The 390 Adventure V has less suspension travel, while the ground clearance has reduced slightly.

The lower seat height variant of the KTM 390 Adventure has started reaching dealerships. Reports suggest the new variant is called 'V' and is priced at Rs 3.38 lakh (ex-showroom).

The KTM 390 Adventure V has been designed specifically for short riders. To make the ADV more accessible, KTM has lowered the seat height from 855 mm to 830 mm.

KTM is said to have modified the suspension as well. As a result, the V variant has less suspension travel, while the ground clearance has reduced slightly.

The bike uses the same 373.2cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine as before. This unit puts out 43 BHP and 37 Nm. The braking setup is also expected to be carried over, with a 320 mm disc at the front and 280 mm at the rear supported by dual-channel ABS.

Source: Autocar India

The 390 Adventure X misses out on electronic aids like traction control, cornering ABS and a quick-shifter.

KTM has launched a new entry-level variant of the 390 Adventure. It's called the 390 Adventure X and is priced at Rs 2.8 lakh (ex-showroom).

KTM 390 Adventure X misses out on a few features compared to the standard bike. While the lower price tag makes the ADV more accessible, it doesn't get electronic aids like traction control, cornering ABS and a quick-shifter.

The bike does get a regular dual-channel ABS, an LCD instrument console in place of a Bluetooth-enabled colour TFT display and LED lights all around.

The 390 Adventure X retains the same 373cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine as the standard model. This engine produces 43 BHP and 37 Nm. The bike is equipped with an upside-down fork at the front and a monoshock at the rear, while braking duties are handled by 320 mm and 280 mm discs at the front and rear, respectively.

KTM is also planning to launch a more hardcore version of the 390 Adventure.

According to a media report, KTM plans to offer three variants of the 2023 KTM 390 Adventure in India, including a low-seat variant.

At present, the seat height of the 390 Adventure is set at 855 mm, which might be an issue for some riders. The new low-seat version should make the bike accessible for more ADV enthusiasts.

KTM is also planning to launch a more hardcore version of the 390 Adventure. It is expected to come equipped with an adjustable WP Apex fork along with wire spoke wheels.

The bike will use the same 373.2cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine as before. This unit puts out 43 BHP and 37 Nm. The braking setup is also expected to be carried over, with a 320 mm disc at the front and 280 mm at the rear supported by dual-channel ABS.

Source: Zigwheels

My KTM has never let me down, ever. Is this Royal Enfield a reliable motorcycle?

BHPian parrys recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have always loved the 650cc twins ever since I took the Interceptor for a spin for the first time and then on review shoots. Initially, I was a fan of the CGT 650, since I also owned the GT 535 for a year when it was launched. But after I spent some long hours on the Interceptor 650, I was sure that this is a more versatile format. Looks cool too.

I had been waiting for a long time for alloy wheel variants, and now I can't make up my mind.

Why can't I make up my mind? I currently own the KTM 390 ADV, ridden it over 22,000 kms in 3 years, and I have faced no major issues. Mine is the first lot bike, so the initial software issues aside, my ownership & riding experience has been very rewarding.

The heart now wants the INT 650, but the mind says that the KTM is still good for a year or two more.

Seeking advice, if the RE INT 650 is a reliable motorcycle?

Can owners highlight the BIG PROBLEMS which are inevitable? Does the engine need any major rework at set intervals?

I hate being stuck on the road, due to a breakdown. My KTM has never let me down, ever. So I want to keep up with that ride track record.

Here's what BHPian advstreak had to say about the matter:

If you can wait for some time then do wait for the Scram 650 and the Classic/Shotgun 650 to launch. They might solve the ergonomic and suspension issues that the Interceptor has.

Here's what BHPian AtheK had to say about the matter:

You know a funny thing, I am thinking of exactly opposite, moving from Interceptor to ADV 390. My major reason being I want to do some trails now.

That said Interceptor is a great bike and you will actually enjoy the upgrade, the new one has also ironed out a lot of issues with the bike by giving LED lights, USB port, better switches and above all the alloys, it is pretty much a complete bike now, only gripe I have is the very basic Speedometer, which needed an update. Alternatively they could have given tripper as standard so atleast you would have had a clock.

Here's what BHPian GutsyGibbon had to say about the matter:

Curious to know why you like alloys so much? You probably know this already - spoked wheels are a lot lot more suitable for our country, and they are a lot more durable than a single piece cast alloy wheel. Spoked wheel can take all the beatings of a pothole, twist bend, and still hold shape, even when they are off spokes can be adjusted/replaced. On the other hand, you just have to replace alloys. When you are on a long ride, it would end the ride, if you cant find the part. Yes, its easier to clean alloys, looks are subjective. I really, really like spoked wheels. I have one on my GS, and it was a big selling factor for me.

Here's what BHPian CrAzY dRiVeR had to say about the matter:

I have BHPian friends who made the opposite shift, citing versatility only as the reason. ADV390 can do touring, mild offroading, city use and perhaps anything else the Interceptor can, right? Where do you feel the Interceptor will do better?

