This 390 KTM could be perfect for a lot of middle-age men on elephant sized adventure bikes. Will a man have more fun on a $25,000 591 pound GSA thats a handful to handle in parking lots and off road or on the $7,000 nimble 380 pound KTM?
Middle aged man typically can afford gs and other more 'higher class' bikes, and i dont think weight alone is that much important for most. And theres always 690 if you want lighter dual sport. Lets face it this bike will be chosen mainly.for financial reasons, not weight or.off.road capabilities. Also seems like very good first bike imo.
Most GSA's are used for long distance cruising rather than going offroad. If I were to do a road trip, I'd prefer a boxer twin over a 390cc single cylinder. The GSA sure is a heavy bike, but once it starts moving it's quite nimble
you're comparing apples to oranges. i'm middle aged and i have an r1200gs, ktm 790 adv r rally and ktm 690 enduro as adv bikes. the 690 is lighter than the 310, has waaay more power, outperforms the 310 in every situation possible -including fun factor. what would make me or any middle aged with a bmw gs/gsa get a 310? if we ride a bmw gs, we can probably afford something besides a 310. if you care, of all my bikes, if forced to keep only one bike, i'd keep the gs. it's still the best overall bike on the planet. that's why, despite the price, the gs is the best selling adv bike.
@@damytzeus hey, how do you like the ktm 790 adv? I'm looking at the tiger 900 or the ktm atm. I have a street triple atm but I want to be able to do some gravel and long distance riding.
I think this bike is a good fit for those that want to drive to and then take off-road on some harder trails, but not in the realm of a true enduro. In Colorado the trails run from mild to wild. I would never take a full size Adventure bike on most of these trails unless you like being tossed to the rocky ground a lot. At 450 to over 500 lb bikes are not fun to drive on anything difficult, although it's more than possible -I've done it a lot and I spend all my time man-handling it to keep it upright. IMO Large heavy ADV bikes are just nice looking road bikes for the occasional dirt road but they are very well suited for desert type terrain.
11:35 "Just because it's so fun to ride hard" I think that's one awesome defining characteristic for all of KTM's 390 range. The harder you ride them the more fun they feel. Especially the RC390.
I’ve owned this bike for 1150km and I’m having way more fun on this little bike than I used to have on CBR600 and GSXR750, because this bike doesn’t require very high speeds to be engaging. As for off-roading....no, I will not do any serious off-roading with this bike...I find it’s more of a street bike. Big Bang for the buck. My only concern is that long term quality, I expect more problems than a Honda.
Great review. I am also a bit concerned about long term reliability and that is the only thing holding me back from buying one. Have a MT-03 at present but really like this KTM.
@@paulf2534 you don't need to think twice about reliability though because yes there are many blown engine heads reported but these bikes sell atleast 2-3 times more than other bikes including hondas ....case in point is India where the dukes,rc and adventure sold 6k bikes in june 2020 alone....so these bikes sell near 25-30k per year in india alone so obviously the failed bikes numbers are high..... I've had the 2015 duke 390 and the engine is still a gem ,revs hard and there's no mileage drop
Fun fact about the 390 adv. If you set the clutch to the 5th position (closest to the handlebar), the lever has too little travel to trigger the clutch button/detector. So you cannot start it in 1st gear with the clutch pulled in, and whenever you shift it will always trigger the quickshifter. It also has a shit ton of typos on the dash.
2:55 nah bro, you had it right the first time. This segment is pretty sick. I love the idea of not just so many of the small displacement bikes, but the ergonomics of a taller bike like this one in that same segment. Awesome!
Adam, you've grown so well into this role in mc commute, that I've forgotten your predecessor. you do an awesome job. I totally dig your style. you da man
I live in Indonesia, you can't find that kind of street here, except toll road which can't be passed by motorcycle. I think it is useless to having a motorcycle bigger than 150cc here, 150cc is more than enough.
hahah come to India. We aren't supposed to be a 3rd world country, but I swear to god, we have the highest level of corruption and worst infrastructure outside of Africa. My daily commute in one of the most famous and well to do Indian cities is more back braking gravel than road. I need to switch my sedan out for an SUV soon.
@Jake Wheelie I mean it isn't that bad, but it sucks because we have the money to roll out EU level infrastructure in a controlled manner. Most of that goes to line individual pockets who turn around and buy land and 200,000 USD cars.
Wild Hair! MC Commute! Hey, thanks for taking us along for a ride and for your impartial review of the KTM 390 Adventure, Adam. 9:20 Speeding? That wasn't speeding. And rat out a fellow motorcyclist for speeding? That would be breaking an unspoken agreement and code of honor against the spirit of motorcycling itself. Something akin to original sin. Everyone knows the coppers will give at least a 5 mph speed limit cushion to motorists which equates to 10 mph for motorcyclists because there are half as many wheels. Simple math. Plus, all true motorcyclists know in their hearts that when it comes to alleged "speeding" on a motorcycle, the same 5 second rule applies as when you drop a cookie on the floor. The mind gets consumed with enthusiasm and the thrill of it all while the attention has a hard time keeping up with all that's happening only to eventually discover triple digit speeds on the speedo. It's utterly amazing how natural it feels, but the rational mind comes up with the thought that it's time to count five Mississippis in the head as you back off the throttle. Back to 10 over and it's no harm, no foul. Besides, hyperbikes these days are so highly strung that a teeny, weeny bump in the road can cause the throttle hand to crack it open 1 degree more which in turn increases the velocity of the bike exponentially. Thus, everyone knows that with a twist of the wrist all those complainers about speeders become a micro speck in the mirror. The faster one goes the slower time elapses, said Einstein. Well then, modern motorcycles help us approach timelessness. And that's a good thing. Haruki Muakami said, "Everyone, deep in their hearts, is waiting for the end of the world." Not through destruction, but by stopping time. Cheers.
