The Jupiter can manage quite a bit of touring, but the 110 cc engine starts moaning at the slightest hurdle. The suspension isn't much to brag about either.

BHPian TheMightyBooper recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hey folks!

My first, and hopefully, far from my last posts here.

I remember when I love the auto industry—keeping magazine cutouts, going through used car listings, the whole shebang. That was me in school. Sadly, life happened, and I had to give it all up. Now in my mid-20s, I've begun exploring the world again. Specifically, places in and around a 150 km radius around Pune with my lady in crime.

On a Jupiter. You can see the problem here.

The Trusty, yet weak and aging steed of ours.

I've been to Malhargad, Visapur, Korigad, and places around and about. Now Jupiter can manage quite a bit, but the 110 cc engine starts moaning at the slightest hurdle. The suspension isn't much to brag about either, but in its fairness, the bike was made for daily commutes on city roads and not off-roading. Which is why I need an upgrade. Now, this would be my first bike since Jupiter is my lady's, so I'm looking for a worthy upgrade.

I've narrowed it down to a few bikes. Well, three, but I'm open to more recommendations.

Choice no. 1: Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

Now, I'm not the biggest fan of retro bikes... OK fine, I outright hate them... But..... Inty is tolerable (I'm sorry retro lovers. No offence. Dad's one of ya. It's his recommendation, as a matter of fact) and she's grown on me quite a bit by now. I've been told that she's one of the easier bikes for a new rider to get used to, yet beastly enough for an experienced rider. I like the continental a bit more, but I think the aggressive stance won't be ideal for long rides. This bike also seems to be the most loved in this tier, along with her twin sister. She's a smooth ride, she can be comfy, subdued, yet powerful, and Royal Enfield has a wide network of service centres across India. I would also change the seats so that it can be as comfortable as possible for my lady, ticking all the boxes.

Choice no. 2: Honda CB 350 (RS)/H'ness

Another bike with a retro look, but the RS looks sporty enough to make me forget that. I might go with the base version of her H'ness if it's easier to mod for a touring setup. This is another bike that is more laid back, easy to ride and perfectly capable of handling much of what you throw at her. It's also comfortable for the pillion rider. The issue for me is the Big Wing Network. They are so far apart and scattered scarcely across the country. The closest one to me for example is around 20 km away. While the Royal Enfield showroom/service centre is only 4kms away. I like the looks, the price is right and the performance is good, but the big wing network can be a nightmare and a half, me thinks.

And the last choice: Dominar 400.

I honestly haven't given this one much thought considering that the Interceptor is the top recommendation, no matter who I ask 90% of the time (out of the 3). It's seemingly good, powerful, ideal or touring, and Bajaj should have a good network of service centres throughout India.

Now, with my top three picks in front of you, I would like to know what you guys would recommend. I don't have a lot of experience riding a bike (I've only ever ridden Splendor, Yamaha FZ, and CB Hornet). This is why I would prefer something that doesn't cause many issues as I get used to riding, but once I do, it opens up a whole new world for me. My budget is around 4 lakhs, and I need something that can handle most of the terrains. Think Dudhiware Khind between Pawna and Lonavla during monsoon if you've been through there, for example, which was an absolute nightmare to do on a Jupiter in Monsoon. And most importantly, I need something that can be comfortable for the pillion rider. A happy wife, a happy life after all. I would also love any mods recommendations to make it touring and pillion friendly, whichever bike you guys recommend.

Now as for other bikes, I did consider the Himalayan, but dad's against it. He also warned me against Jawas and the Yezdis for some reason, and bikes like CB250 won't just be beginner unfriendly, but also uncomfortable for the pillion rider. As for the rest of the Royal Enfields, I can't stand the retro aesthetic. Inty packs the power to make me not care so much about looks, unlike its weaker siblings. It's also universally loved by everyone who owns it, and those who don't, want one badly. But I'm open to recommendations.

Here's what BHPian The_Medic had to say on the matter:

For a budget that can stretch to 4 lacs , may I ask why have you kept KTM Adv390 out of the list? It ticks of every single requirement you have (only thing I wouldn't know of is your father's approval, the highest sanction ). It has a good engine that will not scare the hell out of you when you start of but you will comfortably grow into it once you develop more skills. Easily capable of reaching pavana no matter what the terrain and season. Comfiest pillion seat out of all your shortlists. Touring mods are plenty. And unlike the int 650, comes with tubeless tyres and good off-road capability. Int650 will be nightmare to cross through the muck if you plan to take routes like the one to pavana in the monsoon because of its weight and chassis setup. (it's a whole different story that i did it on my rc390).

I would have gladly said int650 is good for your requirements if your main purpose was highway touring and you were to enjoy a relaxed pace. You see, int 650 is not just retro in looks but also in approach. It has stability issues at high speeds (plenty of death wobble videos if you search for it). It is most likely due to a combination of 18inch wheels, softer suspension and those tyres. It's a meditation bike , not an adrenaline bike, if you get my drift. When you are in your 40s and above and are done with seeking adrenaline and now you want to ride bikes for seeking peace while you take in the sights at a calm pace, there is no bike better than the int 650. But it is definitely not gonna suit your requirements. Just my 2 cents.

