While most people out here are going to give you a few words of sympathy, I am not going to do so. I am going to tell you a few facts, which you may not like but still remain FACTS!!! You, my friend are a moron and extremely lucky to walk away from this incident. When you mention that you were in the wrong lane, what you mean is you were on the other side of the road (right side) going into the face of on coming traffic. Have you lost your mind? What gave you the idea that such a thing is even remotely acceptable any where in the world let alone in our country? Traffic rules are made for your safety and the safety of your fellow road users.

You could have been grievously hurt or even killed in this incident and/ or hurt or killed someone else. And all of this for what purpose? Just to save 5 to 10 minutes!!! So that means the price of your life is worth a few minutes saved to reach home. To do what? Watch TV? Hang around with friends? Was some ship sinking? What was so important that it could not wait for another 5 - 10 minutes?

Do you need to learning riding all over again? YES!!!
Do you need to be careful? HELL YES!!!

I will add one more question to the above: did you learn something from the whole episode? Ultimately, you need to answer that one for yourself. No one can answer that one for you.

I'm thinking about getting the D390 soon and since it will share most if not all of the components of the D200, could you guys tell me about the ride comfort of the Duke in bad/potholed roads, the windblast and stability at speeds of 110+?

Dude, sorry to hear this.
Yeah, it was a really bad call to enter that lane the wrong way, but we all make mistakes.
You should be happy things didn't end up much worse because they could have. If you were riding any of those bikes that you saw along the way you could have ended up in hospital, and worse, you could have harmed someone else as well.
The most important thing now is for you to stop, have a deep breath, think about it all, and learn what you need to learn from this.

Having a better and stronger bike can mean only one thing - you HAVE TO be more careful and more responsible. No way around it. Sit with yourself and accept that fact, learn the lesson, and then fix your bike and enjoy it in a more responsible way.
And don't be hard on yourself... But don't waste this experience without realizing something either...


Ride comfort in bad roads is not pleasant at all. Front suspensions are harder than most bikes owning to its fat forks. Rear suspension is very good, but the seat is hard.
So, despite the slight Enduro looks Duke totally belongs to the street.
However, that being said - after some time you get used to it, and then it's not that bad even in bad roads. The great feeling you have riding the bike and its handling far far outweigh some more difficult aspects of it.

Windblast is OK at 110 kmh, but at 120+ kmh is not pleasant any more, it becomes too much because you sit straight. It's OK for 10 min, but more than that becomes tiring. However if you lean forward even just slightly it gets MUCH better. I had no problem cruising at 130+ kmh for longer time when I leaned forward just a little.
I suppose on Duke 390 you'll have to lean forward quite a bit to ride at 150+ kmh. But to lean forward fully isn't very comfortable on Duke as it is on R15 or CBR 250 because the seat is quite close to the handles, the bike just isn't designed to sit leaned fully forward.
Still, I don't think the 150-160 kmh speeds will be used for anything but for short bursts, so no worries.
If you lean forward a bit you're OK even at 130 kmh speeds. 110 kmh is OK even for normal upright seating, but it's bordering the comfort zone.

Stability is OK at 120 kmh, and Duke 390 will be even more stable due to its increased weight over Duke 200. It's not as stable as much heavier CBR 250 at 130 kmh (which is basically MADE for high speed touring), but you don't feel unstable at any speed.
I don't know how stable Duke 390 will be at 150-160 kmh though, such speeds might push it to the edge of stability, even with its increased weight... But we'll know for sure only when it comes out.

I've not gonna "preach" anything other than what's detailedly explained above by folks. Fact of the matter is, trust me, you were so euphoric about seeing so many bikes, and though you had a temporary state of euphoria, trust me, you had this deep feeling why didn't I own that one. And it's this constant thought of yours both ecstatic and anxiety that made your concentration to divert that you just didn't take the care to ride your bike.

It happens to everyone. For everyone, the other side is always green. Take care! Ride safe! Love your bike! It's as close to something so emotional words can't explain.

Take care! Ride safe!

Ride comfort is not so good, personally but good for easy triple digits without sweat. Though vibrations kick in, at 8k easily, but other than that, it's a blast to drive at city traffic and cornering.

Cheers!
VJ

Originally posted by Doga View Post

For some reason I did something I never do!!! I eneterd the wrong lane to save some time. Baaammmm!!! had a collision with a CBZ extreme guy. Chassis bent again, the T gone. fork misaligned!! So looking at another chassis change, though the mech says the dent is minor and I don't need too. I feel like the most unfortunate guy on this panet man. Do I need to earn riding a over again? Do I need to be more careful. I am filled with so many doubts.

