Curiosity has been piqued - KTM 390 Adventure

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ballisticexchris

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If you are doing long street days in the saddle, the small bikes are tiring for sure!

Here is a good review of the 390 with a set of knobby tires mounted. Good news is the rims don't break like some cast wheels do. Bad news is the rims bend beyond being able to seat the bead.

Quick test:


Full Test:

 
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RonH

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I wouldn't have minded the small displacement so much on the WR250R, but with that engine that took near redline to get any power it was no fun at all. I was hoping for something at least on par with an old Yamaha 175 enduro from 1973 I had, or my cousins KDX200 Kawasaki back 25 or 30yrs back, or even a 90cc HT1 Yamaha I had back in 1971.Those bikes were fun and you could climb a big hill with no effort, even the 90 was enough power. The WR250R would just bog down and stop midway up anything if you were not near redline, then it ran good. No fun.
Unfortunately it seems most KTM buyers are really lured by those high HP engines, that many times have no power down where you really need it.
 
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ballisticexchris

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Did that to the ST 1300 a couple of times. Minor dings held air, ended up with one that wouldn't. Found out those wheels were $400+. Ended up with the damaged wheel as a "trophy" from the fleet guys when I retired.
I really like that ST1300. We have a lot of motor cops switching to those. I'm assuming the 390 is using cast rims to keep the price point low.
 

Sierra1

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I always thought it was a style thing, but you're probably right about it being a money thing.
 

spklbuk

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ballisticexchris

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I just cringe watching that rider catch air on slippery gravel with round tires. And what's up with wearing baggy pants soft boots? It sure is nice being young with no concern for safety.
 

Dirt_Dad

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Can't say I saw any photos of him doing something I wouldn't do with those tires.

What turned me off was this line, 'For more experienced off-road riders, the limited wheelspin it generates can make it harder to ride aggressively and power steer through turns. Getting that rear wheel to kick out takes work! '

Once again, it makes me think of the WR. Don't ever want to go anywhere near that again.
 
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ballisticexchris

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Smaller bore bikes are always a bit harder than the big bore ones to get power down where you need it. The rider in the article obviously has lack of serious skills. Experienced riders will have no problem at all getting the rear wheel to go where they want.

The good and bad about the KTM 390 is the power is very linear. Aggressive shifting, brake, clutch, and body positioning are going to be required to get it to do what you want if you want to keep up with the big boys.

I am very guilty of the "big bore syndrome". All my past dirt bikes have made me into a lazy rider. My KTM 300 with the Rekluse clutch was the easiest bike in the world to ride. I had to hardly get it past idle to ride almost anything that resembled a trail.
 

Dirt_Dad

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Jim, I guess an updated DR650 is just not in the cards for me.

I blame it on wanting to stay in the garage one night listening to the end of a podcast. Needed something mindless to do, so I started cleaning the front of the DR. Well hell, I do hate cleaning bikes, and once that front was clean I couldn't ride it any more. So last weekend I cleaned the rest (I hate that), took some pictures and put it on Craigslist. Holy crap, did that unleash an avalance of interest. Had full price asking cash in my hands 36 hours later. The used bike market is on fire.

https://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?threads/turn-the-page-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-just-as-old.28486/

This changes nothing, and still want to meet up with you along the TAT. I'll just have a more interesting ride getting to that meeting place.
 

fredz43

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Since I knew my T700 was on the way, I thought I would get a head start on selling my very well set up 2014 DR650. Listed it on advrider.com for $4600 and sold it for that in 3 hours. Got a PM from another advrider inmate that bought a KLX250S from me last year that loves it and he was upset that he missed my DR650.

Meanwhile, my T700 came in this afternoon, so I went to the shop, put it together and rode it home.
 

Dirt_Dad

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Congrats on the T7. It's a crazy world out there with bikes new and used selling in hours. Good thing you had ordered when the world was different.
 

spklbuk

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Jim, I guess an updated DR650 is just not in the cards for me.

I blame it on wanting to stay in the garage one night listening to the end of a podcast. Needed something mindless to do, so I started cleaning the front of the DR. Well hell, I do hate cleaning bikes, and once that front was clean I couldn't ride it any more. So last weekend I cleaned the rest (I hate that), took some pictures and put it on Craigslist. Holy crap, did that unleash an avalance of interest. Had full price asking cash in my hands 36 hours later. The used bike market is on fire.

https://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?threads/turn-the-page-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-just-as-old.28486/

This changes nothing, and still want to meet up with you along the TAT. I'll just have a more interesting ride getting to that meeting place.
I think I knew a new to you KatieM was in your future before you did Jon :D Congratulations and ride it well.

We will work out a meetup somewhere. It would be nice if it was during a reasonably dry spell...what are the odds?

I've been on a bike exactly 3 times since March. I could use a good ride.
 

Dirt_Dad

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I think I knew a new to you KatieM was in your future before you did Jon :D Congratulations and ride it well.
Thanks, and yes, I guess I was kidding myself, but you saw through all of that.

DM and I are debating between Pipestem and Stonewall for the week after the 4th. I know you're within range of Pipestem. What about Stonewall? Pretty sure Stonewall is in the lead. I know DM will be happy to have a day off the bikes. Be a good chance to catch up. Shoot me a PM if you think that might work for you.
 

Don T

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Finally got around to take the 390 Adv for a test ride.
I was impressed by the little beast.
It´s fun, super easy and surprisingly comfortable to ride.

+ Punchy and smooth engine (if you let it rev) - fast up til around 80 mph where it can sit all day without breaking a sweat.
+ Feather light clutch and precise gearbox.
+ Nice ergos (seated) for my 183 cm (6 feet).
+ Good suspension
+ Good brakes
+ Impressive electronic package (the bike I rode even had quick shift+)

- Below ~4k rpm the engine is weak and vibey (as expected).
- Terrible ergos when standing - the bars are way to low - so much so that adding risers won't solve it.

The ergos makes it clear that this bike isn't ment as a dirt bike, but as a road bike (all kind of roads), which again explains the choice of cast tubeless wheels.

For what you get, the bike is a bargain - and it looks sweet in person.IMG_20201001_114353291.jpg
 

Dirt_Dad

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Can't say I'm surprised. I've owned 3 KTMs now and all three have performed far above what I'd expect from a motorcycle. They really know how to build bikes.
 
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