I’m a 68 year old who has ridden more than 53 years, and I have found that the joy I felt when I got my 305 Honda dream is embodied in the 390 but with a crap load of torque.
You’re videos helped me pull the trigger on the 390. I’m also coming from a R1200GS. Sold my ‘15 a couple months ago, and picked up a ‘22 390ADV last weekend. I wanted something a lot easier to handle on the trail, but still interstate capable. Can’t wait to see how it is when I can go past 6500 rpm’s. As a smaller guy, the 390 is sooo much easier to handle than the GS. It feels like a scooter! Makes me want to ride like a hooligan. Thanks for your content.
Had mine for two weeks, 700 miles. First oil change done and ecm updated. Couldn’t tell any difference. What a fun bike to ride! Keep it 6000 to 8000 rpms and what a hoot. Loaded down with all the camping gear and it still does fine. You’re right, you just have to shift a little more. Great dash and controls and the quick shifter is amazing. Brakes are good.
Yep, yep, and YEP to all 6 points, especially the “surprise” factor from riders on the bigger, more dirt-oriented, or more expensive ADV machines. To add to the weight and size note is the bike’s low center of gravity. Even though it’s almost 100 pounds heavier than my last ADV bike (WR250R), it doesn’t handle like it’s any heavier. In fact, combined with its stiffer suspension, the low center of gravity makes it handle better than the WR loaded with gear. The sacrifice is the ground clearance but that’s not a show-stopper for me.
Another amazing feature on the 390 adventure is that it comes with Cornering ABS which is mostly only found on fairly expensive, higher-end motorcycles. I don't think enough people bring this up! It's great for newer riders, and well just for safety in general when cornering.
Nailed it. All categories and yea the mileage. Rode tug hill last weekend averaged 79 miles to the gallon at 32 miles per hr . So glad you did this video if anyone unsubscribed they didn't give you the chance to tell both sides of the story. P.S. You have exactly twice the mileage I have. Loving it.
Spot on! It's a fun bike and on curvy backroads it can easily compete with the bigger more powerfull bikes. It is like a swiss army knive. So usable in many departments. Traveling with luggage, a hooligan bike on moutainpasses and going offroad.
I love my RE Himalayan. It is a fantastic bike. A year later I bought the 390. I LOVE this bike. Yeah, the Himi can do anything and get you out of any type of trouble, but the KTM is so much fun! I have shamefully not taken the Himi out much since then. In two weeks I'm giving the RE to my son as a birthday surprise. Gah! I think my wife has already given so many hints to him that he knows what's coming. We should have fun hitting the trails together. The few times I've ridden with others I have noticed two things. I keep up with everyone else and when we get back to the camp (or wherever) at night, I am the least worn out and I'm usually the oldest. LOL Thx Matt, I suffered through your "5 Things I Hate" vid and now I appreciate this atonement. :) S
It is a fun bike. Many miles, crashes and +1 repairs/mods later... even better! 6K and I finally got mine dialed in. I can't even imagine trying to replace my 390 since it does single track, mud bogs, sand traps, twisty backroads and highway slogs well. The range of this beast is amazing. I'm in NH so if you get into the granite state let me know, I got all of these lined up for you. My only gripe with you is the handle bar upgrade you inspired me to do that turned into a summer long love affair with my UPS driver. Clutch cable from Germany, 3 sets of completely wonky bar mounts from amazon, avoiding Rottweiler and cursing revzilla whilst having to spend more in tools than parts. But, what a bike and what an experience!
Definitely on point. For the price it is a hard one to beat for what you get. Now I just hope they listen to the people and give us that 390 adventure r.
Totally agree with all of those points. The feel you get when you're at 6000rpm and you twist the throttle wide open, parts you're hair and that's a neat trick when you're a baldie like me 🤣 Here in Australia, fuel range is a massive plus as well. Other blokes topping up and I'm doing all day on the same tank.
Your enthusiasm shines through. I would add one more 'top thing'. The gearchange on my 390 Duke is the equal best I have experienced. The 950 Adventure I mentioned on the other video and a DR250SH I had in Tokyo in the early '90s is the other.
I have a lot of content on this bike if you look through my channel. I cover a lot of topics that will hopefully be informative for you. Good luck in making your choice.
Thanks Matt All great points, just picked up a new one two weeks ago. Working on the Mods Fitted the Rade Garage Windscreen yesterday, and yes I copied you by blacking out the lower half with a rattle can, keep the great content coming 🤘
Great review! I just picked mine up 3 weeks ago and have about 450 miles on it. Haven't had a chance to take it on a campout yet but I'm hoping to hit up the Mt. Rainier or Mt. Saint Helens area in the next few weeks before the weather turns too cold and wet.
I have 13000 miles on mine. Best bike I have owned. Sold a 2018 goldwing dct because I wanted off road ability. One major improvement to my 390 was installation of mccruise electronic cruise control. Perfect all around bike for me.
About 350 on my 22 and it get better every time I ride it. Change oil way more during run in. At 114 miles and now as soon as new filter gets here. Folks always talk about gearing being wrong, to high, to low ect. I am happy with gearing stock. 6k = 68 mph. So far an awesome bike.
Another benefit of the short turning radius - twice in one day I found myself in someone's dooryard at the very end of a dirt road I was exploring, with a massive barking dog running full speed at me. I would have been dog food on a bigger bike; it was a close call as it was. It's surprising how far back in the woods some people like to live.
