@@dheerajdmoto I bet you they would have to drop ground clearance and suspension travel too.. in which case.. how far away from the Duke would it be? 😂
Adventure doesn't mean "off-road" and from the track they are test riding it proves its much more than your typical "cruiser". So the current name is perfect, and you are boring to suggest every manufacturer should use the same abbreviation. Ps- ktm has adventure R models for more off road focused bikes.
So basically it is just a Touring machine that's what I understand from most of the reviews. Thanks a lot Karthik again for clearing all the doubts about the bike. Top of that how do we explore trails with luggage n all with bad Low end? Where is KTM India Team? Still the bikes are not delivered, if they would like to rename this bike as "Ktm 390 Touring" and get a proper adventure bike in the future. I thought of selling my xpulse after getting this, but I believe its better to keep it for pure off road trails.
Low front suspension travel, lack of low end torque. Not made for true blue offroading. It'd struggle where your Xpulse did a good job in Nepal. And you can't ride KTMs at low speeds. Same issue with the 790 adventure also.
Now since KTM disappointed me this time again, I am going to wait patiently till the arrival of Himalayan 650 ...or get richer untill I can afford the 790 adventure R....!!
@@ravitarakesh that is a major issue too,considering it to an off roader.the gearing ratio could have been changed rather than giving fancy tech gismos like cornering abs,lean sensor etc.
So ktm has basically done the same thing to its duke390 what bajaj did to NS by making it AS ,but with some bits of first in class gadgetry and gizmos.
Phew. 🙏 Sincerely, appreciated. We were done talking specs of the 390 ADV and wanted to avoid it as much as possible. Glad to hear you feedback. Thank you.
@@SirKart bhai mere angrezi thodi kharab hai 😅😅 mere kehne ka matlab tha ki reviews mein sirf specification nhi bolna hota main review is video mein tha rider ke point of view se..
Wanted to buy a fast off-roading bike. Thought that the 390 adventure would be the perfect option. But the Hero Xpulse 200 makes more sense to me now ❣️
I never expected anyways the KTM 390 ADV to be an Offroader , yes its a Pure Long Tourer Machine with super Comfort. And a much needed for Tall Riders like me
The only review I agreed with amongst all (you can read my comments on Sagar Sheldekar and AUTOCAR INDIA videos). I totally agree with the points put up by Zigwheels and quite a bit disappointed with the new KTM as a package which was meant to beat the Himalayan! I first watched Sagar's video, then AUTOCAR INDIA and then Zigwheels and at last I was satisfied! Good work guys!👍
@zigwheels, very much the best review about the ktm 390 adv, since evening I have been watching the videos about the bike and I found your review spot on. I thought the gear ratios would have been tuned as per the ADVENTURE tag and I was almost convinced I made a mistake by buying Himalayan, but your review made me feel I didn't make a mistake. Now I can sleep peacefully 😴. Keep the videos comings and always like your reviews.
Loved your review Karthi. From evening I have seen almost all the reviews so far and guess what your review was brutally honest and I loved it. I was hoping to see you in action in off/on road but was a bit less, it's ok hope you will do a feature dedicated as well as comparison video. Thanks for the effort you put in guys and as always Karthi you ROCK!!!
Ok. This was the best review. Important questions asked and answered as much as possible. Thank you. Not wasting time on any further reviews for now. Sagar's review gave me the thrills and yours gave me all important perspective.
Now this is the right kind of criticism that this bike needed! Yes there is a ton of electronics, but how well they work can only be commented after sometime! and addressing the low end torque issue the right away and showing off the touring capabilities was a nice touch! 390 GT certainly rings the right bells. For tourer hopefully this will make more sense - and hope it will be a good reliable bike! thanks for the review. Cant wait for my 390GT :D
Haha! Glad to hear from someone who is buying one. One tip as a future owner - the TC when switched off didn't cut back in when the tyre pressures were adjusted for off-road use. We were using 20-22. We had received the bike with 27-32.. which is when the bike was feeling too bouncy
@@SirKart A huge fan of your realistic reviews sir! hope to meet you in some trails or rides in the future! Yep, saw this detail being shared in your partner channels aswell. I guess MTC was also turning back on when it was switched off also - something i will keep in mind. For now have got a wholistic view i believe. When i get some hands on is when i can try a few stuff and understand it better. Thanks for the reply, appreciate it!
Kudos to you guys for having the balls to make an honest review. That's what matters because we are not here to listen to channel after channel waxing poetic about all the good stuff, and a review like this i'm sure will make ktm review their offering as well. Here's to keeping it real, guys!
I saw reviews of major channels,which seemed to be a little biased but you guy's were the most Honest reviewers out there ! Thanks to team #zigwhlees nd yea calling it the 390 Gt would be more apt.
@@SirKart i was waiting for your review sir,i have told this in the past too-i love watching the way u review its music to my ears,nd u were the only guys who went full on at the bike pointing its issues (eg- every 1 said it had adjustable wind shield but no one exept u guys said we needed tools to adjust them, u guys didn't care what ktm would like u to say, u said what u felt as an enthusiast and i appreciate it!#zigwhlees
@@sampruthpirabakaran7997 always easier when you have a friend to talk bikes with! Hehe. And.. well.. we believe KTM loves great bikes as much as we do and they will only get better with honest feedback. Fingers crossed.
