[ebonho]

The KTM 390 Adventure Is Finally Adventure Ready!
by Gaurav Dec 10, 2020

Spoked wheels now offered as a KTM powerpart. The kit includes everything you need to convert from standard cast wheels to spoke rims. Front, rear disc brakes and rear sprocket included. Prices haven’t been disclosed as yet.

The KTM 390 Adventure’s true off-road potential has always been limited to light trails due to its alloy wheel setup and gear ratios. Sure, changing the sprocket size to increase the bike’s bottom-end performance is an easy fix, but what about its wheels? Well, the 390 Adventure will finally be able to unleash its true off-road prowess thanks to the introduction of spoked wheels which will be offered as part of KTM’s powerpart catalogue.

The kit includes everything you need to convert from standard cast wheels to spoke rims, including disc brakes for both ends and a rear sprocket. What isn’t clear is the size of the rear sprocket and the price for the entire setup. Nonetheless, swapping the current alloy wheels for spoked rims should ensure the best balance between stiffness and flexibility, thus offering more confidence off the beaten path.

The 390 Adventure shares the same engine as the 390 Duke - a BS6-compliant 373cc engine dishing out 43.4PS at 9000rpm and 37Nm at 7000rpm. The motor comes mated to a 6-speed transmission using a quickshifter.

KTM has also been working on local solutions to provide cost-effective alternatives for your luggage mounting needs while touring. The Powerparts catalogue of Mattighofen includes panniers, tail bag, tank bag and saddlebags for the 390 Adventure.

Source: https://www.zigwheels.com/news-featu...-390-adventure

A great move!

Cheers, Doc



Look hardcore. No mention if they are tubeless ready though. I'm assuming they would be.

[GTO]

Not a biker, but wouldn't spoke wheels look ugly on a modern motorcycle (unless its a retro)?

Originally Posted by ebonho

A great move!

Why so? What is the advantage of spoke wheels?

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by GTO

Not a biker, but wouldn't spoke wheels look ugly on a modern motorcycle (unless its a retro)?

Why so? What is the advantage of spoke wheels?

The spoked wheel is considered by scientists who deal in force vectors and such stuff to be one of the strongest manmade structures. They are the holy grail for hardcore adventure riding where the wheels take big hits at speed and big drops.

Secondly, a spoked wheel can take a lot of damage, including multiple broken spokes, and still keep going. Limping, but not stranded. When an alloy breaks, you are stranded. That's a huge consideration for guys who actually do adventure riding into places where the nearest civilization is often hundreds of kilometres away.

Correct me if I'm wrong, since I'm not a car guy essentially, but the hardcore offroaders prefer pressed steel rims over alloys for the same reason.

Lastly, on the ugliness factor, an adventure bike on alloys is actually looked at as a poseur. A softroader at best. A spoked wheel shod adventure looks the part.

Cheers, Doc

[surjaonwheelz]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Prices haven’t been disclosed as yet.

The kit includes everything you need to convert from standard cast wheels to spoke rims, including disc brakes for both ends and a rear sprocket.

Ain't the hardware redundant? The discs & sprocket, seems alloy mounts and spoke mounts are different. I'm thinking the other way round when RE launches alloys (alloys for Classic take the stock discs and sprockets) for the 650 twins!

/surjaonwheelz

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by surjaonwheelz

Ain't the hardware redundant? The discs & sprocket, seems alloy mounts and spoke mounts are different. I'm thinking the other way round when RE launches alloys (alloys for Classic take the stock discs and sprockets) for the 650 twins!

/surjaonwheelz

They've probably raided the parts bin of their bigger international adventures. With different bolt mounts/spacing.

For standardization I guess. Since the 390 Adventure was never made to have spoked wheels as the initial design.

If the price of the set is over a lac, we will know the answer.

Cheers, Doc

[shyamg28]

Originally Posted by ebonho

...No mention if they are tubeless ready though. I'm assuming they would be.

Based on the look of the rims (if that actually is the real deal), it will not support tubeless. The spokes start/end point in in the middle of the rim as opposed to on the outside as is the case with spoked tubeless-supporting rims.
Unless the orange and blue bands in the image are tubeless conversion kits (think Outex for e.g.).
Very interesting to know how many will go for it, given that we (ok, I) haven't heard any rim bending stories yet.

