Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I have heard that r15 throttle does the samr job for rs 150. Even I bought and use the dhaval cam. But try the r15 one before goin for a 1000 rs cam.

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Cool. Did you try out the R15 one.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I had already bought the dhaval one. So there was no point.

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

if i come by 3pm, will i able to get michelin tyre and mod that r15 grip from kollam ASS?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

One can fit projectors, but warranty will be void. Also cost depends on the quality & brand of projectors. You go for Philips it will be super expensive but it will never have any probs

You can try Osram Nightbreaker or Philips Extremevision headlamps first. These are same as stock rating 60/55W bulbs but will have a much better throw. Costs 500-600/-

If you are still unhappy, then go for HIDs/Projectors.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I ve got a general query about D390, though I am not in the market for a new bike now (all men say this before splurging on expensive machinery to tide over boredom esp when the wife watches over the purse).

I ve been reading news and negative feedback on Duke 390's that they get very hot in city traffic and refuse to start. Has this issue been rectified in recent 2014 model ones? Also, what is your first hand experience riding in crowded cities in peak traffic? Has the bike 'broken down' or shut-down on you for a few mins?

Can someone who commutes daily in thick traffic share their experience regarding this issue? - eg Chennai, Hyderabad, (now Delhi) other really 'hot' places by nature..

I *could* buy a D390 and soften the suspension a bit (with after market parts), but there is no easy solution for engine heating issues.... so wanted to check with owners

I ride a Hero Impulse now...terrific commuter! (got rid of my CBR250)

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Are u coming today. If yes, I have to ask the tyre shop. Not sure about the r15 thing.

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I have a Oct 2013 model and I ride 40kms daily. I have not faced the shutting down/refusal to start issue even once except recently when the battery terminals were a bit loose. That was rectified in a jiffy and its again back to being no problem commuter for me.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

My replies in bold, hope it helps.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

My Duke 390 4k kms report:

1.) I have got used to the power now. But the change this bike has bought in me is huge. I can now ride any bike and nothing feels too fast or uncontrollable as it used to be in the past.
2.) Leaking head was fixed in 2nd service, head has started leaking again after just 1000kms of use. Will get it re-checked again in nxt service.
3.) Front brake noise fixed in 2nd service creeped back in after just a day of riding, will get it re-checked in next service.
4.) Engine has got smoother now, pulls cleanly even from low revs.
5.) This bike makes people go crazy. So far 1 guy on a R15 fell from flyover trying to race with me. 1 Car guy banged onto a divider and 1 Pulsar 200NS rider banged into a auto rickshaw! Will narrate these stories in detail some other time.
6.) I mostly ride with ABS off. However, around a week back there was stormy weather in Delhi with rains. ABS saved me twice on that day. Once when a Tree fell right in front of me and Secondly when a Cage driver cut right in front of me because of low visibility.
7.) Grip provided by Metzelers is just fantastic. Can rip like crazy even on wet roads. However, they can get scary if you try even slightest offroading.
8.) Heats up a LOT in traffic. However, cools down as soon as the roads open up. Not the best bike to ride to office in peak hours.
9.) Next upgrade can only be a superbike.
And did it mention it wheelies in 2nd gear without even trying

Overall, this bike is full of flaws. However, once you slot in the gear and let go off clutch it more than makes up for all the flaws.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Using hid with projector will anyways void the warranty. Also, i believe for installation, u will have to heat the glass to loosen the glue, remove it, and fix it back after projection installation. If not done well, in may fog internally, esp in monsoons.

For some extra light on the road, simply plonk 2nos of 10 watt creed LED light. more powerful then the stock, can be used alone or along stock. I have been using them on my 390 for approx 4000kms (4 months) without any issues so far. Use them as day-time running lights as well. consumes as less power as a pair of indicators. A bit expensive at 6500rs for a pair, but worth it. I have a pair on my C5 too.