I said the exact same thing on Sarge's video a few hours back before this video was uploaded. This is a Duke GT. The perfect touring machine. The safest touring machine this side of ₹10 lacs. And more than enough ammo for 99% of it's buyers. But yes, it isn't as spectacular as the adv 790. We were expecting that to happen. Good touring, spectacular off road. Instead we got spectacular touring, okayish off road. All said and done, it will be a major milestone for the touring scene in India.
Zigwheels always gives us the most detailed review while other channels focus more on visual aspects. Visuals are important along with that this kind of detailing is what we need.
Funny, the 390GT comment just about echoes my sentiment when I saw the specs and heard people trying to compare it to the Himalayan. The truth is, they only share a similar CC class - beyond that, they're hugely different machines. Without a doubt the 390 will be a better bike on the roads and highways. Just the same, there's no doubt in my mind which is a better machine off the highway. Since the Himalayan can tackle tougher terrain, is much easier to manage off the road, and is sufficient (certainly not perfect) on the road, it would be the clear winner in a shootout in my opinion, especially when you consider that it's 2/3 the cost of the KTM. I'd like to see if the Bajaj/Triumph partnership produces a legitimate contender for the 400-650cc ADV bike range. I would definitely be keen on buying one.
Well said. You are right about both the 390 Adventure as well as the Himalayan. As far as India is concerned, it has yet to get the perfect affordable adv bike. The 390 Adventure compromises quite a lot off road while the Himalayan can be a bit underwhelming on the highway. The 390 Adventure was the one bike everyone was hoping would be the ultimate affordable adv bike but it turned to be disappointing. KTM, of all manufacturers, should have done better.
I don't understand why people are screaming foul about 390 Adv. The only problem with this motorcycle is the name 'Adventure'. How many of us will use it for off-roading? The suspension travel, gearing ratio, quick shifter, tank capacity, tyres specs, TC, etc. is perfect for touring - which is what people need. Himilayan is too heavy, unrefined, unglamrous and Xpulse is small and weak and lacks equipment and that's where 390 Adventure sits perfectly. Still Dominar is a very good option for touring.
a lot of reviews today about this but u too got it absolutely spot on. 390GT it is, every one knows KTM is been the benchmark when comes to off roads but this one does not do any justice to that tag......... hopefully a R version for off road lovers in future.......
Brutally honest review as you rightly said it should be a GT 390 n not an Adventure 390. Looks like its not for offroad adventure but onroad (potholes).
as an off road enthusiast, and as someone from a background of building motorcycles, KTM just wasted a lot of 'cost' on electronics that is useless off the pavement, also unless you are riding in the race track, a quick shifter is just bling. regarding the low-end grunt, just drop front sprocket by 1 teeth and increase rear by 2 or 3 and ppl should find it easier in the slow stuff.
What would you recommend for proper offroading : Up-boring the Xpulse? Considering that we would have to replace the suspension, tires, spoke wheels, exhaust to make the 3Lakh adventure comparable to the Xpulse? Can we change the gear ratios, ourselves also?
@@NidalRashid the xpulse sadly has no off road pedigree and uses the same chassis as cbz extreme. the hero impulse is a better platform to spend your money on wrt better suspension etc.
What I didn't like about the bike is that : 1. The bike could have had a better ground clearance. 2. NO Floating mud guard. 3. Better luggage grill. 4. Better pillion seat. 5. Not sure how those wheels work because we usually get spokes for offroadres. What I liked is: 1. The 2 fan exhaust system. 2. Lightweight 3. Steel tank.( if I'm not wrong ) 4. The looks. 5. Cornering ABS 6. Switchable ABS As the ground clearance is how ever low they could have at least made the seat height low for short riders. So even they could have a adventure and offroad experience which many still dream off. And I think the problem with the ground clearance is due to the big engine guard. (pls correct me if I'm wrong )
The guy who was instructing in that event was flying on that track, how come he doesn't have any problems with its abs, alloys, non-adjustable suspension and ride height... That strongly proves a bike behaves according to the riders' competence more than one's speculations. If you can't ride off-road you shouldn't be commenting on it's off-road abilities, this goes to 99%of the Indian moto journalists there.
KTM should rename it the 390 GT. Thanks for the unbiased review ZigWheels. All the specs are good to read on paper, but when you take it on off-road all the electronic gizmo will be a pain in the ass. Would have been better if they launch an enduro version of the 390.
Thank you, guys, for the detailed review! The 390 Adv sure is less of an adv bike than I expected. That suspension travel is the biggest disappointment. You guys clearly get it. As always, review detail and quality is top notch!
Indeed this is a gt version of duke they've just rebranded it heh!......they should've put more r&d in remapping the ecu and better suspension package slapping on electronics doesn't make it a good off roader....
Now since KTM disappointed me this time again, I am going to wait patiently till the arrival of Himalayan 650 ...or get richer untill I can afford the 790 adventure R....!!
Now since KTM disappointed me this time again, I am going to wait patiently till the arrival of Himalayan 650 ...or get richer untill I can afford the 790 adventure R....!!!
Like your honest review. This bike is not a hardcore offroader. An offroader needs to have good lower end torque to pull you out of the troughs. Same power delivery as the duke 390 means you have to throttle hard to get enough torque. Also the duke is not happy at lower speeds, so will be the adventure, the engine is definitely bound to overheat on long uphill offroads unless you build up speed which is impractical.
