Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Could not update few things due to works...sorry guys. Bike's engine is getting rough day by day. reached 13000 kms... Last week a surprise hit me. I got a beautiful keychain but not using it as i got only the main piece and no chain to connect, hence only key from 1st day.

I was in a hurry and just when near the key slot on lock, the key slipped into the gap near the lock, and alas, key disappeared. Nothing to be seen in daylight nor with torch. Thank God it happened at home. I got the 2nd key, then moved bike out and with tools I opened the whole front mask.
The pics say the rest. The key went into the place where it was most inaccessible. shows another quality issue. I thought the key would have fallen to ground.




This is what it showed after 100 km ride with a bulky pillion. Top speed was 110km/hr, 2 way road with traffic and shifts from 3rd to 6th, with no WOT. Tried to keep speed above 60 km/hr. Got to test tank full method tomorrow. The best so far is 31 km/lt with display showing 35km/lt. So I expect better this time...

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Hi x'bhpians
I am contemplating on buying a new bike. Right now I have shortlisted cbr 250r, duke 200 / 390. I have gone through the entire ownership threads of all the three. Going by the posts I feel that duke 390 has lot many niggles when compared to 200. Few I have noticed are, overheating, alloy cracking, coolant leakage issues, blown gaskets, stuttering at low speeds, abrupt engine shutting off, starting problems, et cetera. As I will be booking a new bike soon, I would like to know, whether these niggles have been addressed in the new batch of vehicles? I have taken TD of all the three and am open to getting any bike among the three. Coming from an Enfield background, I need some piece of mind with respect to maintenance. ( no offence meant to Enfield enthusiasts, if you feel so, I apologise in advance )

Sent from my SM-G7102 using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences


The 390 has some heating issues in stop gap traffic but show me a naked sports bike that doesn't. I so far have not faced any colant or oil related problem nor have seen any recently sold 390s with this problem. Alloys are lighter so they will break but only if abused not otherwise. The only problem is only some bikes are giving great mileage others have mileage of 20-23kmpl in the city and 29-32kmpl on the highway.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

The duke is 1800 odd kms old now. The acceleration on the bike is very poor from standstill. Took it to multiple SVCs but they could not locate problem. Their answer 'Aisa hi chalta hai 390'.
So I went to Srikanth who is supposed to be the best mechanic in Hyderabad for 390. He rode the bike and (atleast) acknowledged that there is a problem.
As per him, the spark plug would have sorted due to bad fuel. So he put in another used spark plug to test. And voila, the Duke was back to life. Sadly, the bike was back to the old state after 3 days (spark plug sorted again). Meanwhile I switched to Indian Oil normal petrol from BP Speed.
This weekend the spark plug was again changed to a new one. I also found oil seepage around the engine. The mechanic said that this is due to excessive engine oil coming out of breather pipe.
Could ride the bike for only a day for 10 odd kms post the new spark plug. Am back home now so cannot ride the bike for another week.
Worried about permanent engine damage primarily due to bad fuel and poor first servicing.
The bike is still under observation. If the spark plug sorts again, KTM engineer will have to be contacted as per Srikanth.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences



Your problem sounds serious my friend. Insist on getting a new engine man. My 390 is 5000kms old now no such problems. In my opinion it has to be a problem with the piston rings as spark plugs don't get shot soo soon without oil being involved in the sinister deed. And another person on the internet claimed his 390 first lost power then piston seized. Oil leakage on a new engine is a seriously impossible thing. Best ask for a new engine or send a complaint on ktm website maybe you'll get a new bike all together. But don't allow anyone not even ktm mechanics to fiddle with the bike unnecessarily. They'll do more harm then good bro.

Btw don't go for indian oil instead swith back to BP only get regular not super. You could also try shell I tried it and found it to be quite good though costly but bike runs smoother. I am using BP regular unleaded. Bike is running fine.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

HI Folks,

Today I feeling like to shout.. scream.. and do dance all at the same time.. coz of happiness and excitement. I got my bike finally today. Got in Black Color.
I would like to share some of my experience about the bike and overall service.
I bought the bike from Marathalli KTM Bangalore. People whome I interacted for purchase of the bike, Showroom manager Mr. Joshi, Sales Rep. Sandeep and Finance guy Madhu.
The reason I mentioned all of them was they sort of service I got from these guys. Extremely helpful guys.. and they themselves are passionate bikers.. (expect for the Finance Guy). The delivery of the bike, was done exactly the way and at the time at which I wanted. No Questions asked.. no objections raised.. Yes sir to everything. Sales guy was with me at every step. Extremely happy with the service. I would suggest to try them out for future owners.
Now about the bike.
Realized that it is not for Bangalore traffic and too in the peak hour.. well.. got the bike today... PDI was done by Sales guy (who himself has good knowledge on duke) and myself. Got the tyres filled with Tyre protect (I will tell about it later). Took the bike for Pooja .. bought it back to home.. and parked it. How the bike performed.. I guess lot many people have already told that.
Nothing else.. other than.. im soooper excited and happy. I can sleep peacefully now ( I actually had done night walk twice in past week .. no no.. i hv not done that before)..
I was little concerned that if I will fit on the bike (im 6ft tall) and if I will be able to drive it comfortably (i used avenger and bullet before.) but.. I was right at home on this bike.. no wrist pain.. no uncomfort nothing. even after 50 mins of peak traffic. There was however some vibration/rattling noise between 3k to 4.5k rpm from left side of tank from front. I will show them Next working day.. but its nothing which cannot be ignored. I will post rest of my observation after driving it few thousand KMs.
p.s: Manufacturing date for my bike was 18th sep. 2014.. and I bought on 1st oct.

