Team-BHP - The KTM Duke 390 Ownership Experience Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by karanskumar (Post 3516084)

I know, I tried reading up on earlier posts for the city riding and have only heard people say good things. The bike is new, got it 20 days back. have done 1100km so far.

You wernt riding on the white lines by any chance, were you? Did you check the tyre pressure?

Ah , same thing as post above. A second later :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by karanskumar (Post 3515952)

Guys I rode back home last night ~20km in heavy rains and it was f**king scary! These stock tyres are pretty useless. The bike was pretty much sliding on the roads at the speed of 60kmph. And I'm supposed to do a ride up north east in a weeks time on the same bike. Do you think I should be changing my tyres? Or it is manageable with slow speeds?

I think it's more an issue of hydroplaning, not the issue of tyre per se. I guess hydroplaning causes loss of rider control, and the classic tell tale signs you've mentioned, which is caused by speeding in wet conditions, I've faced them numerous times in my P220 where the rear just fishtails, opening the throttle, I would dare do that in my 390. Take it easy.

Cheers!
VJ :cool:

I cannot believe the stock tyres are blamed on a wet surface. Thought those Metz were superb in wet.

At 60kmph :) were you riding over the white lines, straight line or in curves.

Too many variables to blame the tyre. How old are the tyres.

Was it the front end sliding or the rear?.

Was the road wet or complete covered in water.

On the same note, i cannot imagine 60 in my bull in rain. I am sure i leave it to gods at that speed in rain in my bull when i have to brake suddenly. I usually keep the handle bar straight, stand up and pretty much be ready for any evasive movie star like jump to avoid getting crushed :) when i have to brake suddenly.

On the 390 i was so sure of braking from that speed in that condition. The tyres were like the feet of a gecko compared to my bull.

Hi Since you have done more than 1k the tires are properly run in.
That leaves us with tire pressure. I think your bike tyres were over inflated. Bikes are very sensitive to variations in Tyre pressure. Metzler are very good Tyre. Get yourself a good tire gauge. Also lower the pressure to 1 or 2 psi below recommended when riding in wet

I have done 80 kph plus in my humble pulsar 180 in rains with good tires and also braked at those speeds without problems

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasirkaka (Post 3518650)

i have been using 25 F and 30 R and riding solo all the time. so far, havent had any major tyre grip related scary situation (touch wood).

ON another note, most of us have done 10k + on the 390, some even 25K+ kms. So would it be safe now to say that 390 engine is reliable/good with respect to time/kms?

20k anybike would easily do, and it's not a matter of reliability. I'd term it as pseudo-science, I mean, come on Nasir, 10k to 20k doesn't mean it's a reliable standard, and the post means to say that the bike isn't meant for even 5k KMS the max :Frustrati

But that aside, I guess 20k without any problems is a good sign, not everyone gets the same side of the coin, but yes, the Joker is the D390 lol:

Cheers!
VJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by karanskumar (Post 3518741)

Has anyone tried using these? - http://www.dirtsack.in/products/tail...ucts/tail-bags
The trail bag makes a super backrest also. The only issue will be getting on and off the bike :-/

I'm going on a 10 day ride and I'm afraid the saddles I have won't have enough space like the bullet ones do :(

They make an identical bag for the TBTS with only difference being the way the straps come around the bag (I think dimensions are similar). I have used it for my Ladakh ride.
If that is anything to go by, then the bag provided excellent back support, and did not budge from it's place. But if I overstuffed the bag, then instead of it being a back rest, I had to make space for it as it would be hard and poke into my back, because of it's shape. So better to stuff it with soft stuff :). If you have their saddle bags (I just ordered mine for the 390), it makes a good combination as they do not overlap in terms of space or tying them to the bike.

Also, in terms of getting on and off I think it will be a challenge. When I see the Duke and the Thunderbird parked side by side, the rider's seat on the Duke feels higher and the rear seat of the Duke is definitely higher. So you will have to aim for the stratosphere with your leg to swing over the bag. Better technique may be to try and push it across the front seat while holding it parallel to the ground and using the handle bar for balance.
I hope someone else can pitch in with an actual usage (of the Duke specific bag).

Quote:

Originally Posted by karanskumar (Post 3518562)

Can you guys tell me the ideal pressure in the front and rear tyre? Solo riding 99% of the times.

25 front and 30 back if you are riding solo. 25 F and 32 B if riding two up. Back tyre wears out faster if you drive with less than 32 while riding two up. Above 32 while riding solo will get you unwanted wheel spins and slides.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasirkaka (Post 3518650)

ON another note, most of us have done 10k + on the 390, some even 25K+ kms. So would it be safe now to say that 390 engine is reliable/good with respect to time/kms?

Considering the 390 is a highly stressed engine and the insane way it pampers us, it will be a miracle to survive without a rebuild post 45-50k kms.

Quote:

Originally Posted by anilp (Post 3519660)

Considering the 390 is a highly stressed engine and the insane way it pampers us, it will be a miracle to survive without a rebuild post 45-50k kms.

Beg to differ. the 375cc unit for sure is tuned for higher power but is never a stressed engine. 'Stressed' is what you feel when an engine vibration is too much and will rattle off all the breath from you while running out of breath itself. Take a Royal Enfield 500 above 120kmph(or even 100) and you will know what really a 'stressed' engine is. Where as in 390 even a 120kmph cruise will not really feel like a 120 because you wont feel the engine stressed.

The only problem I see is, as the engine runs hot (I mean HOT) most of the times, it might suffer some blown oil seals or gaskets frequently.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasirkaka (Post 3518650)

ON another note, most of us have done 10k + on the 390, some even 25K+ kms. So would it be safe now to say that 390 engine is reliable/good with respect to time/kms?

I have done around 7,000 kms and have been advised to get my shims replaced as they have started making noises. This was when I went for my 3rd service recently.