Any manufacturer that lends FortNine their bike and lets him review it honestly and thoroughly with no strings attached, instantly get's higher on my list.
Ktm aren't dumb. If there's a problem to pick with the bike, someone like Ryan will pick it. They can then fix the issues on later models. Not only does it make the bike better, but it makes them look like they actually care about making a good bike. It's a win-win. Some brands (Ducati is a prime example) are more concerned with protecting their reputation rather than getting honest feedback.
@@MrMistery101 Yeah, I've looked at photos of the '23 and they still have the same angled footpegs. I've just put Motourenn Adventurist pegs on my bike and they're much better for standing on.
@@rileywebb4178 There's gobs of fun to be had with this baby, it's simply not a true wilderness machine, but big deal, you'll love it for the way it does it all pretty well.
Setting aside my love of motorcycling for just a minute and speaking as a former videotape editor in a London production company, I have to say I'm constantly impressed by the high production values in every FortNine video.
They're fooling you all! What would appear to be a two-man video team is actually a carefully crafted ruse hiding a 100-person film crew and several luxurious travel trailers.
@@TheJPHarvey I would argue someone with video production experience is somewhat more qualified to opine on production values than someone without, but you are entitled to your opinion about who "cars" about what, I guess. 🤣😂😆
THIS Bike has BORN to become a SUPERMOTO. It with duke 390 wheels would be hella confort, hella grip and hella fun! Also, the new Duke has the same adjustable suspension? I just CANT RIDE regular "off road" bikes anymore after discovering supermoto. And since i almost never ride in the wet soacked mud or whatever, i actually do better with the 17" wheels and its tires, cause they work better in the wet aswell.
FortNine, the only RUclips channel that gets my full attention, headphones on (both ears), full screen, cup of tea, packet of Jaffa cakes sit back and enjoy the absolute class that Ryan and Aneesh produce every single time. Perfect!!!!!
@@VinOnline they live near me, in my hometown Vancouver. It was a weird coincidence -- I was actually buying Aneesh's DR650! But when I messaged him through the ad, I didn't realize it was him hahaha.
For anyone who hasn’t seen this bike up close and personal, this video really brings into perspective how freaking tall Ryan is. This is by far the biggest motorcycle under 650cc I’ve ever seen. Looks like a proper adv in person. Its bigger than the cb500x even
@@shahan484 id say seat height wise yes. It has that bench style seat youd expect from a motocross bike. Not really any dip in the middle. Me being 5’9” with a 32” inseam I found the bmw f750gs to be a better fit.
can confirm having had those tires on my Super Tenere. Ive done everything from accidentally scraped a peg in cold and wet weather going up a mountain road in Flagstaff AZ, to trying to chase down a friend on a supermoto on a tight canyon road and never felt like the tires were even close to giving up. I will be switching to a TKC70ROCKS rear and either a 70 or 80 for the front on the next tire change though
These videos are really made to be watched at least three times.: Once for the cinematography, choreography and geography Second time for the actual content. And at least a third time just because they're so damn good!
Don't be deterred by the end of this video. The KTM 390 Adventure is absolutely phenomenal. I've ridden countless motorcycles (15+ years test riding for a motorcycle magazine), and this is one of the best motorcycles I've ever owned. The power and the nimble feel of this bike feels much closer to my KTM 450XC-W than it does to my old KLR650. I watched this review prior to pulling the trigger on one, and admittedly this review made me hesitant, but I am in LOVE with this bike.
It’s junk, the versys 300x destroys this thing all day in every way. Dr650 is the best though. Problem with people like U guys… u can be fed Kraft Mac n cheese with hotdogs blindfolded and you’d think ur eating at a Michelin star restaurant….. no discernment…
@@keithquinn5624 That's the beauty of motorcycles... if everyone agreed on one bike, we'd all be riding one bike. The Versys is a great bike as well, and definitely worth considering. For me personally, the suspension and offroad handling of the 390 felt superior to the 300x, which was important for me for where I ride. As for the DR650, it's hard to say anything bad about that bike. I've put a lot of miles on those and everyone should have one in their arsenal. But one of my requirements was a bike that was enjoyable 2-up for my wife to join me, and the DR650 is simply not made for that from a comfort standpoint. As for the mac n cheese and hot dogs comment, I've owned bikes from every manufacturer out there and am not partial to KTM (I've always preferred Yamaha and Kawasaki). There seems to be an equal amount of folks who simply despise everything that KTM puts out. This bike just made sense for me, and I am in love with it.
It seems a few people don't agree with Ryan's review, and feel he's being unfair. I'd say watch it again. The opening question is about 'what is an adventure?' Yes it can be a solo trip across the country or a lunch trip with all those adventure elements included. A very clever concept for a bike review. Also, his review states so many positive aspects of the bike, but at the end he simply states he doesn't like riding it. This isn't saying its a bad bike at all, just his preference. Don't get offended by that. If every review he did stated that the review bike was fantastic, then doesn't that mean his reviews are not independant and therefore irrelevant? Brilliant video, Ryan and Aneesh.
I think recommending the Duke 390 for a $1000 less is unfair. That bike can't do what this bike can without extensive modding, and the vast majority of adv riders modify their bikes anyway so the flaws he's mentioned like the pegs are easy fixes. Most riders spend hundreds on an exhaust, surely they can afford to fix the pegs.
@@oldaxehead655 owning new duke 390 last year i'd say stay away... withon 4000km of a brand new bike i found myself getting towed 3 times due to "engine problems" , sold it back to the dealership for a yamaha. Dont get me wrong it was a very nice driving bike with loads of fun but the waiting on the side of the road got old very fast. Unfortunate i hope they fix the reliability.
@Yama Satru of you're looking for a serious adventure bike, you're probably not looking at the 390. More people would use it for a lunch run than across the province.
God, can you imagine? I would rather pay $60 for a documentary by FortNine crew than pay for a UFC event. Imagine 2 hours of this type of artwork, and amazing knowledge, hilarious voice-over work, and beautiful, beautiful forests. They just need to come up with a story, create a sense of drama, by introducing a challenge. Perhaps a trip with his BMW into various different "clans" of Harley riders, street racers, etc. See how they respond to Ryan. A documentary about the different types of motorcycle riders, and how they respond to outsiders.
Despite everything, I bought one! Adjustable foot rests, handle bar risers and voila! After all, I am not an experienced biker nor do I use to get into the muddy or loose gravel trails but the 390 covers 100% of my needs. Great little bike. She's two years old now and I still love her.
Serious questions will be asked at KTM HQ. "How could we let this happen. How could we have built a bike not fit for purpose and then send it to one of the few reviewers who would actually test it properly and then mock us by suggesting it was barely fit to go to a Taco stand."
@@ElementofKindness And I don't think KTM are sitting there having serious questions at their HQ. This was what some people lovingly refer to as, a joke.
@@xclent1975 it won't happen, and Ryan has covered this already. Most reviews are paid advertisements bragging the positives, while ignoring the negatives. F9 doesn't roll that way. You're gonna get a blunt, honest review, whether good or bad. Yeah ondank, I know you were just kidding
@RF9 I'm afraid that you'll have to film 'part 2' and lot of things will be different. They put up this new one like they whatched this video for motivation😂
I think the 373 cc thumper has so much potential- if they had put it in a more ADV like chassis, I imagine it would be almost perfect as a budget tight lightweight do-it-all ADV bike. Its not everyday you see a motorcycle journalist(s) get loaned a bike for them to be 100% honest about it. _That_ deserves appreciation from the consumer side. Well done indeed.
There have been spyshots taken of a 390 platform bike with 18/21 inch tires, whether that is going to become a enduro/supermoto or a beefier 390 adventure is yet to be seen.
Can't believe they haven't thrown that engine in a budget friendly quad yet. They wouldn't be able to keep them in stock if they marketed it as an entry level/ budget sport quad
I Love F9, but for a guy who doesn't like the bike, he sure made it look really inviting. It looks fun as hell. Small, light, safe. Just get new footpegs! :)
Riding since this may, I bought a Duke 390 as first bike, I am 6f5 (195cm) Quite pain to fit so small bike. at 3K km traded with 390 Adventure, worlds best decision :D I am still a learner so more suitable for my height, adequate power, traction control ... I am very happy, if your neighboorhood has lot of potholes and construciton roads, perfect choice. Consumption was low as 2.9 L/100 Km.
@@davidmorphett8997 never had less than 3.5 on my G310R (not even the GS) with the most economical riding. 4-4.5 typical. So 2.9....good luck, unless you're calculating it downhill. :D
Been riding since Septembeer 1st! Duke 390 as my first bike. I almost went for the ADV, I must admit. Just hit 1K kms yesterday. Don't think I'll trade, but I'll sure consider ADV when it's time to change!
@@toad3222 I was actually referring to the comparison between the 350 Adventure and the Duke at the end of the video, like: "I'd better buy the same (naked) bike with a slightly different seating position for a thousand bucks less". There is so much difference in the feature set of the 350 Adventure, which justifies the price difference. It could actually be even higher. Those differences were not mentioned at all. In short: You can't compare these 2 completely different bikes, except for the engine.
Hi Ryan and team! I just bought the KTM 390 Adventure, 2020, two days ago! It's been a two year journey of first gaining interest in motorcycling when I built a motorized bicycle, and then watched a video of yours on safe rain riding, invisibility, etc. I actually even used your video on the motorized bike to help since the stock instructions were shit. Since then I've built a massive excel sheet with every detail on hundreds of motorcycles, helmets, jackets, pants, gloves, boots, & misc gear items. Got my training done, then got my license, then rode my dads bike for a while. I finally selected the KTM 390 Adv as the optimal choice for me, and I bought one used, cheap, and with over a thousand dollars of modifications from heated grips to an upgrade on those pesky footpegs you mentioned ;). Riding it home with the sunset was an incredible experience. Thank you all at F9 for making such amazing content, inspirational videos, breaking down the intimidation, and teaching all of us so so much. The passion in your work shows. Happy riding!