It’s a great bike for any adv rider because it is light. I would definitely buy this over a heavier KLR 650. Plus stability control with IMU standard. TFT dash, led lighting!!!
On the questions about highway and can I commute with this 390... I used to do 90km daily to work and back on a Grom, now on a CB300R. On the Grom I was always maxed out at 95-100kmh and with the CB Im always at 130-150kmh with out issues. You dont need big power to go places, it's all in your head 😉
i own this motorcycle in India and its been 2 months...trust ne vibration will reduce after 1k kms..its crazy smooth till 130 kms..and the handling is the best part to it , we don't have adjustable front shocks which kind of removes the fun..
It doesn't. Really don't get you. I rode a 58hp 200kg bike with waaaaaaaaay soft suspension in front for years. Search b48 wellbachtal. Still rode it to its limit. Which wasn't very fast but still.
If you don't want the big brothers, there is really no other bike in this segment that offers this level equipped gadgets. CB 500 X should be a good option if you want the Honda engine but even that has vibrations. After sitting on both bikes, this KTM feels a bit broad at the front of the seat when you put the feet on the ground, but when riding it is not a problem. The Honda is better at the front of the seat. I am 5,10 and both bikes fells like they have the same seat height to me. I could not flat foot any of them, but they are both not heavy bikes and I had like half of my feet on the ground, so they would be great for my height. Styling the KTM wins, but Honda is bigger and would maybe be the choice if you're more onroad than offroad, I didn't feel that the KTM felt cramped though. Great video thanks!
Have been looking for a somewhat large single that can fulfill double duty ... Getting me to where I want to pull off the pavement and get down some dirt roads and onto mild to moderate trails. Most machines are either too small and don't do well at 60 mph, or too large and the baggage that comes with all that weight. As an "Old Guy" I don't want to tackle a large bike anymore. Spoke with the dealer who expressed some enthusiasm for the bike, but it was months away from hands. This looks perfect for me and I won't need ladder to reach the seat.
$6,200 but when it’s all said and done it’s about $7,500 after fees and taxes. Then even more if you plan to finance. But still all in all, looks to be a decent deal for what you’re getting!
Keep up my favorite virtual ride alongs Adam. Good stuff. I like at the end when you ask: "Would I buy this bike?" Usually I'm right with your answer but got it wrong this time. After all the positive things I figured yes you would but then you mentioned no just because of the power. Same here, not enough for me either. I have a 790 Adventure R but if they had the coming 490 twin out when I ordered the 790 I just MAY have opted for that one as it should be fantastic. Ho hum, 790 power will do I guess...
How would you rate this against the 390 Duke? A friend who has extensively ridden both says the stability is far superior, while staying fun in the corners so even for city run around commuting and touring he decided it was a superior product.
Doesn't have to be transported around the world though. Got to pay for that...It's a bit annoying that so many European branded bikes are now made fully or partly in Asia and we have to pay for the delivery but I guess it's only fair as they are cheaper to produce over there. £5499 in the UK
The screen has a daylight sensor, which for some reason is not working on your bike. Currently, it is on night mode, that is the reason you are unable to read it clearly.
The only thing that worries me about this bike is that the 390 engine has been unreliable for a number of riders. has the headgasket issue ever been addressed ?
A CFR 250 Rally is almost $6500 w/ abs! Bigger tank adjustable suspension color dash, comfortable seat, All things that get modded on CFR250L aftermarket. Tough call, comes down to which feels better if price is same.
Honda is heavier, more expensive. The KTM will out accelerate it and has switchable traction control/ABS and newer tech....Not so good weather protection though...
from all of the bikes that you've reviewed, finally there's one that i can own (just ordered this, hope can ride it soon). but i quite surprised knowing the power parts quite pricey...
Idk if I could get one . That engine had a lot of issues when it first came out in the rc390 and idk if they got all the bugs out. Nice looking bike but I’m too worried about the engine with its past reputation
The 17+ engines were better. Wife has a 390 Duke she flogs to work and in the mountains. She rides that thing at 75-80 mph on the highway to and from work on the daily, no issue yet.
One thing that confounds me is the exhaust placement, which goes under the motor. It seems to hug the case pretty well and the skid plate accommodates it - but the Duke's exhaust pipe runs up high behind the frame like on a dirt bike. Why did they change it? Likely it was to relocate some components and possibly cool the bike better, but I think it was a step back design-wise. That is one thing adventure bikes get wrong, like on the Versys-X, but it seems like KTM already had a good design for it. What am I missing?
All I could see just the road and the sunny views. No riding happening on thus side of the world! Can’t wait I can test 2020 models for my Chanel! Thanks for entertainment for now!
