Read the article in MCN today, they like it dont they. I contrast what KTM have done with my £5250 Duke 390 in adding so much more spec equipment and styling for just over £1500 three years on. Its a cracking bike for the money.
2025 KTM 390 Adventure
- Thread starter Eastmidsbiker
- Start date
A few lanes from yesterday.
There are one or two issues to iron out but I reckon they'll sell bucket loads of them. It was Honda 300 Rally fever a couple of years ago and still great little bikes. But I think for a great many 300 owners will switch. Time will tell.
Rambling in both senses of the word in the Peak district on Tuesday. This is a route from the duo 'Lost on the Lanes' called '12 easy lanes', who are happy to share the GPX file if you drop them a like and comment on their video (see comments in video below).
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Looks good, thanks for posting up - can’t help thinking it’s a good advertisement for a £2.5K 411
Looks good, thanks for posting up - can’t help thinking it’s a good advertisement for a £2.5K 411
Absolutely agree, I nearly purchased one whilst waiting for my KTM. Low seat, friendly low down power and seeing one ridden well is a joy. Nathanthepostman was always a fan.
Afficianados seem to prefer the later (Euro 5) model, but I think that's as much to do with all the early issues being ironed out rather than anything directly linked to Euro 5.
Only downside is they are not huge fun on dual carraigeways and motorways, but as they always say its more fun to ride a slow bike fast... There are some really capable riders in the Himalayan group I tag along with and they seem to love them, and make them go really well on lanes despite weighing 200kg.
Finally got the side panels off today to get to the shock and the air filter, I was worried about breaking the plastics but they seem fairly robust. The preload on the shock was set quite soft, as was the rebound so have upped both the preload and the rebound (rebound to half way in the range, 10 of 20 clicks, Preload increased by about 3 notches to just over half way. A bounce on the seat confirmed its a little firmer.
The blue dot on this shows where I was intending on joining a local byway for some testing, but......
It was locked.
So I went into Redmile to pick up the byway from the other end there.. bumped into the farmer who was nice as anything and seemed genuinely confused when I told him it was locked at the other end. I just rode to the locked gate, turned around and rode back
Then I figured I would do the Byway from the North of Redmile... There was a big sign saying foot access only and a TRO on the other side of it (Green Road Maps was correctly showing it as legal). If you read the TRO it was from Nov 2024 for a max of 20 weeks, so expired. I walked up the trail a little way but decided not to do it only because it was grass and ruts which arent my idea of fun, but it's really helpfull having the Green Road Map from the TRF to corroborate what are legal lanes.
I did a few other green lanes without issue and then dropped into Morrisons to get the bike jetwashed. A top couple of hours !
The blue dot on this shows where I was intending on joining a local byway for some testing, but......
It was locked.
So I went into Redmile to pick up the byway from the other end there.. bumped into the farmer who was nice as anything and seemed genuinely confused when I told him it was locked at the other end. I just rode to the locked gate, turned around and rode back
Then I figured I would do the Byway from the North of Redmile... There was a big sign saying foot access only and a TRO on the other side of it (Green Road Maps was correctly showing it as legal). If you read the TRO it was from Nov 2024 for a max of 20 weeks, so expired. I walked up the trail a little way but decided not to do it only because it was grass and ruts which arent my idea of fun, but it's really helpfull having the Green Road Map from the TRF to corroborate what are legal lanes.
I did a few other green lanes without issue and then dropped into Morrisons to get the bike jetwashed. A top couple of hours !
A nice morning out in the Peaks today doing another 'Lost on the Lanes' route..
Bike continues to impress. No issues other than a slightly variable traction control.
Bike continues to impress. No issues other than a slightly variable traction control.
Oops
What is the 390 like on dual carriageways?
I know it's not what these bikes are designed for, but the reality is that there's often quite a lot of tarmac to be covered before we reach lanes.
What kind of speed would you describe as comfortable (for rider and engine) for a road slog?
It's exactly the type of riding I do, and its a completely different proposition to the Himmy 411. It has double the power and less weight so cruising at 70 is no issue at all with power to overtake. Its a single so there are some vibes and not as refined as a multi cylinder bike, but nothing out of the ordinary. The screen is wonderful, although I'm sure I will headbutt it at some point on lanes. The fact they offer cruise control for the bike is a good indication that distance is in its design brief. I fully intend to do some 4-500 mile days on it, and will highlight if there are any issues.
Even though the seat is quite tall, the seating area is fairly compact so worth checking out if you are particularly tall or wide.
Seat starts to get uncomfortable after 100 miles, but thats been the case with all the bikes I've owned. MPG has predictably reduced a little now its fully run in and I am keeping revs higher, from 72 during running in to about 66 indicated now.
Thoroughly enjoying it, although suspect the AJP PR7 and Kove 450 would have done the job equally well with slightly differing strengths.
