Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Start going through this thread from the beginning and all your questions will be answered, it would be like having PhD in duke 390

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Im planning to upgrade to duke390. Im planning to buy a used 2018 d390 since my budget is not upto 3 lakhs
During my buying process wht r the things should i check if the bike has any issues?
Does d390 has any common issues that i should check?
Also whts the mileage u guys are getting?
How the service cost?
Do v need to use only premium petrol on d390 since it has high compression ratio engine?
Sorry for so many questions since this is my dream bike
Thanks in advance

Sent from my SM-A505F using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

DUKEism....quite short weekend ride, but a lot of fun.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

This is by far the best bike in the segment. bought it on 9th June 2016 when the bike was fairly new. So fir did 12000 kms and availed 3 servicing. Bike is definitely eye caching and is a beast, riding position is absolutely fine and can do touring on this bike, I have done a single day stretch of 520 km with ease. Pillion might face little problem though but for long rides it is recommended to go without pillion. Mileage: In city I have got mileage of 12 as well once in in bumper to bumper traffic of Delhi. That was only once though, the regular mileage that speedo shows is 28 kmpl and checked it multiple times for a distance of 1000 km in city only so it hovers around 28-30 kmpl but that is speedo reading, the actual mileage is 22-23 kmpl. I always fill petrol for 500 RS and push the bike to go 150 km in that amount and most of the time it goes till that point. sometimes do need to refuel at 135km. Parts replaced: Digital Speedo has ghost image problem so it was replaced under warranty at 4835 km. Radiator is supposed to kick in after a particular temp. but radiator was very intermittent got it replaced under warranty too. apart from that at 11k got chain set replaced for 3200 and disc pad pair replaced twice. Heating: If you are riding bike in a moving traffic the temp bars will not go over 4 bars out of 8 and will remain managed, but engine heats up in bumper to bumper traffic. You cannot ride the bike in shorts or flip-flops, it will literally burn the skin in hot summer day. I learnt to live with it, though not a big thing to adjust. Keep lubricating the chain after every 500km and keep a check on coolant level. Handling and breaking is very good. Cons. - Heats up but you can live with it, don't let your gf wear open footwear in summer afternoon on this bike it could be very uncomfortable. -RPM is not stable in idle - Hard to ride at slow speed, gives jerk, rides well after 4k rpm - Maintenance is little high as parts are bit expensive, front disc pad for pulsar 130/- for duke 2800/- rear is for 520 around, 1 single indicator 700, radiator 1800 headlight assembly 12k Pros - Best value of money bike - Best looks - Handling and breaking is awesome - suspension soaks up everything - digital meter displays alot of info - Best for touring and a lot more... overall good bike nothing comes closure when looking for a bike in this range a complete bike, very happy with performance over last one year and 12k km. Shareit vidmate

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

So who got better marks by the way? [emoji28]

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Guys I am shifting to Chennai...Not even done 1st service...Any good service centres around sholinganallur??

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

I have been using shell fuel on every bike I have used, there's always a difference compared to any other fuel if you use Vpower then it makes bike even more responsive and smoother but its too expensive for the "benefits" it gives so I opt for normal one all the time.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Even I used to feel like that, at times I thought filling in reliance bunk made the bike smooth but all crap. Bike behaves based on its mind nobody has control sometimes even in almost empty tank it feels smooth.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Another thing I've noticed is that the amount of fuel in the tank also matters, whenever the fuel reaches to less than 2-3 bars, the bike suddenly starts to feels rough and jerky.

The moment you top it up full tank till the rim cap, suddenly the bike comes back to life and starts flying again. Could be that pressure also matters when you have full tank(when the pump is fully submerged) vs half tank

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Guess it can be. But what i felt was it was holding the 2k rpm at idle without jumping. But not the case with other fuels.

Let mebtry their v power, and will update here.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

yes, fuel from certain pumps/outlets might 'feel better'(As is better throttle response), not just with shell. Shell itself buys its fuel from our govt refineries because i don't think they have their own extraction/refineries in India to make fuel themselves. what they probably do is have less/no adulteration and maybe add their 'additive' (especially on their premium fuel) package to the fuel.
apart from that, some state owned pumps (IOC,BP,HP..) at times retail fuel with 5-10% ethanol, and again this isn't consistent at the moment due to irregular supply of ethanol to their refineries. Whereas Shell, Essar (pvt players) do not sell an ethanol blend at the moment.. so this might also be making the difference you felt.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Before you do anything yourself, this can be claimed under warranty, try to fight it out for warranty replacement claim, clearly looks to be poor weld from the factory.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Does shell petrol makes a considerable difference in engine smoothness.

I didn't care about the fuel unless i started using shell. there was almost 0 jerkiness with shell. But i feel a considerable difference with other fuels.

Anyone felt the same ?

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Guys, I recommend you check after service, especially after warranty service if both fork gaskets and oil is changed in case if only one side of the fork was leaking.
I had this issue and as understand now (after other one started to leak) is that they changed only one side - damaged. After warrantu is over, i am not going anymore to service center, i do not trust them. Also after one time when my petrol was stolen (Yes, in official KTM service). My mechanic told that in case if only one side is leaking, both sides must be changed, also oil if leakage was for a while. Also he told that that gasket spear parts alwas are in pair. Noone sell only one, so i suspect that they charged for full set (2), but changed one.

OK, enough s#it bad things.

I had a lot of fun with my Duke.

Dukism, Haleyism, Himalayanism...


Picnic ride...


Just a solo ride...


And last one. I was lucky to have for free bigger brother of Duke for 2 months in Europe. KTM 950 Adventure. After coming back to India and starting riding my Duke i felt pretty weird for a week after that beast.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences



Hi Guys,

Just saw this yesterday on the bike. The weld on the right side of the black box under the rear shock (Is it the catalytic conv? or just an expansion chamber of some sort?) seems to be broken off. Can we get this fixed back I mean welded back? I am getting some annoying vibrations on the footpegs, not sure if this causing it but still.

Thanks,
Aswin