[CrAzY dRiVeR]

A long while ago, in the post-Covid year of 2023, I wrote an ownership thread for my Triumph Tiger Sport 660 and called it the 'one bike' for my garage. For two years and ~26k kms : it has made everything fun, from mild track rides to mild offroading and everything in between - breakfast rides, commutes, luggage hauling and what not! The perfect 'one bike' IMHO, or atleast for me! Yeap - the philosophy that the best bike in the world is the one in your garage, yada yada yada...

But then ironically, I welcomed a second motorcycle to my garage two months back: a pre-owned 2017 KTM Duke 390 Gen-II that promised to be a true workhorse, a relatively cheap little beater that can go mental if pushed:



A beater bike? Why a new workhorse? And why does it need to be fun?

Few things changed in 2025 -

• A five-day 'return-to-office' mandate that made the office parking crowded (and risky) for a big bike!
• My 2025 resolution to invest personal time and effort towards upskilling my riding!
• I decided on a future garage upgrade, god willing, which would have to wait a year or more for the finances to work.
• Mounting expenses (service and spares costs, more than petrol) started to hurt with my daily commute being 62kms on a good day, and a 106 kms on better days.
• And finally, this particular Duke 390, belonging to a close friend and BHPian, coming up for sale: A bike I had recommended to him, known since the delivery day, and ridden multiple times since then.

So then this Gen II Duke 390 from Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen will share the garage with the Tiger Sport 660 for a year or two, till a replacement likely to arrive latest by end-2026, god willing. Here in this thread, I intend to continue documenting my biking diaries in parallel with the Tiger Sport 660 thread, hoping to keep myself honest and sincere - pushing for both of these decisions to come true: the upskilling and the upgrade!

Disclaimer - This forum is already a treasure trove of content on the Duke 390. Between the ~500 pages of discussion on the Duke 390 Ownership thread to a comprehensive review of the current (Gen III) generation Duke 390 - almost every single detail regarding the bikes have been covered. A comprehensive review of an 8-year old Duke isn't going to be a value add. Hence my intention is to keep it short, personal and make this a running report for long-term observations.

That said - A quick summary of my likes and dislikes before i lose your attention:

What I love:

+ Pocket Rocket, Mental, Giant-killer : whether on the road or track.
+ 42hp for the price of new ~20hp machines. Hard to beat the price-to-performance ratio of a Duke 390 when new, impossible when buying used.
+ Lovely 373cc, short-stroke single that produces 42 bhp and 37 Nm of torque
+ Very compact packaging and excellent weight (just 163 kgs!) distribution makes it a breeze in the city
+ Carefully selected list of add-ons by a BHPian owner : FuelX, YSS rear suspension, Michelin Road 5 tyres and RTR Mirrors
+ Sharp handling and braking, whether on the road or track. Really can't wait to try it out with stickier rubber!
+ Good transmission and slipper clutch combination - Allows to row through gears just as fast as the bike needs it (more on that later)
+ Very low price of spares and parts: such a relief for me, having spent the good part of the last decade with the likes of Triumph and Kawasaki

What I don't:

- Reliability remains a multiple choice question, but the company’s future has come down to a simple Yes/No situation! Did i time this purchase well or what!!!
- This single-cylinder 363cc motor heats up more than my three-cylinder 660cc in traffic!
- Low end is weak, despite the FuelX - can stall if you are careless! That said - the engine is super happy to revv out of that zone in a second - so doesn't bother me much!
- Age and mileage related repairs - O2 Sensor, Fuel Pump and Wheel bearings changed so far. Will get the chain sprocket changed next.
- Small size can sometimes feel insubstantial - especially out on the track.
- Adjustable front suspension would have been a welcome affair - feels good for the city, is a tad too soft for the track.
- Vibrations: This engine isn't Japanese smooth, with minor vibrations throughout the range. Hower, there is no sudden prominence in vibration at any rpm and doesn't bother me!
- Some missing features compared to modern bikes: Navigation and Quickshifter is sorely missed and lean sensitive traction control would have been most welcome. Some modern bikes even offer bottom coolers!

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

The past life:

Thanks to Team-BHP, some of these memories are so easy to capture, and one of the primary reasons why I like to maintain these ownership logs

This Duke 390 belonged to my close friend and BHPian rbp, who decided to let it go after having recently upgraded to the Kawasaki ZX-4RR. I remember test riding the Duke 390 when it came out back in 2017 to give my feedback to him as he requested. I remember the delivery day which was made more eventful by the Bangalore Traffic Police personnel who decided on towing my Punto away from a proper parking zone citing a no-parking offence. And I remember this was his gift to himself before he turned 40!

