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**The Monk** · 08-12-2013, 12:04 PM

Re: Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

Query Approved and Moved

Please post in the relevant section! What Bike and News are slightly different!!!

**roks2408** · 08-12-2013, 01:20 PM

Re: Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

Buddy,

When you love a bike, buy it !!! No question on that. But your location is major decision blocker.

KTM : I love KTM due to its excellent packaging and performance. It the best your money can buy in India. But the problem will start as soon as you buy it, due to obvious reasons you pointed out i.e. Servicing. Its a new bike, even the KTM brand itself is new to India unlike Hero, Bajaj or RE. Plus the bike has latest technology which makes it impossible for street side mechanics to even touch. And even with the spark plug issue, you have to ride it all the way to C.G. which is not practical at all.

RE : The oldest bike manufacturer in India and the biggest advantage to them !! I myself love Desert Storm and Thunderbird models only because of the cult feeling more than its reliability. That said, modern RE bikes are much more reliable and less maintenance hungry. But the Fuel Injected 500 cc is little tricky again for road side mechanics to touch, apart from that its perfectly fine to them.

Given the two options, I would suggest you go with practicality of maintenance and thats why RE Desert Storm should be your choice.

Now lets see your criteria for bike purchase and where does DS fits there :

1-moderate weight : Extremely Heavy, moving 190 kg is not a joke, leave alone lifting a fallen bike.
2-Looks : Most distinctive, matt finish is one no other bike can match in India presently.
3-sounds of bike must be good : If you like the thump, you will love it. Besides, you have option of buying many exhaust from OEM to Goldstar depending on your needs.
4-Moderate speed : RE 500 cc can achieve up to 100 kmph without any problem, another 30 kmph with acceptable vibrations.
5-70% city use : Thumps up !!!
6-Low in maintenance : What!! If you think of giving low maintenance to even Splendor, it is bound to last for few years only. Give care as and when bike demands, else any machine is bound to breakdown earlier than you think. RE have a reputation of spares and services on higher side, so please be ready for it.
7-some times i prefer long weekend rides for almost 500kms+ : 500 km or 1000 km, RE can take it any road streches you can imagine.
8-Should suit me : Depends on you, test riding is the only way to find out.
9-Bike must look little distinct : No question on that. Desert Storm is most awesome looking bike around. I always glare it at least once every day at my office parking.

All the best.

**Satyamzma** · 08-12-2013, 01:47 PM

Re: Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

My Vote Goes to Royal Enfield.. There are no alternatives to Bullets..

**sparky** · 08-12-2013, 05:06 PM

Re: Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

Test ride both of them and decide for yourself. The two are as distinct as lemons and oranges (No pun intended). Just one point- with RE you have to keep a set of spares ready or else..

**rxdude** · 08-12-2013, 05:33 PM

Re: Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

Originally posted by chickyheart View Post

Royal enfield is 50kms away i.e sambalpur town and Ktm ones are 250kms away i.e. Raipur (chattisgarh)
i am unable to figure it out which one to buy.

Just because of this reason itself Duke is out. A total of 500 kms just to service the bike is too much, unless you consider the service schedules as touring time. That's about service, what if the bike breaks down, you have to carry it all the way. Its practically not feasible.

Now a days every nukkad wala guys are buying a royal enfield so i decided for desert storm which is not still in my town.

You buy a bike, because you love it for its features, ride comfort, maintenance and looks. You don't have to think about others or what they have.
You can think a little positively like, if many people have the same, there will be a service centre nearby, parts will be available easily, competent mechanics will be available and all those.
So if you are trying for something that others have try buying some old discontinued bike. So that no will be having one.

secondly Ktm is reliable and fast bike

Buying is very easy, but maintaining is another factor that is to be looked into.
I suggest you buy a Bullet.

Sent from xBhp Connect for iOS

**chickyheart** · 08-13-2013, 12:17 AM

Re: Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

Originally posted by The Monk View Post

Query Approved and Moved

Please post in the relevant section! What Bike and News are slightly different!!!

Originally posted by roks2408 View Post

Buddy,

When you love a bike, buy it !!! No question on that. But your location is major decision blocker.

