[shailinder]

Originally Posted by virajvroom

No idea. Based on my experience, that happens when the bike is kept in the same position for months without properly inflated tires and is simultaneously exposed to harsh weather. The bike's weight falls on the same point, because of which the cracks develop. But that doesn't apply to my case. On digging deep, I also got similar feedback from some of my Italian and Austrian acquaintances, but those guys are 'pro' level riders. So their tires are prone to wear out soon. And they really don't bother about these things as the cost is acceptable for the 890s and 1290s.

That is strange.

By the way, what PSI level do you maintain in your tires? OEM recommended one's or over/under?

I am not an expert from any angle, but I believe over or under-inflation of tires will also cause some issues in the long run. It will further deteriorate rubber if you ride in wet conditions and expose them to direct sunlight to dry or otherwise. Both points are purely unintentional, and if the surroundings are such, nothing can be done.

Have you tried nitrogen in your tires? I have been using them for a very long time in my cars, scooters and bikes. They are very effective in my case, but my use case cannot be yours again. But you can take a reference and give it a try.

[virajvroom]

Originally Posted by shailinder

That is strange.

By the way, what PSI level do you maintain in your tires? OEM recommended one's or over/under?

Have you tried nitrogen in your tires? I have been using them for a very long time in my cars, scooters and bikes. They are very effective in my case, but my use case cannot be yours again. But you can take a reference and give it a try.

I appreciate the help. However, I have been using nitrogen on all my vehicles since 2005. Adil Jal Darukhanawala first recommended this in Overdrive magazine. And a few folks on xbhp forum, then. Good old days when I had to ride 10 kms to the MRF tire shop (pioneers of single brand retail tire shop network) and was teased by my friends and my dad for having spent Rs. 50/- just for air.

Since a company of Metzeler's stature agreed to replace it without much of an argument, I have concluded it must be a manufacturing defect.

[JoeTheWanderer]

I got the delivery of my 390 Adventure (Std) last week - Dark Galvano Black - and I'm enjoying every kilometer on it.

Before this, I rode a Bullet 500 for about 6 years. The 500 was my first bike and its character shaped my riding style - sedate and easy on the throttle. However, off late I found it to be lacking during touring. Riding above 90 km/h was a chore - the vibes were just too much for 8 - 10 hour days.

The 390 is a whole different beast- I knew that going in. This is completely opposite of what I'm used to and I find myself riding just a little faster than I would ride my 500. I never got a speeding challan on the 500 - I hope I'm able to maintain my pristine record.

Based on all I had read about it and saw on YouTube I had some preconceived notions about the bike. I'm sharing my thoughts on them as a new owner.

1. Quick shifter issues. I've only used the QS a couple of times and I've had no issues with it - and I say this as someone who has never used QS in the past. I guess the issues with the 1st Generation bikes are now largely fixed.

2. Low RPM rideability issues. I think this may be an issue with the riding style - if you lug your engine, this bike will be less forgiving. Even with the 500 I normally rode in the correct gear, so I don't feel as if I have to change gears more frequently now. Of course, my experience with the bike is limited, so I guess things may change as I put more KMs on the odo.

3. Accessories required. I think this is one area where it is very easy to get lured by the marketing hoopla and all the content floating around on YouTube. You don't really need a lot of accessories to begin with. It comes with almost everything you need. My advice, for anyone looking to purchase the bike, would be to get the bike and then add accessories you feel are missing.

For example, going by all the YouTube hype I assumed the bike didn't come with a radiator guard from the factory and ordered one from Zana while waiting for the bike. Only when I got the bike home I realized that it comes with a plastic guard from the factory . For my use case of primarily highway and occasional city riding I am certain this will work fine.

Similarly, even the GPS/phone mount may not be immediately required. Pair your phone and you get most of the required info - caller info as well as navigation - on the TFT while your phone sits safely in your pocket. The on-screen navigation is pretty decent. I've used it a couple of times in the city and it gets the job done.

One accessory that I'm really glad I purchased is Rynox's POD MAGLOCK Tank Bag. It comes with a ring kit that mounts to the petrol cap and you can attach the bag to it. I don't like bags that physically touch the tank as it leads to lots of scratches after the bike gets dusty (which happens easily on our highways) so this is perfect. At less than Rs. 5000 for the bag + the ring kit it is absolutely worth it. Similar bags from Givi and others are upwards of Rs. 12,000 - 15,000 for the entire kit.

