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**Serene George Thomas** · 10-24-2015, 04:24 PM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I want to do a lot of mods. I can't make up my mind what to and what no to do. Here are a few things i have in mind.

1. A full exhaust. to get rid of the tinny sound that it makes right now. I hate it.
2. A set of frame sliders instead of the current crash guard
3. A nice tank bag to keep the essentials for a short ride
4. a tyre hugger for the rear... it splashes mud like it's none'e business.

I would also like a better headlamp. But, i am not sure as it might void the warranty with LED light installation.

What do you guys think? where can i source the materials? what would you want to do, in case you wanted any of these?

**rakshit rana** · 10-24-2015, 04:34 PM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Originally posted by the_ghost_rider View Post

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

Ya forgot this part.Thanks

Originally posted by Bornagainbiker View Post

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.

Cbr 250r is outdated and i fear that cbr 250r might get discontinued after some time and there will be scarcity of parts in future and still there's a problem of spares.

Originally posted by Legend Racer View Post

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...

I checked online forums and found that that cbr's service cost is near about Rs 2300 and at 6000 kms interval and that of duke is around Rs 3000 at 7500 kms interval.
Which would be the better proposition??

**Bornagainbiker** · 10-24-2015, 05:02 PM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Originally posted by rakshit rana View Post

Ya forgot this part.Thanks

Cbr 250r is outdated and i fear that cbr 250r might get discontinued after some time and there will be scarcity of parts in future and still there's a problem of spares.

I checked online forums and found that that cbr's service cost is near about Rs 2300 and at 6000 kms interval and that of duke is around Rs 3000 at 7500 kms interval.
Which would be the better proposition??

From a pure mathematics POV, they seem to be the same per KM ridden.

**Legend Racer** · 10-24-2015, 05:55 PM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Originally posted by Bornagainbiker View Post

From a pure mathematics POV, they seem to be the same per KM ridden.

But comparison was wrt service charge and not per km. In per km cost, 390 will be much ahead but because of tyre cost and fuel alone... If that data is reliable then service cost wise 390 is again good. 7500 kms Rs 3000 and 6000kms Rs 2300.

**B7ACKTHORN** · 10-24-2015, 07:08 PM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Originally posted by rakshit rana View Post

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.

Folks have chimed in pretty well, let me add a few pointers.

1. On a daily basis Duke is the costlier one to run. CBR is comparatively cheaper when it comes to the mileage part.
2. Spares are easily sourced and are available for the KTM, as opposed to CBR though, if not, 75% of CBR's parts are easily available. The spares for the Duke may look cheap, but critical components and most items in fact ARE costly.
3. Spending 35k odd on Duke 390 is 100% justified.
4. CBR is a relaxed tourer, it can munch miles without a fuss and tank range isn't that great, compared to Duke it's way ahead.
5. City riding in both the bikes is a PITA, both are high revving singles, and torque is on the upper chunk, not low down like the 220.

Bottomline, Duke wins with higher running costs, less tank range, expensive tires, and agreeable spare parts price. Once you wring the throttle, you'll never remember a single point above.

If you prefer a motorcycle that is an excellent mile muncher, doing daily duties, smooth rev happy engine, and your priority is on comfort, look no further than the CBR,

I always say CBR is a wife, the Duke is a wench, the choice is yours. Both do their job to keep you happy, it's just hard to decide where your heart belongs to.

Cheers!
VJ

**rakshit rana** · 10-24-2015, 07:59 PM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Originally posted by B7ACKTHORN View Post

Folks have chimed in pretty well, let me add a few pointers.

1. On a daily basis Duke is the costlier one to run. CBR is comparatively cheaper when it comes to the mileage part.
2. Spares are easily sourced and are available for the KTM, as opposed to CBR though, if not, 75% of CBR's parts are easily available. The spares for the Duke may look cheap, but critical components and most items in fact ARE costly.
3. Spending 35k odd on Duke 390 is 100% justified.
4. CBR is a relaxed tourer, it can munch miles without a fuss and tank range isn't that great, compared to Duke it's way ahead.
5. City riding in both the bikes is a PITA, both are high revving singles, and torque is on the upper chunk, not low down like the 220.