After moving from New York to Georgia 2 years ago I started looking into the 390 when I got here.. It was unavailable Until the beginning of September.. In New York I had a Yamaha V star custom 650 cruiser.. Which spent most of its time taking up space in my garage.. Being used to the cold winters in New York ,I feel down here I could probably ride all year round.. So I picked up a 2022 .. 390 adventure.. The difference between the cruiser and this bike is night and day.. being more or less a beginner rider... At 1st I was a little intimidated by how tall it is.. At 5' 8 and a 160 pounds and Pushing 60 ..I had my concerns... I ended up finding this bike surprisingly easy to ride.. With greater visibility To the road ahead.. So far for me, riding on the road it's Really nice.. And once I'm comfortable.. I hope to start taking it on some light off road... But right now it looks so damn nice... I don't want to get it dirty😂😂 So far ,as far as power goes.. I've seen videos of people doing wheelies On this bike.. I am nowhere near at that level a rider yet.. But the only way I could do a wheelie on my cruiser ,would be to drive it off a cliff..🤪 in closing, So far I love this bike🤗👍
Your videos are very entertaining and informative. The "how to" videos are great and I like the level of detail you go into when doing the work. I also like your ride and product reviews. I found you on RUclips when looking for information on the 390 Adventure as a potential purchase last year. Finally pulled the trigger on a 2022 390 Adventure a couple of weeks ago. I had to wait as the supply in the US was non existent this year. Deposit in early March and just picked up my bike in first week of Sept. Well worth the wait. Keep up the great work! I'm really enjoying your videos. Thank you!
@@bajatuna I cut them. Here is a link to the video I did. There are other videos out there on this fender install as well. ruclips.net/video/B9y_XUPTrbA/видео.html
Matt, thank you for all your content, I totally agree with everything you said, I love my 390, mainly because it is so light, yet so capable off and on road, it is the first bike I want to ride all the time, even in the wet (UK weather). Please tell me people didn't really unsubscribe after the 5 things you hate video. 🤣😁 You should come to the ABR Festival in June 2023 in the UK, you would love it.
Getting one soon, a 2022, or if I miss out 2023, can't wait, so I avoid one of your hates, the resetting electronic helpers. My sister got a RE Himalayan and we have a ton of off road places between or near our houses. Gonna buzz by a lot of jeeps on the way up to the Wildomar OHV area in southern california... or not :P
Top five for my 2021 390 ADV: Weight (Deciding factor for purchase), Price, Tech (good TFT and modes for price category), Features (adjustable and quality suspension, ABS/MTC and offroad mode), and finally to sum it up…. VALUE, hard to believe the price for such a bike, nearly half of the next adventure bike you can find.
Hi Matt, would you consider doing an updated review on some of the mods you’ve done. Would like to hear how you like the windscreen, handlebars, if you’re still running the shock extenders? Thanks!
Yeah, I was planning to do a video similar to this over the summer once I have put more miles on everything. I am thinking when I hit the 30k mile mark. Should be there near the end of the summer, once winter starts to break.
Hey Matt, nice vid! I have 2018 duke 390 (around 20k miles) that i had made into a little scrambler (adv tires/skid plate/hand guards) then 1 year latter they came out with the 390 Adventure, Dooh! Anyways, maybe a video idea for the next one could be what parts you had to change or fix up to now and if there's anything that might need to be taken a look at soon (ex. i saw a vid from someone else that at around the same millage as ours tore down the engine and the cam chains needed to be changed, as well as the cam chain tensioner! Take care!
i agree on all accounts except maybe the luggage. I haven't found much in the way of luggage racks except seeing one that goes behind the rear tire. Also was wondering if you did a video on changing the rear blinker assembly. Mine got damaged and are just hanging and having a bit of a time figuring out the fix. If not maybe your next video :) If you get to MD stop by :)
I haven't had blinker issues, so can't help there. Have you thought about a rackless setup? There are several brands out now with their own products. Cheers.
Great job on both the love and hate videos. Your points are spot on, and it's easy to see your passion for the 390 Adventure shine through. 👍 My favorite "love" of the KTM 390 Adventure is that scratches from getting out and having fun make me smile.
It appears the new R version of the 390 will have a 21/18 wheel set. This will make this bike very popular. I hear it is supposed to be released May time frame. We will see.
@@advmatt Yes I have seen those spy shots, which look very promissing! But would KTM offer three versions of the 390 in parallel? My guess is that we need to wait for that R until then of 2023 and it will be a 2024 model, otherwise they would have mentioned it in the timeline on their web page it it comes soon and they wouldn‘t offer the spoked wheel set now as a second model version. Time will tell!
Matt....66 years old here....6 ft 180 healthy sound body. A '15 GSA + 2016 250L in the garage. I don't do "hard use" off road and considering just using a receiver hitch carrier to carry bikes now out of central TX to NM CO AZ AR etc etc to do camp/ride outs etc etc. Thinking of selling the GSA and 250L to do a 390 Adventure 2022 model [new]. I love the laying down miles travel....but haul and ride is looking more and more attactive. Is this 390 a bike to do that...??? That QS is key, have had the DCT AT and the Tiger 900 Rally with QS and the GSA has QS so will not want to ever again be without that on a bike...!!! What think you...??? [or any others input too]
I think the 390 Adventure is a great bike for hauling around to ride places you want to go without dropping huge miles on the bike to get to your destination. I am not sure what you are referring to in "QS". I am not familiar with this acronym. I have a GS and rarely ride it now because I prefer the 390 Adventure
@@advmatt ....Quick Shift....clutchless shift....Shift Assist feature. I saw your video from a while back about you "retiring" the GS. I've watched you for a good while now. Gonna go ride a 2022 390 tomorrow....if'n it don't rain. But am curious from a real 390 user about if you have the Quick Shift on your 390 and if it functions well up and down...??
