KTM 390 Adventure, first looks.

[weeksy]

https://www.ktm.com/en/travel/390-adventure/chassis



Saw one of these today and was quite surprised. It wasn't bad at all. Size wise it's designed for adults, not kids, which is where the 390 duke is arguably focused.
Plastics, clocks, forks, wheels etc looked great. The only real skimping on money seemed to be on things like the chain adjusters, the spindles etc, cheaper sort of metal rather than more expensive stuff but overall, it was decent i thought.

Didn't get to ride it as it was a customers bike... But i'm far from against the idea.

[matt]

Not seen one in the flesh but it looks interesting, £5500 for a new one,not bad. Get a test ride weeksy and do a review

[Tomcat]

Aimed at the same "entry level" adventure market as the GS310, people who have ridden them say they are both more show than go, and the use of cast wheels is particularly unsuited to rugged terrain. But as an economy option for relatively unchallenging use it certainly has its place.

[KungFooBob]

You could buy two of these and still have £500 to spend on drugs and hookers...

https://overlandmag.com/features/wk400-trail-review/

EDIT:

just spotted the review was from 2015, they cost a bit more now, £3290.

[Bigyin]

I cant see why Weeksy would even consider it as it doesnt fit anything he wants

Too small for power as he didnt like the other 390.....doesnt do off road so why a knobblie bike and a cheap WR450 would be better and half the money

As TC said cast wheels arent really off road so i think its a styling exercise to fit it with the other bikes in the range that all have an "Adventure" spec model

[Bigyin]

That not what Olly had/Has and love?

Not for me but if it meets your needs than why not?

Olly had the original 390 and loved it but having seen that daft little sod ride i can see why he liked them as it allowed him to wring its neck to an inch of its life while avoiding a big ban ..... iirc Weeksy had one as well for a short time

For me its a styling and marketing thing to align the range

[hilldweller]

This just popped up, the 390 does not disgrace itself.

[G.P]

I was with Weeksy when we spotted it.
I think that in the same way as 99% of big adventure bikes do all there adventuring on the road, the same would apply to this 390.
The 390 Duke was tiny, I rode Smixxy's and weeksy's and hated the riding position but loved the little motor.
This bike is lean but its much more imposing - we did a double take before realising it was a 390. It might be for grown ups but it will certainly appeal to smaller people and A2 licence holders. I was quite impressed, it would make a great commuter and weekend tourer

[Sadlonelygit]

Fuel tank is 14.5l
Not THAT much of an adventure then!
Unless it does 90mpg that is.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I quite like it, I'm not keen on the cast wheels for a semi off road bike, or the low exhaust for that matter, but as a practical super moto it makes a lot of sense, I don't know what the power output of the KTM 390 engine is, I suspect a claimed 42.5 bhp for A2 license holders, and if it's making that it's doing well for a silenced 390cc single.
I really liked my DRZ400, but for tarmac use it could have done with a comfy seat, 17" wheels and some wind protection, this looks like it has all of that, the wheels do look a bit flimsy though.

[G.P]

Fuel tank is 14.5l
Not THAT much of an adventure then!
Unless it does 90mpg that is.

It'll probably do 70 without much bother so that's 200 miles before you hit reserve...

[Supermofo]

Fuel tank is 14.5l
Not THAT much of an adventure then!
Unless it does 90mpg that is.

My 690 Duke has a 13L tank I think, and I regularly get 140 odd miles to the fuel light and the 690 has another 30bhp so you'd think the 390 should manage close to 200 miles. Even ridden fairly quick the 690 will do around 60mpg.

[Tomcat]

Fuel tank is 14.5l
Not THAT much of an adventure then!
Unless it does 90mpg that is.

My 790 does 60+mpg on a run so I wouldn't surprised if the 390 got 70-80. modern engines are amazingly frugal, I guess all the lean burn emissions stuff has its uses. And the 790 has a 20 litre tank, giving 250+ miles. If the 390 got 80mpg it would equal the range.

Personally I think the adventure bike market has been crying out for a good middleweight to replace the DR650/DRZ400/KLR but I don't think Honda, KTM or Enfield have really done that. If they adventurised the 690 that could be something, but I'd quite like to see a version without all the ABS/TC/emissions hoo-ha they all need to have these days.

[Couchy]

Fuel tank is 14.5l
Not THAT much of an adventure then!
Unless it does 90mpg that is.

My 790 does 60+mpg on a run so I wouldn't surprised if the 390 got 70-80. modern engines are amazingly frugal, I guess all the lean burn emissions stuff has its uses. And the 790 has a 20 litre tank, giving 250+ miles. If the 390 got 80mpg it would equal the range.

Personally I think the adventure bike market has been crying out for a good middleweight to replace the DR650/DRZ400/KLR but I don't think Honda, KTM or Enfield have really done that. If they adventurised the 690 that could be something, but I'd quite like to see a version without all the ABS/TC/emissions hoo-ha they all need to have these days.

Yeah we need a small adv bike, shame the Honda rally isn’t a 450. Abs and Tc can be turned off and they’re just as reliable as other electronics on the bikes like the fuel injection so not sure why you don’t want them ? Emissions stuff yeah they do run better without it just have to add cash to get rid lol. I reckon we’ll see some more small adv bikes soon as it does appear to be picking up.

[KungFooBob]

Yeah we need a small adv bike, shame the Honda rally isn’t a 450. Abs and Tc can be turned off and they’re just as reliable as other electronics on the bikes like the fuel injection so not sure why you don’t want them ? Emissions stuff yeah they do run better without it just have to add cash to get rid lol. I reckon we’ll see some more small adv bikes soon as it does appear to be picking up.

I was going to mention the CCM GP450, but it doesn't look like they make it anymore... and when they did it was a bit spendy.

[Bigjawa]

Fuel tank is 14.5l
Not THAT much of an adventure then!
Unless it does 90mpg that is.

My 790 does 60+mpg on a run so I wouldn't surprised if the 390 got 70-80. modern engines are amazingly frugal, I guess all the lean burn emissions stuff has its uses. And the 790 has a 20 litre tank, giving 250+ miles. If the 390 got 80mpg it would equal the range.

Personally I think the adventure bike market has been crying out for a good middleweight to replace the DR650/DRZ400/KLR but I don't think Honda, KTM or Enfield have really done that. If they adventurised the 690 that could be something, but I'd quite like to see a version without all the ABS/TC/emissions hoo-ha they all need to have these days.

I know a guy who swears the best bike he ever owned was an XT350, he flogged it and bought a GS, then flogged the GS and bought his XT back because he didn't trust all the electronics and the GS was too heavy.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I had an XT350, it wasn't the best bike I've ever had, it was a nice bike, but was seriously slow, even after I fitted the unrestricted inlet manifold.