KTM : I love KTM due to its excellent packaging and performance. It the best your money can buy in India. But the problem will start as soon as you buy it, due to obvious reasons you pointed out i.e. Servicing. Its a new bike, even the KTM brand itself is new to India unlike Hero, Bajaj or RE. Plus the bike has latest technology which makes it impossible for street sidee mechanics to even touch. And even with the spark plug issue, you have to ride it all the way to C.G. which is not practical at all.

RE : The oldest bike manufacturer in India and the biggest advantage to them !! I myself love Desert Storm and Thunderbird models only because of the cult feeling more than its reliability. That said, modern RE bikes are much more reliable and less maintenance hungry. But the Fuel Injected 500 cc is little tricky again for road side mechanics to touch, apart from that its perfectly fine to them.

Given the two options, I would suggest you go with practicality of maintenance and thats why RE Desert Storm should be your choice.

Now lets see your criteria for bike purchase and where does DS fits there :

1-moderate weight : Extremely Heavy, moving 190 kg is not a joke, leave alone lifting a fallen bike.
2-Looks : Most distinctive, matt finish is one no other bike can match in India presently.
3-sounds of bike must be good : If you like the thump, you will love it. Besides, you have option of buying many exhaust from OEM to Goldstar depending on your needs.
4-Moderate speed : RE 500 cc can achieve up to 100 kmph without any problem, another 30 kmph with acceptable vibrations.
5-70% city use : Thumps up !!!
6-Low in maintenance : What!! If you think of giving low maintenance to even Splendor, it is bound to last for few years only. Give care as and when bike demands, else any machine is bound to breakdown earlier than you think. RE have a reputation of spares and services on higher side, so please be ready for it.
7-some times i prefer long weekend rides for almost 500kms+ : 500 km or 1000 km, RE can take it any road streches you can imagine.
8-Should suit me : Depends on you, test riding is the only way to find out.
9-Bike must look little distinct : No question on that. Desert Storm is most awesome looking bike around. I always glare it at least once every day at my office parking.

All the best.

Originally posted by Satyamzma View Post

My Vote Goes to Royal Enfield.. There are no alternatives to Bullets..

Originally posted by sparky View Post

Test ride both of them and decide for yourself. The two are as distinct as lemons and oranges (No pun intended). Just one point- with RE you have to keep a set of spares ready or else..

Originally posted by rxdude View Post

Just because of this reason itself Duke is out. A total of 500 kms just to service the bike is too much, unless you consider the service schedules as touring time. That's about service, what if the bike breaks down, you have to carry it all the way. Its practically not feasible.

You buy a bike, because you love it for its features, ride comfort, maintenance and looks. You don't have to think about others or what they have.
You can think a little positively like, if many people have the same, there will be a service centre nearby, parts will be available easily, competent mechanics will be available and all those.
So if you are trying for something that others have try buying some old discontinued bike. So that no will be having one.

Buying is very easy, but maintaining is another factor that is to be looked into.
I suggest you buy a Bullet.

Sent from xBhp Connect for iOS

Thanxs for the approval sorry I posted it on the wrong thread.
Guys I am considering the same coz 500 would look like a single bank note but in kms its too far.let me have the test ride of the duke then I will finalise.
Most often R.E's can't be used easily on streets they are too heavy.:banghead:
I have one answers from everyone even with new users that once a R.E goes break down its not easy to restore it to original shape even with minor niggles.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using xBhp Connect mobile app

**roks2408** · 08-13-2013, 01:19 PM

Re: Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

Originally posted by chickyheart View Post

Most often R.E's can't be used easily on streets they are too heavy.:banghead:
I have one answers from everyone even with new users that once a R.E goes break down its not easy to restore it to original shape even with minor niggles.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using xBhp Connect mobile app

Desert Storm is too heavy to move but not maneuver around. I mean it would not feel that heavy when riding.

RE's breaking down to be not able to restore is a history now. As said, bikes are more reliable now and you wont see anything like this now-a-days with more UCE engines.

Please do note that having issues and getting it fixed many times is much better than finding no mechanic at all near by for once in a blue moon issue (i.e. Duke). However, its unlikely that Duke would not be planning to have at-least 1 showroom / service center in Odisha. I am sure if you enquire at Duke customer care or Raipur Showroom, they must have answer to it.