4.Finding neutral. I'm not sure of this one yet but if I know I'm going to stop, I just shift into N before the bike comes to a complete halt. On the 500 with synthetic engine oil, I could move to N even at standstill. I assume after the first oil change things will improve with the 390 as well.

[Biker_Ajax]

Originally Posted by JoeTheWanderer

I got the delivery of my 390 Adventure (Std) last week - Dark Galvano Black - and I'm enjoying every kilometer on it.

Welcome to the Orange Family

The KTM DNA is completely opposite to 500! What a massive change it must be for you!

It is extremely difficult to maintain within speed limit you will cross 100 without realising it!!!

Wish you safe miles & hope to catch you some day on a ride

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by Biker_Ajax

The KTM DNA is completely opposite to 500!

Depends on the 500 really.

To the UCE, most definitely.

To the AVL LB too.

But the cast iron Bullet 500 Standard ... the "kadak" feel of that on a good goldie exhaust, is very cosily similar to that of the KTM. Never mind the revs.

I"ve owned and ridden all 4 over the past 20 years, in case someone feels I'm being biased by ownership. And the numbers of old 500 riders who jumped on to KTMs in 2012 is legion.

Cheers, Doc

[JoeTheWanderer]

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Biker_Ajax

The KTM DNA is completely opposite to 500! What a massive change it must be for you!

Haha, yes absolutely. Even before I took the test drive, I knew that on paper, the 390 and 500 are miles apart. But still the test drive was a bit of an eye opener in terms of the experience.

Originally Posted by Biker_Ajax

It is extremely difficult to maintain within speed limit you will cross 100 without realizing it!!!

Right you are sir! I've never been a fast rider but the 390 engine always wants you to twist that throttle just a little more!

Hope to catch you on a ride!

[bharathdonti]

Originally Posted by virajvroom

All right, guys. Got the front Metzeler tyre replaced under warranty from the Service Centre. I can't name the Service Center; however, I had to hop from one to another to find someone who could help. Also, all my bikes have been from Bajaj and have been mostly serviced by this service center (since 2004). Maybe the loyalty helped. I came across a video that mentions this as a known issue.

Could you please give me the details on how did you raise the complaint? I have the same issue with the front tyre crack which I figured out today

[Tom.Koshy]

Apparently the sidewalls of my front tyre are also cracked. After going through virajvroom's post I casually checked my front tyre while washing the bike and was surprised to see the sidewalls cracked. My bike is a 2021 model and the tyres are 2020 manufactured. Are others also facing the same issue ? Or is it only a certain batch of tyres that have been affected ?
My tyres have already run 12k kms (Looks fine for another 3-4K kms) . Is it suggested to get it replaced or go through the warranty route ?

[virajvroom]

Originally Posted by bharathdonti

Could you please give me the details on how did you raise the complaint? I have the same issue with the front tyre crack which I figured out today

Firstly, check the Warranty conditions that are completely vague. My assumption is that it is one year for stock tires. However, if you buy from retailers, the warranty seems to be 4-5 years or a thread depth of 1/32 for Tourance, whichever occurs first, and 1-2 years for other versions. But the caveat is that you must purchase it from authorized dealers only.

I suggest you visit multiple service centers and check if they can help. There are a lot of variables here that worked for me but might not work for others:

1. The bike has hardly run and is still in its initial years with nearly 0 modifications or accessories. I specifically mean no additional weight.
2. Be a long-time customer of Bajaj/KTM. Your cellphone/email ID is usually sufficient for them to get your history
3. Be a loyal customer of the Service Center. This center has serviced my Discover 125 and Pulsar 135 for at least 5 years each since 2005. Plus, the original accessories I bought from them. My relative's Maruti cars 800, Wagon R, and Celerio have been purchased and serviced from the same service center as well over past decades
4. Be courteous and give the service managers ample time, but don't forget to follow up weekly. Only escalate if things are genuine. In my case, the manager constantly kept me informed about his troubles and where the delay was happening, i.e., from Metzeler. So, I mentioned exactly the same to Bajaj/KTM. I called KTM call center to raise a complaint and collected the complaint number since no one called back. Then, escalated it to Bajaj's customer care.