Bottomline, Duke wins with higher running costs, less tank range, expensive tires, and agreeable spare parts price. Once you wring the throttle, you'll never remember a single point above.

If you prefer a motorcycle that is an excellent mile muncher, doing daily duties, smooth rev happy engine, and your priority is on comfort, look no further than the CBR,

I always say CBR is a wife, the Duke is a wench, the choice is yours. Both do their job to keep you happy, it's just hard to decide where your heart belongs to.

Cheers!
VJ

It do becomes really tough to choose, and i'm not keen on changing the bike after 2 years. I intend to keep it for 6+ years for sure .

**deep007** · 10-24-2015, 08:17 PM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Bro as per the indian road conditions cbr 250 is sufficient. You will be happy riding cbr than duke.speed and acceleration not matters if u want long engine life. All this advice comes from the experience.

**jack_daniels** · 10-24-2015, 08:19 PM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Originally posted by rakshit rana View Post

It do becomes really tough to choose, and i'm not keen on changing the bike after 2 years. I intend to keep it for 6+ years for sure .

I think u should compare the RC390 vs CBR? Not the Duke 390 which is naked.

I'm selling my old bike next week. & am in a fix whether to get 200 or 390? My majority riding will be-
City-70%, Highway-30%
Donno which bike to prefer? However, the KTM SVC guys have told me that as per my intended usage, I should go for the D200. That's what the customer feedback is like. They said that,"390 apke pairon ko tandoor bana dega".
[MENTION=39214]B7ACKTHORN[/MENTION] Any insights on this one? How's the heat? IS THE D200 PERFORMANCE ENOUGH TO MAKE ME HAPPY?

**Bornagainbiker** · 10-24-2015, 08:40 PM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Originally posted by Legend Racer View Post

But comparison was wrt service charge and not per km. In per km cost, 390 will be much ahead but because of tyre cost and fuel alone... If that data is reliable then service cost wise 390 is again good. 7500 kms Rs 3000 and 6000kms Rs 2300.

Yeah, I didnt get to complete my point. By Service cost alone I meant they are about equal per KM. We would need to add on the cost of tyres, which because of the Metz we have to measure separately, I guess. I have no comparable data on CBR v/s D390 spares, but I will safely assume it will be costlier on the Duke. The lower specific output of the Honda does seem to indicate a longer engine life. That's why them bullets last forever; 18BHP from 350 CC.

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Originally posted by B7ACKTHORN View Post

Folks have chimed in pretty well, let me add a few pointers.

I always say CBR is a wife, the Duke is a wench, the choice is yours. Both do their job to keep you happy, it's just hard to decide where your heart belongs to.

Cheers!
VJ

Lol, could not have put it better myself VJ. Wife vs Wench indeed.

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Originally posted by jack_daniels View Post

I think u should compare the RC390 vs CBR? Not the Duke 390 which is naked.

I'm selling my old bike next week. & am in a fix whether to get 200 or 390? My majority riding will be-
City-70%, Highway-30%
Donno which bike to prefer? However, the KTM SVC guys have told me that as per my intended usage, I should go for the D200. That's what the customer feedback is like. They said that,"390 apke pairon ko tandoor bana dega".
@B7ACKTHORN Any insights on this one? How's the heat? IS THE D200 PERFORMANCE ENOUGH TO MAKE ME HAPPY?

Jack, I will differ on this. The CBR is a lot more relaxed a ride despite being a faired machine as compared to the RC's which are a lot more committed. Also while both dukes are peaky i.e. power coming in higher in the rev range, the 200 is a lot more so as I understand it. I chose the 390 mostly because I am 100+ Kilos and the extra power helps carrying my bulk. I can assert with confidence that there will be no tandooring of your legs on the 390. My usage has been almost 100% urban so far and it does get hotter than anything I have ridden before but it is certainly not unmanageable. I have the 2015 version though.

**B7ACKTHORN** · 10-24-2015, 10:00 PM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Originally posted by jack_daniels View Post

@B7ACKTHORN Any insights on this one? How's the heat? IS THE D200 PERFORMANCE ENOUGH TO MAKE ME HAPPY?

