Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I was told higher range price hike of 15-20k in Dec or Jan.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Finally took delivery of my this afternoon, 108 days after booking it at BTM KTM.

The buying experience was poor with no proper communication regarding delivery plan.

I got the Invoice, Manual, Road Tax receipt & Insurance. RC will come by post after 40 days is what I was told and it is inline with RTO.

Quick impressions based on my ride back to office from BTM to Garudacharpalya:-

1. Riding position is very comfortable. During test ride I thought I would take a long time to get used to the riding position but thankfully I felt comfortable within 5 minutes on board.

2. Extremely flickable in traffic. Its just unbelievable!!!

3. 1+2 above makes me feel like I am riding a big RX

4. Didn't think too much about its acceleration I don't know if you call me nuts or whatever-and this is coming from somebody who has ridden just RX for past 11 years. What I mean is I didn't find it overwhelming at all in the open strecthes of ORR. Ofcourse, I have to look at the speedo to realise the bike is doing 90kmph.

5. Engine braking is V.I.O.L.E.N.T and I don't like it one bit!

6. Vibrations in the foot pegs are in unacceptable territory.


Heat was not unmanagable. The max it reached was two bars short of max limit. This is NOT a bumper to bumper commuting tool. And it is just grumbling below 4k rpm. Open roads is where it belongs.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

[MENTION=14328]NitinGirish[/MENTION] : congrats buddy. It's a long wait for you. Ur experience matches with me almost I also dint find the acceleration overwhelming beacuse of riding a 650 before. And I hope engine breaking will become bit smoother after service.

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Thank You Arnab. You rode 650 and you didn't find 390s acceleration overwhelming-fair enough. But I am used to an RX only but still I didn't find it overwhelming

Now I think I know what people meant in their reviews while saying 390 is 'calmer' 'relaxed' etc.

I hope engine breaking becomes smoother because in its current form, this alone will tire me out in city commutes.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

It'll definitely become a mad bike on top of the revs on open highways... Actually duke feels faster than the speed actually it is doing... May be due to lightweight... Need to see how stable it is when you're doing a triple digit and a volvo/truck crosses you from opposite side

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Congrats on the 390 Ride safe.

Heat and Vibes will gradually become less, slowly after the first service and the miles your bike munches.

Make sure the chain is properly lubed always to reduce the vibrations on left footpeg.

390 doesnt makes fuss when accelerating or doing triple digits. One has to look at the speed to notice. 100kmph on 390 feels like 50-60kmph on other bikes

Surprisingly, engine braking is one of the bits I liked

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Rear brake lever gives loads of feedback. You can hear the sounds from the brake lever when the ABS engages and disengages. Where as I never experienced front ABS engaging in my 3200 kms even under hard braking.

Rear kicks in very early because of relatively low weight at the rear of the bike.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I feel the exact opposite. I am riding at a good pace and then check the speedo and find that I am doing triple digits. Its so easy to do high speeds on this bike that I still feel surprised at the speed

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Ready availability of Duke 390 in KTM Lajpat Nagar, Delhi

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I see fine scratches on meter....I was thinking to put some mobile scratch guard or use 3M paint protection (not sure if it should be used or not)
Are you guys using something to protect screen from scratches ??

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Rear brake lever gives loads of feedback. You can hear the sounds from the brake lever when the ABS engages and disengages. Where as I never experienced front ABS engaging in my 3200 kms even under hard braking.

Rear kicks in very early because of relatively low weight at the rear of the bike.[/QUOTE]

Appreciate your reply buddy. Emergency braking from 110+ gets the front ABS activated and but not slippage like rear. BUt you can definitely notice.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences



Just 'HIT' the front brakes on a loose surface such as sand or gravel and you can feel the ABS kicking in on the levers. But on well laid tarmac, there is much less chance for a front skid due to the weight transfer.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Went for a 300+km ride last Sunday to Vagamon and Parundhumpara.Got to test the 390 in a whole lotta conditions.This bike is absolutely amazing.It was hot and sunny in the morning hours,extreme fog in the afternoon and heavy heavy rains after that ! You can do whatever you want with this thing and it just does it so beautifully.If you feel like cruising within the limits 60-65 at 5th gear in awesome.Burst open the throttle and before you know it you're past 120!
Anyway regarding the ride whatever the case be it dry or wet the tyres and the brakes on this bike are brilliant.They give you so much confidence Chicken strips are a thing of the past with this machine!
>Suspension is good,high speed cornering awesome. but you have to really slow down in bad road conditions or you'll feel like you're on an outta control massager :P.
>Tried everything with the brakes ...the ABS is awesome !Never felt it kick in at the front end but You can feel it more in the rear especially when traction is low(wet road,gravel).No issues at all in the braking dept.
>The tyres have awesome grip But DO NOT take it for granted.Once during the ride i got careless and downshifted from i dont know what speed and the rear tyres locked/slipped for a second or two before i got it in control(going downhill and taking a corner).If it was any other bike i guess i would be in bed in a hospital typing this.So the point is DO NOT depend on the tyres and brakes to do all the work for you!and do Be careful while accelerating in low traction(read Gravel,sand) cause the rear tyre skids a bit .nothing of concern though but just a precaution.
>Regarding the mileage i rode 315kms with 10.2L of fuel through roads consisting on primarily Uphills and Twisties...extreme uphill,uphill twisties,downhill twisties ect ect. Expect awesome mileage on Highways!Cruising at 75-85 in 6th gear gives you a 40+ figure.i got 41 and 43.
It's been a week since i got the bike,about 600 on ODO and loving every minute of it !
Ride safe ! Ride hard ! cheers !



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Same here ...Footpeg vibrations.and i also feel vibrations on the left side of the tank where the knee rests at about 3-3.5 rpm but disappears after about 4.5-5...anyone else having this ?

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Wow, nice pics, mouthwatering. I went there a few months before and was a fantastic experience. Iam planning one next month but bit worried about the roads as the 390 break bones. How are the roads now?

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

The Sales Consultant told me to put a piece of wood or rubber beneath the side stand while parking at night. This is to avoid 'grounding' or some such thing and the battery going dead. Is this true? As of now I haven't followed his advice.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

I was also present in that trip and i think i can vouch for every bit of thing he said. In fact we wer scared simply by seeing the angles that bike is going in on the corners.
And about the roads vagamon to parunthumpara save for the odd 4-5 km up hill to the view point roads are an absolute delight. Especially the super wide corners. Actually though it was a miscalculation we almost went up to kumily, but that alone gave the best corners i have seen lately. Beware of big vehicles though.


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