Oh man. That's ridiculous.
A few minor updates..
Did you get the Autoengina stuff off ebay? The prices are ridiculously cheap from India - I've emailed them to see if they can sell direct. The UK Bay prices are bonkers by comparison but when you do check-out on their website it only delivers to India. Their response was to let them know what I wanted and they would take the order over email, but not sure yet if its India pricing.
I found the clutch and ignition covers on the Bay for around £12 each cheaper than KTM and delivery included, so ordered those. Need BarkBusters and some aux lights and that'll do me. Good that the bars have pre glued threaded inserts for the BarkBusters as and when - they will need drilling and tapping though. I just fitted the foam grips which I loved on the 300 Rally as they lose some vibes and all-day comfortable.
I need some tyres biggly. Now autumn/winter weather is arriving those tyres won't cope. Possibly dry old Spanish trails - might suit those. Just need to choose which ones as I found the D606 very noisy on road. Never once got stuck though and never had a puncture.
I found the clutch and ignition covers on the Bay for around £12 each cheaper than KTM and delivery included, so ordered those. Need BarkBusters and some aux lights and that'll do me. Good that the bars have pre glued threaded inserts for the BarkBusters as and when - they will need drilling and tapping though. I just fitted the foam grips which I loved on the 300 Rally as they lose some vibes and all-day comfortable.
I need some tyres biggly. Now autumn/winter weather is arriving those tyres won't cope. Possibly dry old Spanish trails - might suit those. Just need to choose which ones as I found the D606 very noisy on road. Never once got stuck though and never had a puncture.
I think he makes some valid points and always informative.
However there are some issues with what he's saying. He goes on about fuelling, tells us that the new Enduro R is better with the updated fuel map and then moans about the fuelling not being great. Reviews the fueling product with a non-updated map. Vibes - he's obviously a very sensitive bunny. The vibes aren't THAT bad. So I would ignore that completely. I've fitted some foam grips - they're grippy, all day comfortable, cheap as chips and get rid of most of the bar vibes, which aren't bad anyway. Certainly don't need to spend $400 on a rubbery bar mount! Then he shoots himself. He tells us at the end that his ideal adventure unicorn bike would be an 890 twin. So he's testing this 390, which is in a different league to the Honda 300 in almost every way, with the thought that it might be a very light 890.
I 100% don't agree with his rear shock findings. Perhaps he has a bad one. Plenty of videos showing blokes doing fairly extreme jumps on the bike and landing it - bottoming out the suspension. Well, what did you expect 
The 390 isn't a 300EXC designed for motorcross tracks. It isn't a bike designed to do what an 890 will do, in the ways it will do it. 99% of us won't be making 4 mtr high and more jumps on it and those that want even more power (which for the 99% of us just isn't needed) will buy a 690 R won't they? What the 390 is, is a great little budget bike, non intimidating, well suspended(!), lightweight(ish), powerful enough and perfectly suitable for it's intended audience. We all said the same thing about the Honda - oh no it only has 23hp and crap suspension, but once fettled with they're great bikes, for what they were designed for. This 390 will be no different.
However there are some issues with what he's saying. He goes on about fuelling, tells us that the new Enduro R is better with the updated fuel map and then moans about the fuelling not being great. Reviews the fueling product with a non-updated map. Vibes - he's obviously a very sensitive bunny. The vibes aren't THAT bad. So I would ignore that completely. I've fitted some foam grips - they're grippy, all day comfortable, cheap as chips and get rid of most of the bar vibes, which aren't bad anyway. Certainly don't need to spend $400 on a rubbery bar mount! Then he shoots himself. He tells us at the end that his ideal adventure unicorn bike would be an 890 twin. So he's testing this 390, which is in a different league to the Honda 300 in almost every way, with the thought that it might be a very light 890.
I 100% don't agree with his rear shock findings. Perhaps he has a bad one. Plenty of videos showing blokes doing fairly extreme jumps on the bike and landing it - bottoming out the suspension. Well, what did you expect The 390 isn't a 300EXC designed for motorcross tracks. It isn't a bike designed to do what an 890 will do, in the ways it will do it. 99% of us won't be making 4 mtr high and more jumps on it and those that want even more power (which for the 99% of us just isn't needed) will buy a 690 R won't they? What the 390 is, is a great little budget bike, non intimidating, well suspended(!), lightweight(ish), powerful enough and perfectly suitable for it's intended audience. We all said the same thing about the Honda - oh no it only has 23hp and crap suspension, but once fettled with they're great bikes, for what they were designed for. This 390 will be no different.
I've taken the Auto Engina rack off as i didnt feel this made the Mosko luggage fit quite right, as it splays the base out a little too much as the Mosko has a semi rigid base. I think it would be perfect for fully soft luggage. It's only been on for one ride and feels quite well made, so if anyone wants to save a chunk on buying one from India let me know.
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