@@Kiyoti I actually don't have the quick shift on my bike. When I first got the bike I thought I had QS due to my misunderstanding thinking all NA bikes came with it. I have heard of riders having issues with the QS but I have no experience with it. The bike shifts pretty well clutchless with a small blip in the throttle. I enjoy having a QS but I don't really miss it on this bike.
Would love to hear how it is better than a Honda cb500x, if ever! What puts me off is the single cylinder, as apposed to a parallel twin. It is lighter, great advantage, that. Thanks!
I don't have any experience with the CB500X so I can't do a fair comparison. I have been thinking of getting one and doing the the Rally Raid upgrades. Thanks for stopping by.
I see your RUclips banner is Engineer Pass. Did you take the 390 over that pass? I have been over many times on a KTM250 WXC and it is not too bad. I was looking at the KTM 690 and Engineer is a reference point of what I would and would not take over that and the others in that area. I would not have fun doing Engineer on the 690 for it is a little too heavy for me on rougher trails. FUN is what it is about and now I am looking at the 390 and I think it may work but the dealer does not have any in stock yet. So, did you take the 390 over Engineer and how was it for you?
I rode Cinnamon pass and Engineer pass I. The counter clockwise direction. The 390 Adv did great. I didn't have any issues other than all the side by side traffic. Now I rode Ophir pass from west to east up the steep rocky section. That was challenging. Better tires would have helped, but either way I made it. A good bash guard is really important on this bike.
try to update motorcycle computer software to last Ver the you will get offroad mode and you can start have fan from riding offroad and small mount of traction control
Quick question Matt! How you dealing with Valve checks? you getting it done by a mechanic? if so, how much you paying? Since every other oil change it should be done. Cheers and another great video indeed.
Hello Matt, I can only confirm your 5 positive tops. I also have a lot of fun on and off road with the 390. What kind of front fender did you use, that looks very good. Greetings Joerg
Been meaning to ask if your Galfer brake rotor warped yet... I've replaced 4 of them over 61K miles on the 390 Duke and I hardly ever touch my brakes (haven't even changed brake pads yet!). I also flush my brake fluid annually and everything works perfectly except they seem to warp after 5-6K miles which makes me look like a spaz when trying to stop smoothly at a stop light (don't feel it above 10mph). I talked to Galfer about this and they replaced one at no cost but I had to pay for the others.
I have noticed a little warping on the rear rotor. I should replace it. I havent looked closely at the front yet. I am changing brake pads at 22.5k, front and rear. Seems a bit early but I brake hard and I am always riding loaded.
@@advmatt my rear one never warped. It's strange because the front one is a floating design that should mask the warping but it's the one that causes all the problems.
Where did you get that windscreen ? Does it work well? Stock 2023 windscreen, even with a clip on deflector at the top, still buffets my helmet on the road too much. Thanks!
The windscreen in this video is from Rade Garage. I grew to hate it. I switched over to a taller Puig windscreen for higher speed long distance travel. Here is a video on the windscreen. ruclips.net/video/uNAFzH0byrk/видео.html
Hey Matt, what tires do you recommend that would fit the stock tubeless rims if I’m generally trailering this to BDRs and doing some highway mileage (20% of use). Thanks
My favorite tire is the Bridgestone AX41 Adventurecross. It works so well offroad. I would use it all of the time but I end riding 80% road to get to dirt and this tire wears fast on road. Offroad, you will get good mileage.
I am not sure about that, the spring rates for the shock and forks are set for the bike weight and my weight. The bike moves through its suspension travel to provide a comfortable ride. It doesn't stay higher in it's travel.
I sold my 2018 690r because I rode a 2021 790 and loved the smooth twin engine. I’m a bit intrigued by this bike, I’m a big rider 6’1” and 250#, will this 390 be “big” enough?
Yes and no, it will be big enough. You will want to make a few changes to the ergonomics. It will feel under powered compared to your 790, but d3p3nding on the riding you want to do, you will fund it more capable than you think. The feel of a bike is so subjective, but I do prefer riding this bike over my BMW R1200GS.
I think you are wrong about the lower service cost of the 390, compared to the 790/890/901. Not if you let a workshop do the service to retain the warranty. Parts might be a bit cheaper for the 390, but let's do the math for the service TIMES. Service intervals for the 390 is only 7500km, compared to 15.000km for the 790/890/901. I am using the service times numbers from the KTM homepage. Let's look at the labor cost for 30.000km! 390: services will be at 1000km+7500km+15.000km+22.500km+ 30.000km which take 75...102min + 86...116min + 127...157min + 86...116min + 127...157min = 501...648min = 8.4h...10.8h 790/890/901: services at 1000km+15.000km+30.000km which take 82...119min + 118...168min + 174...230min = 374...517min = 6.2...8.6h. So the summed up service time for the bigger bikes is significantly shorter over 30.000km and will be even for a higher mileage! Considering (here in Sweden) an hourly rate of 1100SEK/hour = 100USD/hour the cost advantage for parts of the 390 will at least be partially be compensated by the lower labor cost. Considering oil: the 790/890/901 take 2.8l of oil, which is less than twice the amount of the 390, but oil exchanged twice as often at the 390. So the overall amount of oil required for 30.000km will be roughly the same! You can of course do the service yourself (at least the ones, that don't require opening up the engine for valve clearance check), but then you lose factory warranty. Depending on legislation in you country this might be an important aspect. The service times in my calculation are taken from the KTM homepage, www.ktm.com/en-se/service/Maintenance.html
Here in the U.S. we are not required to take our bikes into the shop so if you do your own labor the costs of maintenence will be less. Labor rates for a valve check and adjustment was around $200. I think I found a good shop. I often forget about my European viewers and the differences in maintenence requirements. I was also considering the cost of brake pads and tires. Tires for the 390 Adv are less expensive than all big bikes as are pads. Well at least here in the states. The wear of these items will be rider dependent, but my experience has shown me the smaller bike costs less maintain. I am saving several hundred dollars a year in tires alone, over my R1200GS. Just my experience. Thanks for the detailed breakdown.
