New setup is awesome. Sounds seems to be pleasant and much clear. Adv 390 is my dream bike right now it’s not possible due to financial constraints but still I feel happy when seeing other riding it .
Who said you're not good in English? You have explained the things deeply and really insightful video. Like other riders, I was also bit confused which bike should I own and upgrade after my 250cc motor but now several points are cleared. Keep advising, good luck man. Thanks
Saw your first video when u had installed panniers on your Dominar 400. I think it was 3 years ago. I made a decision to buy Dominar and do my first maiden ride to Umlingla. Had seen similar topic video of some European Biker on RU-vid. Inspite of having good budget for 800cc I settled on Dominar 400cc. Got lot of inspiration from your and JS paji videos. 25th September 2022 , Did Umlingla Solo. Vadodara to Jammu Bike in Parcel. Jammu to Umlingla Conditions were very tough. -11 degrees Rain and Snow. Slipped and fell thrice on Nerbole top. But made it to Umlingla Top. Those who do not know Umlingla. Himalaya Mt Everest is 29000Feet Umlingla is 19024 feet. And Now I feel Proud as it was my first maiden Long ride. It was Solo At age 58. Soon will be uploading videos. Your Decision to downshift to 390ADV is correct. Even Falcon Rider downshifted to V Strom250. Happy Riding. 🏍🏍.
390Adv makes for a great bike. Fantastic package overall. Extremely good service network and easy on the wallet to maintain. Saying this because I'm an owner of one.
Yes totally agree with u mate...back in Australia i used to ride a GSA, i did have a torrid time lifting the bike up after a fall.Cost of maintenance was never a problem but service was a pain in the A_ _, availability of spares is another pain in the A . Back in india as well bought a Skoda Octavia, a certain gearbox part had to be changed, the car was in the service centre for 2 months since the part had to come from Europe and the cost was ridiculous. Better to go in with Indian built machines rather then looking at options...ur much safer...that's my opinion thanx
I appreciate your decision. Adventure riding on a 300-400cc bikes makes more sense due to parts availability and maintenance and reliability in our conditions. And lastly in adventure trails, CC and power hardly makes any difference so it makes more sense owning low CC. People owning higher CC adventure bikes rarely go off-track like you do. They keep them mostly for show-off purpose.
You're right. I've seen couple of BMW GS 12k boys ride and when we got to a short rough patch roadway to a restaurant. They didn't even risk going on it. Just parked far away and started walking. Lol
If you go on overall experience big bike does make difference..Big bike adventure tourer owner can buy busa or Harley for showing off.. spending lakhs on adventure tourer bike is purely experience and it needs balls too to ride the bike I think RU-vid is so competative now. To maintain big bike is expensive as I can see in this video he is explaining only expense Hence to maintain is expensive.. Ye bolna India mein it's not practical There are people who owns supercar.. so don't blame It's all about experience
English is not our mother tongue, so it’s fine. This helps most of the majority south folks also outside India . We agree with your assessment on the bigger bikes and bikes locally manufactured and serviced
LMAO what show-off? If you have no skill, even a low CC bike won't help you in off-road. You people are just act like "langoor ke haat mein khatte angoor!". If someone has the money to buy expensive bikes, why do you think its always "show-off", even if it is -- tere se liye kya paise? Matlab kuch bhi yaar! Try growing up, not that hard?
Great video... Currently I am in the same situation. I am looking to move from my Tiger 800. I am 56 and me and wife travel everywhere in the bike. As long as you are on road it's good..... Come hairpins, bad roads climbing up or down... With a pillion and luggage (we use a roll back).. Stopped using the hard panniers after first use due to the bulk and difficulty to maneuver in traffic. Issue is there are no good mid weight tourer suitable for a couple.. The pillion seat in most are lousy... Just a 100 km test ride in CB500x and wife got a back pain... Currently there is nothing that suits us... So no other option but to go for a Tiger 850 as it's much more well balanced unlike the 800 which is seriously top heavy... I dont care for speed, but the torque is very much needed.... So hopefully Himalayan 450 or XPulse 400 may be come... Then again, after using a triple, the vibration from the single for long rides, I am not so sure..