Bigirish Yeti average, not quite up to par with it’s japanese cousins. I see a lot of 1st gen 390s being in need of repairs locally, but I have seen the 2nd gen do endurance races, cross country etc.
Not good. I personally know of 2 390 motors that have blown headgaskets among other things. As well as others that struggle with overheating. Id wait a year or so to see if the 390 in the adv is actually fixed or not.
not too thrilled and disappointed in how it came out! i was expecting a more traditional adventure bike in the same line as a 690 with an 18 sized rear wheel and 21 front wheel and then follow it up with an enduro and supermoto models a more traditional KTM bike that poor riders such as myself fantasize about owning. this model is just a regular comfortable standard model a more comfortable duke model. in fact this model should be named Duke Touring model. its what it is.
People love to shit talk these 390’s but there is no comparing them. I’ve bought the wrong bikes in this price range. Now I know it and I’m trying to find one of these in stock.
With the roadway all clear, time to borrow a Multistrada 1260S for a commute review. The 2019 is essentially the same as the 2020...perhaps a dealer would loan you one. Then you can contrast that review o e year from now when the V4 Multi is released in 2021 🤩...your reviews are great thx...
The handguards does little for crash protection; They will snap in two (or more) on impact and, in this case, the clutch lever broke of the outer 3rd.....
@J D You've obviously never owned a Versys I've had one for two years and rode a 390 demo. The KTM is more powerful, has more electronics, will cruise at motorway speeds with less revs. I seem to be for ever changing gear on the bloody Kwaka and the screaming noise drives me mad after all the big bikes i used to ride. Then watch a few off road vids of the two bikes, the suspension and switchable ABS/traction control on the KTM is much batter designed for off road use. The only downside on the KTM is the stupid cast wheels..
I do find the sky reflection often makes it harder to see “dark modes” from the camera’s perspective. I get it’s your preference (and yeah, it looks neat!), but maybe consider forgoing it for filming day. Love your content!
Do you have any thoughts on the Duke 390 vs the 390 ADV for a beginning rider ? Something to take in account is that brand new 2019 390 Duke leftovers from last year are selling for $3,999. Over 95% of time is city pavement with some cobblestone streets. Possibly a.fee weekend a year would take it on a dirt fire road in a hilly area. Thanks.
The price on this 2020 390 ADV is $6200. 2019 Duke 390 new dealership leftovers are $4000. It would be nice to head to the country fire roads once a month. As a new rider am i better off saving the $ 2200? I will be riding it through out the week as a city commuter in a densely populated area with a mix of pavement and brick laid streets. Advice ?
I disagree with the fit and finish comment. It’s actually not that great. I own this bike and the cush drives at the rear sprocket are already worn with not even 2k miles on it. The build quality is really not that great and my tft dash gets condensation all the time. Trying to get this addressed under KTM warranty claim.
Need some help choosing a bike, is the rc 390 so unreliable and lean that it won't keep up for daily use? and then ninja 400 vs r3? not sure what to get between the 3.
The newer model 390s have pretty decent reliability. Yes it runs hotter than others but so far none of the owners of 390s in our group had an overheating problem (local KTM Owners group) I've ridden the R3 and RC390 and I've sat on the Ninja 400 The RC390 is arguably the sportiest [ergonomics] of the three. Up to you if you can live with the unusual front (I own a smaller RC200 with similar looks and the front end needs some getting used to) The R3 is sportier than the Ninja 400 for sure. In the end it'll be up to your preferences. The KTM has a single cylinder so the other 2 options have a smoother power delivery
I have RC 390(2016) modified and revs up to 12,000rpm and I have no issues. I have done more than 30,000+ Kms so far and it a awesome motorcycle. R3 and ninja 400 are boring motorcycles. This 390 engine has capability to produce 55 bhp after mods with no reliability issues. People complain because they don't maintain it properly.
Very interesting review been going back an forward between one of these a Himalayan an a 2002 gsa 1150 second hand all around the same price its good that we all have so much choice :)
@@bobbyjones1969 actually ended up with a 2010 t100 Bonneville 60 edition perfect for the road touring I'm going to be doing extremely comfy n very smooth although as soon as my Commando is back together that will be my long distance bike n I'm gonna let my dad use the Bonnie, my daily is a 1967 Norton 650ss ride it all year round :) quite interested to see what RE do with the himmy seen a few pages saying there's changes coming for us taller riders.
I'm tempted to try one of these, 43mpg though, really? Lifetime average on my V-Strom 650 to date is a smidge over 63mpg and I don't pootle about. Such a competent all rounder if you only do a small amount of light off road and a lot of higher speed longer runs it's difficult to justify changing...
Too much for an upgrade that mechanically already is there and only needs a software update... I will admit though, that i still gave up the mony for it with my 790 ADV.
Yeah i too cant get over new ktm design direction.... They made the most beautiful bikes in the past (990 adv) and.now. we have this preying mantis shit 🤮😂
@@Angry-Lynx yeah, if you look at the Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS, it also has a bug head but the body flows very well, tho, it's a naked bike, but it doesn't have that long neck of the ktm 390. Here in Costa Rica we have plenty of Chinese cheap bikes, and the dual sport models look exactly the same as this bike, except for the head, the body looks nice, the head is out of place.
