Totally understand. I've been on a 990 Adventure for ten years, and had a blast with it - but after 2 hip replacements, a hernia and 2 bouts with COVID, I don't have the stamina to go all day on it anymore. After much soul searching and research, I just brought home a 390 Adventure. What a joy to ride a 350lb bike again! Best of luck in your decision.
As a teacher with a limited budget, I appreciate your discussion about the cost. I have lusted after this exact GS, but I know I can not, or should not, entertain this type of bike. Thanks for the "down to earth" commentary. Looking forward to the direction you are heading.
I have both a BMW F850 GSA and a 390 Adv. You wouldn't be disappointed with the 390. If you still want a GS, I have an F850GSA and it's cheaper than the R1250GS/A and I don't feel limited on it at all. Does 90 on the freeway no problem (I'm not a racing type, so honestly that's the highest speed I had the F850 up to). BMWs are a pain to work on, though. That bike I take to the dealer for service. The 390 is a bike I'll work on myself for many things. The 390 does well on the expressway, too, but since it's light it's not as nice a ride as a bigger bike. The BMW I have also has the electronic suspension and other goodies. They're fine, but not worth like $10k more (and even more than that for the 1250!). So the pluses on the BMW for me are: luxury things (cruise control, nav, etc), more aftermarket adventure things, long distance travel, can hold bigger luggage. If you're not going to go off road much and ride expressways instead of interstates, I don't think the KTM will disappoint. The money you save you can use for gear for camping etc. and have a LOT more fun. For sure, you can take it off road as Matt has proven, but comparing to the GS/A, the GS/A are tanks.
I first was drawn to your channel because I had just bought a used GS and you had yours. I’m sad to see it go. But last year I bought a Honda CRF300L to compliment it. And for ALL the reasons you mention. I’m not ready to get rid of the GS just yet, there are too many paved places to explore on my list. But I’m headed that direction. Those mid weight ADV bikes are looking pretty tempting! Oh, and no matter what bikes you have, consider me a loyal follower! See you on the trail! 🤟
I hear ya Matt. I live in the Philippines and many people here have their own private technician to work on their bikes. You save so much money having your own technician or do most of the maintenance yourself which a lot of people do. Plus those that are just weekend warriors don't usually do a lot of maintenance cause their not putting big miles on their bikes and going off road. Congrats on the tenere 700. I think if someones just doing highway riding it the GS is probably great. But I do think its best to have another bike as your everyday bike. Much respect for your decision to get rid of it and moving on. I also seen a lot of people are buying the older 2013 to 2018 models due to cheaper cost to buy. Good luck in your future endeavors and keep the content coming. God Bless!!!
Makes complete sense what you’re planning to do Matt and I definitely understand why. I am also the owner of an R1200GS, a 2017 model that I purchased used a few years ago. I love the bike, the power from this machine is incredible, the suspension works very well for me. I’m an east coast rider and stay on pavement 95% of the time. This one is my second GS, and to me they are the perfect touring bike. Smooth, it fits my tall frame well, I’m 6’3”. But, I’m just not riding enough to justify this beautiful bike and will look at a smaller bike, better suited for just local back roads. Good luck.
Just made a move from the GS750 to a DR650 for mostly the same reasons. Overall cost of ownership, high cost of service and maintainance, and bike weight. With the DR i can pick it up with ease, do the maintainance at home, and do what I want to do on the trail.
Fall of the heavyweights. Exactly why I have a 390 ADV. I appreciate your sincere approach to the reasons. No amount of money thrown at this will alleviate the situation if your mind is already disconnected from the bike. And that's not a negative point. Goes with anything in life. Ride safe!😊
This is exactly what i needed to hear my friend. Thanks for taking one for the team so new riders like me can learn. I almost bought a gsa today and give up the t7 i have on order
I just did my 1200GSA 2007 front and rear shocks for less than $2K Hand tools and the center stand were all I needed. I bought the bike for 9K with less than 22K miles. So for 11K i have a bike very capable of most 2 track Tractive makes touratech and that is what I bought and dropped seat height by 2". Great video.
I totally agree. I’m going to keep my 390 adv and pick up a bike for longer trips and having a passenger- there are soooooo many new bikes that are cheaper and smaller for touring that will fit everyone’s budgets.
I agree! I like my KTM 390 Adventure a lot more than the R1150GSA I own. And I'm only keeping them both for the same reason you just stated. The KTM is just a fun bike to ride.
That's what I did! I have an F850GSA for interstate and stuff, but use my 390ADV for commuting and having general fun. A lighter bike is so nice in so many ways.
Hi there Mat, I cross shopped the GS when I was looking. I chose the Super Tenere for reliability and cost of ownership. However, both bikes are very heavy beasts. And you know this from the fact of you doing the hard section of the CABDR near Yermo. To be honest I don't use my Tenere for much "adventure style" riding. It's my pavement queen with a bit of fire roads thrown in. My Beta 498 is my dual sport bike and "do it all" machine.
I sold my 2012 GS RALLY this spring for many of the reasons and sentiments you expressed. Warranty wasnt one of my concerns. I replaced it with a 2017 Africa twin. Not a good choice for what i hoped to accomplish. I travel solo, prefer dispersed camping and go where it looks or sounds interesting. I could not do that with the big bike. I had to pay attention to the size and weight as you did. Ive been riding over 50 years. Plenty of experience on many kinds of bikes. Have an old 05 GS i may throw knobbies on for local use. But no answer for the big spaces out west, far from me.
We are feeling the same issues. After purchasing a KTM 390 Adventure a whole new world opened up. I use the same way I tried to ride my big GS but with no fear in offroad situations. It's the best version of everything the GS wished it could be, well except for long distance comfort. I still do long distance travel on it. I have a lot of content dedicated to the 390 if you are curious.
I can't wait to see what you buy. Do you have plans to attend the Giant Loop June Rally in Oregon? Any plans to move back out west? It would be great to meet you sometime.
Totally agree on the weight. These bikes are awesome to eat up miles and the occasional gravel road but when it gets technical, it's kinda scary. Rented an R1250GS in Alaska and while I enjoyed the trip, I knew I was never going to buy one. The little 390 is great for offroad adventures and I have an S1000XR for street only.
@@advmatt Ideally more like 10 bikes but two at minimum 😁. I did make the mistake of riding a KTM 350 dual sport recently; now the 390 feels like a GS LOL Talk about a cheater bike; goes through anything.