I think KTM wanted to play it safe specially in India considering majority of enthusiasts are into touring leisure motorcycling. They wanted the bike to travels miles without minimal effort and offroading on roads not an offroad trial centric. 70:30 ratio (Road:Offroad) Example: Ladakh and Zanskar Valley. They have opted out adjustable suspension which is a boon for good offroading and provided Quickshifter+ which cuts the cost and recover the emotion lost on the adjustable suspensions for us Indians. I think they will justify the 50:50 ratio of Onroad:Offroad and has kept for the rumoured KTM 490 adventure. Overall a good package i would say considering the Indian scene. Only negative i would say is the same gear ratios from the Duke 390, that makes me sad. Need of the low grunt on the initial gears was must!! Thanks Zigwheels and Kartikeya Sir for the points you raised which makes you stand from other reviews. Negative points should always be appreciated because it is the start for betterment.
For a 80/20 combo of tarmac and off-road respectively this works. But if one is purely seeing more of off-road fun then skip this. I knew this when the specs came out. Lacks low end torque and is good when you're doing higher speeds. Same thing with the 790 adventure. One of the best adventure bikes but again you have to riding really fast even on off-road sections to get the most out of it. For regular blokes white looking at more off-road this is a no go imo. PS: Karthik for me is the best reviewer. Been following him from his Autocar days.
karthik nunna not anytime soon. They are trying to put new himalayan 650 twin engine on same chasis and chasis cannot handle that weight. My friend in RE chennai is telling me that 650 himalayan will be a game changer as they will launch it on whole new chasis engine retro plus electronics etc etc
Nope not needed spoke wheels are vital for offroading lot of people look at power and forget torque Himalayan has a long stroke engine it's torquey Adventure is road based less Off-road based even it's engine will get over heated during extreme offroading
Himalayan 650 is never going to come, surely not with the 650 twin that RE has now in the interceptor/GT. It's way too heavy and lacks comparable low end toque. Keep your Himalayan and go on as many adventures instead of splurging money on another bike no matter how good it might be.
It depends on where you ride and what your intentions are. KTM is "LESS" friendly for roadside repair vs the RE. self service/repair is very essential when you travel. not to mention that ktm is known for low quality casting parts like side covers and engine cases.
Rename it as Duke 390 GT and reduce seat height at least upto 800 mm. Then KTM will have a winner. Even the seat height of 830mm on Duke 390 is intimidating for most of the Indian riders. By the way, a fantastic first ride review from Zigwheels.You guys are simply amazing. When you two join together to make a video it's like a super hit movie.
India needs same specs with lower cc like 200/250 cc... And spoke wheels. Adventure bikes are the real essence of the bikes in experience and specs...no doubt the Console now should be better matched with 390adv. From Delhi.
KTM has gone practical way this way.. they know what sells in india. Also be honest, how many tiger,GS owners go hardcore offroad? So, Versys, Multitrada way is the key here in India. And sales volume tells the story. Versys and Multitrada sales like a hot cake... It's a perfect upgrade for Dominar or even 150cc owners at a reasonable price upgrade. And good touring capability with some soft roading is more mainstream and one can buy this as their main motorcycle. It's kinda Jack of all trade. And finally a Duke in which a six footer like myself won't look like bear on a unicycle!!!!
do you guys think that the 2020 duke 390 will get the same electronics package as the adv ? (as an additional option ?) it already has the quickshifter the other things shouldn't be that hard to add right ?
Agree that GT would have been a more appropriate name. About the KTM Adv, I think the 250 would be a more practical choice for most. I havent ridden the D250, but i assume it has more usable lower end torque than the 390. Also unless you normally ride on super smooth highways, or do drags between potholes, the power of the 250 should be enough for light off road trails and even touring in India. I hope you get to ride the 250 soon
Nice review, but it really would have been nice to hear the engine!! So many bike reviews flood the audio with music and no bike engine sounds!! Why???
@alan bane himayalan 650 will probably be around 3lacs and 400x will be around 5lacs. also see the off reviews of foreigners. they are loving Himalayan. with 650cc engine and little tweaks in design, it will have no competition. Kawasakis (low end) are good for highways but Himalayan is a better off road machine plus they perform ok on highway.
Kartikeya aswesome stuff but the notion of seat height is little flawed. When we ride with proper offroad boots as you had, we ride with tip of the boot rather than completely flat footing or flat footing one side. That ground clearance and suspension travel for sure will come from somewhere or dynamics needs to be flawed by putting a super low seat on the bike anyhow. Saying this, bcz many people will just hear it here and won't even try to find it the right way.
Sir, one simple fact - 790 adventure has more ground clearance 33mm more, and more suspension travel while having a lower seat height. Marginally lower, but lower nonetheless. The 390 ADVs setup is a result of decisions on the chassis. The parts sharing with Duke, RC etc have resulted in some compromises. Just putting my perspective across.
@@SirKart you are absolutely right at your part Kartikeya, I was just trying to say offroad seat height is little different thing when we are in proper gear. I could ride a Tiger 1200 XC offroad as soon as I went into offroad boots. I understand that you tried to be as honest as possible and that's why we love your work. Cheers mate
@@DCVExpeditions ahh.. okay get your point. Yes, that's why I said in the video.. even I could get used to it. But we are lucky few who have some sort of bearings off-road. I thought this would induct riders by the truckload. But..
