Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread

The throaty growl, the little vibes that mind you are not uncomfortable but make you realise the presence of a monster of an engine, that brutal kick in the back and you hanging on to the bars while you accelerate the, wind blast, the sheer connection to the bike as if it has a personality of its own.
The ninja does everything good but in a very smooth linear fashion.
Now if we just want to debate over it this can be endless that is why I said the ninja does everything without any drama but the duke gives you that extra kick.
Character like the duke might not appeal
to all.

Like overdrives shumi wrote:

The telling difference is that, for example, the cbr250r feels like a calm, large machine which enhances your confidence in it. The 390 feels like a sharp, small machine with big scary power--and this is the critical bit--requires you to have the confidence to take it on. It is a big shift in perspective and this is the reason why some of you will appreciate the 390, be willing to borrow it off a friend now and then, but never consider buying one. This, is why we say 390 is brilliant, but not for everyone.

Sent from my GT-I9100

Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread

A little bit more patience my friend, would have saved you rs 2lacs, still giving you an equally good product if not more. Anyway, now that you have done it, congrats. Hope they don't make you impatient when it comes to ninja's delivery.

Sent from my GT-I9100

Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread

@THE46FAN: I will be a 390 fan for life then
@DukeDey: Thanks for replying on behalf of mohitahuja

I didn't mean to debate around it at all. Just wanted to know the man's opinion about it since this word "character" means different for different people As far as I am concerned, I would just say that any motorcycle that allows the rider to form and enhance his personality around the machine, has a character. The motorcycle and the rider becomes an extension of each other

Peace "V"

Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread

Hehe, Just couldn't help myself and answered that. Apologies..

And well said bro. "The motorcycle and the rider becomes an extension of each other"

Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread

i test rode it 9 10 times. It was border line as my heart always was on ninja. VFM preposition kept me sticking to duke 390 but it finally gave out. I like the sound of ninja more and find it better. My personal choice.

Sent from my Lenovo P770 using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread

I agree to everything above,

However:

Life is short... I don't doing mundane things like going to work everyday, doing the same things, wearing the same deodorant as it's effective...

But u do end up doing them and tons more for a zillion reasons(mostly justified).

But:

You need an escape like weekend rides, eating out in restaurants, blah blah....

A Japanese bike is like a deodorant. Effective, reliable, useful, cheaper than a perfume.....

But European bikes are at times unreliable(erstwhile Ducati bikes), beautiful like a fantastic perfume bottle, and grow on you like a perfume mixes with your sweat and pheromones...

Like all perfumes, some feel better on some people, some don't and some don't even make the cut... Similarly European bikes are not for everyone, not designed for everyone... Not everyone appreciates the finer things in life that make you alive!

I for one fell in love with the Ducati monster after an hour long test drive. My dad who didn't like Ducati sounds earlier was a lover after the ride. The dealer ****ed it up with delivery and service issues. The bike is a marvel like all European hotties, ahem...

Till the issues are sorted and my finances once again in order, it will be in my garage. For now an exactly half powered bike (44bhp vs 88bhp of the Ducati), with a low weight, cheap maintenance, cheap but awesome tyres, abs and tech laden console European character big single engined monster will have to do :P


P.s.: my dad calls it's looks insect like and hence suggested I by the ninja. I know it will easily grow on him...counting on it!

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread

[MENTION=46701]mohitahuja[/MENTION]

Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread

Congrats! (for booking the N300, not for your patience running out!)

Did you have to pay the cancellation fee of 4000 on the Duke 390?

What is the delivery committed for N300? I hope its sooner than 2nd week of Sep

Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread

Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread

Thanks!!

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread

While we are on the N300 and D390 debate, we are forgetting that price influences a lot of our decisions and feelings. So to make the comparison more fairer to the little japanese-
How would they stack up against each other if N300 was available for Rs. 2,75,000 assuming this is a reasonable price if it was manufactured in India?

Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread

It's all individual preference. But it would definitely earn N300 some more converts from D390...

If I would want just a weekend bike I'd go for N300 for nice open roads.
D390 is probably a better choice if you want an everyday street bike, it's more fun around streets.

Although, funny enough, Motorbeam guys preferred N300 to D390 in streets. I guess because of better cooling system so the heat doesn't go to your legs. Although I can't see that to be enough of a reason to prefer N300 over D390 in streets.

As for performance, that Motorbeam drag video is a complete farce. If I would be someone from Motorbeam I'd pull that video down and make another, with proper riding and riders who are aware that gears are there for a reason.

I'm just intrigued with what @atul_chang said about D390, that you need to use clutch in 1st gear at speeds below 25 kmh. That's not going to be easy to handle for your left hand in long heavy traffic! Especially with little harder clutch...

Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread

+1, I was little confused too. I leave the clutch fully as soon as the bike starts moving [I think by the time it reaches approx 3 to 4 KMPH] and reengage it only while changing gears and when it is about to come to a complete stop.
[MENTION=29237]atul_chang[/MENTION], please clarify if I have to have the clutch engaged in 1st gear until I reach 25 KMPH or if I'm below 25KMPH.

I need to go for another test ride to check it out...I didn't notice this during my first test ride.

Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread


Well its wrong.. I had fully released clutch from 5kmh, the bike steadily increased its speed to a constant 11kmh.
Note: the bike's slow speed default was in 1.5 or 1.7rpm

I tested the bike a week ago on moderate rain.. it took 5-7 secs to start and got off automatically.. cranked again and the bike came back to life. After riding for 4kms, I tried turning off and starting again, this time it started in 3secs. Cold engine I guess

Also tried riding the bike without ABS on wet road..At 75kmh Engaged only the rear brake. The Tire got locked but for only very few meters and the best part was there was no fish-tailing . Love the Metzelers M5

Re: KTM 390 - The original Hooligan - Ownership Thread

Something to keep everyone interested The complete manuals set: KTM Manuals & Documents

I would suggest get familiar with the owners manual so that you know everything about the bike beforehand.

I found some interesting bits in the manual like adjusting the shift rpm light to your choice of rpm!

Also, the tire manual says that the 200 carries an S rated tire capable of maximum 180kmph limit but the ones on the 390 are rated W capable of 270K. I think this would be a good enough reason to stay with the M5 as replacements instead of MRF unless you are absolutely sure that the MRFs are rated for atleast 250+ because you don't want to be running a tire just under 10Kmph of it's limit!