Disclaimer - The VStrom-650 XT is my only source of an example for tubeless spoked rims.

[Mafia]

Smart move by KTM to introduce it as a power part!

I suppose the same will be usable in the 250 or at least there will be a similar part available at a later time.

A noob question here: will the spoke wheels be compatible with tubeless tires?

[Jaggu]

Honestly, for what the bike is capable of, considering the non-adjustable suspension and ground clearance, the stock alloy is more than enough. Spoke wheels are overhyped and for 99% of trail riders don't even push it to the extent that warrants a change to spokes. Add to it the complexity of trueing them and losing out on tubeless tyres does not make sense for an adventure tourer class.

Even the large adventure tourers folks are more than happy with the alloys.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by shyamg28

Based on the look of the rims (if that actually is the real deal), it will not support tubeless. The spokes start/end point in in the middle of the rim as opposed to on the outside as is the case with spoked tubeless-supporting rims.
Unless the orange and blue bands in the image are tubeless conversion kits (think Outex for e.g.).
Very interesting to know how many will go for it, given that we (ok, I) haven't heard any rim bending stories yet.

The photo should be taken with a pinch of salt I believe.

I doubt KTM is going to go backwards from tubeless tyres to asking customers to shell out big bucks (as is the nature of Powerparts) and then fit inner tubes.

I'm really interested in what the price is going to be ... I think most guys would be ok shelling out 40-50k max (considering a set of Hidenau Scouts ... the adv rider's tyre porn ... come in for 28k). But I'll let the actual owners here speak on this. Their bikes, their money!

Cheers, Doc

[shyamg28]

Originally Posted by ebonho

The photo should be taken with a pinch of salt I believe.
I doubt KTM is going to go backwards from tubeless tyres to asking customers to shell out big bucks (as is the nature of Powerparts) and then fit inner tubes.

I totally agree with you!

Initial thought was that it's lazy journalism to not mention this key part, but turns out KTM themselves have provided very little information on their portal.

I considered the Outex conversion kit on my Himalayan (16-17k including fitment I believe) but the fact that I'd have to spend extra on the tyres (another 10k minimum) made me re-consider.
Likewise, but exactly opposite, would/could be the case here.

Here's a full list:
https://www.ktm.com/en-in/parts---we...?model=F5341T6

[tanayr]

All big KTMs barring the 1290 SA and the 890 Adv R have tube type spoked wheels. KTM, with their offroad focus, have the vast majority of their bikes all on tubed spoked rims - in fact, if one decides to go for the 890 Adventure R Rally then the tubeless rims are swapped for 'narrower rims with tubes'

And finally given the price points of the powerparts, expensive as they may be, these are all but guaranteed to be the TUBE type spoked rims.

Finally, the tubeless rims have some sort of a ridge or a lip on the periphery which serves to hold or lock the tubeless tyre in its place. According to a lot of internet talk (ie not my personal experience) these tubed rims can be unsafe to mount tubeless tyres even if the spoke area is sealed using Outex/similar stuff.

[srini1785]

Originally Posted by shyamg28

Based on the look of the rims (if that actually is the real deal), it will not support tubeless. The spokes start/end point in in the middle of the rim as opposed to on the outside as is the case with spoked tubeless-supporting rims.

That was also my initial thought but as the below post says , It would be a step backwards if they make it a tubed tyre.

Originally Posted by ebonho

I doubt KTM is going to go backwards from tubeless tyres to asking customers to shell out big bucks (as is the nature of Powerparts) and then fit inner tubes.

The other photo that the OP has posted would provide more clues. It looks like the same type of tubeless spoked wheel in a BMW or Triumph. Given the problems associated with this type of design ( covered fully in this forum), why go to this in the first place?.

For ref :

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/super...s-service.html (BMW Motorrad India's incompetence & horrible after-sales service)

Then again since everyone is doing it, KTM has also done it. Probably the same supplier who provides for BMW.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by srini1785

That was also my initial thought but as the below post says , It would be a step backwards if they make it a tubed tyre.



The other photo that the OP has posted would provide more clues. It looks like the same type of tubeless spoked wheel in a BMW or Triumph. Given the problems associated with this type of design ( covered fully in this forum), why go to this in the first place?.