Depends on what you expect from bike... Cb is.twin cylinder so theres a lot of differences.coming with entine alone. Also ktms in general are much 'nicer', performance and fun.oriented while japanese bikes lack.character and features, but are always more reliable. Both have their own market of buyers, depending on whats more.important for them.
Nice video, I have a duke 390 but the pillion isn't comfortable for 4 to 8 hours trips. Will this be much better as comfortable as versys or himalayan pillion? Thanks
Versys comfortable for long journeys! Pah! You should try riding from the north of France to the south. Lost rack of the amount of times I had to stop over the two days...
Those thinking why the rev limiter is flashing at that rpm, well its a new bike and after the first service is done. They take that out, its just for the run in period
How about a bike for less fortunate, smaller people like myself. I'm 5'7 30in inseam. I was considering this or the BMW G 310 GS. My friend suggested a lowering kit and a low profile seat.
Wow! Definitely get the quickshifter! Torn between this and the rumored Royal Enfield 650 coming next year!?! Something that Mad Max and Indiana Jones would ride! Great job KTM and Adam 👍👌😁
This 390 KTM could be perfect for a lot of middle-age men on elephant sized adventure bikes. Will a man have more fun on a $25,000 591 pound GSA thats a handful to handle in parking lots and off road or on the $7,000 nimble 380 pound KTM?
Middle aged man typically can afford gs and other more 'higher class' bikes, and i dont think weight alone is that much important for most. And theres always 690 if you want lighter dual sport. Lets face it this bike will be chosen mainly.for financial reasons, not weight or.off.road capabilities. Also seems like very good first bike imo.
Most GSA's are used for long distance cruising rather than going offroad. If I were to do a road trip, I'd prefer a boxer twin over a 390cc single cylinder. The GSA sure is a heavy bike, but once it starts moving it's quite nimble
you're comparing apples to oranges. i'm middle aged and i have an r1200gs, ktm 790 adv r rally and ktm 690 enduro as adv bikes. the 690 is lighter than the 310, has waaay more power, outperforms the 310 in every situation possible -including fun factor. what would make me or any middle aged with a bmw gs/gsa get a 310? if we ride a bmw gs, we can probably afford something besides a 310. if you care, of all my bikes, if forced to keep only one bike, i'd keep the gs. it's still the best overall bike on the planet. that's why, despite the price, the gs is the best selling adv bike.
@@damytzeus hey, how do you like the ktm 790 adv? I'm looking at the tiger 900 or the ktm atm. I have a street triple atm but I want to be able to do some gravel and long distance riding.
I think this bike is a good fit for those that want to drive to and then take off-road on some harder trails, but not in the realm of a true enduro. In Colorado the trails run from mild to wild. I would never take a full size Adventure bike on most of these trails unless you like being tossed to the rocky ground a lot. At 450 to over 500 lb bikes are not fun to drive on anything difficult, although it's more than possible -I've done it a lot and I spend all my time man-handling it to keep it upright. IMO Large heavy ADV bikes are just nice looking road bikes for the occasional dirt road but they are very well suited for desert type terrain.
11:35 "Just because it's so fun to ride hard" I think that's one awesome defining characteristic for all of KTM's 390 range. The harder you ride them the more fun they feel. Especially the RC390.
That’s true. I’ve owned both 390 and 390 Adventure. They are so fun to ride hard but for me the 390 duke has better handling.
I’ve owned this bike for 1150km and I’m having way more fun on this little bike than I used to have on CBR600 and GSXR750, because this bike doesn’t require very high speeds to be engaging. As for off-roading....no, I will not do any serious off-roading with this bike...I find it’s more of a street bike. Big Bang for the buck. My only concern is that long term quality, I expect more problems than a Honda.
Ocean4Life my ktm has held up very good like our hondas both brands make very good bikes
Great review. I am also a bit concerned about long term reliability and that is the only thing holding me back from buying one. Have a MT-03 at present but really like this KTM.
@@paulf2534 you don't need to think twice about reliability though because yes there are many blown engine heads reported but these bikes sell atleast 2-3 times more than other bikes including hondas ....case in point is India where the dukes,rc and adventure sold 6k bikes in june 2020 alone....so these bikes sell near 25-30k per year in india alone so obviously the failed bikes numbers are high.....
I've had the 2015 duke 390 and the engine is still a gem ,revs hard and there's no mileage drop
Any updates
Fun fact about the 390 adv. If you set the clutch to the 5th position (closest to the handlebar), the lever has too little travel to trigger the clutch button/detector. So you cannot start it in 1st gear with the clutch pulled in, and whenever you shift it will always trigger the quickshifter. It also has a shit ton of typos on the dash.
Hahaha. Prolly not good.
2:55 nah bro, you had it right the first time. This segment is pretty sick. I love the idea of not just so many of the small displacement bikes, but the ergonomics of a taller bike like this one in that same segment. Awesome!
Adam, you've grown so well into this role in mc commute, that I've forgotten your predecessor. you do an awesome job. I totally dig your style. you da man
thanks!
I came for the bike but stayed for the landscape, damn those streets looked fine!
