For shorter riders, is the KTM 390 Adventure’s seat height off-putting?
Seat height is one of the points in the review where the KTM 390 Adventure is not as approachable a machine as you’d think for a small displacement motorcycle, and it sits at around the 855mm mark, which is quite tall, at least by my measure of what a small bike is. Shorter riders have raised concerns about whether or not they would be able to not just gain comfort but also safety on the bike—we're talking about off-road riding conditions where you need to be able to put your foot down in case something happens fast. There is an argument to be made that the bike’s narrow waist helps alleviate the tall seat height and that it’s still too tall for many riders. It's an issue of seat height, especially in India, which has a significantly lower average height than some of the Western countries. The issue of this topic often brings the trade-off between ground clearance, suspension travel, and accessibility for riders of different heights in an adventure bike design.
It is definitely tall, though the narrow seat helps. I'm 5'7", and you can get used to it with practice. It's all about technique.
An absolute deal-breaker for me. I was 5'5" and couldn't flat-foot it… and it made me feel unsafe, especially loaded with gear.
They need the height in order to get proper ground clearance and suspension travel. Lowering it would deem its off-road capability useless.
A professional lowered mine, and it's perfect now. It costs extra, but is confidence worth the cost?
It’s not just about flat-footing. The tall seat makes it clumsy paddling in tight spots or on uneven terrain. That's critical for adventure riding.
Locktite's seat height is perfect for road use, but off-road it could be a real issue. There have been sketchy moments on trails.
From the factory, KTM should offer a low seat. This would allow the bike to be usable by a whole lot more people.
I’m short, although that hasn’t stopped me from learning to adapt. Stoppages were taken one foot at a time, with slight sliding off the seat as required. In fact, it has actually improved my all-round riding skills.
The 2025 model, upcoming, looks taller than ever. Interestingly, with each iteration, KTM seems to be making the bikes more suitable for the taller rider.
It's a non-issue for me. The bike's light weight makes up for the height. The taller, heavier ADV bikes are a lot easier to manage than that.
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Discussions and Questions For Shorter Riders Is The Ktm 390 Adventures Seat Height Off Putting
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