8 years of ownership later, I doubt even he would remember these initial impressions as well as the forum does! And co-incidentally, this is hopefully my stop-gap before I pick a gift for myself for my 40th, next year!

Originally Posted by rbp

Finally I booked and also selected the bike out of four 390's, got to say, KTM has a long way to go as far as quality is concerned, every bike had some paint issue or the other. Small paint chipping near the fuel cap on three bike's out of four.

One good thing is the Mekhri circle KTM don't take the bike's for registration to the RTO, it seems the bike doesn't leave the showroom without the owner. Those words were like music to my ears. The bike will be home on Wednesday a day before my 40th birthday.

Originally Posted by rbp

Mine is a slightly similar story. I have a 2001 Suzuki Fiero and was waiting to replace it with a long distance touring bike for a long time, during this wait I screwed the Fiero with lots of mods, big bore jobs and what not. The worst part is the owner thinks after modding, the bike will behave like a factory bike which isnt the case, the bike becomes fragile after these mods and needs frequent servicing etc, after a few heart breaks, I reverted the bike back to stock, but once a bike is moded [screwed], it is gone, it can never come back to the stock refinement and reliability.

Finally in 2012 after thinking of getting the N250, I dunno what struck me, I decided to go for the Ninja 650, its been 5 years and I still have it, I use the Ninja only for long distance touring, the weight and fairing of the bike doesn't suit City rides.

The Fiero in the mean time was getting old and with lots of niggles, I wanted a naked bike for my office commutes, I waited almost two years for the BMW G310R and was getting frustrated to read the postponement news. When KTM launched the 2017 edition of the 390 I decided to do a test ride, I was blown away by the peppiness of the bike, but I was/am still worried about the KTM reliability. Spoke to a lot of friends and read lots of reviews and finally decided to go for it. So far no regrets on the 390, hope it stays like that. Thats my story

Originally Posted by rbp

Thanks for the birthday wishes.

I have already done close to 130 kms in 2 days. Will get the oil changed by 150 kms. I always change the oil after the first 100 to 200 kms as this is the period where the engine goes through a lot of heat cycles and since the metal parts are setting in, small metal parts do fall apart inside. After this I will once again follow the company recommended oil change at 800kms, I guess.

Postives

• Does pack a punch, flickable.
• Super sharp brakes.
• Good ride quality, absorbs the bumps well.
• Highway mileage looks good so far, I saw close to 33 kmpl on the meter, riding between 70 to 100. The city mileage was around 20 to 22 kmpl.
• Light clutch.
• Slick gearbox, just a small tap required.

Negatives

• Heat as is already known, within 500 meters from the showroom on the way to the house, I felt the engine is on fire. The best way to keep the engine cool is by riding fast.
• Poor lights, for some it might be acceptable I am not one of them.
• Poor straight line stability, the rear keeps moving around.
• Would have preferred more feedback from the front, I am not sure if this will improve, as the tyres are still new.
• Bluetooth isnt pairing with my Nexus6P, tried with other phones also still same issue.
• Sometimes the gear indicator on the console vanishes. Stop and restart and it shows up again.
• Poor low end, the rider just has to learn to keep down/up shifting gears.

Originally Posted by rbp

Update

I have done 500+ kms, my thoughts so far

1. I changed the oil and oil filter at 167 kms, I usually do it for all the vehicles that I have owned, the heat seems to have settled down after that.
   
2. In one of my previous updates I had mentioned the front end feedback isn't great, now after 500+ kms the tyres have run-in properly now and provide amazing grip and feedback.
   
3. The rider seat though soft isn't comfortable for long rides, the bum gets numb after an hours ride, I need to keep standing up frequently just to get rid of the numbness. Anyone who wants to tour on the duke, would suggest them to get rideonair seat.
   
4. The bike huffs and puffs below 4k rpm, but I have got used to it, I don't mind it.
   
5. The handle bar is wide, I cannot cut through traffic as easily as I had imagined. Planning to get rid of the hand guards shortly.
   
6. The handle bar grips are the best, they have an amazing feel, soft yet grippy, love them.
   
7. The front suspension is good at absorbing bumps, the rear is pathetic, ride over broken roads and every shock is transmitted to your spine. After the recent non stop rains, Bangalore roads are unrideable. Has anyone tried the Ohlins KT303.
   
8. I am extremely satisfied with the Fuel Efficiency, during peak hours I get an FE of around 25+ kmpl, on the highways it goes past 30+ kmpl.