Here's what BHPian Mustang_Boss had to say on the matter:

Recommending a bike is never easy, as the number of factors involved are too many.

If you are in late 30's, i will not recommend anything other than Honda highness 350. Its simplicity, low maintenance and a smoother engine will let you have all the fun you seek.

It's the most reliable of the lot too. So, I would recommend it.

Looks are subjective. I love it, the moment i see it on road. It might grow on you too. Think and give it an another chance.

Here's what BHPian WhiskeyTangoFox had to say on the matter:

Your Requirements, as mentioned by the others in this forum, coincides with what the Himalayan and the Yezdi Adventure have to offer. I own a '22 Himalayan and am extremely happy with it. I can't speake for the Yezdi, but tbh I've heard mixed reviews. Coming to the Himalayan, sure it still has some retro elements, but the customization options are pretty much endless based on what you need. Make sure you find a service center that does the job well and you are set. The Company Owned Service Centres are usually the best. If you can wait, then the Himalayan 450 is right around the corner. Cheers!

Here's what BHPian ValkyrieAB had to say on the matter:

Reading this, I would suggest you go for the lightest bike in the pack. IMO, that is the best when you're starting out riding. Heavier bikes need a little more presence of mind and experience. I would also advise getting something you can flat-foot comfortably. Considering your lady is going to be with you, the additional weight of the pillion itself will be significant - try to get the lightest bike possible.

Have people managed to buy a big first bike and lived happily ever after? Yes. Is it ideal? No.

I would probably get a lighter bike with an assist clutch - below 180 kgs (ideally 160 kgs). CB350 fits the bill there (edit: just saw the 200 kms service center distance - so definite no no). Also try the TVS Ronin (only 160 kgs). The Suzuki SF/Gixxer 250 range is also good with good posture and reasonable weight - do consider that as well.

The Hunter 350 is also a decent option for weight but posture is slightly forward. Classic 350 is good but heavy IMO (also heavy clutch).

Just my two cents. Happy riding!

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Alongside the next-gen 390 ADV was the upcoming 390 Enduro as well.

KTM is testing the next-generation iteration of its 390 Adventure offering.

The new-gen KTM 390 Adventure is said to get several updates both in terms of design and mechanical changes. Reports suggest, the next-gen KTM 390 Adventure could get a more off-road focussed 'R' version, which would be sold alongside the standard model.

Now, ahead of its global unveil, the next-gen 390 Adventure R has been spotted testing. As seen from the images, the new-gen 390 ADV can be seen with a 21-inch wheel at the front & 17 or 18-inch wheels at the rear. The bike also features adjustable USD forks with more travel, alongwith a new chassis and swingarm. KTM is also expected to offer the next-gen 390 ADV with a new engine, which will debut on the brand's upcoming new-gen 390 Duke.

Spy images also showcase the new 390 Adventure featuring a redesigned front end with a new vertically-stacked headlamp setup, a larger windscreen, a dirt-bike style fender and a large TFT display for the instrument cluster.

Alongside the next-gen KTM 390 Adventure was the upcoming 390 Enduro. The next-gen KTM 390 Enduro can also be seen with multiple accessories and soft luggage mounted at the back. The Enduro is said to get the same engine, chassis & suspension as the next-gen 390 ADV.

Braking on both motorcycles is via 'Bybre', indicating that both models could be manufactured at KTM's India facility.

Both motorcycles are expected to be unveiled sometime in 2023. The next-gen KTM 390 Adventure will make its way to India, although a timeline for its launch is yet to be announced.

Source: Motorrad

I tried to regain control of my motorcycle but couldn't & went sliding down the road with a truck behind me.

BHPian MiSiMa recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

4 days after I got my bike I went on a ride from Bhubaneswar to Gaya. Some good and bad things happened.

The Good

Completed my first long-distance ride of 770 Kms. I took the Bhubaneswar-Baripada-Jamshedpur-Hazaribagh-Gaya route.

On day 1, I reached Baripada and rested there for the day at a friend's house. Next day rode from Baripada till Gaya which means another first for me: 500Km in a day ride (almost). A good start to my touring journey, if I say so myself.

The bike was only 4 days out of the showroom when I started and it performed very reliably. Although the service due light and warning came up on the dash with only 150 kms on ODO. Talked to my SA and he said I can continue on my ride and if it breaks down RSA will be there (which sounded kind of dumb to me).

Throughout the ride, I felt the engine getting more refined or maybe it was just me getting used to the vibes. I will get the first service done soon at Gaya itself as I just cannot see the engine oil in the watch glass (or peek glass?).

The Bad

On day 1, I noticed that the up button of the display control doesn't work which I missed during the PDI. I guess QC is a gripe with all manufacturers.

