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-   -   The KTM Duke 390 Ownership Experience Thread (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motorbikes/138082-ktm-duke-390-ownership-experience-thread-376.html)

With precisely this in mind, plus the added advantage of a luggage rack, my friend bought this:


















It cost him Rs.3000/- including shipping. He says the quality, fit and finish is very good.

Link: http://faasterwheels.com/product/raw...-carrier-rack/

Vignesh I do feel the same way bout touring on the Duke but a little modulation of the throttle would ensure that the pillion doesn't fear falling off everytime. One doesn't really have to whack the throttle open all the time and the grab rails were ok too.


While this looks great and I might consider this to mount a top box on longer journeys, but I think the rod connecting the base plate to the rear cowl may bother the pillion

That looks pretty neat. Would be high on practicality for touring purposes.

Ah yes, throttle modulation would make things simpler. But the bike in question happens to be a DUKE. Those were the practical issues faced by me when riding with a fully built pillion. Fully built as in 6+ feet and 120kgs :P. While the cruising part wasn't much of worry, riding withing city limits, particularly in traffic was tedious. I had to consciously increase the throttle and by the time I gain momentum, I would be at the back of the bunch. It is sort of frustrating at times.

exactly my concern.can anyone clarify on this?
It will be greatly helpful if one can post a picture of pillion sitting on the bike fitted with this rack

I knew duke was not going to be pillion friendly, still i bought the bike since it is too good at every other department.

I checked with my friend and he says it's not a problem.
He's currently off-roading in Wayanad, so additional details can be had only after he returns.

This carrier is designed by a Pune based KTM guy, I purchased the same for my last trip and it is 100% VFM. There is no issue for pillion at all as there main intention of designing this is pillion friendly for touring. The weight carrying capacity is 25 KG but if you balance the bags from rear seat till carrier end when there is no pillion then it can take lot more weight.

There is saddle bags supporter as well which fits on the pics coming out from crab rail mount and rest on rear foot peg however I didn't bought it.

Some snaps on my bike:

Well, I hope these pics will clear any lingering doubt. :)

What does this mean? Any idea?

Could be an experimental powder that might have been used in powder coating of metal products. In the above case, orange colored plate. Is that what you meant to ask ?

Is that marked on your bike? where was it? Did you change the part lately?

My friend's new bike.
The part just behind the radiator and is a factory oe and hasn't been replaced.
Even if it's a production line corrective measure, that still doesn't warrant why the notes have been retained till delivery. :)

It amuses me. If it is meant to be for trial, then why is it on the production motorcycle ?

Since the powder used is fairly meant for testing, it would definitely take more than 1 month to verify its effectiveness. something is not adding up.

Hi Dukers,

Riding has taken a hit since monsoon started.
Primary reason? The duke gets really really dirty after a wet ride! The amount of dirt thrown below the radiator area is scary & cleaning the bike is not easy. It has so many inaccessible corners around the engine/radiator area!

Pressure washed the bike and the tyre pressure indicating sticker is gone :D.. There is a small area under the starter motor where water accumulates after washing & is difficult to remove!..Been checking the radiator and I can see a few disfigured fins due to flying debris. The OE radiator protection still works well. I think flying debris is inevitable. Cleaning the bike in rains is such a pain, the chain goes dry after a wet ride. There was dirt stuck in between the rear foot pegs and made noise when I tried to close them, cleaned with running water and sprayed WD40.

Any advice/tips regarding monsoon maintenance?
TIA!

Except for chain maintenance at a more frequent interval, everything else's similar to talking care of other bikes during rains. Water may tend to make its way into the tank in very heavy rains, so it may be a good idea to put one of those ugly tank cover plastic thingies. You mentioned WD 40 application, so I hope you are using it for the switch gear as well. Otherwise everything's sorted with the 390 for monsoon fun. That includes riding in deep water with the exhaust submerged fully :D

I had bought mine 3+ weeks back and had to send the mounting brackets and the upper support pipes (no, they are not solid rods) back to get them replaced. The holes in the mounting plates did not match the holes in the chassis in my 2012 Duke 200 so I had to get them drilled wider. Similar defect in the left side upper arm. Alignment of that arm was also an issue. They received the defective parts 2 weeks back and I haven't yet received the replacement parts. Might get them by this weekend. Maybe.

Otherwise, the quality is good. Sure, there are some stray spatter of filler metal around some weld joints but that is minor. Once I get the parts I can comment further on quality. However, it seems good enough.