They really need to make some longer videos. Someone in the comments mentioned a documentary. Can you imagine a 2 hour FortNine motorcycle film? OMG. It would be too much happiness to handle. I think they are capable of one day making a proper sequel to the best motorcycle film ever made, which was "On Any Sunday." If you haven't seen "On Any Sunday" drop what you're doing and find the full 2 hour video now. The music and editing is on the level of FortNine, all the way back in the 1960's. And the Malcom Smith footage of him crossing the desert at 90mph on a 2 stroke 500cc air cooled bike, is the stuff of legend.
He was in a few videos (killing the KLR 650, Getting a Motorcycle out of tricky situations) but this could be his first line, though I'm not quite certain about that...
Anybody know how tall Ryan is? Still waiting for my local dealer to have stocks I can check out. The ending also makes me wonder if Ryan will also jump a Duke 390 :D.
@@enhinyerorider5914 he's 6.2 or thereabouts. I own a Duke and the adventure suspension is like riding on a cloud in comparison though the acceleration is much more gradual than the Duke's insanely agressive pick-up. That said, we didn't have any budget adventure bikes here in India until recently and in the interim I've seen the Duke being used for light off-road.
Carl E apparently he is 6ft3. I’m 5ft6 so I have no problem standing up but the foot pegs are weird and I wouldn’t take a 390 engine for a proper adv ride. Maybe it’s more of a dual sport bike but I’ll always got the cheaper bike and just put knobby tires
I agree with the review, but the problem here is how the bike got advertised by KTM. Through many months of research to buy my first bike i ended up buying the 390 ADV, i needed a bike to ride explore and have fun, both on road and off road and that wouldn't throw me bankrupt. Off-road for this bike is dirt roads where a car couldn't make it through, It is not for enduro or MX trails like they show in the trailers, it is made to ride smooth on dirt. Either you like it or not, you must know what you want and need, for me this bike filled the gap in the market as this was what i wanted and what i needed.
but if it's just about being smooth on dirt, then you might as well just get the Duke for much less money and fit the same tyres on it. If you even wanna go more hardcore you could easily find enough room in the budget to swap the forks too at that price point. In reality, KTM should have gone a but further in cementing the difference between the ADV and the Duke, because it doesn't warrant the premium they're asking for it as it sits now.
@@Real_MisterSir premium? In my country this is as cheap as the himalayan 🤔 Even with the issues, I still think you can't have anything better for that price Pivoting lower pegs, a one inch riser and with my 5,10" and I'm good to go
Exactly my situation and why I still want to buy the 390 ADV. I don't live anyway near legal trails or something and for the road a CRF250 Rally and the KLR250 are just not powerful enough to have fun. The bigger ADV bikes are too expensive and the older ones lack of ABS and stuff. Its difficult, but are you satisfied with your decision?
@@Real_MisterSir not really, even if you changed those things you say this bike has a driving position a little more relaxed than a duke, better heat disipation, and higher ground clearance. It is more than clear that It is not a pure adv bike, but would rather pick this bike over a modified duke for a trip longer than the 2 kms ryan tested it.
@@Adrian7i7 I am very happy, the bike is very fun to ride and has good power and throttle response. The price, power/weight ratio and electronic features thats what made me choose this over any other in the competition. Roads and dirt/gravel roads she will take you where you want while having a lot of fun, the bike itself is tall but doesn't look like it.
revisiting this video after a year and owning a svartpilen. I have changed my mind. Initially I agreed with Ryan, but Yesterday I got stuck in a rut, no grip, rear tire spinning and digging deeper into a hole, if it weren´t for the bikes "light-weight", i wouldn´t have been able to get it out and ride home, and I had a revelation, big adventure bikes are simply too heavy to go on any real adventure alone, you need at least 2 more people to help you in these situations. So If I am able to go off-road and have a blast on a less capable street scrambler, with this proper adv bike you can do so much more. Just change the footpegs, tires, skidplate, and ride it like a hooligan.
100% I was initially turned off the KTM390adv as my first adventure bike, but a few other channels (ADVMatt, ADVpulse, DirtbikeTest) have built out the 390 with some mods to be a BDR-capable bike. New pegs, skidplate, bar risers, and knobbies turn the bike into a very competent offroader that's still able to cruise 80mph on the freeway. Yes a KLX300, CRF300 is going to be better offroad, but those bikes are not going to be as comfortable for the highway stretches. the 390adv is a pretty good compromise, better on the highway than smaller dual sports, easier to manage and pick up solo then the bigger adv bikes (t700, africa twin, bmw gs)
@@shoakimoto2517 thank you so much, id been really on the fence about getting one of these. Only because i knew the top speed but not how comfortable it was to ride and overtake on the freeway. from all the other reviews ive seen about this bike, i dont think f9 really showed what its capable of offroad. So off to the dealership i go
You Ryan, you are an absolute master at relaying information. Biker here, advertisement agency when I don't ride. The skills you have on how to inform people, to have them learn, to engage and to actually change their behavior is Boss-level. Eloquent, factual, well produced and highly pleasurable. You tick all the boxes mate. You, Ryan, you can make a difference regardless the topic. That is a strength rarely seen. Use it and reach out. Respect. Kindest regards, Giel from Amsterdam.
... or get some big, lower, level pegs for ~$65 - $120. Get a set of bar risers to your specifications for $25. Get a hardy bash plate or avoid being so clumsy and not roll over 7" logs Then you have a fantastic fast highway cruiser and a very nimble and light trail bike for at *least* $2500 less than the mid-size adventure bikes that fall over easier and hit the ground with a far heavier THUD! ~~~ I've ridden all sorts of bikes for over fifty years. The _KTM 390 Adventure_ is a flippin' winner. S
I bought this as my first bike not too long ago and whatever it may mean to an experienced rider, I love this bike. Ride it daily and will continue until I trade up.
@Anand Chatterjee Not a KTM fan and i ride a Gixxer250sf but KTMs are a lotta things but underpowered is not one of em, they heat, they break easy, they are not very refined but powerful, they are but not my cup of tea though
@@sudiptochaudhury2107 Ive seen guys riding 125cc ktms like they are on litre bikes. like dude common, the apache is faster. All about the tag i assume.
Ryan is my favorite motorcycle critic with his wit and analysis which is usually on target. But I take issue with his conclusion, I am 68 and have ridden for years on road and offroad, and I currently own 4 bikes including the 390 Adventure. I think this bike is awesome and just puts a smile on my face every time I ride it. It is especially good at carving canyons, even better than my BMW S 1000 XR in tight corners. The handlebars are way too low even for me at 5ft 11 and shrinking. If Ryan changed the pegs and installed a 2 inch Rox bar riser I think it would change his opinion. Clever marketers have convinced many that they need 1290 cc 600 pd beast for adventure riding, but unless you are an expert they are only good for a graded dirt road. You wouldn't believe where my 66 year old friend took his 390 Adventure with stock tires off road in Colorado last fall. Even with the limited clearance he amazed me as I was on my KTM 450 EXC. He did later add a better skid plate. I wanted to get rid of one bike but I can't bring myself to consider getting rid of this awesome ,comfortable great handling bike.
@@exothermal.sprocket or human trafficking corrupt Rightists? such as the CIA which is also deep in Hollywood, and both L & R into drugs. Just to be non political.
Ryan & Aneesh, you two are a great team, my favorite on RUclips. I always enjoy the quality of the videos. Please edit all the bike reviews into a movie series and I’ll play them on a loop. You guys stay safe and keep up the wonderful work.
I watched a lot of 390adv reviews. I bought it. I love it (I'm an 192cm beginner and still wanted something small and nimble). Now I saw this review - of course it's really well filmed, funny, great edit - but I'm not sure if I had bought my bike if I watched this review earlier - and that would have been a big error (not buying it). Totally in for the honesty of F9 tho - keep it up! Was really entertaining to see what a pro can do with this bike!
I'm the same, bought this bike exactly three weeks ago today and absolutely love it but I would have been off put by this video. Ryan is right in saying "what makes an adventure?" - I think that's a great concept to challenge the definition and perception of, and I love the video and Ryan, but I think he is underestimating for the price what this little nimble bike can do. Especially saying go with the Duke for 1000$ less. You'd spend that money on modding it out anyway, and foot pegs are easily changeable. Maybe for his purposes of an adventure it may not meet his standards so he compares it no better than a street bike, but this bike matches my definition of an adventure and I have and many others on youtube who you can watch take this bike on some pretty great off road tracks. Of course its not a dirt bike - but for every other use when I go on my own adventures I can't stop grinning. Each to their own I suppose!
@@ravikb2243 yeah, I don’t mean like literally an ad, as in Ryan is shilling for ktm or something. I mean that there just isn’t a significant enough difference in the two bikes, and Ryan is sort of poking fun at that throughout the video. I’d say buy whichever one you think looks better or if you really want a windshield go for it. Kind of seems like they are just capitulating to the fasted growing motorcycle segment using an already existing bike.. throw some knobby tires on a duke and you will get a similar result.
Handlebar raisers aside, isn't Ryan just too fkn tall for this bike!? I don't think he is even able to notice the difference between this and the Duke except for the price. Even that small ground clearance is much better in the adv and not a deal breaker, you can still power wheelie over that log. The only complain I have about it is the unbearably hard stock seat.
