{"id":117886,"date":"2023-08-22T12:21:46","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T12:21:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uklevitrasupport.com\/?p=117886"},"modified":"2023-08-22T12:21:46","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T12:21:46","slug":"why-and-how-i-bought-a-ktm-390-adventure-rally-initial-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uklevitrasupport.com\/auto-news\/why-and-how-i-bought-a-ktm-390-adventure-rally-initial-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Why and how I bought a KTM 390 Adventure Rally: Initial experience"},"content":{"rendered":"
BHPian Biker_Ajax<\/strong> recently shared this with other enthusiasts.<\/p>\n Hello Everyone! This is about the journey from the decision to buy a new bike to 500 km of ownership.<\/p>\n I have been passionate about photography & just riding off to new places around every weekend & something new to explore. Did a lot of it on the trusty 19 yr old Pulsar 150 clocking over 80k km through dirt, mud, rocks, rains, heat & 15-20 hr overnight rides just to reach a spot.<\/p>\n But realised it took me more time & effort riding to reach the place with the 150cc than exploring once I reach it. It started showing its battle scars & age, but even now stands proudly having that soft click of first gear & roaring for more! Perfect loyal wingman!<\/p>\n 1yr back I decided to move on to a new bike. Sat down with a pen-paper & started making a list of requirements.<\/p>\n With this in mind made the second list of bikes that fall within this category. Did a lot of research online to visit motorcycle group spots & taking firsthand experience. The list is in sequence:<\/p>\n Every Indian since childhood dreams of this bike. Before we plan schooling and naukri we have had plans to own a RE Classic. Then riding with a few Classics owners along- regular breakdowns of different systems, and guys having to prepare bikes 2 days in advance for a long breakfast ride made me sad. Extremely poor quality control & finishing. Many would argue that the new RE has a better finish, but the fitting of it falls off soon. Not what I want.<\/p>\n Then came the HORROR STORY. Going with friends to drop their REs for repair made me experience its after-sales service! Poor customer treatment & arrogant behaviour of service staff to “chalta hai attitude” just repelled me from RE. No customer asks for gold & silver, just basic bike repair yet the way they treat customers & work on motorcycles was shocking.<\/p>\n Poor quality control, beyond the horrible attitude of service staff & regular breakdown of small things, made me cross it off.<\/p>\n Brilliant bike! But the same RE issues as mentioned above. Crossed it off the list. RE made a rugged bike just as per my needs but I experienced that servicing happens on the personal relationship of the customer with that particular RE service station. What I felt is Good Quality of work is not a work ethic at RE. Crossed it off the list.<\/p>\n Whole world can be wrong in everything, but the Japanese cannot be wrong in engine technology! I don’t think anyone will disagree. What a marvellous engine, the quality finish & fit, the engineering common sense to small things done keeping the rider in mind (except the position of the horn switch, hardly a matter).<\/p>\n Took test drive more than a couple of times, firsthand experience of riders & online reviews. Good comfort, safety, high reliability & budget. I came close to an inch from buying it. Only matter was, BigWing Showrooms only? Availability of spares if & when anything required? I won’t be in a city with BigWing (job requirement). Honda should have ensured a strong spare supply chain. Moved on to check more, still not crossing it off the list.<\/p>\n RE experience, immediately off. Though it is the best bang for the buck for a 650cc. But as I feel it’s not for long rides. At least I won’t be able to.<\/p>\n Took multiple test rides. Lot of discussion with the dealership. Not many on the road, yet found a couple of riders. Review was – go for it, but maintenance will be mostly from local shops. Not so great after-sales support. Also, some gut feelings did not agree with it (I may be wrong, just what I felt). Would have been a half-hearted buy. Sheepishly crossed it.<\/p>\n If I were to go with my heart only, I would have got it just that day! Even with Hness holding back of mind, this checked almost all. But, then the brain woke up. Budget, buddy! That held me back. Just as everyone says, even I agree, it is overpriced for what it is! And support at BigWing only. I had a deal for second-hand 500X at 5.2L (negotiable), but being to Ladakh 3 times & a side collision history – no!