Ownership Experience Duke 390. Review on KTM Duke 390

I bought this Bike on 1st Oct. and since then I have ridden couple of thousand KMs on this bike. Found few Good and bad points which I will try to explain to best of my knowledge.

I have more than 13 yrs of Riding exp. on bikes. This is the latest bike in my stable.

The day I went to showroom for Test ride, the showroom guys were professional and friendly and helping. I took the test ride of the bike, and I had decided at that instance that this is going to me in my Stable. Did the paper work and bought her home and Named her "Dragon Fly".

Now coming about the bike.

Having owned many bikes in past, from splendor to RE Std. 350, but this bike is hardest and fun to ride of all. The seat is very hard, and shocks are hard too. But hard seat will take shape of your butts after some usage, which will become comfortable after some use, and rear shock can be softened, which improves the ride quality even a bit.

This bike is not for people who want it for boring daily commute, for them they should go with Inazuma or CBR or something but not this bike.

This is a pure highway fun bike. Once the bike comes on highway, that is when you realize the actual fun on this bike. So much of confidence it gives to the rider, that you can cruise at 120-130 KMPH without any fear and the bike too feels happy that speed.

In City it is fun too, unless you get stuck in traffic Jam, that is when you and bike will feel uncomfortable.

I have seen some people complaining about Vibration and all. they need to understand that it is a Big single cylinder Motor and it will vibrate, but it is not as bad as RE bullet or Apache, it is nothing that some-one cannot live with and specially, the newer versions of the bike are more refined and smooth.

The quality of the plastics are not top quality but average, but other than that, everything else is good quality.

I am a 6ft guy, the bike never feels underpowered or cramped or shakey. It feels rock solid at any speed. Max. I have done till 165 kmph but had to slow down due to traffic.

Off-course, Ninja is better in terms of smoothness and finish quality, but for that much money, we can get almost two Dukes.  But this bike has some better points than that of Ninja. Like ABS, Metz tyres. All digital console. Power to weight ratio. etc. . No bike is perfect, but this is the closest what we can get for a Budget, Value for Money, Good Quality, Reliable, fun, High performance bike in India.

Final Pointers:-

-> This is not that some one should buy for daily office purpose or ferry a pillion along with you. but if you have a slim girlfriend or a wife. this is going to lot more fun. lol.

-> This is the bike for who want to stay young and excited and charged, b'coz the bike makes you feel that way.

-> I have been on couple of rides upto 300kms max. so far. and the seat is hard, but it does not make your butt pain, unless you have a cotton butt or you don't take breaks.(Hard seats are infact better for longer rides. Google it).

-> Apart from little oil seepage which was fixed at first service, no issues at all.

-> Milage max in city. I have got is 37kmpl and min. is 23Kmpl . Higways.  it gives between 28 to 36kmpl. depending on how you ride.

-> Tyre replacement are expensive, but there are alternate also available in market.

-> Fuel tank capacity is very less, considering the highway capabilities of this bike.

-> Service Centers are very helpful.

-> ABS and Metz tyres are just amazing. I have panic braked once at around 100KMPH and it stopped less than 10 meters without slipping an inch and it saved my life.

-> Does not have one of the greatest Exhaust Notes and idle or low speeds. but it changes and becomes sweet after 4000 RPM.

-> No option for Center Stand, which is a bothersome for cleaning chain. So I had to buy a Paddock stand.

-> Sitting posture is very comfortable specially for long rides. Initially it thought, it is is strange but infact it transfers most of the weight on your thighs and lower butts and not on the back or shoulders or wrists.

-> seat is broad so we can change positions while riding.

-> very less space for tying luggage.(there are some bags available in market made specifically for Duke. which will fit in lot of stuff)

As I said, no bike is perfect and this too also have little bit of issues. but its not something that cannot be ignored, but if you are guy who still wants some fun in life and that too on bike and to feel younger. This is the bike.

To tell you frankly, this is the Bike after my RE 350 with which I actually fell in love with.

Considering the money that I have spent on the bike, this is an excellent bike.

And yes, Guys who are fed up of RE's should give it try once. It is nice with better power.

Thanks.