Yeah. A Duke 390 would be slipping and sliding on gravelly or muddy roads. This bike still has a purpose. Unfair to expect same functionality from the bigger adventure bikes.
Well, you meant Aneesh Shivanekar, right? Ryan has nothing to do with the cinematics of the videos. Of course Ryan writes the script for each video but the story telling is up to Aneesh. Aneesh is the cinematic genius.
It is necessary to acknowledge what each member brings to the team. Did you see "Money Ball" or read the book? There wouldn't be an Athletics team without the individual contributions of the members of the team. For F9, Ryan writes superbly well, Aneesh is a master "filmator" lol.
I imagine the KTM marketing team giddy while watching this video, right up until the last minute. I think a more diminuitive rider with less adventurous aspirations could put some aftermarket pegs on the 390ADV and have a good time for not a lot of money. I'm glad that the industry is embracing lighter and more nimble 300-400 cc adventure bikes. I've been wanting one since the mid 1970s. They're perfect for the riding I want to do.
This is the only channel i watch Every. Single. Video. from, whether its bikes I'm interested in or not. This could honestly have been a review for that taco truck and I would have still clicked on it furiously. Keep it up, man!
I love the F9 videos. There is so much going on here. Attention to detail, excellent storyboarding and scripting, top notch filmography, perfect sound and music selection and timing. Even the B roll is perfect. How seamless everything looks is really a testament to how much planning and dedication goes into this. Really excellent work guys.
Notice that the garage he jumps out of, isnt the same as the one he opened and had the bike in. A lot of effort has gone into picking locations for effect!
This content is arguably too good for RUclips but I’m so glad it’s here and I hope it stays and continues to thrive and Ryan and Aneesh find it fulfilling. What a gift.
This is one of the best channels on RUclips, hands down. Your editing is the gold standard to which us other content creators dream about coming close to. Thanks for what you guys do!
Perfect review!... "Even the KTM pro rider photo is about to fly over the handlebar", that says it all. However, ergonomics are somewhat fixable. This is the best entry level ADV bike for most of us mere mortal riders
If you want to see some really awesome adventure riding with no billion dollar backup crew, check out c90adventures here on the Tubes. Ed is awesome. True adventure rider.
Another awesome adventure series I'd recommend is Lyndon Poskitt's Races 2 Places Just him, his cameras and his bike, traveling the world No film crew, spare motorcycles And crew trucks included lol
I honestly have never seen this quality of video production in any channel of this size. Very well edited and easy to watch but with a lot of information!
AKA "Ryan's Not-So-Great Adventure." Hardly his fault; he'd clearly rather Duke it out. 😁 Otherwise, another video ridiculously well-done. (On my Request list for Ryan: Benelli's new Leoncino 500 twin. Just saw one, would love to know his take on it )
I live down the road from QJ factory (they make Benelli) in China. I know the entire Argentinian design team. They are not very good bikes. Super heavy, due to the lazy/safe approach (components are thicker then they need to be). Their curb weight is actually dry weight. There are better options from China, CFmoto or Colove
As someone who is 6'7 and just learning how to ride, the KTM 390 Adventure 2024 is amazing for me. it's not too small, the price is pretty low, my back does not hurt after riding it for a while. There are probably other bikes that are better for a new rider and all that, but i didn't find one in my country for that price class for my hight, so i'm really happy with my purchase! It's far from the best bike, but if you as the rider like it then that's good enough :)
Got 2023 spoked wheels model as my first bike. I'm coming from mtb/xc-ish bicycles and do simple forrest single/double tracks with various surfaces like sand or dirt. I'm really not into busy highway riding and I avoid riding in the city for safety reasons but also because I just enjoy quieter backcoutry roads and nature. My typical ride is 70-100+km with 70% dirt/sand single/double track. And I have to say that I'm really loving this bike so far. I'm 191cm(~6'3) and 130+kg(~290) and this bike is very comfortable for me. It has plenty of power to haul me around in 1/2 gears up the offroad hills, and generally has enough torque at low revs, which means that it is also very quiet (I keep it below 4K revs usually) and doesn't annoy me at all. The suspension is great and comfortably handles my weight everywhere without bottoming out, including pump-like singletracks, misc obstacles and potholes. Regarding the pegs, I don't have much experience with other bikes, but coming from bicycles I don't really notice that they are tilted, but I do notice that they are smaller than what I'm used to. That being said, with size 12.5 shoes I really don't have a problem standing up and going over hard terrain. Maybe I would like to get handlebar risers, but even as is I really don't have any problems with them. I've considered other bikes, but here in Ukraine we don't really have good dealerships for japaneese bikes (hard to find kawasaki, yamaha, etc dual sports) and in most cities in terms of dirt/adv bikes you really only have a choice to either get a cheaper chineese dirt bike and pray that they will have parts for it if something breaks, or get an expensive ktm but have dealerships with all parts stocked at any time. So that's what I went with and so far only got engine guards and will probably get a single-piece seat to be able to slide around more easilly offroad.
Update: it's been a year so far and I've upgraded to an OEM handlebar riser, OEM single-piece offroad seat and mitas e09 tires. Risers and seat made it much more comfortable for me, esp offroad. The tires made it amazing on wet dirt/sand and wet clay. I'm absolutely loving it so far, 150-300km dirt roundtrips exploring backroads and nature are a total piece of cake for this thing. Great all rounder, I wouldn't want to upgrade to anything else, but I am looking forward to 390 adv R in the future if it ever comes out.
Wow!One of the best auto reviews I have ever watched. And I have watched EVERY SINGLE episode of TopGear MULTIPLE times, and many many (perhaps too many) other car reviews and shows through the years, thousands at least!Yes I’m a car-guy myself, trying to get into the adventure-bike game. Production is top-notch! Starting from the music, to the story, the cinematography, the actual information about the bike, presenter (and he is really funny to boot😅), I must say, this video is of the highest quality I have seen. Keep it up guys. Super keen to watch a few more. You def have a new, very pleased subscriber, although I was a bit disappointed with the verdict on this KTM 390 Adv. All I can say is hats off and I give you a standing ovation for the work done here👏👏👏👏
but it's almost at the same pricepoint as the versys 650. Even the versys x would make a better bike then this for less. Second hand it get's royally outclassed by yamaha's xt660z & cb500x can be found at this price point with rally raid kit on it.
Funny as always, buuuuut... on the other hand, I was looking for an entry level dual sport. Usual suspects, CFR250L, DRZ400, KLX250. Wasn’t even thinking a KTM anything. After watching many vids from India, UK, Aus, my interest peaked, but not a 390 ADV to be found. Test drove usual suspects, months went by, finally 390 hits US and I got to test drive one. My conclusion after riding all, was go with 390 ADV. Price was about same , all were fine bikes, but 390 won hands down for me. It was not 20 years dated technology, had on/off road safety features, was at home on/off road, had larger fuel tank, adjustable suspension front /back. All I did was put more off roady tires on (waiting on gear change) and I’m good, having a blast off road. Yes it’s a 390 duke relative, but watching 390ADV keep up with much bigger bikes all over the world off road in far worse conditions than I will ride sold me, couldn’t be happier. They call it ADV, it’s based on street, but to me, it’s perfect dual sport. And at same price point, no brained. Now if it was couple thousand more, that’s a different story, but it was cheaper than cfr250L Rally. Test ride one, form your own opinion, but I’ve been having fun from day one and haven’t looked back.
Glad you are enjoying it.. but nah, its a street bike. I can ride a 70s cb350 and keep up with most of the big bikes. You see that in the long way round where clapped out 250 street bikes in mongolia are running circles around the elephant bemmers sinking into mud. As per this bike if you enjoy it, awesome! Ride it for what it is, but ti claim its better because *insert noob tech* or "newer design" its laughable. Id rather have a true ds bike like the drz or the fuel injected yamaha anyyy day for adv, offroad, etc. This ktm has good suspension, its a great commuter.. what kills it for me, ugly headlight just like its big brother.
Have one myself and absolutely love it, it does struggle on hard off road stuff but the only stuff I've came across that it hasn't been able to deal with is dirt bike levels of off road, it's amazing on road and very fun off it and is more than adequate for the type of off roading most people will be doing, i went out with a gs1200 and a ktm 1090 adv beside one rock it kept up with them fine, and the rock i couldn't get over the gs really struggled and the rider dropped it in the process, it's no dirt bike but i think it's a genuinely brilliant adventure bike, and almost all the issues he has with the bike you can replace with aftermarket parts
@@North_Of_Nowhere that gs is no dirtbike either, your lighter bike is much better in my opinion. The big Ktm though, put a capable rider on that and it would leave most other advs far behind..
Just got my KTM Adventure 390 SW, and have to say: its INSANE how much "Bike for Buck" they give you! It handles insanely good, the Software and App are amazing (with its own Map System, giving you hints like: "Search a way with more curves", its economic in fuel consumption, there is TONS of accessoire, it sounds great - and handles like an Enduro Off Road! Been riding bikes since over twenty years, thats my best bike so far!
There is some good entertainment to be had watching American rider's experiencing corners on Mulholland highway and Dragon's tail but, at the same time there is also tons of crash compilations at the Nurburgring in Germany and that's despite them trying to actively discourage or stop such videos from being made in the first place.
@@Jack-yl7cc tbh the nurburgring is quite a difficult place to ride with motorcycles due to the height differences and angles, not even mentioning the amount of coolant and oil on the track. Ever been on it? I wanted to ride my bike on it, but after seeing the track swapped for a car.
