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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
Thanks for the great video! With the risers, some folks have mentioned needing a longer clutch cable due to the risers. Did you find that necessary or was a clutch cable rerouting required?
@@stevehagerott6449 I tried the same handlebar risers on my 2023 but found the clutch would slip when the handlebars were turned to the right, so I took them off. There are two ways to mount the risers - one forward and one to the rear. I noticed MySeniorMoments installed them in the rear position, whereas I installed them in the front position. I may try again with the rear position to see if that gives it enough play for the clutch to work correctly.
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.
Thanks for the suggestion.
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.
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.
Thanks 👍
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.
Приветствую! Спасибо! Отличных и безопасных дорог!
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
Thanks for the suggestions.
Thanks for another interesting video.
Congrats on 10K subs!
Thanks!
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
Easy fit, right out of the box. No modifications needed.
@@MySeniorMomentsThank you.
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.
Thanks for the suggestions. I’m going to look around for a different bash plate and perhaps larger pegs as well.
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.
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.
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.
I’ll check out that option.
Nice video. For the sprocket change do you go up or down and how many would you try?
Probably down a single sprocket
Thanks, but now I forgot why!! LOL 🙂
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.
😊👍🙏
As far as the noise from your bash plate….have considered attaching some heat resistant sound deadening material to the inside of it?
I will look into that, thanks for the tip!
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)
It will work in the handlebars. You may want to go with the inch and eighth instead of 1 inch. It comes stock with the KTM 390.
They fit my 2023 just fine.
Thanks for the great video! With the risers, some folks have mentioned needing a longer clutch cable due to the risers. Did you find that necessary or was a clutch cable rerouting required?
@@stevehagerott6449 I tried the same handlebar risers on my 2023 but found the clutch would slip when the handlebars were turned to the right, so I took them off. There are two ways to mount the risers - one forward and one to the rear. I noticed MySeniorMoments installed them in the rear position, whereas I installed them in the front position. I may try again with the rear position to see if that gives it enough play for the clutch to work correctly.