I bought my KTM 390 Adventure 2 mos. ago because you inspired me just watching you having a blast on the trails! Riding it to Baja soon! Great Choice! And oh BTW I also own a GS1200 Rallye exactly like yours and keeping it for a while for longer distance trip and some gravel along the route 😎👊🏻🏍
Dipping my toes into then “Adventure” bike world the last two years has brought me to a couple decisions. When I say “Adventure” I mean, My Pan America from Harley. It’s amazing on road but my many years of dirt biking are not able to make up for the bike on these East coast trails. I love the road manners of my Pan Am so much, I decided it’s going to be my road bike (with the ability to get me down that old logging or fire road when need be) and get a lighter bike for the TAT and CD aspersions. It’s funny cause I was never able to plant my feet on the ground when dirt biking or even when doing the high HP sport bikes and their tall tails but for some reason, I am always nervous on the bigger bike when off road and not having a solid footing. I’m thinking 701 or 690. Still able to hit a highway but almost 130lbs lighter than a T7 and damn near 250+ lbs lighter than my pan am.
The weight makes such a difference when venturing offroad. There is a lot more dabbing offroad. It's nice to be able to touch. 690/701 seem to be great bikes. I am thinking of trying one.
Much respect. They are a different animal and require a certain adjustment from its owner. Always do what makes you happy and have fun. Limited time on earth and these are just toys so get the toy you like !!! Peace.
All the cons you listed are true, not doubting that, but the pros outweigh it for me. Riding 300-400 miles on pavement to get to 30-50 miles of forest roads / off road trails, repeatedly on a tour, i am willing to sacrifice the weight when on dirt. Majority of what i do also involves motorcycle camping and i can pack my bike up! Like i said, i get it though, and am still a subscriber :).
I have the exact same model GS Rallye as you have, and I've been thinking about downsizing to a smaller bike for about a year now. Unfortunately, in the area where I live off-road riding is very limited. But when I did take the GS off-road riding last September it wasn't much fun. I was glad I did it, but it just wasn't much fun mainly due to the weight of the bike. Riding through the woods on tight trails isn't what this bike was meant for, and it was like driving a cruise ship down the I&M canal. I did take a few laps around the motocross track, and it did okay for such a heavy bike. But other than that, I don't do any touring on it as I originally planned to, I mostly just cruise around on back roads with my daughter. I don't need 125 horsepower for the kind of riding I do, nor do I need a bike that can be precariously heavy at stoplights. The R1200GS Rallye is a fine motorcycle, and I DO love the cruise control, the TFT screen, and the other info available at my fingertips. But if I'm honest, I couldn't really afford the parts and maintenance of a Premium bike like this when I bought it either. I fell for the marketing hype, the dream of unlimited travel and adventure - but for the kind of riding I do, I just don't need a bike this big. So I have an appointment to test ride a G310GS next Saturday. I've had my eye on the 310 since I first sat on one in 2021, and I'm finally going to ride one. I think it'll suit my needs much better.
I rode a G310R for a weekend when my GS was getting services. I fell in love with riding a small bike which led me to the KTM 390 Adventure. Small is fun. Good luck.
All good reasons for moving on Matt. I did sell my R1200 after 75K miles and replaced it with a R1250. This is year 2 with the 1250, two more years after that and I am out. My reasons have overlap with yours but mainly it's because my usage will be change from owning one single all around bike (ridden 15-20K miles a year) to some sort of thumper (TBD) that I truck to/from BDR's. Looking forward to retirement. In the meantime I am going to ride the sh*t out of my big girl and hopefully not rack up too many injuries or die... 😁 Great video as usual.
I said Tuareg weeks ago 😎 There are other choices. But there is no more complete package in the middleweight size. While you could argue reliability, that's not really a factor for a man who bought an Indian made KTM. 🤣 - Frank
5:08 LMAO!! That is exactly what happened to me in a paved parking lot a few years back on my ST!!! Parked on a slope and put my foot down on the low side. Timber!!
@@OneOldManRiding I know the trade will be bad but my timing is a problematic. Living in two places makes it challenging, and bike availability adds to the complications.
I think a dual sport is a better option for adventure riding. That is the direction I am going....I have 2023 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro but it will never see off road....it's just too heavy. I'm thinking you are making the best choice.
Oh yeah! the weight. I started out on KLR650 back in 2007 at about 5000 miles sold it for 2004 R1150GSA got it from original owner with just 8000 miles on it and never in the dirt or dropped. He was selling it because it was too heavy, I tried taking my Beemer to places like I took my KLR man it was so hard to keep the beemer upright. I finally sold it at about 36000 miles. I went back to the lighter 650 class bike again. Now all these years later I'm able to have multiple size bikes for the road and the long road trips I still love to do. Funny now that I'm 60 years old it seems like I may have to sell the 650 and get something even lighter for the dirt riding I still enjoy.
Riding is a an evolution of discovery on each bike learning what works for us. I sure after a few more years I will be looking for something else again for the same reasons you are.
I hear you. I love my Africa Twin on the highway, but that's only a few times a year on trips. For daily riding, it's a bit heavy and I do want to ride a lighter bike. Backing up on a slight incline can be challenging, and I'm 6'2'. Not sure when or what, but the next one will be lighter, or I'll have a sport tourer and a sub-500 cc dual sport bike. I love the 390 Adventure, but maybe I'm just not going to do any serious off-roading and I'll move to a CBX500.
Great comments body. Indeed, I believe that bike is 80% Onroad eventhought there are videos in which people jump with it but the reality is different. I would say that a KTM 890S or R could be a good option for you. I like to do what you do and I was thinking to change my bike to the one I mentioned.
Two things I've never heard anyone say on the trail: 1. I wish I'd packed more stuff. 2. I wish I had a heavier bike. Things I've heard people say (me included). 1. I mean, I packed a lot of stuff but I might need it. 2. Yeah, it's a really heavy bike, but I kind of make it work. Both are more excuses than explanations. I'm guilty of both.
I can understand preferring a light bike for off-road work, but the GS must be good to tour on, although GSs have got too heavy. I did over 90,000 miles on an R1100GS, a much lighter bike. I never went off-road on it, unless you class gravel as off-road. I sold that bike for a 950 Adventure. Much more fun to ride. That was all the mid-90s to mid-00s, and I followed it up with a Buell Ulysses, the best of the lot.
After doing many multi day trips and 1000s of miles on my 390 Adventure, I found I really didn't miss the GS. Yes it's more comfortable to ride, but the experience on the smaller bike was more fun. Cheers.
I rode a 2009 KLR650 for a season to see if I liked that kind of riding and went with the 390 this fall. The KLR was too top heavy and slow. That 390 is just plain fun. I have a 1900 vtwin Yamaha, but I may sell it and buy something smaller with the cash.
I love my gs its only a 2009 my first and only bike and it has gone many places, dirt, gravel, gnarly terrain, i have taken the training, its reliable but expensive to maintain, its heavy i agree, but since i'm older now ( late 60's) maybe wiser, i dont tend to or look forward to take it off road or at least to say, i'm a bit scared now to take it offroad in case i cant lift the bugger when i crash. But would like to get a newer model cause of the couch comfort as you say. And there are plenty of paved/gravel roads to experience. I do like to camp with it and will continue to do so but not into extreme terrain anymore.
