[masterChief007]

A Long wait to this day - pre-history and history

It was a bad time personally, when I got a good idea of restoring my RE Bullet 350 CI which started off my Phase 2 of motorcycling journey. You can read that story and some trips I did with that here: Restoring My Bullet 350 CI (Resurrecting a Bullet Std 350 CI - Suggestions on the important work)

I had many fond memories with that old throbbing machine, you name the issue that is posted as negative for youtube reviews nowadays, it had it: conked up electricals, siezed engine, finicky shifting, gaskit leaks both clutch cover and engine, clanging tappets, and of course vibrations and what not. But I was in a phase of life when it was difficult just sitting home. So got the idea of getting the bike restored. Did a few trips here and there and from that day of getting it restored to this day, it has given me a pleasurable 12,000 kms of comparatively good times. Did goa, chickmangaluru, Kolli hills and numerous other small trips whenever the mind will try to take me into paths which I didn't want to take, so would kickstart the Bullet and forget all thoughts with that sweet thump.



But that machine had it's limits and reliability issues, so started my search for another more contemporary motorcycle. Even celebrated the Bullet's highway retirement by a visit to Goa RE Garage Cafe. Then started the search: visited a few showrooms and did test rides for Xpulse 200 4V, Honda highness (to practice left side shift levers before testing the old KTM 390 Adv), Interceptor 650, RE Himalayan 450. Past 2 years of my test-riding career (yes it's almost a career as I have been trying to figure out the right one for me). Meanwhile did Spiti in 2023 with a KTM 390 Adv, and Himalayan 411 was my steed in Ladakh 2024. The KTM was a hit with the Spiti trip and thought this is it and almost planned for the old Adventure X. But every time I will fixate on a bike there will be news of an upcoming machine - First came the H450 and I started my wait for that, and as usual it got released with all those typical RE niggling issues so kept waiting for the issues to come down, once I rented the bike for 250 KM trip and was impressed by the bike and had almost got it when the news of new 399 Adv dropped in.

Booking Experience

The second round of wait made me restless, kept waiting for the new release and kept bothering my KTM showroom with random visits, they were always accommodating with test ride vehicles and finally did test the 2025 390 Adv X, it was impressive compared to the previous gen and a real value for money. Now the next dilemma started of getting the S or the X, which kept me restless, as I was not able to test ride the S even after visiting 2 showrooms, I thought let's stretch the budget a bit and splurge for this time, after all have been waiting for 2 years so some luxury I should not be ashamed of.

People having financial strains I will suggest got for the X as you won't be losing out much in terms of experience and feel. I decided to go for the S due to safety features and that I will go for 2-3 major solo trips this year. Again visited the showroom and they informed they have got 2-3 new bikes in their lot for the orange color (I had pre-booked the white but then decided to go for the orange as the coloring seemed more balanced). Told them to keep 2-3 bikes ready for pre-registration inspection where I will select one and make the payment for sale the next day.

The team obliged and I did a detailed inspection of the vehicle, checked the engine noise/vibration and selected one which I felt was a bit smoother. Made my payments and next day was scheduled for delivery. Took some pics of the chassis number, VIN and engine number and left home excited like a boy getting his first expensive toy. This was the selected rocket:



Delivery Day

Since it was just the very next day I planned to do a very short and crisp PDI. Got my mother ready for the big day for the showroom visit, not being of great health I decided to just get her involved in the delivery process and drop her back home and get the bike after this and not make her pillion in that already narrow seat !! Took my car and got the showroom staff some sweets, there was no fanfare like the way RE people make you feel so great on getting a new bike (from videos at least). It was a very mellow delivery experience, but I am a man with less needs and tantrums so got that activity over with and dropped my mother back home.



After delivery took and auto and got the remaining paperwork collected, got the keys and removed all wrappings, I am the guy who removes all wrapping at the first instance unlike people who prefer to retain the seat cover etc !! Checked the tool kit, medical kit, spare kits and hit the road. Got it refuelled and observed high coolant temp warning - which went out automatically. This has prompted me to keep the engine on for sometime after stopping and after killing the engine keep the ignition on so that the radiator circuit is able to finish it's job.