Nothing is better than feeling the bike yourself and then deciding on what to buy.

**chickyheart** · 08-13-2013, 02:21 PM

Re: Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

Yeh roks.bhubaneswar showroom owner is claming that they will soon open a showroom nearby my town I.e.sambalpur (50 kms). But this news must be concrete,
Also I read a good news in financial express today that the bajaj chakan plant strike issue is almost resolved.
And about the r.e. yeah uce engines gives hell a lot of problems to the owners.
I will decide soon once the near by showrooms get a test ride.
Thanxs for your support buddy.you guys will help me a lot investing 2lac.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using xBhp Connect mobile app

**rxdude** · 08-13-2013, 04:40 PM

Re: Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

Originally posted by chickyheart View Post

I will decide soon once the near by showrooms get a test ride.

Just by doing a test ride won't help you to know about the engine problems that will occur later.
Test ride is all about how the bike suits for your physique, to know about the smoothness of engine and gear shifts, seating comfort, your ability to handle the bike, efficiency of brakes and the list goes on.
So even on a RE bike you will come to know about these parameters and not the problems associated with the long term ownership.

Sent from xBhp Connect for iOS

**sparky** · 08-14-2013, 09:24 AM

Re: Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

Originally posted by chickyheart View Post

Thanxs for the approval sorry I posted it on the wrong thread.
Guys I am considering the same coz 500 would look like a single bank note but in kms its too far.let me have the test ride of the duke then I will finalise.
Most often R.E's can't be used easily on streets they are too heavy.:banghead:
I have one answers from everyone even with new users that once a R.E goes break down its not easy to restore it to original shape even with minor niggles.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using xBhp Connect mobile app

It's not just that. Think of why you want to buy a bike and what will you be primarily using it for. If its just for you alone then any of them is fine but if you will be regularly riding with pillion and/or moving around with some baggage then Duke is not the one for you. REs don't give engine troubles like before but it's still not entirely trouble free, they still have minor issues but they are easy to fix. So again maintenance becomes another decider, with RE probably you can get some minor tinkering and fixes done by your local mechanic but not on Duke. But if you buy Duke then probably there won't be a need to go to a mechanic except for servicing.
So there are many factors to consider before you write that cheque for 2lakhs. If want to consider resale then it will be a lot easier to find a buyer for a bullet compared to a Duke. Bullets are heavy but not so much, they can be ridden inside the city also easily, the engines are now made of aluminium which are lighter.

**chickyheart** · 08-14-2013, 10:11 AM

Re: Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

Yes you are right r.e's are more reliable these days and I can find mechanics easily for it.but they have lots of minor niggles too.yesterday my dad's friend told me that he faced a lot of problem in his new classic 350.he has to visit service centre regularly and also he told me that like every r.e. service centre is like a hell.
In case of duke I think it won't happen as I know a good mechanic who is well trained with yamaha and can fix small issues of duke 390 but he is not a permanent solution.I am talking to the M.D. of the rajpath ktm today that if he is really opening a showroom nearby otherwise my money goes to Desert storm.
And one thing I forgot to mention they told me that I will get home service as most of thier buyers are not from bhubaneswar and they are already providing this service to the duke 200 and ninja 300 owners.But I think its not worthy though:screwy:

Sent from my GT-N7100 using xBhp Connect mobile app

**chickyheart** · 08-17-2013, 04:18 PM

Re: Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

This increasing waiting period and servicing issues is bending me more toward Desert storm,now got the news that Bajaj will not deliver till the September end.what the hell is going on here.

**nelson_sanjoy** · 08-19-2013, 01:06 PM

Re: Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

Sir,With all due respects comparing D390 with RE 500 is blasphemous. They are poles apart technically and virtually have nothing in common except both being motorcycles.

Currently you are looking just at practicality for service but what if you buy something today and then a new service center is opened nearby for the other model just the next day. Wont you curse yourself?

Quote from Swami Vivekananda
"When There is Conflict Between Heart And Mind let the Heart be followed"

**Technosid** · 08-21-2013, 02:00 PM

Re: Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

my vote goes to ktm anyday.....
much better engineered and a far more refined machine than an RE

speaking as a re owner myself

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Which Bike KTM 390 OR Royal Enfield Desert storm 500?

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