Hi Matt, I can totally understand. I am a smaller rider so the big bore bikes can be hard off pavement. I had a 2020 790 Adventure that I liked and rode for 18k miles. I sold it so that I could move into a new 2022 R1250GSA. My 1250 is a great touring bike but too much for me off road. It is plush and great for long distance trips. I had thought about selling it after 10 months and 9k miles. I am keeping the GSA but I bought a used 2021 890 Adventure to use as my off pavement machine. It is lighter, easier to work on, and less expensive to maintain. The 890 Adventure is my go to bike, the GSA is mostly for long distance touring now. Not everyone will be able to have multiple bikes so I am fortunate, If I could only have one bike it would be the 890 (which has cruise)… I want love the 390 but spiked tubeless rims and cruise are a requirement for me. I tend to travel 15-18k miles a year on the bike for trips. GL on your next steps. John
I beat you to it Matt...!!! 10 days ago traded my '15 GSA. Still wanted a road bike....took in a '16 BMW RT. Have a 250L right beside the RT....can bump around on it....throw it on a hitch carrier and go....etc etc. I realized I was actually avoiding riding because of the "size factor" of the GSA. Me....6 ft 180 lbs....33" inseam....yet still could not quite flat foot both feet. The RT....I can stand and probably slide a football tween seat and butt. So I don't blame you...!!!
For one thing solo riding in the boonies is a whole different game on a heavy bike. Having other people you know can help you out of a jam when its in a ditch is a big deal. Also , im not sure how your broken arm ride home would have turned out if you would have been on the GS. If you are someone who has a dealer close by and has unlimited funds to take it there for all maint and other work , owning a GS would be a joy. Of course if that was the case for me there would be multiple bikes in garage. I got on the east coast BDR on my Vstrom and it took about 30min to realize that gravel was all my 66yr old butt was going to tackle solo with gear. Wonderful, rock solid bike ,but a 390 would get me there to.
I never would have been able to lift the GS with a broken arm. This is a great bike for touring but like so many others, gravel/dirt roads are too fun to be missed. The 390 Adventure has taught me a lot about what I want from a bike.
Yes and no. I have spent a lot of time riding in both states and I plot all my rides on those maps. I will be returning west at the end of the year and will be able to add to them.
I'll likely end up with a 2-bike setup, with those two bikes being a KTM or Husky 500 EXC-F / 501FEs and a KTM 890 Adventure R / Husky Norden 901 Expedition. The 500/501 is ideal for more aggressive offroad (which is most of my riding), and the 890/901 is comfortable enough for the longer rides (more comfortable than my 390 for sure anyway). As much as I like the GS, I like lightweight bikes more.
As a 390 duke owner I agree with all your points BUT I have a 20,000 mile trip in the planning stage and I think I would rather do it on a BMW but after the trip I would sell it !!!
If you listen to adventure rider radio, an 80-year-old man took a 10,000 mile trip on a Chinese 250 and is in the planning for a 15,000-mile trip. You'd onto need big. But I get it. Smoooooth
@@vancemarin8022 I understand that. I have a bunch of body pain, so I am trying to take advantage of my abilities now. I worry about what I will be like when I can retire at 67. I'm hoping physically I can still ride then.
Great video Matt, I joined the light bike revolution a year ago jumped off a 150bhp Yamaha fz1s onto 390 adv. I haven’t had this much fun for ages it’s like cheating 😂. Having to shift through the box and ride again rather than leave it in third and go from 30 mph to 130. Btw what settings do you use off road on the front on your ktm
I think bikes like the 1200gs are slowly losing their appeal with a lot of riders .very expensive bike to be thrown to the ground while riding in off road terain. At my age I can no longer able to pick up something that heavy off the ground if I happen to fall .a 500 to 800 cc bike is a more user friendly for me .husky 501 or 701 is what I'm looking to buy at the moment .just to clarify I'm not American I'm Australian and a lot of us are heading down the mid size dual sports enduro type of bike to ride.
I have an F850GSA which is not too much smaller than the 1200/1250 series. There are for sure places I'll take my 390KTM where it's much easier to deal with. But compared to a touring bike, the GS series isn't so bad, lol. Honestly, the 390 is so much better as a commute bike. For commuting, the lighter the better. Heavy bikes in traffic suck.
I’ll be interested to know what bike you buy and the reasons for choosing it. I guess it will be something more road oriented than the KTM390. I have the Moto Guzzi V85tt and it’s a great bike for touring and gravel roads. If I didn’t have a thing for Moto Guzzi I’d be tempted by the Vstrom 650 or the new 800. They look utterly dependable, economical and versatile.
Hey great video. Have you given any thought to buy a Yamaha Tenere 700 or Aprilia Tuareg, because both are lighter that the GS, but have lots of power for the wight Cheers from Chile
No, I don't think it will be as bad as when taking this bike offroad. The oil changes will still cost over $100 each time if you do it yourself. Road tires should last much longer and the bike won't take nearly as much wear and tear. The tire size for this bike is the most expensive tire size so when you do need tires it will hurt the wallet. Valve checks can likely be stretched out past the recommendation after the warranty expires. It will still cost more to maintain than other bikes.
I have no idea how the shocks are sprung. My experience was when I pushed this bike offroad I found its limits quickly. It's hard to find reviews that reveal anything that might be wrong with a bike. Most reviewers never say anything bad.
The BMW "GS" stands for Gelände/Straße when loosely translated to english is "off-road/on-road" but a more accurately translation would be "unimproved roads", roads like the Denali Highway or the Dalton Highway in Alaska and "on-road" is better translated to means paved roads like the highway of the Autobahn . That's why it weighs 500 pounds, has an 8 gallon fuel tank and is built like a tank so that it can take the punishment of hard roads or to be a comfortable ride for 400 kilometer at 140 kph on the autobahn. Your not supposed to ride it up the side of a mountain, that what dirt bikes are for. And I've heard nothing but bad things about the BMW Navigators, get a Garmin Zumo XT. Built by the same company without all the problems.
@@advmatt That makes two of us. But I still own my GS. I did purchase a 2022 KTM 390 Adventure, and the GS hasn't moved since, well my son rides it now.
Heck! It's been annoying _ME_ that you have a big BMW! ;) I will not hazard to guess what you're getting next. It needs to be timely, interesting to the vlog, something that is not too similar to your 390 and that will make you happy. Ummm ... a new Honda Transalp 750? Gawd, a Honda? Well, as my teenage daughters always said, "what-EVER!!" ;) S
I have some ideas for my next bike but availability is an issue right now for all the bikes. I plan to stay in the Adventure genre. It's in my blood. I will do my best to keep things interesting. It will be challenging with the volume of content on just about every bike out there, but I have a few ideas..... We will see. Cheers!