I do agree with the looks part though!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I checked out different motorcycles like the TVS Apache RR 310, Royal Enfield Himalayan and BMW G 310 GS but none of them resonated like the KTM.

BHPian SaintAdventure recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello everyone.

I recently booked a KTM 390 Adventure in Mumbai. The whole process of selecting and deciding which bike to buy, the bike which will be the first big purchase I make with my own money, took two years. And funnily enough, I started at 390 Adventure, and after two years of study and research, came back to the 390 Adventure.

It is also intimately connected to why I want a motorcycle in the first place. The origin is actually quite childish. I am a kid from a middle-class family, and I lived in Tier 2-3 City of Bhilai. There, in class 10th, I studied in DPS. After the 10th class exam, I scored really well and got myself an entire series of books. But as summer vacation ended, so many of my classmates got bikes. From CBR 250R to Pulsar 220, 200 and 180s. In retrospect, it was maybe kinda stupid to give such children bikes like this, but I was a kid at the time. I knew why I shouldn't have a bike, but the teenage mind doesn't have enough control to put prudent decisions over stupid ones. I wanted a bike, because it was cool, all the rich kids had them and I had watched Dhoom.

Well, I got into this really prestigious coaching place, which was about 7 KM away from my home. I saw that as my opportunity to push to get myself a decent bike I could like, say an Apache 160 or a Pulsar 150. But no matter what I reasoned, my dad wouldn't budge. I could get a scooter, or nothing at all. Well, I was his son. I declared I'd rather have nothing if not a bike, and cycled 12 KM every day instead. I swore I would get myself a bike I wanted, and not one I needed when I started earning money, which at the time was a Ninja.

Fast forward 8 years, I have a job, and I can definitely afford the down payment and EMI of the kind of bikes I dreamt of. But somewhere between all the growing up, getting a job and the heartbreak in between, I had forgotten about the bike. But a chance conversation with a senior at my workplace who is a Harley enthusiast brought back all the forgotten dreams with a vengeance. The night of that day I was actually unable to sleep.

But in all those years, I also gained a lot of maturity. So, I decided that I'd not be one of the stupid kids I see all the time. Instead, I would give this matter the seriousness it deserved, and think about it properly. There started my study.

I started at the point of my childhood, which is sports bikes. My options were the Ninja 300, RC 390 and Apache RR 310. My pride would not let me get anything below a 300cc Liquid cooled bike, because I wanted to get something better than the CBR 250R for sure, since that was the old monster I defined as the bike you want, and not need, in my mind.

Quickly, I had to eliminate the RC 390, for I knew I wouldn't be able to tour on it, and then the Ninja 300 because of its value proposition and abysmal service presence. And hence I landed on the Apache RR 310.

Per my assessment, it was fast enough, loaded with enough tech to embarrass the RC and Ninja and could tour. And as a bonus, it was a TVS, so servicing would be easier. I took a test drive of the bike, and it was quite easy and comfortable to ride. I didn't notice that the ride didn't excite me much. I had it almost decided. But before I bought the bike, I discussed this with my dad, because I had grown enough to understand that denying a vehicle to a 15-year-old had been the right decision, especially since some of my batchmates had ended up dead riding around with no gear and at dangerous speeds in inner streets.

HE told me he was ok with me buying the bike, but just to consider whether I would be able to do everything that I might need with the bike, and whether it could accommodate another person if I so wanted. Well, that derailed the few months of planning I had been doing, since he was right. A chance meeting with a friend who owned the Apache also let me know that servicing the RR 310 was actually quite a pain.

Well, there I was, back to square zero. Time to get back into it. And that's how I discovered adventure bikes. Went into the whole history of it, from the R80 to the R1250 today, and realised they were a perfect fit for what I wanted to do. I also realised that I also had significant options in my own country.

As I mentioned, the bike I first came upon was the Adventure 390. Somehow I learned about the Himalayan after the KTM, which was quite weird since I had seen the Himalayan in the streets. But I started with the KTM, all excited and bright-eyed, but the reviews kinda ruined it for me, since they were all about how it wasn't comfortable and how it had compromised offroad capability. Never mind that I didn't know if I even wanted to do offroading yet, and if so, how much would I want to do. In my mind, an adventure bike should have adventure capability dammit, never mind the rider not having those capabilities. That, and after coming to Mumbai, I learned that apparently riding a KTM was the favourite past-time of idiots in Mumbai apparently.

Then came the Himalayan, and it seemed a pretty good option on paper except for two things. It was the oldest engine in the RE lineup after the introduction in the J series and the Twins, and it was also the most unrefined. I was also getting haunted by the ghost of CBR 250 R past, which was frowning at me getting such a heavy and underpowered bike. Also, the test ride left me thoroughly unimpressed. I knew it was a competent and proven bike, but my heart wasn't in it. There goes another competitor.

