Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Check the black rubber marked in the pic. Itll make noise same issue in my bike . Or the headlamp might be rubbing the chassis near the chassis no part.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

It's not easy to comment from which part it's coming

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Headlight i doubt because it's doesn't come everytime i take the turn, Will check the black rubber and update

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

There's a black flexible pipe that houses wires. It runs from behind the headlight and to the rear. This pipe rubs on the frame and produces a kinda "squeaking" noise when turning the handlebar. I have the same on my bike, didn't bother much.

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Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Guys, I'm looking for dual sport tyres for the 390. Been scouring the internet, and Timsun seems a direct fit, but is pricey. Found some info on Ralco Speedblaster with good reviews on both bhp forums. Getting a rear replacement is easy, but for the front tyre there's one option from Ralco but is rated for rear tyre use.

Is it sane to use a rear tyre for the front wheel? Thread patterns being opposite between front and rear, bit confused.

Planning on a long ride late next year and just scouting for supplies so I can accumulate it over time. TIA!

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Did you check out Vee Rubber? Now, I am not sure what sizes respective to our Dukes are available. But, as you said Timsun is expensive almost on par with the radial counterparts. I would suggest downgrading the tire size if you're looking for off roading tires. Keeping the rear to the stock tire dimensions and modifying the front. I'd also recommend 100/80 R17 on the Ralco, which is a rear specific tire, and the treads resemble the rear tread when compared to the Ralco SB 150/60. But, you can also check CEAT, as they have good tread patterns especially the GRIPP series.

Truth be told the dual sport is still a nascent market in India and the tire range is just a mix of potpourri with weird combinations and thread patterns. If only the Duke ADV was launched in the 110/70 and 150/60 R17 Tourances, Metz would have sold the tires like hot cakes. But taking a leaf of the ADV, just look at their tire sizes, front is 100/90 and rear is 130/80. My hunch is that it's the same old rear rim with a better fitting tire now opted by KTM for offroading.

I'd recommend use 100/80, the RALCO and I'd surely say give it a try. You're only 10 short of the ADV tire spec.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

It's loud, basically while a truck brakes in hard kinda rubbing and humming noise. I have the videos not sure how to upload

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

You can upload it to your Google Drive and share the link or upload it to YouTube and share the link.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Completely agree. Will check out Vee rubber.

My concern is, rear tyres are specifically made for acceleration and load bearing forces, whereas the front tyre is built on a lighter carcass with more emphasis on handling and braking support. Similarly, if one observes the tread patters on the front, it seems to push water (when riding on wet surfaces) towards the center of the tyre, and the rear tread pattern seems to push it to the outer edges of the tyre(on street tyres, yet to observe in dual sport tyres). The tyre in question here is the Ralco 100/80 which was built for rear tyre use. Would it be wise to use a rear tyre for the front wheel? Also read on the ADV forum, where some people have installed rear tyres on the front by reversing rotational direction, thereby reversing tread pattern as well. Unfortunately, those forum threads seem to abruptly stop without updates. I honestly believe that the rotational direction markers on the tyres are present for a reason, and cannot be messed with.

My agenda for these tyres are riding from Chennai all the way to the Ladakh region next year, and I'd be covering 75% highways, and braking is crucial! I'm more of a cruiser and not a corner junkie, so sidewall height doesn't matter to my riding style. Theoretically, I don't think fitting a rear tyre on the front is a good idea. Just checking for opinions or consensus.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Hi Jon,

I have been using Michelin Sirac Street (rear tyre 100 Sec) as a front and Ralco speedblaster on the rear (140 section). Have done a lot of kms on them including Spiti and Sach pass and highly recommend the same for you as well. You shall be very well satisfied.

Cheers

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

I think you have your answer in your second paragraph, when you mentioned "cruiser" vs "junkie". Speaking of the obvious, the guys from ADV stopped posting, perhaps it might have solved their issues. Mind you, issues get posted in threads far more than their advantages, so we take in that light Coming to the body of it and jokes apart, I think, it's worth the try Niranjan. Fact is, we don't have options, I think as long as the rotation is reversed and one or two less than the stock rating should do the job good.

These are cheap tires to experiment with, and if works, it's definitely not going to pinch the pocket, and you can sell it at a meagre and basically, there is nothing you can lose with this tire, right or wrong. But, it will work for the purpose its intended purpose, that is off road.

That's all I can think of now.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Got this repaired and reached Bangalore finally only to be welcomed with overheated engine. The radiator fan stopped working
Took it to SVC and the manager said radiator fan needs to be replaced and he said it'd be done under warranty. I asked him to double check since mine is Dec 2017 model and i thought warranty expired in Dec 2019.He showed that bike is under warranty till Dec 2020 But he couldn't arrange the parts and he asked me to visit a diff SVC.

They said that my bike is out of warranty and I'd have to pay 3k. I told them that at the earlier SVC he showed that warranty expires at 2020 Dec. After a bit of talks and phone calls they agreed to replace in warranty and then he came on about coolant which needs to be paid. I said i use a different coolant and wouldn't want them to top it up.
The new fan is of the newer models i reckon, Noise has reduced drastically and maybe a bit of heat too. All in all, glad it broke down for now


Off topic: Got this Alpinestars TGP Plus Rv2 from germany for 9.7k. Looks cool and L2 protection at shoulder and elbows.
A big fan of A stars and this was a great deal to miss.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

When you get the time, I'd suggest you post your detailed review of the jacket in the Riding Gears thread. Would definitely come in handy for folks looking to purchase. Every review counts.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Any idea on the warranty for Duke's battery?saw in the user manual that it's 1 year.is it?

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Yesterday, I went on a long ride on Duke, my first long ride on any bike since 2011. Since, I was riding after a long-long time, decided to keep the speeds low initially (70-80 Kmph), as the confidence grew I upped the speed to 100-110 Kmph. The wind blast at those speeds was unsettling for me. The bike is rock stable upto 90 Kmph, but anything above 95 kmph is not confidence inspiring, maybe due to the low weight of the bike or lack of windshield. Another major point is the rock hard seat, my butt and lower back started paining after 70 kms into the ride. I had to take break every 70-80 kms. Overall, I enjoyed the ride, but 9 years is a long time and the age is showing its effect.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

mrf has the meteor model in 140/70.. one size down from the stock 150, but shouldn't cause a problem.
for the front maybe stick to the stock size from mrf (revz fc1)