First Ride: 2023 KTM 390 Adventure - we put it through its paces in some tricky and testing terrain.

Our first test on KTM's new 390 Adventure, now with spoke wheels. This is the 390 Adventure KTM should have released back in 2019.
We sent our Shaun Portman out to RAD KTM to collect their demo model and put it to the test in some very testing conditions, both on and offroad.
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[@RandolphMaunder]

I use mine for touring and couldn't wish for more. It does the job very well and Ihave had no problem keeping up with my buddies 700 Tenere.

[@prov431]

A lot of hype for not a lot of changes... it's always been a great bike, but adding *wheels* that were always available anyway and upcharging didn't really impress. KTM should fix the foot pegs, add a taller and wider screen, improve the gearing (47/48 rear) and put 21/19 size wheels on it... you know all the stuff we do ourselves.

[@pranay4915]

Then who will buy the 890 if 390 could do it all?

[@Navillus2273]

We have a 2021 in the garage, the bike has done remarkably well on multiple BDR's for my lady. However, I have found build quality is subpar, cheap fasteners and brittle billet aluminum bar clamps which have cracked. Overall a good bike, but unless they have improved the build finish and material used, it is definitely not built like its older siblings.

[@oober2br662]

Argg - why didn't they fix the traction control to stay on when the engine is turned off? I disagree a little bit on the quick shifter. It doesn't work well for upshift, but very well on downshift going up a tricky hill. A car pulled out in front of me on my 2022 - totaled it. I'm still recovering from broken bones, but looking forward to picking up a new one.

[@kai-uweoch1159]

Traction control and even more important ABS setting need to stay in the selected mode at any proper adventure bike, otherwise things get not only annoying, but dangerous on the loose stuff. Big miss by KTM!

[@simulacrae]

Sadly they still have the 390 Duke footpegs that are leaning forwards. The upgrade is pretty costly and it's something that KTM should have fixed themselves, but at least we got spoked wheels for that extra 1000 dollars in price.

[@6699noa]

I thought they fixed them

[@charliemayhew2853]

Silly take. 1 or 2 degrees of the footpegs are not going to affect anyone that rides this bike. You obviously have not ridden one. Don't listen to these nonsense opinions on the footpeg angle and the cast wheels folks. Ride one.

[@simulacrae]

@@charliemayhew2853 Everyone who rides offroad and have boots for it have remarked on the footpegs. You cant bend you ankles that easy with hard boots and the footpegs are fording the legs forward. This is an issue. It' not "1 or 2 degrees", it way more. Have you ridden it in hard boots?

[@cherylvankerkhof825]

I have owned my 390 for 20 months now with almost 20k kms. Wonderful bike in spite of its shortfalls . This video claiming that its more adventure ready because of spoked wheels is absolute rubbish . The suspension travel , ground clearance etc it will never be a hardcore adv bike . But still great allround

[@TheBogism]

Agreed. They also changed nothing with the suspension...at least here in the US.

[@westwater73]

It's a Duke gt at best..

[@vijayam1]

Great review. The bike doesn't turn to a true blue ADV because of the spoke wheel addition, but it does add to its capabilities and that makes it an exceptionally well and capable all rounder.

[@kai-uweoch1159]

18/21 please! The bigger front wheel will make a huge difference on the loose stuff. There have been prototypes in the late development stages been spotted quite a while ago, but nothing official yet. Let`s hope for Eicma23!

[@yahoodlums]

For it to be a true mini ADV they need to reroute the exhaust (like the Enduro 690), change the angle of the foot pegs, include a proper bash plate, remap the bike for low end grunt. But in stock form it makes a great commuter bike. They should have called it the Duke Urban or something like that instead of Adventure, it gives false expectations.

[@6699noa]

I have a 2020 that I've done some light modification too and it does true adv riding very well

[@Mid-Life-Adventure]

You mentioned that the traction control defaults back to the original “on” settings at restart, but that was one of the fixes for 23’ if I’m not mistaken.

[@Interbeing_CDN]

That's true, on my MY2023 anyway.

[@RYwoodview]

@@Interbeing_CDN Mine too. Flip between Onroad and Offroad modes, and the settings for ABS & MTC change appropriately, and stay set.

[@kai-uweoch1159]

How about engine characteristics? Many say "basically no power under 4000rpm!" That makes the bike hard to ride offroad if true. I remember test riding the 390 Duke many years ago and that was exactly the impression I got!

[@GraemeChapman-d6z]

Unfortunately the seat on this bike is too wide and high for shorter riders which is really disappointing.

[@discoveror9576]

what is the foot-peg-to-seat-height? ... asked because this defines knee-angle, which in turn affects ability to easily stand up.

[@sujithsurendran704]

Great video, are the tyres tubeless?

[@motoriderworld1]

Yes

[@ijs_automotive]

​@@motoriderworld1 the valve stem coming out from the rim looks like a tube. I hope it not like having tube inside tubeless tyres like many others have done.

[@slakk5093]

They are not tubeless, kind of makes me wonder if these reviewers have any credibility if they can’t even tell a tube from a tubeless rim just by looking at it 🤦‍♂️

[@ijs_automotive]

@@slakk5093 exactly the valve stems clearly looks like a tube with the holding nut.

[@motoriderworld1]

@@slakk5093 according to KTM they are

[@karthikkarunakaranmenon6785]

In my ask 390 adv is more harsh and it is much more road biased and doesn't have the typical off roading smoothness to it....

[@sean7627]

He's a big boy. That little bike did well under his weight.

[@raviutkarsh4185]

is new 390adv has lower seat of 830mm ??

[@sachinhosmani1788]

Hello, Can someone please help on knowing if the spoke wheels are tubeless or tube ?

[@motoriderworld1]

It seems there is massive confusion on this but after we had said they were tubeless as that’s the information we got from KTm SA, the new 390 with spoke wheels is in fact tube, not tubeless. The previous Feb with cast Ali wheels is tubeless.

[@RYwoodview]

@@motoriderworld1 Tubeless tires but the spoked rims require tubes inside. Go figure.

[@bradleydishner9698]

Can a big guy ride these? Im 6.1. 250. Want to get something a little more trail worthy than the harley😂

[@viking2304]

I'm a bit higher (190 cm) and i felt that i could use bar risers.. otherwise this bike is fairly tall. I think that it's a great bike! You can only know if it's for you, if you take a test ride 😉

[@sandeepwaster3904]

44 hp ?

[@ijs_automotive]

Ktm has launched this in India now. And guess what the tyres are tube type metzelers 😂. So much for claiming tubeless spokes.

[@jmssupplies9783]

We already have in 2019

[@udayansingh6642]

Suspension upgrade was what was really required.

[@kingcrust]

Suspension berle bottomed out, hahahaha are you serious?