Enter the BMW G310 GS. It looks beautiful. It's a BMW, and though I scoff at brand loyalty as bullshit, I'm still in awe at the creators of adventure motorcycling. Here's the heir to the creators of this tradition. And while the BS 4 GS 310 had its issues, the new one had fixed them all. It was super comfortable, it had all the necessary bits and nothing extra. The most important thing was that I truly enjoyed riding the bike. It felt like riding a big bike. I still remember that during the test drive, a person riding the FZ 15 had his ego hurt and revved and raced ahead of me, but the GS caught up and went ahead of the FZ as an adult walks in front of a running child, without effort.

Pros

• The 313 CC engine with 34 PS of power which was on the Apache
• Super Comfortable
• All the necessary bits were plush
• All LED parts, many from the F900 XR
• Capable of touring forever
• Acceptable Mileage (I'm a middle-class Indian, I can't ignore that!)
• Looks Amazing
• BMW Brand Value (Hurts to accept that it's relevant)

Cons

• The dash reminded me of the Rs 80 Digital Watches from back in the day
• Vibrations at higher RPM in a brand famous for refinement
• Would be slower than my friend's RR 310 (I'm still immature enough for this)
• A casual reading of the spare parts and accessories cost is enough to drain my bank balance
• Servicing is expensive, and service centers are far and few.
• It's a BMW, and apparently, I've heard it is common for stuff from luxury brands to get keyed and scratched for no reason, which gave me anxiety before I even visited the showroom.

But as fate will have it, the people in the BMW Motorrad showroom are just not interested in selling a bike, because all I told them was that I just wanted a test ride before I booked it, but they couldn't arrange one in over two months. I had to take one in the Indore BMW showroom when I visited. In the meantime, one of my bosses was also interested in buying a bike, and he got into the GS.

But, having more monetary resources and less to lose, when the Mumbai BMW were uncooperative, he just went to the Pune showroom and got his bike there. This was getting a bit too much since I started the journey to buying a bike first, but didn't have it, much to the amusement of my colleagues.

While I was agonizing over whether I should visit the showroom in Pune or some other city, a friend of mine joined for his job in Mumbai. I was the one who had gotten him interested into bikes, and he had seemed almost set on buying the Scram 411, but I suggested he should also try the Svartpilen. I went with him to the KTM showroom in Mahim. When he came smiling from ear to ear after the test ride, I knew he was sold.

But I had a nagging feeling in my mind. The 390 Adv was the first bike I had thought of in the adventure bike lineup. But I had never test-ridden it. Of course, the BMW was the superior bike. It was cheaper, and plusher, so, of course, I would choose it. 45 PS was anyways too much for me. But I was in the KTM showroom, so might as well take a test ride.

In another reality, I decided not to take the test ride and went on to buy the BMW. This is not the reality. That test ride drove all notions of logic and practicality from my mind. the seat was wide and comfortable. The power delivery made my heart sing. I was spiderman experiencing the symbiote suit for the first time. And unlike the movie, I had no reason to say no.

It hardly matters, but here are the pros and cons:

Pros

• The power delivery makes me feel like how I imagined a superbike would feel as a 10-year-old.
• The seat is wide and comfortable
• The bike is light and easy to manoeuvre
• I'm a nerd, and the tech makes me feel giddy
• I like how the bike looks like one of the elite Decepticons in the blue and orange color trim
• It's a KTM, so it's equipped with performance parts to slay all competition. Also, abundant service centres and cheap parts

Cons

• The bragging value is much lower, thanks to idiots who bought KTMs and left their brains at home while riding for the last decade
• While I didn't feel it, the suspension is supposedly a bit too stiff on long journeys
• The mileage will be abysmal
• It is pretty tall, and while I can put both my feet down, I could feel it's just a bit too tall to be okay with on the first ride.
• While I have bought some essential gear eg Helmet, Gloves and knee guards to the extent I can afford, I won't really have money for the rest for a few months.
• It is very very expensive. The 4 Lac+ price hurts.

Of course, the pros more than makeup for the cons. To everyone here, thank you for documenting your experiences. From what I understand, the major flaws in new bikes are these:

• Lack of low-end power, which can be fixed by replacing the front sprocket with that of the 250 Adv
• Some issue with the quick shifter which causes the bike to stall
• Abnormal engine oil consumption

If there's anything important I'm missing since I am not sure what else to buy other than the gear, so please let me know. And if there's a list of what PDI I should be doing, I'd be grateful if someone could direct me.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The shortlist contains the KTM 390 Adventure, Bajaj Dominar 400 and Royal Enfield Interceptor 650.

BHPian SiLxNcE recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi,

So the upgrade bug has slowly started to bite me too, and I am keenly looking forward towards something bigger than what I ride now.

I got myself a Yamaha FZ25 mid of last year and have put 5000 km on it so far. My first bike too. It has been with me to hills, hairpins, super fast highways, off-road, and city commutes. The perfect "hot-hatch" city bike that can do highways too. Love the bike. Especially its body balance and how well it handles. The low-end torque is like a dream. "Low spec-sheet power figures", but it's one of those bikes that you need to ride to understand that a bike is more than just numbers on paper.

