
@@Hutchie2112 Well okay ... IF I get bigger pegs I'll check out the flatter ones as well. The angle is no problem and I stand with full control with heavy boots. With tennis shoes or flip-flops, (sue me I ride to the beach some times), I feel the problem, but only then. S
An excellent review. I own both the Himi and the 390 Adv. I am 6'-0" and have no problem manhandling the 390. Which bike do I like more? Gah! It's hard, but if I had to sell one, it would be the Himi. I'd miss her terribly, but the KTM is faster, no lag like you mentioned in the throttle or stalling at speed, lighter and more fun everywhere except on the muddiest, gnarliest trails. I had one issue that I can not explain and I haven't spoken to a mechanic about it yet, but if I turn off the bike any other way but the KILL switch, I run the risk of tripping some fuses (starter solenoid?) and have to push them back in. That's it for problems. The Himi is lovable and chugs anywhere, but the KTM is SOOO light and nimble that I arrive back at camp the freshest of all the other riders. Hell, I'm ready to go back out when the other guys are looking for a beer and a chair. Okay, one other thing ... rarely it stalls when cold near idle ... no biggie. I watch all of ADV Matt's stuff. He's my 390 guru. Thanks for your great review, best of luck, S
Totally agree about it being too tall. I find it easier to flat foot and worry less about dropping, my low gsa R1250! Yes that's true. I found the ktm 390 adventure light but not light enough to kick straight up on a leaned-falling situation. My Himalayan though heavier was easier to off road thus. Having said that it's true that if you are 5'-9"...or a tall person the ktm 390 adventure is a great and the better bike by far.
This is a very informative review. I really like the way you point out either big or small problems that may become a game changer in the long run. I am currently in the UK and will be on a holiday for more than a month before the end of this year. And this caught my attention as I'm thinking about having an adventure in my hometown Bacolod and the island of Negros. Thanks for sharing the video.
Glad you appreciate it! A Negros adventure would be a dream! So many lesser-known mountain roads and sights there. I've yet to ride outside of Luzon myself.
Thanks for this video, at the first part, I was convinced with its macho looks over other adv and RE Interceptor, however, still the known issues are deal breaker at the end. With the seat height taller than cb500x and venturi 500, i don't think I would choose orange, plus the headache of ecu issues, i don't want to be get stucked in the forest. hehe. Now I;m gearing towards Himalayan or CB500x 2022 upgraded model.
Hello from Vietnam! Just found out your channel and I really love your videos because they’re so relatable (Vietnam and Philippines have much in common- weather, terrain conditions, traffic, etc...) 😁
Yeah pretty much the same! So it comes down to choosing which character you prefer. But also, if you're willing to get secondhand, Himalayans can still be a lot cheaper.
Awesome review. I am looking for my first bike and because I'd like to avoid killing myself, things like traction control and cornering ABS are very tempting. On the other hand, the way you describe it, it would probably make me ride more dangerously, which would negate those riding aids. Coincidentally, you seem to have ridden the remaining bikes on my list: CB500X, 411 Scram (Himalayan) and the Interceptor. CB500X is a marriage of convenience, the Scram likely too slow for touring on European highways and the Interceptor lacks the off road capability my inner child believes I will use. Decisions, decisions.
Same debate for me: Here in Israel the Scram is 2,500 EUR cheaper than the 390 and the KTM is 3,000 EUR cheaper than the CB500X so the middle sweet spot and it’s off road prowess is pulling me harder than the other 2
@@BlazinBlades I've ridden the cb500x and crossed it out of my list. I'm 185cm tall and the windshield was causing tons of buffeting. I'd have to invest in a different screen. Plus the bike seemed really soulless. It might be a reliable and capable bike, but if I wanted to be rational, I wouldn't have started riding motorcycles in the first place. I also got a chance to ride the nc750x DCT - not bad at all, that dct would make it awesome for city riding and you can use the buttons to shift manually when necessary. But out of my price range. I'll test the royal Enfield models tomorrow.
Aaron, that is a great discussion. Currently riding a Tiger 850 Sport with a low seat and was planning a downgrade after 2 years (72 years, 166 cm, 67kg). The 390 Adv was in my sights, bar the seat height issue, but I would love the 20 kg weight reduction. Perhaps I shall just have to wait till the RE Scram 411 and the RE 450 Raid are out and tested. I am OK with the Himalayan bar the bhp issue, though on Indian roads its still adequate as a lounging Adv with about 100 kmph all day. Thanks for this output. Its great. Ride safe.
KTM adventure uses the same engine they developed for RC 390 which is a sports bike and 390 Duke which is a street bike. That engine was never meant for off roads. Its power lies in higher RPMs. That would be ideal on a highway or racetrack but not on an off-road trail. Himalayan's long stroke engine was designed keeping off roads as its primary requirement and it has got better low-end torque by sacrificing high speed maneuvering on highways. 390 Adventure is a better option for touring while Himalayan would be better for off roading.