I am extremely sorry to say this but it needs to be said . You,sir, are a nincompoop,
put it another way - a moron.

Count your blessings now 'cos next time you may not be around to count anything let alone blessings.

Guys,finaly i hit the rev limiter in top gear yesterday. It kicked in ar 137kmph and it rook me back to 132kmph a bit voilently. Is that how it normally works?

The cut off in 6th gear in the original first ECU map was at 137-138 kmh and it was quite strong and sudden.
The cut off in new (5 months old) ECU map is at 133-134 kmh and is soft and gentle.
At least in my bike...

You might want to check with KTM which ECU map you have (sounds like the old one) and decide if you want to ask them to flash the new one or not.
The new map locks the revs in 5th and 6th gears at 10,000 rpm (leaves it at 10,500 rpm in other gears), so it reduces the top speed but not by much, and smoothens the power delivery at low revs, it's less jerky.

Or you could go with Kiirus or Race Dynamics' modified ECU and increase the rev limiter to 11,700 rpm and top speed at 149 kmh, with boosted power esp in mid range...

Is it so ? I guess normal petrol in India has RON of 89 and speed has variants of 91,93 and 97 RON.

As per this link for BS III & BS IV norm fuel must be 91 RON, so the normal petrol is 91 RON.

Normal Petrol have RON 91 in India except for a brand whose name I cannot remember (it has RON 89). Bharat Petroleum's Speed is also RON 91 but with additives that help in keeping the "system clean". Now, it is of no use to have Petrol with octane higher than 91 in Duke 200 as its compression ratio is around 11.3:1. Basically, Speed 93 and Speed 97 are useless for Duke 200. (Speed 93 will be good for Duke 390 tho as its compression ratio is above 12:1)

Also, it is of "absolutely" no use to fill your tanks with Speed (just a waste of money). It would be sufficient to use normal RON 91 petrol. However, you may get it filled with Speed once in a month or two just to "clean the system".

Rest all features (like Smoother engine, better pickup etc.) of Speed (BP), Extra Premium(IOC) and Power(HP) are all marketing gimmicks.

P.S.: These are my views based on my findings and discussions with "experts". Still you can curse me if you want to. :P

Update:
Bikes that are in Run in period (New bikes) are recommended to use Premium petrol like Speed. After run in period you may change to normal fuel. (But RON 91, and not 89)

I was honest in admitting the truth and frankly I all I could expect was brickbats here . I agree. There is no running away from the fact that I did a stupid thing and in hindsight that stupid thing could very well have turned into a fatal thing for me or for someone else. Though I was hardly doing 20 and did not hit an oncoming vehicle(I actually hit a person just trying to ride his bike out of parking from blind spot because my line of sight was blocked by a huge SUV), it could have been a lot worse. Fact is I in general abide by the traffic rules and this was a very rare occurrence when I did it. I should learn my lesson and not repeat it.
But one thing I'd like to add. Sometimes people,although totally right in voicing their outrage, become a bit too preachy and in not a very friendly way. Ok sir I am nincompoop/moron/'jeopardizer' and what not but tell me one thing here guys: Which is the race track people go to for testing the limits of their machines and report routinely here on this forum about the rev limiter of the duke cutting in sharply at 137/138 , about the Ninja's prowess at high rpms or about the CBRs long legged manners on the streets/highways? I'd like to go to that track too to crash my bike and hit some innocent bystanders or some other rider.
Even if the argument is that the stretch which was used to test it is a desolate road with sparse traffic, there is always a chance that some slum dweller just decides to jump on the road after having relieved himself in the bushes. Who would be the moron then? The rider? The jaywalker? or Both?
Truth is almost all of us act stupid and break some kind of traffic rule once in a while. Speed limits are the most common ones. Entering a wrong lane was recipe for disaster and the guy who paid for his stupidity was me that day and I would try my best to abide by the rules from now on. But I just hoped people would be a bit milder here.(though some guys did show their soft spots I'd agree )

Got it .. Thanks for the info. As you state it would be better to fill it up once in 1/2 months.

Thanks for the link. Could find it here too - Octane rating - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What i was thinking is, being a naked bike with less weight, is it acceptable for Duke to ride at 149kmph ??
Isn't this will make Duke more vulnerable to opposite winds and dis-balance the bike ?? Because Duke don't have fairing dynamics to cut the winds!

I think duek being on Indian roads and still illiterate riders and drivers 130+kmph is much better!

Still it's an individual opinion though!

Got mine serviced yesterday. And the chainset was replaced. Total bill was around 5025rs.Its quite fascinating about the chain going off around some odd 11000kms. My friend had his bike's changed at around 11-12k kms.