New member with the older gen:


The first ride

It is a stark different machine than the bullet, where even if you wring the throttle to max I would hear protests and the speed will crawl to 80 kmph and the the juices will start running dry. Here I had to actively be careful due to the running in restrictions to avoid getting the speed high. Ride was extremely comfortable and I didn't have to saddle at every speed breaker which I have a habit of doing in the bullet. It was like riding on a sofa. Next day I took it to my daily commute to office at the crack of dawn 5.40 am as I was too hyped up and awake throughout the night to ride it. Was awake since 2.30 am due to this



Today morning did a 110 km quick ride before punching in for the office. The usual STRR ride is my staple for such times. A few pics on the great ride experience. My takes on the first ride experience:
- Vibrations: Doesn't bother as it is located around 3.5k and 5.2k RPMs in certain narrow bands, since I am in run-in period my speeds were around 70-80 kph at peak and mostly 60-70 KPH.
- Comfort: Ride comfort is super, rumble strips/potholes loose their bite to make you uncomfortable so fatigue will be very less on longer trips
- Narrow Seats: This might be a problem, though in this short 110 kms I couldn't feel it, but felt some hard points developing at the end. Will do a 250 km trip in the upcoming weekend to figure this out.
- Windshield: Boon in the highway, bane in the city. Was sweating more than in my bullet in the city but highway it is very good protecting from the worst of the wind buffeting. However it directly throws the wind stream just near the ear of helmet so had some amount of wind-noise. Have to fine tune and test with my other helmets
- Highway Stability: Extremely stable and nimble bike with sure footing. Decent amount of braking performance and confidence.

Now this is my first ride pics, posting here to keep it memorable for eternity:

[anilp]

How's the new one in terms of cornering feeling? Feels planted, or is the plush suspension affecting it? Also did you get to play around with the suspension settings?

[masterChief007]

Originally Posted by anilp

How's the new one in terms of cornering feeling?

Not yet pushed the bike so hard, max speed I am doing is 80 kph during running in. With that constraint I didn't have any problems with my kind of riding, a bit more spirited rider can comment on this, or once I start doing some hills I will have better inputs here. For now, it feels planted, with long radius turns on the expressway. Short quick turns is the place where these will come forth ... will update once I experience those conditions.

[Rman88]

Congrats on the purchase, brother ! Rather than going by the speed of 80 limits, ensure to not exceed 7500rpm until first service, which in itself is around 100 speeds. But treat him like a baby for the first 200kms and then slowly start pushing him in varying gears, infact keeping it in city conditions for the first 200kms helps. Once you have crossed 500kms, you can push him upto 6k-7k rpm regularly, for a good engine tune. Ride safe.

[masterChief007]

Thanks !! It is quite a luxurious experience to ride this motorcycle after my Bullet, feeling everything is so comfortable !!

Originally Posted by Rman88

ensure to not exceed 7500rpm until first service, which in itself is around 100 speeds.

Yes that's the aim, currently pegged at 150 Km on the odo. I don't want to push directly to 7.5K just now, first getting it accustomed to 5.5K rpm till 300 Km, then will do next 300 km to bed into 6K-7K and then 7.5K in the last phase.

Even after that I will gradually increase the operating RPM, doing around 50-50 riding city vs highway for now. I am trying to be extra cautious with my bike, if it takes time then let it, also getting used to opposite side gear shifters (bullet is right side shifter) is a new thing for me. Enjoying my time with this bike.

[justwheels]

Many congratulations on the new KTM Adv. As a fellow Adv owner, albeit the previous gen, I can relate to the exhilarating experience of owning this bike, especially when you transition from a Bullet. I was transitioning from a Thunderbird 350, so was smitten by the speedy character of the KTM.

Great to see you have been able to munch few early morning miles so early, always good to experience this machine on the highways, it has amazing composure on long runs. You will surely love the power on tap of this bike.

Wishing you many more miles on the Orange machine, keep sharing your travel stories.