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

Exactly my point buddy. My Pulsar with shortened swingarm has a tendency to pop wheelie off throttle and i have seen few almost crashing it because of that. keeping that in mind, D390 is perfect for everyone. Though, even in current avatar it is "dangerous" for many.
Those of us who want power-wheelies always can get a bigger sprocket for D390 .


I too would love to feel D390 pounce like a horny girl in heat. Maybe we can upgrade the sprocket.

I still collect Doga comics. Love the Mumbai ka baap theme .

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

Already 73 pages with lots of sprinkled reviews and strong felt opinions, but nothing yet from XBHP staff
A review coming after the actual delivery will not have the bang we wished for..

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

True, provided the options were available at the same time.

I know my clear preference is the adventure version. I also know that i cant wait for it (esp, as there is no concrete new about it). so i was, in a way forced to book the 390. Wish they had launched all variants together so folks could make their pick.
my logic says there is not much point waiting and wasting time. Might as well go ahead with 390 and enjoy it. Will take a call with the 390 when the adventure version is out in flesh.
coming to think of it, i feel i should have got the 200 when it was launched and not waited. Hate this waiting. first it was wait for the announcement. then wait for the world launch. then India launch. then wait in Q for bookings. waiting for deliveries. moreover, still waiting for the xbhp review of the bike.

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

Correction: 0-100 in 5.5 seconds

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

Not a single detailed review anywhere till now for Indian version of duke... when will we get the review. Many are waiting for a detailed review before booking the bike. Seems like the only review would be after the deliveries have started.

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

I dont think ktm is gonna start the deliveries very soon!! O.o

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

"I rode the KTM 390 last month while I was in Pune and this was a few weeks prior to the official launch. I was asked to not post a review till the launch, hence my silence.

But here is my take:

I finished work and headed back to the hotel in Pune. I was scheduled to meet a friend who resides in Pune.

A short while later, he rides up to the hotel in a KTM with orange wheels, orange chassis but with 200 decals.

I had my doubts - Metzeller tires on a 200? Orange wheel and chassis?

I immediately proceeded to check the engine for any giveaway's on the cubic capacity information but there was none.

Took her for a spin on the highway for around 10-12 kms and boy, it accelerates like mad.

Definitely faster than my Ninja 250R and completely brutal in acceleration. I hit 130 (in third IIRC) but did not go further since the roads were not completely empty.

My impressions after the short ride:

1. Brakes are not as good as the ninja - spongy and almost no feedback. But comes with ABS, so a good thing.

2. Heat from the engine in traffic (stop & go) will toast your calves and the underside of your thighs. The ninja is a lot cooler since the heat from the engine is directed away from the rider's legs by the radiator fans and the fairing.

3. 6th gear is useless, even for cruising. You WILL have to downshift to overtake another vehicle while in the ninja, you are in the right power band and all you have to do is wring the throttle and it will accelerate smoothly. You will also search for the non-existent 7th gear on the ninja due to the amount of torque, power and final drive ratio. So if you roll off the gas on the 390 (throttle not completely closed) and get back on the throttle, the engine will knock since the 6th gear is very tall. You will have to downshift to fifth.

4. Headlight was pathetic - as it is the case with most vehicles from the factory but a better bulb like the Nightbreaker+ or the Xtreme Vision will improve the lighting

5. I have no idea how well it corners or performs on bad roads since i rode on the highway for around 10 kms.

So the quintessential question.

Will I buy it?

Nope.

I was considering it before the ride but it failed to strike a chord in my heart.

I was comparing it to my ninja, a beautiful package - well made in all respects and it's hard to find another bike that matches up to it or takes the bar higher.

Only thing i loved on the bike was the absolutely brutal acceleration but i will tire of this in a few months so don't see a point in buying this one just for the acceleration.

Tires are sticky and nice though.

P.S. My friend has been testing the bike for the past few months. FE is similar to the ninja and he says the ninja is a lot more comfy on long rides (he used to own a ninja 250 till last year and was one of the first owners in Pune).

Does a top whack of 170 on the speedo as per my friend (speedo indicated)."

Courtesy:
n_adityaTeam-BHP Support

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

Good.so its simple.ninja and Duke 200 lovers/users may not find the 390 a much needed upgrade.good for them.now waiting for the xbhp full review.

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Good.so its simple.ninja and Duke 200 lovers/users may not find the 390 a much needed upgrade.good for them.now waiting for the xbhp full review.

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

Why would anyone riding a ninja feel excited about the duke 390. The performance gains are minimal. Nothing new there.

But to us folks moving from a 150cc, it'll be one hell of an experience. And the price is unbeatable. So...

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

that was a nice, short and to the point review, so those who want acceleration right from the word go, should buy Duke390, whereas those who like to ride more on highways and twisties and like to kep the engine on the boil should go for Ninja300.

however to those who are a bit tight on budget and are upgrading form 150/200/220 CC, Duke offers a tempting value proposition since it is priced much lower.

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

The question I am going to put up may all be in theory but what better place to get opinions from. By the way, I am a newbie on XBhp.

From all the reviews I have been reading about the Duke 390, all of them say that the Duke's gearing is so high that it is not able to hit the redline in the 6th gear.
Now, if we use a bigger sprocket for the rear or say a smaller at the front(may be 2 teeth's at the back or 1 at the front), would it not increase the acceleration without actually affecting the top end? Wait..wait before everyone starts pouring in with 'Bigger sprocket means better acceleration and less top end'. I know this and even this that the duke may become a tad less relaxed during the highway runs.

The theory here is that the top end say 170Kmph is achieved at 9.5k rpm as the torque is not able to drive such a high 6th gear till the redline, but a bigger rear sprocket would facilitate the torque to drive the 6th gear a little more to say 10k rpm. So, even though the overall gearing would be lower, the top speed might not be compromised. In gear speeds till 5th gear would take a hit though.

Experts, pour in. If this works out, we can have an animal with even more brutal acceleration without losing out on our top end.

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

I just read n_aditya's short review on team-bhp, there's some more posts there.
It's such a short review but so much to the point. Makes all those reviews on web look generic and general. Thumbs up.
And it's good to read from someone who's used to more power, who can give a more realistic opinion and put things into a useful perspective for people who're interested in D390.

And here's another nice little review with great photos, not sure if it's been posted already:

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

Well, I would not say performance gain is minimal. Duke 390 does a 0-100 in 5.5secs vs 0-100 in 7.5secs for the Ninja 250 which is a huge improvement. Even the top speed on the Duke is most probably going to be a little more compared to Ninja 250 again an improvement specially considering the way it reaches there. It definitely has a lot for people upgrading from a Duke 200 and at least something for ninja 250 owners atleast the abs itself is a desired upgrade.


If ninja owners are looking for a bike with the same character as ninja's then I would say look elsewhere, I understand, but saying that the duke does not offer much to them would not be fair according to me.

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


Yup the deliveries are starting from the 26th "hopefully". And since I am the first customer in queue in Pune, I should get the first bike either on friday or monday (rto is shut on sat&sun)and as much as I know, first lot delivered to showrooms has around 5 bikes...

Also, some issue regarding pune RTO starting new series of numbers and they are dragging there feet on it..or it's just the dealer's way of making me wait.

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

Thats great news man. Where have u booked ur bike?? Im have booked mine at ktm wakdewadi. Btw how reilable is the information coz I havent heard anything from the showroom guys yet.

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