My friend, Greetings from Portugal, I have a BMW r1200gs 2012 rallye and a cr450 2002. Off-road it's a passion to me. I ride everyday always hard and I have 40 years old breaked some bones ofc but that's life hein . I do North Africa a lot specifically Marrocco and Mauritania on holidays. When I decided to buy the BMW I checked only one thing, fiability!!! I bought the last LC engine!!! Why? No water, AR cooling and less electric "extras". My bike compare to yours looks like very used and to be honest you have soo many extras just to show you really don't need them. Premium bike 😂😂😂 man... My GPS it's a Garmin Montana very old and I use off-road GPS on the phone also when riding in Africa. I accept if you say that to know how to use that bike you need to practice or taking a course. Not having money to maintain its another issue don't blame the bike for that. In my opinion you are scared of the bike you spent many dollars on extras for nothing. It's just a waist of kilos and when riding you always think ohhh please don't fall no money to repair. My friend... There's no bike better to do what I do, long trips off-road and desert "rocks and sand" and guess what I don't take all my house with me just the essentials "food, water, tools, small light tent, 10 lts of gasoline " in Africa I pass another groups and its ridiculous the weight they carry plus the extras bags. Last month I did a test drive on a ktm 1290... too much power... Too much electric problems!! And I have no fear, drive dirt bikes since little but I felted that the power it's too much for a adv bike off roading it's like a competition instead enjoying the view Try the gs800, stay away from ktm's pure garbage and fiability 0... The old one's were great but the new one's pleaaaaase. Bmw gs owners most of them just bought them just because and then this blame one of the best engines of the world. Best regards
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You appear to be very experienced. We all need to ride what works for each of us individually. I should never have purchased this bike as I said, but it doesn't make it a bad bike, just a bad bike for me. Cheers my friend. Ride safe!
@@advmatt I Know, i saw all your video's That's why i say buy a new one. Had a 2022 390 adv but liked the version with the spoked wheels better. And the offroad software works great. no resetting anymore.
I love riding my KTM 390 Adventure. Due to my experience on that bike I know I can ride a lighter, less horsepower bike than the GS and be completely satisfied with my experience. I learned a lot by going to a small, light weight, low power bike. Cheers.
You don’t have to justify why you don’t want something anymore…🤣 Adv means a lot different things to riders. To me, it means upright long distance touring with the ability to handle decent gravel/dirt/forest service roads as desired. I do my Adv riding on a VStrom 1000XT. When I want to do anything more difficult off pavement, I ride my WR250R. Although I can, I don’t have any desire to do single track or gnarly rock surfaces. I think most Adv riders are similar to me (except maybe on YT). I have a hard time justifying riding a 500 pound plus Adv bike in difficult unpaved terrain, especially when there are so many good alternative, lighter bikes available. For the riders that want to muscle/finesse their behemoth bikes on hard stuff I say go for it. I haven’t watched all your videos but it appears Adv means something a whole lot different to you. By my definition, you could be Dirt Matt instead of Adv Matt. I do enjoy your content and am subscribed. For more difficult terrain, I could easily see replacing my WR250R with a 390 Adv or DR650 to extend my paved range to get to desired unpaved destinations. Nice video…
Thanks, I show mostly the dirt riding I do, but I also do a lot of touring. Those videos don't do as well so I don't make them as often. There is no perfect bike for everything, but extra heavy not even close. Cheers.
@@advmatt Thank you for the reply. So even for touring you prefer the 390 Adv, or do you mean the advantages of it being lighter compensate for that shortfall on long distance highway travel? Just as a note, I try to avoid interstates on long distance travel unless I need to make miles or there are adverse weather conditions. Frank has made me believe in the virtues of the 390 🤣 I definitely understand the heavy part in the garage. I can move my WR250R around easily. When I’m moving the VStrom 1000 I have to concentrate. It would be very easy to drop it.
@@vtrack1963 with the 390 I have done almost the same type of travel I did on my BMW. Maybe not quite as fast or as far everyday, but I find just as enjoyable.
@@advmatt thanks for the video...the GS is a great bike but more is not always better. We humans are only so big. Good luck finding the sweet spot. For me it's, having several bikes. : )
Totally understand. I've been on a 990 Adventure for ten years, and had a blast with it - but after 2 hip replacements, a hernia and 2 bouts with COVID, I don't have the stamina to go all day on it anymore. After much soul searching and research, I just brought home a 390 Adventure. What a joy to ride a 350lb bike again! Best of luck in your decision.
As a teacher with a limited budget, I appreciate your discussion about the cost. I have lusted after this exact GS, but I know I can not, or should not, entertain this type of bike. Thanks for the "down to earth" commentary. Looking forward to the direction you are heading.
I ha e a good friend who has one, it's a great bike, but my 390 is FUN !
@@RonOrud Have you got that right !!!!!!
Yeah, that's one of the issues with the big BMWs.
They need a LOT of "entertainment".
S
I have both a BMW F850 GSA and a 390 Adv.
You wouldn't be disappointed with the 390. If you still want a GS, I have an F850GSA and it's cheaper than the R1250GS/A and I don't feel limited on it at all. Does 90 on the freeway no problem (I'm not a racing type, so honestly that's the highest speed I had the F850 up to).
BMWs are a pain to work on, though. That bike I take to the dealer for service. The 390 is a bike I'll work on myself for many things.
The 390 does well on the expressway, too, but since it's light it's not as nice a ride as a bigger bike. The BMW I have also has the electronic suspension and other goodies. They're fine, but not worth like $10k more (and even more than that for the 1250!).
So the pluses on the BMW for me are: luxury things (cruise control, nav, etc), more aftermarket adventure things, long distance travel, can hold bigger luggage.
If you're not going to go off road much and ride expressways instead of interstates, I don't think the KTM will disappoint. The money you save you can use for gear for camping etc. and have a LOT more fun. For sure, you can take it off road as Matt has proven, but comparing to the GS/A, the GS/A are tanks.
I first was drawn to your channel because I had just bought a used GS and you had yours. I’m sad to see it go. But last year I bought a Honda CRF300L to compliment it. And for ALL the reasons you mention. I’m not ready to get rid of the GS just yet, there are too many paved places to explore on my list. But I’m headed that direction. Those mid weight ADV bikes are looking pretty tempting! Oh, and no matter what bikes you have, consider me a loyal follower! See you on the trail! 🤟
Thanks dude, I appreciate the support. See you out there!
I hear ya Matt. I live in the Philippines and many people here have their own private technician to work on their bikes. You save so much money having your own technician or do most of the maintenance yourself which a lot of people do. Plus those that are just weekend warriors don't usually do a lot of maintenance cause their not putting big miles on their bikes and going off road. Congrats on the tenere 700. I think if someones just doing highway riding it the GS is probably great. But I do think its best to have another bike as your everyday bike. Much respect for your decision to get rid of it and moving on. I also seen a lot of people are buying the older 2013 to 2018 models due to cheaper cost to buy. Good luck in your future endeavors and keep the content coming. God Bless!!!
