Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

You should have replied, no one's talking about the DOT number, we're talking about the date number. The DOT number is the same for all the Metz series sold in India for this size. Anyways, since you're getting a new tire, keep your observations posted.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

That looks like a reply from an automated bot. Also, if this is a common request, then the check could have done by automated image analysis.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Metzeler India reps asked me to send back the tyre to them and I would receive a new tyre from them once they receive mine. My front tyre was already worn out and they assured that no problem would occur due to this so I saved all the terrible and just installed the tyre . They couldn't confirm whether it's tampered or not.

Whereas this is the reply from the metzeler Germany.


If that doesn't look tampered then I don't know what does.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

If I understand by jumpy you mean the snatchiness nature is purely or due to the way the fueling is setup on the bike, the maps. This has been a problem right from 2013 to this day. Only adding a piggyback ECU with corrected maps can and will solve this issue. The temperamental nature, the arrogance all has not only to do with the engine, but the way the fuel is fed to the engine itself. Though as Kiran pointed out, cable setup can be adjusted to get a good tactile feel, the RBW system isn't the sole culprit here. In fact, with the right fueling and tune, the RBW is a boon when compared to cable.

Secondly, you can use the Duke 200 sprocket, the (six hole ones). The Duke 390 is 15/45, the Duke newer 200 have 14/42 six hole and they are a direct fit to the 390.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

I have ridden the old 390, pre 2017 RC390, new 390 fair bit for city commuting and B2B peak traffic and I can totally agree with the jerky and jumpy part

The pre-2017 390/RC's without the ride-by-wire is so much more easier to control in city traffic even though many say it's the other way round where new one feels easier but I don't agree, the first time I rode the 2017 390 it felt so disconnected lacked the mechanical connect and feel of the older bikes, it was missing the physical throttle cable wire for sake!

It was jumping all over the place as I felt the ride-by-wire was too sensitive and has a very sharp fuel cut off when compared to the older cable setup, you could easily modulate small amount 2-3mm of throttle input on older setup atleast for my riding style.

Even till date whenever I get to ride the new 390 it feels like a completely different bike to me and still haven't been able to connect or understand the ride-by-wire system.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

I've ridden the 390 in Bengaluru city traffic and trust me, it is more fun than the R3 that i commute on everyday.

R3 is much more broader than the 390 and doesn't fit in tight places is what i feel. I'm always scared to push it into tight places. Even if i want to, i have to fold one of the mirrors and re-open it after that tight gap lol. One wrong move from someone next to you could cost you a mirror or even worse, you could have a fall.
390 was easily "filterable" and the power is also exceptional.

But yes, you'll never be able to get the comfort and refinement. 390 is already urban friendly, if you ask me

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

I ride my 390 99% in city traffic as we know it's very rough and jumpy [emoji23] in city. I was thinking how to make it some what like r3 which is easier to ride in city and power kicks in only at higher rpm. Will decreasing 2 to 3 teeths at the rear sprocket make it tall geared and somewhat ride like a r3. I know it's because of the twin cylinder nature that makes the r3 as it is, but just curious on how to make the 390 more urban friendly bike.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

Good catch. Needless to say, just return the tyre and get a refund. But do post a review on Amazon with these pics and the name of the seller, so that others can come to know of this. (Maybe highlight the date with red so that it easily catches the eye of any one looking at the reviews)

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

There is nothing to confirm it tomorrow. If it's not tampered, he would have said, yes, it's not tampered with. The "saar tomorrow" itself should say us something. Anyway, he'll probably call tomorrow, and say he's confirmed with the Metz HQ and eventually say it's genuine. Anything can happen with the showroom folks, they know how to sell a tire, especially online, they know all the tips and tricks, and who knows even Metz might support them to get rid of the stocks, it's hard to speculate on which is true, as the speculation list can go on and on and on, like I just did. For what it's worth, Metz themselves can take the tires from the dealers and repunch with a newer date and still no one bat an eyelid. Again, one can speculate on and on.

If you're not satisfied, return the tire, that's the best you can do. You can opt for a different piece, but this "different" piece might also be the same old stock tampered again. But, if I were you, I would have returned and taken a refund.

Good luck.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences


What can be done to make sure that he doesn't do this to other customers who buy the tyre. The metz rep called me today and he assured me i would get warranty on this and neither confirmed nor denied the tampering. I said i need a solid yes/no. He said he would confirm it by tomorrow. The seller is swearing thats how the tyres are supplied by metzeler as they are official distributor ( This is confirmed by the rep too).

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences


The tire date has been tampered with, at least from what I can see. If you'll look closely, the other part of the tire are all have the shiny finish, which is how they are supposed to be. The date patch has been freshly scratched up, which you can see from the uneven and dull surface, it's as if like a slick tire that's seen a track day, the roughness and double indent patch, which is a clear sign, it's been re-dated. All this leads me to believe this is a 100% re-dated tire, and the date has been tampered with, unfortunately.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

I had recently ordered a metzeler m5 110/70 from amazon after confirming 2-3 times with the seller that its a stock 2019 product.
I got it delivered last saturday and this is how the tyre manufacturing date area looks like. I highly doubt its been tampered. On chatting with the sakes guy he directly gave me the contact nos and email ids of pirelli reps ( which kinda made me believe maybe i'm wrong), but those guys haven't confirmed nor denied its a genuine product( After which i thought of posting the pictures here).
I am attaching the pictures of the tyre i bought and the stock tyre on my bike. DO let me know what you guys think. Also if any of you have access to 2019 manufactured tyres please check if its same as this.








All the markings except the ma year and week is protruding out of the tyre surface whereas 1319 is aligned with the tyre surface which lead me to believe that they might have scratched out the original markings and then made the 1319 after digging into the tyre surface. I am not sure of this.

This is not the case with the stock tyre which came with the bike.

@B7ACKTHORN
Please let me know what you think of these images.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

If they haven't replaced the balancer seals, which they definitely would have. It's time to re-isolate it again, and yes, it's a cumbersome process. Replace the balancer shaft, the oil seals and also re-seal the crankcase joints, should yield the results.

Keep your observations posted.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences


Thanks VJ,

yes they stripped the engine and did the sealant work 8 months before.
not sure they replaced the balancer shaft.
replaced both seals.

and here i am in less than 8 months the same issue resurfacing again.

Re: 2017 Duke 390 Owners Reviews and Experiences

I'd strongly recommend you to replace the balancer shaft along with the two seals. For what its worth, the oil seals aren't that great. KTM could have made the seals better, especially the water pump side seal, because that is what tends to leak most of the time, leading to water mixing with oil. These same seal does duty on almost all the liquid cooled Bajaj bikes from NS to the Domi to the KTM series. It maybe that the seals aren't built really well or these seals aren't able to handle the heat and stress that it puts through. For some it lasts quite a while, for some sooner, unfortunately.

IIRC, on some of the newer KTMs the leak was diagnosed to faulty sealant application inside the crank case, which was then rectified by stripping the engine completely, reapplying the sealant then installing everything back.

If you're under warranty, I'd recommend you to proceed with the following.

Strip the engine fully, tell them to re-apply the crankcase sealant
Replace the balancer shaft
Replace both the oil seals.

Good luck.

Cheers!
VJ