@@Nick-dz4ml I did not mean to imply that Nürburgring is not a highly difficult track(its in a league of its own for its technical difficulty) but rather just pointing out that more than just Americans, have problems with corners. If you do a google search for either of the two locations in the US, then somewhere in the top of the suggestion list, is crashes. At the same time similar videos of such incidents are actively suppressed at the Nürburgring because they think its bad publicity and they take the defamation laws in Germany very seriously. So despite all three being "public" roads; its just much easier to find crash vids from the US in general. In fact, I would say the Nürburgring is one of the most dangerous bits of track in existence but not because of the track conditions(most would say its because of the lack of run-off areas). It's not the track conditions that bothers me about the Nürburgring at all(I view that as a fun challenge); it is the cars intermingling randomly with motorcyclist(major blind spot issues) and the people attempting to set a "lap" time. The worst crashes I have seen that involved multiple vehicles, tended to be caused by someone trying to adhere to the "race" line, whist trying to set a "lap" time. They seem to completely ignore or forget that there is other people on the track that they need to share it with, who might not have the same level of driving skills, or the race centric vehicle; so they simple can not react to someone trying to forcible stick to the race line while expecting other people to get out of their way. The aggressive "lap" time driver issue, is probable why they ban dedicated lap timers. I have been on a motorcycle in all sorts of weather and road conditions with a lot of near misses or crashes(even a couple that forced me to go off road to avoid on-coming traffic in the wrong lane) and the one thing it has taught me is to slow down. The same thing applies with the Nürburgring; it only cost a bit of money to pay for multiple laps so you can do each "lap" with the intention of the first one being the slowest and every one after that being at a bit faster pace than the previous. That way you can you learn the track conditions and learn where you can go a bit faster or need to stay a bit on the slower side. Of course, now days you can easily play a multitude of "racing" games to get a rough feel for the track before you even show up for the first time and really step of your level of safety if you can remember all the corners ahead of time. There is no rule stating that you have to go as fast as possible on the Nürburgring; although I would say its certainly much safer if you are capable of keeping pace with the majority.
How is Fortnine’s production quality higher than 90% of the high budget shows on broadcast television? Lol
and with a smidgen of your budget. @FortNine can you do a video of the equipment you guys use to do these amazing productions.
Passion.
His videos are quality, production and content
He's got an Indian guy who films , edits & plans most stuff !!
@@NavvLife Ryan writes reviews and plans what videos he wants to do. He’s also the deliverer and presenter
The only motorcycle youtube channel not afraid to spill some tea!
Joe Busch I didn’t realize he literally made tea before “spilling the tea” until reading your comment.
Any manufacturer that lends FortNine their bike and lets him review it honestly and thoroughly with no strings attached, instantly get's higher on my list.
@@crispindry2815 You're right, my bad.
@@crispindry2815 get is higher! Crystal clear :P
yeah Ducati will never give a bike to F9 and that sucks.
Ktm aren't dumb. If there's a problem to pick with the bike, someone like Ryan will pick it. They can then fix the issues on later models. Not only does it make the bike better, but it makes them look like they actually care about making a good bike. It's a win-win. Some brands (Ducati is a prime example) are more concerned with protecting their reputation rather than getting honest feedback.
I think Ryan mentioned in one of the previous videos they usually buy bikes and gear to do these reviews.
Two years later, KTM straightened the pegs and offers spoked wheels as power parts. I can't wait to take my 390 to offroad to see what it can do
That's good to know
Can you buy the pegs separately and fit them to an older model? I'm thinking of buying a used one in a couple months.
@@SuperFrodo95 definitely can. Bunch of aftermarket options as well.
The pegs remain equally slanted on my 2022, don't know what you're on about.
@@MrMistery101 Yeah, I've looked at photos of the '23 and they still have the same angled footpegs. I've just put Motourenn Adventurist pegs on my bike and they're much better for standing on.
The Verdict Was Brutally Honest... Well Said And Done.
Loved It!
Bilkul sahi bdw, I'm ur subscriber bro 😊
As I'm not too experienced with bikes (don't even have one to my name yet), I was pretty hyped for this bike until the very end of the review haha
@@rileywebb4178 😊👍
yeah bro
@@rileywebb4178 There's gobs of fun to be had with this baby, it's simply not a true wilderness machine, but big deal, you'll love it for the way it does it all pretty well.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's a clean-sweep of the 2020 Oscars! FortNine takes 'Best Picture,' 'Best Actor,' 'Best Editing'..."
Thank the cinematographer and editor aneesh
Nope, it needs at least one black and a gay.
@@ikaustralia Ryan might identify as black and gay
Best guidelines too
Best insights
Setting aside my love of motorcycling for just a minute and speaking as a former videotape editor in a London production company, I have to say I'm constantly impressed by the high production values in every FortNine video.
I think I like the cinematography and editing more than the actual review these days. It’s so enticing like magic bro. Fantastic stuff from Aneesh
They're fooling you all! What would appear to be a two-man video team is actually a carefully crafted ruse hiding a 100-person film crew and several luxurious travel trailers.
Probably the best production quality of the independent motorcycle channels
ME ME ME, LOOK AT ME. No one cares that you edited a video in London..
@@TheJPHarvey I would argue someone with video production experience is somewhat more qualified to opine on production values than someone without, but you are entitled to your opinion about who "cars" about what, I guess. 🤣😂😆
"The tire has more grip than the rider has balls."
This resonates with me!
THIS Bike has BORN to become a SUPERMOTO.
It with duke 390 wheels would be hella confort, hella grip and hella fun!
Also, the new Duke has the same adjustable suspension?
I just CANT RIDE regular "off road" bikes anymore after discovering supermoto.
And since i almost never ride in the wet soacked mud or whatever, i actually do better with the 17" wheels and its tires, cause they work better in the wet aswell.
@@evilzinabyssranger5695 might as well rename it to KTM 390 SMC/SMR lol
OH HELLS YEAH MORE FortNine? Just made my day
Yes
Same here
SAME PINCH !!!!!
TRUE THAT
FortNine, the only RUclips channel that gets my full attention, headphones on (both ears), full screen, cup of tea, packet of Jaffa cakes sit back and enjoy the absolute class that Ryan and Aneesh produce every single time. Perfect!!!!!
Couldn't agree more.
@The USS Johnston you sound like a pain in the butt, many times over in this comment section. Yes, you big, strong, *real* man!!
@The USS Johnston And you sound like an absolute twat.
@The USS Johnston you don't deserve to be on that comment section.
Out, now.
Kudos for mentioning Aneesh. He's criminally underrated behind the camera. Also Jaffa cakes are 😍
Had the pleasure of meeting Aneesh and Ryan this weekend. They're as nice as their videos are dope! Determined to watch them all, now.
thats so cool
@@VinOnline they live near me, in my hometown Vancouver. It was a weird coincidence -- I was actually buying Aneesh's DR650! But when I messaged him through the ad, I didn't realize it was him hahaha.
@@logansimonson2980 So did you make a deal on the DR?
You met the Jesus of motorcyclists 😲
That's pretty cool!
congrats on the bike
For anyone who hasn’t seen this bike up close and personal, this video really brings into perspective how freaking tall Ryan is. This is by far the biggest motorcycle under 650cc I’ve ever seen. Looks like a proper adv in person. Its bigger than the cb500x even
So is this taller than even a versys?
@@shahan484 id say seat height wise yes. It has that bench style seat youd expect from a motocross bike. Not really any dip in the middle. Me being 5’9” with a 32” inseam I found the bmw f750gs to be a better fit.
He's only 6,3 lol
@@Hazztech and?
"only 6'3" lol
“These tires have more grip than most riders have balls”. Ryan, tellin’ it like it is, eh?
so about 3 grip?
Grip level three? On a scale of one to penis? Maybe I’m missing something here.
Absolutely the best reviews on the internet
can confirm having had those tires on my Super Tenere. Ive done everything from accidentally scraped a peg in cold and wet weather going up a mountain road in Flagstaff AZ, to trying to chase down a friend on a supermoto on a tight canyon road and never felt like the tires were even close to giving up. I will be switching to a TKC70ROCKS rear and either a 70 or 80 for the front on the next tire change though
These videos are really made to be watched at least three times.:
Once for the cinematography, choreography and geography
Second time for the actual content. And at least a third time just because they're so damn good!
I'll second that! 🎯👍😎
Plus you can tell Ryan puts a lot of thought into his script.
You forgot the fourth just to make sure you're really getting one.
I Watched the one on he did on the T7 lots of times.
True that 3 times
Not gonna lie, you had us in the first 10 minutes XD
That's what I like about him .it's always rewarding to watch till the end .👍
Just laughed at those who didn't watch till the end.
The videos only ten mins long?
You said it best. 👍👍
Bamboozled!!!
Don't be deterred by the end of this video. The KTM 390 Adventure is absolutely phenomenal. I've ridden countless motorcycles (15+ years test riding for a motorcycle magazine), and this is one of the best motorcycles I've ever owned. The power and the nimble feel of this bike feels much closer to my KTM 450XC-W than it does to my old KLR650. I watched this review prior to pulling the trigger on one, and admittedly this review made me hesitant, but I am in LOVE with this bike.
What year KTM 390 did you buy?
@@andrewmendoza9480 I have the 2022 model.
Yup. Honestly think the F9 team should revisit the 390adv with the right mods for offroading.
It’s junk, the versys 300x destroys this thing all day in every way. Dr650 is the best though. Problem with people like U guys… u can be fed Kraft Mac n cheese with hotdogs blindfolded and you’d think ur eating at a Michelin star restaurant….. no discernment…
@@keithquinn5624 That's the beauty of motorcycles... if everyone agreed on one bike, we'd all be riding one bike. The Versys is a great bike as well, and definitely worth considering. For me personally, the suspension and offroad handling of the 390 felt superior to the 300x, which was important for me for where I ride. As for the DR650, it's hard to say anything bad about that bike. I've put a lot of miles on those and everyone should have one in their arsenal. But one of my requirements was a bike that was enjoyable 2-up for my wife to join me, and the DR650 is simply not made for that from a comfort standpoint.