Okay, so why the upgrade itch? Well, the FZ is a little basic. Not much electronics. At the top end, it struggles. Have made it sit at 130 kmph for quite some kms on a safe highway stretch and it just kept refusing to pull anymore. There are mild vibrations at 70-80 which is apparently a good lazy cruising speed. And I think I am used to the power so much that I probably just need a little more. Well, maybe a little more than "little more".

Over these 5k kms, I have realized that as much as I enjoy the low-end torque, I also need something that screams and is enjoyable at the top end. A moderately fast highway cruise is what I want probably. And as much as I loved sports bikes because they looked good in photos, after riding a few of my friends' R15s and Ninjas, I have realized I don't see myself all crouched up with wrists at knee-level, tearing through the roads at mad speeds. I want something comfortable but not super comfortable too. The FZ25 has spoiled me a little with its perfect riding posture. Just a little bit of sporty attentive lean. Also, something that can go comfortably outside the tarmac will be a welcome addition.

That brings me down to a similar shortlist as this thread:

KTM 390 Adventure

I seem to have fallen in love with this bike. It's probably what I need, but that humongous price tag is, well, 'a small good used car territory'. I even went to a KTM showroom to sit on it to check if my feet can reach the floor. I was half expecting it won't, but it did, given I am 5'10''. Test ride wasn't available but the cockpit view was awesome, just like in all the countless ADV 390 videos I have watched on youtube. I am unsure about how that supposed lack of low-end torque would feel like.

Bajaj Dominar 400 Touring Edition

So, clearly, a compromised bike for me, since I like the ADV much more. But there is a huge price gap. Almost 1.3lakhs. That can buy you 1200+ litres of petrol. Or around 30k kilometers. Mind-boggling maths. Also, the Dominar can do almost everything that the ADV can. And arguably sounds better too.

RE Interceptor

I love how the Continental looks. Everyone does. But the Interceptor is more practical. And has the same parallel twin at a similar price point. The only reason. Other than that, I find nothing special about it. I personally find the analogue dials too old school too. I would prefer them digital, with more info.

FZ25

My current bike. It's on the shortlist because, well, I have only done 5k kms on it. So, I should ride it more, right? Or this upgrade mentality is the right way forward?

Forget the upgrade, ride the FZ for a few more years and then get a multi-cylinder bike some years down the line: Like maybe a Z650, a Triumph, or a CBR650R. Also, can something like an ADV 390 be daily driven in Bangalore with some decent mileage?

I just want to make sure of the bike I want to keep a target fixed and finances sorted. Might get it at the end of this year. All of your inputs in the decision-making process will be super helpful.

Thanks!

Here's what BHPian tarmacnaut had to say about the matter:

The thread is pretty old and the best addition to the shortlist will be VStrom SX 250.

It has a wonderful engine which is a tractor with an amazing low end and a powerful, exhilarating top end built for highways. Exactly what you are looking for.

And it also has the best Rider's triangle much better than the FZ and the unique suspension setup which is softer in the beginning and progressively stiffness ensures it is good off the tarmac and bad roads, at the same time avoids being bouncy on highways and nosedives on braking.

Do take a test ride and with the discounts being offered including an exchange bonus of 7000 you should get a good deal for the VStrom.

Even the ADV250 heats up heavily in traffic and the suspension is stiff for city speeds (I have not tried the adjustment in 390, 250 is non-adjustable).

VStrom SX excels here, I use it for my daily commute in Bangalore, no heating, great mileage with excellent comfort for both rider and pillion. At the same time, the highway performance is outstanding pulls cleanly even above 110 and can cruise at good triple-digit speeds with juice left for overtaking. Perfect all-rounder in my opinion.

Here's what BHPian shancz had to say about the matter:

• Agree and very comfortable too, that is something you'll miss in a lot of bikes over 250cc. You haven't realized it but you're spoilt by the refinement and low-end torque too. In such a case I would recommend a day's rental for the 390 Adventure to get to terms with what you're dreaming about.
• You'll have a multi-cylinder, something like a CBR650R.
• In single cylinders, it'll be difficult to get a strong low and top end. Bikes like the R15 have an average low but strong top end and the FZ25 sacrifices the top end for the better low and mid-range which is more practical in everyday riding.
• The high compression KTMs have a strong mid-range and top end but below average low end. But maybe the newer versions have changed it a bit. Anyways the only time you'll feel it is in crawling traffic otherwise you won't even spend a couple of seconds in low rpms.
• I'll recommend renting it out for a day and seeing for yourself as this is highly subjective. A friend rides his 1st gen 390Duke regularly in city traffic but I don't.

Inputs

• KTM Adventure 390: Rent it for a day
• Bajaj Dominar 400 Touring Edition: it has better low and heat management than the KTMs but is heavy and no point compromising.
• RE Interceptor: Not the bike you want so skip it.
• FZ25: I consider the FZ25 as an ideal city and highway cruiser and I would suggest keeping it even when you get your dream bike if it's feasible since its maintenance costs are basic.
• Ride the FZ for a few more years and then get a multi-cylinder bike some years down the line: This is my recommendation but start your search and test rides now starting with the 390 Adventure.

