Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Well said... i have a cbr 250 and duke 390. Ya , the ceeber is unbelievably comfortable. . But i would prefer the 390 anyday. The bike's got oodles of character. The way it delivers the power in a non linear way and i personally love the noise this bike makes , i say personally because i dont know if anyone else will agree with me.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Guys. This hasn't been discussed recently. That's why i am bringing it up. Has anyone tried retro fitting the new clutch on the old 390. The whole slipper clutch thing. I tried the new 390 and i have to say it will really be a boon in heavy traffic.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I have not ridden an old 390 ( prior to 2015 model) much , only few 8 kms on a highway with only a truck acting as a major blocking source during the entire test ride. In the short ride the only prominent effect i saw was of the engine braking.

Now owning a Duke 390 2015 mfg date I must say that engine braking effects are not that prominent , power delivery though not very linear is not a major problem as it is made to look in most of older Duke reviews.
Secondly i took my bike on a trip from Mysore to Bangalore prior to first service where the bike supposedly runs even hotter than usual.Encountered heavy traffic where i could not move beyond 5-10 kmph for around 10 minutes but the temperature bar did not go to the last slot which has 2 bar capacity , it was in the first slot itself with max temperature being 1 bar below the max in the 1st slot ( the slots i am referring here are two rectangular shapes one very large and other small on bottom left of the display)
Addressing the point of changed direction of blowing hot air, the pillion never felt the heat even in traffic condition. I felt the heat around the ankle region and was more like hot air than unbearable heat or something.
In bumper to bumper traffic the bike is very manageable. It was my first time in such heavy traffic condition and i just did fine. Secondly the clutch itself does not feel so tight as mentioned in the reviews, its very much similar to how i handled my Yamaha Fazer the difference being i have to keep holding the clutch here for speeds below 10-12 kmph .

P.S:- This is just an amateur view of the effect of the changes of the new bike vs the negatives mentioned in the old bike reviews. Did not find much info on the same when i was searching before buying so thought just to add some pointers for the new buyers

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I agree with you completely. I love the grunt especially past 6k rpm, it juz roars

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I enquired at the SVC, it can be retrofitted. Cost around 6.5k

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

How to know the manufacture date of the bike?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Google 'decoding vin number to find manufacturing date'. Or else check this thread from the beginning, it has been mentioned many times.

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Hey why isn't KTM'S site updated with slipper clutch on the d390. It still shows the wet clutch.

sent from my note 3 neo

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I found this. Might be helpful to other new users.



The VIN will be present on the left side of neck of the frame.

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AFAIK, the slipper clutch uses different parts like different type of gears and some mechanisms. They are still lubricated with oil in Dukes hence wet clutch. There are only two types generally, wet and dry clutch.

So slipper clutch is still a wet clutch in Dukes.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I find the old clutch to be a pain on long rides... we can fit the new slipper clutch on our older bikes right?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Interesting....!!!
BTW, I wonder how an RE lover prefers KTM Bikes (If you are not an RE lover, kindly ignore this)

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I was initially planning to buy a thunderbird 500 and also did a trip of close to 900 kms in my friends TBTS. The bike managed well also didnt throw any issue during the entire trip. However at the end of the trip I changed my mind . Then CBR also came to my mind but finally went for D390 and trust me I feel this more accomodating to my character and I think I made the correct decision. I feel this easy to manuver over the trafic and on long rides.

Thanks
Peeths

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Beg to slightly differ here on the point of harshness when compared to Enfields. As both the bikes functions on drastically different RPMs, its not really comparable, but if we have to, personally Enfileds are smoother for me. The vibrations on both the bikes are so different, while its of very high frequency nature on the 390, resulting in irritating resonance and buzzes from various plastic parts, the vibes on the enfields are gentler (unless ofcourse someone is trying to wrong the gut out of the throttle, which enfields in stock condition are not meant to). Guess material / weight etc would have a part to play. Any RE platform, be it Ci, AVL or UCE can me made to run very smooth, like a well oiled sewing machine, ofcourse with-in their limitations. The difference is very stark if one rides a RE and a 390 back to back on our typical country roads. ON smooth tarmac, not much.

Both the bikes have their own character, and the appeal would differ from person to person. I use to like the comfortableness of my C5 better then my 390, but still sold my C5 last month, as the 390 scored much higher in other areas.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

You are right, character needs differ. RE bikes are of a different league. Well I personally own 200ns, but I've wished for Duke390 for simply the raw power, ABS and the king of road feeling. No duke200, Because I don't find the handling or performance difference that huge between a D200\P200 but 390(Duke\RC) is a lot and lot quicker. It'll make one stand ahead of the crowd, I like that feeling. But my thirst of getting a 390 depreciated after riding a duke200 for about 60kms, the seats are harder than my ns, suspensions are even stiffer, hard clutch (Felt at a showroom, D390 clutches were even harder). In Duke , I had to rev ~7500+ rpm to cruise @100Kmph, where as in my ns, I just need to ~6500+ to get to 100kmph, Less RPM, more comfortable, less engine heat, and stress for longer distance rides(200+ or above). Well short gearing is a short coming for a long trips\touring, I now find my ns more comfortable and good for touring, except >110kmph where simply the wind blast prevents all comfort. I believe the same for D390 as well, but hope an RC390 can handle even better. I'm talking about cruising, not racing. Cruising at say 120+ for hours. High frequency engines make one tired and irritating, compared to low spinning engines like REs.

So sadly I had to remove 390 from my mind (mind you I have a big butt and weigh 90+KGs) simply for the seat comfort (though I've heard it's got long gearing) even though it can cruise at less RPM compared to D200 or so. As for as RE bikes, a friend of mine has CL350, the seats are so so comfortable, I never felt a bit of pain on my butt and that you can do hours and hours of ride before you end up with sore saddle. I felt like floating on air @ 80+ speeds (with a heavy pillion), absolutely ZERO vibes. But going beyond 90+, I could feel the vibes reaching all around our body, where as my ns doesn't generate vibes even @120+. REs imo are not good at very high speeds say 110+ or more, but they are the best, unbeatable for cruising\comfortable long rides below that mark, no more words. No idea about 500Cc model REs.

But I finally feel CBR250 a very good bike for touring (though nowhere near a KTM in terms of power, pity thing is even a D200 can put CBR250 to shame) without hurting your bud, shoulders (though it puts a little pressure over hands, but i could manage that). Since it's design and performance are not that good and getting old, I'm looking for a newer model.

Sorry for hijacking and taking diversions in this thread

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

How much did you guys have to pay? I went with cash and had to pay 2.33750 lakhs here in Bangalore at KTM Mekhri.