@@advmatt Yes, that makes a huge difference! Doing the intermediate service is really not a big deal, but so far I have not opened up an engine to do the valve check. Regarding warranty, here is the situation here in Sweden: WARRANTY is a volontary service offered by the manufacturer and it's totally up to that company to define the conditions. So if they say to keep the warranty you will need to take the bike to a workshop, that's what you need to do. Then there is a PRODUCT LIABILITY defined by consumer laws, that give the owner also quite a strong position. For those claims it should be enough to be able to prove that the bike has been maintained according to the specifications of the manufacturer. However the process of claiming liability for defects is much more complicated and lenghty, compared to just cropping off the bike at a workshop and let them fix it on warranty!
Yes, but I recommend making ergonomic changes. Lower footpegs, new handlebars, bar risers and high seat. Easy peasy. It sounds like a lot but most of these things get changed on most bikes.
Interesting that a 1200 rider would question how can you do this... Note a KTM 350 is easier to ride that the 390 and a 250 is easier yet and guess what a KTM 200 is even easier. I could take a BMW1200 or even an Electraglide down a trail, I have done it. Not fun. And isn't this all about the quality of fun on a ride. I will be buying a KTM390 as soon as my local dealer gets on in. Oh I do have an Electraglide and a BMW F800 (going to sell) and a Triumph T1200 Bonneville and a KTM WXC250.
Absolutely this is a great bike to start on. It is versatile and easy to ride. It does not stall easily like other small bikes and it has a lot of features making it a great value.
Why would jaws drop when you pull up to a trail? I have nothing against the 390 but it won't do the freeway miles like my 890 S, but trails, why wouldn't it do better? its lighter.
Exactly, but some of the trails I have ridden others riders don't think this bike can do it. I have ridden past many riders on T7s, BMWs, DR650s, KLR650s and big KTMs. They are always surprised. That's the reaction I get whether justified or not. Cheers
Great video Matt (as usual.) Regarding #2; I think you are mis-reading your arrival upon a bunch of big bikes...The big eyes are actually "I should be riding one of those!" not "what's he doing on a 390." You know I ride a big pig so I think my interpretation is valid. 😁 Keep up the good work.
Well, the bike comes with the 19" front wheel which means all the tires will have a wider profile. I lo like the feel of this size of front tire. I havent calculated the tire contact patch but I expect it to wider than a 21" front tire. This should provide more lateral stability. It handles on road better too. Hope this helped some.
I’m a 68 year old who has ridden more than 53 years, and I have found that the joy I felt when I got my 305 Honda dream is embodied in the 390 but with a crap load of torque.
You’re videos helped me pull the trigger on the 390. I’m also coming from a R1200GS. Sold my ‘15 a couple months ago, and picked up a ‘22 390ADV last weekend. I wanted something a lot easier to handle on the trail, but still interstate capable. Can’t wait to see how it is when I can go past 6500 rpm’s. As a smaller guy, the 390 is sooo much easier to handle than the GS. It feels like a scooter! Makes me want to ride like a hooligan. Thanks for your content.
I can relate to these thoughts, been riding 1100's for 40 years. Now I'm looking at a klx/crf 300 or the 390. 😢
For you people that own the 2021s, there is a flash update from the dealership. It gives the features of the 2022s.
How did you acknoledge this? Do you know if this is worldwide?
@@sergiotohe162 not sure if it is worldwide
Had mine for two weeks, 700 miles. First oil change done and ecm updated. Couldn’t tell any difference. What a fun bike to ride! Keep it 6000 to 8000 rpms and what a hoot. Loaded down with all the camping gear and it still does fine. You’re right, you just have to shift a little more. Great dash and controls and the quick shifter is amazing. Brakes are good.
Yep, yep, and YEP to all 6 points, especially the “surprise” factor from riders on the bigger, more dirt-oriented, or more expensive ADV machines.
To add to the weight and size note is the bike’s low center of gravity. Even though it’s almost 100 pounds heavier than my last ADV bike (WR250R), it doesn’t handle like it’s any heavier. In fact, combined with its stiffer suspension, the low center of gravity makes it handle better than the WR loaded with gear. The sacrifice is the ground clearance but that’s not a show-stopper for me.
Another amazing feature on the 390 adventure is that it comes with Cornering ABS which is mostly only found on fairly expensive, higher-end motorcycles. I don't think enough people bring this up! It's great for newer riders, and well just for safety in general when cornering.
Great point!
Nailed it. All categories and yea the mileage. Rode tug hill last weekend averaged 79 miles to the gallon at 32 miles per hr . So glad you did this video if anyone unsubscribed they didn't give you the chance to tell both sides of the story. P.S. You have exactly twice the mileage I have. Loving it.
I've only had my 390 adventure for 2 mouths.
So so good. The handling for me is it. It's my
First street bike and its really fun.
Front fender mod looks great on your bike.
Spot on! It's a fun bike and on curvy backroads it can easily compete with the bigger more powerfull bikes. It is like a swiss army knive. So usable in many departments. Traveling with luggage, a hooligan bike on moutainpasses and going offroad.
