TUNED KTM 390 ADV BUILD
K TM 390 ADVENTURE PROJECT BIKE STAGE 1 BY: JIMMY LEWIS | PHOTOS BY: JIMMY LEWIS & JORGE JESTES The 390 Adventure is KTM’s expansion to ease entry-level riders onto the brand with a platform that is capable yet not intimidating. As with any entry-level focused bike, there becomes a few challenges as well. As riders improve in skill level, they may want a bike that they can work into rather than outgrow too quickly. Even experienced and seasoned riders who just plain fit on this size of motorcycle may be looking for some more capability out of the 390. Dirt Bike Test set out to address some of these concerns in a step-by-step process different from most “throw the catalog at it” builds. Our targets were the things we complained about in our initial test of the machine (FULL TEST HERE) and some other things we have experienced with more and more miles on the bike. With these mods, we are making the 390 more of what it could be without trying to make it something that it isn’t. Our biggest complaint has still been the toughest to fix, aside from getting some help out of KTM’s race shop. Getting the footpegs leveled out. The aftermarket has not caught on to this and despite reaching out to a few companies, it took cutting down two sets of footpegs and welding them back so they do not have that forward slant, which makes riding in the standing position awkward for most anyone familiar with how a dirt bike feels. We’d like a slightly larger peg, maybe 30mm outbound for better leverage but we’ll take these and keep our eye out for an aftermarket solution soon. Second on our list was adding luggage. There are lots of options but we really wanted
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