Some photos of the bike through the years:

All three variants of the last-gen 390 platform, at one of our favourite overnighter homestay destinations in Chikmagalur. The 390 Adventure belonged to ebmrajesh and the RC390 belonged to deepfreak15:





Same destination, another ride, with neil.jericho's Gen III Duke 390 and my Triumph Tiger Sport 660:



With a very familiar Versys 650 and shaikhmimran's VStrom 650:



Out on a night ride, with my Tiger Sport and our friend Mahesh on the Ninja 1000 for company:



On a recent roadtrip to Kundapura, supposed to be rbp's farewell ride for the Duke 390:







When I secretly rode neil.jericho's Gen III Duke 390 and rbp's Gen II Duke 390 back to back to guage which one I personally like better and to see if I should spend the extra for the new one:



And selected the old:



And finally - My first long ride on the borrowed Duke 390, during early post-Covid days, when I had no bike in the garage - having sold the Kawasaki Versys 650:

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

The initial days:

Took ownership of the bike on the 12th of January 2025, with just above 40k kms on the odo:

Ready at his place:



Getting prepped to ride it like i stole it:



And I'm off:



First time at my parking:



The first order of business - To get a full checkup done at Gear Gear Motorcycles. Although I had the full service history of the bike and rbp had even serviced it before handing over - i just had to get it checked because in just two weeks of ownership, I would be riding down to Chennai for California Superbike School. It was a quick check but we decided on the following parts change interval: 1. Next service in 4000 kms, together with a Chain and sprocket change, and clutch lever to be changed



The second order of business : Was to add tank grips - I felt like I was sliding on the tank under sharp braking even in the city, forget braking on the track:







The third order of business was to clean up all the chain spray accumulated on the rear wheel:









The fourth order of business was to get used to the bike - taking it out for breakfast rides and office commutes:

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

First Impressions:

To summarize: 8 years ON - this Duke still is mental, a giant-killer if there ever was one! Character is such an abused word - I know, but this one surely has it in spades!



The Gen II Duke 390 looked revolutionary when it came out in 2017, and still looks rather fresh in 2025 IMHO. Compared to the lines of the Gen III - I actually prefer the sharper and simpler lines of the Gen II. The orange paint scheme with the black fuel tank and white sub-frame still feels rather youthful and makes me feel rather too old to be sporting such a machine while nearing my forties! The trellis frame looks purposeful and the orange wheels have aged well over the long term. Am I worried about the association of this colour with a certain genre of riders - would be a lie to say no, because I still remember a friend telling that the police asked him during a routine stop why an elderly person like him was riding a bike with such a poor image factor. That said - I do understand why some of these riders feel so overconfident when using a Duke!

It feels just as light as it looks, with just 163 kgs kerb weight and excellent weight distribution making it a breeze in the city. Even though I am half a size (so as not to insult myself) bigger than a proportionate rider for this motorcycle's dimensions - the 830mm seat height sure helps in getting comfortable. As a pure naked - there is no getting around the wind effect at any speeds above 100 km/h are going to be felt evenly across the chest. The small size can also feel insubstantial though - especially around the track when trying to relax and suspend yourself from the motorcycle, leaning into corners. While tank grip has helped with the feeling of confidence, it can't compensate for the weight. Aprilia 457 (RS and Tuono) dimensions are better in this regard IMHO - but speaking of which, are the any renowned aftermarket heel plate options for the Duke?



At the heart of the matter is that lovely 373cc, short-stroke single that produces 42 bhp and 37 Nm of torque. Even though now replaced with the classier 399cc LC4C motor that produces a punchier midrange, I prefer the revv-happiness and peaky linear (once you ignore the low-end) power delivery of the older motor. This motor, along with that chassis and braking capabilities give the Duke its hooligan tag! When you produce such amounts of performance from a small motor - it also results in a good amount of vibrations and heat. To me - the vibrations are more well controlled than the heat and although I can make out the engine is running and there are the resultant vibrations through several areas - it is not something of bother at all! The heat, thoough, sometimes gets to you in traffic - with me struggling to understand how this small 373cc single is producing more heat than my 660cc triple!

Getting back to the topic of that low-end, it sure is weak. The motor struggles and knocks and takes deep breaths below 3000rpm and you can easily stall the motorcycle if careless. FuelX has taken care of the low end to some extent, but still not a place the motor wants to be at! Good thing though - the engine is extemely revv-happy and eager to get out of that zone. Coupled with a slick transmission and the smooth slipper clutch combination - you can row through the 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears just as fast as the bike needs it. It makes you work, but for those willing to put in that effort - it rewards go beyond its price and performance class!