*cries in third world country*
Jump across before the wall comes up 🤣
I live in Indonesia, you can't find that kind of street here, except toll road which can't be passed by motorcycle. I think it is useless to having a motorcycle bigger than 150cc here, 150cc is more than enough.
hahah come to India. We aren't supposed to be a 3rd world country, but I swear to god, we have the highest level of corruption and worst infrastructure outside of Africa. My daily commute in one of the most famous and well to do Indian cities is more back braking gravel than road. I need to switch my sedan out for an SUV soon.
@Jake Wheelie this bike actually feels like its made for us indians XD we got dual sport roads here right ? @theEntreriCode
@Jake Wheelie I mean it isn't that bad, but it sucks because we have the money to roll out EU level infrastructure in a controlled manner. Most of that goes to line individual pockets who turn around and buy land and 200,000 USD cars.
Man Adam they've been paving that road my whole adult life and i just turned 50 !!!!
One thing I've always been jealous about is the backlit handlebar buttons.
Wild Hair! MC Commute! Hey, thanks for taking us along for a ride and for your impartial review of the KTM 390 Adventure, Adam. 9:20 Speeding? That wasn't speeding. And rat out a fellow motorcyclist for speeding? That would be breaking an unspoken agreement and code of honor against the spirit of motorcycling itself. Something akin to original sin. Everyone knows the coppers will give at least a 5 mph speed limit cushion to motorists which equates to 10 mph for motorcyclists because there are half as many wheels. Simple math. Plus, all true motorcyclists know in their hearts that when it comes to alleged "speeding" on a motorcycle, the same 5 second rule applies as when you drop a cookie on the floor. The mind gets consumed with enthusiasm and the thrill of it all while the attention has a hard time keeping up with all that's happening only to eventually discover triple digit speeds on the speedo. It's utterly amazing how natural it feels, but the rational mind comes up with the thought that it's time to count five Mississippis in the head as you back off the throttle. Back to 10 over and it's no harm, no foul. Besides, hyperbikes these days are so highly strung that a teeny, weeny bump in the road can cause the throttle hand to crack it open 1 degree more which in turn increases the velocity of the bike exponentially. Thus, everyone knows that with a twist of the wrist all those complainers about speeders become a micro speck in the mirror. The faster one goes the slower time elapses, said Einstein. Well then, modern motorcycles help us approach timelessness. And that's a good thing. Haruki Muakami said, "Everyone, deep in their hearts, is waiting for the end of the world." Not through destruction, but by stopping time. Cheers.
It’s a great bike for any adv rider because it is light. I would definitely buy this over a heavier KLR 650. Plus stability control with IMU standard. TFT dash, led lighting!!!
On the questions about highway and can I commute with this 390... I used to do 90km daily to work and back on a Grom, now on a CB300R.
On the Grom I was always maxed out at 95-100kmh and with the CB Im always at 130-150kmh with out issues.
You dont need big power to go places, it's all in your head 😉
What about the wear on the engine ? No issues ?
i own this motorcycle in India and its been 2 months...trust ne vibration will reduce after 1k kms..its crazy smooth till 130 kms..and the handling is the best part to it , we don't have adjustable front shocks which kind of removes the fun..
It doesn't. Really don't get you. I rode a 58hp 200kg bike with waaaaaaaaay soft suspension in front for years. Search b48 wellbachtal. Still rode it to its limit. Which wasn't very fast but still.
Cool bike, I'd love to ride that little KTM. Kawasaki should update their Versys-X to a 400 model, it would be sweet.
Just a proper Versys X with cast wheels 19/17 a bit of led is enough..Two cylinders is their advantage
@@normanschlongdongovic4124 why would you want cast wheels on an adv bike that comes with some spoked wheels? Spoked are more robust for off-road.
Hopefully not. Because in Australia bikes below 300cc are $70 for 3 months registration. Bikes a above 300cc are $180 for 3 months rego
@@rylandpeters8982 Well that stinks. Thats a huge $$ jump for just 100cc. I'd still love a V400X though.
@@rylandpeters8982 So it's almost a thousand dollars for a years registration?
If you don't want the big brothers, there is really no other bike in this segment that offers this level equipped gadgets. CB 500 X should be a good option if you want the Honda engine but even that has vibrations. After sitting on both bikes, this KTM feels a bit broad at the front of the seat when you put the feet on the ground, but when riding it is not a problem. The Honda is better at the front of the seat. I am 5,10 and both bikes fells like they have the same seat height to me. I could not flat foot any of them, but they are both not heavy bikes and I had like half of my feet on the ground, so they would be great for my height. Styling the KTM wins, but Honda is bigger and would maybe be the choice if you're more onroad than offroad, I didn't feel that the KTM felt cramped though. Great video thanks!
Adam: Would I buy this bike? No. But if I would I'd buy two.
Own it since a half year. You did the best review i have seen.
Hey man are you still happy about the bike ?
@@antoineallard8788
100% !!
Have been looking for a somewhat large single that can fulfill double duty ... Getting me to where I want to pull off the pavement and get down some dirt roads and onto mild to moderate trails. Most machines are either too small and don't do well at 60 mph, or too large and the baggage that comes with all that weight. As an "Old Guy" I don't want to tackle a large bike anymore. Spoke with the dealer who expressed some enthusiasm for the bike, but it was months away from hands. This looks perfect for me and I won't need ladder to reach the seat.
The fact that you actually stopped at the stop sign made me subscribe 🤣
Think the 'floating' headlight looks odd. Like there's a fairing piece missing between the tank and headlight.
