#Ktm 390 adventure full#
#Ktm 390 adventure mods#
#Ktm 390 adventure plus#

It needs to be easy, manageable, and intuitive. A bike must have a few key ingredients to make it a hassle-free motorcycle to ride daily. It also never feels busy or unsettled.Įveryday usability. As a result, the 390 handles ripples to bumps, potholes to road joints, and jumps and troughs with comfort and aplomb. And this has allowed KTM to play with springs that are taut but not hard, and damping that's on the slower side. To begin with, the 390 ADV has more travel than most street bikes. Complementing the comfortable seating is the well-sorted ride quality. 60hp+ on a similarly light platform would be an absolute hoot! Until then, this thing is going to be in the A slot in my garage.Ride quality. I’ll be first in line to buy a 490 Adventure if they make one – that seems like a real unicorn to me. I kind of like giving the other guys a handicap anyway – it makes for good sport. I think it makes it more fun to ride – and the quick-shifter on this thing is brilliant. I can keep up with most people on bigger bikes most of the time – I may have to shift a little more, but coming off 600cc sport bikes, I’m used to dancing on the shifter to get the most out of them. I think there need to be more small bikes like the 390ADV – so many people ride these big giant bikes, but aside from riding like a lounger – it doesn’t seem like they are getting much more out of them – and I think this bike would go places a GSA wouldn’t. Would I like a little more power, more travel, better brakes, etc? Sure! Does it need it? I don’t think so. Overall, I think KTM really hit it out of the park with this bike, especially for the price. Every bike needs a little setup and tinkering. All in all pretty inexpensive upgrades to really make this bike a lot more comfortable and capable. I did a lot of the same updates – mirrors, exhaust (that 12lb tea-kettle is dead weight waiting to be left behind), heated grips, brush guards, aux lights, saddle, bar risers, spoked, wheels, etc. I don’t fear it crushing my leg if it falls over -nor do I fear letting it fall over like a $20k 600lb bike. I love its size and weight – and being 100lbs less than pretty much any other ADV bike, it is surprisingly nimble and responsive. It is fun to get on it and whip it, and if I flog it and still gets 70+mpg. It jams in the canyons, it works on fire roads and trails, and it is tolerable at 80mph on the freeway. It has good technology on it – that works. What I like about this bike is exactly what they point out here. Would I do a week long trip, or a string of 400+ mile days – probably not. It is my go-to bike for day rides, and I’d even do an overnighter on it.

Although it lacks punch, and “cred” – I have ended up really really liking this bike. I had a few ADV bikes before, NX650, KLR, Tiger 800, Multistrada (1200 & 950), F800GS, and a few others (including a line of sport bikes). For those of you who prefer to read, you can check out our first ride review article of the KTM 390 Adventure here. Thanks for checking out the video and leave us your thoughts and questions in the comments below. Is the 390 Adventure a legitimate adventure travel bike for longer distances? Does it have enough dirt capability for more aggressive rides? We have answers to all your burning questions and more in the review.

#Ktm 390 adventure mods#

We also cover how it matches up with other small-displacement ADVs in the market and how key mods can make major improvements in its adventure readiness.

#Ktm 390 adventure plus#

Plus we put in some highway miles to explore the long-haul comfort and fuel range of the machine.

In this video, we give a rundown of its performance on dirt, sand, twisties, and more.

#Ktm 390 adventure full#

Over the last few years we have explored the full range of the 390 Adventure’s capabilities, covering thousands of miles and nearly every type of terrain. With help from the KTM PowerParts catalog and the aftermarket, we set out to address many of these shortcomings. However, sacrifices are to be expected on any bike built for a lower price point. After our initial test on the 390, KTM’s small-bore ADV offering exceeded our expectations, but we did find a few things that didn’t quite hit the mark.