[aghate]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

If the naysayers here can do 10% of what Adam Riemann just did with a stock 390 adventure and tell me they didn't have enough fun, the rest of us will shut our mouths.

Originally Posted by Motard_Blr

I don't think KTM had ever promised an off-road bike so I don't understand what the big fuss is about. The 390 adventure may be a flawed bike in some ways, but in my opinion, the limited off-road ability is not a flaw. Anybody who is disappointed with that only has their own expectations to blame.

Those is only my opinion so feel free to debate or criticize it.

You guys have summed it up well. We have to consider what the bike offers and not focus much on what it could have. When you compare it with the BMW 310 GS, it is better value for money. Everyone was hyped about the 310 GS only to be let down by the price (including yours truly). Now we have a bike here that offers many things and has electronics on offer as standard which are good for rider safety. Whether we like it or not, they are there and it is better to have them than not having any isn't it? The bike is laden with electronics package that even some of the bigger bikes won't offer at twice the price.

I saw in the reviews everyone mentioning about adjustable suspension, how many of us would try and adjust it ever so often even if it was an option? In my opinion, it would have been great to be able to adjust the windshield on the fly or at least with ease at standstill without the use of any tools. That, I would say is a realistic expectation.

Let us wait for more in depth 'on-road' reviews which I am sure they would be good.

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by aghate

I saw in the reviews everyone mentioning about adjustable suspension, how many of us would try and adjust it ever so often even if it was an option?

Me me me! Very useful when you tour with luggage and over varying road conditions. Once experienced will be a total fan, till then hard to explain.

In my opinion, it would have been great to be able to adjust the windshield on the fly or at least with ease at standstill without the use of any tools.

Actually no, most of us change the setting only when we take it out to highways. One setting for highways, one for city and with the size of that OE screen, i will keep it max height always, coz it is going to make hardly any difference

[drt_rdr]

The way it is now, this bike is more than enough for most people's off-road needs in India. I mean most people will do some trails or some sanddune riding at best. And they can do that in style with the adv390.

Who's gonna go exploring into a forest thicket, or go riding off up a rocky hillside or alongside a river or into a grassland making their own trails and all that? If anyone wanted that, they'd get a real dirtbike.

[ac 427]

Wow.
We are enthusiasts, but just the amount of chatter on 'adjustable suspension' and how the quick shifter is a gimmic is mind boggling.

Mind you before the KTM we had an unreliable RE as the standard tourer of India.

The KTM 390 adv comes with electronics that - if not for KTM, we would have had to probably wait a half a decade for any other bike to give it to us.

Sure, the bike could have come with better knobbies, or spokes, but the amount of hate it is getting is rather unwarranted.

In addition I don't hear most of our enthusiasts talking about the elephant in the room, the seat height. At 855 mm that is considerably high and if someone is looking at real off-roading, the seat height is as imp as any other feature.

Also with regards to Off roading, in India it is limited to
'ladakh jayega kya', so
Yes, ladakh jayega.

I am probably going to book one shortly, just awaiting my TD.

Safe riding.

Cheers,
ac

[nasirkaka]

Wow! So much discussion. How i see it is that peeps who have been desperately waiting for the bike for long time will go ahead and buy it anyways because in whatever form the 390 adventure presently is, there is nothing better available in terms of value, performance, equipment and features. And i dont think anything bike will come close to it in near future, ofcourse in this segment. The bike is more then enough for most of us and our skill set. And we expecting adjustable suspension and rider modes and tubeless spokes etc are just expecting too much for 2.99L. Unrealistic for sure.

Who's gonna go exploring into a forest thicket, or go riding off up a rocky hillside or alongside a river or into a grassland making their own trails and all that? If anyone wanted that, they'd get a real dirtbike.

Many of us actually do that on weekends and its good fun in an amateurish way. And its catching up with many riders as an alternative to the usual boring breakfast rides. We keep falling, getting up and trying again. following is our groups last weekend attempt to ride up a hillock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UothvYvmAkI&t=1185s

[PatienceWins]

At the price point, I think it is a very good value for money package. The electronics provided for safety is unmatched in this segment. I think a lot of thought has gone into making this bike a great package - Big bike feel, good ergonomics, led light, crash guard/ bash plate provided by default, charging mechanism, seat etc provide no reasons to complain for a tourer in this price range. It is an adventure tourer and not an enduro bike, so I think most of the complaints in the reviews are not valid. I think KTM/ Bajaj knows their target segment well and packaged the bike well.

