Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Yeah ownership review probably when i cross the 100k mark.

Yes that Abs light is supposed to go off once you start riding. If it stays on then you have a problem with the the Abs. I've never tried the Mrf tyres but they should be ok to live with. Just give your bike a full service.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

When was the last time the fork oil was replaced ?
Replace the fork oil and add slightly less 440ml (the capacity is 450ml), this might give you a wee bit softer front end. I did the same on my D200 today. A few months ago had replaced the oil and looks like the mech added more oil.. the front end had stiffened up a bit, now it's softer like how it was when new.

The suspension on the 390 is tuned/setup differently compared to the 200, though the parts are the similar.
Here is some information on this:
The KTM 390 Duke's chassis, suspension and tyre changes explained - Overdrive

When you disassemble the forks to change the oil/seals, the stanchion tubes are removed.. and the actual springs are located inside this (unlike your conventional forks). I have no idea on how to adjust/change the preload/damping on the front suspension since i haven't really taken them apart. There is a nut at the top of the tube which i think can be used to make some adjustment

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Thanks that's some great info. I checked the D200 and D390 front springs. Couldn't tell the difference at all. I'm sure it's the oil inside the forks that are making it stiff. I'm using the motul fork oil... I think it was change a year back. I think I will go adding 10ml less. Thanks for the link and clarification...much appreciated.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Start off with changing all the fluids, this helps remove all the guesswork as to whats and ifs from the previous ownership. Secondly, Michelin Pilot Street Radials are a decent all rounder for the 390. Thirdly, yes the ABS light switches off once the bike is in motion, and that's how it's supposed to work.

There aren't any preload or spring rate adjustments on the forks offered on the Dukes sold in India, they are just primitive upside down forks. Genuine WP (Austrian Ones, CUP VERSIONS) they have preload adjustable front forks.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

use the oem fork oil from ktm svc. the recommended grade is 5w, and i think the fluid that bajaj (i.e. endurance which makes the wp suspension in india) use a 10w (or is it a 5w.. not sure because i remember reading about this somewhere) oil and their supplier being hp iirc.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Hi,

I have clocked 50k in my 390 and not changed the fork oils yet, does the fork oils works well after these many kms or do I need to change?

Spoke the my trusted mechanic in svc he says, don't need to change unless there's a issue. They are synthetic oil will be good enough.

But thought of getting inputs from experts here. Any inputs on this!

Cheers [emoji111]️

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Hey there, better to get it changed every 2 years or so. Check the owner's manual for the fork oil change interval. I think it's good to get it changed now since you've covered 50k kms.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Riders SOS!

Today morning just like that I opened the cap of coolant reservoir of my D390 and came to knoe that the engine oil is getting mixed with the coolant. But when I checked the engine oil(after heating up the engine) from sight glass, it looked absolutely fine. The engine oil was deep red in color and even was upto the optimum level. So what could be the prominent reason for the same? Probably a faulty head gaseket or something else?
M/C is dec 2014 model with close to 12.5K kms on ODO.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

care to post a pic of what you see in the coolant expansion tank ?
a water pump seal failure or head gasket failure are the two possible culprits. do you see any white smoke from the exhaust ?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Following are the pictures which shows that something(most probably engine oil) is getting mixed with the coolant. I have changed the coolant to motul motocool on the month of june 2017. Till date it never went a millimeter down in the reading scale. Periodic services are being followed religiously and i change the engine oil in every 3500 kms. No smoke(neither white nor black) is been experienced till date and the machine never ever over-heated.

If I haven't opened the cap today, I would have never came to know about this thing.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

The oil will have lost is kinematic viscosity by now going thro the compression cycles of 50k kms-a lot of gas must have built up(or escaped) leading to inconsistent damping and a willowy steering feel-not really felt in a straight line but definitely when leaned over on crooked pavement.
If you plan to keep the bike,change the fork oil for sure.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Thank you all for the inputs, I will change it upcoming weekends and will update here.

Spoke to the mechanic, he says "fork oil seal needs to be replaced" and the total cost would come around 2.5k

And any idea whats the stock oil,
If stock oil is not so good any other recommendations ?

Cheers [emoji1365]

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

It served u well for 50k kms-what more do you want from the stock oil-stick to stock bro-no knowing how the hydrocarbons from a non stock oil will affect the material of the fork seals

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

You should tell him, even synthetic oil needs replacing, don't they! Fork oils like any oils do degrade over time, they lose their viscosity after repeated shearing of the fork action, up and down, and over time the bonding between the molecules give up and become watery. It's very important to change the fork oil when fork seals are replaced as a pair. The Duke 390 uses SAE 4w oil for fork, 450 ML per fork.

Coolant mixing with oil is a silent killer of the 390 series. It happen when you least expect, during a trip or just during a weekend ride, and what not. The blood-brain barrier is separated by two oil seals. Over time these seals fail and cause mild seepage of oil into engine or coolant into engine, either way it's time to inspect the water pump seals, and also check the cylinder gasket (the middle one) if it's failed. A failed head gasket too causes similar leaks. Coolant should be absolutely grime free when checked any time of the day.

Now, for some solace, even plain rust can throw up symptoms such as coolant mixing with oil. As we all know, water inside radiator causes rusting to form over time due to poor water quality and what not. Now, when the radiator is heated up, these rust particles mix with water and create a browinish-tinge appearance to the coolant which looks like stirred up mud water. A small test should let you know what's what.

Nonetheless, it's imperative you get the cylinder head gasket and water pump seals checked. Keep your observations posted.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Ownership Reviews and Experiences

Good to change the fork oil around every 3 yrs.
Stick to the stock fork oil that ktm supplies.. and when filling I would recommend adding 440ml (recommended is 450.. but NEVER over fill).
Total cost of oil, fork seals and labor is 2000rs (both forks included).. i just got it done the day before.
You could skip the fork oil seals if they are ok and just do the oil change (subtract Rs.740 if you skip the seals.. each seal kit is around Rs.370)

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I am unable to make out from the pictures if it indeed is oil+coolant. It could just be dust/old coolant breakdown gunk that you are seeing. From what you tell, i doubt it's oil mixing with coolant.
Maybe try to drain the oil & coolant and check just to be sure, before replacing the seals/gasket.