Honest and practical Review..
Never seen bike crashed so many time in Media test ride day.....
Even few return with fracture hand ........
Coz they r noob to this bike. Watch Ariemann1 channel rewiew.
It maybe due to the terrible low end torgue.
Definitely 390GT would have been the perfect name rather than "Adventure"
Credit for this name has to be given to Arun Nadar and Ruman Devmane!
@@SirKart 😊😊😊
@@SirKart 390 gt would have a lower seat height that's for sure 🤭😁
@@dheerajdmoto I bet you they would have to drop ground clearance and suspension travel too.. in which case.. how far away from the Duke would it be? 😂
Adventure doesn't mean "off-road" and from the track they are test riding it proves its much more than your typical "cruiser". So the current name is perfect, and you are boring to suggest every manufacturer should use the same abbreviation.
Ps- ktm has adventure R models for more off road focused bikes.
So basically it is just a Touring machine that's what I understand from most of the reviews. Thanks a lot Karthik again for clearing all the doubts about the bike.
Top of that how do we explore trails with luggage n all with bad Low end?
Where is KTM India Team? Still the bikes are not delivered, if they would like to rename this bike as "Ktm 390 Touring" and get a proper adventure bike in the future.
I thought of selling my xpulse after getting this, but I believe its better to keep it for pure off road trails.
Bro when your bike come? And what's about seat height because I am 5.11 person but don't think I can ride with confidence
Low front suspension travel, lack of low end torque. Not made for true blue offroading. It'd struggle where your Xpulse did a good job in Nepal. And you can't ride KTMs at low speeds. Same issue with the 790 adventure also.
Namaste Sir! You have booked the bike.. so when is delivery?
Now since KTM disappointed me this time again, I am going to wait patiently till the arrival of Himalayan 650 ...or get richer untill I can afford the 790 adventure R....!!
Maybe now bulu biker will cancel his booking.
finally some criticism which it deserves.kudos zigwheels.
Exactly
@@ravitarakesh especially that not-so-friendly saddle height.
@@pratiktandel5706 and that slow speed stalling is a big issue as i own 2018Duke 390, it's very painful to ride in slow speed
@@ravitarakesh that is a major issue too,considering it to an off roader.the gearing ratio could have been changed rather than giving fancy tech gismos like cornering abs,lean sensor etc.
@@pratiktandel5706 Completely agreed with you Buddy 😊
This is the most informative review about 390 adventure.
Thank you for the feedback sir!
So ktm has basically done the same thing to its duke390 what bajaj did to NS by making it AS ,but with some bits of first in class gadgetry and gizmos.
To an extent, yes.
This the best informative and to the point video, I have seen of KTM 390 Adv. Kudos guys !!!
While all the channels blasted their videos at 5pm. I first searched Zigwheels but it was missing! Nevermind great review as always!🤙
Sorry to keep you waiting. Some screw up at our end. Thank you for waiting. 🙏
Now this called review not just recalling specification...
Phew. 🙏 Sincerely, appreciated. We were done talking specs of the 390 ADV and wanted to avoid it as much as possible. Glad to hear you feedback. Thank you.
@@SirKart bhai mere angrezi thodi kharab hai 😅😅 mere kehne ka matlab tha ki reviews mein sirf specification nhi bolna hota main review is video mein tha rider ke point of view se..
Wanted to buy a fast off-roading bike. Thought that the 390 adventure would be the perfect option. But the Hero Xpulse 200 makes more sense to me now ❣️
Bro its the best genuine and complete review of the 390 adventure out of the 3 other channels i have seen in
I never expected anyways the KTM 390 ADV to be an Offroader , yes its a Pure Long Tourer Machine with super Comfort. And a much needed for Tall Riders like me
But I feel they could use an adjustable suspension, instead of quick shifter/blipper setup if the price was an issue.
Also should have given continental tyres like international variant. quick shifter on 390 adv isn't precise as duke 790.
It needs longer travel more than adjustability.
I think himalayan and x pulse will not find much fluctuations in their sales with this bike but RIP 310 GS for sure.!! 😬
310 gs engine is bad
Nah, 310gs got more suspension travel and 20mm more ground clearance.
The only review I agreed with amongst all (you can read my comments on Sagar Sheldekar and AUTOCAR INDIA videos). I totally agree with the points put up by Zigwheels and quite a bit disappointed with the new KTM as a package which was meant to beat the Himalayan!
I first watched Sagar's video, then AUTOCAR INDIA and then Zigwheels and at last I was satisfied! Good work guys!👍
Thank you for making time sir! 🙏🙏
dont worry the 650 himalayan will 😂😂😂
My favourite youtube channel 😍
Bro! ❤️
@zigwheels, very much the best review about the ktm 390 adv, since evening I have been watching the videos about the bike and I found your review spot on. I thought the gear ratios would have been tuned as per the ADVENTURE tag and I was almost convinced I made a mistake by buying Himalayan, but your review made me feel I didn't make a mistake. Now I can sleep peacefully 😴.
Keep the videos comings and always like your reviews.
