The gear shifts are not smooth. Even more so now after that tiring run to Jogeshwari and back(to get my new helmet) which took almost 4.5 hours and had the fan turning on countless times.
Usually it's difficult to shift from 1st to 2nd. But in heavy traffic I have had many false neutrals from 1st to 2nd. Some times the gear feels like dangling beetween 2nd and 1st and the console gear display shows 'nothing'. The shifts are not too smooth either over all the gears.
Things have worsened after first service it seems probably becuase I am ripping it a lot and taking it everyday to office.
THe svc people do not do any lubing or adjustment on the gears during first service right? Or do they?

Besides, there is this strange exhaust sound which comes when I shift down from 3rd to 2nd(or 4th to 3rd) as if the bike misses one beat or like the exhaust 'coughs' once(and only once). This normally happens when I shift down when the revs are still high and. Has anyone else noticed? Is it a good sign? Shall I be alarmed?

The chain noice is still there and has become louder probably because it needs to be greased. Saturday morning definitely getting my rear wheel alignment checked and rectified.

Gear shifts should be normal since it's new bike. The coughing sound is nothing alarming. I guess it just requires tuning. Get it to the SVC & plug it into the cpu. Take care of your chain & the sprockets will last really long. Duke parts are not going to be cheap.

Sorry if you guys find this off-topic. Myself and my friend went for a short ride last week and we shot some videos. Thought I'll share it here with you all.

thanks man...but i am yet to decide on which size to use...i m thinking of increasing the speed in each gear by 5kms..that is currently duke does 55km/hr@4000rpm in 6th gear..so m looking for 60km/hr at the same engine speed.I think it will not decrease the acceleration that much.
Guys..please throw some light on this one..cheers..

The gear shifts have been discussed a number of times. Please check post no:2452 I am posting it again for your ref"Well with respect to gear shifts I can give you a solution!
Please note more carefully you will only either have a hard upshift or a hard downshift you cannot experience both! I may not be an expert but from what I have noticed on my bike and a little bit of DIY I sorted the hard shifts and clanks while shifting.!
One more Point please pep the throttle while downshifting will definitely sort your hard downshifts! Wrt to upshifts let me put it this way the gear lever is connected to the spindle through a connecting rod. Now if the distance of travel is longer you will find the gear shift to be harder! So what you will ve to do is adjust the nuts on the connecting rod to reduce the distance or free play first do it visibly and then take it for a small ride its more of a trial and error method! I am sure you will have a difference but downshifting always make it a point to rev the engine a bit and then drop the gear! Hope it helps! "


The Duke's transmission is something you should get used to its not like the pulsar's where u can expect butter smooth shifts, yes smooth shifts are possible on the duke but with a little bit of practice..

Finally got the duke to Jammu via parcel service in a train. Do we get a manual or something with the bike. I somehow cannot screw the mirrors back, any tips.

I got the manual after insurance papers had arrived

Manual is usually provided with insurance papers within 2-4 days atleast in my case it was like that. In Delhi i got my RC on 20th day.

Oil Leak prob - Only SVC can help in this regard.
Noise on bumpy roads - Noise is something that comes as a Bundled offer for Duke. The SVC is not yet able to solve the solid "Thud or Khat" Noise problem on my Duke. It comes when ridden over potholes and I think comes from rear.

Pics and installation details please ..

I aint no tech guy, but your theory seems correct. I'll surely try this on my bike. Though the hard gear shift is now almost gone(when not compared to a Honda Unicorn ).

Search this forum, you'll find a softcopy of the manual posted few pages back.

SVC sprayed Lube on both discs or maybe Tefflon coated that part also !!!

Can somebody Help me with a Disc cleaner? SVC is doing more bad than good. On first service they managed to stop the radiator fan from working(Eve when I took the Bike to the SVC it was working and after servicing I observed it stopped). Today they have replaced the Fan but now they have sprayed the Lube or Tefflon material during chain lube/tefflon coating on both discs . Till then, I tried to rub the discs number of times with dry or wet cloth. Things improved a bit, but still I am missing the bite from front as well as rear. Seems that the disc is almost free from the lube/tefflon materials but the discpad may still have some residue.

Anybody with a solution?

Ignore if already shred here.
Noting great of an review, but shows few off-road capabilities of the Duke.

Front fork exposed issue

guys, the front fork is exposed, i mean the mudguard is open by the sides of the fork, can this exposure be harmful to forks. Not seen in any bike with USD forks.

Thanks for this.. Will definitely try and get this.. BTW is XX6 available in India.


Actly i just went out to have a look at my bike and saw a lady frm the office sitting on the back seat.. I don't know how often this happens. The security walas are big time CHU's. So i don't want to rely on them.

I sometimes feel hard shifts, more often in morning times.

1 thing I would advice you is that never downshift the revs are high.

You get the User Manual, Insurance Papers and couple of other tax payment receipts at the time of delivery of the bike.


About the oil leak in my bike

It was not a leak. Apparently, the oil level was more than required. So it was actually an oil overflow and not a leak (I'll have a check on that and will keep posting updates about the same).

I think i have located the source and cause.
The Khat sound comes from the underside of the swingarm when the chain hits it. Even after tightening the chain, there is very less clearance between the chain and underside of swing arm, so it will hit it when we go over potholes. Also there is a plastic / rubber-plastic type protector mounted there, which has a gap between it and the swing arm, i.e. it is not mounted on the swing arm. So when the chain hits the arm, it takes the plastic bushing along with it which actually produces the KHAT sound.

Took a drop today.. couple in a scooty cut across the road in the middle.. couldnt do anything in that instant.just rammed into them..as there was no room to move..
thank god..no major injuries... but my duke got hit pretty bad .coolant leakage..crashguard bent..handlebar bent..rear view mirror smashed..scratches and scrapes,,. i have given the bike to the SVC..

no matter whether its my mistake or the scooty's.. result is me geting my wallet emptied..

drive carefully guys..especially on local roads where anyone could cut across anytime..