I would have been happy to get the adjustable suspension at a higher price. I may not need it now based on my skill set and usage, but I would like to be future fool proof by paying extra considering that I do not upgrade my vehicles easily. I get sentimentally attached to them. My first bike Fiero is 20 years old and is still with me in great running condition.

I will wait for test rides and ownership reviews. Need to see how bad the low end torque is. I was not happy with the same when I took test ride of the first generation KTM 390. I am ready to wait before pulling the trigger.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by ac 427

but the amount of hate it is getting is rather unwarranted.

Guess it is all related to the hype created prior to the launch.

390 Adventure was supposed to be THE ONE motorcycle to have in the garage, for everyone. The fun and giant-killing abilities of the 390, the off-road prowess of KTM, the usability and practicality of a small bike and the value for money of a Bajaj.

With such a tall order of hype built around it - no wonder many were/are disappointed.

The same trend can be seen in other social media platforms as well - as well as evident in the tone echoed by auto-journalists.

[navpreet318]

Originally Posted by aghate

............
I saw in the reviews everyone mentioning about adjustable suspension, how many of us would try and adjust it ever so often even if it was an option?........................

Absolutely it is one of the best features if it is effective. It creates a world of a difference when riding with a pillion or luggage.

Also if one wants to ride hard on a nice piece of winding road, jack it up to the max and the suspension becomes stiff and no more wallowing.
And if one wants a nice comfy ride lower it to the softest and its a nice cushiony ride with the comfort of being able to flat foot a big bike.

This is my experience from a 1200GS with manual adjustment at both front and rear.

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

With such a tall order of hype built around it - no wonder many were/are disappointed.

I think [realistically] none of us were expecting a KL series [from Kawasaki] Motorcycle from an ADV.

2 bikes are always different, what a Himalayan can do, this KTM might not be able to with similar elan and vice-versa.

There are not many bikes in which you can go to off-road [read - dirtbike] with purpose, but, if it will excel at off-roading, it will be a pain to ride it till you reach your off-road arena [in case you chose to ride it, just like a dedicated track bike].

Any ride reports by BHP-ians?

[Red Liner]

These inserts can be bought from abroad at any of the KTM dealers and put in our bikes. What's even better is to wait for after market, compare the prices with the stock adjustable one and buy the one that makes sense.

We have actually got the best possible deal if you ask me. If I feel the need for adjustable front suspension based on my riding style, i will just buy one from a specialist like rally raid after due diligence instead of paying 50k more to KTM for a mass produced option.

[neil.jericho]

Not quoting everyone since quite a few forum members are discussing it but on the topic of why did we expect the bike to have off road capabilities - well for one, along with bits of touring, they did show the bike doing this

and this

in its advertisement on youtube.

Ever since the buzz of the Adventure 390 started to surface, most of us expected the bike to be a good tourer with some offroad capability. Where we were not clear was the topic of how much offroading capabilities the bike would have. KTMs advertisement might have raised expectations for many.

Then, in what is a most puzzling decision, KTM (or was it Bajaj?) decided to provide the motorcycle to automobile journalists in conditions that greatly leaned towards offroad conditions. IIRC, Bikewale's journalist said that 90% of the riding was in mixed offroad conditions and this exposed some chinks in the bike's armour - not enough poke for slow sections, traction control misbehaving etc. And the reviewers have done their job in highlighting these weaknesses.

I, for one, will test ride the bike but I feel the Adventure 250 might be more my calling.

Originally Posted by ashwin1224

Clearly KTM knows what it's doing, and the 390 adventure is not KTM's "attempt" at making an Adventure bike for the first time. It is meant to be a long distance mile muncher and that it seemingly succeeds in doing. However, here is where Bajaj comes into the front with their "we sell 1000% more bikes than you we know how to market it" attitude. And then they chalk out the brilliant plan of showcasing the bike as a thoroughbred offroader, inviting media drives on a dirt track and calling Mr. Reiman all the way from Australia [On a side note: Have you guys seen him in Motonomads!? Mad skills doing 100+km trail days, for WEEKS!]. Not to forget the funky promo video of the (other) dude just slaying it on the dirt.

It's blatantly obvious the marketing department is trying to desperately cash in on the KTM Rally pedigree while the development department seems to just be doing its own thing. Instead of this "trail" KTM should have given the bike to the journos for 2-3 days for them to film something like a weekend trip(at the very least). The bike seems like it's a long distance machine, and you cannot simulate that in 3-4 hours. And then, the criticism is valid and is completely called for. It's like Mahindra inviting media to test the new Thar at BIC (overkill I know)

Very well put!

