Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Its been four months and riding D390 is one of the things I eagerly wait for, bet it home or office.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Congratulations [MENTION=47593]Adarsh_Bk[/MENTION] - Hope you have a great ride for thousands of miles...

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I booked a 390 from banashankri showroom,Bangalore. I told the manager that I'll be paying full cash on 1st of march. on road price is around 2.12 lakhs as government recently reduced the tax amount.But upon asking today the manager told me he will be giving me 2013 model for that price
and the 2014 model will be 5-6k more. Can someone please help me out with this?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Thanks a lot Nelson

Haha, its such an addictive bike

These showroom people try to mislead sometimes and they are also not informed properly. For eg, before the price slash, I used to ask showroom people almost daily regarding any update and for that he used to reply that the new price will be applicable only for next lot which they get from pune which will be like mid/end of march. So I didnt wait and went ahead but as it turns out the new price is effective since Feb23rd irrespective of when the showroom received it, provided the invoice is created post 23rd.

So dont fall for that guy, you can ask at other showrooms and tell him that they are not saying such BS. Btw which one are you getting, black or white? If it is black, then most probably it will be 2014 model (You can confirm the same from chassis number, 8th character from right should be 'E').

Anyways congrats in advance

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

thanks for d reply! yeah I checked for that letter E and told the manager also that I wanted a 2014 model. what should I do if he says I'll have to pay extra for the 2014 model ? I have already paid 5k and booked the white 390.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Hello all Dukes, Got my 2014 Duke 390 delivered last week, Black Mamba... Looks awesome. But the bike lacks refinement. Shifting from Yamaha r15 v2.0 to Duke 390 i have started doubting my decision on this. The bike has so much noise from parts all over, as if all the nuts and bolts have been left loose. It can be also noticed by a first time buyer, but for a refined Biker it is just irritating. Otherwise i like the exhaust sound and how fast quickly it goes. Every time i down shift there is a rattling noise, feels like i just blew out some chain sprockets. I think Duke 390 is a rough vehicle delivered and then you can make it a complete refined machine by replacing parts. I love the tires, ABS is awesome. But Bajaj i think will always be Bajaj. With cheap spare parts. I didnt mind paying a little bit more price for a better finish quality product, lets say 2.5 on road. So that i dont have to hear clink, clonk, every time i hit the road. Worried how many parts will get replaced before the warranty wears off. The bike is scary on straight line speed, i think for the power there is very less stability. It wobbles all over the road at 120+, while i am used to 140+ on R15 rocketing straight in line without any doubts on the bike. The Duke 390 is seriously not for entry level.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Well.. to say that I am surprised would be an understatement. Totally agree the engine lacks the refinement of a Honda or a Yamaha or Kawasaki for that matter, but haven ridden it for some time, I can assure you that the engine will get more refined as you use it. The noise you are experiencing from different parts is entirely news to me. The chain does make some noise at certain rpms in every gear and some guys have reported sound coming from the tank cap cover, but except for these sounds the parts are bolted on tight and don't vibrate. There should not be any rattling noise or anything as such.

Now coming to wobbling part, I would like to tell you that I regularly touch 150 kmph and have always utmost confidence in the stability of the bike.
Not jumping to any conclusions, but I think you need to get adjusted to the ride.. either that or something is seriously wrong with the bike. It most probably will become more comfortable the more you ride.

Just my sentiments.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I think i should have been specific. I think the engine on the KTM Duke 390 is good and it will get better as i run with more kms and the engine will take its organic tune with time. Its just the overall build quality, attention to detail. If a bike runs and runs fast that does not necessarily mean thats the only thing that matter. I did the last ride on my R15 to IBW Goa. I was averaging 120+ on a 150 cc bike. It was the reliability of the bike that took a conscious guy like me to ride 952 kms in 2 days on track bike with luggage. Infact i saw lesser R15s or maybe a finger count in IBW (Most of the local GA passing). It doesn't feel reliable to ride a bike where you get different sounds, engine heating that is really felt not only by the rider but also from a pillion and as per pune weather conditions, can be thought on 18 to 20 kms ride. Of course in different riding conditions. My engine keeps shutting off, but this a problem that many have posted before and many have replied so i didnt think of mentioning in my last post.