Makes complete sense what you’re planning to do Matt and I definitely understand why. I am also the owner of an R1200GS, a 2017 model that I purchased used a few years ago. I love the bike, the power from this machine is incredible, the suspension works very well for me. I’m an east coast rider and stay on pavement 95% of the time. This one is my second GS, and to me they are the perfect touring bike. Smooth, it fits my tall frame well, I’m 6’3”. But, I’m just not riding enough to justify this beautiful bike and will look at a smaller bike, better suited for just local back roads. Good luck.
There are a lot of options out there. Good luck finding your perfect bike.
Just made a move from the GS750 to a DR650 for mostly the same reasons. Overall cost of ownership, high cost of service and maintainance, and bike weight. With the DR i can pick it up with ease, do the maintainance at home, and do what I want to do on the trail.
I’ll be interested to see your next purchase
Ride safe !!
So many choices, but I have a plan, maybe.
Fall of the heavyweights. Exactly why I have a 390 ADV.
I appreciate your sincere approach to the reasons. No amount of money thrown at this will alleviate the situation if your mind is already disconnected from the bike. And that's not a negative point. Goes with anything in life.
Ride safe!😊
Thanks for the feedback!
This is exactly what i needed to hear my friend. Thanks for taking one for the team so new riders like me can learn. I almost bought a gsa today and give up the t7 i have on order
Glad it was relatable. I am trying to replace this bike with a middle weight. It will be worth your time to wait a bit longer.
You have valid reasons, you are the one that has to ride the bike. Best of luck with your new bike. Cheers
I just did my 1200GSA 2007 front and rear shocks for less than $2K Hand tools and the center stand were all I needed. I bought the bike for 9K with less than 22K miles. So for 11K i have a bike very capable of most 2 track Tractive makes touratech and that is what I bought and dropped seat height by 2". Great video.
I should have purchased an older GS instead of the fully electronic version. You have a great setup at a great price.
Great honest explanation of your choices Matt. Light weight is the way to go in most circumstances
Yes it is.
I own the same bike and I more or less agree but I still love it dearly and I'm going to hang on to it for a while.
Completely understand.
I totally agree. I’m going to keep my 390 adv and pick up a bike for longer trips and having a passenger- there are soooooo many new bikes that are cheaper and smaller for touring that will fit everyone’s budgets.
Yes sir. There are so many choices now.
I agree! I like my KTM 390 Adventure a lot more than the R1150GSA I own. And I'm only keeping them both for the same reason you just stated. The KTM is just a fun bike to ride.
That's what I did! I have an F850GSA for interstate and stuff, but use my 390ADV for commuting and having general fun. A lighter bike is so nice in so many ways.
Your KTM is much lighter, but your right, cross country is great on the Bemmer. Same issues with my Twin.
Hi there Mat, I cross shopped the GS when I was looking. I chose the Super Tenere for reliability and cost of ownership. However, both bikes are very heavy beasts. And you know this from the fact of you doing the hard section of the CABDR near Yermo. To be honest I don't use my Tenere for much "adventure style" riding. It's my pavement queen with a bit of fire roads thrown in. My Beta 498 is my dual sport bike and "do it all" machine.
I hear you. My T7 will see way more pavement than dirt. I do appreciate the nearly 100 pound drop in weight.
Good vid
Yeah, if you aren't touring roads, light is right
Totally agree
Legitimate reasons to part ways with the bike. Plenty of choices out there to select from. Good luck with your search.
Lots of choices!
I sold my 2012 GS RALLY this spring for many of the reasons and sentiments you expressed. Warranty wasnt one of my concerns. I replaced it with a 2017 Africa twin. Not a good choice for what i hoped to accomplish. I travel solo, prefer dispersed camping and go where it looks or sounds interesting. I could not do that with the big bike. I had to pay attention to the size and weight as you did. Ive been riding over 50 years. Plenty of experience on many kinds of bikes. Have an old 05 GS i may throw knobbies on for local use. But no answer for the big spaces out west, far from me.
We are feeling the same issues. After purchasing a KTM 390 Adventure a whole new world opened up. I use the same way I tried to ride my big GS but with no fear in offroad situations. It's the best version of everything the GS wished it could be, well except for long distance comfort. I still do long distance travel on it. I have a lot of content dedicated to the 390 if you are curious.
I can't wait to see what you buy.
Do you have plans to attend the Giant Loop June Rally in Oregon? Any plans to move back out west? It would be great to meet you sometime.
Moving back west in the fall. Unfortunately I will miss all the rallies this year but in 2024 I plan to go to as many as possible.
Totally agree on the weight. These bikes are awesome to eat up miles and the occasional gravel road but when it gets technical, it's kinda scary. Rented an R1250GS in Alaska and while I enjoyed the trip, I knew I was never going to buy one. The little 390 is great for offroad adventures and I have an S1000XR for street only.
Two bikes is the way go. It covers all your riding needs.
@@advmatt Ideally more like 10 bikes but two at minimum 😁. I did make the mistake of riding a KTM 350 dual sport recently; now the 390 feels like a GS LOL Talk about a cheater bike; goes through anything.
I bought my KTM 390 Adventure 2 mos. ago because you inspired me just watching you having a blast on the trails! Riding it to Baja soon! Great Choice! And oh BTW I also own a GS1200 Rallye exactly like yours and keeping it for a while for longer distance trip and some gravel along the route 😎👊🏻🏍
Yeah, Baja! Glad to hear it.
I'm almost 60 and done with liter+ bikes. I have a Tiger Rally Pro 900 and a CRF300L. My bases are covered.
The perfect setup!
Dipping my toes into then “Adventure” bike world the last two years has brought me to a couple decisions. When I say “Adventure” I mean, My Pan America from Harley. It’s amazing on road but my many years of dirt biking are not able to make up for the bike on these East coast trails. I love the road manners of my Pan Am so much, I decided it’s going to be my road bike (with the ability to get me down that old logging or fire road when need be) and get a lighter bike for the TAT and CD aspersions. It’s funny cause I was never able to plant my feet on the ground when dirt biking or even when doing the high HP sport bikes and their tall tails but for some reason, I am always nervous on the bigger bike when off road and not having a solid footing. I’m thinking 701 or 690. Still able to hit a highway but almost 130lbs lighter than a T7 and damn near 250+ lbs lighter than my pan am.
The weight makes such a difference when venturing offroad. There is a lot more dabbing offroad. It's nice to be able to touch. 690/701 seem to be great bikes. I am thinking of trying one.
@@advmatt I know they are tall as heck but I’m thinking the factory lowering kit and some clever mounting and dismounting will comeback to me.
Much respect. They are a different
animal and require a certain adjustment from its owner. Always do what makes you happy and have fun. Limited time on earth and these are just toys so get the toy you like !!!
Peace.
Thanks!
All the cons you listed are true, not doubting that, but the pros outweigh it for me. Riding 300-400 miles on pavement to get to 30-50 miles of forest roads / off road trails, repeatedly on a tour, i am willing to sacrifice the weight when on dirt. Majority of what i do also involves motorcycle camping and i can pack my bike up! Like i said, i get it though, and am still a subscriber :).
