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

South mumbai dealer has the display bike and an off road racing exc series bike on display as well apart from rc8r. The test drives will start after the registration of the bike is complete

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

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

ICB Exclusive: KTM Duke 390 production unaffected at Bajaj Auto Chakan; Deliveries on schedule

The KTM Duke is one value for money rocket on two wheels that Indian motorcycle nuts are eager to get their hands on. Over 1,000 bookings for the bike have already been made and the feverish wait for deliveries have begun. KTM Stores have promised deliveries within 90 days of bookings but buyers have had anxious moments for the past few days as a workers strike at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan factory has curtailed production severely. With 500 people working at Bajaj’s Chakan factory, out of a total workforce of 1,500, production of the Avenger, KTM Duke 125/200/390 and the Kawasaki Ninja 300R has been proceeding normally.

Our sources at Bajaj say that deliveries of the Duke 390 will be on schedule. The cause of all this confusion has been the worker’s strike. Workers led by a union leader from Akurdi, Mr Dilip Pawar, who represents the Vishwakalyan Kamgar Sanghatan, has asked Bajaj to give 500 shares each to workers at a nominal cost of 1 rupee. Bajaj Auto’s management considers this demand to be ridiculous and is not acceding to the demands of the unions. In protest, workers have struck work, leaving Bajaj Pulsar production in peril.

Even as it is acting tough on the striking workers, Bajaj Auto has shifted production of the Pulsar to its Aurangabad factory so as to avoid production cuts. The Aurangabad factory will now produce no less than 230,000 motorcycles, as it takes the monthly load of 80,000 Pulsars that the Chakan plant used to produce. To produce the Pulsar, Bajaj has even deployed additional workers to Aurangabad plant, from its Pantnagar factory. In the meantime, Bajaj Auto hopes to get the striking workers back to work by defusing the situation. Currently, about 500 workers are working at Chakan, and are producing 1,000 motorcycles/day instead of the usual 3,000. The 1,000 motorcycles/day include Avengers, the KTM Duke range and the Kawasaki Ninja range.

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

Sign of relief!!!!

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

Just got an SMS, KTM390 is displayed in BTM .

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

MG, I see in some reviews they basically say "wow, you twist the throttle and vroom, it's gone, so it's the best bike around."
As if a higher top speed or stronger acceleration means a better bike...

It would be really great if we could have some objective opinion about the bike itself, regardless of the power. Any 1000 cc bike isn't necessarily a better bike than a 150 cc bike, not in terms of power but bike as a bike.

We all know D390 is a powerful bike and we all like more power, but I'm personally mostly interested to know how the bike behaves in practical daily situations, mostly some city ride - stop and go traffic, regular city roads with some traffic around, and then some 10-15 km of an open road with little less traffic, some bumps and potholes here and there. And of course, how it fares with some occasional weekend rides in highways and hilly roads, or longer touring.
I think many reviews focus on power and specifications but less on practical aspects, which are actually the most important things for us, potential or sure buyers.

Some people say a comparison isn't good or that bikes from different classes shouldn't be compared, but I disagree.
I think a constructive and objective comparison is VERY useful for all of us. After all, when we want to buy a bike all we do is basically comparing different bikes in order to find out what bike suits us most. And sometimes we compare bikes from totally different class to realize what is an ideal bike for our needs and wants.

Thank you. Looking forward to the review!

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

^^I just checked it out. Requested them to start the bike. It sounds bassier than 200 or maybe it did because the bike was indoors.

Those knuckle (?) guards looks ugly and they come as standard.

Test ride bike to be available in next week.

Windshield (KTM Power Part) has been ordered and would be available there. Pricing not yet known.

Had a another round of discussion on Finance because there were lot of conflicting finance quotes being discussed.

For a loan of Rs.1.25L and tenure of 1 year:-

Downpayment=Rs.91943
EMI=Rs.11406

Total landed cost= 11406*12=136872+91943=228815.

This is inclusive of 3% processing fee on loan amount.

The lady also said that in the event of foreclosure interest component need not be paid. I am not very sure about this though.

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

Yes it will cover those aspects.

If you get a 390cc for a short period of time then the obvious that comes to anyone is to twist the throttle and check and feel the power. Since I have been lucky to have the bike for a longer period of time and fortunate enough to ride the bike across various condition so will try to include those angles which a buyer will probably think before buying this bike.

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

Any news/update on delivery dates in pune?

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


Thanks MG for considering our request. Yes, true if I get a 390cc bike for a short duration, then yes, me too will try to feel the power. However, I will also bother to check how it feels in day to day life. Sadly a lot of people think only about 0-100 timings and top speed when it comes to powerful bikes. And most testers too take the bike to the highways to test them.

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

Well, here's one by motoroid.no zero to 100 timings, braking distance whatsoever. None of the reviews so far had any btw.KTM 390 Duke First Review: Mayhem, Minified! - Motoroids.com

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

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

Well the issues mentioned in the motoroids ride report were the same as [MENTION=11312]sidhusmart[/MENTION] and i shared earlier. Those exposed wires are a matter of concern but im sure that wrapping an electrical tape around them should give the owners a litlle bit peace. Any other solution for that issue. I wish the handguards were Orange or black.

Awaiting Elixir.

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

Did you test ride it? Yes, handguards n wheels should both be black! :P

It seems both MotoBeam and Motoroids got the same test bike (someone said from KTM Vashi) as both notice same niggles. The starter issue I guess was faced by someone here too- just frustrating to know that such a basic element too can be messed by Bajaj's manufacturing


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

Nice...time to read a new review...and fantasize until I buy it... just hope my boss doesn't see me reading it..