[virajvroom]

Originally Posted by Tom.Koshy

Apparently the sidewalls of my front tyre are also cracked. After going through virajvroom's post I casually checked my front tyre ......
My tyres have already run 12k kms (Looks fine for another 3-4K kms) . Is it suggested to get it replaced or go through the warranty route ?

Unsure if the warranty is still applicable. It's pretty vague. I think it will now depend on the thread wear which is mostly subjective.

I recommend going for MAXXIS MAXXPLORE since it seems to be the closest in terms of thread patterns and is lighter on the pocket.

[Tom.Koshy]

Originally Posted by virajvroom

Unsure if the warranty is still applicable. It's pretty vague. I think it will now depend on the thread wear which is mostly subjective.

I recommend going for MAXXIS MAXXPLORE since it seems to be the closest in terms of thread patterns and is lighter on the pocket.

I will be visiting the SVC this weekend to enquire whether anything can be done under warranty. Even a pro rata discount would be a good gesture, if they are able to provide the same.While on the topic of replacement rubber for the 390 ADV , it would be very helpful if fellow owners could share their experiences with other brands. The grip level that the tourance offers is exceptional. However brands like Reise, Maxxiss and Apollo have tyres at 1/3rd the price of the tourance. Will the riding experinece take a major hit if I switch to other brands ?

P.S My usage would be primarily for touring.

[virajvroom]

Originally Posted by Tom.Koshy

I will be visiting the SVC this weekend to enquire whether anything can be done under warranty. Even a pro rata discount would be a good gesture, if they are able to provide the same.While on the topic of replacement rubber for the 390 ADV , it would be very helpful if fellow owners could share their experiences with other brands. The grip level that the tourance offers is exceptional. However brands like Reise, Maxxiss and Apollo have tyres at 1/3rd the price of the tourance. Will the riding experinece take a major hit if I switch to other brands ?

P.S My usage would be primarily for touring.

Surely, other owners who have replaced the Metzelers with local ones would be able to help first hand. I have seen some rave reviews of Reise tires. If were to have an exact fit, my combination would be Rear: Reise tourR 30-1, Rs 3200/-, (6 years standard pro-rata and 42 months unconditional warranty) and Front: MRF MGP METEOR-FM2 TL, Rs 2600/-, (6 years standard pro-rata). This combination should ideally match the Load Index and Speed Index of the Metzelers on both tyres.

[saurabh_v8]

Originally Posted by JoeTheWanderer

Similarly, even the GPS/phone mount may not be immediately required.
===
I've used it a couple of times in the city and it gets the job done.

Hey buddy how do you get the gps working in am struggling with iOS

[saurabh_v8]

Originally Posted by Biker_Ajax

Welcome to the Orange Family

The KTM DNA is completely opposite to 500! What a massive change it must be for you!

It is extremely difficult to maintain within speed limit you will cross 100 without realising it!!!

Wish you safe miles & hope to catch you some day on a ride

Not sure if this is specific to my bike but I was far more comfortable taking a honda unicorn or rr310 beyond 6k rpm in 3-4th gear over 390 adv.

I would easily touch 120kmph in short bursts on rr310 but Ktm feels stressed so I rarely touch 100 on the same road.

Yes I feel the bike is now faster and smoother after first service.

[JoeTheWanderer]

Originally Posted by saurabh_v8

Hey buddy how do you get the gps working in am struggling with iOS

I'm using a 3rd party Android app called Navigation for KTM motorcycles. Google Play store link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ingen.maps4ktm.

With my phone connected to the bike via bluetooth and the above app installed, I do the following to get the Navigation instructions on my bike:

1. Open Google maps and start the navigation.
2. After the navigation has started, open the KTM navigation app and click on the refresh connection button.

That's it - after the 2nd step I see the navigation on the left side of the TFT. I've used it a few times (in-city and on highways) and the instructions are helpful without any noticeable delays.

This app does need 1 special permission, without that it can't "read" the navigation instructions.

For iOS, there seems to be a 'KTMConnect' app, but going by the reviews online it seems to be awful.

If you have a used Android phone lying around you can try this app on that.