About Tyre Protector: I wanted to buy some power parts for the bike.. but instead.. I put my money on this. it is cheap.. and very good.. he literally hammered a nail all the way in a tyre which had no treads at all.. and then pulled it out.. with in a second or two.. it sealed the tyre.. not even a single bubble of the air after that ( checked with soap water). He has given guarantee that the tyre will never flat out.. if it does.. he will refill the solvent free of cost..

Any suggestions or inputs are most welcome.


And thanks to Smarath and [MENTION=72198]Balgi[/MENTION] for their inputs.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Will write to KTM then. What I don't understand is how does the bike behave properly after a spark plug change? And I completely bought the confidence with which the mechanic swept aside the engine oil seepage. Dumb of me to do that.
And so begins a long drawn battle with KTM.
Does it say anywhere that I cannot claim warranty if issues are related to petrol/oil I used (I started using 300V after 300kms).
Completely messed up!

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences


First off friend your issues are not with petrol as ktm tested the bike in all available fuels from all fueling brands across India. So unless you ran the bike on adultrated mix bought from road side vendors or unconventional fuels like kerosene or propane (highly unlikely) there is no way your problems are caused by fuel.
Secondly those rats at ktm will try to pin this on you or else its their jobs ( believe me I have much harsher words for them but didn't want to lower the standard of the forum). So you must take care not to admit to anything even if its your fault and insist on speaking only to the R&D people. But you must file a web complaint. And also if possible on a govt authorised consumer forum.

I always insist on booking my service and staying with the bike every step of the way through it. This way they can't manhandle or damage my bike even if I waste a day buddy. You've got to baby the bike when comes to service and question the mechanics every move. Hell even take pictures and video of what they're doing. They can't stop you and it scares the crap out of them. Btw which service centre you going to. I go to banjara hills. Find Phani there. He gives individual attention to each bike and treatment of customers is better.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Yeah. No petrol adultrated with kerosene or diesel used.
The first service was at hi tech KTM and I was around the bike all the time. Problems started post that after which I went to Banjara KTM and talked to Srikanth.
Where can I file a web complaint for KTM?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Hey man first off Congratulations on your new ride. it looks great. and secondly no need for thanks. I actually saw you PM too late by then you had already posted this. I was posting through tapatalk. but please let me know if you need any help regarding the bike in the future and follow the guidelines I gave to keep the bike running like new. BTW get some racing studs for the bike because those crash guards are soft as shit.

Best of luck and Happy riding bro.

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Just go to the Google and type in "KTM India complaints" and the very second result will be "customer care- KTM" click on it and on top it will say for suggestions and complaints fill the form below. submit and watch the fun. make sure to use harsh words but not bad language and just threaten to go to consumer court with it.

BTW govt authorized consumer cell sites are dime a dozen on Google just pic one............or all of em.

Also when in banjara hills ktm just stay with your bike as I said in earlier posts and srikanth is not the bigshot. its Phani who is the shop foreman so talk only with him and anything that you feel is not being done right just bring it to his attention. perhaps also leave me a PM about your next visit so I can join you. strength in numbers and all.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

[email protected]



Damn it my iPhone sent it again.!!!

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

When I try to take pictures. They said that I can't.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Some one put scratches on my tank with a key or something and that too multiple scratches. I doubt it will dissappear via polish or something. What all options do I have??

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Send them an email [email protected]
You also have a pm from me

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

who said? KTM guys? It is your civic right. tell them if they don't let you you'll call the cops. they cannot refuse you that right unless they are keeping sensitive secrets of the company and you might click pics of them accidentally. tell them either they allow you to take pics or you complain that they refused to service your bike under warranty because you wanted to click pics of how your own property is being handled by them.

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1) Remove the panel
2) Access the damage
3) If scratch too deep get it covered with fancy sticker job
4) Not so deep buff the spot and clear coat the whole thing. makes the scratches disappear and makes company decals permanent

Try this out post results.