As for the mac n cheese and hot dogs comment, I've owned bikes from every manufacturer out there and am not partial to KTM (I've always preferred Yamaha and Kawasaki). There seems to be an equal amount of folks who simply despise everything that KTM puts out. This bike just made sense for me, and I am in love with it.
The cinematics editing and audio selection in that loading dock scene was epic 🤘🤘
Just wanna know how long i've been subscribed to you.
ruclips.net/video/TtlHyznt7pI/видео.html the song from that part. Very good singer actually!
Loved every minute of it 👍. Watching from that very hometown of yours (Aneesh) that you mentioned!
As always . And someone deserve a bigger paycheck
@@Kawaflakablaka Thanks! I didn't have luck finding the song on my own.
It seems a few people don't agree with Ryan's review, and feel he's being unfair. I'd say watch it again. The opening question is about 'what is an adventure?' Yes it can be a solo trip across the country or a lunch trip with all those adventure elements included. A very clever concept for a bike review. Also, his review states so many positive aspects of the bike, but at the end he simply states he doesn't like riding it. This isn't saying its a bad bike at all, just his preference. Don't get offended by that. If every review he did stated that the review bike was fantastic, then doesn't that mean his reviews are not independant and therefore irrelevant? Brilliant video, Ryan and Aneesh.
I think recommending the Duke 390 for a $1000 less is unfair. That bike can't do what this bike can without extensive modding, and the vast majority of adv riders modify their bikes anyway so the flaws he's mentioned like the pegs are easy fixes. Most riders spend hundreds on an exhaust, surely they can afford to fix the pegs.
Yama Satru you wouldn’t take the 390A through Siberia or South America
Old Axe Head that’s why he said ergonomically it’s a street bike with adventure on the plastic, and to get the duke.
@@oldaxehead655 owning new duke 390 last year i'd say stay away... withon 4000km of a brand new bike i found myself getting towed 3 times due to "engine problems" , sold it back to the dealership for a yamaha. Dont get me wrong it was a very nice driving bike with loads of fun but the waiting on the side of the road got old very fast. Unfortunate i hope they fix the reliability.
@Yama Satru of you're looking for a serious adventure bike, you're probably not looking at the 390. More people would use it for a lunch run than across the province.
I would watch a full documentary shot by the Fortnine crew
...and that documentary could be on how paint drys and they could still make it a masterpiece that i would enjoy watching
God, can you imagine? I would rather pay $60 for a documentary by FortNine crew than pay for a UFC event. Imagine 2 hours of this type of artwork, and amazing knowledge, hilarious voice-over work, and beautiful, beautiful forests. They just need to come up with a story, create a sense of drama, by introducing a challenge. Perhaps a trip with his BMW into various different "clans" of Harley riders, street racers, etc. See how they respond to Ryan. A documentary about the different types of motorcycle riders, and how they respond to outsiders.
Yeah I could totally watch Ryan riding across Canada while talking about motorcycles.
You guys should follow the videographer on insta. He posts really interesting stuff
could literally watch a documentary on how fly shit and it would be awesome.
Despite everything, I bought one! Adjustable foot rests, handle bar risers and voila! After all, I am not an experienced biker nor do I use to get into the muddy or loose gravel trails but the 390 covers 100% of my needs. Great little bike.
She's two years old now and I still love her.
But, if you don't get into dirt trails, Why not a road bike?, I got the Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 (bassically the same motorbike)
@@JP-xd6fm I guess adv bike is more comfortable than street bikes?
@@JP-xd6fm It has a tiny tank and the seating position is painful. Looks gorgeous though.
Serious questions will be asked at KTM HQ.
"How could we let this happen. How could we have built a bike not fit for purpose and then send it to one of the few reviewers who would actually test it properly and then mock us by suggesting it was barely fit to go to a Taco stand."
I don't think KTM sent him the bike. Fortnine doesn't fit the marketing model most manufacturers go looking for.
Element of Kindness they should he’s almost at 1 million subscribers I don’t think MCN has that
@@ElementofKindness And I don't think KTM are sitting there having serious questions at their HQ. This was what some people lovingly refer to as, a joke.
@@xclent1975 it won't happen, and Ryan has covered this already. Most reviews are paid advertisements bragging the positives, while ignoring the negatives. F9 doesn't roll that way. You're gonna get a blunt, honest review, whether good or bad.
Yeah ondank, I know you were just kidding
It's a KTM demo bike. All the demo bikes in their fleet are plated in PQ.
Straight to the point and on the face 😁. Very sensible review 😊
This guy always nails it.
Strell....🤩❤️
Hoi Strell... ❤️
Strell annan uyir 😌
Oh hi strell. Are we getting a malayalam review of this calibre anytime soon?
RF9: "Nothing between my knees but thin air." You said it, not me!
Touché. ~RF9
you'd have to have a real hammer for it to be at your knees
@J E well said
@RF9 I'm afraid that you'll have to film 'part 2' and lot of things will be different. They put up this new one like they whatched this video for motivation😂
I think the 373 cc thumper has so much potential- if they had put it in a more ADV like chassis, I imagine it would be almost perfect as a budget tight lightweight do-it-all ADV bike.
Its not everyday you see a motorcycle journalist(s) get loaned a bike for them to be 100% honest about it. _That_ deserves appreciation from the consumer side. Well done indeed.
There have been spyshots taken of a 390 platform bike with 18/21 inch tires, whether that is going to become a enduro/supermoto or a beefier 390 adventure is yet to be seen.
"That deserves appreciation from the consumer side." To a company, is lip service appreciation, appreciation at all?
Let's just say this.... My CRF300L would be traded in immediately.
Can't believe they haven't thrown that engine in a budget friendly quad yet. They wouldn't be able to keep them in stock if they marketed it as an entry level/ budget sport quad
@@r3fotzirx they sell those tires for the 390 adventure
The term, "Adventure Plastic" was coined during the pandemic of 2020, by a RUclipsr known only as FortNine.
HAHAHAH!
Known as RyanF9
dat production value though
Unbelievable nobody has noticed you. Craving that content though. Cheers mate 🤙
Useless filler
Hows it going Gents..?
I wish we had more of it but videos have taken a different turn lately
More that KTM spent on designing the damn bike!
I Love F9, but for a guy who doesn't like the bike, he sure made it look really inviting. It looks fun as hell. Small, light, safe. Just get new footpegs! :)
crushed it once again lads! Things were looking so good for the 390 ADV till the last 10 seconds 😂
Agreed. He should have mentioned you can replace those pegs with aftermarkets, if you don't like the stock ones.
its a great bike to be fair
My heart is broken, I was really considering this as my first bike so I can do ADV trips with my dad lol
@@Dillondeitz dr650 baby
Get the V-STROM 650. Unless you plan to do more serious offroad. Then, take a look at the Honda 300L/Rally.
Riding since this may, I bought a Duke 390 as first bike, I am 6f5 (195cm) Quite pain to fit so small bike. at 3K km traded with 390 Adventure, worlds best decision :D I am still a learner so more suitable for my height, adequate power, traction control ... I am very happy, if your neighboorhood has lot of potholes and construciton roads, perfect choice. Consumption was low as 2.9 L/100 Km.
2.9? Are you pushing it with the engine off?
@@TsvetanVR sounds legit ..I often get 3.6 -3.8 on a Vstrom 650 .
@@davidmorphett8997 never had less than 3.5 on my G310R (not even the GS) with the most economical riding. 4-4.5 typical. So 2.9....good luck, unless you're calculating it downhill. :D
Been riding since Septembeer 1st! Duke 390 as my first bike. I almost went for the ADV, I must admit. Just hit 1K kms yesterday. Don't think I'll trade, but I'll sure consider ADV when it's time to change!
Bikes measure fuel economy? Mine just measures kph and fun..
I was pondering these past few moons on when ye gleeful bliss of moving pictures would be blessing my telecommunications device. Soon I prayed.
This is quite a kick in the nuts of all the "reviewers" standing beside the bike and reading from the brochure.
Might be. Or this one is just bashing the bike for less objective reasons.
@@TimZett how are the things that he brought up not objective flaws?
@@toad3222 I was actually referring to the comparison between the 350 Adventure and the Duke at the end of the video, like: "I'd better buy the same (naked) bike with a slightly different seating position for a thousand bucks less".
There is so much difference in the feature set of the 350 Adventure, which justifies the price difference. It could actually be even higher. Those differences were not mentioned at all.
In short: You can't compare these 2 completely different bikes, except for the engine.
@@TimZett it's a 390!
Hi Ryan and team! I just bought the KTM 390 Adventure, 2020, two days ago! It's been a two year journey of first gaining interest in motorcycling when I built a motorized bicycle, and then watched a video of yours on safe rain riding, invisibility, etc. I actually even used your video on the motorized bike to help since the stock instructions were shit.
Since then I've built a massive excel sheet with every detail on hundreds of motorcycles, helmets, jackets, pants, gloves, boots, & misc gear items. Got my training done, then got my license, then rode my dads bike for a while. I finally selected the KTM 390 Adv as the optimal choice for me, and I bought one used, cheap, and with over a thousand dollars of modifications from heated grips to an upgrade on those pesky footpegs you mentioned ;). Riding it home with the sunset was an incredible experience.
Thank you all at F9 for making such amazing content, inspirational videos, breaking down the intimidation, and teaching all of us so so much. The passion in your work shows. Happy riding!