Thanks
I love my RE Himalayan. It is a fantastic bike. A year later I bought the 390. I LOVE this bike. Yeah, the Himi can do anything and get you out of any type of trouble, but the KTM is so much fun! I have shamefully not taken the Himi out much since then. In two weeks I'm giving the RE to my son as a birthday surprise. Gah! I think my wife has already given so many hints to him that he knows what's coming. We should have fun hitting the trails together.
The few times I've ridden with others I have noticed two things. I keep up with everyone else and when we get back to the camp (or wherever) at night, I am the least worn out and I'm usually the oldest.
LOL
Thx Matt, I suffered through your "5 Things I Hate" vid and now I appreciate this atonement.
:)
S
You will have e some great trips with your son. Sounds amazing. Thanks for sticking with me. 😉
Great points Matt . No one is the fun factor . Thats why we ride
Hopefully you'll keep it
It is a fun bike. Many miles, crashes and +1 repairs/mods later... even better! 6K and I finally got mine dialed in. I can't even imagine trying to replace my 390 since it does single track, mud bogs, sand traps, twisty backroads and highway slogs well. The range of this beast is amazing. I'm in NH so if you get into the granite state let me know, I got all of these lined up for you. My only gripe with you is the handle bar upgrade you inspired me to do that turned into a summer long love affair with my UPS driver. Clutch cable from Germany, 3 sets of completely wonky bar mounts from amazon, avoiding Rottweiler and cursing revzilla whilst having to spend more in tools than parts. But, what a bike and what an experience!
Glad I could keep you entertained all summer, even if it wasnt for good reasons. Anticipation is half the fun.
Definitely on point. For the price it is a hard one to beat for what you get. Now I just hope they listen to the people and give us that 390 adventure r.
You are right Matt. I have 2 rides on my 2020, and this thing is just so darn fun. I agree with your 5, or 6 tops, but Fun is the word of the day.
Looking forward to meeting you Matt at Overland Expo in Oct.
Awesome, I saw the schedule, I am instructing on Friday and Sunday and presenting my bike on Saturday. I look forward to it.
Nice Video i had a VFR800 and now to a 2021 orange and white KTM390 and love it
Thanks!
Good to see you finally coming around to the 390 Adventure Matt! 😎 - Frank
Totally agree with all of those points. The feel you get when you're at 6000rpm and you twist the throttle wide open, parts you're hair and that's a neat trick when you're a baldie like me 🤣 Here in Australia, fuel range is a massive plus as well. Other blokes topping up and I'm doing all day on the same tank.
Your enthusiasm shines through. I would add one more 'top thing'. The gearchange on my 390 Duke is the equal best I have experienced. The 950 Adventure I mentioned on the other video and a DR250SH I had in Tokyo in the early '90s is the other.
Thanks for sharing your loves and hates. I'm thinking about getting back into riding and this is on my shortlist to check out.
I have a lot of content on this bike if you look through my channel. I cover a lot of topics that will hopefully be informative for you. Good luck in making your choice.
Thanks Matt
All great points, just picked up a new one two weeks ago. Working on the Mods
Fitted the Rade Garage Windscreen yesterday, and yes I copied you by blacking out the lower half with a rattle can, keep the great content coming 🤘
I agree, this bike is so fun to ride. I ride daily, weather permitting. I have not been able to get off road due to back and hip pain.
Even without riding dirt roads you are still enjoying this great bike.
Great review! I just picked mine up 3 weeks ago and have about 450 miles on it. Haven't had a chance to take it on a campout yet but I'm hoping to hit up the Mt. Rainier or Mt. Saint Helens area in the next few weeks before the weather turns too cold and wet.
Sounds like some awesome riding.
I have 13000 miles on mine. Best bike I have owned. Sold a 2018 goldwing dct because I wanted off road ability. One major improvement to my 390 was installation of mccruise electronic cruise control. Perfect all around bike for me.
Lucky to get the cruse, there out of stock.
unbelievable. Sounds like More supply chain problems 🙄
About 350 on my 22 and it get better every time I ride it. Change oil way more during run in.
At 114 miles and now as soon as new filter gets here.
Folks always talk about gearing being wrong, to high, to low ect.
I am happy with gearing stock. 6k = 68 mph.
So far an awesome bike.
Another benefit of the short turning radius - twice in one day I found myself in someone's dooryard at the very end of a dirt road I was exploring, with a massive barking dog running full speed at me. I would have been dog food on a bigger bike; it was a close call as it was. It's surprising how far back in the woods some people like to live.
Been there!
Just managed to find one so deposit down can’t wait
After moving from New York to Georgia 2 years ago I started looking into the 390 when I got here.. It was unavailable Until the beginning of September.. In New York I had a Yamaha V star custom 650 cruiser.. Which spent most of its time taking up space in my garage.. Being used to the cold winters in New York ,I feel down here I could probably ride all year round.. So I picked up a 2022 .. 390 adventure.. The difference between the cruiser and this bike is night and day.. being more or less a beginner rider... At 1st I was a little intimidated by how tall it is.. At 5' 8 and a 160 pounds and Pushing 60 ..I had my concerns... I ended up finding this bike surprisingly easy to ride.. With greater visibility To the road ahead.. So far for me, riding on the road it's Really nice.. And once I'm comfortable.. I hope to start taking it on some light off road... But right now it looks so damn nice... I don't want to get it dirty😂😂 So far ,as far as power goes.. I've seen videos of people doing wheelies On this bike.. I am nowhere near at that level a rider yet.. But the only way I could do a wheelie on my cruiser ,would be to drive it off a cliff..🤪 in closing, So far I love this bike🤗👍
So great to hear you love the 390 ADV. It is so much fun to ride, and so easy to ride. Thanks for tuning in.