That was ace encouragement sir! Thank you! Glad to help you get some sound sleep. 😁
Sleep well because Himalayan is still the best when it comes to offroad!
Himalayan is on the heavier side.
I have watched all the reviews, you guys nailed it. You have put the rights and wrongs with a story. That is some good content.
Glad to hear that bro! It was a bit of a tight shoot! I can sleep easy now.
Loved your review Karthi. From evening I have seen almost all the reviews so far and guess what your review was brutally honest and I loved it. I was hoping to see you in action in off/on road but was a bit less, it's ok hope you will do a feature dedicated as well as comparison video. Thanks for the effort you put in guys and as always Karthi you ROCK!!!
Sir! 🙏 We hope to get you an in-depth review once the bike is available for test in Pune. Thank you for pushing us to do it again!
@@SirKart i also expect you to review ninja and versys 1000 😅😅😅😅. On audience demand...... Very much untouched territory.
@@lordsalvatore3846 😁 noted sir! Might have to wait a bit . As there might be a new versys around the corner... 🤞
@@SirKart i believe in you कप्तान!
Ok. This was the best review. Important questions asked and answered as much as possible. Thank you. Not wasting time on any further reviews for now. Sagar's review gave me the thrills and yours gave me all important perspective.
Honest and a non biased review...👏👏
Now this is the right kind of criticism that this bike needed! Yes there is a ton of electronics, but how well they work can only be commented after sometime! and addressing the low end torque issue the right away and showing off the touring capabilities was a nice touch!
390 GT certainly rings the right bells.
For tourer hopefully this will make more sense - and hope it will be a good reliable bike!
thanks for the review. Cant wait for my 390GT :D
Haha! Glad to hear from someone who is buying one. One tip as a future owner - the TC when switched off didn't cut back in when the tyre pressures were adjusted for off-road use. We were using 20-22. We had received the bike with 27-32.. which is when the bike was feeling too bouncy
@@SirKart A huge fan of your realistic reviews sir! hope to meet you in some trails or rides in the future!
Yep, saw this detail being shared in your partner channels aswell. I guess MTC was also turning back on when it was switched off also - something i will keep in mind.
For now have got a wholistic view i believe.
When i get some hands on is when i can try a few stuff and understand it better.
Thanks for the reply, appreciate it!
What a thorough and entertaining video ... and I could understand almost _all_ of it!
Much better review than powerdrift...
Brutally honest review.
Kudos to you guys for having the balls to make an honest review. That's what matters because we are not here to listen to channel after channel waxing poetic about all the good stuff, and a review like this i'm sure will make ktm review their offering as well.
Here's to keeping it real, guys!
Coz they r noob to this bike. Watch Ariemann1 channel rewiew.
@@jogta160 👍
Precisely. Expected a mini Dakar package with a screaming KTM DNA.
I saw reviews of major channels,which seemed to be a little biased but you guy's were the most Honest reviewers out there ! Thanks to team #zigwhlees nd yea calling it the 390 Gt would be more apt.
Hey Sampurth! Glad you decided to give us a watch despite the delay. 🙏 Super grateful man!
@@SirKart i was waiting for your review sir,i have told this in the past too-i love watching the way u review its music to my ears,nd u were the only guys who went full on at the bike pointing its issues (eg- every 1 said it had adjustable wind shield but no one exept u guys said we needed tools to adjust them, u guys didn't care what ktm would like u to say, u said what u felt as an enthusiast and i appreciate it!#zigwhlees
@@sampruthpirabakaran7997 always easier when you have a friend to talk bikes with! Hehe. And.. well.. we believe KTM loves great bikes as much as we do and they will only get better with honest feedback. Fingers crossed.
I said the exact same thing on Sarge's video a few hours back before this video was uploaded. This is a Duke GT. The perfect touring machine. The safest touring machine this side of ₹10 lacs. And more than enough ammo for 99% of it's buyers. But yes, it isn't as spectacular as the adv 790. We were expecting that to happen. Good touring, spectacular off road. Instead we got spectacular touring, okayish off road.
All said and done, it will be a major milestone for the touring scene in India.
Spot on sah! You are sharper than me. The line was coined by Arun Nadar and Ruman Devmane in our office. I happily whacked it off of them. 😬
Zigwheels always gives us the most detailed review while other channels focus more on visual aspects. Visuals are important along with that this kind of detailing is what we need.
Glad to hear that sir! We will work on bettering both. 🙏
The most truthful review
Dil se saaar!! ❤️
The amount of small details u guys covers, no one does that... that's why u guys r the best in the game..
Phew - glad to hear that sir! Sometimes we end up feeling that we overdo it.. 🙏
Funny, the 390GT comment just about echoes my sentiment when I saw the specs and heard people trying to compare it to the Himalayan. The truth is, they only share a similar CC class - beyond that, they're hugely different machines. Without a doubt the 390 will be a better bike on the roads and highways. Just the same, there's no doubt in my mind which is a better machine off the highway. Since the Himalayan can tackle tougher terrain, is much easier to manage off the road, and is sufficient (certainly not perfect) on the road, it would be the clear winner in a shootout in my opinion, especially when you consider that it's 2/3 the cost of the KTM.
I'd like to see if the Bajaj/Triumph partnership produces a legitimate contender for the 400-650cc ADV bike range. I would definitely be keen on buying one.
