re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

I have booked the bike without the 4K clause and actually that my first condition on which I had booked that bike. God know what might go wrong on the test ride and then my heart simply says NO, post that I do not want to loose 4K too.

re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

I knew you will ask this question I booked it to get the early mover's advantage as many and as I said early would not mind cancelling it. And hence my tirade over the lackadaisical attitude of KTM/Bajaj for neither allowing reviews nor test rides in Bangalore.

re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

Yes they can. There is definitely something going on behind the scene (whatever that is). xBHP or any other major publication will hold on to their reviews till Bajaj/KTM gives the green signal. (Why? because if one of them publishes their review without permission, they'll probably never get hold of another Bajaj or KTM bike ahead of launch).

There is a conflict only if manufacturer tries to influence the reviewers through various means to write a positive review or delete some of the worrying stuff from their reviews. So far there has been no such theory going on. The only thing is they have been asked to hold off their reviews, and not modify it or anything.

You are contradicting yourself. You have not test ridden the bike, and yet booked it. On what basis?

I tested it a couple of times. Liked it. Felt it was very useable within the city which is where 70% of my ride will be. Plus I like the specs and looks.

re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

We are on 26th. Have you heard anything from the showroom folks?

re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

Agreed wholeheartedly ...

Tell me something - Are looks & specs everything that you look for in a motorcycle? If yes please don't read the rest - My apologies.
I for one look for feel, heart and a connect with my ride. Call me stupid but then why we do really buy these motorcycles when you get Nanos & Altos in the same price.
I need at-least a short ride and see if I really like it and mind it I am speaking of a motorcycle which is completely brand new for which I am going to pay 2 lakhs and have already paid 30k as advance. If not I would rather let go of my 4k.
Since test-rides are scarce, here is where reviews kick-in, you get to know facts from experts and see if it matches our expectation.

I know reviews are not our right and KTM/Bajaj are not liable to deliver before 90 days but why are we always at the receiving end despite believing and paying through our nose. If we cancel before we need to pay 4k what if they are not able to deliver after 90 days. How about asking them 4k or the interest on 30k for 3 months

Very practical & valid point bro...

re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

I would like to know why we are not entitled to a review of D390 when we are members of XBHP here, at least don't we deserve an explanation of why it is put off. I am wondering if the manufacturer can shut off independent reviewers like XBHP what will stop them from influencing what reviewers write about the bike.

re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

I have. Just that I have my bike and quite happy with it :P

re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

You sound like you didn't book one yet.

re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

Well, since there is no more news and only rumours/rants might as well lock up this thread temporarily until xbhp publishes its review.

re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

+1 there should be some communication from bajaj.

Sent from my GT-P3100 using xBhp Connect mobile app

re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

It was clearly mentioned that there is a maximum waiting period of 90 days. So KTM/Bajaj is not liable to deliver the bikes well before time (if it does good, else nothing against them).

And there is really nothing that Bajaj/KTM need to say about the bike anymore. Everything is out there. How it looks and the specs? And meanwhile they are quietly building the bikes despite the ongoing strike at their plant.

Regarding lack of reviews, there must be a reason or understanding between the publishers and manufacturer. In any case reviews are not our right.

Nothing to rant about here.

re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

Looks like in the last 2 pages we are discussing everything except Duke 390 .
Guys - can you please take your discussion to the right threads . @ Mods - would request your attention.

Back to topic - I think i am getting a bit impatient with the current state of things in KTM showrooms in Bangalore. No info on test rides, no info on delivery even no review on Xbhp too but maybe there is a rationale for that.
No idea on whats going on in Chakan. Are KTM deliveries affected? Why are the reviews held up everywhere? And the rumors aren't helping much.
Its high time Bajaj-KTM issue an official statement or clear the air.

According to the booking receipt if it doesn't arrive in 90 days I will get back my entire amount if I cancel else 4k would be deducted. Thoroughly confused with my existing bike sold and surviving on a borrowed bike. Sorry if it sounds like a rant ...

re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

As per my dealer, the first lot is going to be distributed between Mumbai and Bangalore showrooms as the number of bookings with them are very high. Only the second lot will be distributed to the south side like Chennai, Coimbatore, and Kerala and that would be by August 20th. Disappointed, but no other go. Bought my SOL metal man (orange), DSG riding jacket (again orange and white), and Cramster summer gloves last weekend expecting this month end delivery...

re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

Well and correctly said. This is the real difference between d200 and d390.d390 is a hooligan in its own way and nature. There is no lower torque or power in the initial gears as said by some guys. Guys please take a good and long drive eventually you will notice the nature of the duke390.
It's a gr8 gr8 street machine and also a tourer.

Sent from my ST18i using xBhp Connect mobile app

re: KTM Duke 390 Launched in India at Rs 1.8 Lakhs: xBhp News

Well, with all due respect I would also like to keep my point. I have been riding a friends Duke 200 since long and most of the time the Bike is with me(around 7k kms done by me). I understand the character of the bike and how it accelerates from the word go.
Now, I went for the Duke 390 test ride, the very first time I was not able to make out much as all I was doing was checking out the acceleration, though I was able to make out that there is a strong surge in acceleration after say 6000rpm. That day I came back home without booking the bike.

I was still confused if I should get the 200 or the 390, not because I was in doubt about the performance but because on the 390 5th and 6th gear are all but usable in the city limits. I gave it some more thought and the abs lured me towards the 390. Anyway I had to book one of them, so I called up the guy at KTM Trivandrum telling him if he gives me a Proper test ride(atleast 15kms) then I would bike the bike after the test ride itself.

Now, this time around I took my sweet time understanding the difference between the 200 and the 390. I for one would say that its not about a weak bottom end on the Duke 390, but that the difference between the bottom end and the top end torque on the 390 is much more evident compared to the 200 which feels like it has an almost linear torque curve(there is a spike but not that noticeable on the 200). And this with the different or I should say taller gearing gives it a much relaxed feel. But here comes the point, Relaxed feel does not mean lack of power or less acceleration at the beginning compared to a 200, in fact I am sure if the dyno charts are compared for the duke 200 and 390, the Duke 390 would definitely show more torque throughout the rev range but because the gears can be stretched longer and shifting gear after gear not being required in the case of 390 it tends to give a relaxed feel.

So, that jumpy, I would term it jerky initial response is missing but this is what I call as being properly fast. It has all the character of a street fighter. Braking was way better than what I am used to on the duke 200 and the feedback from the tyres is just astounding. I have never experienced better road feedback on any Indian bike.

To summarize it, the bottom end is not weak but then the difference between bottom end and the top end power is significant. For people feeling that the 200 has better low down torque, I understand what exactly you guys felt. Happended to me too, but then I realised that the nature or rather the character of the 200 is such that somehow it feels way too fast for the speed its doing but then it only feels that way(Not actually faster or a stronger bottom end than the 390). Now it might be because of the engine sound as it reaches the redline in no time eating through the gears or some other factor but it would not come close to the 390 anyday.

The low down feel of the 390 can be improved I would say. Can be done with a little lower gearing but its as much of a hooligan as the 200 but in a totally different way in its current avatar. No matter how much I tried explaining without being biased but just could'nt keep my point in a proper way I guess..arghhh!

My two cents.