I have now bought one, after watching your review and lots of others. I am not really bothered by appearance or sound - how a bike feels is important to me, so I am quite happy with the mirrors and the exhaust note. At 6ft 3, I find the riding position really comfortable, and haven't yet found the seat to be hard, but I tend to stop for a break every hour or so. I have been riding for 54 years, and am at an age where light weight and nimble handling are more important than the power I used to get from my 1200 and 1300 machines. This little engine is great for the roads that I like to ride on, with the speed limits that are being applied now, and can take me on trunk roads if necessary. I would not only recommend it as a bike for younger riders, but also for older riders who are "winding down".
I'm 6'4 and very lanky. The ktm 390 adv is my first bike, but have ridden a few prior. I have to say it was by far the most comfortable for my body type. Just feels perfect for me. And not overly massive while still being tall.
There is a lot to be said for light bikes that can be flicked around and give confidence. I think we as a culture have bought into the idea that bigger is better. Not always the case. Yah, and I understand the biker butt.
Great review! I totally agree with you. I have been riding my 390 Adv now for 1 year and 7000 km. I replaced the silly looking and sounding stock exhaust and the hard seat with a KTM powerparts ergo seat. Also replaced the windscreen with a larger tinted one from Givi. I think is perferct now and hopefully i will keep it for several years.
I really like this bike. I think Bajaj Auto did a great job building this, but i'm more excited to see what they build for Triumph. I have my fingers crossed for a Tiger 400 because i hate how they consider their 800/850 sport "entry level".
Great vid and very accurate in your review. After 3 moths and 2k miles of ownership I agree with everything you mentioned. The only thing I would add is a note about fuel economy. As a thumper it has been great, I have been averaging over 80mpg here in the States on my non highway trips! As for the seat I also thought it was total crap at the beginning. As a cyclist I was wearing bike shorts with padding to start however as my body figured it out and the seat softening just a bit I find the seat a non issue on 2-3hr rides now. I would recommend people to give it some time then decide to upgrade or swap out. Cheers!
Have the 390 adv SW here.. almost a yr now, and your review is good. My buddy has one, and I saw it I had to have one! So I bought it, put it trailer from the dealer, I brought it home. I started it., and said I can’t have this!!! Sounds like a washing machine!!! so off, claim the stock muffler, apropovic muffler, and removed 5 pound resonator, with the delete pipe. Now it sounds like a proper motorcycle.! The nuts and bolts are great, but other than that first rate bike, I think, and I’ve owned many… Thanks for your review!
Have ridden this bike over 23000kms on and a lot of off road and never jumped out of gear on neutral for me but yes finding neutral is a challenge...foot pegs are angled and not a fan but Black Dog USA make a great set of pegs to cure this...but after all these kms I have owned this bike I love it!
Great review. I sold my crf 250l and bought this. Perfect to learn on. There are few if any entry level bikes w cornering abs and cornering traction control. Not many mid sized bikes either.
I will say that I’ve watched your thoughts twice already! A great, honest opinion on a bike that is very good for its price! Keep up the great work, I know it will be difficult during the UK stage two Covid situation. Being in AUSTRALIA I know how difficult stage two was, however Melbourne ( where I live) has now had zero cases in 2 weeks. Not bad for a city with 5+ million citizens...
Same to you! I look forward to hearing and seeing you on TH-cam again. My advice for all of your subscribers is to follow what the government stipulates, where a mask (even tho they only reduce chances) and just be humble an more importantly, mindful of others. In particular the elderly who are at most risk to Covid-19!
Exactly the thoughts that resonated in my mind when i took a test ride. I was a returning rider (this year) after many years, wanted to buy something to start again. 390 Adventure was the first one I rode and realised that the biking scene has changed and quite some. The plastic and light bike but great character somehow didnt go well what I had in mind. Next was Interceptor and I ended up booking it soon after the ride. Different genre... yeah indeed but then price point was similar. More like what biking used to be in my mind. But there are times when i think i should have bought this one... but might add this one to the stable some time.
Same situation here; started again after 25 years without a bike and have considered both this one (did a test-ride already) and the Interceptor ( haven’t driven it yet). The Enfield is what a bike looked like in my time, and all the testers seem to like it a lot, but I liked this KTM a lot as well. Important for me is the seating position; I am 193 cm /6 foot 4. Right now I drive an Aprilia Pegaso 650, a cheap bike to find out what I really like in motorcycling. I am looking forward to try the Enfield, and the Yamaha T700, and a secondhand Moto Guzzi Griso, and.......!
LOL.. smiling at your 3:10 comment. " I did have a bit of bum trauma".. :-) bless ya my friend.. can we stick with reviewing bikes please sir.. I know i've took it out of context and having rode the bike totally agree BTW.
I absolutely love mine! I put a full Acropovic on mine with a ecu flash by KTM with a richer fuel map it sounds loud now... almost too loud😉 I put it up there with my all my favourite KTM'S owned so far. It really is a little weapon that handles well in bends.
