KHS Flite 390 Flat Bar vs an Older Drop-Bar Road Bike
A KHS Flite 390 flat bar comparison should identify the exact variant: this guide uses the Flite 390D documented by KHS Taiwan. It has a flat handlebar, hydraulic disc brakes and 700 × 35C tyres. The older KHS bicycle in the photograph provides a visibly different drop-bar, rim-caliper comparison, without being identified as a 390D.
Read the KHS Flite 390 flat bar cockpit as a complete arrangement
The manufacturer’s original-language title explicitly describes a flat-bar road bicycle. Its table lists Shimano ALTUS shifting equipment and hydraulic disc brakes. These are useful starting points for comparing where the controls sit and how the complete bicycle is equipped, rather than assuming every KHS road model has the same cockpit.
The historical photograph shows another handlebar shape, but no verified model-specific reach or fitting measurement. You cannot calculate a posture difference from that image. Compare the actual hand positions and available frame information on the bicycles under consideration, rather than promising that either bar format will suit every rider.
Keep tyre and construction facts specific
The 390D page lists an aluminum frame, carbon fork and 700 × 35C tyres. Those describe its published build. The tyre entry does not declare a maximum replacement width, and the photograph does not reveal a confirmed tyre specification for the older bicycle.
The reference weight is 12.2 kg including pedals, with the manufacturer noting variation by size and accessories. That inclusion matters if another bicycle’s quoted mass excludes pedals or other fitted items. It does not establish the old bike’s weight or a measured carrying advantage between the two complete machines.
Preserve the printed gearing rather than filling a familiar value
Both the English and Chinese Taiwan pages print a 48/36/26T crankset and a 14–34T nine-speed rear range, alongside the twenty-seven-speed description. The unusual rear specification should remain attributed to those pages. Substituting a more familiar eleven-tooth starting sprocket would introduce information they do not give.
For component ordering, obtain the identifying code and actual arrangement from the bicycle rather than using a catalog transcription as compatibility approval. The KHS equipment topic supports further named-model comparisons, while the range background explains the broader distinction between road, urban and other offerings.
FAQ
Does this comparison cover every Flite 390 generation?
No. It uses the specific Taiwan Flite 390D pages identified in the references.
Is 700 × 35C a guaranteed maximum tyre size?
No. It is the listed fitted tyre specification, not a clearance approval.
Was the printed 14–34T range corrected to 11–34T?
No. Both sources print fourteen, so the article preserves that value and its source scope.
Official reference 1 (https://en.khsbicycles.com.tw/products/flite-390d/).
Official reference 2 (https://www.khsbicycles.com.tw/products/road-bike/2023-flite-390d-%e7%a2%9f%e7%85%9e%e5%b9%b3%e6%8a%8a%e5%85%ac%e8%b7%af%e8%bb%8a/).
Photograph credits and permissions
Photograph 1
Original title: BICICLETA KHS EM ITAJAI - SC.jpg
Creator: Projeto Transite; source-provided creator URI: https://www.flickr.com/people/96759246@N04/
Original source URI: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BICICLETA_KHS_EM_ITAJAI_-_SC.jpg
License / permission: CC BY 4.0
License / permission URI: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Modification notice: Original Commons JPEG retained unchanged by this publisher; no new crop, resize, conversion, retouching, re-encoding or metadata removal. Source metadata records earlier Lightroom editing, cropping and rotation; those source edits remain intact. Photograph remains under CC BY 4.0.
Source disclaimer: No endorsement by the photographer is implied. Historical KHS road bicycle photographed on 14 August 2013; exact model and material unverified. Original publication URI: https://www.flickr.com/photos/96759246@N04/13678344353/