Your videos are very entertaining and informative. The "how to" videos are great and I like the level of detail you go into when doing the work. I also like your ride and product reviews. I found you on RUclips when looking for information on the 390 Adventure as a potential purchase last year. Finally pulled the trigger on a 2022 390 Adventure a couple of weeks ago. I had to wait as the supply in the US was non existent this year. Deposit in early March and just picked up my bike in first week of Sept. Well worth the wait.
Keep up the great work! I'm really enjoying your videos. Thank you!
Thanks for feedback!
Good video Matt.
What is that front fender from?
It's an Acerbis motard fender. Rocky Mountain ATV and MC sell a kit.
@@advmatt Thanks Matt. Did you cut the fork guards down or find some off the shelf guards?
@@bajatuna I cut them. Here is a link to the video I did. There are other videos out there on this fender install as well. ruclips.net/video/B9y_XUPTrbA/видео.html
Matt, thank you for all your content, I totally agree with everything you said, I love my 390, mainly because it is so light, yet so capable off and on road, it is the first bike I want to ride all the time, even in the wet (UK weather). Please tell me people didn't really unsubscribe after the 5 things you hate video. 🤣😁 You should come to the ABR Festival in June 2023 in the UK, you would love it.
I would live to attend ABR but I think I will have to wait until 2024. Tha is for the feedback.
Really liked mine. If they ever Enduro R with this motor I'm back into KTM land.
A 390 ADV R is in the works, longer travel suspension and 21/18 wheel combo.
@@advmatt Saw that and wonder how it will turn out.
@@jeffloucks2120 wondering the same.
Hey mate. Thanks for the vid. I am looking very seriously at buying one of these and this video has sealed the deal as it were. Take care.
Awesome. I love this bike. It has been so much fun to ride. Good luck and enjoy the miles!
Getting one soon, a 2022, or if I miss out 2023, can't wait, so I avoid one of your hates, the resetting electronic helpers. My sister got a RE Himalayan and we have a ton of off road places between or near our houses. Gonna buzz by a lot of jeeps on the way up to the Wildomar OHV area in southern california... or not :P
These bikes are so much fun.
I am Patrick from India. After watching all your videos, I have decided to pick one up. Thanks
Awesome, enjoy all those two wheeled miles.
Top five for my 2021 390 ADV: Weight (Deciding factor for purchase), Price, Tech (good TFT and modes for price category), Features (adjustable and quality suspension, ABS/MTC and offroad mode), and finally to sum it up…. VALUE, hard to believe the price for such a bike, nearly half of the next adventure bike you can find.
Right on. Completely agree with you. It is remarkable the value this bike has.
Fun Factor, #1. Love it.
Hi Matt, would you consider doing an updated review on some of the mods you’ve done. Would like to hear how you like the windscreen, handlebars, if you’re still running the shock extenders? Thanks!
Yeah, I was planning to do a video similar to this over the summer once I have put more miles on everything. I am thinking when I hit the 30k mile mark. Should be there near the end of the summer, once winter starts to break.
Hey Matt, nice vid! I have 2018 duke 390 (around 20k miles) that i had made into a little scrambler (adv tires/skid plate/hand guards) then 1 year latter they came out with the 390 Adventure, Dooh! Anyways, maybe a video idea for the next one could be what parts you had to change or fix up to now and if there's anything that might need to be taken a look at soon (ex. i saw a vid from someone else that at around the same millage as ours tore down the engine and the cam chains needed to be changed, as well as the cam chain tensioner! Take care!
I have been thinking about getting knobblies for my Mk 2 390 Duke.
i agree on all accounts except maybe the luggage. I haven't found much in the way of luggage racks except seeing one that goes behind the rear tire. Also was wondering if you did a video on changing the rear blinker assembly. Mine got damaged and are just hanging and having a bit of a time figuring out the fix. If not maybe your next video :) If you get to MD stop by :)
I haven't had blinker issues, so can't help there. Have you thought about a rackless setup? There are several brands out now with their own products. Cheers.
thks so much for the reply been thinking about the tusk rackless. Think it would be great overall just might have to reconfigure the way I pack :(
Great job on both the love and hate videos. Your points are spot on, and it's easy to see your passion for the 390 Adventure shine through. 👍
My favorite "love" of the KTM 390 Adventure is that scratches from getting out and having fun make me smile.
All the riding induced wounds giving character to your beloved bike. That's the best way to personalize a bike.
I do love how they underestimate this bike as well! Wouldn't be the first time someone says "you rode this all the way here?!?" LOL
PS: what makes a noticeable difference is a 21" versus 19" front wheel. Let's hope KTM later this year comes with a 21/18 version!
It appears the new R version of the 390 will have a 21/18 wheel set. This will make this bike very popular. I hear it is supposed to be released May time frame. We will see.
@@advmatt Yes I have seen those spy shots, which look very promissing! But would KTM offer three versions of the 390 in parallel? My guess is that we need to wait for that R until then of 2023 and it will be a 2024 model, otherwise they would have mentioned it in the timeline on their web page it it comes soon and they wouldn‘t offer the spoked wheel set now as a second model version. Time will tell!
Matt....66 years old here....6 ft 180 healthy sound body. A '15 GSA + 2016 250L in the garage. I don't do "hard use" off road and considering just using a receiver hitch carrier to carry bikes now out of central TX to NM CO AZ AR etc etc to do camp/ride outs etc etc.
Thinking of selling the GSA and 250L to do a 390 Adventure 2022 model [new].