<\/p>\n A Japanese marvel again! School time friend managed it for a spin & what a beauty! Oh, it set my heart on fire! Comfort, power, safety – I was hypnotised by V650 that day. But, V650 does not have the nature to take it off the road (not comparing it to an offroad bike). Highways it will rule, can do a light trail only maybe. My requirement was also some off-the-road rough areas. Visit to the dealership, inputs from the owner & some riders, the regular normal maintenance will lighten my wallet. For that pleasure, one has to pay.<\/p>\n Honestly, it was never on my mind or my list. Over a few drinks with my boss discussing bikes, cars, LOTR & photography (good to have a cool boss), he suggested I give 390 Adv a try. Never had an encounter with KTM owners \/ riders, so it was an unexplored territory for me.<\/p>\n Started my homework. Finding owners for reviews, reading through reviews here & videos, showroom visits etc. First visit to the KTM showroom was at KTM Gurgaon Opp sec 14, MG Road sometime in June end. Sat down with Mr Ravi to discuss my requirements, bikes I have explored, & issues I am worried & particular about, costing, service etc- all the page-long questions I had. He heard me patiently & called for a test ride bike. His only line was, take a test ride & then we may discuss more after. I had only gone to check it out, understand the network, and the nature of the dealership, visit to its service station later & just observe, but got a test ride too. No showroom had given me this much time, heard & understood me & given a test ride on the first visit (not even RE).<\/p>\n With BH registration, that initial full payment was saved. I could get my insurance as I want & was not forced by the showroom. Saved a bit there. Was coming to 3.9L. That fit close to the budget. Reliability- Yes! Will hold me for days of riding without any major issues or breakdowns. Heard & read a lot about good servicing experience! Affordable to maintain & widely available accessories (though I believe keep it OEM) This all was heartening. Comfort- Firm seats, will check more on that over some time. Safety- Got all the technology that one gets in >10L bikes. And it helps, someday it will save a life once, that’s all that’s needed, once & it has paid its due (as I learnt later).<\/p>\n The first top up after 200 kms (100 with pillion & 100 alone. Highway-city 50-50) Got a FE of 30 kmpl with RPM upto 5500 & 85 kmph.<\/p>\n Next filling was after another 200 kms (100 pillion & 100 alone. Highway 70-city 30) Got FE of 34.9 kmph with RPM upto 5500 & 80-100 kmph! Sounds so good.<\/p>\n The FE shown on TFT is kind of accurate to what I calculated post refuelling!<\/p>\n TFT-30.3 \/ Actual-30.51<\/p>\n TFT-34.9 \/ Actual-34.28 (mostly highway ride)<\/p>\n Went for a photoshoot to Leopards Trail. Last I went was 1.5yr back. Unfortunately not the nature trail anymore but a party spot. Pillion & I went there after a long ride at 7AM. At 40 kmph while a small car & an SUV behind us blasting party music. So loud that we could not hear each other talking forget hearing any vehicle around the turn ahead. Coming to a turn 50 meters ahead, young kids with 4 on one motorcycle & group of 3 such bikes came out of turn fast (must be at 60-70kmph) & they lost control with one bike coming head-on while the other at the center of the lane. Left side had a downfall ditch so no option to go off the road there while other bikes were on the right, so had no way to go but stop.<\/p>\n Had to apply all brakes fully & the bike STOPPED immediately in a couple of metres! Never did it skid or balanced off to one side, or lock (though we were only at 40 kmph). A chill through our spines as they grazed past us & SUV getting a cracked windshield due to a bottle that the kids threw at it. This Sunday realised how life-saving the braking & technology is on this bike.<\/p>\n Attaching some photos from that first ride (could not do much with that experience & unhealthy crowd at the location)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.<\/p>\nLoyal Wingman<\/h2>\n
New Bike Hunting<\/h2>\n
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Classic 350<\/h2>\n
Himalayan<\/h2>\n
Honda Hness CB350\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Interceptor<\/h2>\n
Yezdi Adventure<\/h2>\n
Honda CB500X<\/h2>\n
Versys 650<\/h2>\n
KTM<\/h2>\n
KTM 390 Adventure First Experience<\/h2>\n
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Buying Experience<\/h2>\n
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Riding Experience till 500 km<\/h2>\n
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FE so far<\/h2>\n
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Life-Saving Braking on First Ride – Experience<\/h2>\n
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Road Ahead<\/h2>\n
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