For ref :

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/super...s-service.html (BMW Motorrad India's incompetence & horrible after-sales service)

Then again since everyone is doing it, KTM has also done it. Probably the same supplier who provides for BMW.

Why would KTM do what BMW does?

There is a planet of difference in the pedigree of the two when it comes to making adventure machinery that wins races.

There is also a huge gulf between racing and touring. No matter how radical and extreme.

And the machinery needs to support that. To win championships consistently. Something KTM does. And BMW does not.

KTM tubeless spoked wheels employ a two-sided sealing band that needs to be carefully fitted over the spoke nipples. I think that is the orange and blue bands in the photo. They do not employ the BMW patented system where the spokes attach to a peripheral raised band on the rim. Insofar as the spoke fitment is the traditional kind, the KTM wheels are a lot stronger and do not warp or loose spoke tension ... the complaint from BMW riders the world over. The only drawback obviously is human error in fitting the band or careless removal of tyres with ordinary tyre irons, which might dislodge, crimp or nick the sealing band, causing air to eventually start leaking.

Cheers, Doc

[tanayr]

Fun facts: Dakar and other races have motorcycles which never use tubeless spoked wheels.

Dakar bikes run normal spoke wheels because they use bib mousses which are basically tube shaped things made of foam.
The same holds valid for motocross etc. - no tubeless.

Tubeless + Spoked is something that is built for larger bikes (and when did we last see these big bikes being used in racing?) which are touring oriented - the convenience of tubeless helps on tours. They, however, cost quite a bit which is why it is almost certain that these wheels for the 390 are tube type.

[ashwinprakas]

Originally Posted by GTO

Not a biker, but wouldn't spoke wheels look ugly on a modern motorcycle (unless its a retro)?

Depends, getting stuck in an isolated trail far from civilization or network coverage where the possibility of wildlife passing by after dark is prominent, I'd say looks would be the last thing on one's mind.

And even with both Jio and BSNL at hand sometimes you'd simply not get coverage like in some sections of interior Idukki.

I've not experienced it first hand due to my motorcycles being simple but I've heard of many tales shared by fellow bikers where more than one member of the ride had chosen to abandon their Motorcycle in the interest of personal safety, so that's that.

But yes, on a street bike alloys do make more sense, aesthetics aside they do offer considerable weight savings with respect to unsprung mass, I've not measured it but a friend has shifted from alloys to spokes and on changing wheels I did notice that the spoked setup was considerably heavier.

BTW, There is some cost saving that spoked wheels offer when sporting drum brakes as with spoked setup you can simply change your hub rather than the whole alloy, that's 2k Vs 5k with respect to expenses per side, considerable I'd say. This is because drum brakes wear down the hub over time, give or take 50k Kms of life at best.

But then spokes are high maintenance compared to alloys as they'd need to trued periodically, that's 500~1000/- per pair maintenance, depending on intensity of use that could be cheap or expensive as aluminium alloys cannot be mended, people do have different opinions about this, but the fact remains an aluminium alloy shouldn't be mended and reused in the interest of safety, that is just that.

Why so? What is the advantage of spoke wheels?

Wars have been fought for much less.

Spoke v/s Alloy is just one of those debates that really doesn't have one right answer similar to the old Carb Vs FI debate or the small Vs big bike debate.

Irrespective of whether we list down the pros or cons people will go with what they're comfortable with or in the case of the ADV390 and RE650's case people would be keen to have what they can't, no offense meant.

Personally speaking, the heart would go with spokes or even quality alloys like the ones from Enkei or dare I say Endurance.

Bending an alloy is one thing, cracking it is a whole different game, technique comes to play without a doubt but having said that once things have gone for a toss there's not really much to gain thinking in retrospect in such scenarios the Tubed Spoke setup comes to the rescue, beat the crap out of it but it still gets you home.

Having said that it isn't idiot proof as well, even though it permits running lower PSI the moment you pinch the tube you're looking at trouble. A lot of Commonsense has to be put to play else it's no better than running with a TL setup.

So once again, no right answer.

P.S. Converting Tubed Spokes to Tubeless Spokes, is simply stupid, please refrain from taking that route, ask anyone whose ridden with a flat tyre, it takes less effort for tyre to break bead and come off on a polished steel rim than a not so smooth aluminium alloy.

People who promote such conversions using aquarium/marine adhesive should be penalised IMHO.

Regards,
A.P.