Trying to break a KTM 390 Adventure with spoked wheels

[@Franzomck]

The best review I've seen on the KTM 390. I really identify with you because I'm also a big heavy rider and I don't want to buy a bigger bike that I can't handle. congratulations.

[@magiciantorque6430]

The low end torque and engine cutoff in low speed can easily be solved by feathering with the clutch. But if you don't have those skills you can always go for a BMC Air Filter and Fuel X Pro.

[@matt_kelly]

It’s good to hear the spokies are reliable, I’ve already had to replace my cast front because it dented so much it broke the bead. A month later with the new cast wheel and I’ve already dented it. Maybe I’m being too hard on the little bike, haha.

[@thebikeshowsa]

I think we should hire you to test wheels from now on!

[@maxflight777]

Donovan , good to see you back !!

[@coreydavis7810]

This KTM 390 Adventure and the Honda CRF300L Rally are the bikes I'm interested in -- still undecided, but this video was very helpful.

[@thebikeshowsa]

Thanks. I’m sure you will enjoy whichever you choose.

[@amlor88]

I'm tied between both those bikes as well but after much thought, I think the cb500x will be the best option

[@laundrieshanging9077]

Sold my 300 for the 390 fwiw. Did 3000 miles on the 300 in 2 months, quickly realized it wasnt the best for road 50/50

[@Tyr1001]

I'm pretty new but from the riding and reading I've done, It seems to me like comparing a rock crawler to an overland rig. Dual sports like the honda emphasize the "sport". You'll bomb trails in the morning and head home at night. adventure bikes are more the overland rig, multi day trip machines optimized to carry gear and get you there than to tear it up on the way. hope that helps inform your decision a bit

[@coreydavis7810]

@@amlor88 That bike appears underrated in my opinion. I rarely see it reviewed, but by all accounts it's a very solid bike. I kinda feel the same way about the Versys 300... Thx for the feedback.

[@chrisp2614]

The Kawasaki versys 300 had spoked wheels way back in 2019 in the same class. or maybe only in the USA ?

[@thebikeshowsa]

It's true. That fact somehow escaped us when writing this script. We shall forever beg humble forgiveness.

[@Rookie7219]

FYI with the latest update you the abs and TC settings will stay as you left them once you turn the bike back on again! :)

[@thebikeshowsa]

Really? The bike just got a whole lot better!

[@bacbladerunner]

Not true. The 2022 fixed it, but they just updated my 2022 from version 9 to ver10, and now the MTC once agsin resets to ON. You xan see in the video that MTC reset to ON the instant he started the bike. It has to be set to OFF with the engine running, and will reset to ON with a stall or ignition switched off. VERY FRUSTRATING, KTM!!!

[@FewMoto]

Coming from another small channel, I'm a little dismayed that you don't have more subscribers. Great editing, great content, great view counts, maybe you should ask for subs in your videos. You are a top notch creator, you deserve more subs!!

[@trroland1248]

Why complain about the suspension or TFT display on this bike. In this price category or this displacement category, name a bike with better either. I don’t think there is one with inverted forks and adjustable (in any way) front suspension. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@allans7281]

I can’t get passed the headlights it looks like a fly

[@vincentking7024]

Well done Don! The state of Breedts at the moment is the worst I have seen in 10 years.

[@maximusmiles8435]

Finally a lightweight with some features.

[@anonymousxyz6175]

Nice review. 🔥👍

[@thespeedofchillax]

eh, the kawasaki versys x300 has spoked wheels, fwiw, so the ktm isnt the only bike in the class with spoked wheels. the versys x300 also has abs, with it being switchable on the '23 version as well.

[@thebikeshowsa]

You’re completely right. I made a small boo-boo there. Apologies.

[@N1lav]

@@thebikeshowsa you made another boo boo, in the 23 model and 22(with ecu update) the settings are persistent

[@DaveZee01]

It would be amazing if Kawasaki put their 400 Ninja twin engine in a "Versys X400", especially if it could weigh more or less the same as the 300 twin.