$6,200 but when it’s all said and done it’s about $7,500 after fees and taxes. Then even more if you plan to finance. But still all in all, looks to be a decent deal for what you’re getting!
Keep up my favorite virtual ride alongs Adam. Good stuff. I like at the end when you ask: "Would I buy this bike?" Usually I'm right with your answer but got it wrong this time. After all the positive things I figured yes you would but then you mentioned no just because of the power. Same here, not enough for me either. I have a 790 Adventure R but if they had the coming 490 twin out when I ordered the 790 I just MAY have opted for that one as it should be fantastic. Ho hum, 790 power will do I guess...
How would you rate this against the 390 Duke? A friend who has extensively ridden both says the stability is far superior, while staying fun in the corners so even for city run around commuting and touring he decided it was a superior product.
Loved the review, always full of info and unbiased opinions. I really want this bike!
What is the difference about KTM ADVENTURE 390 and KTM NAKED BIKE 390? Are there any differences in performance and features?
costs only $4650 here in India, its a good deal considering the versatility it offers, a daily commuter which can be taken for a 1000 miles ride easy
Doesn't have to be transported around the world though. Got to pay for that...It's a bit annoying that so many European branded bikes are now made fully or partly in Asia and we have to pay for the delivery but I guess it's only fair as they are cheaper to produce over there. £5499 in the UK
You really need this adventure bike. Flying around on the tarmac like a madman!
The screen has a daylight sensor, which for some reason is not working on your bike. Currently, it is on night mode, that is the reason you are unable to read it clearly.
You can set it to stay one way or the other. I ran mine ok dark mode for a bit myself
The only thing that worries me about this bike is that the 390 engine has been unreliable for a number of riders. has the headgasket issue ever been addressed ?
those stop signs would drive me mad.
Ikr? I much prefer give way lines and mini roundabouts. At least you don't have to lose all your momentum at every junction.
That's why you do the California roll.
A 390 does not need a power control choice...
Definitely good to have for novice rider on anything other than dry asphalt
It doesn’t have one either....
I think they said it was for onroad and offroad. And its more for abs than power.
@@Angry-Lynx No, they need to learn to ride properly.
Excellent road review and it’s good to get some thoughts on the bike’s off-road abilities.
Really enjoy the Q&A at the end.. how do we submit our questions for future MC Commutes?
A CFR 250 Rally is almost $6500 w/ abs! Bigger tank adjustable suspension color dash, comfortable seat, All things that get modded on CFR250L aftermarket. Tough call, comes down to which feels better if price is same.
Great video. I’m conflicted between the 390 and the new CB500x
Honda is heavier, more expensive. The KTM will out accelerate it and has switchable traction control/ABS and newer tech....Not so good weather protection though...
Bike seems ok
When are you going to take it off road to review it?
It is after all an adventure bike not just a 390 Duke
He did mention that they have taken it out in the desert.... There are loads of off road reviews out there....
from all of the bikes that you've reviewed, finally there's one that i can own (just ordered this, hope can ride it soon). but i quite surprised knowing the power parts quite pricey...
Idk if I could get one . That engine had a lot of issues when it first came out in the rc390 and idk if they got all the bugs out. Nice looking bike but I’m too worried about the engine with its past reputation
Had one, and had issues.
If youre buying with warranty I wouldnt worry that much
The 17+ engines were better. Wife has a 390 Duke she flogs to work and in the mountains. She rides that thing at 75-80 mph on the highway to and from work on the daily, no issue yet.
The one we've all been waiting for...
Except it's super disappointing.
How its disappointing? Perfect entry level machine. Good power, adjustable suspension, modern electronics...
@@jcoats5529 you should buy a g310 then
Excellent review as usual ! You make a great case for this small displacement bike !!
Cool. Nice vid & great bike. I'm also interested to see the updated Duke 390 as it will presumably have the same adjustable forks & quickshifter etc.
One thing that confounds me is the exhaust placement, which goes under the motor. It seems to hug the case pretty well and the skid plate accommodates it - but the Duke's exhaust pipe runs up high behind the frame like on a dirt bike. Why did they change it? Likely it was to relocate some components and possibly cool the bike better, but I think it was a step back design-wise. That is one thing adventure bikes get wrong, like on the Versys-X, but it seems like KTM already had a good design for it. What am I missing?
I'd love to see and race a RC 390 with adjustable suspension and a qs..
CrisURace Hopefully the new RC490 will have those things.
I wish it was 30lbs lighter and came with optional 21"f & 18"r spoke wheels.
All I could see just the road and the sunny views. No riding happening on thus side of the world! Can’t wait I can test 2020 models for my Chanel! Thanks for entertainment for now!
How has reliablity been on the 390 motor?
Bigirish Yeti average, not quite up to par with it’s japanese cousins.
I see a lot of 1st gen 390s being in need of repairs locally, but I have seen the 2nd gen do endurance races, cross country etc.
@@boldstar69 thank you!
Engine reliability on 2017+ models have greatly improved.
Not good. I personally know of 2 390 motors that have blown headgaskets among other things. As well as others that struggle with overheating. Id wait a year or so to see if the 390 in the adv is actually fixed or not.