The most important part is to keep upgrading as your wants change. How big of an upgrade and when, is the question you have to answer. Whether it's the 390 now and then straight to a 1000cc later or straight to 600-700cc now then a 1000 or a lateral switch to an ADV are some of the many options available.

If getting the 390, wait for the 2023 iteration which has been launched overseas but let's see when it makes it here.

Also, consider the ADVs when considering multi-cylinders as they can be the only bikes around and handle all situations.

Here's a video I think you might like. Credits to Providers.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I could not see myself on any other bike after riding this absolute gem of the bike. My brother on the other hand had also fallen in love with the machine.

BHPian sedanguy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hey everyone, I wanted to share our tale of how we ended up buying our KTM 390 Adventure, the shortlisting process, and the final buying experience.

As many of the mid-life crisis posts on TBHP, My (twin) brother and I were going through a similar experience. Both of us avid enthusiasts started out on humble motorcycles from a young age. In 2005 our automotive journey started on a loaned Kinetic honda which our cousin had gracefully given to us for our 12th standard tuition rides. The kinetic honda was such a peppy thing and we loved it to bits. But we were a bunch of teenagers who knew nothing. We rode that kinetic for over 6 months without the 2T oil and one fine day the kinetic honda sadly died on side of the road. We eventually rebuilt the engine and sold it off.

That’s when we got our first new bike which was the Bajaj CT 100. Although as boring as it sounds, we had some of the best memories on this bike. This bike served us well over 5 years. One thing though with the CT100, it never stopped, even with a single drop of petrol it would chug along till the nearest petrol pump for sure.

Once we finished our education and started earning, we wanted to finally get something that we had our sights on for ages and that was the Yamaha Rx135 (4 speed). One of my classmates was selling his and we immediately sold off the CT100 and bought that without a thought. Our RX was perfect, with the catalytic converter silencer and maroon colour, it was exactly the spec we were looking for. It was well sorted, and we loved it. We also did a frame off restoration off the bike and made it look bone stock. It was an amazing piece of machinery. I have used that bike in Bangalore and Mumbai, it never had any issues until it did. Finding spares had become an issue with Rx and our growing body sizes meant that the Rx would spend most of its time in the parking lot. I remember one specific time when we had to hunt down clutch plates for the RX. It was quite a task. In 2017 we finally sold it at a massive markup.

By this time, I had already bought an RE 350 classic (2013) for office commutes. RE was another dream bike for both of us and I nearly emptied my bank balance to procure this one. Now remember back in 2013, RE350 had at least a year long waiting period. I somehow managed to get one rather quickly. They say never meet your heroes. The 350 classic was a stunning in terms of looks but the engine was pathetic. The kind of noises it made was horrendous. From the hydraulic tappets to starter motor, everything had issues on regular basis. I had given up on the service centers and they couldn’t do anything about it. Even my local mechanic was fed up with this bike. He even advised me to sell it and he would help me procure a cast iron block RE which is according to him way more refined. By 2017, I had enough of the RE. The service costs and fuel costs did not justify at all. I finally called it quits and shifted to driving my car full time.

Alternately my brother had procured an avenger from his contacts which had just 1500 kms on the clock. A stunning red cruiser which helped him commute to his work. He spent 2.5-3 years on the bike and never really enjoyed the bike as much. Although much more refined than the RE it lacked the stability on highways. With a growing family and a demanding job, he too said goodbye to bike and had an old Yamaha ray z that helped him traverse local commutes.

Although both of us quit riding somewhere between 2017-18, we never really stopped window shopping. One of the first trigger points were the launch of RE twins. We both ended up watching every single YouTube review and were in love with those bikes. During the pandemic we both started to have an itch to get a bike to explore and tour. I even offered him to go dutch on an interceptor and share the ownership. He refused. Post pandemic in 2022, my brother had changed jobs and had to travel to work occasionally. Driving through Bangalore’s outer ring on your car during weekdays is quite a task. It was 30 kms drive which would take him anywhere between 1.5 to 2 hours. He finally started saying that I might want to buy one bike just to commute on these odd office days. He also had his son starting school and started making excuses saying the bike will help him drop off his son to school. Typical middle-class enthusiasts who try to justify their big purchases. His sudden decision to start hunting for bikes really triggered me to start hunting one as well. So began the planning process.

Here's our list of bikes we started looking into:

RE Meteor: We were immediately taken back by the refinement of the J platform engines. Being a former RE owner, I could not believe how far the 350 had come. One test ride and my brother was sold. He wanted to put cash down and buy it. I had to drag him out of there.

RE Himalayan: Fantastic riding dynamics and the pros end there. The engine was a dud, it had no top end and the even the low-end torque was missing which was RE’s strong point. I wish RE had brought in the 450 LC engine, it would have made this decision easier.

CB350: Another fantastic retro. The sound and the refinement of the engine was spectacular. The light clutch and overall riding triangle as well were strong points to consider. This immediately sparked off Meteor vs CB350 debate. My brother was so confused by this point.