Well said. You are right about both the 390 Adventure as well as the Himalayan. As far as India is concerned, it has yet to get the perfect affordable adv bike. The 390 Adventure compromises quite a lot off road while the Himalayan can be a bit underwhelming on the highway. The 390 Adventure was the one bike everyone was hoping would be the ultimate affordable adv bike but it turned to be disappointing. KTM, of all manufacturers, should have done better.
I don't understand why people are screaming foul about 390 Adv. The only problem with this motorcycle is the name 'Adventure'. How many of us will use it for off-roading? The suspension travel, gearing ratio, quick shifter, tank capacity, tyres specs, TC, etc. is perfect for touring - which is what people need. Himilayan is too heavy, unrefined, unglamrous and Xpulse is small and weak and lacks equipment and that's where 390 Adventure sits perfectly. Still Dominar is a very good option for touring.
a lot of reviews today about this but u too got it absolutely spot on. 390GT it is, every one knows KTM is been the benchmark when comes to off roads but this one does not do any justice to that tag.........
hopefully a R version for off road lovers in future.......
R version.. well something of that sort may come along.. 🤞
This review
❤️❤️the best❤️❤️
Sir! ❤️❤️
Finally...a channel that gave an honest review...
Anyone else got anxious when PD was leaning on the bike? I was very nervous that he would fall again on the other side. 😂😂 Thank God he didn't!
Hahahahaha thank God!
vishal shrivastav Hahahaha... dude... I wasn’t leaning against the bike. The bike was leaning against me 😜
Most honest n practical review out of all
Thank you for watching and taking time to let us know what you thought of it! 🙏❤️
@@SirKart thanks to you guys man 😊
@@ThunderingTosspot hola! We integrated a bit of it on our KTM ride to Goa story. We were waiting for new RS to do a full head to head. What say?
Professionalzm loaded review
Zigwheels
🙏
Brutally honest review as you rightly said it should be a GT 390 n not an Adventure 390. Looks like its not for offroad adventure but onroad (potholes).
Great review of the 390 adventure guys!=) And fun :) From Norway
as an off road enthusiast, and as someone from a background of building motorcycles, KTM just wasted a lot of 'cost' on electronics that is useless off the pavement, also unless you are riding in the race track, a quick shifter is just bling. regarding the low-end grunt, just drop front sprocket by 1 teeth and increase rear by 2 or 3 and ppl should find it easier in the slow stuff.
What would you recommend for proper offroading : Up-boring the Xpulse? Considering that we would have to replace the suspension, tires, spoke wheels, exhaust to make the 3Lakh adventure comparable to the Xpulse? Can we change the gear ratios, ourselves also?
@@NidalRashid the xpulse sadly has no off road pedigree and uses the same chassis as cbz extreme. the hero impulse is a better platform to spend your money on wrt better suspension etc.
What I didn't like about the bike is that :
1. The bike could have had a better ground clearance.
2. NO Floating mud guard.
3. Better luggage grill.
4. Better pillion seat.
5. Not sure how those wheels work because we usually get spokes for offroadres.
What I liked is:
1. The 2 fan exhaust system.
2. Lightweight
3. Steel tank.( if I'm not wrong )
4. The looks.
5. Cornering ABS
6. Switchable ABS
As the ground clearance is how ever low they could have at least made the seat height low for short riders. So even they could have a adventure and offroad experience which many still dream off.
And I think the problem with the ground clearance is due to the big engine guard.
(pls correct me if I'm wrong )
I feel this bike can be used only as an adventure and not as an off road bike
Quickshifter isn't precise as duke 790.
Wow ... U can bet ur last penny on karthik for an honest review. Thanks for clearing all my doubts.
The guy who was instructing in that event was flying on that track, how come he doesn't have any problems with its abs, alloys, non-adjustable suspension and ride height...
That strongly proves a bike behaves according to the riders' competence more than one's speculations. If you can't ride off-road you shouldn't be commenting on it's off-road abilities, this goes to 99%of the Indian moto journalists there.
Sir, you should ride it off road and put a better off road tested review.
has anybody asked him? do you think he will give you a no bs answer after being hired by ktm?
Appreciate your review because cons are explained well on spot but please do nail down the height issue with a persons height on full review.
How Royal Enfield made such a perfect bike in their first go is beyond me.
PS: I'm taking about the Himalayan :)
It's still in the making! Year by year it's getting up to the perfection.
Honest review.. Thanks a ton buddy.
Kartikeya makes it look like a 1290 Adventure...if it was in real ..as always awsum review...kudos to the @zigwheels team.....was waiting eagerly
KTM should rename it the 390 GT. Thanks for the unbiased review ZigWheels. All the specs are good to read on paper, but when you take it on off-road all the electronic gizmo will be a pain in the ass. Would have been better if they launch an enduro version of the 390.
We'll hope for a little bit longer with you brother. ✊
Less electronics less chance of something going wonky.
@@lonerider6175 But KTM is going harder with the electronics. No way there's going to be a future KTM (Adventure and Duke) with less electronics.
Thank you, guys, for the detailed review! The 390 Adv sure is less of an adv bike than I expected. That suspension travel is the biggest disappointment. You guys clearly get it. As always, review detail and quality is top notch!
You both are nice and informative about both of the bike... Love to watch both of you about reviewing two wheeler.