Those mirrors would never leave the showroom on my bike .The rest I could live with, where there's fire there's smoke, and with KTM there's a bit of smoke around as regards reliability engine wise .I'll wait and see what shows up from other brands over the next few months ,If the CRF300L makes it to the UK that would be a spanner in the works choice wise, even have a lower seat height op allegedly
@@mookyzook yeah so reliable that broken head gasket I a thing with the duke and the rc390. I understand that it only happened to some people but still not as reliable as a crf250
Hi Andy, good points pointed out as usual! I find it amazing KTM seems to be the only one doing the backlight on the controls for small capacity bikes...where if you are a learner it makes sense as confidence booster. Plus is just nice like in a laptop. Little things you get used to. I think the ktm duke 390s are very good value for money as you pointed out but you do need to change the exhausts, the first edition sounded like a vacuum cleaner, so I had an aftermarket exhaust. The only question I have is can you fit a disk lock under the seat just for popping into town etc? Speak soon! Tc
Good review Andy. No quite sure I’m with you on the mirrors or the exhaust. It’s an Adventure bike and when you fall off (coz you’re going to if you take it off road regularly), they look like they will survive a drop. Same with the exhaust, you don’t want to naff the locals off with a RJ type exhaust on trails. The rest of it, totally agree so thanks for sharing it. 👍
@@TheMissendenFlyer most people will agree with you I’d think. Im looking at from an off road perspective whereas most of these will never see more than a gravel car park. Anyway, good review as I said. 👍
Pretty accurate assessment in my view. Stills sounds like you're riding a Singer sewing machine,. After a month / 1500km's though I've found either the seat has improved or my butt has become accustomed to it - able to go for about 2.5 hours now with minimal discomfort. I also found that locating neutral improved after it's 1000km service - though still a little tricky some times. Really enjoy your work. Thanks.
As someone who is interested in getting the 390 adventure I have to ask. Do you regret it, would you have rather saved up for a bigger bike or is it everything you need?
Thats the kind of stuff i could never accept on a new bike. I've had plenty of japanese bikes and now a sv650 from 2005with 35000miles and never han an issue regarding finding neutral...if on a new bike its hard to find neutral, something is wrong with gearboxe design
@@dylanfairhurst469, hi mate. No I do not regret buying the bike at all. IMO all the "problems" could easily be considered personal preference ones and hence easily rectified by changing out some parts (sear, silencer etc.) The bike comes with many features that are not simple "bolt on" improvements and that often don't come on much more expensive/bigger bikes. I considered quite a few bikes before settling on the ktm and it brings a smile everytime I ride it - which is nearly every day.
@@farmoboy83 a lot of people say / think similarly. I can't recall a bike that I've ridden that could either be fiddley to find neutral or would grab neutral too easily when shifting. Some were better / worse than others of course. I've seen reviews of the ktm where it's never mentioned as an issue or explicitly "discounted" in the reviewers instance. One reviewer even found that different footwear made a difference. For me, the issue is a minor one. Cheers
Great review Andy but i spent more time checking out the beers in the background. Personally KTM lost it when they went into road bikes I still miss my old 420 mx bike i had in the 90's
Great informative video TMF. I personally haven't ridden one yet but after viewing your videos I think that I'll definitely get one soon. As for the exhaust note, I'm sure you can buy after market slip ons to make the bike sound 'beefier.'
@@brian-doesnt-know i'm also looking at these both i've had a cb500x and it was a super bike great engine and slightly faster top end. can't help feeling the safe bets with the Honda
@@TheMissendenFlyer First and foremost, I would venture to say that the crf is going to more reliable in the long run.Also, I think a tft screen on a bike of this size and class is unnecessary.Unlike Honda dealers,KTM dealers, at least in my neck of the woods, are few and far between.Obviously an advantage if you must call upon a dealer to sort out a problem.
I was looking for a light weight bike that I could transport on a rack behind the camper and was eagerly anticipating this 390 Adventure. However during the test ride I found I did not like it at all. It lacked character and of course, like all KTM’s, it excels in ugliness. Then I found a SWM Silvervase 440 with my Ducati dealer, which was lighter and cheaper. I test rode it and loved it. It has really nice classic looks with its nicely sculpted red 14 litre tank (not the original Silvervase with the 21 litre tank) and two analogue clocks (with small LCD for odo- and tripmeter). It is air-cooled, has 30hp, oodles of charactere and the exhaust sounds really nice. Seating position for me at 6.3 ft is really good. Excellent gearbox. No numb hands from vibrations. So far I did 2,000 km on it without any issues. Range is about 380 km till empty. It has become one of my favourite bikes and I own from Vespa through Ducati till Harley.
Chronicles of Solid in Perth dinged it for its lack of off road prowess and rated the CRF250 much higher for that reason. Fortnine really dinged it for the forward slant of the foot pegs which ruined it for standing on while off roading. Both liked the on road characteristics. When I saw one in person I was impressed with its' size, it looks bigger than a 390. Now that Honda has released a CRF300 (Thailand only for now, we wait with baited breath to see if the rest of us get to see it!) it will be very interesting to compare it to the new CRF300.
Funny isn't it. I like the Fortnight reviews too and was intrigued with his overall "downgrade" of the bike, yet many other reviewers rate it well for off road ability. Of course, there's off road and off road, then there is rider size v's bike size etc. Watching MVDBR Enduro channel, they give their 390 a reasonable push even with the stock tyres.
@@Brian0869 Dirt orientated riders are dinging it at bit. Street riders love it. Which is very useful information if you identify strongly with either group.
I ride a 125 Duke and “bum trauma” is definitely the right phrase! KTM seats are pretty sore, probably to get you to buy the comfort seat they offer XD
The rubber gaiters are probably there to stop the mirror fastening threads/swivel at each end from rusting. If it was your own bike it would be easy to take them off. The vibration was a much more serious issue and has put me off buying
What I lovely machine the KTM 390 adventure bike. Thanks for the great review on it, you always makes good videos. Yours sincerely The Danish Viking 🇩🇰 ☀️ 😎
Your review is spot on--I sat on one of these at the local KTM dealership, and the seat felt like a wooden plank. I had just been sitting on a Honda CB500x, and its seat was exceptionally comfortable. This bike offers a lot of value for the dollar, no question about it, but I can't get past the praying mantis/insect-ish look of the headlight. I get it, that's KTM's design direction, you see it on all their bikes, but not for me. I grew up riding Hondas so I am thinking it will be a CB500x when the time comes, but am now hearing that along with Triumph coming out with the Trident 660 that Triumph may do a Tiger 660 Adventure bike--I love the way the Tiger 900 looks but I just don't need a bike that big, but if they come out with a Tiger 660 my loyalty to Honda may be severely tested . . . .!