Totally understand where your coming from. After doing those same rides on my 390 Adv I realized I can still do it on a smaller bike.
I have the exact same model GS Rallye as you have, and I've been thinking about downsizing to a smaller bike for about a year now. Unfortunately, in the area where I live off-road riding is very limited. But when I did take the GS off-road riding last September it wasn't much fun. I was glad I did it, but it just wasn't much fun mainly due to the weight of the bike. Riding through the woods on tight trails isn't what this bike was meant for, and it was like driving a cruise ship down the I&M canal. I did take a few laps around the motocross track, and it did okay for such a heavy bike. But other than that, I don't do any touring on it as I originally planned to, I mostly just cruise around on back roads with my daughter. I don't need 125 horsepower for the kind of riding I do, nor do I need a bike that can be precariously heavy at stoplights. The R1200GS Rallye is a fine motorcycle, and I DO love the cruise control, the TFT screen, and the other info available at my fingertips. But if I'm honest, I couldn't really afford the parts and maintenance of a Premium bike like this when I bought it either. I fell for the marketing hype, the dream of unlimited travel and adventure - but for the kind of riding I do, I just don't need a bike this big. So I have an appointment to test ride a G310GS next Saturday. I've had my eye on the 310 since I first sat on one in 2021, and I'm finally going to ride one. I think it'll suit my needs much better.
I rode a G310R for a weekend when my GS was getting services. I fell in love with riding a small bike which led me to the KTM 390 Adventure. Small is fun. Good luck.
All good reasons for moving on Matt. I did sell my R1200 after 75K miles and replaced it with a R1250. This is year 2 with the 1250, two more years after that and I am out. My reasons have overlap with yours but mainly it's because my usage will be change from owning one single all around bike (ridden 15-20K miles a year) to some sort of thumper (TBD) that I truck to/from BDR's. Looking forward to retirement. In the meantime I am going to ride the sh*t out of my big girl and hopefully not rack up too many injuries or die... 😁 Great video as usual.
I love thumpers. The KTM 690 Enduro sure is tempting.
@@advmatt That is where I seem to be heading myself...
Waiting to see your new Aprilia Tuareg. 😊
Not sure if that is the direction I will go, still evaluating.
This is what I came here to say.
I said Tuareg weeks ago 😎
There are other choices. But there is no more complete package in the middleweight size.
While you could argue reliability, that's not really a factor for a man who bought an Indian made KTM. 🤣 - Frank
5:08 LMAO!! That is exactly what happened to me in a paved parking lot a few years back on my ST!!! Parked on a slope and put my foot down on the low side. Timber!!
Sometimes a bike outlives it's usefulness. Its a good time to be selling a bike in the east coast, good luck on the sale Matt! - Frank
The bike is in New Mexico, so not sure how it will go, probably trading it to save time and effort.
@@advmatt Then good luck getting a fair offer from a dealer! I have not heard many good things said about them in regards to trade ins! - Frank
@@advmatt If you want it brought to Virginia, let me know, I have been known to fly west and bring a large bike back to the east coast. 😁 - Frank
@@OneOldManRiding yeah thanks, I don't have garage space for it either so I suppose you would store it for me too.
@@OneOldManRiding I know the trade will be bad but my timing is a problematic. Living in two places makes it challenging, and bike availability adds to the complications.
I think a dual sport is a better option for adventure riding. That is the direction I am going....I have 2023 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro but it will never see off road....it's just too heavy. I'm thinking you are making the best choice.
Oh yeah! the weight. I started out on KLR650 back in 2007 at about 5000 miles sold it for 2004 R1150GSA got it from original owner with just 8000 miles on it and never in the dirt or dropped. He was selling it because it was too heavy, I tried taking my Beemer to places like I took my KLR man it was so hard to keep the beemer upright. I finally sold it at about 36000 miles. I went back to the lighter 650 class bike again. Now all these years later I'm able to have multiple size bikes for the road and the long road trips I still love to do. Funny now that I'm 60 years old it seems like I may have to sell the 650 and get something even lighter for the dirt riding I still enjoy.
Riding is a an evolution of discovery on each bike learning what works for us. I sure after a few more years I will be looking for something else again for the same reasons you are.
I hear you. I love my Africa Twin on the highway, but that's only a few times a year on trips. For daily riding, it's a bit heavy and I do want to ride a lighter bike. Backing up on a slight incline can be challenging, and I'm 6'2'. Not sure when or what, but the next one will be lighter, or I'll have a sport tourer and a sub-500 cc dual sport bike. I love the 390 Adventure, but maybe I'm just not going to do any serious off-roading and I'll move to a CBX500.
I gave the CB500X a serious look. If, like you say, you won't do much offroading it is a superb little bike.
Great comments body. Indeed, I believe that bike is 80% Onroad eventhought there are videos in which people jump with it but the reality is different.
I would say that a KTM 890S or R could be a good option for you. I like to do what you do and I was thinking to change my bike to the one I mentioned.
Both those KTMs are on my short list.
Two things I've never heard anyone say on the trail: 1. I wish I'd packed more stuff. 2. I wish I had a heavier bike.
Things I've heard people say (me included). 1. I mean, I packed a lot of stuff but I might need it. 2. Yeah, it's a really heavy bike, but I kind of make it work.
Both are more excuses than explanations. I'm guilty of both.
I can understand preferring a light bike for off-road work, but the GS must be good to tour on, although GSs have got too heavy. I did over 90,000 miles on an R1100GS, a much lighter bike. I never went off-road on it, unless you class gravel as off-road. I sold that bike for a 950 Adventure. Much more fun to ride. That was all the mid-90s to mid-00s, and I followed it up with a Buell Ulysses, the best of the lot.
After doing many multi day trips and 1000s of miles on my 390 Adventure, I found I really didn't miss the GS. Yes it's more comfortable to ride, but the experience on the smaller bike was more fun. Cheers.
I like my atas, although 500+ lb it fills both my street and off-road needs. It is however far more manageable than a big GSA.
I rode a 2009 KLR650 for a season to see if I liked that kind of riding and went with the 390 this fall. The KLR was too top heavy and slow. That 390 is just plain fun.
I have a 1900 vtwin Yamaha, but I may sell it and buy something smaller with the cash.
I had a KLR650 too. I hated it so much I quit riding for ten years. I thought that was all adventure riding had to offer, it was early 2000s.
@ADV Matt. I never quit fortunately, but had some dry motorcycle years.
hey brother where can i get an ADVMATT decal for my 390? as well as my garage and work tool box?
Send me an email with your address to advmattx2@gmail.com. I will send you some.