Its like you are narrating my story line by line. I moved from CBR650F to Himalayan and feel it was the best decision taken. My CBR was mostly lying gathering dust with only maintenance. The reason for not riding was primarily due to the excessive heat, weight, tough manoeuvring in city (u cant avoid that even in breakfast rides), least nimble, uncomfortable, you name it. Expensive service and maintenance would hurt especially if the usage is low. On the other hand my Himalayan is used for almost everything and with great comfort, no worries of dropping or anything. I chose Himalayan against KTM was due to pillion comfort and cheaper spares, easy to service.
I agree 100 percent ,downgraded myself from Benelli 600 and z 800now having Duke's and enfields ,,it's been an absolute magical experience,,now I'm full retro
One heck of an explanation. Very crisp and clear. I bought adv 390 bit still was not sure I did the correct thing or not. But bulu bhai aapka explanation ekdum top notch. Concept clear kardiya.
I think BULU BHAI The most matured biker in india Right now...love your work and effort u put to give this type of knowledges about bikes....it will help us a lot in future... Love you ଵୁଲୁ ଭାଇ .... From Odisha...
I sympathize with all the points you raised Brother... I have not been blessed to own those big adventure bikes yet, but I do have the Street 750 and RE 500. The experience of riding these two bikes is enough for me to discard the idea of buying big CC bikes and settle for a Husqy 250.. 😎
I own v strom 250, it’s absolutely good bike for a beginner but for a pro rider like you it will feel under powered. I was also confused between 390 adv and v strom but ktm was too much powerful for me. I thought I couldn’t able to use it to it’s potential so I opted for v strom. Happy riding
Just curious, why didn't you consider Ktm adv 250 ? Anyway, Vstrom is a good bike so good choice. I own the adv 250, happy with the bike, but has some issues like firm suspension, cost cutting in parts etc.
@@parbxi100 -- For the price, features, peace of mind and reliability that Suzuki offers -- KTM can't compete with it in 250cc ADV segment. Neither can RE, or Yezdi for that matter. VStrom SX 250 is straight up segment leader in both price and CC. Unbeatable bike. Anyone in the market should consider VStrom over KTM, RE or Yezdi, eyes closed.
I too am an adventure rider just shifted from Dominar 400. Yes . The Suspension is comparatively stiff but manageable. 550 to 600 kms run a day is still manageable.
Reduce the preload to minimum. It worked better for me, though not very plush. If you want a very soft setup, switch to Xpulse mono shock its a direct fit.
👍👍 really loved this video, especially because it was in English! Hope you do a lot more in English videos, you speak very well and express your views more professionally in English. I understand Hindi too, but it seems those videos are quite casual and not so serious. The way you speak English makes all the points very clear
I totally understand your logic. I just went from one extreme to the other. In the US I own a 2006 HD Springer, a large heavy bike, my dream bike. I moved to the Philippines in 22 and it wasn't long before I got another bike, a low cost new Honda XR150L. This bike is perfect for the roads, traffic speed and fits in with the other bikes and riders for a great price. I have no desire, reason or funds to buy a big bike here. Enjoying what you have and the freedom of minimalism is very satisfying. BTW, your English great, I would just suggest that you speak a tiny bit slower to be better understood. Great video.
I think a well thought of decision and very well explained which is an unbiased. I am a ex user of Himalayan and agree that there are still quality issues with the bike..and id u dont have quality issues then you have pathetic service centers n staff...now had switched to 390adv and not regretting a single bit
I have heard this story from Sumanth first hand. And it did shed some light on why I should stick to the current 390 adventure I have. Also, that's a 690 enduro. Amazing machine with a 154kg weight, much lower than many of those beginner adventure motorcycles. Maybe I'll get a bigger one if ktm decides to sell the 890 adventure r in India. Until then, I might not, unless something else gets released lighter and more powerful or at least equally powerful as the 390 adventure. Great video mate! Not many people talk about this side of owning big bikes. I personally know so many people who have gotten their hands burnt buying these bigger motorcycles.