Get the Honda , its awsome. I have owned the Honda and then a Triumph speed twin, which while nice ie notas good as the Honda for build quality nd serice costs. only my opinion but Honda all the way for my money.
Great review, Andy! I think for similar money, I'm still leaning towards the CB500X or the Interceptor. On a side note, I was hoping to pick up a TMF hoodie from your shop...do you ship to the US? Thanks sir! Ride safe!
Great review. I really appreciated the fact that you showed us how your feet touch the ground when sitting on it. The 390 Adventure has made it to my final list but, with a 28" inseam, I am concerned about the seat height. There are none close to me at the moment, so in order to assess the seat height, could you tell me your inseam and height, if you don't mind. Thanks
Interesting review, it looks excellent value for money. I’ve always wondered why the selecting neutral problem has never been solved. I’ve owned the S1000R and double RR and both have been hopeless at selecting neutral.
I had a Ducati Diavel and it was absolutely impossible to find neutral when stationary...one of several reasons why I sold it. That was followed by an FJR 1300, which had the best manual gearbox on any bike I've owned to date, with finding neutral an absolute breeze.
I had one recently as a loaner while my DL650 was serviced - to me it felt a bit cheap, vibratory, and the handlebars were too wide. It very much felt like an off road bike which I guess it is. My vstrom felt so plush and planted in comparison
Only in the last year have I started to question the excessive weight of bikes. Maybe I am getting old, so yes I agree the weight is definitely a plus! I quiet like the looks of the headlight so I’m with TMF on this one. I appreciate looks are subjective and it may not be to everyone’s taste.
Hello Tmf, have you had any issue with the motorcycle? There are some reports about the tft screen resetting and the engine stalling, but i want to get as many opinions as i can. Thanks and keep up the good work! ☺
Had a Versys first, too buzzy at speed. This also leaves the Vesys on equipment for price... I don't have too much trouble finding neutral, it's just practise and I've had a lot of bikes with worse...
How about long term rielability of motor, gear box and clutch? How about service intervals and costs? How about long term reliabitity problems with elektronics?
If it helps at all I've taken mine off road a few times now and it's done great on light (dirt and gravel roads with lots of potholes and bumps) and moderate (basic 4 wheeler paths) offroading. I've also went up and down grass hills multiple times on it. It'll basically do whatever as long as you *keep up momentum*! I've dropped mine twice and both times were offroading when I came to a stop on a hill and it just slowly tipped over.
Hey did you get the chance to ride the new model ... I've ordered it last month but the delivery would commence from April end or May .. 2021 is really available ... So I'm confused .. to wait or get the last year model
Had this one for a day. It really is an accomplished bike and it really does give you the impression that you have something bigger than a 390 motorcycle. I think Ktm nailed it with this small adventure Duke(!).
As a 26 year old and this being my first bike, and having completed the msf course to get my license, my insurance through progressive is $53/month. I do the services myself, including the first one, but it cost me around $45 for the oil for the first service. It gets pretty good gas mileage (averaging 63mpg) and costs me less than $10 of premium gas to fill up where I live. Overall it's a pretty cheap bike to own from what I can tell.
@@lorimcquinn3966 ah, well i haven't had to get that done yet, as the owners manual states 9300 miles for first valve check and even riding near daily for the past two months I'm only at 1500 miles. I asked my local bike shop (not dealer) how much it'd be and they said between 200-250. I spoke to dealership and they said the warranty was safe as long as I could show it was done by a certified motorcycle mechanic. The cost of the valve adjustment definitely depends on where you are and what shops are around you though and what they want to charge. The dealership wanted almost $430 for the valve adjustment and said it would be a two month wait before they could get me in if I was interested in booking it ahead of time.
I am seriously considering this one as my very first motorbike, deciding between this and Himalayan. I really like all the ultra-simplicity and vintage aura of Himalayan. But it seems like for +1000 EUR I'd be getting a far more advanced motorcycle - safer, better handling, a bit more powerful and overall higher quality (I hope, although I know they're both made in India). Also, it appears it's almost 30kg lighter, which sounds like a huge difference for a beginner wanting to do light offroad? What do you folks think, please?
I’m looking at getting the Advenrure or the Duke, I think I’m leaning toward the Adventure How tall are you ? I’m 5’9 . Was wondering if I could stand flat foot over the seat.
I like the marrows, when riding you should be looking at the road not the front of the bike, and the shifter from first to neutral just give it a slight tap and no problem, I have close to 3,000 on mine and find the seat quite good, You should try the DR650 then the KTM 390 Adventure, I have bough and love the bough.
Might be a good bike but not a fan of the plastic Flash Gordon look.. I prefer the Himi but sadly my 2018 has had all sorts of issues and the local dealer hasn't been able to fix it. 😭
Another beauty TMF 🙂... not seen the rest of the vid’s on this but does it have cruise control? And what are your thoughts on c/c? Personally I love it cause sometimes I need to use my right hand for other stuff... like slapping and rubbing some sensation back into my right leg on cold days 😂
So I have a deposit down on a 2021 Honda CRF300L, but I've been considering the 390. You mentioned you have a CRF250L. I know the 250L is a little more dirt focused, but would you advise the 390 over the 300L?