Great review and insight into these bikes! I'm from Canada and am planning a trip to the Philippines for early next year and would like to spend a month or more riding around Luzon. I'm leaning heavily towards the 390 for the trip and am interested in your opinion of the best place to find a good used one for sale. Ideally I'd like to make multiple trips there and have the bike to continue my travels to different islands in the country. Incidentally I'm Aaron as well, lol. Cheers!
Hey Aaron! Facebook Marketplace is definitely the place to look. Or when you’re ready I can ask around the ADV and KTM community for you. Hope you’re able to do the trip!
@@Ride_XP That would be awesome and much appreciated! I figured that FB Marketplace was probably the best option for used bikes. Do you happen to know if anybody rents the KTM Adventure?
Were you thinking of the Tuareg? That seems like the best in class bike and so light as well. Didn't mention the BMW because it occupies a weird space in the Philippine market, the displacement is too low to be highway-legal.
Hi Aaron I took both 390Adv & Himalayan on test. Then realised I was more of a hooligan than I thought I was !!! Could not live with Himalayan lack of speed. Ktm for me. Bearing in mind I just sold my Yamaha FZ1S & wish I had not.
Need a DRZ400SM with dirt tires. You would be surprised. Seat height 35.0 inches . Weight 322 pounds. Big surprise! Very light! About 50 pounds lighter than the KTM! Also I could flat foot the DRZ400SM , but not with the 390 ADV.
If you test a 790 Adventure I think it has more suspension and a lower seat. But price is double almost. Weight is much more...if you drop it often it might matter to some.
But I guess, naked street fighter bikes are the best motorcycles because due to good ground clearance they can go off-road and do easy city rides due to its upright sitting posture and can keep up with sports bikes on tracks too, kind of a all-rounder, like the Duke…..
Another awesome review! If you don't mind me asking what is your inseam? We seem to be about the same height, but some people have more torso than legs, which I am.
Thank god KTM bike are now assembled in the Philippines because our ktm duke model 2012 are assembled in India and it has a horrible reliability with its components
The 490 really interests me but dont think rdy next year. Himalayan wins for me because can still do long distances and costs less than the Honda. Although am still leaning towards the Interceptor or Classic 350.
Yeah that 490 seems like it will be a while yet. I also expect it to have the same revvy character but be better-built--we will see! Very curious to try the new Classic 350! Tried the Meteor briefly and found it very agreeable.
@@Ride_XP Similar nice sound as the Interceptor just not as fast. Def a laid bike ride. But for a few years with low insurance seems like a good idea. Although the Himalayan has a bit more power (80 mph vs 70, you dont need more than 60 A+B in Uk).
It’s amusing hearing you call this a “big bike”. But I do understand for the Philippines (and much of Asia), this IS a big bike. I’m very lucky to be riding an Africa Twin but I really was hoping Honda would have released a new Transalp. They didn’t so here I am on an 1100. Great review. I just wish KTM would change the ugly headlights they all use.
Hehe yes, exactly--the KTM 390 Adventure, lightness aside, is plenty big in a country like the Philippines. I just rode a new Africa Twin recently and it is an impressive machine! Isn't the new Transalp supposedly coming out end of this year?
Kuya, haha been following ur reviews from himalayan to cb500x and this. Haha. May i ask, kamusta po yung wind deflection sa katawan and helmet mo, which is the best of the three? Which bike has the best fuel economy when it comes to cruising speed, yung takbong swabe lang ba. Haha. Thanks! Btw, great review!!
Great questions! Wind deflection wasn't great pero hindi ko pala na-set sa higher setting. CBX best in wind deflection for sure, for takbong suwabe fuel economy CBX din. Basta touring CBX hands down :)
That’s a great question! Unfortunately it’s not a popular bike here because displacement is too low for highway legality, so I haven’t tried it. Anyone wanna chime in? I just watched a review though (can’t remember which) that the KTM makes superior power and has more features, it’s overall a better bike.
Don't worry, it's not a super big adjustment! In fact once you get used to it you'll enjoy being able to control the bike with the footpegs and clutch modulation.
I just got my license and I want an adventure bike, unfortunately they dont supply the cb500x in my country and i’m 5’7” … my only options are the ktm 390 and the himalayan … what are your recommendations ? … thanks for the review
If you can develop the skill and confidence to ride a tall bike, the 390 will give you a closer experience to the CBX in terms of power and lightness. Or you can avail of the lowering kit, if it's really an issue! You can always bring the bike back to stock height if you want. Or if you test ride a Himalayan and end up liking it anyway, you'll have a better off-road bike if that's what you're into!
@@Ride_XP Not yet. I’m almost ready to buy one. Can’t decide between Honda Crf300l or this bike. I will swap the tires if I buy the KTM. The 390 seems like a great machine from my many hours of research.
KTM will lose this comparison due to the poor after sale service and availability and high prices on parts. Its still a great bike for those who can afford it.
