Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

I gave up on my search for used 390 as someone on this forum suggested and also since I was eventually frustrated with seeing enough badly maintained KTM390. Some of them in absolutely appalling state cosmetically & mechanically. The one's which were in good nick demanded high premium (upwards of 150k for 2015 early 2016 models as compared) which was out of budget so I picked up a decently well maintained CBR250 ABS instead (I know most of the members here may not align with this purchase ) for time being until a proper upgrade soon (Scalpel 790??). Hope you find a good second home for your pampered Duke390.

Almost rode 8-10 old Duke 390 and despite the usual niggles, all of these monsters had me grinning ear to ear when I opened the throttle. This is one heck of a bike guys, enjoy it.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Many miles of smiles on your CBR

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Hello guys, i will book 2017 Duke 390 in january 2018.I had visited Goregoan KTM for enquiry,the guys over there were not that good at technical knowledge and also one of my friend had bad experience of buying RC 200 from them,Any Good KTM showrooms in Mumbai suburbs(Borivali,Kandivali,Malad,Goregaon,Andheri) ??
I stay in Malad 😊
Thanks in Advance

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Gurus I need help!!!

I have had my duke 390 from 2014 without any issues, all servicing free and paid done in correct intervals from ktm ec bangalore. Last week upon reaching office, there started a loud sound like tappet sound; cant explain the sound but it was loud I could hear through the sol lid.
Anywhichways, I reached the parking lot like 700 meters from where this started. Switched off the bike, started again, it started same way with the same sound. Being late left it there and end of day, tried to start but it refused to start at this point. Gave an error something like j6-1 or something which I don’t remember at this point, code search says battery issue. Tried a push start method, did not work. It wouldn’t crank but I can hear the relay and self seems good.
Ktm whitefield came got a new battery with him, replaced but wouldn’t start so they asked to tow in.

This was last Tuesday, it’s a week now; they finally said it’s engine stuck and said they will open the top part costing like 1800; now they say piston timing chain, valve , shim etc needs replacement. Attached are some pics which I have asked them to send. I’m noob at this need some clarity on this. He estimated around 10 to 15k :@

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Dear Mods,
Sorry, can this be moved to the help section? As I really need some light on if the parts actually needs change

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

@dreamgrowls
my best guess is that you might have a bust stator coil, but the entire engine to be made up???? sounds fishy, maybe @s1d or @B7ACKTHORN can give an insight...

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

How many km's have you done?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Thanks for reply, Ajay: they did change the battery and also bypassed the relay, it wouldn’t crank but sound from starter works.
Incipient: around 40k

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

The incident itself is a little off-the-wall here to get into a conclusion. First, your bike produced a loud sound, you stopped your bike. Now, you re-started your bike, which means the starter motor cranked fine, and the bike started with the same sound. Now, the battery being dead, the starter motor refuses to crank the engine, throws up an error in the console. From my understanding, you either have a busted battery, or a failed stator coil that's one, replacing either one of them or both should solve the starting issue.

Now to the loud sound, that is indeed purely mechanical. This can either be a failed starter clutch, or a failed metal component or sheared component that can cause further damage to the spining motor. This, indeed, does require a thorough examination as it can be anywhere in the motor, the head, the piston or the lower part of the engine where even a small metal bit can induce havoc to the rest of the motor.

Unfortunately, the only way to do this is to examine the engine thoroughly, and it needs a partial to full strip down of the engine, prima facie. It also comes down to how well the mechanic was astute enough to find out where the fault originates or originated, if he were to crank the engine, somehow as that would have given him an idea as to where to start in the first place, failing which, all the thinking goes to guesswork, and guesswork leads to partial or whole strip of the engine, where they do a complete post mortem of the motor. Unfortunately that's what's happened in your case.

Your stator coil does need an examination to see if it's worthy enough to provide enough juice to a battery. Though that's important, mechanical sounds from an engine is a BIG NO and that is to prioritized over stator and battery.

Post your detailed post mortem chronology here so that we all get a sense as to what what went wrong in the first place.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

[MENTION=72549]dreamgrowls[/MENTION]

That piston sure has seen better days and warrants a change but what exactly was rattling?
And guys,is so much carbon build up on a 40k kms run machine usual or is it the residue of burnt engine oil in which case maybe the motor ran out of lubricant ending in the death rattle.
Did the mechanic say with surety what went wrong?
Please grill him for possible issue so that you can be more sure and not let the problem crop up again.
Estimate provided to you for the work involved is genuine.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Thanks guys for the reply, @VJ: I ll try get a chrono. [MENTION=42309]zestbiker[/MENTION]: the whole ordeal with mechanic itself was horrible as they prolonged the process of letting me know what is wrong which they still haven’t. All they said was they will open the top part and see and let me know, later I get to know that they dismantled entire thing and then telling me some parts need replacement like piston, timing chain etc,. I wasn’t sure what to derive from the pics that was sent and the cost involved hence posted here.
Bike has been running without any issues till date, oils I top up regularly, so is it possible for a running engine to suddenly go kaput is something that I wonder.

@VJ: sound was more of a high whirring thin strip metal plate banging sorts. Also they came to my office and put a new battery and it wouldn’t start. Push start didn’t work either, they tried this too.

Anyways I’ll go over there Tommorow to understand what it is and get back.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Once dismantled, the only option is examine and HARD! From what I can see, the piston still has more usable life left. I can see no scoring marks over the skirts and the crown hasn't taken any beating as such from the valve train in case of a failed valve train. A good decarb session would mean the piston can still pump iron for a long time to come. I would definitely recommend you to check your valve train. The sound you mentioned, high whirring metal plate banging sorts can be caused by a failed or a failing valve train which can cause catastrophic failure. There have been once incidence where the valve train just cracked the head and the valve cover causing catastrophic engine failure.

A pic of your cylinder kit would also be appreciated, the inside and the valve train if possible, would be interesting to see.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Hello guys, my bike is 2014 model and so far it has completed 41000 km.
Till now i haven't changed my battery. Today is showing low battery and unable to start my bike.
I was going through the manual and it's says that the stock battery is 12v 8ah. I'm unable to find battery of similar specification on net. All of them are 12v 9ah [be amaron or exide]. i'll first give the battery to charge it and see if it's working. If i have to purchase a new one, will the 12v 9 ah battery will be okay ?




Cheers

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Hello i need some help with engine issues! I am loosing my oil much quickly i have faced this issue 3 times topped up oil nearly 400 ml each time within a span of 600 kms each time! And i cannot see any smoke from the exhaust to determine the piston problems. Nor is there any leakage as i have my private parking and its clean every morning i remove my bike from its place theres no drop of engine oil! Can anyone help. Sorry to post in duke section mine is 2014 rc390 clocked 48k kms.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Bigger battery is always good for your vehicle. You can store more power in an aging bike, which consumes more power because of wear and tear.

I always buy a one size bigger for all my bikes and cars, only if it fits in battery compartment without any modifications.