For sure. Many riders and some drivers as well want to start a race when overtaken by a 390, not realizing that 390 by nature is a fast bike, and the guy riding it is not necessarily racing. Experience this almost on a daily basis.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

[MENTION=46353]nasirkaka[/MENTION] - Wouldn't these CREE void warranty as well - just asking.
I liked your CREE lights - would be a good addition to the existing setup but the cost and the fear of voiding warranty is keeping me back hence asking. Also do you mind sharing the details from where you got that done. Thirumala Auto ???

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Fiddling with electricals would mostly likely lead to warranty void. But there is a way out. You can connect the lights in such a manner, that no OEM wires are tampered with. an additional switch on the handlebar would be mounted for operating the light. So for any warranty related claims , the cree light setup could be un-installed to get the bike to factory settings without leaving any sign.
Also, the warranty would be void provided the issue is electrical. For eg, recently i got one of my front fork replaced under warranty ( for mechanical fault), and all the while the cree light was present on the bike.
I got mine installed at "art of motorcycles" close to dairy circle, Bangalore. Cost is bit high, but i ride 25 kms every night, through areas where streets have no light, and the rest of world is on high-beam. So far very happy with the lights, hoping it continues.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

How is the beam pattern? Do you have any pics of the lights beaming down a dark road or something similar? I am looking for a lighting upgrade myself. I fear these LEDs will throw out a wide floodlight beam pattern with no significant "penetrating" power.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Hope I can chime in here.

Though there are lots of shared-thoughts, reviews, ownership experiences, and hands on insights and what not. Having been owned, Bajaj products for more than a half a century, combined by my family and myself, I can agree with how the quality control has been with Bajaj, post the motorcycle era. Fast forward 2009 was my entree into "earned" motorcycling. Having been owned the Pulsar 220 for more than five years, I can say though the product is a total value for money package, the quality is still light years away from what Bajaj-KTM has been indulging in manufacturing a KTM product. So much in fact I've waited for such a motorcycle for close to two years now, and can't be delighted to own the lady.

First off, forget the Japs, the Italians and stuff, KTM isn't your everyday household name such as Yammy or Suzies. It basically was founded out of an iron foundry/metal processing company. And KTM wasn't a company who was so well versed in mass producing their bikes, if it's KTM it's quality, fun, -- oodles of fun, and well, bong on the pocket. If you ask any seasoned abroad KTM rider, he'd definitely say KTM isn't cheap to maintain, when compared to Jap stuffs. (Now a little bit of history doesn't hurt, does it)

Secondly -- well duh as you guys all know, Bajaj is a massive powerhouse for mass producing motorcycles, or put it, anything that has as engine and two wheels, you go to Bajaj with the right blueprint, strike the right bell with them and they'd do it for you at the price you need it, that's the capability expertise Bajaj has. Now what happens when you form a JV with a newbie who isn't well versed as Bajaj? You get all sort of niggles during production phase, and it's absolutely a no-brainer.

Considering the mass producing capabilities, and we Indians slowly yet steadily climbing the motorcycle ladder it's great to see "improvement" in every lot of KTMs. Being a 220 owner I can very well vouch for the quality improvement that this bike has gone through in all these years which equates to none! I still love my 220, one of the first performance bike that gave me smiles and experiences I could only cherish of.

I see a lot of people are apprehensive of the fact that KTM 390s overheat, leak coolant and stuff and what not. But I guess I'd would love to say that if everyone delves a little deeper into the very nature of how we ride, under what circumstances we ride, et cetera et cetera, I think the bike is absolutely a winner. Now coming to the important topic of overheating/coolant leaking, trust me there is more than that meets the eye in these issues. Overheating is almost given on any high compression higher cc bike, and coolant leak too does happen on occasional set of bikes, that doesn't mean it will on every bike out there. Each bike goes through different stresses at different periods by different way of riding, some last long some don't, it's just the way motorcycles are and that's how they're supposed to be.

Perhaps, I'd suggest the fact that, if one is considering to purchase this motorcycle, I'd definitely suggest them to go for it eyes closed. Forget all the problems as to what might or might not happen with this or any bike for that matter and as fellow xbhpian rightly pointed, once you crank the lady, you're just in for total nirvana.

I guess, I've conveyed what I wanted to really convey and hope it's not a circumvent.

P.S. I still own my 220

Cheers!
VJ