A few other angles:- 1. A single cylinder can never match the smoothness of a multi cylinder engine. 2. Cruising is as much a part of of motorcycling as riding on rough terrain and this is where a small engine doing 120 kmph vs a larger one makes all the difference. Does it come with its associated costs, of course yes. Like someone said “there’s nothing called cheap luxury “. 3. Well engineered vehicles don’t break down and while the availability of a service centre is great, it isn’t a mandate. 4. Fuel and maintenance costs - With a few exceptions, you get what you pay for in terms of feel, performance and safety. 5. Nothing more than, say a 5-600cc is needed for off-road riding and the 390 ADV, unfortunately is the only option in that space in India. Our middleweight is a deprived segment. 6. Does that make the 390 comparable to an Africa Twin, GS or a Multistrada, not at all.
This would just go right over everyone's head. The kind of motorcycles rest of the world gets to experience is like a dream here. What people call "big bikes" are just "entry level" or "middle weight" bike to get started with.
Great video indeed...thanks a lot. There is one point about the low end torque concern in 390 Adv....Ppl have successfully overcome it by changing the rear wheel sprocket to a marginally bigger one (which has 2 teeth more than the stock, and supposedly avlb with the KTM service outlets itself..). Wonder if you have tried it and wish to share your views abt it👍🙏
I am into cycling.... Bought a trek road bike..... Happy for my purchase.... With the killer taxing and fuel prices, insurance slab for premium bikes..... And looting "specialist" mechanics.... Dropped my superbike plan.
Hero xpulse is the best fit you really want to have fun on trails.. if you do city rides and some offroad trails often then xpulse is the best if the lot.. i have been riding it for last 6 months.. it can take you to places you cant imagine with other bikes.. highway run is something where you might feel need for some extra horses.. but I hardly do any highway touring. Still it is not that bad on highways.. can cruise at 90-95 kmph all day long..
As always, sharing your wisdom straight from the heart! Excellent synopsis….as a 390 Adv owner, could relate to the points raised by you on practicality etc…good one, Bullu bhai!
Your english has improved a lot 😊 The initial torque problem is just matter of getting used to. All you have to be is little pro active in downshifting and clutch management. Another big advantage of ktm390adv is bidirectional quickshifter. Quickshifting down is the most safest way to slow down on highways. No other midsized bike comes close to 390adv in this regard... Welcome to 390adv club.
See, the question comes down to one thing, why do you ride bike? Someone who has never felt the feeling of owning 600+ cc bike would always want to own one bike of more than half-litre class bcoz that feeling of triple or four cylinders is unmatched. Second, motorcycle riding is fun and for long rides if it gets uncomfortable then one would stop having fun. Speed is irrelevant here bcoz Indian roads anyways won’t allow one to go past 140 constantly. But how easily are you cruising at 100-130 kmph matters. Thirdly, this video has come from a person who has enjoyed and owned bikes of all sorts and travelled a whole lot than anyone else could imagine. It’s like he has lived the best of both world so he can decide what’s good for him but if a new traveller sets out on the journey of riding pan India then he would also itch to try various bikes before deciding what works best for them. Fourth, expense on big bikes are more but every big thing comes with a cost. That should rather be the motivation and should not deter someone from trying out diff sets of bike. I am calling this out mostly from the aspirational point of view so I accept that some ppl will disagree from my POV. It’s good that Bulu bhai pointed out demerits of owning big bikes but when it comes to bike, it is always a battle between heart and brain.