Then on day 2, I was happily cruising at about 70Kmph at 5:30 PM, I wanted to change the lane to overtake a truck. I could see that there was a slight raise like there usually is between the lanes, so I braced myself for that slight change.

Turns out it was not just a slight raise, instead, it was a full 2-inch gap between the lanes and mind you it's the famous GRAND TRUNK road. My front tire went in it and I struggled to get out of it for maybe 5 sec and then, BAM. Went sliding on the road. A truck was behind me but there was enough distance for him to stop safely.

Got up, checked myself and only had a scratch on my right knee. Riding gear did its job well. Checked the bike, and it had a broken right knuckle guard, right mirror and a twisted rear brake lever. No scratches on the body though. So got up and continued the ride and reached my destination around 8PM, the whole time thinking how it could have been a perfect first ride but didn't happen.

No problem, the return journey will be a perfect second ride.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The 390 Adventure gets Street and Off-road modes for the traction control system.

KTM has rolled out software updates for older 390 Adventure bikes. As part of the update, MY2020 and MY2021 bikes will get riding modes that were introduced on the 2022 version.

Owners of the 390 Adventure can get their bikes updated at their nearest authorized KTM service station. It’s a free upgrade and will take about 20 minutes.

The 2022 KTM 390 Adventure was launched in the month of May. The bike comes with Street and Off-road modes for the traction control system. Besides this, the new version also comes with more robust cast wheels.

The 390 Adventure is powered by a 373cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that produces 43 BHP and 37 Nm. The bike rides on WP Apex upside-down forks with an adjustable mono-shock at the rear. It comes with disc brakes at both ends dual-channel ABS.

The Honda CB500X & BMW G 310 GS were also good options but I didn't take a test ride of these motorcycles.

BHPian rohing recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I got the 2022 KTM 390 Adventure (one of the firsts in Bangalore) and it is awesome!

I never ended up test riding the Honda and G 310 GS. Why - got a very lukewarm response from Honda and owning a BMW and riding to offbeat destinations never settled down in my mind. Finally, call me lazy/spoilt - the thought of riding from Whitefield to MG road area in Bangalore just to test drive & the possibility of having to do so for every service/troubleshoot was a no-go. Maybe Bangaloreans will understand! I knew the compromises I was making by not choosing a twin and I made peace with it. Other than that there was no doubt about the KTM in my mind.

Aside from this, the experiences of TBHPian @RedLiner (2 months across the Eastern Indo-Tibet Himalayas | A KTM 390 "Adventure" | 2021 Report) and his travelogue to the NE played a big part in me booking the bike. If he could take the bike to the places he took with no trouble then it should be OK. I never spoke to him or commented on his log but his experiences made up my mind. Thank you! Also thanks to @NeilJerico, @AutoIndian and others who were part of this short but effective thread on my bike buying.

The delivery experience

I booked the bike with a Rs 2500 deposit and took the delivery after 8 weeks. I never followed up (as I was in no hurry) and let them take their time. I got the call, paid the money overnight and the bike was ready - no fuss. The reps were decent but the paperwork could have been more organized.

They also volunteered to get some accessories installed right there. They convinced me to install a piggyback box to get the hazard light function (fits right in and no wire-cutting) and I wanted a handlebar riser. Both were done with minimal fuss and the bike was ready to go. Here is a pic.

All was good until I started riding home from the dealership. I felt the bike was losing power, as if the clutch was being engaged and disengaged! Not a good feeling. Came home, did not feel good about it and went straight back to the dealership. Looks like the Handlebar risers stretched the clutch wire too much and it was engaging. A little bit of readjustment and it was fixed - whew! I hate it when a new machine has issues.

Work schedule/travel and all the bike was stationary for a week. Finally called up a friend over the weekend and decided to do a quick 150 kms spin on the outskirts of Bangalore on a Sunday afternoon. Like any new vehicle, it takes a little bit of time for the bike and the owner to get used to each other.

It was uneventful except for an error that kept popping up - it showed up as "Quickshifter+" at the bottom of the TFT and the warning light. Switched off the engine and it disappeared. Again, gave me an uncomfortable feeling as I like my bikes to be in shipshape but I was travelling again and there was no time to troubleshoot or go to the dealership. Here is a pic inside a reserve forest with an RE friend testing the KTM.

One more week passed and the bike was still stationary. Back in Bangalore and had to go to Coimbatore (a quick weekend trip to my native). I came home to realize that the kids were sick (the effect of going to school after 2 yrs) and that the EcoSport could be needed by my wife in case we needed to get meds or go to the doctor.

An inkling of an idea started forming about taking the bike to Coimbatore - 800kms round trip, solo ride, light rain, some random errors (that I have not solved), new bike, no storage space on the bike yet... (a little crazy). But what the heck. The guys who get these bikes are crazy anyway and this is the whole reason you buy a tourer! Nothing like an 800km ride to get to know your bike. Here are some pics and I will share the good and the issues after that.

