Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences



The radiator shroud assembly is completely changed so it directs most of the heat towards the ground.The only thing is that the radiator on this bike is pretty loud.

About the touring, this bike is pretty great if your alone.A pain in the butt for the pillion though.

If you are a lot concerned about these two issues then consider the rc390 i guess

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

RC390 riding position is not so great and its not good for touring for me. Duke is overall package.. touring..city ride.. It will be best to do a test riding before you buy. As you had Duke already you know the deal

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I'm nearing my service period and I wanted to know if the free service holds good when done at different dealership than the dealership I bought from? I bought it from Mekhri Circle KTM.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

The loudest thud/thuk will be from neutral to 1st. That happens in most big cc bikes, and its perfectly normal. In other gears, while downshifting, you need to learn the art of blipping/revv matching, which is pretty easy. Just youtube, lots of videos around. While upshifting, it shouldn't happen.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences


Yes, I sold D200 and bought ZMR for riding comfort. Currently I am riding solo only and I like it too. Recently done 700 km in a single day on ZMR. Comfort is excellent, the torquey engine munches miles easily. I rode it on 100 to 110 kmph.

Now what I need is a bike which must fulfill in all the ways. The bike should have to

1. do 120 to 130 kmph easily and maintain whole day.
2. unstressed engine.
3. safe
4. comfort


I already know duke is good for good roads. Had developed back pain after riding in potholed roads(D200). Now it is comfortable in ZMR.
I will do occasional short bursts in city driving. Scrap foot pegs in ghats. ZMR handles well in ghats but feels ponderous and somewhat bouncy.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I love the noise and feeling when shifting to 1st from neutral. I first noticed it on a friend's R1, so that wasn't worrying. I recently noticed that it doesn't happen on downshifts and mostly the noise comes when I shift from 1st to 2nd.

I've been rev matching my bike for a couple of days and for me it takes a little bit attention to do that which might be fine on a highway but on packed city streets, it becomes difficult. Might take some time for it become muscle memory I guess.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

You can avail the free service at any KTM SVC anywhere in India.

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Which service center would you recommend?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I got it serviced only once in bangalore, Banashankari. It was satisfactory and to be honest since that was the 1st service, I didn't know what to expect. Right now I go to hubli svc since I am staying in dharwad from past year.
So I request other bangalore owners to throw some light on this query, it would be much appreciated.

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

How was the Banashankari SVC? As in, the cleanliness, the work done by the workers, if you noticed anything like "Nobody does that, that sh** right there is wrong" or something like that.

I went to the Mekhri KTM SVC to get the chain lubed and tightened. Noticed they put the bike in first gear for spraying cleaner or lube. Thankfully he used manual rotation for cleaning. But he sprayed the lube on top of the chain. <facepalm.png>

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Hi. I give my bike for service at KTM Banashankari. They service the bike well. They know their stuff. You can give it for service over there. However for my first service they washed the bike but didn't wipe off the remaining water. Hence the bike was riddled with water spots. For my second service however I complained and the bike was cleaned and polished. So they do listen to you.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences


1. 100% you can do it anyday. I have just done 100kmph so far.. but I have seen in lots reviews.. good bikers do cursing on 110-120kmph easily.. shouldnt be a problem for you I guess. Please just do a search on youtube.. and check all KTM Duke video reviews.. and tours.. There are lot of motovblogers too.
2. it will be not so smoother like Karizma. but yes you can ride it all days. It naked bike with some totally different style.. You had it so you know that. I have to yet finish 1000kms so I will be able to check it more when I done free service. Then I will go for long tour.

3. For me its safe.. it has ABS .. it has best tyres.. I was able to do 60-70kmph on Karizma ZMA, now I can do 80 to 90 easily with Duke. ZMR for me is bulky bike. This is so light weight and you can handle it like toy.. very good for traffic [just talking about handling ]. I still not believe myself.. I am too fearful when there is a turn on road.. I hate cornering..I always fear that I will fall but now I dont fear at all.. actually I do cornering myself! This bike is lot of fun.

4. Comfort! Well this bike got smaller seats so you will not feel better than Karizma. but its not bad. You had back pain on D200. Well Duke 390 is same bike.. same things.. just a different engine and some cosmetic changes.. yes better seats.. but overall design is same. so you might feel back pin on this one too. I guess its because of physics. I never felt back pain. My biggest ride was 300km on this one. yes with 2 stops only. I had little pain on hand joints but not back.

Again I am telling you is that please try to find a 2015 Duke 390 and test ride. If you find one from you friend circle then great.. you can ride on highways and know everything yourself. If you are really in rush then you can come to my place and we will go on long ride I would never compare it with Karizma ZMR. It has no match with Duke. You can compare Honda CBR but not ZMR. These are my personal opinions.. I am not big biker.. I have just started but this is what I feel so far.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Hey guys, needs your inputs on this. I've been facing a niggling issue.
Wobbling in the front. Happens in the band of 80-110 kmph and sometimes at lower speeds as well. The bike has clocked 28k now. The issue has been present from the past 5k kms at least. So far I've
* changed coneset
*checked for alloy Wheel bends
*changed front bearing
*checked forks alignment
The service guys seem to think it's the fault of the Michelin tyres, but I've had this issue even when I had Metzlers.

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Same issue here. Do try playing with the air pressures. Like try everything between 24 and 30. Might help. In my case nothing has helped so far. Also what about wheel bearings? Also did they ask you to change fork oils? In my case the svc asses are making fun of me asking me not to go at speeds like that and all. I told them if i wanted to go slow i would have bought a scooter .

Sorry for using the 'a' word

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences


have to guys checked the chainset ?
a bent rear sprocket can cause the same thing.
also change or at least try a front new axle bolt from a different bike and report. a slight bent in axle can cause the same thing.
and its very difficult to gauge the same by just looking at it.
also check the brake rotor. if it touching the pad while moving can cause the same shake..

was the tyres balanced when new one was installed ?