New KTM 390 ADV
 

I guess we will have many new bikes from EICMA this fall.

Lets begin with the brand new KTM 390 Adventure. Now it looks like a proper adv-bike with 21/18 wheels, long suspension travel. The engine is the same as last years 390 Duke with 399 cc and with approx 44 HP in the Duke. It might be tuned differently in the Adv model, details not known yet.

Hope we can get the specs soon….

https://youtu.be/QW5iumPt-CM

The last/current 390 Adv struck me as more an "adventure styled" bike rather than a genuine go-anywhere-and-explore machine. KTM certainly seem to have addressed that point with the new 390. Proper spoked wheels with grownup tyres, high spec suspension, cruise control and everything looks geared to travel. Even the front end is reasonably attractive unlike the usual angle salad of KTM styling. I'd have liked to hear a bit more about tank size and range but first impressions are they've hit this bang in the sweet spot.

The one thing the video didn't mention is whether the wheels are tubeless or tubed.

I will never ever buy another bike with tubes. Tubeless was the deciding factor in buying my 2019 London-based 790 Adventure.

If the 390 is tubeless I could be interested in possibly replacing my 2013 Spanish-based 690 Enduro R that I currently run with mousses.

The new KTM 390 ADVs are out and available in India now and Youtube have many reviews and testrides already….

And yes Tim Cullis - they are tubeless…:clap:
Interesting solution on that tubeless system btw. Also the underbelly exhaust system is something new/else.

The testriders seems to love the bike.


https://youtu.be/ojh7lCSJxso?si=k9ssebCOSEj18dYb

https://youtu.be/IILqj6_80tc?si=TgjmfROmuF0obOjv

https://youtu.be/fMDG7T5iNu0?si=r4G934kJefFyuKCg

Impressiv top speed: https://youtu.be/kQ9UoR_5WBI?si=wOFWsSyDB5Ooazf0

So is the unicorn finally here?

Just my thoughts.

We are obsessed with weight, as if weight is always a bad thing.

Weight, or mass, dampens vibrations and can make the riding experience for the 98% of riding much more enjoyable.

Compare these two bikes;
2025 KTM390 Adv
1995 Kawasaki KLE500

Both 21 / 18 wheels

Both 44hp

15 and 14l tanks

Both 6 speeds

2” more travel for KTM

Here’s the wet weight comparison;

KTM is 165kg
KLE is 178kg

So 13kg difference.

That 13kg gives you a larger capacity smoother twin cylinder engine and a larger frame with a more comfortable seating position.

If you watch the last video in your post check out the vibrations in his arms at 90kmh, and the acute angle of his knees.

Just a few thoughts sitting back with a few beers beer

Thanks for your thoughts, just as valid as others thoughts so thanks for sharing.

If I may share some thoughts as well (after all I started this thread…:innocent:)

First - the Kawasaki Kle500 you refer to - I have no experiences whatsoever with that bike, I dont think I have ever seen one irl. But the reviews I have read were all eh… quite negative - to put it mildly. Especially the engine seems to get bad mentions… MCN particularly didnt like it: https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-...i/kle500/1991/

Weight - yes maybe we have come to the point that we focus too much on weight….? User «NatetheNomad» posted a thread on Horizons Facebook-site that he wanted a 500 cc bike with approx 50 HP, with 23 liter fuel capacity and a weight at max 135 kilos/300 lbs - and not this new approx 180 kilos KTM 390 ADV….. So it shows that some riders wants really lightweigt travel bikes.

However I think specs like that will never happen on an oem bike….

Now when I am closer to 60 than 50 years of age I have contemplated a few things in my life - and one of the main things is that - get rid of unneccesary things. And that is valid for all situations in life. Unnecessary stuff, unnecessary expenses, unneccesary obligations, unnecessary size and weight - and the list goes on. Simply because they are that - unnecessary!

For a travel/overland bike weight is important, not as important as for an enduro/dual sport bike - but still important. Because when the going gets though - weight matters a lot! But for a travel/overland bike there are other features that also matters, reliability, ease of service and service intervals, spare parts availability, luggage carrying capacity etc etc.
Riding around the globe with a lot of unnecessary weight is quite obviously unnecessary! Thats why I have come to find that lighter bikes is favourable for many obvious reasons when we are talking about travel/overland bikes. Bikes for general touring or orher useage - weight isnt that important.

I noticed the new KTM390 ADV have underbelly exhaust - which is good as it makes carrying luggage on the sides easier and more conveniant either one uses soft or hard luggage.

But I admit the specsheet that tells that this new KTM is 182 kilos kerb weight was a tad disappointing. But the new 390 still have many great features afaik.

We will see how popular it gets (and what happens with KTM in general….)

Just a few thoughts after a cup of morning coffee…

Excuse my english skills as I am not a native english speaker

Photo: Touring two-up in Thailand on a Honda Crf250L that costed me 79000 baht (2315 USD, 2230 Euro) with 50 Euro sidebags. Cruises at 85 km/h and gets 100 mpg imperial.
Cost effective touring/unnecessary costs cut!

Nothing wrong with ur English skills fella..........personally I would b holding off to see where Ktm end up . They are sitting on a years worth of bikes , alot cant be sold in the Eu / UK , so where will they off load them ?? U might get a bargain elsewhere in the world .
Personally I wouldn't touch Ktm with a barge poll....our techs hated them........and I know loads of people will say mine never went wrong etc etc But I know what make ended up on the workshop benches more then anything else warranty wise and it isn't Yamaha etc . Feel free to disagree .......
:welcome:

KTM.......Keeps Traumatising Mechanics :innocent:

True what you write here and I totally agree. As I wrote in my previous post - we will have to see what happens to KTM in the future….

Hey snakeboy

Good points. I’m just about to hit 60, and with knee replacements restricting some strength, weight was one of the reasons I like a lighter bike.

I think it’s just how light to go.

Funny about perceptions and myths about bikes carry on.

The KLE500 actually has a depowered ER5 engine, which is used successfully and reliably across multiple platforms - GPZ500, Vulcan, EX500 and others. So not sure there is any evidence of that.

These were a not very popular bike here in Australia, but there are a few getting around. I bought mine as it was in mint condition, and the frame size (pegs to seat height) suits my limited knee flex. It’s smooth being a twin, and is happy to do big miles per day here in Oz. It’s a bit like a pony, does nothing fantastic, but most things okay. Just needs a bigger tank.

Just used it as an example from a power /weight / size perspective.

It’s lighter than my old GSA :scooter:

You could b getting some bargains stateside in the near future...........

I am actively following most news on this as it seems like an interesting bike at a nice price point, and great competition or alternative to things like CFmoto and Himalayan 450. One interesting but unconfirmed note is that I saw some mention that the Indian version may be 21/17 rather than 21/18. I am not sure if that is accurate or which models it refers to but seems slightly odd except for the fact that Himalayan has this configuration and I believe in India their may be more 17 inch rear tires available not sure how that would affect overall geometry if all other things are the same. Anyways, good to keep an eye on reviews and EU release dates and prices as more people get access to these. In terms of KTM insolvency issues, it seems like regardless of what happens to KTM as a whole Bajaj is likely to keep producing these and marketing them at least for the Asian market. It seems it will likely be quite a successful bike and I like the chances that it will not be discontinued if KTM collapses. Another interesting note is it seems that Hero honda may be releasing a 400cc version of their XPulse later this year. That could also be a great bike and even more economical for touring in India and Nepal. Too bad it seems so difficult or impossible to purchase in India and travel internationally with one of these bikes or a Himalayan.