I got mine today and it stalled while riding once and the wind screen sounds like a vibrator in a jar of hot wheels. Little odd for less than 6 miles on the bike.
Very much enjoying mine as a great 2nd bike and agree on most things you mention. Seat feels fine to me (although I'm carrying a bit more timber than you) and the mirrors/plastic don't bother me either. I do get tingly hands at times but think that's down to the single cylinder vibes and it'll be interesting to see if it's improved with the rubber Oxford hot grips I've just fitted. The hard plastic originals are a bit naff. Just need lockdown to end to try them although might have to go food shopping on it.... Slightly jealous of my mate picking up his new Speed Twin today.
I have now bought one, after watching your review and lots of others. I am not really bothered by appearance or sound - how a bike feels is important to me, so I am quite happy with the mirrors and the exhaust note. At 6ft 3, I find the riding position really comfortable, and haven't yet found the seat to be hard, but I tend to stop for a break every hour or so. I have been riding for 54 years, and am at an age where light weight and nimble handling are more important than the power I used to get from my 1200 and 1300 machines. This little engine is great for the roads that I like to ride on, with the speed limits that are being applied now, and can take me on trunk roads if necessary. I would not only recommend it as a bike for younger riders, but also for older riders who are "winding down".
I'm 6'4 and very lanky. The ktm 390 adv is my first bike, but have ridden a few prior. I have to say it was by far the most comfortable for my body type. Just feels perfect for me. And not overly massive while still being tall.
I keep checking my video isn't playing at 1.25x speed. Amazing
Hahaha! I'm missing Benny Hill's tune in the background too.
Hahahaha
Brilliant pml
Went to .75x
@@BubbaSatori try .5
There is a lot to be said for light bikes that can be flicked around and give confidence. I think we as a culture have bought into the idea that bigger is better. Not always the case. Yah, and I understand the biker butt.
Very accurate review, now done over 3000 clicks on mine with a mixture of tarmac and tough trails. Overall a magnificent machine
Great review! I totally agree with you. I have been riding my 390 Adv now for 1 year and 7000 km. I replaced the silly looking and sounding stock exhaust and the hard seat with a KTM powerparts ergo seat. Also replaced the windscreen with a larger tinted one from Givi. I think is perferct now and hopefully i will keep it for several years.
Does handlebar vibration rear it's head on yours?
Gotta be the most interesting garage ever. I always try and spot new additions in the background. Great content Andy.
I just come back from a 3 Day Ride, 1335 Klms 60%Tar 40%Dirt, i just love this Bike !!!
Cheers JJ!
Damn the man even had an accessory shop!
I really like this bike. I think Bajaj Auto did a great job building this, but i'm more excited to see what they build for Triumph. I have my fingers crossed for a Tiger 400 because i hate how they consider their 800/850 sport "entry level".
Great vid and very accurate in your review. After 3 moths and 2k miles of ownership I agree with everything you mentioned. The only thing I would add is a note about fuel economy. As a thumper it has been great, I have been averaging over 80mpg here in the States on my non highway trips!
As for the seat I also thought it was total crap at the beginning. As a cyclist I was wearing bike shorts with padding to start however as my body figured it out and the seat softening just a bit I find the seat a non issue on 2-3hr rides now. I would recommend people to give it some time then decide to upgrade or swap out. Cheers!
oh, and for any hand vibrations etc nothing that $9 KTM orange alloy bar ends from Aliexpress cant solve!
I see what is going on in the background.... just need a little refrigerator (or maybe is already full?) and now that's a proper mancave!
Rumbled me!
@@TheMissendenFlyer you starting to look like Bruce Willis 😎
Have the 390 adv SW here.. almost a yr now, and your review is good. My buddy has one, and I saw it I had to have one! So I bought it, put it trailer from the dealer, I brought it home. I started it., and said I can’t have this!!! Sounds like a washing machine!!! so off, claim the stock muffler, apropovic muffler, and removed 5 pound resonator, with the delete pipe. Now it sounds like a proper motorcycle.! The nuts and bolts are great, but other than that first rate bike, I think, and I’ve owned many… Thanks for your review!
My 1970s Hondas are difficult to find neutral sometimes - you would think forty years on this would no longer be a problem
Have ridden this bike over 23000kms on and a lot of off road and never jumped out of gear on neutral for me but yes finding neutral is a challenge...foot pegs are angled and not a fan but Black Dog USA make a great set of pegs to cure this...but after all these kms I have owned this bike I love it!
Thanks for the feedback Paul!
Great review. I sold my crf 250l and bought this. Perfect to learn on. There are few if any entry level bikes w cornering abs and cornering traction control. Not many mid sized bikes either.
Couldn't agree more!
Just picked mine up today, must say coming off a 125 to this it feels bloody brilliant to me 😂
Yes it’s all relative
Bought my second- it’s a Duke 390 GT, more comfortable, more versatile and it gets me to campsites. Bloody good commuter too.
47 years old and getting back into MC after a 10 year break! I will be buying one of these.
Welcome back!
I love a light bike, says the man who just got a Gold Wing.😋. Love your reviews. Keep up the good work.
I will say that I’ve watched your thoughts twice already! A great, honest opinion on a bike that is very good for its price! Keep up the great work, I know it will be difficult during the UK stage two Covid situation. Being in AUSTRALIA I know how difficult stage two was, however Melbourne ( where I live) has now had zero cases in 2 weeks. Not bad for a city with 5+ million citizens...
Wow Marcus, great news! Stay safe...
