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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-403.html)

Small update on the ralco speed blasters:

Dry grip is great. Not as confidence inspiring as michelins, and smaller cross section as well, but you cant expect that from this tyre. FWIW, the price is fully justified. It is H rated, and 130-140 on the Yamuna expressway was the max it went.

Wet grip is a foreign concept. The bike lost traction at so much as a thought about using the rear brake. Even with ABS, i couldnt drive on wet roads over 35kmph. It is really bad. To be fair however, you cant expect much grip from these kinda tyres under wet conditions.

Dirt and slush grip however is acceptable and better than michelins pilot street. Over all I am happy with the purchase :thumbs up

Few days back sold my 2014 Duke 390 after an exhilarating stint of 85000 kms on the ODO!

Upgraded to Versys 650 but still miss the raw grunt of the 390 :(

A friend wants to book the 2017 D390, would like to know from the owners if all the minor niggles have been resolved by KTM or not?

Was nice running into you at the KTM showroom the other day. But man 85000, you created a icon:Cheering:!!!! Happy hunting with the green goblin :thumbs up

Thanks mate :)

The actual credit goes to my wife(she is also a bhpian, nandita_bayan21), around 25k on our Duke 200 and the 85k on 390 as pillion!

So, the sofa seat of Versys is her reward :D

Hi Friends planning to pick up a Duke 390 post my tryst with Kawasaki Versys650. May take a couple of months and keeping my options open but it the same range. Would like to know if there are any other alternatives. I would pick the bike to ride extensively long. Say target would be around 40K kms a year. I would also love if someone could share the ownership cost of the new Duke390. Thanks and awaiting for your replies

Bikerz,

Based on your experience with Versys you need a peaceful ownership. KTM has its own niggles and is not a bike i would recommend directly coming from what you are going through. Reason is there are niggles from broken air boxes, leaks, spongy brakes to what not. Many owners earlier didnt complain as they mostly came from a bullet and these niggles were like 1% of what they were going through and getting their hands dirty.

My advice is look for Kawasaki N300. Your versys experience in one of a kind, for Kawasaki is pretty much on top of reliability and peaceful ownership on top.

The reason why i say 390 is not really going to make things better is the new version will start showing niggles and it will take usually a year or first iteration to fix them like their early 2013 model.

If 390 is what you are looking for, pick a lightly used 2013-2014 390. I prefer the 2013 390, pretty raw and in your face nature and usually you can pick it around 1-1.25 giving you enough balance to keep fixing the niggles.

Based on my budget and usage, I zeroed in on Duke 390. Also I wouldn't be paying a lot on premium for the brand.

Noway I would like to spend even 1 more rupee on that Kwacker!! I have not just suffered with the machine but the Pathetic response of the company is what made me file a consumer Court case against Kawasaki.

Ownership costs would only increase with the age of the Duke is what I've heard so finding a sparingly used Duke at less than 1.5 is almost impossible. One more thing which is pushing me to go towards the new one is EMI option since I've exhausted all my savings on the V.

With KTM all the niggles we have heard are easy to fix and costs less than what you would spend on regular kawa service. Example the Air filter BOX is 2k though it breaks in earlier 2013 and 2014 version.

The radiator had some issues on its own but cost of fixing is like 2-3K.

Brake/Pads and caliper including MC set up change does not cost a bomb. So yeah compared to the service you can get for Kawa and response by the company you are better off with something manufactured locally.

I love KTM and my choice would be an used KTM and not the new version. It ticks all the boxes but is not majorly different to the 2013KTM which you can pick for 1 to 1.25 L easilly.


Secondly since you tour a lot, there is a person called Ebonho here. Message him as i know he last year did a single 6500km trip in that 2013 KTM on terrains where his fellow Z800 struggled to keep up and was actually painful to ride them there.

How about waiting a bit longer for the 390 Adventure

Talking about reliability of KTM, my 2014 Duke 390 is currently lying at service center for an engine overhaul. Bore, Piston, Valve seals etc are damaged.

Current odo is 29.9 K in 3.5 years of ownership.
Cracked Air box was replaced twice under warranty, I lost count of how many times the valve gasket, fork seals were replaced under warranty.

I religiously followed service schedule and parts replacement schedule as per manual.
Chain was cleaned and lubed for every 1k km's. I ride sanely and with my wife as pillion all the time. 90% of the time fuel was filled from COCO stations and yet the engine went kaput.

You can look at 302r Tornado as well, it is designed more as a sports tourer then a sports bike, it would be expensive then KTM though.

Hey - quick update on the Vee's wet grip

Short version - it SUCKS

Slightly longer version - Small wet section on the road, I was pulling out from a red light, going right. Around 35 KPH, VERY moderate lean and the rear just slid out as I started to accelerate

Needless to say, not very confidence inspiring at all

Hey guys, need some help. My 2016 Duke 390 has now crossed 15kms. Planning to upgrade the tyres now as the stock ones have very little life left. Need suggestions, budget is 15k so metzellers out of option. Riding pattern is 80% city, 20% highway. No plans of off-roading.

I guess the Metzeler's cost around 15k for a set right? Pirelli's are for 10k a set. That's what I heard from a friend in Bangalore.

Go for Michelin PSR eyes closed, the set will cost you 10k. Tried and tested tire!