Re: Persisting stalling and engine noise with my Duke 390

From what I have come across, this erratic idling is due to erratic stepper motor functioning. On FI motorcycles a stepper motor is what holds the idle/slow speed, and an erratic stepper motor movement means erratic opening and closing of the throttle body which means erratic idling, that's one. Now, going by your experience, hoping you've checked for any errors using the diagnostic tool and didn't find any, I'd suggest you check your stepper motor, if you find it faulty, then replace your stepper motor/throttle body. One way to check this is to ask the SVC guys to temporarily try another bike's throttle body in case if they have lying around and observe if you find any differences. If you still have erratic idling then we can proceed to other diagnoses. Lo and behold, from my experience the stepper motor/throttle body "might" be the culprit. In case you haven't cleaned your throttle body, now is the right time to do so. But then again, since you've mentioned you're facing this idling issue from day one, your stepper motor is what's at fault here.

Regarding tickling noise, KTMs have it in their genes to be clunky that's how they are. If after replacing the shims, adjusting the clearances et al done in the right manner and you still are having this tickling noise, fret not, it's how it is. Also your timing chain tensioner (now I don't exactly know how many kays you've clocked in your bike) if upwards of 20k then it's a good idea to replace the tensioner for once. But no matter you do, it's impossible to eliminate the clicking sound, it's how the motorcycle is.

Keep us posted.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: Persisting stalling and engine noise with my Duke 390

Compare the ticking noise with other 390.If the sound is lot more i suggest you to open the head and check the valves.My duke 200 had the same problem,there would be a loud ticking noise during idle and when decelerating.The valve guide had a mild gap with the engine head.so every cycle would cause the valve to tick.You can either replace the engine head or try your luck with some lathe shops.This problem was reported by many duke 200 owners and a very few 390's too.

Re: Persisting stalling and engine noise with my Duke 390

Very true, Mine is 2013 Nov model, I have the same noise since the day one. I got the shims replaced, adjusted the valve clearances, even changed the valves and timing chain under warranty yet the noise still exists. This was done around 15k kms on ODO,got fed up keeping the bike at SVC and eventually took it back. Now 25k kms on ODO and noise is very much the same apart from that all is well. Talked to many guys at SVC, they all say that 2013 models has more predominant noise around the head of engine compared to the new dukes.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

hello all,

update after a long time. my bike was in svc for the past 6 months. that is from last november 2015. didnt know what to do. in between ktm zonal manager got replaced and delayed my work again.

bike had persistent issues that you all know of. anyway last month i got it out after all repairs. now satisfied for time being. all errors were there during warranty period. My warranty had expired in november 2015. so my plan was, not to take bike without closing all errors under warranty.

its a long story of 6 months with shuttling between 2 svc and many calls and mails to different people.

390 is weird that, the same error on 2 bikes might need 2 different solutions.

1. speedo defects- 0 error and water/ droplet seepage. tried replacing speedo. 0 error remained. final solution- different batch need different speedo.

2. high coolant temperature- tried replacing radiator fan, coolant, wiring kit. final solution- though battery seemed fine on check ups, if a new battery was installed error vanished.

3. tick tick noise from cylinder head- tried gaskets, valves setting, shims,etc. final solution-cam chain tensioner replace.

4. rear suspension leak- new zonal manager didnt approve due to ego, by saying its a long time since my warranty is over, but it was leaking from past july. solution- replaced to new model with covering with own money. hope it lives long.

5. clutch shut down- stator coil kit replaced and few other clutch re setting done.

additional works carried out- front fork oil changed. should have done every 10k kms. missed it. regret it. hope seals live extra.

wished to install new model throttle, but it requires whole assembly change and not just grip.

nearing 40k now. exhaust is very loud now. some grinding noise comes for few seconds while accelerating in 4th gear from 40km/hr, from left engine side.

small story yet relevant...

zonal manager had came for a TD to see errors. while riding i shifted from 3rd to 4th at 7k rpm, and he told from rear that im deliberately damaging engine. 390 is not designed to take 7000 rpm or such shifts. I didnt reply. Such people cant be taught.

and soon he also commented that i was trying to bring up non existent errors just to get it free service. hell, i had to replicate a B2B traffic condition to get high coolant error. luckily i did get it soon.

regarding speedo replace and its relation with batch similarity, he says, no such solution. all speedo are same. All i understood was, he was doing this job for a living and was new to bikes. i didnt correct or respond.

luckily my bike was repaired and solutions found coz of another SA in Tvm svc.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Glad your bike is fine and back.. I can't live without mine for a few hours.. 6 months is hell.. Pure hell... The problems of having a non biker in a bike industry.. Yeah.. Have to live with that... They can't be taught coz they won't learn.. Very few with learning attitude... But what shocks me : 10K kms, fork oil change... I changed mine at 20K.. No issues.. Its a bit stiffer... That's all... Works and takes the big impacts.. Small ones it just transfers to me... But 10K for fork oil is too low.. I changed my Honda unicorn fork oil at over 50K kms... Can't compare them, but come on!!! Let it be reasonable...!!!

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Hi Guys,

I just got my new DEMON , A 390 black duke now... The 1st thing i noticed is the Heating issue still exists , but its significantly reduced, much much less than my DUKE 200. overall amazing bike, amazing ABS brakes.. wonderfull. Lookin forward to takin out for ride this weekend and check it out...

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Hello guys,

I recently bought a duke 390 and have a small query regarding the run-in period. It's been a month since I took the delivery and never got a chance to take it for long rides.