I love the laying down miles travel....but haul and ride is looking more and more attactive.
Is this 390 a bike to do that...??? That QS is key, have had the DCT AT and the Tiger 900 Rally with QS and the GSA has QS so will not want to ever again be without that on a bike...!!!
What think you...??? [or any others input too]
I think the 390 Adventure is a great bike for hauling around to ride places you want to go without dropping huge miles on the bike to get to your destination. I am not sure what you are referring to in "QS". I am not familiar with this acronym. I have a GS and rarely ride it now because I prefer the 390 Adventure
@@advmatt ....Quick Shift....clutchless shift....Shift Assist feature.
I saw your video from a while back about you "retiring" the GS.
I've watched you for a good while now.
Gonna go ride a 2022 390 tomorrow....if'n it don't rain.
But am curious from a real 390 user about if you have the Quick Shift on your 390 and if it functions well up and down...??
@@Kiyoti I actually don't have the quick shift on my bike. When I first got the bike I thought I had QS due to my misunderstanding thinking all NA bikes came with it. I have heard of riders having issues with the QS but I have no experience with it. The bike shifts pretty well clutchless with a small blip in the throttle. I enjoy having a QS but I don't really miss it on this bike.
Would love to hear how it is better than a Honda cb500x, if ever! What puts me off is the single cylinder, as apposed to a parallel twin. It is lighter, great advantage, that. Thanks!
I don't have any experience with the CB500X so I can't do a fair comparison. I have been thinking of getting one and doing the the Rally Raid upgrades. Thanks for stopping by.
@@advmatt the Honda is heavier, but otherwise my perception is that it would be better, maybe more bland. Being fun is maybe more important.
I see your RUclips banner is Engineer Pass. Did you take the 390 over that pass? I have been over many times on a KTM250 WXC and it is not too bad. I was looking at the KTM 690 and Engineer is a reference point of what I would and would not take over that and the others in that area. I would not have fun doing Engineer on the 690 for it is a little too heavy for me on rougher trails. FUN is what it is about and now I am looking at the 390 and I think it may work but the dealer does not have any in stock yet. So, did you take the 390 over Engineer and how was it for you?
I rode Cinnamon pass and Engineer pass I. The counter clockwise direction. The 390 Adv did great. I didn't have any issues other than all the side by side traffic. Now I rode Ophir pass from west to east up the steep rocky section. That was challenging. Better tires would have helped, but either way I made it. A good bash guard is really important on this bike.
@@advmatt Thank so much for your response. Very helpful. Great RUclipss.
try to update motorcycle computer software to last Ver
the you will get offroad mode and you can start have fan from riding offroad and small mount of traction control
Quick question Matt! How you dealing with Valve checks? you getting it done by a mechanic? if so, how much you paying? Since every other oil change it should be done. Cheers and another great video indeed.
First valve check was done at shop for about $200. I am due for another one but I want to do it myself. We will see.
Hello Matt, I can only confirm your 5 positive tops. I also have a lot of fun on and off road with the 390. What kind of front fender did you use, that looks very good.
Greetings Joerg
I ordered it from Rocky Mountain ATV and MC. They have a kit with a mounting plate. The fender is an Acerbis motard fender.
Love it!
Been meaning to ask if your Galfer brake rotor warped yet... I've replaced 4 of them over 61K miles on the 390 Duke and I hardly ever touch my brakes (haven't even changed brake pads yet!). I also flush my brake fluid annually and everything works perfectly except they seem to warp after 5-6K miles which makes me look like a spaz when trying to stop smoothly at a stop light (don't feel it above 10mph). I talked to Galfer about this and they replaced one at no cost but I had to pay for the others.
I have noticed a little warping on the rear rotor. I should replace it. I havent looked closely at the front yet. I am changing brake pads at 22.5k, front and rear. Seems a bit early but I brake hard and I am always riding loaded.
@@advmatt my rear one never warped. It's strange because the front one is a floating design that should mask the warping but it's the one that causes all the problems.
@@bretthawton it's possible I tweaked my rear rotor during a trail side repair, agree front shouldn't have issues.
I love my 2020, any issues running gear wise with the miles you’ve put on it?
@@MirkinSZN only issue was a blown shock. I have 28k miles on mine and continues to run strong.
@@advmatt hell yeah, bulletproof! Thanks for the response 🙏🏼
Where did you get that windscreen ? Does it work well? Stock 2023 windscreen, even with a clip on deflector at the top, still buffets my helmet on the road too much. Thanks!
The windscreen in this video is from Rade Garage. I grew to hate it. I switched over to a taller Puig windscreen for higher speed long distance travel. Here is a video on the windscreen. ruclips.net/video/uNAFzH0byrk/видео.html
Hey Matt, what tires do you recommend that would fit the stock tubeless rims if I’m generally trailering this to BDRs and doing some highway mileage (20% of use). Thanks
My favorite tire is the Bridgestone AX41 Adventurecross. It works so well offroad. I would use it all of the time but I end riding 80% road to get to dirt and this tire wears fast on road. Offroad, you will get good mileage.
Got 4200 on mine, where has this bike been all my life?
Right!
You think the low weight offsets some if the need for a higher ground clearance? Doesn't compress the suspension as much
I am not sure about that, the spring rates for the shock and forks are set for the bike weight and my weight. The bike moves through its suspension travel to provide a comfortable ride. It doesn't stay higher in it's travel.
I sold my 2018 690r because I rode a 2021 790 and loved the smooth twin engine. I’m a bit intrigued by this bike, I’m a big rider 6’1” and 250#, will this 390 be “big” enough?