Impulse 200 4v: Although we didn’t get the test ride vehicle, we had quite a few recommendations for this bike and we really liked the overall design language. Though I am not a hero guy and didn’t consider it.

Suzuki Vstorm 250: Quite a peppy little thing. I really like the refinement of the engine and had earlier ridden the Gixxer 250 as well. The looks are bit polarizing but I like the design language. They kept it honest to the vstorm design language.

My brother’s search is quite nicely documented in this thread.

Since we liked the RE so much, we decided to rent the bikes and spend a day touring with them. We hired an RE interceptor and Meteor and headed out to the Hassan highway. My interceptor had a break failure the night prior to the ride and they replaced it with the Classic reborn 350. We rode about 250 kms the following day and one thing was clear. We didn’t want the 350 J platform. Don’t get me wrong, the engine is really refined and barely has any vibration until 80 kmph. Post that the bike is really pushing hard to reach 100. I think I hit 100 once or twice during the entire 250 kms stretch as it was a task to bring it up to speed. One thing was clear form the long ride, we want to be back on the saddle desperately. The joy of riding out on the open road and being lost was just an amazing feeling.

That’s it, we were so confused and even more frustrated at the price points. We were spending close to 3 lakhs and nothing seemed interesting enough to jump on to. So back to the drawing board we went. We start listing down reason for us to buy a bike:

• Touring – Strong yes, Leh Ladakh has been on our bucket list forever.
• Family riding – Not really, both of us have capable cars to ferry our families.
• Office commutes – Yes for my brother and no for me as I stay next to my office.

In all of this, we realised our ownership of the bike will largely be around weekend breakfast rides with fellow biker friends and occasional long trips (Bike week & rider mania). This is when we realised that if we stretch our budget by 1-1.5 lakhs we can really see our options open up and we want to keep the bike for 5-10 years.

So another set of options:

Interceptor 650: Based on reviews and youtuber videos, I was pretty much sold on this bike. I had strong feelings for this bike. I had already made a list of things to do in order to make it comfortable (better seats, handlebar risers, windshield, etc.) But with the small commute I had with rented interceptor and couple of longish test rides on the airport road, I could not convince myself to buy this bike. It was front heavy and I could definitely feel that city riding is not going to be enjoyable on it. I did not dismiss it immediately, but I didn’t jump on it immediately as well.

KTM Adv (390/250): For some strange reason KTM 390 adv has a small YouTube community. There aren’t many good quality long term reviews as well. It’s very hard to judge henceforth. However, I took test rides from 2 different showrooms, one in the city and the other on the airport road. This was by far the best option I had tried. There was an instant connection with the bike. The riding posture was perfect, ride height is somewhat of an issue but being 5’10, it doesn’t bother me that much. Between the 250 and 390 there was no real competition. For less than a lakh you could switch over to 390 and it was an easy choice.

KTM 390 Adv had won the race. I could not see myself on any other bike after riding this absolute gem of the bike. My brother on the other hand had also fallen in love with the machine. We started figuring out the best place to book the bike. So here follows the buying experience.

First, we visited the KTM showroom in Chandra layout (Amba KTM). The staff clearly ignored us from the start, when they realized we are serious buyers and looking to book 2 KTMs they started responding to us. We asked the manager to give us a good deal as we were buying 2 bikes. He flatly refused and asked us to book the bikes and then only will he negotiate on the price. I was confused by the whole thing. I even asked him if someone else offers a better price will he refund my money and he said no. It was a bizarre experience. Their initial quote was also higher by Rs1000 compared to KTM Yelahanka. I was not willing to spend my money at a place that does not value me and walked away from that place.

Next, we visited KTM Yelahanka which is run by the Kalyani group. The folks at this place were really receptive and answered all of our question patiently. They offered test rides of both 390 and 250 adv. They offered a measly discount of about 3k or so per bike and we had realized that no one would offer more (One of my friends had enquired at another showroom as well). So, we decided to book the bike and the process took around 3-4 hours. If we had gone in the morning, we could have taken delivery by evening. Both of us paid 50% down payment and rest was on loan. The loan was processed and transferred to KTM’s account with in 2-3 hours. Friday evening, we booked our bikes and took deliver on Monday.

Although I noticed some shady stuff post-delivery. They gave us an invoice of only the ex-showroom price. There was no receipt of the registration fees. Based on the 18% registration fees, the amount should be close to Rs. 68,000 but KTM Yelahanka charged us Rs. 75,000. When I pressed them, they said its handling charges. I was furious but didn’t want to ruin the delivery experience.

