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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-408.html)

Duke 390s are pretty reliable to begin with. There may be minor niggles but nothing that would leave you stranded. The 390 is an engine that IS meant to be ridden hard.

Go for the 2016 ones, which will have slipper clutch. Good samples will cost you approx 1.2-1.3 lakhs. Anything more than that is too much imho.

Do a good test ride before buying an used duke 390. Check for handling (if it has been dropped/crashed, handling will give it away), exhaust note, physical cues(scratches/dents- speaks a volume about the owner).

And lastly, donot go for bikes with more than 20k on odo.

PS: If i were you, i would not buy another bike given the low usage. But who knows, Duke 390 is an extemely fun bike, it may even make you use it more.

Could you help me with the dealer/store/shop that helped you with this in Bangalore. I have the 2017 390 and desperate to get a top case for my helmet and to keep my pillion rider from falling off:)

Has anybody tried the 2017 Duke 390 sintered pads and Master cylinder in our old brake setup? My 2013 390 always had really bad lever feel and bite even after bleeding the brakes several times. I'm running EBC pads currently but they are now 3.5k for a set. Recently my friend who is also a knowledgeable Mechanic told me the master cylinder is shot. I'm planning to switch to the new 390's MC if it is compatible

I am getting a 4000kms run D-290 at 1.8. Bike needs work and should see at least 15,000 worth of extra money to put it back in shape and then it would be tires.

You guys suggest going for it or a new or avoiding KTM's at all? I am always a Jap guy but the power is amazing. Handling was good, but I felt *ON* the bike than being *IN* it which I didn't like.

Here is that sample. And doesn't something appear broken in the picture?

Where does the bike need work on? And why is it being sold for such a low price? (Its almost 1 lakh off the OTR price)

One thing that plagued the initial batch of 2nd gen Duke 390s was coolant disappearing rapidly. It was caused by misapplication of liquid gasket that sealed the crankcase and allowed coolant and engine oil to mix. Other than that, the minor niggles pertain to moisture in the TFT console in rainy season and TFT rebooting randomly (that is supposed to be solved by the latest SW update).

Bike is yet to be registered.

And anything which is pre-owned is a depreciation disaster and I don't think it is a low price. This bike retails here for 2.35L ex-showroom, add about 3-4K for insurance, let us put the figure at 2.4L. The owner is asking for 1.9 but I know the bike can be had for 1.7 or thereabouts. Clutch and other parts need work though, its pretty rough and isn't smooth.

Why 15k expense? You should have warranty right?

For a jap bike fan, either go for a new ktm or dont go for ktm at all. Better buy the rr310.


PS: New Duke 390 is 2.35 ex showroom, 2.7 OTR in TN. It is almost 3 in KA.

Service plus all consumables replacement and add tires to the equation.

Or wait out for the new R3? :D

I am thinking of this as I am getting it for a low price and whenever I sell it, I won't suffer much of a loss, but that feeling of being on top is a put-off.

If it is yet to be registered and insured, then the price makes sense.

I am curious though about what you think is wrong with the clutch? And how did you arrive at 15k figure? Did it have 1st service done? Maybe, it is a matter of just an engine oil change and chain lubrication done. My bike is some 4k kms done, and it is running just as it was when it came from the factory. Post run-in, it has in fact gotten smoother.

If the bike does not suffer from the coolant problem and has not been involved in any accident, I think there is nothing else that looks wrong with the bike (in the pics). However I see that the crash guards are missing from the bike. What is the story behind that? And those tyres look brand new!

It has multiple punctures and I am a fan of slime, so would prefer a slime + new tires = peace of mind.

As explained to Prassy above, a change of all consumables plus maybe a tire change to bring it back to new might see that figure or exceed it. Plus, I am sure the bike has had a crash, the left indicator is broken [is pasted using fevi-kwik] and has marks on the bar-ends.

As a previous Jap bike owner and also a repeat KTM 390 owner, my suggestion is to give ktm a miss. They are not as reliable as Japs. They dont have major issues per se, but they have minor niggles that a Jap guy would hate.

And that manic acceleration you will outgrow in a few weeks max. Wait out for the R3/Ninja 400.

I am sure an used KTM is great screamer but never a good long termer.

By the way, is something broken here?

While others have already asked, I just wanted to add that 15,000 is a lot of money for KTM repair, the reason being dirt cheap parts. Just as a reference, by brother-in-law's RC390 had broken crankcase due to stone hit and needed crankcase, engine cover and a few internals changed with new oil, seals etc. Total cost of parts + labour was 15k.

Also, why new tyres? 4k kms is too low even by Metzeler tyres. They would last at least 8k in the hands of very rash rider. If tyres are gone at 4k kms, imagine how the bike would have been handled.

That's the crash guard gone. Certainly due to some mishap. By the way, how is it that unregistered bike has logged 4k kms? Test-ride bike? In which case this would have been abused to death. Totally not worth it then since KTMs don't particularly take well to abuse without periodic care.

That single indicator costs about 700 with part+ labour. Damn too expensive. Definitely an accident case.

The owner has dropped the bike which must have messed up the crash guard. Thats where crash guard is bolted on dukes.

The tires appear gone plus multiple punctures.

Yes, as pointed by you and Prassy, the crash guard is gone and that points to a crash.

Bike is purchased and insured, nothing more. The owner wants a Ninja or something else or maybe he is out money...so is this bike good or should be avoided?

I am somehow not comfortable with that *ON* the top feeling so I am on the fence.