Team-BHP - The KTM Duke 390 Ownership Experience Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiren.mistry (Post 3643556)

Guys,
The 390 (Duke and RC) is now equipped with a slipper clutch. This is shared by an employee of KTM on the x-bhp site. Link here.

Whoa! Thats some news and I didn't see that coming! This should take care of the kick in the crotch engine braking of the 390. Any idea of the price difference this would make?

Quote:

Originally Posted by barcalad (Post 3643155)

I'd be extremely happy for you (more for your ride) if they do it right for you.

At least then, somewhere in this country there would stand a KTM technician with lots of passion, skill and humility! :D

Finally got my bike!!
The issues I reported.
1. A whizzing noise at around 40-50 kph which starts to kind of howling when at around 80-100kph, from the front side.
2. A tappet noise kind of noise at below 5000 rpms. Higher the throttle input, higher the noise.
3. Veering towards right, hands free.

What the technician did.
1. The technician claimed, that he checked for the sound after removing the tank cover, and a host of other culprits. Finally he changed the oil seal for the front and back wheels. Said he fixed the issue.
2. He claims that the tappet noise is present for all 390s. I dont know if it's true.
3. Said that he rectified the problem by doing something with the cone assembly.

Result
1. Not sorted out at all. Will have to report back when I have time.
2. I will take a test ride to confirm.
3. Completely balanced :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithunvvijayan (Post 3643726)

1. The technician claimed, that he checked for the sound after removing the tank cover, and a host of other culprits. Finally he changed the oil seal for the front and back wheels. Said he fixed the issue.

Next time, ask him to show you where exactly the oil seals are and also where KTM has filled the oil for the wheels.

Quote:

Originally Posted by man_of_steel (Post 3643738)

Next time, ask him to show you where exactly the oil seals are and also where KTM has filled the oil for the wheels.

I also felt that he hasn't done anything on the wheel. I will anyways get a testride from the same dealer. And then I will approach him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by barcalad (Post 3643750)

As expected.

No such sound in mine, though. Do let us know after doing a trial. If it persists, try getting it checked at a different SVC?

I will wait for the second service. The next dealer is quite far from here. But will make it a trip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1 (Post 3638510)

Flimsy in the sense, the way the electronics dangle, exposed, coil getting rusted, sigh oh sigh, :Frustrati is what I meant APT. Don't worry, nothing to feel OT about.

Unfortunately yes, parted with her, been close to months! Something even better in the pipeline! ;)

Cheers!
VJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiren.mistry (Post 3643556)

Guys,
The 390 (Duke and RC) is now equipped with a slipper clutch. This is shared by an employee of KTM on the x-bhp site. Link here.

Now that a slipper clutch is coming in, are you finally gonna get the 'better' bike(Read RC390)?

Quote:

Originally Posted by man_of_steel (Post 3643572)

Whoa! Thats some news and I didn't see that coming! This should take care of the kick in the crotch engine braking of the 390. Any idea of the price difference this would make?

Apparently the price remains the same as before. Along with slipper clutch Bajaj/KTM have introduced a raft of improvement. Kudos to Bajaj/KTM!!
Hopefully I might get a Duke for myself.

Cheers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roomy (Post 3644226)

Now that a slipper clutch is coming in, are you finally gonna get the 'better' bike(Read RC390)?

Excellent question. Well, apparently the good just got better. I mean yes, I am looking forward for the RC, having been sold the 390 and waiting for close to four months without a ride, I hope waiting was the right choice, and it's proved fruitful, especially considering the update.

I'm just... Just holding on one more darned month for the new launches to initiate, or at least hopefully.

P. S. Waiting is such a PAIN in the posterior..

Cheers!
VJ

Mithun , my bike makes an audible tappet sound as well from day 1 . It gets louder as the engine warms up and seems more prominent on the left hand side of the engine than the right. With all the other hideous racket the engine makes , not bothered about it anymore. Realized this is a poorly assembled bike that only on surface value justifies the price tag lol , far from the level of perfection and execution one expects from a bike these days .

As for slipper clutch , I have never experienced one before so can someone describe the practical use of one on this bike ? The obvious to me is of course one can downshift now early without severe engine breaking but what is the practical scenario where one would find it necessary to downshift at a high rpm ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by anilp (Post 3644274)

Just curious, what does this sound like? Something like the Enfield cast iron engine tappets?

More akin to modern UCE engine tappet noise. I think UCE do not have tappets, and have rockers similiar to 390. Not sure

Quote:

Originally Posted by basuroy (Post 3644269)

I read in a few forums that, valve clearance check is mandatory at KTM for owners outside india. And I am pretty sure that the valve clearance should be way off the recommended, to produce such noise. It slipped out of my technicians mouth that the shims required, to rectify the problem are not available with them. I saw one or two videos in the youtube on how to change the shims to adjust the clearances. It is simple but a bit time consuming job. And I also suspect that these fellows are not taught how to adjust valve clearances at all.

Since I heard from a few riders that they haven't heard any thing resembling tappet noise in their bike, I went ahead and took a test drive in a brand new 390, and surprisingly it also had the same issue. So at least it is present in other bikes. I don't know if I need to persue it further. But I know that the sound has every thing to do with valve clearances and most of the riders are oblivious to it.