Same to you! I look forward to hearing and seeing you on TH-cam again. My advice for all of your subscribers is to follow what the government stipulates, where a mask (even tho they only reduce chances) and just be humble an more importantly, mindful of others. In particular the elderly who are at most risk to Covid-19!
Short term pain, long term gain if we all work together! 😊
Exactly the thoughts that resonated in my mind when i took a test ride. I was a returning rider (this year) after many years, wanted to buy something to start again. 390 Adventure was the first one I rode and realised that the biking scene has changed and quite some. The plastic and light bike but great character somehow didnt go well what I had in mind. Next was Interceptor and I ended up booking it soon after the ride. Different genre... yeah indeed but then price point was similar. More like what biking used to be in my mind. But there are times when i think i should have bought this one... but might add this one to the stable some time.
I think the Interceptor was a fine choice too!
@@TheMissendenFlyer Certainly.. no plan on giving it up. No no.
Same situation here; started again after 25 years without a bike and have considered both this one (did a test-ride already) and the Interceptor ( haven’t driven it yet). The Enfield is what a bike looked like in my time, and all the testers seem to like it a lot, but I liked this KTM a lot as well. Important for me is the seating position; I am 193 cm /6 foot 4. Right now I drive an Aprilia Pegaso 650, a cheap bike to find out what I really like in motorcycling. I am looking forward to try the Enfield, and the Yamaha T700, and a secondhand Moto Guzzi Griso, and.......!
Great Review...I love my KTM 390 Duke! Aloha from Maui :)
Aloha!
LOL.. smiling at your 3:10 comment. " I did have a bit of bum trauma".. :-) bless ya my friend.. can we stick with reviewing bikes please sir.. I know i've took it out of context and having rode the bike totally agree BTW.
I absolutely love mine!
I put a full Acropovic on mine with a ecu flash by KTM with a richer fuel map it sounds loud now... almost too loud😉
I put it up there with my all my favourite KTM'S owned so far.
It really is a little weapon that handles well in bends.
Cool - thanks for watching!
Nice review & a great bike imo. Plus pretty much all the negatives you raised can be sorted out relatively easily.
Indeed - excellent little bike...
Those mirrors would never leave the showroom on my bike .The rest I could live with, where there's fire there's smoke, and with KTM there's a bit of smoke around as regards reliability engine wise .I'll wait and see what shows up from other brands over the next few months ,If the CRF300L makes it to the UK that would be a spanner in the works choice wise, even have a lower seat height op allegedly
But the engine's been out for years and always been reliable?
@@mookyzook yeah so reliable that broken head gasket I a thing with the duke and the rc390. I understand that it only happened to some people but still not as reliable as a crf250
Thanks Andy yet another great easy listening and very informative vid. Keep up the great work mate :)
Thanks Dave, will do!
Anther good point that everyone misses is the high Km endurance with a full tank.
Correct about the negatives, I've chenged them all. Great bike, I love it!!!
Hi Andy, good points pointed out as usual! I find it amazing KTM seems to be the only one doing the backlight on the controls for small capacity bikes...where if you are a learner it makes sense as confidence booster. Plus is just nice like in a laptop. Little things you get used to.
I think the ktm duke 390s are very good value for money as you pointed out but you do need to change the exhausts, the first edition sounded like a vacuum cleaner, so I had an aftermarket exhaust.
The only question I have is can you fit a disk lock under the seat just for popping into town etc?
Speak soon! Tc
I wish it had mx style rims, and hopefully the next version comes with them. Its a baby bike, but I want one so to me that makes it a winner.
Love the C172 pitot cover on the wall👍 Great videos as well, love the content👍
Actually it's from our old TB10
@@TheMissendenFlyer Now that is a beautiful aircraft. Regards fellow pilot and Triumph-driver.
Great review. Any thoughts from folks here on reliability?
Superb and comprehensive summary. A bit too much caffeine today?!
Great watch. looks like your garage has been burgled ! Used to seeing multiple bikes ! Thanks for sharing keep them coming
Never fear - I just moved ‘em out so I could make this review...
Good review Andy. No quite sure I’m with you on the mirrors or the exhaust. It’s an Adventure bike and when you fall off (coz you’re going to if you take it off road regularly), they look like they will survive a drop. Same with the exhaust, you don’t want to naff the locals off with a RJ type exhaust on trails. The rest of it, totally agree so thanks for sharing it. 👍
Fair enough! Always good to get your constructive feedback Steve - all the best
@@TheMissendenFlyer most people will agree with you I’d think. Im looking at from an off road perspective whereas most of these will never see more than a gravel car park. Anyway, good review as I said. 👍
Pretty accurate assessment in my view.
Stills sounds like you're riding a Singer sewing machine,. After a month / 1500km's though I've found either the seat has improved or my butt has become accustomed to it - able to go for about 2.5 hours now with minimal discomfort. I also found that locating neutral improved after it's 1000km service - though still a little tricky some times.
Really enjoy your work. Thanks.
As someone who is interested in getting the 390 adventure I have to ask. Do you regret it, would you have rather saved up for a bigger bike or is it everything you need?
Thats the kind of stuff i could never accept on a new bike. I've had plenty of japanese bikes and now a sv650 from 2005with 35000miles and never han an issue regarding finding neutral...if on a new bike its hard to find neutral, something is wrong with gearboxe design
@@dylanfairhurst469, hi mate. No I do not regret buying the bike at all. IMO all the "problems" could easily be considered personal preference ones and hence easily rectified by changing out some parts (sear, silencer etc.) The bike comes with many features that are not simple "bolt on" improvements and that often don't come on much more expensive/bigger bikes.
