Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

The mrf revz c/c1 and fc/fc1 (old/new model) are NOT hard, on that contrary they are the softest compound desi brand tires you can find on the market. They are a good set of tires IMO.
Michelin pilot street radial is better than mrf in resisting/preventing punctures and provides slightly better ride comfort. The rear tire alone costs around 5500~6000rs.
The metz will be the stickiest of the lot, but you have to give up tire life and it is more puncture prone.. plus will cost you a bomb.
I'd say stick to the mrf for a few months and then take a call on if you want to change tires. And remember to maintain the recommended tire pressures, a lot of folks over inflate the tires and then complain that they are 'hard' 'skidding' etc..

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Hello folks.I am looking around for a 2013 -15 KTM 390 approx 25-30k run. Budget approx Rs. 1.3 lak. Would love to have your inputs on what to look out for in the service book and the bike in general based on your experience of ownership. I don't want a new one as it will be strictly for pleasure riding. Your help is most appreciated. Please elaborate a little for ease of understanding as I am not familiar with KTM 390.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Generally its the miles on the odo,🤗 but if you know someone who really maintains his bike properly,🤔 than it would be an awesome deal, but if you dont know anyone like that, than you can take a friend who rides a😄 390 when you go to check the bike and let him test ride it, and he will know if the bike is good☺ or not. Or you can take it to a trusted mechanic, and he will tell you if the bike has any problems🙄, after getting the bike take it to the service centre. Best of luck👍

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Well pilot street radial is a great choice,😊 if you are more of a city rider or a tourer and you just become rossi sometimes, 😜, the tyre wont give up, but its not as good as metz, metz has superior grip than the michelin, and than there is pirelli diablo rosso 2, which comes in same category as the metz but has a better life🙂, and also same price range as the metz, but mind you the rear 150 tyre looks small 😯compared to metz and michelin, michelin looks bigger among all😝, and talking about mrf, they are good tyres👌, but not that confidence inspiring. Choose wisely.👍

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

But tell me some visual and technical hints were I can judge of a second comprehensive visit is required or not. E.g. seal leak, gasket issues, coolent issue, specific instrument malfunction issues etc. Something that can be checked in the first visit. I do not know any one who rides one.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Yes definitely, forgot to mention that 😜, do check for oil seal leaks, but even if the oil seal is leaking you can always change it, its not that much of a deal🤗, but gasket is a big deal, but gasket shouldnt blow, 2015 model bikes have no issue of gasket🤔, but yes there will be weeps of leaks near the gasket and oil filter area, that is always there, that's how the bike is raw and powerful 😋, jus have to live with it😌, but i have heard gasket issues from people who have used 300v, but not everyone, maybe they were not maintaining their bike properly😯, coolant you can always change it like the engine oil,😌 but do check if there is any issue with the radiator, you will have to test ride it for that.🙂, and same goes with the instrument. Haha and download OBV(orange book value)😛

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

I am trying to find a crash guard like this.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences



Anybody using this chainlube.there is pretty good reviews about it

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

I use Tribocor only during touring because it sticks pretty well but makes an absolute mess of the motorcycle. It sticks to the damn chain guard and cables behind the footrests. It then slowly turns into some gooey black substance you really want to avoid. I always wash the side stand area after a round of Tribocor is up when my chain needs to be lubed up again.

Motul though expensive does the job pretty nicely but dries out and collects dust very fast.

3M is crap.

So, IMO Tribocor (when intervals are 700-1000km)
Motul (Whenever the chain looks dry, can be as less as 100 km)

Oh, and never lube a chain on the outside like shown in the picture. Just lube the inside.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

In chronological order..

1. Check the tire for wear, if it's nearing replacement, reduce the amount or ask for a new tire setup
2. Check for for fork oil seal leak. Ride the bike with rapid front braking in succession over humps, you can find out if you have a leak.
3. Check for proper working of headlamps, indicators and flashers.
4. During riding, and braking hard (esp, the front one) check if you see, tak, tak sounds. If you hear, tak or katak everytime you go over a speed breaker or apply the front brake, a front end coneset job is imminent.
5. Check the brakes, use them as much as you can, brake, stand, do whatever you have to do make sure the brakes aren't screeching or the rotor doesn't have significant steps on them. If you observe more score marks on the front and back rotor with screeching sounds while slowing down, your pads and rotors are up for a change.
6. Check if the engine is sounding smooth, especially the starter motor. Crank three to four times switching the motorcycle and check if it cranks properly, check the battery voltage if you have to. Along with this, you should hear the fuel pump prime smooth and crisp and the motorcycle should crank in less thank two crank spins. If you hear the fuel pump making crazy sounds or not priming at all. We have problem.
7. Rev the engine a couple of times to check for white smoke. If observed, we have trouble.
8. Let the bike idle for a few mins allow the fan to kick in, if it kicks in smooth and shuts off smooth without any grinding or any owlish sounds, then it's good.
9 Check the chain, check for any slaps during riding. Also check the adjuster slider nut, if it's maxed out, the chain is end of life. Replacement is necessary.
10. If the bike checks all of the above, go for it. Phew!

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Cheers thanks for the pointers.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Thanks bro. I got it will use it for sometime

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

tribocor is aamazing.. it comes for 500 kms+ on my 390.. and 3M is pathetic.. it hardly comes 150km. i would also like to know where I can get tribocor in offline shops and which are the shops and which area in Bangalore is it available?. Please let me know.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Try Lets gear up in HSR.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Bikopedia has them too