Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Hey guys wats the tyre pressure everyone is following?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Thirumala autoshop at JC road tried hard to sell me a HID kit or a projector, and i almost caved in, but for the uncertainty of voiding warranty. the HID was for 1800rs and projector for 2800rs + installation. For projector, the front headlamp glass had to be removed by heating the glue, etc, which they claimed they know how to do it.
Had anyone tried HID or projector on their 390 or previous bike? does it really make a difference to visibility at night? will it void warranty, or cause another battery related trouble? or is it safe to go ahead with and which one? Just HID or HID in combo with a projector? Main concern is improved visibility from safety point, and not for looks / colour.
I have been using a philips xtreme on my C5, and did not really find any noticeable difference from the stock halogen, esp considering the price point at 650 rs. have no prior experience with HID/ projector so the concern.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I did not mean that the only way to start is by turning off the key(ignition) but if you don't do this after the bike stalls, it takes a few seconds to start(You have to keep the starter button pressed for quite some time). whereas if you just turn off the ignition and turn it on again the bike starts normally.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

yes, hid''s improve visibility.yes they can void warranty since cutting stock wiring will be required most probably for the ballasts.projector setup would be better since depending on the lumen these things are pretty bright.better get it more focused on the road then than surroundings.
I'm thinking of just a projector mod for looks in the future.that way no wire cuttings.besides the duke's stock light spread is not exactly the best out there.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences


AFAIK, Indian models come with O-Ring chain and European comes with X-Ring. And it is 1.5l engine oil capacity.

Yes, Rear tyre hugger sprays the muck not just on pillion even on ride if there is no pillion. Without tyre hugger also it sprays, but not as bad as with tyre hugger. I removed it long back and it has been like that since then. I am just a little bit more carefull/ride slow when there is water/drainage on road so that it doesn fall on me or the guy riding behind.


It all depends on how you start the bike after it stalls.
If you try to franatically press the starter button right after it stall, it wont start. Just give couple of seconds before you start the bike and it will start without any problem. You can use ignition power cycle incase it doesnt start even after waiting for a bit.

Its just that ECU controls the engine

29F and 32R since day i bought. Its better to run on bit higher pressure considering the gauges at petrol bunks show incorrect readings and ofcourse those expensive tires need more life with more air pressure

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

wait,I'm confused. I thought more pressure on the tire equalled less life? I read it in the forum somewhere.so what's the correct explanation?
I follow 25 front and 29 rear.I think that's the one seen on the chain cover.
and bajaj customer care is +10.i got calls from both ktm and bajaj.after an email complaint issues at the asc seem to have sorted out for now.I hope I have no more issues with the bike.thanks to the guys(nitingirish,Krishna and dukedey are ones I remember) who advised me for it however simple the advice was.

edit:actually I'm still gonna push for a replacement.I'm just not a 100% sure that a new engine is not harmed due to oil-coolant mixing and riding for 250 kms..also like users here I was advised outside that there could be engine damage done that could pop up later in a year or so.could seniors/experienced members here explain what are the complications that could happen in this case??

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I prefer 25F and 29R. I insist the guy to inflate twice just to be sure about the reading. Since I push my ride to limits most of the time and do knee scrapping corners, more pressure mean less contact patch= Less grip...

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That's not the case. Logic is: MORE PRESSURE= LESS CONTACT PATCH= LOW ROLL ON RESISTANCE=== MORE TYRE LIFE

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

As per explantion below.

I have been using 29F and 32R all the time and even participated the ORange day with same tire pressure. NEver had problem with tires. When you lean or dive into corner, this where you get most of the contact patch considering the tire profile. This pic might help in what I am trying to say.




You can see the contact patch. I belive that remains same irrespective of tire pressure while in corners or leaning.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

No sir, tyre pressure does make a difference on the contact patch. Less pressure would allow more flex of the side walls and thus more rubber would lay flat against the surface.

Less the pressure more the contact and vice versa. So less pressure all the time would give you premature tyre wear whereas more than required pressure might compromise with the grip.

I keep it 28f and 30r when riding solo and 32r when with a pillion.

Sent from my GT-I9100

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

• @backlash4u @lasu007 @DukeDey

i was lucky today. met fellow xbhipan today accidentally. while returning i had a strong feeling that he might again cross me , and he came in opposite again. Vishnu you were supposed to post my pic here...

@riazmomin contact patch would be less when pressure is increased. the optimum is whats required. currently im also running in 29 f 32 r, but as i told before ride is bouncy and the suspension work is too much. but keeping the tyre price in mind its better to save tyres.

after run in, i may go down to 28f 31r. regarding starting issue, as all told its all okay, if i wait for good 30 seconds after it stalls down it starts, but 30 seconds is freaky men... all bikes start in a second but this one???

and im now almost used to give a 2mm throttle after pressing starter for easy start, or else i gotta crank for longer. still not used to change modes and other systems...lol.

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@DukeDey

yar there is a correction to what you said. as i told its OPTIMUM pressure that matters in tyres. if the pressure is low and if its high, in both the cases the contact patch is LESS...

this theory can be easily seen in four wheels.
when the tyres are over inflated, its the centre portion of tyre that makes most contact than the sides.
when the tyres are under inflated, its the sides that make most contact than the centre.
these two cause, irregular tyre wear and bad ride/drive...

regarding the side walls its as you said. and to save the side walls of precious metzelers its way better to keep 32psi in rear and 29 psi in front, considering the indian pot holes. correct me if anything...

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

If tyre pressure had no role w.r.t contact patch, we wouldn't be seeing race teams who have dedicated engineers who monitor closely about tyre pressure w.r.t weather conditions. May be u pulled off with ease in your race but its otherwise. Talk to someone who is in racing scene or anyone who are knowledgeable and may be then, u'll know what I am saying. Cheers

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

KTM's recommended tire pressure is 29 front and 29 Psi rear for Single rider, and with Pillion it is 29 Psi front and 32 Psi rear...Over inflation by more than 2 Psi will strain the Tire plies over a period of time and increased wear of center of tire. Further the Foot Print of tire is reduced and stability and braking will be less than optimum..
Less inflation will lead to increased tire wear, less FE and if you hit a Pot hole at higher speeds, then the Alloy Wheel will suffer damage...So it is better to remain within 2 Psi of recommended Tire pressure.
Just my thought..

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Sir but Owners Manual and the Label on chain guard says 25F 28.5R (FOR SOLO) and 25F 32R (WITH PILLION). Since .5 mark-up is not available I prefer +.5 i.e., 29R.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Looks like I was incomplete with my earlier post. My post context was within 390 and Indian roads. Not race tracks!!

Apologies for confusion caused.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

@ riazmomin: Either ways I am sure with more increase in tyre pressure will result to what even @ Dukedey has inferred. Lets end the debate here