Heat management on the duo are poor and you feel this, when riding through traffic. But once on the highway -- or let me put it this way, once you cross 55 KMPH, you are all nothing but a joker inside your helmet, grinning all the way. For city jaunts, flickability, overall feel good with not a pinch on the pocket, the 200 would be the best bet. In fact the 200 can give prove more fun when filtering through cagers than the 390 (my personal gumption)

P.S. No bike ever will make a biker happy! Once a biker, you're always greedy for more HP.
[MENTION=33947]Bornagainbiker[/MENTION], you know, once a spoiled brat, always a spoiled brat, isn't it.

[MENTION=31897]rakshit rana[/MENTION], again I reiterate if you're going to keep the bike for 3 + years plus, and you are into daily commuting, look no further than the CBR250R. Or why not check out the RS200 very good VFM motorcycle with enough gadgetry to keep you chugging along.

Cheers!
VJ

**rohangk** · 10-24-2015, 10:51 PM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Originally posted by jack_daniels View Post

I think u should compare the RC390 vs CBR? Not the Duke 390 which is naked.

I'm selling my old bike next week. & am in a fix whether to get 200 or 390? My majority riding will be-
City-70%, Highway-30%
Donno which bike to prefer? However, the KTM SVC guys have told me that as per my intended usage, I should go for the D200. That's what the customer feedback is like. They said that,"390 apke pairon ko tandoor bana dega".
@B7ACKTHORN Any insights on this one? How's the heat? IS THE D200 PERFORMANCE ENOUGH TO MAKE ME HAPPY?

I dont know about the heat but I can tell you that duke 390 will feel much more relaxed to ride(due to taller gear ratios), also it would become kind of hard to ride in traffic. Basically you can ride a 200 in second gear from standstill, which would make it easier to wade through peak hour traffic. The 390 should get hotter, but double the amount of power what would you expect? But heat is not nearly as bad as it is exaggerated by some people, I myself own a duke 390 and the newer version has a bi-directional fan which rotates in an opposite direction when you drop below a certain speed so that the heat is directed away from your legs. And gradually the heat lessens, and the vibes will reduce by about 55-60% after the change from dtsi to motul after the first service. You would run out of gears pretty quickly on the 200, but the 390 will require some time for you to reach that tall 6th gear. So think about what your requirements are. I personally feel that for that extra 80k or so, ABS, the great metzeler tyres and that extra 20 bhp;its absolutely worth it.
Completely OT but could any of the moderators tell me how to reset my password?

**Bornagainbiker** · 10-24-2015, 11:11 PM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Originally posted by B7ACKTHORN View Post

Heat management on the duo are poor and you feel this, when riding through traffic. But once on the highway -- or let me put it this way, once you cross 55 KMPH, you are all nothing but a joker inside your helmet, grinning all the way. For city jaunts, flickability, overall feel good with not a pinch on the pocket, the 200 would be the best bet. In fact the 200 can give prove more fun when filtering through cagers than the 390 (my personal gumption)

P.S. No bike ever will make a biker happy! Once a biker, you're always greedy for more HP.
@Bornagainbiker, you know, once a spoiled brat, always a spoiled brat, isn't it.

@rakshit rana, again I reiterate if you're going to keep the bike for 3 + years plus, and you are into daily commuting, look no further than the CBR250R. Or why not check out the RS200 very good VFM motorcycle with enough gadgetry to keep you chugging along.

Cheers!
VJ

Thou speak true, brother. I doubt I can ever downgrade my desired power to weight ratio, handling etc, from the D390.

However, while I cannot speak with authority on the 200, I still think for a big pot single with this kind of specific output, one must expect some heat from the 390. Thus, at least for the new 2015 bikes heat management is actually more than satisfactory.

Having said that, I would encourage @rakshit rana to take your advice on the CBR considering his stated preferences.

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Originally posted by rohangk View Post

I dont know about the heat but I can tell you that duke 390 will feel much more relaxed to ride(due to taller gear ratios), also it would become kind of hard to ride in traffic. Basically you can ride a 200 in second gear from standstill, which would make it easier to wade through peak hour traffic. The 390 should get hotter, but double the amount of power what would you expect? But heat is not nearly as bad as it is exaggerated by some people, I myself own a duke 390 and the newer version has a bi-directional fan which rotates in an opposite direction when you drop below a certain speed so that the heat is directed away from your legs. And gradually the heat lessens, and the vibes will reduce by about 55-60% after the change from dtsi to motul after the first service. You would run out of gears pretty quickly on the 200, but the 390 will require some time for you to reach that tall 6th gear. So think about what your requirements are. I personally feel that for that extra 80k or so, ABS, the great metzeler tyres and that extra 20 bhp;its absolutely worth it.
Completely OT but could any of the moderators tell me how to reset my password?