Cool, which footpegs did you use?
How the heck does this channel only have almost a million subs? This deserves waaaay more!
'A big fan of this channel 👍👍
Do a collab.pinoys will add up
@@ryanprotech9530 ez hahaha
Dito ka pala idol! Hihi.
Big fan mo din ako motour hehe
Because enthusiasm for motorcycles is a pretty small niche. Especially in the English world which is where this video will be recommended to for most.
Honestly Ryan, you and your camera guy make the absolute best videos. The cinematography, quality, and content are the best there is.
im excited but also sad to watch his videos, because I know I’m gonna have to wait another month for the incoming one haha
They really need to make some longer videos. Someone in the comments mentioned a documentary. Can you imagine a 2 hour FortNine motorcycle film? OMG. It would be too much happiness to handle. I think they are capable of one day making a proper sequel to the best motorcycle film ever made, which was "On Any Sunday." If you haven't seen "On Any Sunday" drop what you're doing and find the full 2 hour video now. The music and editing is on the level of FortNine, all the way back in the 1960's. And the Malcom Smith footage of him crossing the desert at 90mph on a 2 stroke 500cc air cooled bike, is the stuff of legend.
Is it the first time Aneesh appears on camera?
Great to see you!!
no he has been on one other - a few months / years ago ?
He was in a few videos (killing the KLR 650, Getting a Motorcycle out of tricky situations) but this could be his first line, though I'm not quite certain about that...
Pretty sure he was in the H2 video when Ryan does his "fly by"
Thanks guys. Yeah doing cameos here and there for a while now - my favorite one is in the Zero video
@@findaneesh8885 Your editing and Ryan's writing fits best for vid. Big fan.
I don't expect f9 getting invited to fancy caviar and champagne press dinners anytime soon, and I love it.
Ktm is quite chill with these reviews. Ryan said that. And dude try anyone that brand is lit af
"Ergonomically it's a street bike with adventure in plastic in it, might as well get the 390 Duke for 1000 dollars less"
This summary was flawless
I’d be interested to know what swapping out the foot pegs and bars would do for this bike. Also if the ergonomics improve for shorter riders.
Anybody know how tall Ryan is? Still waiting for my local dealer to have stocks I can check out.
The ending also makes me wonder if Ryan will also jump a Duke 390 :D.
@@enhinyerorider5914 he's 6.2 or thereabouts. I own a Duke and the adventure suspension is like riding on a cloud in comparison though the acceleration is much more gradual than the Duke's insanely agressive pick-up. That said, we didn't have any budget adventure bikes here in India until recently and in the interim I've seen the Duke being used for light off-road.
@@enhinyerorider5914 I think Ryan has said hes either 6'2 or 6'3
Carl E apparently he is 6ft3. I’m 5ft6 so I have no problem standing up but the foot pegs are weird and I wouldn’t take a 390 engine for a proper adv ride. Maybe it’s more of a dual sport bike but I’ll always got the cheaper bike and just put knobby tires
Aneesh for president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. You guys are awesome.
I agree with the review, but the problem here is how the bike got advertised by KTM.
Through many months of research to buy my first bike i ended up buying the 390 ADV, i needed a bike to ride explore and have fun, both on road and off road and that wouldn't throw me bankrupt.
Off-road for this bike is dirt roads where a car couldn't make it through, It is not for enduro or MX trails like they show in the trailers, it is made to ride smooth on dirt.
Either you like it or not, you must know what you want and need, for me this bike filled the gap in the market as this was what i wanted and what i needed.
but if it's just about being smooth on dirt, then you might as well just get the Duke for much less money and fit the same tyres on it. If you even wanna go more hardcore you could easily find enough room in the budget to swap the forks too at that price point. In reality, KTM should have gone a but further in cementing the difference between the ADV and the Duke, because it doesn't warrant the premium they're asking for it as it sits now.
@@Real_MisterSir premium?
In my country this is as cheap as the himalayan
🤔
Even with the issues, I still think you can't have anything better for that price
Pivoting lower pegs, a one inch riser and with my 5,10" and I'm good to go
Exactly my situation and why I still want to buy the 390 ADV. I don't live anyway near legal trails or something and for the road a CRF250 Rally and the KLR250 are just not powerful enough to have fun. The bigger ADV bikes are too expensive and the older ones lack of ABS and stuff. Its difficult, but are you satisfied with your decision?
@@Real_MisterSir not really, even if you changed those things you say this bike has a driving position a little more relaxed than a duke, better heat disipation, and higher ground clearance. It is more than clear that It is not a pure adv bike, but would rather pick this bike over a modified duke for a trip longer than the 2 kms ryan tested it.
@@Adrian7i7 I am very happy, the bike is very fun to ride and has good power and throttle response. The price, power/weight ratio and electronic features thats what made me choose this over any other in the competition. Roads and dirt/gravel roads she will take you where you want while having a lot of fun, the bike itself is tall but doesn't look like it.
revisiting this video after a year and owning a svartpilen. I have changed my mind. Initially I agreed with Ryan, but Yesterday I got stuck in a rut, no grip, rear tire spinning and digging deeper into a hole, if it weren´t for the bikes "light-weight", i wouldn´t have been able to get it out and ride home, and I had a revelation, big adventure bikes are simply too heavy to go on any real adventure alone, you need at least 2 more people to help you in these situations. So If I am able to go off-road and have a blast on a less capable street scrambler, with this proper adv bike you can do so much more. Just change the footpegs, tires, skidplate, and ride it like a hooligan.
Meh, I'll just get a CRF300L or KLX300 or XT250
@@kaikart123 if only yamaha would bump the xt up to a 350 that thing would be fkin fantastic
100% I was initially turned off the KTM390adv as my first adventure bike, but a few other channels (ADVMatt, ADVpulse, DirtbikeTest) have built out the 390 with some mods to be a BDR-capable bike. New pegs, skidplate, bar risers, and knobbies turn the bike into a very competent offroader that's still able to cruise 80mph on the freeway. Yes a KLX300, CRF300 is going to be better offroad, but those bikes are not going to be as comfortable for the highway stretches. the 390adv is a pretty good compromise, better on the highway than smaller dual sports, easier to manage and pick up solo then the bigger adv bikes (t700, africa twin, bmw gs)
And maybe a new set of bars or bar risers if forward weight is a problem.
@@shoakimoto2517 thank you so much, id been really on the fence about getting one of these. Only because i knew the top speed but not how comfortable it was to ride and overtake on the freeway. from all the other reviews ive seen about this bike, i dont think f9 really showed what its capable of offroad. So off to the dealership i go
You Ryan, you are an absolute master at relaying information. Biker here, advertisement agency when I don't ride.
The skills you have on how to inform people, to have them learn, to engage and to actually change their behavior is Boss-level. Eloquent, factual, well produced and highly pleasurable.
You tick all the boxes mate. You, Ryan, you can make a difference regardless the topic. That is a strength rarely seen. Use it and reach out. Respect.
Kindest regards, Giel from Amsterdam.
Great analysis - Well Said. 👍😁
Thoroughness factor: 6/10. "Straight to the point" factor: 10/10, Entertainment factor: Off the scale :)
OMG this is hilarious!!! ... the epic power of video editing!
Harsh reality. Love it.
Hands down the best edited videos of the dozens of people I follow on here, love these dudes!
ruclips.net/video/QQ0__WKpf2s/видео.html
From videos to the bike. Ktm is intense!
Drone 😅
... or get some big, lower, level pegs for ~$65 - $120.
Get a set of bar risers to your specifications for $25.
Get a hardy bash plate or avoid being so clumsy and not roll over 7" logs
Then you have a fantastic fast highway cruiser
and a very nimble and light trail bike
for at *least* $2500 less than the mid-size adventure bikes
that fall over easier and hit the ground with a far heavier THUD!
~~~
I've ridden all sorts of bikes for over fifty years.
The _KTM 390 Adventure_ is a flippin' winner.
S
Guys, keep it going! The cinematic quality, the script, everything is getting so God Damn good! Well done!
always has been...
OMG the quality of the production is insane
A lot of people will underestimate the skills required to do anything from this video!
Love it!
I bought this as my first bike not too long ago and whatever it may mean to an experienced rider, I love this bike. Ride it daily and will continue until I trade up.
Dude, there made near my hometown, we got like a million of these things. LMAO...
That was hilarious 😂 that's true I see them a lot packed in truck
Yeah, made by Bajaj motors at Pune, India
@Anand Chatterjee Not a KTM fan and i ride a Gixxer250sf but KTMs are a lotta things but underpowered is not one of em, they heat, they break easy, they are not very refined but powerful, they are but not my cup of tea though
@Anand Chatterjee
Underpowered?
Please elaborate
@@sudiptochaudhury2107 Ive seen guys riding 125cc ktms like they are on litre bikes. like dude common, the apache is faster. All about the tag i assume.
when top gear is looking for its next presenter "this guy"
Among very few those can revive TOP GEAR.
There's something to it. It seems like Ryan has something from the original trio combined.
I really hope not, Ryan is to good to be fucked over by TopGear nonsense.
Keep it pure, keep it brutally honest, keep it serious & fun
Top gear = cars 🤯🤯
@@skiddmurks Men & Motors begat TG, no? M&M did bikes.
Can we all agree on Ryan being the David Attenborough equivalent in motorcycle narrative videos...?
No. More like king joeffry
Except Attenborough sucks...
@@mickleblade Well, that is just like your opinion, dude.