I considered quite a few bikes before settling on the ktm and it brings a smile everytime I ride it - which is nearly every day.
@@farmoboy83 a lot of people say / think similarly. I can't recall a bike that I've ridden that could either be fiddley to find neutral or would grab neutral too easily when shifting. Some were better / worse than others of course.
I've seen reviews of the ktm where it's never mentioned as an issue or explicitly "discounted" in the reviewers instance. One reviewer even found that different footwear made a difference.
For me, the issue is a minor one.
Cheers
Great review Andy but i spent more time checking out the beers in the background. Personally KTM lost it when they went into road bikes I still miss my old 420 mx bike i had in the 90's
Brilliant
Excellent review as always Andy.
Thank you....
I am super keen to see all the riding gear have in your garage. Maybe a video idea for sometime in 2021?
It would be quite a long video!!
Another honest & great review.....of a good all round machine for new riders........stay safe......thanks for sharing
My pleasure Ian!
Great informative video TMF. I personally haven't ridden one yet but after viewing your videos I think that I'll definitely get one soon. As for the exhaust note, I'm sure you can buy after market slip ons to make the bike sound 'beefier.'
CB500X (2019 +) must be due for a review? Considered under 500cc bike of the year by MCN. Itchyboots riding an earlier CB500X on longer tours.
Stay tuned Pete - so many bikes so little time!
I think it's the best budget Adventure bike out there for the money, also easy on fuel.
Try playing tis video setting at @ 0.75x it’s so much more comfortable to watch. Nonetheless highly comprehensive review
You should do a comparison between the ktm and the cb500x.
I’m looking at both of these. Was always a Honda guy!
@@brian-doesnt-know i'm also looking at these both i've had a cb500x and it was a super bike great engine and slightly faster top end. can't help feeling the safe bets with the Honda
So many better choices, and you grabbed one with your CRF, TMF👍👍
Well I'm not sure I'd completely agree - what makes you say that out of interest Brian?
@@TheMissendenFlyer
First and foremost, I would venture to say that the crf is going to more reliable in the long run.Also, I think a tft screen on a bike of this size and class is unnecessary.Unlike Honda dealers,KTM dealers, at least in my neck of the woods, are few and far between.Obviously an advantage if you must call upon a dealer to sort out a problem.
I’d go for the Suzuki DR 650 👍
@@TheMissendenFlyer
Not sure if I responded to your question Andy,but I think reliability is your ace in the hole with the CRF over the 390 adventure.
In love with your garage
Yes it's my "happy place" :0)
I was looking for a light weight bike that I could transport on a rack behind the camper and was eagerly anticipating this 390 Adventure. However during the test ride I found I did not like it at all. It lacked character and of course, like all KTM’s, it excels in ugliness. Then I found a SWM Silvervase 440 with my Ducati dealer, which was lighter and cheaper. I test rode it and loved it. It has really nice classic looks with its nicely sculpted red 14 litre tank (not the original Silvervase with the 21 litre tank) and two analogue clocks (with small LCD for odo- and tripmeter). It is air-cooled, has 30hp, oodles of charactere and the exhaust sounds really nice. Seating position for me at 6.3 ft is really good. Excellent gearbox. No numb hands from vibrations. So far I did 2,000 km on it without any issues. Range is about 380 km till empty. It has become one of my favourite bikes and I own from Vespa through Ducati till Harley.
Well done for finding something different!
Chronicles of Solid in Perth dinged it for its lack of off road prowess and rated the CRF250 much higher for that reason.
Fortnine really dinged it for the forward slant of the foot pegs which ruined it for standing on while off roading. Both liked the on road characteristics.
When I saw one in person I was impressed with its' size, it looks bigger than a 390.
Now that Honda has released a CRF300 (Thailand only for now, we wait with baited breath to see if the rest of us get to see it!) it will be very interesting to compare it to the new CRF300.
Funny isn't it. I like the Fortnight reviews too and was intrigued with his overall "downgrade" of the bike, yet many other reviewers rate it well for off road ability. Of course, there's off road and off road, then there is rider size v's bike size etc.
Watching MVDBR Enduro channel, they give their 390 a reasonable push even with the stock tyres.
@@Brian0869 Dirt orientated riders are dinging it at bit. Street riders love it. Which is very useful information if you identify strongly with either group.
My next journey will be towards this bike
3.12 - “bum trauma”. Maybe that needs the advice from a specialist! I thought you were talking about motorbikes. 😜😂
I ride a 125 Duke and “bum trauma” is definitely the right phrase! KTM seats are pretty sore, probably to get you to buy the comfort seat they offer XD
It's a KTM adventure bike, the seat is designed to stand up. 🤣
@@WalkForFreedomOz does the Seat actually stand up? 😜😂
Maybe I could have worded it a bit better. 👍
@@WalkForFreedomOz 😜👍😎🇦🇺
The rubber gaiters are probably there to stop the mirror fastening threads/swivel at each end from rusting. If it was your own bike it would be easy to take them off. The vibration was a much more serious issue and has put me off buying
Nice review bro, to the point. Valued.
Glad you liked it
Duke 390? You sure TMF? In the last 15-20 seconds of the vid. Don't shoot the messenger. Great vid though, as always!!!
Yes I love the little Duke!
What I lovely machine the KTM 390 adventure bike. Thanks for the great review on it, you always makes good videos.
Yours sincerely
The Danish Viking 🇩🇰 ☀️ 😎
You're very kind DV! Thanks for watching as ever - appreciate your support...