What is good

• Mile muncher. Even before the 1st service, could cruise above 100 (the main reason I sold the Himalayan). No fuss. Loads of reserve power at even 110.
• Suspension is great. It takes potholes and bad roads quite well. I am 40+ and my back was perfectly ok after the long ride including the bad Bangalore roads.
• Very stable - TC, ABS etc. work. Never skidded or felt out of control even on wet surfaces - comparing it to the 1st gen Himalayan where precise front/back brake coordination was key else the back wheel slipped.
• Informative TFT with everything you need.

All in all, very satisfied with the purchase and great value for money. The average mileage was 30km/l.

So what is not OK

The list below are my peeves but largely fixable:

• Quickshifter+/ error - Keeps popping up. I am not using the Quickshifter but the error still keeps popping up. Need to get it sorted out. But has no impact on the bike or the performance. Is this a common issue?
• The blue tank area is a dust magnet! What were they thinking?
• Seat - Butt pain after 200kms of riding. Have to do something to the seat to make it more comfortable - any suggestions folks? The Himalayan seat/seating position was better.
• No main stand - Really loved the main stand on the Himalayan. Having only the side stand is an issue - can a main stand be fixed?
• Headlight is not very effective - not great for long rides. I need to get aux lights installed - any suggestions on the best brand and a nice place to do it in Bangalore?
• The GPS - one would have hoped that GMaps syncs but no. You have to buy an app etc. Come on KTM! I need to get a phone/GPS holder installed and use GMaps - any suggestions on the brand please let me know?
• Fuel indicator - it starts flashing red on the TFT with a warning light from <160kms mark - do not understand the logic. Is there a way to set it to something reasonable? I took it all the way to <50mark but flashing red for 100 kms does not help.
• Hearing some chain noise at low speed.
• Need a higher windshield. For my height, the wind buffeting is too much - any idea/suggestions?

As mentioned no biggies but initial things to be sorted out.

Other queries

• Phone connects via BT and shows who is calling but how do I talk - would any suggest BT helmets or any other idea?
• Any nice KTM long-distance rider groups in Bangalore? How do I get connected? I do not like the concept of 100 guys going 50 kms for breakfast and calling it a ride (forgive me if I offended someone, just my age is to blame). A nice group of slow, cautious, well-planned, long-distance riders would be my cup of tea.
• Any ideas on storage - best pannier / rear box ideas? Would love a rear box with a cushion for the person in the back seat to lean on.
• Any ideas on how effective gel/air seats are for the rider? I really need to solve that problem.

Thanks again to everyone who helped me with this decision. Looking forward to long rides. But first the first service now.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The ride began in early March 2021, right when the Covid-19 cases were ebbing in the Asian sub continent of India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Nepal had just opened its borders to tourists, and of course every bazaar in India had a billion people jostling for space.​

BHPian Red Liner recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

We started with BIG plans...

And we ended with none

This report is a journey of two blokes on their motorcycles, traipsing across the far eastern Himalayas bordering India, Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. The holy jewels of the High Himalayas. Mr Xi likes holy jewels.

The ride began in early March 2021, right when the Covid 19 cases were ebbing in the Asian sub continent of India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Nepal had just opened its borders to tourists, and of course every bazaar in India had a billion people jostling for space.

This ride was about 2 weeks in the making. You read that right. Everyone has different ways about going on a trip of this sorts. Some quietly start planning for years to come. Some start reading every little blog on the planet, watching every single video out there. Many will probably start a WhatsApp group with their pals titled "Himalayan Expedition Trip - who's in!" which will probably degenerate into forwards and p**n though begun with the right intentions.

Riding (NOT flying) into the Himalayas is not a very simple thing to do. For starters, there are only 2 viable seasons to head there. You're either in at the start of the season, just after the snow starts melting and the high passes are cleared. That's between March and May. Or you're up there between Oct and Nov. At all other times, it's either pouring rain and landslides or 10 foot of snow at 14000 feet. Both not fun for a travel motorcyclist.

The whole of 2020 was a dead a year for every human on the planet. We had missed the Oct 2020 window. Cases were ebbing. 2nd week of February, I ring my friend and ask him

Hey bud, I feel like riding out.

Where to?

How about the Eastern Himalayas? Arunachal Pradesh? Indo-Tibetan borders.

Am in. I've been wanting to go there myself

Alright, I'll start planning. 30 days?

Sure, I can extend longer. I just quit my job.

Ooookay. Looks like Sikkim is just around the corner. 45 days and we spend time in Sikkim too?

Sure thing.

Okay, talk soon.

And so, we begin. With less than 2 weeks to go before we get on our motorcycles and start our engines.

Who's in?