This!
- I have had no stalling issues after I learnt to modulate clutch and throttle input in a few rides and can manage quite well in traffic. It seems logical that the shorter geared 200 would be easier for lighter people. If I hadn't ridden the 390, I suppose the 200 would not have felt under powered. Not that it is; just my perception.
- The new bi-directional fan helps. Under 10KPH it blows forward.
- I did complain about the vibes a few posts back but tightening the handle mounts helped and the first service oil change improved the character greatly vibe-wise.
- The extra 80k may or may not pinch but I also submit that it is well worth it.

**rakshit rana** · 10-25-2015, 11:56 AM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Originally posted by deep007 View Post

Bro as per the indian road conditions cbr 250 is sufficient. You will be happy riding cbr than duke.speed and acceleration not matters if u want long engine life. All this advice comes from the experience.

What you would be choosing for yourself now?

Originally posted by B7ACKTHORN View Post

Heat management on the duo are poor and you feel this, when riding through traffic. But once on the highway -- or let me put it this way, once you cross 55 KMPH, you are all nothing but a joker inside your helmet, grinning all the way. For city jaunts, flickability, overall feel good with not a pinch on the pocket, the 200 would be the best bet. In fact the 200 can give prove more fun when filtering through cagers than the 390 (my personal gumption)

P.S. No bike ever will make a biker happy! Once a biker, you're always greedy for more HP.
@Bornagainbiker, you know, once a spoiled brat, always a spoiled brat, isn't it.

@rakshit rana, again I reiterate if you're going to keep the bike for 3 + years plus, and you are into daily commuting, look no further than the CBR250R. Or why not check out the RS200 very good VFM motorcycle with enough gadgetry to keep you chugging along.

Cheers!
VJ

One thing, I'll keep the P220 with me which will do most of the daily jobs, Duke 390 will be used lesser on daily basis, and mostly on touring.

Originally posted by Bornagainbiker View Post

Yeah, I didnt get to complete my point. By Service cost alone I meant they are about equal per KM. We would need to add on the cost of tyres, which because of the Metz we have to measure separately, I guess. I have no comparable data on CBR v/s D390 spares, but I will safely assume it will be costlier on the Duke. The lower specific output of the Honda does seem to indicate a longer engine life. That's why them bullets last forever; 18BHP from 350 CC.

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Lol, could not have put it better myself VJ. Wife vs Wench indeed.

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Jack, I will differ on this. The CBR is a lot more relaxed a ride despite being a faired machine as compared to the RC's which are a lot more committed. Also while both dukes are peaky i.e. power coming in higher in the rev range, the 200 is a lot more so as I understand it. I chose the 390 mostly because I am 100+ Kilos and the extra power helps carrying my bulk. I can assert with confidence that there will be no tandooring of your legs on the 390. My usage has been almost 100% urban so far and it does get hotter than anything I have ridden before but it is certainly not unmanageable. I have the 2015 version though.

RC is not of my taste. Thought of 200, but again after spending 1.50+ lac on a 200 I won't get a significant power bump.

**Bornagainbiker** · 10-25-2015, 02:27 PM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Originally posted by rakshit rana View Post

One thing, I'll keep the P220 with me which will do most of the daily jobs, Duke 390 will be used lesser on daily basis, and mostly on touring.

See! This is a good solution. Keep the familiar and torquey 220 for daily grind and buy the 390 for when you need that almost pseudo sexual thrill between your legs

**rakshit rana** · 10-25-2015, 03:54 PM

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Originally posted by Bornagainbiker View Post

See! This is a good solution. Keep the familiar and torquey 220 for daily grind and buy the 390 for when you need that almost pseudo sexual thrill between your legs

Duke 390 sure makes sense on highways and tours, definitely worth extra 35K to spend.

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KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

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