Your review is spot on--I sat on one of these at the local KTM dealership, and the seat felt like a wooden plank. I had just been sitting on a Honda CB500x, and its seat was exceptionally comfortable. This bike offers a lot of value for the dollar, no question about it, but I can't get past the praying mantis/insect-ish look of the headlight. I get it, that's KTM's design direction, you see it on all their bikes, but not for me. I grew up riding Hondas so I am thinking it will be a CB500x when the time comes, but am now hearing that along with Triumph coming out with the Trident 660 that Triumph may do a Tiger 660 Adventure bike--I love the way the Tiger 900 looks but I just don't need a bike that big, but if they come out with a Tiger 660 my loyalty to Honda may be severely tested . . . .!
Get the Honda , its awsome. I have owned the Honda and then a Triumph speed twin, which while nice ie notas good as the Honda for build quality nd serice costs. only my opinion but Honda all the way for my money.
Great review, Andy! I think for similar money, I'm still leaning towards the CB500X or the Interceptor. On a side note, I was hoping to pick up a TMF hoodie from your shop...do you ship to the US? Thanks sir! Ride safe!
We do indeed - knock yourself out!
Great review. I really appreciated the fact that you showed us how your feet touch the ground when sitting on it. The 390 Adventure has made it to my final list but, with a 28" inseam, I am concerned about the seat height. There are none close to me at the moment, so in order to assess the seat height, could you tell me your inseam and height, if you don't mind. Thanks
I’m 5’8” with 32 inseam....
Handlebar end weight will reduce a high % of the vibration.
Last bike I had trouble finding neutral on was a 1959 Norton.
Mine was a Piaggio scooter. I put 4 new engines in still couldn't find the problem. I set fire to it in the end. Useless rubbish.
Your garage looks empty and if I remember correctly you mentioned you had some news coming regarding your Intercepter. Thank you for the review.
Well I had to get my own bikes out so I could film this one - don’t worry, they were only around the corner! ...and yes, Interceptor reveal coming!
This is pretty nice review! Thank you
Thanks for watching!
Looks the part but the rock hard seat and KTM's legendary electrics would see it scored off my list. Looking forward to the Interceptor reveal.
Yes bit of a setback on that today - no progress (at all) to report...gonna be a wait for that one.
Interesting review, it looks excellent value for money. I’ve always wondered why the selecting neutral problem has never been solved. I’ve owned the S1000R and double RR and both have been hopeless at selecting neutral.
Yes some bikes seem worse than others at it...
I had a Ducati Diavel and it was absolutely impossible to find neutral when stationary...one of several reasons why I sold it. That was followed by an FJR 1300, which had the best manual gearbox on any bike I've owned to date, with finding neutral an absolute breeze.
Never had trouble finding neutral on a Japanese bike. I thought that problem was solved 50 years ago.
I had one recently as a loaner while my DL650 was serviced - to me it felt a bit cheap, vibratory, and the handlebars were too wide. It very much felt like an off road bike which I guess it is. My vstrom felt so plush and planted in comparison
Hi mate. Nice review. I heard some low end torque issues so far with this model in particular. Could you say a bit more on this.. thank you
Not sure I can!! Sorry…not heard that before
Very informative review. May I ask how tall you are to determine if the seat height is compatible with my leg length. Thanks.
5'8"
The low weight is a plus! But that praying mantis headlight and single cylinder
say "Get an Interceptor" to me.
Why not have both? ;0)
Only in the last year have I started to question the excessive weight of bikes. Maybe I am getting old, so yes I agree the weight is definitely a plus! I quiet like the looks of the headlight so I’m with TMF on this one. I appreciate looks are subjective and it may not be to everyone’s taste.
@@ray8328 And the excessive price.
Honda have released the CRF 250 l and Rally in 300 versions in Thailand. Lets hope they bring them to Europe.
Europe and the UK 🧐
Did you really think brexit meant they left europe? Come on man 😅
Hello Tmf, have you had any issue with the motorcycle? There are some reports about the tft screen resetting and the engine stalling, but i want to get as many opinions as i can. Thanks and keep up the good work! ☺
Nope - I had no issues.....
Man, my new 2020 kawasaki versys X300 has auto neutral finder, no hunting around for neutral !
Had a Versys first, too buzzy at speed. This also leaves the Vesys on equipment for price... I don't have too much trouble finding neutral, it's just practise and I've had a lot of bikes with worse...
How about long term rielability of motor, gear box and clutch? How about service intervals and costs? How about long term reliabitity problems with elektronics?
I swaped my handle bars to husqvarna ones this abit bigger and got the cross bar
Somebody has kidnapped TMF, they had to get Bruce Willis to stand in😜🖖
I'll take it! Makes a change from Harry Hill....
@@TheMissendenFlyer 😄
@@TheMissendenFlyer Benny Hill would be better!
Never really said how it did on the trail I would be very curious to hear how it did
If it helps at all I've taken mine off road a few times now and it's done great on light (dirt and gravel roads with lots of potholes and bumps) and moderate (basic 4 wheeler paths) offroading. I've also went up and down grass hills multiple times on it. It'll basically do whatever as long as you *keep up momentum*! I've dropped mine twice and both times were offroading when I came to a stop on a hill and it just slowly tipped over.
another great review thanks
Thanks for watching!
Hey Flyer, do you have any thoughts on the 2022 390 Adventure vs the outgoing model? Love your videos!
Not off the top of my head - need to ride the new one first - sorry about that!
Hey did you get the chance to ride the new model ... I've ordered it last month but the delivery would commence from April end or May .. 2021 is really available ... So I'm confused .. to wait or get the last year model
It’s a great bike in traffic too
Yes, nice and lightweight and a good view - great as a commuter....
