Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Guys i read about the new slippery clutch , can anyone tell me wat is a slipery clutch.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Any timeframe as to when they are being incorporated or have been already incorporated? That's precisely the reason I was asking for folks around here, to post the photos of their brand new 2015 Duke series. Glad to see it being finalized though, any inputs on when? Perhaps March?

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

It's already been incorporated into the 2015 model bikes. My D200 is coming with all the updates.

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Alrighty! Do post some photos of the clutch casing et al, and all the angles, so that folks can get an insight into what's being incorporated. BTW, when is yours landing?

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Will do. Expecting delivery to be done on Wednesday. Will put up a small report.

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Update after 14500kms:


So finally after 13200kms I decided Metz has done enough and it was time to move on. Though it still had atleast a 1000kms life left, it was not the safest thing to ride with So got the Michelin Pilot Street Radial 140/70-17.


Few points regarding Metz:

You all have heard enough about it's grip etc but still I would like to mention this. I had attended track day when it was 12k kms old but still it performed brilliantly in wet track. Just for comparison, there was a guy with MRF on 390 and he was struggling very badly in wet corners. So bottomline, Metzelers even at the end of their life still provide better grip than most tyres available now.

I surprisingly had no punctures at all, zero, none! I guess I was just lucky because a soft tyre like this is known for punctures. And the tyre was not babied in any way. I have to do 200 meters of off roading daily when the bike comes out of the gate at home and it has also seen a lot of bad roads and also the stones of Mandalpatti

Pilot Street Radial is also a fantastic tyre. Its around 3k cheaper than Metzelers but does the job very well on dry roads. I havent tested on wet roads yet.
But one difference between the two is very apparent. The bike leans in quickly with Michelins as compared to Metz, mostly due to the change in tyre profile. Lesser handle bar input is needed to turn the bike with Michelins. So the behaviour of the bike changes a wee bit. Its upto you whether you like it or not, I honestly dont mind it all.

Ok, let me come back to bike now.


About the bike:


I used to always wonder what reviewers meant when they say that a particular bike has lot of character and that it communicates with the rider and how few bikes while being scarily fast still doesnt really kick up the adrenaline of the rider. I used to think it was just like an old wives tale, just something the reviewers say to keep the readers engaged I had ridden mainly my RTR before the 390 and didnt ride any other bike extensively so my experience with other bikes were limited.


Well the Duke 390 made me understand exactly what those reviewers were talking about.. and it taught me in great detail as well The bike is like an angry stubborn kid. It just doesnt listen to you and you have to do as told. For eg. it hates sub 4k rpm, and if you still ride it in that rpm the bike will ensure you dont enjoy it and will vibrate irritatingly. Rev higher and go past 6k and the vibrations vanish to thin air and in no time you will hit the limiter at 10.5k if you arent careful with right wrist . The bike wants you to always be in that sweet power band and wont allow you to ride slow, esp if the roads are empty. You simply cant ride at 50kmph in 4th gear even if you are feeling lazy, no, the bike just wont let you. Riding in peak traffic is a very bad experience on this bike but give it ring roads with sparse traffic and see the magic unfold


Apart from stubbornness, which is both a good and a bad thing depending on your preferences, the other thing that the bike hates is bad roads! Every single uneven patch on the road will be felt by your arms, the stiff front suspension transmits everything on the road to the rider. This is also the case with RC390, D200 and RC200 as well. But where this is a huge boon is on good curvy roads or tracks. The front suspension shows why its worth 22,000/-


The performance and smoothness of the bike is highly related to chain slack. If the chain is loose or tight, you will clearly know that there is something wrong as the bike will be even more vibey than usual and will also be very sluggish at lower rpm in higher gears. Every time I get the chain adjusted, the bike feels like engine oil just got changed, it becomes so much better. I am not sure why its so dependent on chain slack but that's the way it is. I dont think other bikes have so much dependency on chain slack.


Apart from this, I guess you have read enough about 390 so I wont go about saying the same thing again


Issues faced :

There was an issue with throttle where when you rotate from the zero position, it wasnt moving very freely. on inspection it was found that the butterfly valve in throttle body was not machined perfectly. This was replaced under warranty for free. The issue was not a severe one by any means but I wouldnt say no to a new throttle body This was changed few months back.