I love my gs its only a 2009 my first and only bike and it has gone many places, dirt, gravel, gnarly terrain, i have taken the training, its reliable but expensive to maintain, its heavy i agree, but since i'm older now ( late 60's) maybe wiser, i dont tend to or look forward to take it off road or at least to say, i'm a bit scared now to take it offroad in case i cant lift the bugger when i crash. But would like to get a newer model cause of the couch comfort as you say. And there are plenty of paved/gravel roads to experience. I do like to camp with it and will continue to do so but not into extreme terrain anymore.
The new GS bikes are even heavier than what you are riding now, but they are comfortable.
Wow what a different bike from the 390ADV.
Yep. The 390 Adv taught me a lot about what works best for me.
Hi Matt,
I can totally understand. I am a smaller rider so the big bore bikes can be hard off pavement.
I had a 2020 790 Adventure that I liked and rode for 18k miles. I sold it so that I could move into a new 2022 R1250GSA.
My 1250 is a great touring bike but too much for me off road. It is plush and great for long distance trips. I had thought about selling it after 10 months and 9k miles.
I am keeping the GSA but I bought a used 2021 890 Adventure to use as my off pavement machine. It is lighter, easier to work on, and less expensive to maintain.
The 890 Adventure is my go to bike, the GSA is mostly for long distance touring now. Not everyone will be able to have multiple bikes so I am fortunate,
If I could only have one bike it would be the 890 (which has cruise)… I want love the 390 but spiked tubeless rims and cruise are a requirement for me. I tend to travel 15-18k miles a year on the bike for trips.
GL on your next steps.
John
Thanks. The 890 is a great bike, and on my short list.
I beat you to it Matt...!!!
10 days ago traded my '15 GSA.
Still wanted a road bike....took in a '16 BMW RT.
Have a 250L right beside the RT....can bump around on it....throw it on a hitch carrier and go....etc etc.
I realized I was actually avoiding riding because of the "size factor" of the GSA.
Me....6 ft 180 lbs....33" inseam....yet still could not quite flat foot both feet.
The RT....I can stand and probably slide a football tween seat and butt.
So I don't blame you...!!!
Nice. You are doing it right.
For one thing solo riding in the boonies is a whole different game on a heavy bike. Having
other people you know can help you out of a jam when its in a ditch is a big deal. Also , im not sure how your broken arm ride home would have turned out if you would have been on the GS. If you are someone who has a dealer close by and has unlimited funds to take it there for all maint and other work , owning a GS would be a joy. Of course if that was the case for me there would be multiple bikes in garage. I got on the east coast BDR on my Vstrom and it took about 30min to realize that gravel was all my 66yr old butt was going to tackle solo with gear. Wonderful, rock solid bike ,but a 390 would get me there to.
I never would have been able to lift the GS with a broken arm. This is a great bike for touring but like so many others, gravel/dirt roads are too fun to be missed. The 390 Adventure has taught me a lot about what I want from a bike.
Off topic, but I couldn't help noticing very large maps of CA and AZ behind you. Foreshadowing?
Yes and no. I have spent a lot of time riding in both states and I plot all my rides on those maps. I will be returning west at the end of the year and will be able to add to them.
I'll likely end up with a 2-bike setup, with those two bikes being a KTM or Husky 500 EXC-F / 501FEs and a KTM 890 Adventure R / Husky Norden 901 Expedition. The 500/501 is ideal for more aggressive offroad (which is most of my riding), and the 890/901 is comfortable enough for the longer rides (more comfortable than my 390 for sure anyway).
As much as I like the GS, I like lightweight bikes more.
Totally agree, I like light weight more. You will have a good setup.
I’m honestly surprised you’ve kept the BMW this long. As you now know, light is right!
As always, well thought out reasons, Matt. Great vid.
The BMW has been storage the last year and ridden sparingly. I have only now arrived at a point I can do something with it.
Confidence and being in shape is rigth.
As a 390 duke owner I agree with all your points BUT I have a 20,000 mile trip in the planning stage and I think I would rather do it on a BMW but after the trip I would sell it !!!
If it's a lot of road riding the BMW will be comfortable. Buy used and you should be able sell with very little loss in value.
If you listen to adventure rider radio, an 80-year-old man took a 10,000 mile trip on a Chinese 250 and is in the planning for a 15,000-mile trip. You'd onto need big. But I get it. Smoooooth
@@advmatt $22,000 for a 10 year old bmw in descent shape where I live in Canada is not doable for me !!!
@@RonOrud At 74 with my arthritis I need a rolling armchair!!🤕
@@vancemarin8022 I understand that. I have a bunch of body pain, so I am trying to take advantage of my abilities now. I worry about what I will be like when I can retire at 67. I'm hoping physically I can still ride then.
Great video Matt, I joined the light bike revolution a year ago jumped off a 150bhp Yamaha fz1s onto 390 adv. I haven’t had this much fun for ages it’s like cheating 😂. Having to shift through the box and ride again rather than leave it in third and go from 30 mph to 130. Btw what settings do you use off road on the front on your ktm
I have the Hyperpro progressive springs, compression setting is about 2/3 closed, can't remember how many clicks, rebound is 1/3 from open.
Thanks Matt
I think bikes like the 1200gs are slowly losing their appeal with a lot of riders .very expensive bike to be thrown to the ground while riding in off road terain. At my age I can no longer able to pick up something that heavy off the ground if I happen to fall .a 500 to 800 cc bike is a more user friendly for me .husky 501 or 701 is what I'm looking to buy at the moment .just to clarify I'm not American I'm Australian and a lot of us are heading down the mid size dual sports enduro type of bike to ride.
I agree, there is a move afoot to move to lighter, smaller bikes. The experience is better overall. Cheers mate!
I have an F850GSA which is not too much smaller than the 1200/1250 series. There are for sure places I'll take my 390KTM where it's much easier to deal with. But compared to a touring bike, the GS series isn't so bad, lol. Honestly, the 390 is so much better as a commute bike. For commuting, the lighter the better. Heavy bikes in traffic suck.
Heavy is exhausting. The 390 spoiled me and really changed my riding experience.
I’ll be interested to know what bike you buy and the reasons for choosing it. I guess it will be something more road oriented than the KTM390. I have the Moto Guzzi V85tt and it’s a great bike for touring and gravel roads. If I didn’t have a thing for Moto Guzzi I’d be tempted by the Vstrom 650 or the new 800. They look utterly dependable, economical and versatile.
There are so many bikes to choose from it will be a difficult choice. Availability is a huge issue which may influence my decision. We will see.
Hey great video.
Have you given any thought to buy a Yamaha Tenere 700 or Aprilia Tuareg, because both are lighter that the GS, but have lots of power for the wight
Cheers from Chile
Thanks, I am looking at both of those bikes. Availability is bit if issue right now.
You put 42,000 on her! Really no explanation needed for switching to something new. Sincerely - All The 3,000 Per Year Swap-A-Bike Owners Out There
Hey Matt I have a question? Do you think maintenance on a GS will be bad if your just doing normal road riding?
