I got an email saying these are back in stock. Will get some as the stock one are huge and like you I won't be needing p-pegs.
2025 KTM 390 Adventure
- Thread starter Eastmidsbiker
- Start date
Barkbusters arrived this morning.
Snap, can't wait to take off the original plastic (now broken) guards. A nice job for the weekend.
New Barkbusters on, had a nice ride with the TRF on Sunday around the Peaks on ADV suitable lanes, a really chilled day with nothing technical. Bike was excellent.
Can't wait to get the WP Xplor Pro shock, which should arrive in a week or so. I recorded some of the lanes at the weekend, vid below.
My summary of the bike after a little time with it is its just what I hoped for, and a cracking ride. If Im being super critical the suspension whilst being long travel isn't a patch on my previous Tiger 900, but then the price points are very different. I'm hoping the WP Pro suspension will go some way to resolve this.
Can't wait to get the WP Xplor Pro shock, which should arrive in a week or so. I recorded some of the lanes at the weekend, vid below.
My summary of the bike after a little time with it is its just what I hoped for, and a cracking ride. If Im being super critical the suspension whilst being long travel isn't a patch on my previous Tiger 900, but then the price points are very different. I'm hoping the WP Pro suspension will go some way to resolve this.
A quick update. This bike is buzzy, poor suspension and gutless at low rpms, and I love it.
I'm slightly miffed about the £500 price reduction, but the voucher for that has gone towards the Xplor pro shock (which has been delayed), and KTM have extended the warranties from 2-4 years from 2025 for all street legal bikes (with some conditions about servicing).
I'm slightly miffed about the £500 price reduction, but the voucher for that has gone towards the Xplor pro shock (which has been delayed), and KTM have extended the warranties from 2-4 years from 2025 for all street legal bikes (with some conditions about servicing).
- The bike hasn't got significant power at the bottom end, but it is great fun to rev it out to the redline and does shift once past 6K revs. No short shifting on this bike.
- It's been a while since I rode a bike on the throttle stop in lower gears, its true riding slow bikes fast is fun. I look to skid, jump kerbs and generally muck about at any opportunity.
- The suspension is ok for road riding or gravel lanes, but isnt the best off-road in more gnarly situations, and it needs stiffer springs.
- It vibes a bit, but It hasnt caused any numbness.
- Quickshifter (cost option) is pretty good.
- Off road mode has the most instant power, rendering Road and Rain modes redundant. ABS (rear) and TC aren't really needed, so they stay off.
- The head shakes a bit at higher speeds, I think the rear shock is the culprit and despite cranking up the pre-load which reduces the issue, I think the new shock will solve this completely.
Oh well, the honeymoon didnt last long 
. The first issue occurred on Bank Holiday Sunday on a planned run out to the coast and back solo.
At random points in the day from idle the throttle would just not rev the bike, no response, nada. The only solution was to turn the bike off at the ignition key (kill switch didnt have the same affect).
Whilst this sounds like an annoyance, it created a safety issue in not knowing if I could pull away at junctions, traffic lights etc.. I decided this while on the A1 just north of Grantham turning across the A1 traffic to Toll Bar Lane and wondering if the throttle was going to play ball or not and considering my life choices.
This deserves at least 2 de-merit points, but lets see how the dealer deal with it. I'm not going to ride the bike anywhere until there is a solution for this, although I've just been out this evening and couldnt replicate the issue
. A dealer visit beckons tomorrow, but I dont expect them to look at it immediately.
. The first issue occurred on Bank Holiday Sunday on a planned run out to the coast and back solo. At random points in the day from idle the throttle would just not rev the bike, no response, nada. The only solution was to turn the bike off at the ignition key (kill switch didnt have the same affect).
Whilst this sounds like an annoyance, it created a safety issue in not knowing if I could pull away at junctions, traffic lights etc.. I decided this while on the A1 just north of Grantham turning across the A1 traffic to Toll Bar Lane and wondering if the throttle was going to play ball or not and considering my life choices.
This deserves at least 2 de-merit points, but lets see how the dealer deal with it. I'm not going to ride the bike anywhere until there is a solution for this, although I've just been out this evening and couldnt replicate the issue
. A dealer visit beckons tomorrow, but I dont expect them to look at it immediately.
That’s bad to hearOh well, the honeymoon didnt last long
At random points in the day from idle the throttle would just not rev the bike, no response, nada. The only solution was to turn the bike off at the ignition key (kill switch didnt have the same affect).
Whilst this sounds like an annoyance, it created a safety issue in not knowing if I could pull away at junctions, traffic lights etc.. I decided this while on the A1 just north of Grantham turning across the A1 traffic to Toll Bar Lane and wondering if the throttle was going to play ball or not and considering my life choices.
This deserves at least 2 de-merit points, but lets see how the dealer deal with it. I'm not going to ride the bike anywhere until there is a solution for this, although I've just been out this evening and couldnt replicate the issue
Sorry for your woes
Is there any solution?
Think I read there’s a Ecu update been sent to dealers for this 
It’s gone back to the dealer today, they probably won’t to look at it until Friday and I expect parts will be needed so think it willl be a couple of weeks before I know if it’s sorted.
The main worry is they reject the fault as they can’t replicate it as it’s erratic but I’m hopeful the video will be enough.
The main worry is they reject the fault as they can’t replicate it as it’s erratic but I’m hopeful the video will be enough.
Certainly should be fixable. It looks like it could only be the throttle position sensor or else the throttle body itself. They should both be replaced because if you had this problem on the motorway....