Slight engine oil sweating (that's the term SVC guys use anyways) from engine sides. This again is a minor one and its there in almost all 390s. This wont cause oil level to drop significantly, maybe at max 10-20ml of oil seeps out during the service interval of 5000kms. Many faced gasket failures but I didnt face it yet *touchwood* . Gasket failure results in a good amount of oil leak and it needs to be fixed at the earliest.

High speed + pothole + duke 390 = Rim bend

We were going to attend track day at Chennai and the stretch after Vellore is bad with surprises from potholes. There was one which was very badly shaped. I was around 80-90 and saw it last moment. Luckily I didnt brake and maintained the same throttle and went over it. Later on reaching the hotel I see there is a very slight bend on front rim. That part of the rim had blackened so just imagine how the tyre mustve folded under impact to rub against the rim to cause that black mark! I attended the track day with that rim itself and I didnt find any serious problem. I thought I will not get it changed but since I have zero dep insurance thought why not use it So got it changed under insurance but Ravi at kasturba KTM svc had to do quite some convincing to the insurance surveyor for the rim to be approved because the bend was barely visible.

Had I braked on seeing the pothole at last moment, things wouldve been worse for sure. The whole weight of the bike wouldve transferred to the front and the impact on rims wouldve been even severe. The best thing to do would be to brake well ahead and go over the pothole at constant throttle.

Occasionally whenever the bike is not in mood, it refuses to start quickly

I havent been able to determine what exactly causes it but there is no pattern. It's entirely dependent on its mood But since it happens very rarely I havent really bugged the svc guys to fix it (but I doubt even they know what is the root cause).


Maintenance:

I didnt have to spend on anything extra on the bike till now apart from regular servicing, oil/air filters etc and a rear tyre. The chain/sprocket are doing well and brake pads were not changed till now. They are good to go upto 20k kms according to SVC guys. The front tyre will last another 4k kms but it is aging.



Finally, I have absolutely no regrets buying this bike whatsoever. It does what it is meant to do perfectly, keep the rider engaged and provide the adrenaline rush whenever needed. Surely, it has its own shortcomings but if you can live with it, there is nothing like it, at least in that price range. It has taken me to speeds I never imagined I would do (my personal best was 172kmph) and forgave whatever mistakes I did while cornering and has proven to be a worthy companion wherever I took it to

And lastly, I will have to sell this bike soon as I will be moving abroad for sometime. I am really sad to do it but it is unavoidable. I am just hoping that I can rent out one of its elder brethren in future.


Ride safe everyone!

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Well versed, Adarsh. Yes, a stubborn kid has his disadvantages, but if either one of you is willing to take it easy, I guess at the end of the day, both are content.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Guys, I am thinking of installing IXIL L3x Dual Hyperlow Exhaust on my Duke 390. Have any of you installed it ? Experience with overall feel of bike ?

I am only looking to get a deep throaty sound out of it, pretty satisfied with everything else . Does it leads to reduction in average ? Any other Cons ? I believe, installing it will void the warranty even though it's a slip-on exhaust ?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Slipper clutch reduces the engine braking effect.


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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Had gone driving to Mangalore yesterday with family. Since biking has become a familiar scene nowadays, was getting to see riders every now and then. Saw Enfields, Harleys, CBRs, one Hayabusa and ofcourse few 390s as well. Im sure almost all of them were out on sunday rides and all of them were lookin relaxed except the duke guys. As if they were attending an emergency call. was smiling on my own. It's not rash riding but fast..u know what i mean. Pleasure to see them, especially with full gear...MAKE WAY....

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Ok understood n thanks bro...

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Got a rear mudguard fitted from FZ V2's mudguard (with some adaptations) -



Looks pretty good according to me!

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

A friend had the fan replaced due to overheating with his new bike. difficult to understand why such things happen with a new bike.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Chic work there abjhijeet, love the way it's completely shrouded the wheels, pretty neat, nothing pops up unwarrantedly and neither an eyesore. Gets my vote!

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Looks really nice dude!! Very neat ...could you share what adaptations? And the cost? .... And the fitting process too if poss :P . .. Interested in getting this done!

Cheers!