No, I don't think it will be as bad as when taking this bike offroad. The oil changes will still cost over $100 each time if you do it yourself. Road tires should last much longer and the bike won't take nearly as much wear and tear. The tire size for this bike is the most expensive tire size so when you do need tires it will hurt the wallet. Valve checks can likely be stretched out past the recommendation after the warranty expires. It will still cost more to maintain than other bikes.
What type of body weight does it handle well in stock form? I haven’t heard other reviewers complain about the stock shocks.
I have no idea how the shocks are sprung. My experience was when I pushed this bike offroad I found its limits quickly. It's hard to find reviews that reveal anything that might be wrong with a bike. Most reviewers never say anything bad.
The BMW "GS" stands for Gelände/Straße when loosely translated to english is "off-road/on-road" but a more accurately translation would be "unimproved roads", roads like the Denali Highway or the Dalton Highway in Alaska and "on-road" is better translated to means paved roads like the highway of the Autobahn . That's why it weighs 500 pounds, has an 8 gallon fuel tank and is built like a tank so that it can take the punishment of hard roads or to be a comfortable ride for 400 kilometer at 140 kph on the autobahn. Your not supposed to ride it up the side of a mountain, that what dirt bikes are for. And I've heard nothing but bad things about the BMW Navigators, get a Garmin Zumo XT. Built by the same company without all the problems.
I had to learn the hard way.
@@advmatt That makes two of us. But I still own my GS. I did purchase a 2022 KTM 390 Adventure, and the GS hasn't moved since, well my son rides it now.
Heck! It's been annoying _ME_ that you have a big BMW!
;)
I will not hazard to guess what you're getting next.
It needs to be timely, interesting to the vlog, something that is not too similar to your 390 and that will make you happy.
Ummm ... a new Honda Transalp 750? Gawd, a Honda?
Well, as my teenage daughters always said, "what-EVER!!"
;)
S
I have some ideas for my next bike but availability is an issue right now for all the bikes. I plan to stay in the Adventure genre. It's in my blood. I will do my best to keep things interesting. It will be challenging with the volume of content on just about every bike out there, but I have a few ideas..... We will see. Cheers!
My friend,
Greetings from Portugal, I have a BMW r1200gs 2012 rallye and a cr450 2002. Off-road it's a passion to me. I ride everyday always hard and I have 40 years old breaked some bones ofc but that's life hein . I do North Africa a lot specifically Marrocco and Mauritania on holidays. When I decided to buy the BMW I checked only one thing, fiability!!!
I bought the last LC engine!!! Why? No water, AR cooling and less electric "extras". My bike compare to yours looks like very used and to be honest you have soo many extras just to show you really don't need them. Premium bike 😂😂😂 man... My GPS it's a Garmin Montana very old and I use off-road GPS on the phone also when riding in Africa. I accept if you say that to know how to use that bike you need to practice or taking a course. Not having money to maintain its another issue don't blame the bike for that.
In my opinion you are scared of the bike you spent many dollars on extras for nothing. It's just a waist of kilos and when riding you always think ohhh please don't fall no money to repair.
My friend... There's no bike better to do what I do, long trips off-road and desert "rocks and sand" and guess what I don't take all my house with me just the essentials "food, water, tools, small light tent, 10 lts of gasoline " in Africa I pass another groups and its ridiculous the weight they carry plus the extras bags.
Last month I did a test drive on a ktm 1290... too much power... Too much electric problems!! And I have no fear, drive dirt bikes since little but I felted that the power it's too much for a adv bike off roading it's like a competition instead enjoying the view
Try the gs800, stay away from ktm's pure garbage and fiability 0... The old one's were great but the new one's pleaaaaase.
Bmw gs owners most of them just bought them just because and then this blame one of the best engines of the world.
Best regards
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You appear to be very experienced. We all need to ride what works for each of us individually. I should never have purchased this bike as I said, but it doesn't make it a bad bike, just a bad bike for me. Cheers my friend. Ride safe!
Just buy a new 390 adv... like i did, with the spoked wheels. Very nice bike
I have a 390 Adv with spoked wheels. I love this bike. I have over 23k miles on it.
@@advmatt I Know, i saw all your video's
That's why i say buy a new one.
Had a 2022 390 adv but liked the version with the spoked wheels better.
And the offroad software works great. no resetting anymore.
@@ktmgek oh sorry. Maybe when the 390 Adv R comes out. Although we won't see it until 2024.
@@advmatt Mine had a sticker with the text : "ADV 390 Rally " on it.
Maybe i can sent u a picture of it.
So i think this is already the R version.
@@ktmgek interesting, I thought the Rally was a 21/18 wheel combo. Crafty marketing.
Everyone though at first that you're moving towards true dirtbike, but.... man, KTM390 ?
I love riding my KTM 390 Adventure. Due to my experience on that bike I know I can ride a lighter, less horsepower bike than the GS and be completely satisfied with my experience. I learned a lot by going to a small, light weight, low power bike. Cheers.
You don’t have to justify why you don’t want something anymore…🤣
Adv means a lot different things to riders. To me, it means upright long distance touring with the ability to handle decent gravel/dirt/forest service roads as desired. I do my Adv riding on a VStrom 1000XT. When I want to do anything more difficult off pavement, I ride my WR250R. Although I can, I don’t have any desire to do single track or gnarly rock surfaces. I think most Adv riders are similar to me (except maybe on YT). I have a hard time justifying riding a 500 pound plus Adv bike in difficult unpaved terrain, especially when there are so many good alternative, lighter bikes available. For the riders that want to muscle/finesse their behemoth bikes on hard stuff I say go for it.
I haven’t watched all your videos but it appears Adv means something a whole lot different to you. By my definition, you could be Dirt Matt instead of Adv Matt. I do enjoy your content and am subscribed.
For more difficult terrain, I could easily see replacing my WR250R with a 390 Adv or DR650 to extend my paved range to get to desired unpaved destinations.
Nice video…
Thanks, I show mostly the dirt riding I do, but I also do a lot of touring. Those videos don't do as well so I don't make them as often. There is no perfect bike for everything, but extra heavy not even close. Cheers.
@@advmatt Thank you for the reply. So even for touring you prefer the 390 Adv, or do you mean the advantages of it being lighter compensate for that shortfall on long distance highway travel? Just as a note, I try to avoid interstates on long distance travel unless I need to make miles or there are adverse weather conditions. Frank has made me believe in the virtues of the 390 🤣
I definitely understand the heavy part in the garage. I can move my WR250R around easily. When I’m moving the VStrom 1000 I have to concentrate. It would be very easy to drop it.
@@vtrack1963 with the 390 I have done almost the same type of travel I did on my BMW. Maybe not quite as fast or as far everyday, but I find just as enjoyable.
Yamaha Tenere 700....
It's on my short list, but availability I'd an issue.
@@advmatt thanks for the video...the GS is a great bike but more is not always better. We humans are only so big. Good luck finding the sweet spot. For me it's, having several bikes. : )