It's funny how I'm sitting here ensconced inside 4 walls "suffering" a nationwide lockdown. Again. It's the only thing that got me to start this report. These past 70 days were a whirlwind of sorts. Every day was spent methodically waking up at a certain time, getting through the bathroom chores, coffee - if we're really lucky, getting into our riding gear and off we go down a road or trail we've never been before - and likely never will be on again.

The day I got back "home" was at 3 am in the morning. I say "home" in quotes, because what is home anyway? Is it the 4 walls that surround us? Reminding us of the safe cozy comfort zone we've built around ourselves. It feels permanent. The bed smells like me. Home.

But how many "homes" have you had since you were born? If they were all homes, were they permanent in any way? Every couple of years, maybe you had a new "home". A new comfort zone that replaced the earlier one.

Maybe Home is just an abstract concept. But that scares a lot of people. You see, most people want to feel and touch. They don't like abstract concepts. Its too difficult to comprehend. But maybe home is what you carry with you. Your feelings, your thoughts, your emotions, your belief systems, your hates, your likes, your girl friends or boy friends - past and present, your safe little zone inside you can run away to when things get too difficult.

So what do we really mean when we say we've "left home" to explore? Leaving 4 walls is okay, but have we really "left our home"? Have we really cast aside our baggage to truly explore, experience, and enjoy everything the world has to offer without prejudices, likes, and dislikes? Are we truly open to letting go of what we have, so we have space for what could come?

Longer travel brings about a sense of impermanence. The bed you sleep on tonight, you will never sleep on it again. The pretty girl you saw by the cafe as you rode past was just that very moment in time. The old woman who called you into her home when it was hailing outside and offered you a hot cup of tea for nothing in return except conversation. Or the boy monk in training who offered to take you around to all the buddhist monasteries in his village. Chance encounters. Or something more?

As Kafka said, its Chance Encounters that keep us going. Kafka Tamura. Not the Franz guy.

The day I got back home was at 3 am in the morning. I hardly slept. By the afternoon, I was getting restless, worked up even. I was supposed to be on my bike. Tackling gnarly trails with no food in my gut other than black coffee from the morning. What the hell am I doing here in bed? Psycho spiritually, I was still riding somewhere far in the distant Himalayas. Cold, starving, tired, dirty. But happy.

Happy not knowing when the next meal would come.

Happy not knowing if there was a bed somewhere tonight.

Happy not knowing what way the weather would turn in half hour.

Happy not knowing what my next chance encounter would be.

Happy not knowing.

Now that I've got your attention, and with just 2 weeks to go - we had things going on multiple tracks. Actually just two things. Bike Prep and the Mastah plan. Which was gonna go to the dogs 5 days into the trip.

In regards to bike prep, there wasn't too much for me to do. My KTM 390 Adventure was a new model launch, and it was just a year and 10,000 kms old. That had given me just enough time to understand the bike well without putting her through much abuse. All those 2020 level 1 Covid lockdowns helped warm the couch at home as opposed to the motorcycle seat. Here's everything I did on the bike leading up to the trip. Sometimes pictures are more oblivious than words so I'll shut it where am not needed.

1. Tall windscreen - Carbon Racing

I had about 5000 odd kms of highway/freeway riding to get to the Himalayas. No way the stock short windscreen is gonna be of any help.

2. Headlight Yellow Mask from Adventure Conquest

I also added a yellow mask for the headlight assembly. Three reasons:

• It changed the light from the white which is absolutely useless in the rain or fog to yellow.
• Spread the sharp headlight beam out to cover the sides of the road
• Also acted to protect the headlight from stones kicked up like missiles

3. Rear rack from Fantasia

This was a tough one, but after months of agonising search I finally found something that worked for me. This was given to me by a friend in the local 390 Adventure riding club and I will always be thankful to him for it. I needed something that would carry a reasonable load and had multiple points of fixture so it wouldn't give way carrying weight off-road.

4. Auxiliary lights - Hella Value Fit Cubes - Spot

Reasonably priced and they do the job - for me. Most importantly they eke out just 12w each.

5. Auxiliary mounts

My mechanic who helps me out with everything on the motorcycle managed to jiggy up a set of mounts that worked pretty damn well. I wanted them in a particular location on the bike - the frame that sits between the headlight assembly and the chassis. BDCW has something similar but I couldn't pony up the $$$ + shipping + duty. The lights and mounts went on just 2 days before the trip.

6. Chain and Sprocket kit

The KTM 390 Adventure runs 15 front and 45 rear as stock. I found this to be a trifle lethargic in Asian conditions. The first year I got the bike, longer trips were out of the question, so we spent most of our time dual sporting or at least trying to. So I dropped a 14 front and kept the 45 rear. Bike felt sprightly but lost all the top end. Just before the trip, I consulted with my mechanic friend and we decided to drop the 14, go back to 15 in the front. And then drop the 45 and instead go up by one tooth to a 46 in the rear. This worked absolutely perfectly for a mixed adventure trip like this and I will be sticking to this goldilocks set up.