Yes and no, it will be big enough. You will want to make a few changes to the ergonomics. It will feel under powered compared to your 790, but d3p3nding on the riding you want to do, you will fund it more capable than you think. The feel of a bike is so subjective, but I do prefer riding this bike over my BMW R1200GS.
I think you are wrong about the lower service cost of the 390, compared to the 790/890/901. Not if you let a workshop do the service to retain the warranty. Parts might be a bit cheaper for the 390, but let's do the math for the service TIMES. Service intervals for the 390 is only 7500km, compared to 15.000km for the 790/890/901. I am using the service times numbers from the KTM homepage. Let's look at the labor cost for 30.000km!
390: services will be at 1000km+7500km+15.000km+22.500km+ 30.000km which take 75...102min + 86...116min + 127...157min + 86...116min + 127...157min = 501...648min = 8.4h...10.8h
790/890/901: services at 1000km+15.000km+30.000km which take 82...119min + 118...168min + 174...230min = 374...517min = 6.2...8.6h.
So the summed up service time for the bigger bikes is significantly shorter over 30.000km and will be even for a higher mileage! Considering (here in Sweden) an hourly rate of 1100SEK/hour = 100USD/hour the cost advantage for parts of the 390 will at least be partially be compensated by the lower labor cost.
Considering oil: the 790/890/901 take 2.8l of oil, which is less than twice the amount of the 390, but oil exchanged twice as often at the 390. So the overall amount of oil required for 30.000km will be roughly the same!
You can of course do the service yourself (at least the ones, that don't require opening up the engine for valve clearance check), but then you lose factory warranty. Depending on legislation in you country this might be an important aspect.
The service times in my calculation are taken from the KTM homepage, www.ktm.com/en-se/service/Maintenance.html
Here in the U.S. we are not required to take our bikes into the shop so if you do your own labor the costs of maintenence will be less. Labor rates for a valve check and adjustment was around $200. I think I found a good shop. I often forget about my European viewers and the differences in maintenence requirements. I was also considering the cost of brake pads and tires. Tires for the 390 Adv are less expensive than all big bikes as are pads. Well at least here in the states. The wear of these items will be rider dependent, but my experience has shown me the smaller bike costs less maintain. I am saving several hundred dollars a year in tires alone, over my R1200GS. Just my experience. Thanks for the detailed breakdown.
@@advmatt Yes, that makes a huge difference! Doing the intermediate service is really not a big deal, but so far I have not opened up an engine to do the valve check.
Regarding warranty, here is the situation here in Sweden: WARRANTY is a volontary service offered by the manufacturer and it's totally up to that company to define the conditions. So if they say to keep the warranty you will need to take the bike to a workshop, that's what you need to do. Then there is a PRODUCT LIABILITY defined by consumer laws, that give the owner also quite a strong position. For those claims it should be enough to be able to prove that the bike has been maintained according to the specifications of the manufacturer. However the process of claiming liability for defects is much more complicated and lenghty, compared to just cropping off the bike at a workshop and let them fix it on warranty!
What did the skpoke wheel upgrade cost and where did you get them
They cost $1k but KTM discontinued them for some reason.
Do you think this bike would be tall enough for a 6’2” @ 230 lbs????
Yes, but I recommend making ergonomic changes. Lower footpegs, new handlebars, bar risers and high seat. Easy peasy. It sounds like a lot but most of these things get changed on most bikes.
Interesting that a 1200 rider would question how can you do this... Note a KTM 350 is easier to ride that the 390 and a 250 is easier yet and guess what a KTM 200 is even easier. I could take a BMW1200 or even an Electraglide down a trail, I have done it. Not fun. And isn't this all about the quality of fun on a ride. I will be buying a KTM390 as soon as my local dealer gets on in. Oh I do have an Electraglide and a BMW F800 (going to sell) and a Triumph T1200 Bonneville and a KTM WXC250.
I think of this bike for my first bike.
I'm 184cm and 100kg. Can it be an god bike to start?
Absolutely this is a great bike to start on. It is versatile and easy to ride. It does not stall easily like other small bikes and it has a lot of features making it a great value.
Why would jaws drop when you pull up to a trail?
I have nothing against the 390 but it won't do the freeway miles like my 890 S, but trails, why wouldn't it do better? its lighter.
Exactly, but some of the trails I have ridden others riders don't think this bike can do it. I have ridden past many riders on T7s, BMWs, DR650s, KLR650s and big KTMs. They are always surprised. That's the reaction I get whether justified or not. Cheers
@@advmatt They're just jealous then. lol
Cheers!
Great video Matt (as usual.) Regarding #2; I think you are mis-reading your arrival upon a bunch of big bikes...The big eyes are actually "I should be riding one of those!" not "what's he doing on a 390." You know I ride a big pig so I think my interpretation is valid. 😁 Keep up the good work.
I think you might be right.
20k! I thought 6k was a lot
Just rolled 27k.
I want a 390, but it feels tall. I'm only 5' 6" and I'm coming from a Harley with a 26.5 inch seat height.
It will feel tall. There is a lowering kit, if you can find it in stock.
I'm also 5'6" but I've always rode big tall bikes, dirtbikes, 1200GSA, f800GS, so the 390 feels short by comparison! Also much much lighter.
Why the need for the fat front tyre please?
Well, the bike comes with the 19" front wheel which means all the tires will have a wider profile. I lo like the feel of this size of front tire. I havent calculated the tire contact patch but I expect it to wider than a 21" front tire. This should provide more lateral stability. It handles on road better too. Hope this helped some.
@@advmatt cheers
surprised its still running with that milage
Still running strong.
“Sup” 😂