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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

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Photo by Hendi Kaf,
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  • 1 Post By Tomkat
  • 1 Post By Snakeboy
  • 2 Post By Tim Cullis

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  #1  
Old 14 Dec 2016
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New KTM 390 Adventure
KTM seems to be very active nowadays. Just a few days after spy photos of a 790 ADV bike are seen in media - now some info about a new 390 ADV bike is online.

From Rumor to Reality: Elusive KTM 390 Adventure Gets Spied - ADV Pulse

This could be something.....
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Old 2 Mar 2017
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It's well established you can tour on anything, but a bigger engine does make life easier (until encroaching weight and bulk of the bike overshadow the advantages). Having ridden the 390 Duke I'd say it's a pleasant enough little bike (and it is surprisingly little) but it's rather short of power. The 690 isn't much physically bigger but the extra power makes it much more fun to ride, especially if you have to cover a distance.

I'd say the 390 may make a decent bike for someone who's short, light and maybe not very strong but for me it's just a bit underpowered for serious mileage.
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Old 10 Nov 2019
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Finally - after almost 3 years its here. But is this what one expected? 19/17 cast wheels, ground clearance and suspension travel figures are not that impressive and dry weight a whopping 158 kilograms...?

https://www.advpulse.com/adv-news/20...ture-unveiled/

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Old 10 Nov 2019
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after 2 years experience with my ktm 500 exc wiring and what I saw on other ktm bikes how electrical installation is put together I would personally be afraid for any longer trips especially in remote areas. E.g on tpi bike below, they just twist bunch of bare wires, no soldered and put in shrinking sleeve...you can imagine result and potential problems, very hard to identify btw.

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Old 10 Nov 2019
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Weight is about what I expected and about 30kg less than the 790 Adventure. I expect the power to be down on that of the Duke, so a little below 40 bhp. I don't have an issue with the cast wheels (presumably tubeless tyres—good) and the limited suspension travel, I see this more as an adventure road/gravel track bike rather than a full-on dual sport. Brilliant fuel range and electronics package.

But the seat height concerns me, there's many smaller riders and women who may have difficulty.

I could see the forthcoming 490 parallel twin being a mid-life kicker/replacement in 2022-23.
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Old 11 Nov 2019
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For "Adventure bike" read "bike". Honestly marketing departments are trying to pull the wool over our eyes, and it's not just KTM.
And "ultra light trellis frame" still weighs 158kg dry. In my book, ultra light is the 125kg dry CCM GP450.

I guess it's nearest 400cc single competitor is the Himalayan. Certainly you're right Tim - dual sport it ain't, although I note the odd mention of drz comparisons.
More bikes = more choice = a good thing, but marketing people really are the spawn of satan. I'm with Bill Hicks there!
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Old 17 Nov 2019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mossproof View Post
...And "ultra light trellis frame" still weighs 158kg dry. In my book, ultra light is the 125kg dry CCM GP450...
KTM's 2020 690 Enduro R weighs in at 146 kg dry weight so it's not clear how the smaller capacity bike weighs 10kg more. I would have hoped for sub-140 kg.
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Old 17 Nov 2019
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Long Way Home has some good words to say about the bike

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