Delivery day was nothing out of the blue, they offered to do the instagram reveal style for the camera but we refused  here are the pics from delivery

Here's what we like about our new bikes:

• Great presence and colors: The KTM 390 in the blue and orange livery is quite a stunning looking bike. The black one is very stealth looking but this one is loud, and I like that about it.
• Tech: Although I don’t know if I will use all of it, but the spec sheet is out of the superbike category. Riding modes, switchable ABS, quick shifter and many more, it comes with an amazing array of tech. The TFT display is incredible and has great connectivity features as well.
• Riding postures: Great riding posture, it can be bit of reach if you are too tall but nothing that handlebar risers can’t fix. The seat is wide which lets you switch positions when you start to go sore. Lot of people online complain about the stiffness of seat, but I think they work better for me. I have been cycling for a long time now and the stiff cycle seats work great for endurance, and I have done small 150-200 km rides now and had no issues.
• Top end performance: If you have listened to the Motor Inc podcasts, Shumi talks about how touring bikes need to be set up in the adv podcast. The bike needs to have 150-160 kmph top so that 100-120 cruising happens at a very relaxed engine state, that’s exactly how KTM is designed to ride. The bike has great top end performance, and you can barely notice it going into triple digits.
• Accessories: Standard accessories are amazing. You get handlebar protectors, engine guard, crash guard and adjustable levers from the factory. You don’t really need a whole to get going from day 1.

What we don’t like so much:

• City riding: The bike lacks low end grunt and as a result I have stalled the bike multiple times now. It forces you to be in the right gear which I guess can be a good thing. The tall seat certainly makes it a challenge in stop go traffic.
• Mirrors: These fancy mirrors are useless. I am looking for after market options. You literally cant see the vehicle behind in the lane next you.
• Windshield: Although adjustable, the windshield is not much use. There is a lot of buffeting, one might want to upgrade it.
• Bouncy Ride: The bike feels bouncy at high speeds, it’s something that I need to get used to. Also need to adjust the rear shocks to a softer setting, this might help.
• Stiff suspension: The suspension is pretty much nonexistent on the infamous Bangalore’s roads. On the highway it’s nice to have the stiffer ride but if you do city riding, your back is taking quite a hit.

Just a side note, my brother has done some customization from bikenbiker:

• Zana crash gaurds for safety
• Zana handlebar risers for a more comfortable seating position
• Grip puppies for a better city ride experience

Ending this post with a quote “If you want to be happy for a lifetime, ride a motorcycle” – I don’t know about a lifetime but certainly these bikes have managed to bring back joy on those gloomy Sundays when we start thinking about Monday morning blues.

If you have come this far, thank you for taking out the time to read through this long post. This definitely has been my longest post and for a change a happy one. Signing off with photos from my latest ride. Ride saf

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I went to the shop to get handlebar risers installed on my motorcycle & found their charges to be a bit steep.

BHPian TheHelix0202 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

After a trail ride wherein I felt the need to slap on some raisers (or risers), I rode straight down to Htrz Modz, yesterday afternoon.

Called them before visiting, yet it took them a good while just to go fetch it and then prepare to fix it. Here are the observations I had, review of the Carbon Racing units (2 inchers) themselves will come later. Paid 2,750 bucks + 500 (fitting charge, what a joke).

Pros

• Manager keeps a vigilant eye on the proceedings.
• They do cover the tank and instrument cluster with a piece of leather and microfiber (although extremely dirty) before working on any bike.
• Each customer's bike is queued.
• Seemingly decent job done, time will tell.

Cons

• Customer interaction could be bettered, it isn't up to the mark. Asked the chap working on my bike where the old handlebar mounts were, as he'd discarded them in some tray and almost with a smirk, said "I'll give, wait". If the workshop floor was more organized and simple matters like returning old parts was taken care of more fluidly, the customer would have less mental friction. They did tape up the stuff in a box and leave it on the bike when I went back to the main store (2 buildings away) to pay though, so that elicits kind of an Okay in my books.
• Seating is limited, no helmet racks in the waiting area (which is a couple of feet away from the bikes being worked upon, which with all the blazing lights and sounds, is a poor cost-cutting measure). This leads to people using your gear as an armrest or buttrest.
• Product and Installation charges are a bit steep. No discounts either.
• The way some of the workers revved the bikes unnecessarily (as was the case with the brand new CB300R in the picture above who'd dropped in to get crash bars and fog lights fitted) was irritating and painful to watch. Do keep an active eye on them.

Overall, a decent place to visit to get stuff done. 7/10.

Attaching a picture from the trails

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I'm considering getting any one of these - Kawasaki Versys 650, Honda CB500X and KTM 390 Adventure.

BHPian sgmuser recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi all,

I'm a sedate rider who puts lots of emphasis on ride comfort. I'm looking to get one of these (Kawasaki Versys 650, Honda CB500X and KTM 390 Adventure) for adv touring single-track roads, back roads and some significant highways (to reach those above tracks) too. Priority - Reliability and smooth/vibration-free ride.

I am restarting my biking after a long time - almost 20 years - especially with NO previous ADV experience. I am spoilt with smooth cars and I could not stop my expectation for at least similar quality/vibe-free rides on bikes.

I read lots of reviews and watched videos and understand Versys seems to be at the top of the list for trouble-free, smooth performance and good power when required - most importantly linear power delivery.