7. Front brake pads

My front brake pads after 10,000 kms were close to bust, so I just added a new pair from KTM. These are all sintered. Kept the older ones as a back up in my kit bag.

Everything else was stock. Tyres included. Metzeler tourance. I wanted to add a high fender, but just had no time to get around to it. Its on the wishlist.

At the garage. What we want vs what we get.

My mate getting new wheels. Nah, he was getting his actual wheels straightened out.

Still a cow.

Continue reading BHPian Red Liner's travelogue on his Eastern Indo-Tibet expedition for more insights and information.

I was going to ride through on the KTM 390 Adventure all the way from Bangalore to Himachal and beyond.

BHPian Red Liner recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Heat Map of India

My route

Date of Departure: May 11 2022

This was what I was going to ride through on the KTM 390 Adventure all the way from Bangalore to Himachal and beyond.

It was a cool and cloudy morning on the 11th of May 2022. Thankfully because of Cyclone Asani and the totally unseasonal rains and climatic conditions that Bangalore was witnessing through the month of May.

My destination was Hyderabad for the night, because of the ring road being banned for motorcyclists. There was no way in hell I was going to ride through the hell called Hyderabad at noon to get out of the city. Plus my sweet spot for long distance day riding is about 500-600 kms on Indian highways. My plan was to stop and hook up at a hotel near Shamshabad adjacent to the Hyderabad airport and then make a quick early exit the next morning.

As I was riding that morning on the Bangalore Hyderabad highway, I faced huge gusts of wind blowing across. The wind was so intense that I was finding it difficult to keep the bike steady on the road. At one point a bill board the size of a grown man blew across the highway and made a beeline right across to me - hit my feet and continued its journey. I reckon that could have been far more dangerous had it hit me right across my body. The ride could have ended quite miserably right there and then.

A little further on I "decided" to stop for breakfast. I will tell you why I decided.

I usually do not stop for food when riding long days with a fixed destination for the night. I carry black coffee with me and only stop for water and pee breaks. I have been able to condition both mind and body to go without food for longish durations. In fact, I feel more energetic and alert without food than after food.

But today I felt I could be a wee bit generous with myself and stopped at this non descriptive pop up food stall by the highway well after the Kia factory.

I don't have a picture of the Vadas, but oh my god, trust me when I say it was the most crispiest golden hued doughnut I had ever eaten in my life.

Somewhere enroute to Hyderabad, Asani struck well and good. The clouds gathered and it poured. My luck, I had my raincoat buried under all my luggage strapped onto the bike. So there we went, stopped at a bus shelter with the locals and I proceeded to get the rain jacket out. Shortly thereafter it started to hail as well, and everyone ran out on to the roads to collect ice that fell from the sky.

I reached Hyderabad well before sun down, which is how I like my rides to end and found the hotel. Ofcourse the exteriors and the approach was nothing like what was pictured on booking.com, but once inside the rooms were good, and the bathrooms were clean. Since I had a hearty breakfast of one Masala Dosa, and one Vada, I decided to skip both lunch and dinner to get to sleep early and wake up before dawn the next morning.

We were off to Nagpur.

Even the ride through the outskirts of Hyderabad the previous evening was nothing short of a nightmare. This was a message I sent a motorcyclist friend from Hyderabad who counselled me against riding through the city the previous day.

Leaving the hotel was easy, and so was leaving Hyderabad first thing in the morning. Tonights destination was Nagpur, and I had booked myself into a Treebo hotel - at the entry point to Nagpur pretty close to the highway. Quick entry and a quick exit were top of mind for me.

Once I left Hyderabad, the weather turned. It turned from wet, windy, cloudy to hot, harsh and blimey. So the following then became my new ride schedule.

• 6 AM leave

• Ride until 12 noon. Cover at least 350+ kms out of 500kms in this session.

• Stop at a Dhaba between 12 noon and 15.00/16.00

• Ride out the next 150+ kms

• End ride and check in by 17.30

My breaks were automated for every hour almost on the dot. I would stop to down a full litre of water, and do the wet tee shirt trick. Drown the tee in the water tank that accompanies every dhaba where truckers take a bath. Wear tee without squeezing water out. Start riding immediately and enjoy air conditioned comfort for the next 10 minutes.

I also completely avoided solid food through the day. My meals were multiple plates of fresh Dahi everywhere I stopped along with the bottle of water.

Though I was riding solo, friends were made everywhere.

As I rode into Nagpur, I made a mistake of taking the big flyover on entry with the metro line that runs above it. Once I crossed my intended turn which was now under the flyover, I realised my folly, and rode around back to the hotel. No biggie, the Treebo was absolutely fantastic - and a real treat after a hard day of riding.

The thing with riding solo is you go the whole day without talking to anyone for the most part. Humans are social animals, and however much I deem myself to be an INFJ (or introvert for short), I still like to connect and talk to people in and around the places I travel to.

So at the Treebo hotel, I had plenty of time for long chats with the manager.