Yes, thats pretty much the diagnosis of the dealer, and they seemed sympathetic. It sounds minor as you can reset it with the ignition but as you say it could happen anywhere. Everytime its happened its been from a standing start (e.g. lights/junctions/roadworks/heavy traffic) so I'm hopeful they can diagnose and solve as I won't use the bike until its fixed.
I suspect you mean the 'stalling' that has been occurring ? If so its had the update for that already.Think I read there’s a Ecu update been sent to dealers for this
Replacing parts, assuming the dealer plays ball.
This has dented my enthusiasm for the bike significantly.
Nah....!!
This stuff happens all the time to all bikes. Theres a danger in here that the only bikes that have things go wrong are painted orange. That's just not true. But people do love to kick an orange bike and if you're a fan you learn to live with it. The 'I had a Yamaha for 10,000 years and it never put a foot wrong' comments. They probably are a little more reliable, but never go wrong? I doubt it very much.
markie_wales
Registered user
I agree to a point. My 950 SuperEnduro was bullet proof. My 990 Adv was solid. My first 1290 GT was great, just one set of switch gear replaced under warranty. However my 2nd 1290 GT was an utter nightmare and the most unreliable bike I’ve own in 40 years riding. Constant component failures, limp mode, refusing to start etc Compare that to 60k+ miles over 2 Fazer 1000’s & a FJR where total failure was one fan fuse. Various Kawasaki’s (ZX9s and the like) where I had zero problems. Couple of Hondas - no failures. Even my current Multistrada at 25k+ miles with zero problems.
If you get a good KTM, they are amazing bikes and some of the best I’ve ever owned. The thing is the risk of a bad one is much higher than other makes in my experience. After my bad one I’ve walked away from the brand. Seeing these familiar stories just adds to my sense I can’t see myself going back. Which is a damn shame.
Cheers
Markie
Thats true. Exaggeration for effect. Breakdowns mostly happen to Hondas. Just the owners have no testosterone so they don't notice.
A quick update
The bike spent a couple of weeks at the dealers, they cleared the faults, couldnt replicate it but hadnt changed any parts. I went to pick it up Friday and figured I would just need to wait for it to happen again (remembering this happened 8 times in less than 100 miles), I feel for the dealer as it is an intermittent fault, but was frustrated that they hadnt done anything. Fortunately the issue occurred the minute I put it into gear collecting the bike, so could call the mechanics out and got them to see it happening. I do feel a bit for the tech who felt it worthy to mention the 'low temp' warning was on and that its best not to ride it until its warmed up as he didn't catch me at my best.
So bike left with dealer (again), lets see what happens. They were going to contact KTM to try and get some guidance, and Im happy they are taking it seriously (this time), it really is highly dangerous not knowing if when pulling away you are going to get power or not.
Once this is sorted, we are on the next issue to sort, I've had white finger on a couple of digits after extended rides. Grip puppies and wheel weights on the barkbusters is first step, the KTM PHDS damping system will be the next step if needed. Cruise may help, but I'm a bit loathed to throw the money at it.
The bike spent a couple of weeks at the dealers, they cleared the faults, couldnt replicate it but hadnt changed any parts. I went to pick it up Friday and figured I would just need to wait for it to happen again (remembering this happened 8 times in less than 100 miles), I feel for the dealer as it is an intermittent fault, but was frustrated that they hadnt done anything. Fortunately the issue occurred the minute I put it into gear collecting the bike, so could call the mechanics out and got them to see it happening. I do feel a bit for the tech who felt it worthy to mention the 'low temp' warning was on and that its best not to ride it until its warmed up as he didn't catch me at my best.
So bike left with dealer (again), lets see what happens. They were going to contact KTM to try and get some guidance, and Im happy they are taking it seriously (this time), it really is highly dangerous not knowing if when pulling away you are going to get power or not.
Once this is sorted, we are on the next issue to sort, I've had white finger on a couple of digits after extended rides. Grip puppies and wheel weights on the barkbusters is first step, the KTM PHDS damping system will be the next step if needed. Cruise may help, but I'm a bit loathed to throw the money at it.
Get the cruise! I use it all the time. 20mph are so tedious without it. And 30's, 40's, 50,s in fact.....A quick update
The bike spent a couple of weeks at the dealers, they cleared the faults, couldnt replicate it but hadnt changed any parts. I went to pick it up Friday and figured I would just need to wait for it to happen again (remembering this happened 8 times in less than 100 miles), I feel for the dealer as it is an intermittent fault, but was frustrated that they hadnt done anything. Fortunately the issue occurred the minute I put it into gear collecting the bike, so could call the mechanics out and got them to see it happening. I do feel a bit for the tech who felt it worthy to mention the 'low temp' warning was on and that its best not to ride it until its warmed up as he didn't catch me at my best.
So bike left with dealer (again), lets see what happens. They were going to contact KTM to try and get some guidance, and Im happy they are taking it seriously (this time), it really is highly dangerous not knowing if when pulling away you are going to get power or not.
Once this is sorted, we are on the next issue to sort, I've had white finger on a couple of digits after extended rides. Grip puppies and wheel weights on the barkbusters is first step, the KTM PHDS damping system will be the next step if needed. Cruise may help, but I'm a bit loathed to throw the money at it.
Pain you're having problems. Sorry chap. I'm sure they'll sort it. And the PHDS might be worth it. It didn't make things Bentley smooth on an EXCF350 I used to have, but noticeably better. Have to say mine feels ok, but have used the cruise and still not done many miles yet. The Honda 300 was buzzy so I used some foam overgrips and rate them highly. But your heated grips won't be worth dime with them on of course - now there was a waste of cash...luke warm grips. Rubbish.
Similar threads