My query- I completed around 250 kms and the first service date is in a week. Can I use it normally without any speed limits after the first service or should I maintain lower speeds till completing 1K Kms?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

There is a chance that the speedo console could be different between different model years. for example, the RC series came with a 7500km service interval from the beginning IIRC, while the Duke's initially had a 5000km interval and later on in 2015 switched to 7500km intervals. There are two possibilities, i.e. this is programmed either into the ecu electronics or the console electronics (if its console electronics, then definitely the model will be different)

Don't they repair the rear monoshock ? Am curious, because the workshop manual gives a detailed breakdown of 'how-to' replace the seals & oil in the monoshock.
Honestly, these forks don't need attention at as low as 10k km, unless there is a leak. Its better to let these monkeys stay off parts that are in good working order .

I found out something interesting today when i went in for service. they were replacing the fork oil/seals on another duke and i notice that the fork oil bottle looked different (like one of those plastic bottles that hold medicine capsules) and the price on it iirc was Rs.92 for 160ml and only had the 'ktm_spareparts' label with price.. no other information.
The oil that was used in my fork earlier came in a bottle with a conical top (like the sewing machine oil bottle) and it had bajaj and hp labeling. This oil was a mere 42rs for 160ml .
When i asked them, they din't give a proper reply and were smiling
I am assuming that this 42rs/160ml oil was bought from their bajaj spares section (probably used on pulsars and a 10w weight oil) compared to the 5w recommended on the ktm. There was a minor difference in the damping initially (since i replaced the oil in only the leaky r/h fork) but over time maybe i got used to it.
Luckily i keep all the bills intact, so I will shoot an email to ktm and ask them to clarify.. and if its true that the wrong oil was used, i will make them replace oil in both forks!

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keep it in the recommended rpm range i.e. 7500rpm until the first 1000km (irrespective of when you get the 1st svc done, be it at 400km or 1000km)
the 390 does 100+kmph even if you keep it under 7500rpm.. so you could go on highway trips at decent speeds without any issues. going over the 7500rpm a couple of times is not going to ruin anything but constantly riding at higher rpm's (over 7500) is not recommended.. especially on the 390.
Even after 1000km, gradually build up the rpm's for the next 500 or so km and after that you could be more generous with your right hand!

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Hello guys, i ride a 2014,December duke 390, so on a ride to shimoga about 2 days back ( i was riding at 3am) i went over atleast 10 speed breakers at 80kmph, it scared the hell out of me but i survived. After that the handling seems a bit awkward, while going at 20 or 30 and taking a curve the handling seems a bit dodgy, its not a smooth turn and while going over speedbreakers after the fron tyre passes it the bike tends to handle a bit to the right.
Is it okay or should i go to the showroom to check it out?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

DUKE 390 HAS NO PROBS ON ROADS WITH HIGH LEVEL OF WATER.
Yesterday, after office.. suddenly it began to rain a lot. The rain never seemed to stop. It was increasing more by the minute. Seeing no sign of it stopping, I finally took the bike out of my office parking. There is a stretch of roughly 5-6 kms just before my home where water level rises pretty high. I was praying to God, "Please don't create a flood in that particular stretch". But, alas when I reached the road, it was completely submerged in water. Cars stopped and there was a long line. Ppl were wondering whether to go ahead. I decided to jump the queue and dived straight into the river. Crossed the first stretch comfortably although the waves were trying to sway the bike. Saw 2 autos stranded in the middle and the drivers were pushing it out of the way. Then, saw the cars taking the opposite lane as water was a bit less there. Crossed it comfortably. The original lane was like the indian ocean. Too much water.

Then came the final stretch. Wayyy tooo much water to cross. There was an activa ahead of me. He stopped and was in doubt whether to go or not. Even the i20 ahead of him stopped. I was wondering whether to proceed or not. Just then a Duke 200 and another activa came from behind and went right into the water. The activa stopped right in middle of the stretch and the rider had to manually push it in knee deep water, but the Duke 200 sailed right through. Seeing this the activa in front of me took a u-turn. But, I took courage and went into the river. This stretch was difficult as the water level was really high. I had just gone past the stranded Activa, when my bike began to go incredibly hot. I was wondering what happened, when my eyes fell on the console and the bike was in 3rd gear. I immediately put my feet on the gear level and found out it was beneath the water level. After a momentary gasp, found the lever and changed the gear to 2nd and the bike immediately cooled down (Later on I found out that you've to ride in 2nd gear in water situations such as these). Anyways, thankfully I crossed the stretch successfully.
Moral of the story is that the Duke 200 as well as 390 is pretty much comfortable in high water-level situations.[emoji4] [emoji16]

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Duke never had a problem going through knee deep water. Check out this video -> https://youtu.be/oqMc1q_dEGc. Taking this to Ladhak region shouldn't be a problem at all :-D

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

True that,I've ridden my bike in knee deep water,but because of me using my clutch and throttle too hard to gain movement,my clutch got fried,had to replace it.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Haha
Check this one.



Its more than what we can even think.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Nice videos. Both of them really. Thanks.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

I think it's because of the silencer is more like inverted glass & water won't get in easily.

I have even seen an review before buying. A women rider switches off & starts duke in water. But it was below pegs.

And what's the maximum wading depth. ?!!

I thought it's till the bottom of the cylinder where an wire was connected to cylinder. But now it seems a lot more.


BTW guys don't quote the full post for gods sake [emoji31]