KTM 390 Adventure vs. Honda NX500 comparison 2024 with surprising results!

[@caldaemon]

Excellent comparison. I ended up getting the 390 adv with a quickshifter. Not regretting it one bit.

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@caldaemon yeah amazing bike for the money

[@thomasburdsall6151]

I owned a KTM 390 Adventure for 3 years. It was a 2020 model, the new model is not significantly changed. It was reliable. I sold it because the wind protection was poor. The short wind screen takes the wind off of your chest and puts it in your face. Wind noise in your helmet was excessive. The wind screen is adjustable but you can't adjust it high enough to be of any use. In addition following any vehicle at 50 MPH or more results in the bike being buffeted so bad that the bike begins to wobble and I found it to be unsafe. The bike needs to be revved greater than 4000 RPM to avoid lugging the engine. The engine comes alive above 6000. The bike is great riding around town or on country back roads paved or gravel. The bike is not good on highways due to buffeting or off road where standing is required. The standing position is not comfortable, foot pegs are angled forward and the bars are too low. I added the quick shifter, I would advise against it. The bike comes with many great features. TFT display interfaces with your cell phone. India made Brembo brakes are very good. Ride by wire, ABS, Traction control, adjustable suspension, and slipper clutch are features not found on most entry level bikes. Give it a serious ride before you buy.

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

Hi there, thanks so much for your detailed feedback. I'm sure it will prove useful to others. I thought the wind protection wasn't too bad but yes I would definitely change the screen to something taller. The engine in it really good though.very surprised. You said it was reliable too. Well the new adventure is a make or break for KTM as it seems they are in financial trouble. Let's see how it does this year. thanks again.

[@jeffferguson899]

the difference is that the honda will still be running in 20 yrs

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

Thanks for the comment. Your thoughts seem to be shared with a few people.

[@IndigoJo]

The two bikes aren't really comparable; one is a 470cc para twin, the other is a 390cc single. The KTM is more comparable with the Triumph Speed or Scrambler 400 and the Enfield Guerrilla 450 (similar horsepower despite higher cc) while the NX500 is more similar to other Japanese naked bikes like the Kawasaki Z500. I've seen people do whole tours on the NX500 (like Mr Fish recently); maybe you should have tried them with a bit of weight on them to see what came out best.

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@IndigoJo enfield is a joke. Doesn't compare in my opinion. These are relative bikes. Sorry I disagree. Thanks for your comment.

[@brentcollins9727]

The NX is one of the most comfortable bikes I’ve ever sat.

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

It will make a good touring bike.

[@terrarecon]

Interesting review. I am however, waiting to see what the 2025 KTM 390 Adventure R is all about once it's in production and out in the wild.

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@terrarecon thanks so much. Be an interesting bike for sure.

[@exorcist6128]

bro eicma 2024 is just 1 day later. could have waited for the new ADV 390 for the vid

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@exorcist6128 thanks for the heads up. Ah well.

[@AthenaAthena-lp3dt]

Great video. Our company has a 6-inch wireless portable motorcycle speaker with front and rear HD dual cameras. Looking forward to working with you. How can I contact you?

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

Hi there, contact [e-mail]. send me the details and I will take a look first. Thank you.

[@AthenaAthena-lp3dt]

@@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure Thank you very much for your reply.

[@17405pop]

The KTM's reliability might be questionable. It's quite a highly stressed wee motor and their camshafts are a bit chocolate-esque I believe. I think it's a bit off-kilter comparing these two bikes as well, they're obviously built for quite different use.

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@17405pop what about the money? It's quite a lot of bike for what you get. I don't think so.

[@wilburburger6155]

I think the Adventure R is a worthier contestant

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

The 2025 just came out a few days after this video. I went with what was available at the time. Thanks for the comment.

[@davmanlop333]

Is it not a twin? 🤔 You said single cylinder

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@davmanlop333 lol a lot of people picking this up. It is a twin. I also mentioned it later in the video. Slip of the tongue. Thanks for noticing. Good to know people are watching the video.

[@lalneihkima2807]

I like NX

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

Thank you. Me too.

[@erkutgurun]

I owned both. The KTM is the worst bike I ever ridden out of the 25 bikes I owned in the last 25 years. I have an NX500 and loving it.

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@erkutgurun interesting 🤔 thank you. The KTM seems to be fairly well put together. I suppose I have only experienced it for a few hours. It seemed like a really good piece of kit.

[@erkutgurun]

@@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure My comments are solely for the KTM390 adventure. I also owned a 790adv which was flawless (except for the sudden turning off, of the engine at occasional times mid-ride, and the motorcycle showing "service needed" after unplugging the battery and replugging it.

[@aapa3732]

The KTM has 12.2:1 compression ratio 2-ring piston single cylinder that is "ready to race", demands high octane gas, special oil, runs very hot, sounds like a metal box of marbles. What you need if you're going to race. Race what? It is more Indian-bajaj than Austrian. A small bike pretending to be a big bike. The NX500 is the big bike pretending to be a small bike, it's the most powerful iteration in Honda's lineup that shares the smooth parallel twin with Honda's legendary, proven build quality. It is unfair to compare these two bikes of different levels.

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

I think it's a fair match. Also it does show up some very good positives of the KTM. Price is a good factor. There both small adventure bikes of there class and produce similar output. Based on the views of this video I am not wrong. Thanks for watching.

[@georgeiliopoulos1965]

You can't compare these two bikes.

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@georgeiliopoulos1917 I disagree.

[@supermarkomarkomarko]

I have NX500 and I like it very much, excellent bike

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@supermarkomarkomarko did you have a CB500X before?

[@supermarkomarkomarko]

@@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure No, NX500 is my first bike

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@supermarkomarkomarko nice. Good starter bike.

[@jimmybonello3647]

I have forza 350 2022, but now I'm waiting for the NX ,l have to wait till February 2025 😢

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@jimmybonello3647 wow. Are you in summer or winter?

[@wilburburger6155]

I’ll buy the NX and later move on to an Africa Twin

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@wilburburger6155 nice move! Thank you for the comment

[@cainbeeping8480]

Two great bikes.

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

Thanks Cain. definitely

[@kiplambel4052]

Did the KTM thumper get buzzy cruising at 110-120?

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@kiplambel4052 not that I noticed. Damn fine machine though for what it offers and price.

[@jeffferguson899]

The "R" in KTM stands for reliability : )

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

Lol did you have a bad experience?

[@OkiemArkadiusza]

The main differnece between those two bikes is that KTM has a stone-hard seat. I wonder why don't you notice that obvious difference!!!!!!

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

Didn't seem that bad to me. I did say it was firmer. Whats it with the exclamation mark??

[@OkiemArkadiusza]

@@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure To me that seat was horrible.

[@alanwright9112]

The nx is a twin

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@alanwright9112 yes indeed.

[@auping2565]

Comparisation and starting to say the Honda is a single cilinder. 😂 Very different riding motorcycles. 2 cil or 1 cil. 😊

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@auping2565 well I didn't mean to say it on purpose. We're did I say that? I did say twin later in the video. I am not a complete idiot 😅

[@alanwright9112]

Ah just a slip of the tongue. NX fine looking bike.

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@alanwright9112 thanks bud. Happens now and then.

[@ekimandersom4478]

KTM being bankrupt might be a bit of a problem.

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@ekimandersom4478 your not wrong there.

[@georgeiliopoulos1965]

Totally wrong to compare these two motorcycles.

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

@@georgeiliopoulos1965 I disagree

[@saruhanvardar1171]

KTM

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

Good choice