I had been scouting for good deals for hotels online as I traveled on this journey, simply because I was traveling alone. And traveling alone can get frightfully expensive with respect to room rent alone. Obviously the Oyo deals that popped up were too good to be true, and I actually even booked some of them - luckily for me all of them came with free cancelation right upto check in time.

As I read the reviews both on the Oyo platform as well as on Google, something odd struck me. Almost all the reviewers either had "local" sounding names, or the reviews were one liners with a 5 star rating, or they generally went like "we were a couple and we had a good time". This sent alarm bells ringing in my head, and I promptly veered to the conservative side and canceled all of them.

This is what the Treebo manager told me. Oyo is apparently the only chain which allows unmarried couples to check in. As we all know, most hotels in India do not allow this on principle. Now, considering Oyos budget nature, it doesn't take einstein to figure out that every teenager with throbbing hormones is taking advantage of this and checking into an Oyo in their town for a good time.

Here's where things get interesting. These "couples" apparently only use the room for a few hours - the folks at home are not going to be suspicious if you go missing for a part of the day - but if you're gone overnight then shit hits the fan. So they book for the night, use it for a few hours and leave. The hotel does NOT change the sheets nor sanitise the space. They simply dust off the bed, rearrange things and are good to go for the night.

A few guys I met the next day had similar experiences to share with me. These guys were riding from Tamil Nadu to Leh, and had booked at Oyo like most unsuspecting folks. On arrival, their check ins were canceled, and they were asked to pay 500-1000 bucks more over the Oyo rate if they wanted the room. This is also apparently very common practice.

This information is like gold for a traveler like me. Now I no longer spend any time on the Oyo app - unless its some form of a higher ranked Town House in a major city. Ofcourse, if you're paying 1500-2000 a night anyway, plenty of other better options exist today.

The Apart Hotel was in a residential neighbourhood. Since I hadn't eaten for the day, I treated myself to a swiggy delivered dinner from Haldirams which was absolute Yum. Then I took a walk around the neighbourhood, got some mangoes from a neighbour, treated her kids to some chocolate in return, got some biscuits for a mama dog and her litter of puppies, and played around with Momo, the resident pup of the hotel. It rained a little that evening, and the weather cooled down significantly. But not enough to keep my washed clothes wet. They were dry in a matter of an hour. I was reusing the same clothes every day of the ride - just a wash that evening, and good to go the next morning.

All this was accomplished that evening, after riding 500+ kms in abject heat, and I generally had a well rounded day - as opposed to riding like an idiot and crashing into a hotel room only to do the same thing again the next day.

Continue reading BHPian Red Liner's travelogue on his ride across India's worst heat wave for more insights and information.

The 2022 KTM 390 Adventure comes with two riding modes - Street and Off-road.

KTM has announced the launch of the MY2022 390 Adventure. The bike is priced at Rs. 3,34,895 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The 2022 KTM 390 Adventure comes with Street and Off-road modes for the traction control system. The latter mode will remain active even if the motorcycle encounters a brief stall or fall.

Apart from that, KTM has also used more robust cast wheels. The company says that this has increased the stiffness of the rims.

The 390 Adventure is powered by a 373cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that produces 43 BHP and 37 Nm. The bike rides on WP Apex upside-down forks with an adjustable mono-shock at the rear. Braking duties are handled by 320 mm and 280 mm discs at the front and rear respectively along with dual-channel ABS.

The 2022 model is available in two new colours: KTM Factory Racing Blue and Dark Galvano Black.

I'm using GS Caltex (fully synthetic) engine oil on my motorcycle & even after completing 4,000 km, it seems to be holding on pretty well.

BHPian rb2399 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The ADV completed the 50,000 km mark during one of my recent rides. The ownership experience so far has been trouble-free and hopefully, it'll stay that way.

Contrary to popular belief, KTMs are as reliable as any other brand if you take care of them.

Here are some snaps from the most recent ride:

Near Keonjhar in Orissa

The odo at 50K km

P.S. - I switched over to GS Caltex (fully synthetic) engine oil and even after crossing 4,000 km, the oil seems to be holding on pretty well. The gear shifts are really smooth even at this stage which was not the case with Motul.

I think I'll stick to this one and maybe try it on my other bikes too!

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

Maybe you have had this asked earlier but you have kept both - KTM 390 ADV and Suzuki V-Strom 650?

I am curious to understand the justification. The gap between the two in terms of power and capability isn't a large one. Not having a larger ADV makes sense from a practicality perspective (weight, service, cost, etc) but these two together?

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The motorcycle will be used for 500 km per day trips once a month & weekly city commutes of 25 km in Bangalore.

BHPian rohing recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I recently sold my Himalayan after 20k kms on it. Himalayan was good but really lacked some key things I wanted:

• Refinement (the vibration after 80)
• Reliability (clutch wire, cone set, rusting)
• Power (best below 100)
• Good service network (RE is good, no complaints)

Need some guidance on comparisons from experts here. I need a comfortable middleweight cruiser for 500 km/day trips (once a month) and city commutes in Bangalore (25kms) once a week. I am 6.1 ft and 40+yrs so comfort is key.