[@someguy9440]

​@@DaveZee01 lots of people asking for this bike, but I don't think they want to risk cannibalizing sales of the bigger Versys models. Unlike KTM, who seem poised to offer steps of 50cc between models instead of 100 😆 The little kawi v300 still seems like the real underdog to beat in this segment, with several N. Africa and trans-European tours to its credit.

[@Tonyx.yt.]

yes, has spoked wheels as well, but suspension are not as good as this one. on the other hand the little 299cc parallel twin is 100% vibration free

[@dirtrider9268]

Glad you pushed the 390 adv with the new wheels. Sounds like you needed TC with all the mentions of slipping.

[@kigaboo3344]

Remember to fasten your chinstrap on the helmet guys! i got hung up on that in this vid

[@thebikeshowsa]

Don’t be like Donovan.

[@mrgjr8758]

Any issues at cold starting?

[@someguy9440]

I am square shaped like our fine host, so it's nice to see that a bigger guy can hop on this and not feel or look like an ape riding a kid's bike. :D All the complaints I read about this bike seem like people looking for things to make complaints about. Footpegs, bars, and seats are all personal items that the ADV crowd are used to replacing, anyway. As a first bike, I think an A2 restricted middle-weight is probably too much bike for most folks to really learn how to toss around in the dirt. This 390ADV looks like it goes like stink on or off-road. The 500cc and under class is already very crowded IMO and I think KTM have done a good job carving out a niche with a great 60/40 bike with a slight on-road ripper bias and gobs of standard features.

[@maxflight777]

I agree, good summary sir .

[@bultacowally]

Wish the seat height was lower on these I would buy one in a heartbeat but can't touch the ground now as they are.

[@bbaz6729]

With that front fender so close, how can you fit a true knobby tire?

[@Jonathan-L]

Many thanks for sharing the gnarly track on Breedtsnek Pass. By the way, do you encounter any wildlife around Breedtsnek Pass?

[@jakaberdajs4378]

Only one with spoked wheels? Versys 300x? Kove 500x?

[@Loooosszeeerrrr123]

Can it tour Africa 🌍??

[@ShaneZettelmier]

This is one of my favorite bikes on paper, but like you said, it lacks the low in torque, which means it’s good for riding fast and it’s great on the road but on slow stuff when you need to work, you don’t have it. I guess it’s always gonna be a back-and-forth with these types of bikes, single has plenty of low in torque, and it is great for the off-road, but when you’re going fast in on the roads, higher revving motors with torque higher RPMs is nicer. I guess you just need to choose which one works best for you. I would love a lighter weight adventure, dual sport type of bike but it’s a unicorn idea. Have a smoother higher revving engine you’re going to lose low into work, and, it’s not gonna work as well in the slow stuff and getting through rocks and all of that. I’m wondering if traction control electronics would help with that but either way still don’t have the power all they can do is back the power on and off but it still looks like a pretty cool bike.

[@AneeshKorrde]

I guess there are sprocketing options to get ride of the Low end grunt right. Someone here installed the Duke 250 front sprocket while others got aftermarket larger rear sprocket. I prefer the 1st option to keep the warranty and also it doesn’t impact the top end whack by that much

[@ShaneZettelmier]

@@AneeshKorrde yeah, you can always re-gear but who if you gear down then you lose your high end. That’s why I like the old is a single cylinder thumpers come out they vibrate a lot, but something like an old Honda XL 350 or 600 or the XR 650 L, no things just keep chugging along, and have great low in torque. But they’re definitely not as smooth as a high-end either. There’s always a trade off. And.

[@jean-lucjourdan7227]

Please stand up and keep your feet on the pegs 🙏🏼

[@aditya.ishan27]

It got launched in India today, can please for heaven sake can anyone tell me its tubless or not ? As on website nothing mentions about it.

[@arzan20]

Tubed tyres buddy..

[@abhijitkelkar1313]

hi . hope the tyres are tubeless on SW version, and not tubed ones

[@MotoCampAdv]

Why does it matter ? Honestly this topic is as dumb as our president

[@riderr3192]

It's tube less only

[@chitrasenrane4511]

Will it be tubless???

