Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

See, my take on this is we've no other cheaper options. That's why I'm also buying it. But a Honda will always be a Honda. These high-performance KTM's have no rest. They want to go higher & higher up the revv range. Also, that smoothness is missing compared to a Ninja/R3/CBR.
That said the KTM is the highest selling European brand this month beating BMW to the top spot.
I was also waiting for the Hero HX 250r but Hero is taking its own sweet time for its release. Also, Mojo seems to have lost its Mojo before its launch. At 165 kgs dry wt its exactly opposite to a light-weight machine I'm seeking. So, at the end of the day, it seems the Duke 390 is the only bike that fits the bill.

Re: KTM Duke 390

Simple, go to Ktm outlet test drive it.
Or meet any guy near ur place who has a d390 who can give u a ride.

I know u will like it and after looking at mojo or any other bike u will still look like d390 and at the end still buy a d390.

Moral buy that d390 , the current iteration is very refined. Except for the heat in stop go traffic that too vanishes on open roads that bike will always put a smile on ur face.

I have given all other bikes a lot of thought and ended up with d390 and I am glad I chose it.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Deepak, Jack,
The argument is always VFM for the 390's (Duke and RC). You cannot and will not for a while find anything approaching the performance per rupee factor of the KTM's bigger bore bikes. I honestly expected the Mojo to to be (at least on paper) significantly better specced than it is for the price, because its built in India. This is an advantage enjoyed by the KTM's. Also Mahindra is a novice at 2 wheelers. Both KTM and Bajaj have been doing this a lot longer than them. Any other bike of comparable capacity or output will cost significantly more either in terms initial cost as well as total cost of ownership.

I am quite certain the engines of the KTM's will last the 100,000KM demanded of them. The much talked about engine heat is not nearly as bad as people make it out to be even in stop and go traffic. The reworked duct around the bi-directional fan does a fine job and aftermarket solutions like Engine Ice also work well to reduce the operating temperature on what is a high compression, high specific output single that will definitely run hot. This is why you will never find an air cooled single of this capacity putting out this kind of power. Of course you wont find it as smooth as the Hondas and Yamahas. The CBR singles have significantly lower specific output and the reduced demands of the engine make it smoother. Plus its a Honda; smoothness is expected. The others are all twins and smoothness is expected. And without exception they are all costlier per BHP, per CC etc.

And objectivity aside, the breathless giggle that WILL escape you when you crank it open will make it worth while. Don't stress so much over it and throw down your money with confidence.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

And also, VFM is not the only thing going for this bike. The performance and the components used like suspension, frame, engine parts betters some of the bikes in this class.

2015 version is almost faultless.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Well said my friend i share the same thoughts.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Hi guys,
In same state of mind as deepak vishnu is in, whether to go for duke 390 or cbr 250r.
Prices here are :-
Cbr 250r - 1.60L (ex-showroom)
Duke 390- 1.95L (ex-showroom)
My concerns are :-
1. Is it worth spending 35K more on duke 390?
2. Are spares easily available than Honda?
3. Are spares for duke cheaper than Honda?
4. By when would the 2016 manufactured lot be available?? (I'll book in January 2016)
5. Need to know the running cost comparison between duke 390 and cbr 250r ( Can anyone help?) - This point is very important as I'll be using it for both commuting and touring and my primary vehicle would be bike only.

Currently I'm riding a 2010 Pulsar 220 and it has proved itself. Still rides like a charm after 5 years-40K Kms.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

1.worth if you want your hairs on neck to stand straight always...

2. Yes.

3. Yes.

4. Feb last. Mostly its like that.

5. Running cost is higher than cbr. If I'm right it should be near to double. As fuel efficiency is low, tyre life is low,chain set life is low...

But again...thats a 250 and its a 390. 100cc difference.... Smoothness vs raw holligan power.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

80% of my running would be on open roads and highways, where I ride at 80-90 kmph. And about chain set , how many kms will it last?
Is it by default that chain set wears out early or my maintainance would make it live long?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

First of all this is an inaccurate comparison in my opinion. The CBR can be compared to the Duke 200 more than the 390 in terms of performance etc, but as I said this is just my opinion.

1. The Duke will not offer the smoothness and calmness of the CBR. However, I use it to commute 25KM everyday and I find it well behaved while I chug along as well as capable of putting a grin on my face when I want. The CBR is calm, secure, boring. The Duke 390 can be calm when you need it to and burn a furrow in the road when you want it to.
2. I am not sure how easy r difficult it is to procure spares for the CBR but most KTM dealers seem to be properly stocked.
3. Yes they are. Honda has a history of reliability but also is expensive in situations where you need spares. KTM is basically Bajaj so........
4. Who knows! But there doesn't seem to be any significant changes slated for the 2016 model year. KTM updated the 2015 with a slew of changes and it bears mention that they did it without hiking the price.
5. In terms of fuel cost the Duke 390 will definitely be more expensive to run than the CBR. The tyres are soft compounds that will wear much faster than the Honda as well. Upshot is that the total cost of ownership of the Dukes will be higher than the Honda, the 200 being closer to it than the 390 in these terms.

Worth mention that the CBR is a product at the end of its model life and is expected to be replaced by the CBR300 soon considering that Yamaha and Kawsaki have effected the jump from 250 to 300 in twin cyl format.

Cheerz

PS: On the chain set; I am no expert or even an engineer, but regular maintenance and lubrication of any friction bearing part like a chain set will enhance its life. But the power it puts down and the manner in which it is put down would indicate to me that the KTM chain sets will need replacement before the CBR.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

With best maintenance I got chain set life till 26k. Could go till 30k but had lost vigour. Some are changing at 10k. I too ride in 80s on hot highways mostly. But on a cbr i think chain set can easily live till 30k.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences


Considering that I ride a P220 currently, Cbr 250r won't make much of differenece in terms of performance, but going by my needs, cbr 250r and Duke 390 fits the bill. Everyone has its own preferneces,hence the choice. I would have included duke 200 if i would have a tight budget.
Metzelers will wear out soon than cbr tyres, but there's always an option to go for some other brand after the stock tyres wear out. Cbr sales are not as good as duke 390 and I don't think they will launch cbr 300 as sales of 250r is still poor.
In terms of servicing cost, how do cbr and duke 390 stand?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Without metzelers or better, 390 is lot on negative side. Period.

390 service cost is 3000. Without any spares. Labour is 750 minimum. Plz see cbr thread for its detail.

As you know, in terms of performance 390 is very far from 250...

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Well then it seems to me that your choice must depend on how involving you want your next ride to be. I did test the CBR 250 a few months ago and there is a quantum leap in performance and involvement from that to the 390.
Yes, you are right about changing the tyre brand once the metzelers wear out, which they will quite quickly I am told. Mine is only 2 months and 1200 odd Km old, so I cant speak from experience.
You are yourself making a convincing argument against the CBR when you say sales are low . However I think that sales tapering off is because much better options exist for the price. And this SHOULD drive Honda to change/upgrade or release a new product. Hypothetically, I mean.


My first service cost me Rs. 1600/- (rounded up) for just the oil and filter change. I understand from people on this forum that it rises to maybe Rs. 2500 - 3000 every 7500Kms once the free services are over. Maybe a CBR owner can educate us on costs and intervals of service for that bike.

PS: as Legend says, the metzelers are important to put down all that power effectively.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

5000 kms is service period.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

The newer models from 2015 have a service interval of 7.5k