Indeed this is a gt version of duke they've just rebranded it heh!......they should've put more r&d in remapping the ecu and better suspension package slapping on electronics doesn't make it a good off roader....
Now since KTM disappointed me this time again, I am going to wait patiently till the arrival of Himalayan 650 ...or get richer untill I can afford the 790 adventure R....!!
@@mediguide_edutech Another long wait for the Himalayan 650. Let's hope it won't be so underwhelming.
The only review I was waiting for 👍
Thank you Kartik Sir and PD Sir
Bro! You are too kind! 🙏
Now since KTM disappointed me this time again, I am going to wait patiently till the arrival of Himalayan 650 ...or get richer untill I can afford the 790 adventure R....!!!
Excellent review sir!!
Thank you sah! ❤️
Like your honest review. This bike is not a hardcore offroader. An offroader needs to have good lower end torque to pull you out of the troughs. Same power delivery as the duke 390 means you have to throttle hard to get enough torque. Also the duke is not happy at lower speeds, so will be the adventure, the engine is definitely bound to overheat on long uphill offroads unless you build up speed which is impractical.
Superb & detailed well pointed review , Completely agree with this Review
Glad to hear that. Do let us know if you have any suggestions. 🙏
I think KTM wanted to play it safe specially in India considering majority of enthusiasts are into touring leisure motorcycling. They wanted the bike to travels miles without minimal effort and offroading on roads not an offroad trial centric. 70:30 ratio (Road:Offroad) Example: Ladakh and Zanskar Valley.
They have opted out adjustable suspension which is a boon for good offroading and provided Quickshifter+ which cuts the cost and recover the emotion lost on the adjustable suspensions for us Indians.
I think they will justify the 50:50 ratio of Onroad:Offroad and has kept for the rumoured KTM 490 adventure.
Overall a good package i would say considering the Indian scene. Only negative i would say is the same gear ratios from the Duke 390, that makes me sad. Need of the low grunt on the initial gears was must!!
Thanks Zigwheels and Kartikeya Sir for the points you raised which makes you stand from other reviews. Negative points should always be appreciated because it is the start for betterment.
Kudos! .. you were honest about what you felt and the review did not feel endorsed or influenced! 🤘
🙏 always sir. Sometimes it hurts.. sometimes it doesn't. Depends on what you want. 😊
Great review. I guess Himalayan and xpulse nailed it better.
Xpulse is anyday better than Himalayan for off roading.
Array Amit shah on KTM...🙈🙈🙈🙈😂😂
Orange for bjp
Orange for ktm
For a 80/20 combo of tarmac and off-road respectively this works. But if one is purely seeing more of off-road fun then skip this. I knew this when the specs came out. Lacks low end torque and is good when you're doing higher speeds. Same thing with the 790 adventure. One of the best adventure bikes but again you have to riding really fast even on off-road sections to get the most out of it.
For regular blokes white looking at more off-road this is a no go imo.
PS: Karthik for me is the best reviewer. Been following him from his Autocar days.
And it's time for Himalayan 650 to launch soon
karthik nunna not anytime soon.
They are trying to put new himalayan 650 twin engine on same chasis and chasis cannot handle that weight.
My friend in RE chennai is telling me that 650 himalayan will be a game changer as they will launch it on whole new chasis engine retro plus electronics etc etc
@@sahiladya8473 ok bro
And a twin Interceptor engine
Absolutely not for Off-road adventure trails. But great for touring.
Music name at last
Should i sell himalayan for 390 adventure??
Or wait for himalayan 650 ?
Nope not needed spoke wheels are vital for offroading lot of people look at power and forget torque Himalayan has a long stroke engine it's torquey Adventure is road based less Off-road based even it's engine will get over heated during extreme offroading
Himalayan 650 is never going to come, surely not with the 650 twin that RE has now in the interceptor/GT. It's way too heavy and lacks comparable low end toque.
Keep your Himalayan and go on as many adventures instead of splurging money on another bike no matter how good it might be.
It depends on where you ride and what your intentions are. KTM is "LESS" friendly for roadside repair vs the RE. self service/repair is very essential when you travel. not to mention that ktm is known for low quality casting parts like side covers and engine cases.
Then i think Himalayan 650 would be the perfect touring machine !! 🤞
It's a junk bike
Without a doubt always the best.. 👏
Finally a bike for tall people like me 😍😍
I am looking for an adventure bike for long touring across the country with pillion. Kindly suggest me the perfect bike.
Biggest dissappoint for me is the *seat height, I am planning to buy this bike but seat height is way too high.*
So, gonna buy Duke 390.
Aaisa kuch bahi hai bro...chalake dekho
Junid bhai ka nam suna hai
Wo bhi tiger chalta hai..he is below 5.5.
@@sanjitshetye6293 please give me the channel link
@@sanjitshetye6293 Tiger has lower seat height, afaik. 840 mm, I think.
Rename it as Duke 390 GT and reduce seat height at least upto 800 mm. Then KTM will have a winner. Even the seat height of 830mm on Duke 390 is intimidating for most of the Indian riders.
By the way, a fantastic first ride review from Zigwheels.You guys are simply amazing. When you two join together to make a video it's like a super hit movie.