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

Then, in what is a most puzzling decision, KTM (or was it Bajaj?) decided to provide the motorcycle to automobile journalists in conditions that greatly leaned towards offroad conditions.

But that is similar to say.. Jeep Compass review experience in the offroad track DOT at Goa, which I went for. Obviously this is the same place where RFC challenge is also conducted, and a compass will not be able to do what an RFC vehicle would do at the same location.

For me, the biggest disappointment is replacing adjustable suspension which is more utilitarian for an adventure tourer with that quick shifter toy and then saying 2.99 ex is amazing price. I would take the adjustable inserts minus quick shifter for 3.25 Ex happily.

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

why did we expect the bike to have off road capabilities - well for one, along with bits of touring, they did show the bike doing this

in its advertisement on Youtube.

I expected my mom to cook me noodles in ~ 2 minutes, expected clothes to be completely clean after washing from a certain detergent and wondered why did I not turn into a SuperMan after eating a certain gum etc. No wonder, my daughter expects similar things to happen post watching an advertisement.

Since when did advertisements depict the true story ?

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

conditions and this exposed some chinks in the bike's armour - not enough poke for slow sections, traction control misbehaving etc. And the reviewers have done their job in highlighting these weaknesses.

I, for one, will test ride the bike but I feel the Adventure 250 might be more my calling.



Very well put!

Neil, stop reading reviews of journos and taking it as gospel man. Like i said earlier, go ride the bike the bike yourself and put it through its paces.

Most of these journos are road biased riders, I don't think any of them even own a dirt bike and have the authority to pass any kind of judgement on this bike after three measly hours of riding.

I managed to understand a bit of the trail watching all the review videos and photos,and trust me, folks in Bangalore including myself have done stuff like this on bikes like the Versys, old gen Duke, GS310, you name it. Yes, we have fallen, but we completed it and had fun.

Its high time we abandoned watching and discussing the bile these guys come up with. Especially after the first gen Himalayan review, i give all these guys a very wide berth and solely stick to MY own experience.

Just a sound and light show these guys are.

Trust me this bike will ace every other option offroad we have in the market today with very small inexpensive adjustments.

[neil.jericho]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

But that is similar to say.. Jeep Compass review experience in the offroad track DOT at Goa, which I went for. Obviously this is the same place where RFC challenge is also conducted, and a compass will not be able to do what an RFC vehicle would do at the same location.

I agree but in this case, why not play to the Adv 390's strengths? Why put 90% of riding time for these trail conditions when the bike shines as a great tourer with some offroad credentials.

Originally Posted by Jaggu

For me, the biggest disappointment is replacing adjustable suspension which is more utilitarian for an adventure tourer with that quick shifter toy and then saying 2.99 ex is amazing price. I would take the adjustable inserts minus quick shifter for 3.25 Ex happily.

Im with you 100% on this. I have a quick shifter and adjustable suspension on my bike. If I could choose between the two, I would take adjustable rear suspension, every single day of the week.

Originally Posted by Sheel

I expected my mom to cook me noodles in ~ 2 minutes, expected clothes to be completely clean after washing from a certain detergent and wondered why did I not turn into a SuperMan after eating a certain gum etc. No wonder, my daughter expects similar things to happen post watching an advertisement.

Since when did advertisements depict the true story ?

Good point! But imagine if a detergent advertised complete dirt removal from a school child's shirt, called in the journalists to demonstrate it and then pulled out a still slightly dirty shirt from the bucket instead of a gleaming white one

I just dont see what KTM / Bajaj was trying to do. Everyone else chooses motorcycle launches at perfect locations that completely highlight a bike's capabilities. The only other such misguided choice that I can think of is Hero launching the anemic 200S at the BIC.

Originally Posted by Red Liner

Neil, stop reading reviews of journos and taking it as gospel man. Like i said earlier, go ride the bike the bike yourself and put it through its paces.

Most of these journos are road biased riders, I don't think any of them even own a dirt bike and have the authority to pass any kind of judgement on this bike after three measly hours of riding.

I managed to understand a bit of the trail watching all the review videos and photos,and trust me, folks in Bangalore including myself have done stuff like this on bikes like the Versys, old gen Duke, GS310, you name it. Yes, we have fallen, but we completed it and had fun.

The launch here is on Saturday from what I hear, waiting for the test rides to start before I can go and check it out myself. It was easy to figure out which journalists were able to do justice to the bike in those conditions, not very many, like you said. Last year I was doing a ton of research on building my own offroader, I feel I might end up going back to that plan!