[@vfdiesel333]

How tall are you and your weight please)

[@soidog154]

Sorry mate you ain't going to break a spoke wheel on that test, these bikes will be hammered to distruction on test beds

[@N1lav]

Donovan, we are not "fast", we are just "genrously proportioned", "abundant".

[@thebikeshowsa]

Don’t sell yourself short. I think you’re fast too.

[@bultacowally]

you mean fat???

[@ktmgek]

Do u ever notice that your high beam is on?

[@human1513]

Fun video. Please remember to tie on, do up the straps for your helmet. Those tires are not for offroad, dirt unfortunately. Everyone complains about the poor quick shifter.

[@thebikeshowsa]

There's not much to protect with the helmet, luckily. The tyres, although not full knobbly, aren't too bad. That pass is very slippery.

[@johnlouis6892]

The 2023 does not erase your settings...

[@dylanborlace1]

What class are you referring to ?Himalayan has spoke wheels. Versys 300x has spoke wheels.

[@thebikeshowsa]

You are indeed right about the Versys. We don’t get the Himalayan here.

[@dylanborlace1]

@@MotoCampAdv I’ve heard the same about the 390. But don’t own one so can’t compare. I own the Himalayan. While being probably the slowest bike I’ve ever owned it’s also the most fun I’ve had on one.

[@tankgirls]

You're winning! Your're winning at life!!!

[@thebikeshowsa]

It’s easy when you’re dicing yourself.

[@sandeepp6834]

Are the tyres tubeless?

[@sdefiel3719]

Nope, you must remove the wheel, remove the tire, replace the new tube, make sure the tube is set correctly, replace the tire, replace the wheel and adjust the chain and pump it up ... while the guy with the alloy wheels that ALMOST NEVER dent enough to stop you ... passes you up on the trail. :) S

[@50yearsand65]

Awesome

[@ericdawson3425]

The fuel tanks cracking under filler cap cover and lower front bracket

[@lalamotolady]

Yikes! 😳

[@patshes1951]

Cool bike

[@anoopvadayampady]

Are those tubeless spoke wheels?

[@jousedgreat]

Should’ve turned the traction control off. It switched back on as soon as u started. U missed most of the fun I would say with the traction still on

[@deniseroberts6908]

When you said 2023 I was interested to watch then, came the big fib. On the 2023 bike KTM rectified the traction control issue. So your bike wasn’t a 2023 after all

[@casave9682]

I just called dealers and they quoted 12,000 usd 😂😂😂

[@kevingriffin9170]

Err ... "safety first"? Naughty you leaving your helmet undone ;)

[@thebikeshowsa]

Don't be like Donovan

[@BT-ADV]

I think you should fasten your helmet bad form

[@thebikeshowsa]

Don't be like Donovan, kids.

[@db2474]

Electronicals huh...lol

[@BlackdogADV]

This is making me want a Chinese bike!

[@alq1967]

Royal Enfield has spoked wheels so this isn’t the only one… lost your credibility

[@thebikeshowsa]

Sadly, the RE isn't available in South Africa.

[@generaldistrust]

auto subs: "trash control" haha😅

[@vernl3726]

what .. a kak review .. honestly man .. we want to see it put through proper offroad .. or alternatively go sit on the tarmac for the other segment who would be interested.

[@thebikeshowsa]

Lekker man.

[@finerbiner]

KTM 390 would be great if they would change the geometry enough to let a rider stand. This is still a road bike.

[@porkoholic]

Get new footpegs?

[@finerbiner]

@@porkoholic If it was only that they would fix at the factory. This bike has road geometry and foot pegs helps a little, but does not correct the position.

[@rustyupton168]

Yup

[@kingcrust]

The way you sound riding it, looks like that suspension is horrendous.

[@thebikeshowsa]

The road is far bumpier than the TV shows.

[@rustyupton168]

I have one , way too stiff

[@NiteenKulkarni]

Are tyres tubeless ?