India needs same specs with lower cc like 200/250 cc... And spoke wheels. Adventure bikes are the real essence of the bikes in experience and specs...no doubt the Console now should be better matched with 390adv.
From Delhi.
250 Adventure is supposedly slated for mid-2020 launch.
KTM has gone practical way this way.. they know what sells in india. Also be honest, how many tiger,GS owners go hardcore offroad? So, Versys, Multitrada way is the key here in India. And sales volume tells the story. Versys and Multitrada sales like a hot cake... It's a perfect upgrade for Dominar or even 150cc owners at a reasonable price upgrade. And good touring capability with some soft roading is more mainstream and one can buy this as their main motorcycle. It's kinda Jack of all trade. And finally a Duke in which a six footer like myself won't look like bear on a unicycle!!!!
Absolutely! I also expect it to do well.
do you guys think that the 2020 duke 390 will get the same electronics package as the adv ? (as an additional option ?)
it already has the quickshifter the other things shouldn't be that hard to add right ?
quickshifter on 390 adv was not performing precise as duke 790. In low prices , quality issues will come for sure.
In extreme off-roading conditions the alloy wheels may gonna break.
They will definitely
Coz they r noob to this bike. Watch Ariemann1 channel rewiew.
The alloy wheels are not the problem. They will cope fine. It is the suspension travel and ground clearance that are not enough.
Is the 390 adventure reliable for motocamping with saddle bags and all that? Can it handle marshy areas?
Great review, I'll keep my G310GS for now.
Himalayan 650, high hopes for that one.
Don't compare the legend ( Himalayan 😍 ), with toy ( 390😂 )
Thanks for the review. I'll stick to my vstrom 650 then, waiting for KTM 490 Adventure :)
So how would it compare to Himalayan for a biker who's relatively new to off roading?
Adam Riemann killed the trail with this bike.
Howz it to handle the bike like guys with height of 5'6" :-)
Sorry bro, I'm 5.10 and i can plant my foot on one side only...
Sandeep S shit dude . Mera dil toot gya .
@@nismostrada9433
Sheesha hai ya dil...
Aakhir, toot jaata hai...
Sorry bro, kya karein..sacchayiat yahi hain....
I have seen the bike, it is not intimidating, but want to see how short riders can handle the bike
You're screwed brah....try the Himalayan; but even that'll be too much for you
Agree that GT would have been a more appropriate name. About the KTM Adv, I think the 250 would be a more practical choice for most. I havent ridden the D250, but i assume it has more usable lower end torque than the 390. Also unless you normally ride on super smooth highways, or do drags between potholes, the power of the 250 should be enough for light off road trails and even touring in India. I hope you get to ride the 250 soon
Whether Autocar like or not fans gonna buy it. Great touring torqy bike
Waiting for the all Terran grand review soon ....
BMW 310GS vs Kawasaki Versys 300x vs KTM ADV 390 vs RE Himalayan vs Hero Xpluse.
Karthikeya Singhee we love to listen to your voice sir❤️😁
Thank god I am more than 6 feet and a adventure bike lover!!
The most Honest review. It would be great to see comparison between 390 adventure and BMW 310 GS if possible. ✌
We look forward to making these Europeans meet up on Indian soil.
Nice review, but it really would have been nice to hear the engine!! So many bike reviews flood the audio with music and no bike engine sounds!! Why???
Noted. Apologies. 🙏
time for a 650 Himalayan. work on it RE
@alan bane its ground clearance is shitty
@alan bane price.. 😐
@alan bane himayalan 650 will probably be around 3lacs and 400x will be around 5lacs.
also see the off reviews of foreigners. they are loving Himalayan. with 650cc engine and little tweaks in design, it will have no competition. Kawasakis (low end) are good for highways but Himalayan is a better off road machine plus they perform ok on highway.
How this bike is compared to BMW G310 gs? We would definitely would like to know...
Ktm definitely needs to roll out lowering links for this to bring the saddle down to atleast 800mm
Kartikeya aswesome stuff but the notion of seat height is little flawed. When we ride with proper offroad boots as you had, we ride with tip of the boot rather than completely flat footing or flat footing one side. That ground clearance and suspension travel for sure will come from somewhere or dynamics needs to be flawed by putting a super low seat on the bike anyhow. Saying this, bcz many people will just hear it here and won't even try to find it the right way.
Sir, one simple fact - 790 adventure has more ground clearance 33mm more, and more suspension travel while having a lower seat height. Marginally lower, but lower nonetheless. The 390 ADVs setup is a result of decisions on the chassis. The parts sharing with Duke, RC etc have resulted in some compromises. Just putting my perspective across.
@@SirKart you are absolutely right at your part Kartikeya, I was just trying to say offroad seat height is little different thing when we are in proper gear. I could ride a Tiger 1200 XC offroad as soon as I went into offroad boots. I understand that you tried to be as honest as possible and that's why we love your work. Cheers mate
@@DCVExpeditions ahh.. okay get your point. Yes, that's why I said in the video.. even I could get used to it. But we are lucky few who have some sort of bearings off-road. I thought this would induct riders by the truckload. But..
This bike has kids of caliber, it's our off road capabilities we lack in ..
They're not comparing the 310GS In this????
Karthik sir on review 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎 the review I've been waiting for 👻
Anuj Bhai! 🙏
@@SirKart big big fan sir🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩and thank you for the reply 🙏