On point! Small and lightweight bikes are very capable and are more stress-less when situations are tricky and you want adventure. Glad someone said it! 👌🏻
Bullu bhai, I brought Adv 390 after watching your earlier video (Adv 390 vs Himalayan) and now again I am going to stick to my Adv 390 because of your video. I will surely upgrade, but to 390 2023 Spokes Wheel version unless and until there is something really tempting in the same weight/features category.
i’m 61 I have trouble lifting my CRF450RX (road legal 106kg ) 😂 But it goes fast when upright ! 57HP (I’m tempted to buy a KTM390 simply to enter the KTM challenge, which is in Portugal in 2024)
I went the other way. I sold my KTM 390 Adv and bought a Honda Africa Twin. I ride 80/20 hwy/off. While the 390 is adequate, it did not exceed at either. Not enough power for US roads/hwy and not enough torque for off road riding, and the KTM electronics suck off road. The only positives over the AT .. price & gas mileage. That's it. The AT is a Cadillac Tractor, but not for little guys.
I cant speak Hindi. And many of my countrymen too. And we all experience and feel what u feel about the Big bike scene. Keep it up brother Edit: We heavily relate with the practicality and affordability of motorcycles.
I drove almost every common CC segments of bikes. In my opinion for rough terrain touring purpose, getting a bulkier & higher CC bike doesn’t at all make sense. It not only creates hurdles because of its weight also very unreliable. Getting a lighter & powerful bike is always an ideal bike for riding rough terrain.
Bulu bhai once you helped me in my bike issues you advised a good tire for me now I am not at all at your level when it comes to riding but but my advice for your next bike is YAMAHA TENERE 700 it's perfect for you it's light and nimble issue is the seat height and I know you can figure something out😅😊😊
After owning both for a long time i would honestly say it's quite stupid to compare both of them. 390 is not even a proper ADV bike in stock form. Africa twin just not meant for an amateur like you. With your skill level you can barely open it's throttle on trails It's good you switched to that soft roader bike. Maybe after 5 - 10yrs of owning off road bikes and spending money on actual off-road track skills and experience, you can actually enjoy that monster.
Bulu bhai, i also sold off my Triumph tiger XRX for the same reasons in 2021, the tipping point for the decision came when i had to wait for almost 1.5 years to source the battery which i finally got after paying triple the price during the pandemic period. The city traffic in mumbai also became unbearable to do city rides and exiting city for long rides was always a big task as all the exit points out of mumbai were clogged. Iam glad that you have articulated all this so beautifully in this video.
@@anishkrishnan3979 Those were extra ordinary circumstances Anish not only for triumph but also for other brands, the pandemic created logistic issues which made sourcing spare parts a big challenge, I am sure it must have been sorted by now. I can vouch for the Triumph team in mumbai, they are one the best. Please do not let my comment cloud your decision, I enjoyed each and every mile on my Tiger.
Totally Agree! I have RE Desert Storm, Kawasaki Vulcan S and Vstrom 650 BS6 and can say for sure everything you shared is correct and priceless information for those who wish to take up bike riding
Well rounded and astute choice and content. I always say big ADVs are a great choice, but a middleweight is a much, much better choice. Today's small bikes have come a long way in terms of quality and performance. Fact is, affordability is one, but usability is one which is where mind takes over heart... and people realise it later.. A sensible podcast that should be viewed by a budding as well as experienced bikers..
Appreciate your decision, however not all big and heavy bikes are not good to take it to the trails, it also depends on the Rider how confident is he to take it. As you said you will take the training from Nelly. you may ask him if it is difficult to ride big bikes i off road or in trials.. Riders right technique and confident also very important. Big bikes comes with loaded features to help you in trials. it is just that one should know how to play around with it. IMHO
Xpulse pro is a really good motorcycle, even I’m considering buying it soon. Just thinking if it’ll be a problem handling in slow moving traffic. What’s your height? How is your experience of handling the motorcycle in city traffic?