Had this one for a day. It really is an accomplished bike and it really does give you the impression that you have something bigger than a 390 motorcycle. I think Ktm nailed it with this small adventure Duke(!).
I agree Spiros, great fun little machine....
Enjoyable review, hope your all keeping well, Cheers TMF
Thanks, you too!
Would like to see the cost to own, I.E. Insurance, scheduled maintenance, etc. G.
As a 26 year old and this being my first bike, and having completed the msf course to get my license, my insurance through progressive is $53/month.
I do the services myself, including the first one, but it cost me around $45 for the oil for the first service.
It gets pretty good gas mileage (averaging 63mpg) and costs me less than $10 of premium gas to fill up where I live.
Overall it's a pretty cheap bike to own from what I can tell.
@@motoman223 Valve adjustment too? Seems pretty complex for first bike owner.
@@lorimcquinn3966 ah, well i haven't had to get that done yet, as the owners manual states 9300 miles for first valve check and even riding near daily for the past two months I'm only at 1500 miles.
I asked my local bike shop (not dealer) how much it'd be and they said between 200-250. I spoke to dealership and they said the warranty was safe as long as I could show it was done by a certified motorcycle mechanic.
The cost of the valve adjustment definitely depends on where you are and what shops are around you though and what they want to charge. The dealership wanted almost $430 for the valve adjustment and said it would be a two month wait before they could get me in if I was interested in booking it ahead of time.
@@motoman223 Thanks for all the valuable information.
looking to get back on a bike. KTM 390 adventure or Interceptor 650? Just being used for fun.
Interceptor
Just curious in your opinion for 50/50 gravel and road would you rather the 390 or crf300l after having owned the crf250? Thank you.
Both would be excellent....390 probably would be the one for me....
@@TheMissendenFlyer thank you
I am seriously considering this one as my very first motorbike, deciding between this and Himalayan. I really like all the ultra-simplicity and vintage aura of Himalayan. But it seems like for +1000 EUR I'd be getting a far more advanced motorcycle - safer, better handling, a bit more powerful and overall higher quality (I hope, although I know they're both made in India). Also, it appears it's almost 30kg lighter, which sounds like a huge difference for a beginner wanting to do light offroad? What do you folks think, please?
Great first bike - go for it....
Great bike.
That or cb500x or maybe Himalayan best travel bikes out there.
Like the fact you do a lot of small stuff.
Happy travels
CB500X is the better choice in my opinion. Honda reliability plus an extra cylinder and a touch more power.
@@Aaron70235 Excellent bike. Hired one fir a weeks trail riding in Greece, and it was superb 👌
Thanks, you too!
Loving the bottle's of Beck's on the side, is that incase things get tough in the man cave, or Mrs flyer kicks you out the house LoL 😂👍
Both!
Hey Andy, hope you're well. Is the TMF branded polo shirt you are wearing in ths video the current version on your website please?
Yes it is!
@@TheMissendenFlyer Great, thanks D
I’m looking at getting the Advenrure or the Duke, I think I’m leaning toward the Adventure How tall are you ? I’m 5’9 . Was wondering if I could stand flat foot over the seat.
I’m 5’8”
I like the marrows, when riding you should be looking at the road not the front of the bike, and the shifter from first to neutral just give it a slight tap and no problem, I have close to 3,000 on mine and find the seat quite good, You should try the DR650 then the KTM 390 Adventure, I have bough and love the bough.
How about trying the Zontes T310 or Sinnis Terrain 380 adventure bikes?
Andy you been on holiday or you rocking a spray tan 😁. Luv your reviews mate
Neither - this was recorded back in the summer - seems a long time ago now!
Might be a good bike but not a fan of the plastic Flash Gordon look.. I prefer the Himi but sadly my 2018 has had all sorts of issues and the local dealer hasn't been able to fix it. 😭
Have same hooks in my garage but if I hang my motorcycle helmets on them will be full of spiders good review think I’ll stick with the Honda cb500x
Hay, Andy would this bike be a good commuter bike, can you put a bag for groceries and such? price is very good!
Another beauty TMF 🙂... not seen the rest of the vid’s on this but does it have cruise control? And what are your thoughts on c/c? Personally I love it cause sometimes I need to use my right hand for other stuff... like slapping and rubbing some sensation back into my right leg on cold days 😂
Cc wise the bike is fine for it’s intended purpose...
What type of insurance do you need to be able to test ride lots of bikes?
So I have a deposit down on a 2021 Honda CRF300L, but I've been considering the 390. You mentioned you have a CRF250L. I know the 250L is a little more dirt focused, but would you advise the 390 over the 300L?
Tough one - both great - I personally would take the KTM
Excellent for young riders starting our or just for commuting.Put akro exhaust on and bar risers if your are a little taller,cheers.
Hi Bruce, I'm 52 and new to bikes , what do you think the ktm for me?
I got mine today and it stalled while riding once and the wind screen sounds like a vibrator in a jar of hot wheels. Little odd for less than 6 miles on the bike.
Oh dear!
Very much enjoying mine as a great 2nd bike and agree on most things you mention. Seat feels fine to me (although I'm carrying a bit more timber than you) and the mirrors/plastic don't bother me either. I do get tingly hands at times but think that's down to the single cylinder vibes and it'll be interesting to see if it's improved with the rubber Oxford hot grips I've just fitted. The hard plastic originals are a bit naff. Just need lockdown to end to try them although might have to go food shopping on it.... Slightly jealous of my mate picking up his new Speed Twin today.
So have you found any local green lanes yet??
@@TheMissendenFlyer No but been watching your old stuff on your CRF. I thought green lanes were closed this time of year?