@@adv2147 thats 2014 model babe
not too thrilled and disappointed in how it came out! i was expecting a more traditional adventure bike in the same line as a 690 with an 18 sized rear wheel and 21 front wheel and then follow it up with an enduro and supermoto models a more traditional KTM bike that poor riders such as myself fantasize about owning. this model is just a regular comfortable standard model a more comfortable duke model. in fact this model should be named Duke Touring model. its what it is.
Informative and well-balanced review! My question is could you do extended off-road touring with the 390?
Great review as always!!!! Thanks man
It's the first adventure bike I've seen that really looks good
People love to shit talk these 390’s but there is no comparing them. I’ve bought the wrong bikes in this price range. Now I know it and I’m trying to find one of these in stock.
With the roadway all clear, time to borrow a Multistrada 1260S for a commute review. The 2019 is essentially the same as the 2020...perhaps a dealer would loan you one. Then you can contrast that review o e year from now when the V4 Multi is released in 2021 🤩...your reviews are great thx...
I actually had a deposit down on this bike for months but they never got it in, so i got a wr250r instead am glad i did!
MrBeefsnorkel lots of excuses for the delay. Covid, and also emissions last I heard. I’ll probably go with a Honda CRF instead.
The handguards does little for crash protection; They will snap in two (or more) on impact and, in this case, the clutch lever broke of the outer 3rd.....
Is there in a menu a way to stop the flashing of the rev gauge after you reach higher revs? It is a little bit annoying that flashing.
Cyber Gasty it should be adjustable. Really annoying. My 1190 adventure rpm shift light can adjust so this new bike should too
The shift light is adjustable after the break-in period, I noticed it first thing as well.
@@matt_kelly Thanks
They set it like that when it is the running in period to save the engine. It will be reset after the first service.
@1:30 Wait so your saying me they are bikes with keyless entry?? if yes, could you name one.
Keyless ignition, KTM 1290, BMW F850GS, BMW GS1200, Ducati Diavel, Honda Goldwing, Kawasaki Vaquero to name a few.
@@edwardbrown9587 Thanks for info.
Cool rev from cool man Adam..
Adventure branded but leak some basic exterior look like the spok wheels..!!
I own Versys X-300 and I love it. I still believe that Kawi's engine gives you more. But I'm happy that the small engine class is expanding.
@J D You've obviously never owned a Versys I've had one for two years and rode a 390 demo. The KTM is more powerful, has more electronics, will cruise at motorway speeds with less revs. I seem to be for ever changing gear on the bloody Kwaka and the screaming noise drives me mad after all the big bikes i used to ride. Then watch a few off road vids of the two bikes, the suspension and switchable ABS/traction control on the KTM is much batter designed for off road use. The only downside on the KTM is the stupid cast wheels..
Do you know what is the maximal weight allowed for the bike? Either total weight or if they pointed out a max loading capacity.
Contemplating between buying KTM 390 ADV and BMW g310gs. Any recommendations?
KTM is better
BMW g310gs is just a brand image..
7:20 i don't get the light situation here. is he good to turn right or did he just cut a red?
Forget the red! He went in front of that car to turn right!
Closest we've got to a 390SM yet.
Wait for 490sm
I was going to pass a bad comment BUT. 80mph with 7k RPM on the clock is quite good for a Single Cylinder 390cc. Well done KTM
Ikr, pretty good speed
I do find the sky reflection often makes it harder to see “dark modes” from the camera’s perspective. I get it’s your preference (and yeah, it looks neat!), but maybe consider forgoing it for filming day. Love your content!
Another fantastic review Adam. Small doesn't mean slow and boring. Great stuff!!!
How was the engine buzzing at the 75mph cruise?
Great review - I have been waiting for this one!
Do you have any thoughts on the Duke 390 vs the 390 ADV for a beginning rider ? Something to take in account is that brand new 2019 390 Duke leftovers from last year are selling for $3,999. Over 95% of time is city pavement with some cobblestone streets. Possibly a.fee weekend a year would take it on a dirt fire road in a hilly area. Thanks.
Where are these duke leftovers everyone is talking about
The price on this 2020 390 ADV is $6200. 2019 Duke 390 new dealership leftovers are $4000. It would be nice to head to the country fire roads once a month. As a new rider am i better off saving the $ 2200? I will be riding it through out the week as a city commuter in a densely populated area with a mix of pavement and brick laid streets. Advice ?
very nice video ! which one do you think it's better for a beginner rider ? this (ktm 390 adventure) or kawasaki versys 300x ??
Is Adam able to criticize the bikes? I know he works for magazine. He’s great.
I disagree with the fit and finish comment. It’s actually not that great. I own this bike and the cush drives at the rear sprocket are already worn with not even 2k miles on it. The build quality is really not that great and my tft dash gets condensation all the time. Trying to get this addressed under KTM warranty claim.
Awesome review, super informative. Really fun to watch :)
I’ve always wondered where the start location is on these videos, it’s gorgeous
Bergonia Park in Irvine California !!!!
That is newport Beach, california. Irvine is next to it.
Quickshifter is faster acceleration vs manually shifting. Plus you can miss a shift with the manual
Need some help choosing a bike, is the rc 390 so unreliable and lean that it won't keep up for daily use? and then ninja 400 vs r3? not sure what to get between the 3.