Ryan is my favorite motorcycle critic with his wit and analysis which is usually on target. But I take issue with his conclusion, I am 68 and have ridden for years on road and offroad, and I currently own 4 bikes including the 390 Adventure. I think this bike is awesome and just puts a smile on my face every time I ride it. It is especially good at carving canyons, even better than my BMW S 1000 XR in tight corners. The handlebars are way too low even for me at 5ft 11 and shrinking. If Ryan changed the pegs and installed a 2 inch Rox bar riser I think it would change his opinion. Clever marketers have convinced many that they need 1290 cc 600 pd beast for adventure riding, but unless you are an expert they are only good for a graded dirt road. You wouldn't believe where my 66 year old friend took his 390 Adventure with stock tires off road in Colorado last fall. Even with the limited clearance he amazed me as I was on my KTM 450 EXC. He did later add a better skid plate. I wanted to get rid of one bike but I can't bring myself to consider getting rid of this awesome ,comfortable great handling bike.
One day you's gonna loose that camera guy/drone master mixer-editor dude to Hollywood.
Shoutout to Aneesh! We need to see more of him
Hollywood is a den of devils. Who would stoop so low as to take these talents and waste them on a bunch of human trafficking corrupt Leftists?
@@exothermal.sprocket or human trafficking corrupt Rightists? such as the CIA which is also deep in Hollywood, and both L & R into drugs. Just to be non political.
@@MrPotatochips4 I use "Leftists" in a general sense, not to nail down an orthodox definition of Hollyweird.
Ryan & Aneesh, you two are a great team, my favorite on RUclips. I always enjoy the quality of the videos. Please edit all the bike reviews into a movie series and I’ll play them on a loop. You guys stay safe and keep up the wonderful work.
I second that!
I watched a lot of 390adv reviews. I bought it. I love it (I'm an 192cm beginner and still wanted something small and nimble). Now I saw this review - of course it's really well filmed, funny, great edit - but I'm not sure if I had bought my bike if I watched this review earlier - and that would have been a big error (not buying it). Totally in for the honesty of F9 tho - keep it up! Was really entertaining to see what a pro can do with this bike!
I'm the same, bought this bike exactly three weeks ago today and absolutely love it but I would have been off put by this video. Ryan is right in saying "what makes an adventure?" - I think that's a great concept to challenge the definition and perception of, and I love the video and Ryan, but I think he is underestimating for the price what this little nimble bike can do. Especially saying go with the Duke for 1000$ less. You'd spend that money on modding it out anyway, and foot pegs are easily changeable. Maybe for his purposes of an adventure it may not meet his standards so he compares it no better than a street bike, but this bike matches my definition of an adventure and I have and many others on youtube who you can watch take this bike on some pretty great off road tracks. Of course its not a dirt bike - but for every other use when I go on my own adventures I can't stop grinning. Each to their own I suppose!
@@arcace6775 nice to see I'm not alone:) sad that the season is almost over and I didn't get enough rides, but definitively love it!
Same i live in Amsterdam and definitely didn't ride enough. Hope the next summer I'll drive it more
@@arcace6775 Plus one! As I wrote in my comment, Ryan must either have had a bad day or insufficient time to do a fair test.
Yesterday I uploaded an "ride and fly" video on my channel ;)
Love that this whole video is actually an add for the 390 duke.
Until you watch the ending lol
No, it really was. The bike in this video was the 390 Adventure. Not the 390 Duke.
@@KaffiRawr Maybe he meant that the points mentioned in this video about the 390 adv only makes him love the duke 390 even more.
Why would he thrash one of their bikes to promote another?
@@ravikb2243 yeah, I don’t mean like literally an ad, as in Ryan is shilling for ktm or something. I mean that there just isn’t a significant enough difference in the two bikes, and Ryan is sort of poking fun at that throughout the video. I’d say buy whichever one you think looks better or if you really want a windshield go for it. Kind of seems like they are just capitulating to the fasted growing motorcycle segment using an already existing bike.. throw some knobby tires on a duke and you will get a similar result.
The plot twist at the end of this cinematic adventure, was so honest. This is my favorite RUclips series. Ever. Hands down. Well done, Ryan.
Best video ever. Contrary to the verdict, I actually want one now
Same here!
Handlebar raisers aside, isn't Ryan just too fkn tall for this bike!? I don't think he is even able to notice the difference between this and the Duke except for the price.
Even that small ground clearance is much better in the adv and not a deal breaker, you can still power wheelie over that log.
The only complain I have about it is the unbearably hard stock seat.
Yeah. A Duke 390 would be slipping and sliding on gravelly or muddy roads. This bike still has a purpose. Unfair to expect same functionality from the bigger adventure bikes.
I would fund a movie made by Ryan. Forget about profit, humanity needs his cinematic genius.
Well, you meant Aneesh Shivanekar, right? Ryan has nothing to do with the cinematics of the videos. Of course Ryan writes the script for each video but the story telling is up to Aneesh. Aneesh is the cinematic genius.
The team!!! No “I”
ado ort Correctomondo. As someone who used in the film business here in LA, I absolutely agree. People confuse the server with the chef
It is necessary to acknowledge what each member brings to the team. Did you see "Money Ball" or read the book? There wouldn't be an Athletics team without the individual contributions of the members of the team. For F9, Ryan writes superbly well, Aneesh is a master "filmator" lol.
I imagine the KTM marketing team giddy while watching this video, right up until the last minute.
I think a more diminuitive rider with less adventurous aspirations could put some aftermarket pegs on the 390ADV and have a good time for not a lot of money.
I'm glad that the industry is embracing lighter and more nimble 300-400 cc adventure bikes. I've been wanting one since the mid 1970s. They're perfect for the riding I want to do.
This is the only channel i watch Every. Single. Video. from, whether its bikes I'm interested in or not. This could honestly have been a review for that taco truck and I would have still clicked on it furiously. Keep it up, man!
Check out Ariemann1's channel, you'll watch them all as well 👍👍
I want see the taco's truck review!
This video is the definition of "CONTENT"
I love the F9 videos. There is so much going on here. Attention to detail, excellent storyboarding and scripting, top notch filmography, perfect sound and music selection and timing. Even the B roll is perfect. How seamless everything looks is really a testament to how much planning and dedication goes into this. Really excellent work guys.
Notice that the garage he jumps out of, isnt the same as the one he opened and had the bike in. A lot of effort has gone into picking locations for effect!
This content is arguably too good for RUclips but I’m so glad it’s here and I hope it stays and continues to thrive and Ryan and Aneesh find it fulfilling. What a gift.
Opening line:
“What makes the perfect adventure?”
Uhhh.. the TW200.
Bingo! I'm getting ready to buy one.
Imagine if they made a tw400 or something, that'd be perfect.
@@benanderson4639 if only yamaha saw this comment
This is one of the best channels on RUclips, hands down. Your editing is the gold standard to which us other content creators dream about coming close to. Thanks for what you guys do!
Perfect review!... "Even the KTM pro rider photo is about to fly over the handlebar", that says it all. However, ergonomics are somewhat fixable. This is the best entry level ADV bike for most of us mere mortal riders
How can he literally mention everything about the bike in what feels like 1 min!!.....Props to the team
Ryan is lucky enough to do what he wants for a living, but he should really have a job teaching the rest of the world how to make incredible videos
I can only admire how brutally honest they are.
“I’ll be taking the long way round. I’m prepared to live on the road a full 12 minutes!”
-Bahaha I needed that laugh!
Aneesh Shivanekar: brilliant work, truly outstanding! the roundabout cream coffee!!
wouldn't have called it out if his name wasn't in the description
That was my fav shot by far!! The second best was the Black & white montage
That transition from the never ending twist road to stirring the tea was a thing of beauty. Nice work
Is Ryan actually mocking Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s: long way up, long way down and long way ‘round?! This channel is the best, yo!
If you want to see some really awesome adventure riding with no billion dollar backup crew, check out c90adventures here on the Tubes. Ed is awesome. True adventure rider.
Another awesome adventure series I'd recommend is Lyndon Poskitt's Races 2 Places
Just him, his cameras and his bike, traveling the world
No film crew, spare motorcycles
And crew trucks included lol
Itchy Boots is awesome too. One woman, no crew, just a smile and taste for adventure.
This is better than most actual shows with a big budget. It’s incredible.
Watching the love and effort Ryan & Aneesh put into the video brings tears to my eyes EVERY time man
I honestly have never seen this quality of video production in any channel of this size. Very well edited and easy to watch but with a lot of information!
AKA "Ryan's Not-So-Great Adventure." Hardly his fault; he'd clearly rather Duke it out. 😁
Otherwise, another video ridiculously well-done. (On my Request list for Ryan: Benelli's new Leoncino 500 twin. Just saw one, would love to know his take on it )
Do not be fooled! Benelli bike brand name was sold to Chinese investors, guess where the Leonchino is made ?
@@planpitz4190 Already knew that. And that arrangement is hardly exclusive to Benelli.
I live down the road from QJ factory (they make Benelli) in China. I know the entire Argentinian design team. They are not very good bikes. Super heavy, due to the lazy/safe approach (components are thicker then they need to be). Their curb weight is actually dry weight. There are better options from China, CFmoto or Colove
As someone who is 6'7 and just learning how to ride, the KTM 390 Adventure 2024 is amazing for me. it's not too small, the price is pretty low, my back does not hurt after riding it for a while.
There are probably other bikes that are better for a new rider and all that, but i didn't find one in my country for that price class for my hight, so i'm really happy with my purchase!
It's far from the best bike, but if you as the rider like it then that's good enough :)
Whoa! I think we actually got a couple glimpses of Aneesh!
Your videos are so well produced and brutally honest and so casually scientific. You deserve all the subs man.
Love from Nepal 🇳🇵
Only time unskippable ads are tolerable is when the content is this good.
Seriously? Do you mean the video arrangement, or did you take your time to check on the objectiveness of the test?