The 3 bikes I am considering are:

Bajaj Dominar

Lots of enhancements now and flaws fixed. Value for money! The only negative is the ride quality on bad roads. Many rural roads are quite bad and I ride a lot on them. Is it better now? Also riding position in an adv motorcycle is better.

KTM 390 Adventure

No brainer. Meets most criteria. Higher on the cost side compared to Dominar but within budget. Would love it more if it was a twin. Riding position for someone like me is nice.

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

The love for the twin! But horrors of RE and rinding position due to straight seat. Value for money! But again the attraction for the twin.

Any other models the experts here recommend? Do I go for a single or a twin? I don't mind indulging a little bit. The Honda's 'look' does not appeal. Versys 650 is nice but is KTM x 2, can afford but middle-class value mindset kicks in.

Appreciate any thoughts on the above

Here's what BHPian ku69rd had to say about the matter:

You left out the Honda CB 500X. Would be a good bet that will balance the city and highway.

The other option would be to consider the KTM 250 Adventure, a well-tuned motor to balance the city plus sufficient power to cruise the highway all day at 100.

390 ADV might be a pain in the city with its high revving nature.

Dominar is a heavy machine for what it offers.

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

You mentioned that "The Honda's 'look' does not appeal". Is it so for the 500X as well? Mind you this has a parallel twin & you said you don't mind indulging a bit. Moreover, the new CB500X is on the cards and the existing version is retailing at discounts of over a lakh rupees. In Bengaluru, the outgoing model would cost you around 6.86 lacs on-road (as per Bikewale), refer to the pic below. You can squeeze further discounts if you have good negotiation skills.

Here's what BHPian neil.jericho had to say about the matter:

If you had mentioned that your usage was only on weekends, then I would have said go for a Kawasaki Versys 650. But since you mentioned you are looking at city commuting in Bangalore, then you should strongly consider something more usable and all-rounded. These mixed conditions are where the Honda CB500X truly shines. It gives up some brownie points on highway rides when compared to its more powerful competition but it makes it all back up, in the city where it slides into a super commuter avatar.

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

Really lovely that everyone has completely ignored the Interceptor. Don't buy it if 500 kms day trips are your thing, the stock bike absolutely sucks for that requirement. Stock bike also sucks for two-up commutes, bad pillion ergos and lava for exhausts.

If I had the budget, I'd get the Honda 500. If not, KTM 390.

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

I have had a Dominar for the last 4 years. I use it for a similar routine as you have described. I had been doing 1000+ km trips every month until the pandemic struck, and 25 km commutes ever since, which are partly city traffic and partly good roads like Electronic city flyover.

While the big bikes are definitely more comfortable, Dominar has never failed me and I know I can go even longer on my trips. I usually don't do more than 500km/12 hours of riding on a single day, but I have spent 18+ hours on broken roads and it was fine if you can live with the extra weight. The weight won't trouble you much in the city since you would commute only once a week, and the same weight will keep you rock-solid on the highway. It has superb low end and mid range, and I barely even use the accelerator in the city traffic for the first 2 gears. The sound and feel is good enough to keep you happy at below 4k RPM in the city and then redline gloriously as you merge onto the highway. I just wouldn't want to use it for more than 2-3 days in peak traffic (which is how I ended up buying a cycle). I've taken it on off roads as I love taking the road not taken. Unless you are doing some crazy off-roading, you can easily swap tires and the bike will take you 95% of the places.

It has very good service support, especially because of its popularity with touring groups which means you can find specialized mechanics if you are not happy with Bajaj. Bajaj service is decent enough and very cheap (I love it) but I always had a backup checkup done at Highlander to keep long-distance reliability in check. Only issue is that good service support is limited to cities when you are on a trip. Not all Bajaj service centers in rural areas can work on a Dominar. But otherwise, relative to other premium bikes in the same segment, parts availability is good and mechanics are not difficult to find if you have a breakdown. The only other brand that I think outperforms this is RE.

Good customization support is cherry on top. There are lots of additional accessories well suited for it at a decent price, and the engine has enough grunt to carry their weight around. It even looks good when it is properly kitted out!

To be honest, I keep reading all the reviews on Team-BHP and lusting after the Honda CB500X which in my opinion is a very genuine upgrade for my needs, especially given how I use the Dominar, but every time I see a new update that Bajaj makes, I just keep considering buying a new Dominar again :P For the price that it comes at, it is astounding value. There are flaws, yes, but for the price, I am not complaining.

P.S. Thumb rule for long-distance reliability: Avoid everything that is less than 2 years old or fresh in the market, especially from new brands.

Sinec you are 6.1 ft tall, you will definitely need handlebar raisers on the Dominar and it will definitely not be as comfortable for you as it is for me. I am 5.9 ft.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.