Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

One question:

The horn is very weak. Absolutely useless in stock. What is KTM/Bajaj's warranty policy regarding changing electrical items like horns and headlights? Is your warranty void?

BTW nice review MG. A lot of info there.

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Thank you for the review. Now I can happily stick with my 200 Duke and wait for triumph triples.

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Yup.
Btw, what's happening with Duc Monsters in India? 795 in red is just beyond sexy...

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

They look good indeed. I especially like the exhaust design. AFAIK they are officially available in Ducati India showrooms. But I would stay away from Ducati given their "Legendary" customer service in India (post-sales AND pre-sales).

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

That was the case in the pre-Audi era. After Audi's buyout, things have apparently changed for the better.

Now let's get back to the 390. Any info about the Powerparts?. If I'm buying it, I would look at getting the KTM or Givi windscreen asap.

Next would be a conventional exhaust

Oh and KTM Mumbai East has finally got a bike. Had called them on Tue and they said display bike arrived on Mon.

Asked about test ride and the confused guy over fone said "come tomorrow, today it's raining heavily" after pondering for few mins on whether theyre offering rides or not!


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Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Finally, took a ultra short test ride at KTM BTM. My impressions:-

• Bike is light and easy to push around if you have to move it down from an elevated place like footpath.
• Starts in one attempt. Starter button needs to be held down for extra couple of secs.
• Massive pick-up in the 1st gear. In 1st gear clutch feels like diesel Punto's clutch. Its just rearing to escape from rider's left hand.
• Second gear onwards it mellows down and the power is manageable.
• It responds adequately to minimal throttle inputs. For city speeds you CAN be lazy with your right wrist and still get the bike do perform satisfactorily.
• Old farts like me will need some time getting used to the foot peg position.
• Handle bar is comfortably placed and one doesn't have to reach for it.
• Those handguards are Y.U.C.K
• Me not like digital display. Pointless.

My verdict-Booked one Joined the queue at BTM KTM. Token number 59-Present Sir

BTM KTM is offering test rides to people who have not booked too. Their test ride bike is leaking oil and they told me it is going to take them 3-4 days to provide full fledged test ride. Frankly and keeping ego aside, for people like me who have not ridden a powerful bike before, it is going to be overwhelming especially in the 1st gear. I really don't think showroom test rides will allow people like me to form an opnion about the bike. Just need to spend time with it.

At this price, it makes great sense to buy. I've always admired Bajaj as a company (there isn't one -ve post I've made about them) but not so much their products. But I am happy, through KTM, they provided me an opportunity to put my money where my admiration is:-)

I've read good things about Auto Service & Mr. Venkat and I am hoping for a good service experience because of him.

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

"Same day I had the company of Ninja 300 and we had a longish ride of 300kms during the second half of the day. That ride made me realize how quick the Duke is in comparison to the Ninja 300. Maybe I was expecting a bit too much from a 390cc motor, more so since I had ridden a 690 Duke in the past and know how mad that bike is. "

Can you please elaborate/clarify this. Its not too clear how D390 compares to the N300.

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

i m seriously sick of this waiting period everyday day i check on this forum and i see someone writing about their test ride experience and worried about about showrooms not giving test rides (no offense), still no official update on the delivery.
MY QUESTION IS WHY DOES BAJAJ GIVING TEST RIDE WHEN THEY CANNOT DELIVER THE BIKE? IS IT JUST TO FRUSTRATE THE PEOPLE?

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Great review and mind blowing pics of the duke 390 @mg.
i have never ridden a duke till now but got a clear picture of both 200 and 390 after reading your review and also understood that both the bikes serves the purpose well in its own way.
the only 2 drawbacks of the 390 are the tank range and riding in 1st gear in traffic which is a pain is what i feel after reading your review
cant really comment about the riding posture and wind blast which are important aspects of touring.

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

I'm in the same boat brother. The dealers are tight lipped and it's pissing me off by the day. ..

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Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Had a talk with the dealer today. He still has no confirmed delivery dates, not even confirmed info on his first lot dispatch. He says the same 2nd week of August (before he was telling me 1st week of August). If he gets the first lot dispatched by second week of August, it will take a week for him to get it in the showroom, and then registration this and that and I guess I am going to get it not before September. This is all despite me booking the bike before launch with half the price as booking amount. I was in such a hurry and excitement that I signed the booking agreement without even reading it and now when I inquired it is quoted 8k deduction for a cancellation, such a crap and I really did not expect this; however, I have no plans on any cancellation currently. The 90 days waiting period is already in the agreement and we cannot deny it and we may even get the bike at the 89th day and got to accept it, but my concern is that even the dealer does not know when he will get the his lot. This is the only issue that is disturbing me. I have waited for 7 months without a bike, paid half the price, bought all riding gears (that too all in orange) and still do not have a clue on when I will get my beloved ride. Starting to get frustrated. Even mailed KTM customer care on this, lets wait with no other option.

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Just to keep the discussion going, MRA Winshields have custom windshields for Duke 200 and 390 as well.. I am sure it will serve the purpose of protecting the rider from high speed wind blast.:



Pic: MRA RNB Touring Windshield for Modern Naked bikes.

MRA Windhields http://www.mra.de/unternehmen/ueber-uns manufactures one shown as above and the official importers in india are

JV Pro Moto:
Address:
Goregaon - West, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India 400062
Phone: +91 - 9619866133
+91 - 9619866144
+91 - 9619703590
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.jvpromoto.com

Some other typings of windscreens for other bikes: http://www.bikehps.com/mra/racingscreen_naked.html

Price: Rs. 8,000/- (Info Courtesy rider @Splus. Includes shipping, mounting kit). Fully adjustable. Should be better than the power parts Windshield from KTM.

Hope this adds something here for potential 390 buyers

Cheers,

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

I just got a call from KTM, they asked me about my personal details and loan related stuff. I asked them about the delivery, the guy told me probably 2nd week of August if not then I will definitely get on the last week.
How unprofessional they can be, if they dont know about the delivery then who knows?

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

I think they've been taking lessons from Royal Enfield. Bulleteers will understand )

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Dealership playing safe now stating the production itself will start only by August 15th and I would get mine delivered by September last, that is by the 90th days. Dont know what to say. Blames strike as the reason. How will a company start mass bookings without even 500 bikes produced and ready to deliver? I read somewhere that Kawasaki ninja 300 was ready to dispatch 500 bikes across dealers in India after launch, not sure though. Getting so worried. Dont know who to ask or what to do. Just have to simply shut and wait, which is really very hard.