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

The D200 will accelerate faster than the D390 in the first second at least because the kinetic inertia of D200 will be less than a D390. But after the first second D390 will catch up and unless you control well you will overshoot your intended overtake length. I don't know why people don't understand that there is bound to be some difference in riding, c'mon guys one is almost double the capacity of the other.

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

Duke 200: For example you twisted the throttle to overtake the bus at 1st sec(assuming total duration of the overtake is 3 sec), you get instant pickup and cross the bus at 3rd second. Whereas in D390 You initiate the throttle at 1st second and her you will get pickup in the 2nd second and the pickup is so massive that you cross the bus in 2.5 sec. If you initiate the overtake by shifting the gear down you will be cross the bus in 1.5 sec to 2 sec. It all depends on how you use it. D390 pickup is amazing but the initial acceleration does not feel like D200 to be honest but it actually goes faster than D200. Take a test drive and I am sure that you are going to love it. I see so many guys here compare D390 to D200 which I feel is not right. Both characters are different even though it looks similar. This would be a best upgrade for Yamaha R15, CBR 150, CBR 250 and P220 owners. I did not mention D200 bcos its character is different and I am pretty sure that D200 owners would not be happy with D390. Before doing a test ride of D390 forget your D200 to understand the bike in a better way.

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

Guys, thank you for comprehensive test ride reports! They are really helpful.

I have a question about that pull that's apparently little bit lacking:
Today I had a 250 km ride up and down to KTM showroom to do a service on my D200 and see the D390 (sadly no test rides yet), and I really enjoyed the spirited ride.
One of the things I enjoyed during the ride on my D200 and was wondering how it would be on D390 was those quick 3 sec overtakings. Basically I just twist a throttle, "catapult" myself, pass a car/bus/truck quickly and then slow down immediately because of more traffic ahead.
This usually needs a bigger bike, but D200 does it pretty well for such a small engine. You twist the throttle and it responds instantly with strong pull, so such quick overtakings are possible with it.

The question is - would D390 be able to instantly strongly accelerate the moment I twist the throttle or would it have a little delayed acceleration?

Of course, I'm aware were talking about 43 hp vs 25 hp, so this is more of a question about the character of the bike, but also a very practical one.
I don't want to twist a throttle and then it takes a sec or two before the bike accelerates strongly because that's almost when I'll want to slow down. I need a sudden acceleration exactly when I need it, not a second later. It's about instant acceleration, about the timing.

Basically - are those 43 horses little lazy (even if it's just 1 sec) or are they agile and respond instantly?

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

What has strike to do with reviews?? And most of the guys were done reviewing the bike but they were asked by bajaj to hold onto them.

Sent from my GT-P3100 using xBhp Connect mobile app

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

due to bajaj strike

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

Any news/update on why no reviews are coming out???

Sent from my GT-P3100 using xBhp Connect mobile app

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

One thing I forgot to mention is that, the lower 10mm seat height has worked perfectly for me. I'm 6' and now my knees no longer hit the tank but are wrapping the tank! Thank you KTM!

Oh and also, here's a pic from the factory:

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

It started lugging at close to 25kmph on 3rd gear iirc.that said it can cleanly go to 80-90 from this.correct me if I'm wrong.this engine has more mid range than low.seriously overtaking manoeuvres on highways would happen without us even thinking about it.

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

This is what me and a couple of other guys felt. I too could feel knocking in 1st gear or 3rd gear and low revs. This when you compare to D 200, you can be in 6th gear doing 30, and it will still pull cleanly without any knocking or sputtering. You dont feel like you are lugging the engine.

Also, from what I understand, D390 is not a bored out version of D200, but a lowered down version of D650. Hence, difference in characteristics.

Having said that, we got to give it to Bajaj for bringing out such a VFM bike to the masses.

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

Firstly, we all have to understand there is a world of difference between 'long stroke/short bore' low revving engines and 'short stroke/big bore' high revving engines. It would be very unwise to compare either of them because they simply cannot be compared because of how differently each engine is expected to behave.

The classic 500 is is long stroke engine. It produces an enormous amount of torque at lower revs. There is no comparison of this to the more short stroke lower torque 390. If you are looking purely for pushing/pulling power and the slow heart throbbing long stroke beat, then no doubts 500 it is. On the other hand if you like the sound of high revving engines, KTM it is.

In short. One is like a beating heart and the other is like a pacing heart. Still both got a heart.

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

agree on the linear acceleration part.its not the knee jerk acceleration most expected though from 35nm.its more like cbr250 albiet much stronger.thou i'm guessing reducing the throttle play(not sure its the correct word) could produce the crazy acceleration effect more.i felt bottom end was low on first gear.again this is an issue with expectations maybe but how does it compare to the classic 500 for example?it may be feeling but i felt a shove like a lorry was pushing on the cl500.its subjective.

i think its there for a safety sake even.the bike is forgiving.need to adjust how the throttle is wrung as far as i'm concerned.
horn:yes its puny.

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

I don't see what's there to take offense in my post about . Anyways, take it lite. Chill and read along

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


Take it easy Dude. For those of us who felt the lack of bottom end torque, neither are we learners, nor were we intoxicated when we say so. We felt that way after riding our Duke 200.

Hence, if you felt acceleration to be very good, thats good, however, kindly hold on to your horses before you shoot .

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

Got the opportunity to do a test of 2 laps of 3Km each on the bike which included an open straight, inner roads and traffic signal. Since everyone has been talking about how it accelerates, below is my observation.

Acceleration: For the Duke 200 Fans, you will be disappointed because the acceleration of the 390 is twice as good at the 200! So, please remain disappointed with your 200s
I found the acceleration to be much more 'Linear'. Unlike the duke 200 where it's like a dead horse upto 5K RPM and then suddenly it springs to life to pull you (this might be only with the duke200 I tested before), the 390 delivers superbly linear acceleration from the bottom end all the way to the top but there is a change of avatar after 6KRPM however it's not a change of character. This is one thing I absolutely hated with the 200 where it refuses to do anything till 5K and then suddenly it tears apart its clothes to become orange color chaddi wearing superman.

The HORN sucks! Gimme dual pulsar Horns plz!!

The bike is Hot! I mean seriously, it is quite literally HOT! But this is purely because I was on a bike that was doing its very first few kilometers, so it is absolutely expected but the problem I had was which part of my body the heat was falling on. It was right on my hamstrings(under your things) which is a very sensitive area and sitting in the traffic with that heat I felt like I was gonna have hamstring kebab for dinner! But I'll reserve this judgement because every new bike will be hot till it has run in properly.

For those who say it has no bottom end torque, either you didn't ride the bike or you were sitting in traffic or riding bumper to bumper. Again, the torque is as linear as the acceleration, there is enough of it to pull you in lower revs. Wrapping up now, will answer any other questions anyone else has.

P.S: With reference to previous comments about stalling in 1st gear, I saw a few amateurs dumping the clutch and stalling it multiple times You can stall even an F1 car if you don't know how to use the clutch. This doesn't make an F1 car bad because it stalled!

Edit: One thing I forgot to mention is that, the lower seat height has worked perfectly for me. I'm 6' and now my knees no longer hit the tank but are wrapping the tank! Thank you KTM!

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

I meant deliver, not launch. Thanks for the brilliant correction.

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Yes, the purpose to make such calls is understood.

Just that with all the stuff floating around regarding the 390, I would like to hear "sir your bike is ready to be delivered, hurry up and pay your remaining 1.7L", instead of "sir we are doing a survey, we would like to ask you few questions blah blah blah....."