No really, I got a Samsung unbox add, of the runtime of 46Mins :(
ublock origin on desktop, youtube vanced on mobile
Got 2023 spoked wheels model as my first bike. I'm coming from mtb/xc-ish bicycles and do simple forrest single/double tracks with various surfaces like sand or dirt. I'm really not into busy highway riding and I avoid riding in the city for safety reasons but also because I just enjoy quieter backcoutry roads and nature. My typical ride is 70-100+km with 70% dirt/sand single/double track. And I have to say that I'm really loving this bike so far.
I'm 191cm(~6'3) and 130+kg(~290) and this bike is very comfortable for me. It has plenty of power to haul me around in 1/2 gears up the offroad hills, and generally has enough torque at low revs, which means that it is also very quiet (I keep it below 4K revs usually) and doesn't annoy me at all.
The suspension is great and comfortably handles my weight everywhere without bottoming out, including pump-like singletracks, misc obstacles and potholes.
Regarding the pegs, I don't have much experience with other bikes, but coming from bicycles I don't really notice that they are tilted, but I do notice that they are smaller than what I'm used to. That being said, with size 12.5 shoes I really don't have a problem standing up and going over hard terrain. Maybe I would like to get handlebar risers, but even as is I really don't have any problems with them.
I've considered other bikes, but here in Ukraine we don't really have good dealerships for japaneese bikes (hard to find kawasaki, yamaha, etc dual sports) and in most cities in terms of dirt/adv bikes you really only have a choice to either get a cheaper chineese dirt bike and pray that they will have parts for it if something breaks, or get an expensive ktm but have dealerships with all parts stocked at any time. So that's what I went with and so far only got engine guards and will probably get a single-piece seat to be able to slide around more easilly offroad.
Update: it's been a year so far and I've upgraded to an OEM handlebar riser, OEM single-piece offroad seat and mitas e09 tires. Risers and seat made it much more comfortable for me, esp offroad. The tires made it amazing on wet dirt/sand and wet clay. I'm absolutely loving it so far, 150-300km dirt roundtrips exploring backroads and nature are a total piece of cake for this thing. Great all rounder, I wouldn't want to upgrade to anything else, but I am looking forward to 390 adv R in the future if it ever comes out.
I live my life on the edge. A journey from home to work and back again.
A whole 5 minutes of death right around every corner!
Great stuff XD
jokes aside, now review the RE Himalayan!
Love your content, when I see a new vid is up from fortnine it makes my day
The most real and honest review I've seen for this bike, AMAZING!!
Wow!One of the best auto reviews I have ever watched. And I have watched EVERY SINGLE episode of TopGear MULTIPLE times, and many many (perhaps too many) other car reviews and shows through the years, thousands at least!Yes I’m a car-guy myself, trying to get into the adventure-bike game.
Production is top-notch! Starting from the music, to the story, the cinematography, the actual information about the bike, presenter (and he is really funny to boot😅), I must say, this video is of the highest quality I have seen.
Keep it up guys. Super keen to watch a few more.
You def have a new, very pleased subscriber, although I was a bit disappointed with the verdict on this KTM 390 Adv.
All I can say is hats off and I give you a standing ovation for the work done here👏👏👏👏
The quality of these short films continues to blow my mind.
You don't need to go to a fancy ass mountainous location to test the 390Adventure, F9 did it in a lunch break for a taco run. LMAO! XD
New review!!!!!!! My face literally lit up when i saw the notification ...
You channeled the spirit of jezza, hammond and may, and i like it.
Thank you for another beautiful upload!
Love the bloopers at the end.
Love the review. Short, to the point.
I smiled the entire time! You are outstanding host! And your cameraman and editor is nailing the job every time!
This has the best production quality of any motorcycle reviews on YT.. dude you’re absolutely killing it!!
this is my first motorcycle, love it!
He just addressed the elephant in the room..its more of a mini GT than an adventurer.
but it's almost at the same pricepoint as the versys 650. Even the versys x would make a better bike then this for less.
Second hand it get's royally outclassed by yamaha's xt660z & cb500x can be found at this price point with rally raid kit on it.
What's a mini GT?
@@thumpertorque_ More of a car term, but I guess he means Grand Tourer. It's a mini touring bike more than something that goes off road.
@@thumpertorque_ an oxymoron but a reality.
Funny as always, buuuuut... on the other hand, I was looking for an entry level dual sport. Usual suspects, CFR250L, DRZ400, KLX250. Wasn’t even thinking a KTM anything. After watching many vids from India, UK, Aus, my interest peaked, but not a 390 ADV to be found. Test drove usual suspects, months went by, finally 390 hits US and I got to test drive one. My conclusion after riding all, was go with 390 ADV. Price was about same , all were fine bikes, but 390 won hands down for me. It was not 20 years dated technology, had on/off road safety features, was at home on/off road, had larger fuel tank, adjustable suspension front /back. All I did was put more off roady tires on (waiting on gear change) and I’m good, having a blast off road. Yes it’s a 390 duke relative, but watching 390ADV keep up with much bigger bikes all over the world off road in far worse conditions than I will ride sold me, couldn’t be happier. They call it ADV, it’s based on street, but to me, it’s perfect dual sport. And at same price point, no brained. Now if it was couple thousand more, that’s a different story, but it was cheaper than cfr250L Rally. Test ride one, form your own opinion, but I’ve been having fun from day one and haven’t looked back.
Glad you are enjoying it.. but nah, its a street bike. I can ride a 70s cb350 and keep up with most of the big bikes. You see that in the long way round where clapped out 250 street bikes in mongolia are running circles around the elephant bemmers sinking into mud.
As per this bike if you enjoy it, awesome! Ride it for what it is, but ti claim its better because *insert noob tech* or "newer design" its laughable. Id rather have a true ds bike like the drz or the fuel injected yamaha anyyy day for adv, offroad, etc. This ktm has good suspension, its a great commuter.. what kills it for me, ugly headlight just like its big brother.
Have one myself and absolutely love it, it does struggle on hard off road stuff but the only stuff I've came across that it hasn't been able to deal with is dirt bike levels of off road, it's amazing on road and very fun off it and is more than adequate for the type of off roading most people will be doing, i went out with a gs1200 and a ktm 1090 adv beside one rock it kept up with them fine, and the rock i couldn't get over the gs really struggled and the rider dropped it in the process, it's no dirt bike but i think it's a genuinely brilliant adventure bike, and almost all the issues he has with the bike you can replace with aftermarket parts
@@North_Of_Nowhere that gs is no dirtbike either, your lighter bike is much better in my opinion. The big Ktm though, put a capable rider on that and it would leave most other advs far behind..
Just got my KTM Adventure 390 SW, and have to say: its INSANE how much "Bike for Buck" they give you!
It handles insanely good, the Software and App are amazing (with its own Map System, giving you hints like: "Search a way with more curves", its economic in fuel consumption, there is TONS of accessoire, it sounds great - and handles like an Enduro Off Road! Been riding bikes since over twenty years, thats my best bike so far!
"It's all corners"
*_American rider's sweating intensifies_*
"Harley riders"
ftfy
Unless you're in Colorado.
There is some good entertainment to be had watching American rider's experiencing corners on Mulholland highway and Dragon's tail but, at the same time there is also tons of crash compilations at the Nurburgring in Germany and that's despite them trying to actively discourage or stop such videos from being made in the first place.
@@Jack-yl7cc tbh the nurburgring is quite a difficult place to ride with motorcycles due to the height differences and angles, not even mentioning the amount of coolant and oil on the track. Ever been on it?
I wanted to ride my bike on it, but after seeing the track swapped for a car.
@@Nick-dz4ml I did not mean to imply that Nürburgring is not a highly difficult track(its in a league of its own for its technical difficulty) but rather just pointing out that more than just Americans, have problems with corners. If you do a google search for either of the two locations in the US, then somewhere in the top of the suggestion list, is crashes. At the same time similar videos of such incidents are actively suppressed at the Nürburgring because they think its bad publicity and they take the defamation laws in Germany very seriously. So despite all three being "public" roads; its just much easier to find crash vids from the US in general.
In fact, I would say the Nürburgring is one of the most dangerous bits of track in existence but not because of the track conditions(most would say its because of the lack of run-off areas). It's not the track conditions that bothers me about the Nürburgring at all(I view that as a fun challenge); it is the cars intermingling randomly with motorcyclist(major blind spot issues) and the people attempting to set a "lap" time. The worst crashes I have seen that involved multiple vehicles, tended to be caused by someone trying to adhere to the "race" line, whist trying to set a "lap" time. They seem to completely ignore or forget that there is other people on the track that they need to share it with, who might not have the same level of driving skills, or the race centric vehicle; so they simple can not react to someone trying to forcible stick to the race line while expecting other people to get out of their way. The aggressive "lap" time driver issue, is probable why they ban dedicated lap timers.
I have been on a motorcycle in all sorts of weather and road conditions with a lot of near misses or crashes(even a couple that forced me to go off road to avoid on-coming traffic in the wrong lane) and the one thing it has taught me is to slow down. The same thing applies with the Nürburgring; it only cost a bit of money to pay for multiple laps so you can do each "lap" with the intention of the first one being the slowest and every one after that being at a bit faster pace than the previous. That way you can you learn the track conditions and learn where you can go a bit faster or need to stay a bit on the slower side. Of course, now days you can easily play a multitude of "racing" games to get a rough feel for the track before you even show up for the first time and really step of your level of safety if you can remember all the corners ahead of time. There is no rule stating that you have to go as fast as possible on the Nürburgring; although I would say its certainly much safer if you are capable of keeping pace with the majority.