Hi Bulu! I saw your video of 390 delivery. Before that I was thinking that you will purchase CB500X. Your video is like that sau chuhe khake billi chali hajako,😀....anyway nice to see that you joined our middle class club... I know still you have big bike but atleast you started thinking like us. We cannot imagine that bike bikes world with our pocket. I am a big fan of you and your statements always influencing my decisions....
@@BuluBiker Thanks for the Reply Bullu....don't mind about my comment...yes we all are riders only ...that's true...but the facts you explained about big bikes is the truth. Practical bikes are below 500cc in general. Also I need advice...at present I am using Xpulse 200 bs6 2v ...really painful experience on highway...want to upgrade and confused in Ktm 390 adv and upcoming Himalayan 450....Is there any real solution for 390 adv low end torture issue....so that I can think
At first I thought you were crazy! WHY would you go from an Africa Twin to a 390 ADV? But after about 7:00 minutes, I decided you made a lot of really good points. In America The KTM 390 runs about half the price of the Honda. So there is a bunch of money you can buy accessories with. Anyway... great video! Gave me a lot to think about.
Bulu bhai maine aapke ek video mai comment kiya tha ki aapko log kyu pasand karte hai just because of your honesty aap jo bhi bolte dil se aata hai wo samne wale se relate karta hai. Love you bro ❤ Fan wala dusre wala nhi 😂
I had a R65 in the 80’s which I took all over India. I had to service it myself as there were no service stations. I still feel the R85GS was the best bike for India.
GS and Africa twin can rule the trails and off road terrain easily. One needs to get acquainted with those machines. They are all terrain bikes. See youtube videos where Europeans literally fly with those bikes. Nevertheless, I agree Big bikes come with challenges. In India People buy Big Bikes to show off. They dont even tour on them. Just for Breakfast rides. Also I agree we have more practical oriented bikes like KTM 390. Those Big Bikes are costly and expensive. One more aspect of having bike is it robs you of fun very often. One needs to keep an eye on the bike always. We, in India do not have unbroken roads for thousands of miles like Europe or other continents have. Big bikes are more challenging in India. Thank you Bullu Brother for genuine interaction. I agree with you completely.
In KTM Adventure bike's line up the 250 adventure and 390 adventure are the most non suitable bike's for off-road everything above the 790,890 adventure 1190,1290 adventure bike's are really Good and well suited for off-road , I wonder why they don't bring them to Indian Market as Big Bike's despite being a Niche Market there exists one market in the first place .
I have seen your complete video after many years because I felt this video would turn up sensible and I was not wrong . I measured these parameters 3.5 year back when I had to choose between the Kawasaki versys and Ktm 390 adventure. Though Ktm 390 adventure was a new bike trusted on the legacy it had . Anyways nice video
Thanks balu bhai for genuine advice, I too have small herd of mix bikes, Benelli trk502x, Honda CB300R, hero impulse(2013), yamaha rx 135, I have procured rally kit for impulse, found impulse to be VFM , and I plan spiti trip on rally impulse
Great video. Thanks for doing it in English as I’m in Toronto. Seems like smaller more manageable bikes are much more versatile and easier to manage, more economical, lower insurance cost etc…I love the 390. I’m 6’2” so for me it isn’t power but frame size and fit that’s most important. Thanks again, btw your English is perfect.
Owning a Ktm adv 390 was my best decision. I was confused between g310gs, hima, and adv390/ But finally, I went to 390, and believe me it can do everything. I don't have many offroad skills but still, bike supports with all its tech. I might disagree with the heavy bike part. If people who own big bikes have proper skills then weight should not matter at all. If we see foreign adv riders they take all those big bikes to roads and no roads. My suggestion for big bike owners is not to downgrade the bike but instead improve your skills. Learn about your bike and some basic repairs and everything will be sorted. But yeah if you own a big bike and if you worry about the cost of repair if you drop the bike by mistake then it is definitely a problem. It's like owning superbikes and worrying about the mileage,