As per the bike better points go, I cant describe how much i feel comfortable on this bike compared to R15 or probably any other bikes i have ridden in the past. Maneuvering on this bike in city conditions has been amazing for me. I ride like a sizzling hot Knife in cold hardened butter...he..he.he! Of course with gear. The most important thing is i have frequent outings in a day sometimes where i have to have a pillion with me. Which can be sometimes the heavy ones i know. Or heavier than me i guess. But on the Duke 390 i feel very comfortable rider with a pillion and in heavy traffic conditions. I am talking about heavy traffic on prime areas during weekends. Its definitely an eye candy, not once it has happened that a car, bike, rikshaw, cycle, even the cows and the bulls on the street are eye struck to the orange contrasting the oh so gorgeous black on the bike. "WOW" factor, the acceleration takes me back to the memories of the earlier RD 350 experience i had for a few months thanks to a generous friend. The engine has a Back Roar especially when you are at 2nd and just drifting by with a lil acceleration. You will hear a sort of sound of mild back firing thats some good sound on slow speeds and easily noticeable with helmet on.

So mayb a small tweak on manufacturing end to make this experience of the naked Duke 390 more to a near perfect machine, which i am started to fall in love with.

The Present:




The Past:

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

For those of us coming from bullet 500, the 390 feels extremely refined
Also the bike will get smoother once you finish 1st service and reach around 2K km.

About the wobble, was there strong cross-wind? Cos 120 is pretty much effortless on my duke.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Congratulations on you new ride.

The bold statement does not really make any sense bro!! The Duke certainly does not have cheap parts. The noise that you describe seems to be the typical loose chain clatter. A small adjustment and you will not hear the rattle. It is possible that a few of the useless (in my opinion) accessories fitted to your Duke (read Saree guard, tyre hugger) might be loosely fitted. You can get your ride checked with SVC once for confirmation.

Regarding the power and stability, I think I know where this is coming from. You have been used to the relative cocoon of the fairing on your R15. The fairing on your previous bike deflected air and isolated you from the feel of speed. On this bike, the upright seating position combined with no fairing makes you feel the speed. Crosswinds may make it a bit more amplified. However, the Duke feels perfectly planted and safe at 100+ all the way to approx. 140/150.

Just noticed that you are from Pune. Do you attend our offline G2Gs?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences


get the bike to service center once and get all bolts and all tightened. (preferably wakdewadi one. serious people)
check for chain slider noice, if required change in warranty. being a single cylinder 400, vibrations would be there. But its frame is 6 years ahead of R15 and hence far far ahead in stability and braking etc. get the bike checked, will take some time in getting used to. harder clutch, engine braking, heat and all

my personal advice.. don't ride below 4K rpm.. as per manual you can go till 7.5K

and yes, ride safe

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I have a question, how many of you guys cruise in 6th gear at 80km/h? Is it recommended during run-in period?? I've done 3700kms so far and i use 6th gear only once it reaches 100km/h. Somehow i feel the 390 engine feels stressed at 80km/h in 6th gear. Is this correct or is it just my paranoia??

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I shift to 6th around 80-85 kmph. Bellow that the engine does feel stressed.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

[MENTION=65118]timuseravan[/MENTION]...Thx, I sometimes feel that a high revving engine like 390 would not be happy in 6th at those speeds.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I went on a short 150kms ride today morning before going to office and I felt the engine was lugging a bit at 70-80 in 6th gear. I kept changing the speeds/rpms as it is better for run in, was changing between 70-100+ throughout and what a pleasure this bike is on highways! I envy all you guys who completed run in!! Must be so much fun for you all!

My friend @plasmabhai test rode for few kms on highways & I shouldve recorded the video of what he had to say after he stopped!! Wouldve gone viral atleast amongst 390 owners

Btw, need help with few things here,
1. There was little coolant sprayed around coolant cap near fuel tank, was it due to loose cap? I did tighten it a little later. Also the coolant level is close to max, maybe a little more. Did this happen because coolant was too much?
2. Fuel indicator was showing two bars and in span of 10kms it started showing low fuel, I guess it is unreliable as many of you reported. The bike ran 220kms for 8 litres in which 70+kms was city and rest was highways, I guess this is expected figure right?
3. I think the chain is already loose , the slack is around 1 cm when kept on side stand which is too much according to manual, have to get it adjusted soon.