Honda offers the reliability which I need but I am yet to test ride. KTM is a single-cylinder affair but the most affordable in the list and could be a far easier entry point both in terms of power and price. I would like to avoid RE for now as I am not comfortable with their style of maintenance/handling etc.

What I need from you all petrolheads is whether my options are smart enough or not? Versys - is it a novice-friendly ADV bike? Which one gives what I want - Smooth/Linear power delivery/reliability/vibe-free ride?

Thanks in advance. I also have a fixation in my mind that the Japanese are more reliable so, I have to limit my option. KTM is managed by Bajaj so, easier to maintain.

Here's what BHPian shancz had to say about the matter:

No experience with these but gathering from first-hand accounts here are some suggestions:

• Versys 650: all the pluses you mentioned but based on your height it might/might not feel that easy in city traffic. Weight is another concern.
• CB500X: Have heard only good things about it except the price and BigWing service coverage.
• 390 Adventure: will feel stiff to ride especially the rear, not sure if the 2023 iteration will have adjustable suspension and tubeless tyres for India. Vibrations are a personal benchmark so a ride across the rev range can decide that.
• VStrom 650 XT: should fit better than the Versys IMO but not sure about the service and support from Suzuki on their big bikes, someone experienced can hopefully answer this.

IMO the CB500X should fit your needs the best but the service center coverage and spares availability is something that you'll have to check for your location.

Here's what BHPian Nilesh5417 had to say about the matter:

Get the KTM - no-brainer IMO based on the fact that you are getting back to motorcycles after 20yrs. Not too expensive to buy new or maintain. Right amount of power, good amount of tech, lower heft, easy to ride on most roads except offr-oads and pretty nondescript. It's not about affordability in your case, it's just the fact that you have had a long gap with motorcycles so upgrade once you get comfortable with it. Else you will end up buying an expensive bike that you won't be riding much - not that KTM is any less expensive these days.

Good luck with your hunt and happy riding.

Here's what BHPian TheHelix0202 had to say about the matter:

If you can afford a bigger bike, go for it. The KTM is a great machine, but it isn't guaranteed to be fuss-free. Since you have the big monies, go for either the 'Strom or the Versys. There's absolutely no comparison.

Here's a wildcard entry: the Tiger Sport 660.

Here's what BHPian aargee had to say about the matter:

Since your location states Oman, I'm not sure if you're in Oman or India, regardless, my only concern is: you're getting into riding after 2 decades, not undermining you, but requesting you to take calculated steps & understand what you're getting into than taking a plunge, which is exactly what you're doing by consulting with the experienced members here.

• If I were you, my approach will be, to begin with, either riding friend's motorcycle or better rent out for the first few rides, much easier if you're in Oman.
• If it's India, then 100% MUST gain some familiarity before buying middleweights because Indian roads are not the same as they used to be even a couple of years ago & undergoing rapid changes almost every year & 2 decades sounds eternity.
• And to all the motorcycles you've chosen, although many might swear by Versys 650 & I'm very much in love with the {boring Japanese, like my CBR} motorcycle as well; however, DO NOT get carried over by the YT reviews as all of them state their own experience & watching many of them will shove their opinion on you.

For instance, almost all Interceptor reviews stated 2 issues:

• Wind blast
• Slightly forward-leaning posture

What I found was, they were not an issue at all for me. What the internet reviews didn't say were:

• Nightmare of a puncture
• Practicality of finding a RE garage in any corner of the country

Point is: Get into action: mingle with the local RESPONSIBLE biking group to try & experiment with which one suits you the most; perhaps your opinion might change altogether as well or better rent out for few rides. Both these options are a little cumbersome unless you're in one of the metros in India, but then, with TBhp in place, you should be able to find one eventually.

And, this is just a myth! The new J-Series engine from RE or the RE-Twin engines are relatively trouble-free; of course, RE has a long way to catch up with the Japs; but then, talking practically no one comes closer to RE (barring the nightmare of a puncture on RE-twin's spoked wheels); and if you don't like RE350, there's CB350 {yet another boring Jap motorcycle}.

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Even in far-fetched guessing, I wouldn't have thought that the reason behind the problem could be a faulty TFT display that costs Rs 33K.

BHPian MiSiMa recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

In one of my earlier posts, I shared details about the road trip I took just 4 days after I got my KTM 390 Adventure. I experienced multiple good & bad things during the whole journey. One of the bad things was the faulty "up" button on the left-hand switchgear that I noticed on the first day itself.

The following is an update on that.

After a month of waiting, finally, the left handlebar switch assembly arrived after ordering it (I was told that it has to be replaced and the same would have been done under warranty).

After fitting, it turns out the switch assembly was not the problem and the old one works perfectly fine. It's the TFT unit that is faulty. Even in far-fetched reasoning and guessing, I wouldn't have thought that if the up button is not working, the TFT is faulty.

Anyways, fortunately, the service center has TFT in stock, but they require ASM's approval to replace it under warranty (as it costs Rs. 33k), so the wait continues for that distracting and annoying service warning to disappear from my stead.

(Picture clicked during a ride on the Puri-Konark marine drive)

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