The newer model 390s have pretty decent reliability. Yes it runs hotter than others but so far none of the owners of 390s in our group had an overheating problem (local KTM Owners group)
I've ridden the R3 and RC390 and I've sat on the Ninja 400
The RC390 is arguably the sportiest [ergonomics] of the three. Up to you if you can live with the unusual front (I own a smaller RC200 with similar looks and the front end needs some getting used to)
The R3 is sportier than the Ninja 400 for sure.
In the end it'll be up to your preferences. The KTM has a single cylinder so the other 2 options have a smoother power delivery
I have RC 390(2016) modified and revs up to 12,000rpm and I have no issues. I have done more than 30,000+ Kms so far and it a awesome motorcycle.
R3 and ninja 400 are boring motorcycles.
This 390 engine has capability to produce 55 bhp after mods with no reliability issues.
People complain because they don't maintain it properly.
Very interesting review been going back an forward between one of these a Himalayan an a 2002 gsa 1150 second hand all around the same price its good that we all have so much choice :)
what did you get?
@@bobbyjones1969 actually ended up with a 2010 t100 Bonneville 60 edition perfect for the road touring I'm going to be doing extremely comfy n very smooth although as soon as my Commando is back together that will be my long distance bike n I'm gonna let my dad use the Bonnie, my daily is a 1967 Norton 650ss ride it all year round :) quite interested to see what RE do with the himmy seen a few pages saying there's changes coming for us taller riders.
I'm new to off road riding. what do you need separate suspension adjustment switches? how or when do you use them?
So do they over heat on the engine that it will blow? Or it only provides heat from the engine that goes to the legs?
Different radiator system than the duke 390...
that front tho...that light housing in my opinion is uuuuugly dammm
Why is it so heavy? I was thinking it'd be a good smaller alternative to my Husky 701 SM but it weighs 709 pounds more!?!?
I'm tempted to try one of these, 43mpg though, really? Lifetime average on my V-Strom 650 to date is a smidge over 63mpg and I don't pootle about. Such a competent all rounder if you only do a small amount of light off road and a lot of higher speed longer runs it's difficult to justify changing...
Any ideas how much could the quickshifters cost?
Too much for an upgrade that mechanically already is there and only needs a software update... I will admit though, that i still gave up the mony for it with my 790 ADV.
The mantis head is cool, the neck is hideous as hell!
Just like the 790, they look like dual sports with naked bike's faces swapped.
I wonder if the tall windshield from the 790 can fit on the 390? Like they do for the 850gs to the 750gs....
@@rayb5394
750gs and 850gs are the same bike, same base and motor.
This has nothing to do with the 790...
@@rayb5394 yes it can
Yeah i too cant get over new ktm design direction.... They made the most beautiful bikes in the past (990 adv) and.now. we have this preying mantis shit 🤮😂
@@Angry-Lynx yeah, if you look at the Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS, it also has a bug head but the body flows very well, tho, it's a naked bike, but it doesn't have that long neck of the ktm 390.
Here in Costa Rica we have plenty of Chinese cheap bikes, and the dual sport models look exactly the same as this bike, except for the head, the body looks nice, the head is out of place.
The wind screen is short/low though
Now we await all of India in the comments box 😀
just got a gs310 and slightly regret not waiting. this has the extra features the GS lacks. >:(
Try to do a rally raid conversion on the gs
No offroad test.?
Hi Adam, do you believe your Triumph scrambler 1200 Baja adventure would have been possible and fun with ktm 390 adv ? Is it chat capable ?
Which is a better bike, the Honda CB500X or the KTM 390 Adventure?
Depends on what you expect from bike... Cb is.twin cylinder so theres a lot of differences.coming with entine alone. Also ktms in general are much 'nicer', performance and fun.oriented while japanese bikes lack.character and features, but are always more reliable. Both have their own market of buyers, depending on whats more.important for them.
Another brilliant vid mate
Nice video, I have a duke 390 but the pillion isn't comfortable for 4 to 8 hours trips. Will this be much better as comfortable as versys or himalayan pillion? Thanks
Versys comfortable for long journeys! Pah! You should try riding from the north of France to the south. Lost rack of the amount of times I had to stop over the two days...
If I'm not wrong ktm didn't manufacture it, an Indian 🇮🇳 company called Bajaj did it, as they they own 48 percent of ktm and exported it
Those thinking why the rev limiter is flashing at that rpm, well its a new bike and after the first service is done. They take that out, its just for the run in period
Yes freaked me out on my demo run...Good idea though and can run it in at higher speeds than the Versys 300
What's a safe top speed for long distance riding?
Heard something about a 490. Anyone heard something?
How are the ergos for someone who is 5'8"? You said bike was comfortable for yourself at 6'.
How about a bike for less fortunate, smaller people like myself. I'm 5'7 30in inseam. I was considering this or the BMW G 310 GS. My friend suggested a lowering kit and a low profile seat.
Wow! Definitely get the quickshifter! Torn between this and the rumored Royal Enfield 650 coming next year!?! Something that Mad Max and Indiana Jones would ride! Great job KTM and Adam 👍👌😁
RE 650 GT & Interceptpr are launched.
@@SS-xo5iz
He means the enduro version, like the Himalayan but 650...
Hey Adam, thanks for the quick review. Bike sounds great. Bet it would work great fo me with my size and weight.
AAA