Oh and be warned - KTM engines drink oil. As per his calculations - the bike has always needed a topup of around 100 ml every 1000kms. If you are the type who wants to forget such checks from service to service - stay away. Simple

Performance is only half the story - the sharp handling and braking package compliements it, whether on the road or track.



The stock bike has a rather jumpy rear suspension which rbp upgraded to YSS with preload adjust. With the right settings, the front and rear feel well in sync now. However, while the combination works perfectly in the city (may be a bit hard for some), the front is still a tad softer than I would have liked on the track. On the fast uneven straights, the bike does exhibit some up and down pitch, though feeling controlled. Coupled with good Michelin Road 5 tyres, the bike has been very confidence inspiring so far - but i really can't wait to try it out with stickier rubber! Is TVS Eurogrip Protorq Xtreme better than the Road5 in corners - do let me know.

Nothing much to speak about the electronics - It has everything needed (like TFT Display, Supermoto ABS, etc) but I do wish navigation and a quickshifter was part of the feature list. Lights are just average, being halfway in illumination between a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and a Bajaj Dominar 400 - good for the city, will need aux for highway use.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Service History:

rbp has fully captured the service history of the bike as below, to which i have contributed four actions since the 40k kms mark:



All the services I have performed in the last two months of ownership have been summarized below, some of which will be detailed in the upcoming posts.

Service Experience #1: General Full checkup
Odo Reading: 40,400 kms
Service Center - Gear Gear Motorcycles

Service Experience #2: Full Pump Replacement + TrackDay Maintenance Package
Odo Reading: 23,000 kms
Service Center - Joe Garage

Service Experience #3: Wheel bearing + Chain bearing replacement + TrackDay Full checks
Odo Reading: 42,000 kms
Service Center - Gear Gear Motorcycles[/h3]

Service Experience #4: O2 Sensor + Air Filter Replacement
Odo Reading: 42,100 kms
Service Center - Indimotard Greasehouse

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line

[TheHelix0202]

Crazy bike, crazy thread, Crazy Driver!

No bottom cooler comes close to the pure thrill this little KTM offers!

I so do wish I’d stuck with my original booking decision of a Metallic Grey 390 Duke back in 2022. I got the Adventure instead, which I promptly sold to a fellow BHPian 6 months ago.

Looking forward to reading about your updates on the Duke! Safe riding!

Bit of an aside, I’m hopping back onto the KTM bandwagon again soon, and I’m honestly confused between the Duke and Adv X.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by TheHelix0202

I so do wish I’d stuck with my original booking decision of a Metallic Grey 390 Duke back in 2022. I got the Adventure instead, which I promptly sold to a fellow BHPian 6 months ago.

Bit of an aside, I’m hopping back onto the KTM bandwagon again soon, and I’m honestly confused between the Duke and Adv X.

Thank you for the kind words

Why did you sell the Adventure though? If it is because you didn’t enjoy it as much as you thought you would, then the decision becomes easier - the X isn't going to be drastically different in the type of enjoyment it provides, despite being a vastly improved product.

And the new Duke 390 with cruise control does have some highway legs as well.

[TheHelix0202]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Why did you sell the Adventure though? If it is because you didn’t enjoy it as much as you thought you would, then the decision becomes easier - the X isn't going to be drastically different in the type of enjoyment it provides, despite being a vastly improved product.

And the new Duke 390 with cruise control does have some highway legs as well.

The main reason being I didn’t think it pulled enough heartstrings at the time. Besides, I was going to leave the country soon - that never happened, but it seemed like the perfect time to satisfy my itch for a parallel twin, and I bagged a used Continental GT 650. Sold that yesterday because it was impractical to live with, coming from the Adv.

Yeah, the Duke has the strongest tug on my heart right now, but I’m not sure if my 6’2 frame would be comfortable on it during longer rides. City rides seem fun, and I was laughing like a maniac when I took a test ride on it in Whitefield.

Honestly, the whole single bike garage conundrum is having me rip my hair out.

[b16h22]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

The heat, thoough, sometimes gets to you in traffic - with me struggling to understand how this small 373cc single is producing more heat than my 660cc triple!

Congrats on the purchase There are a few reasons for the heat. The compression ratio is pretty high for starters at 12.7:1. Add the just about adequate cooling system on the first two gens of Duke to the mix. It's also quite lean fuelled under 4-5k which I guess gets fixed to an extent by the FuelX. On top of all these, the mid pipe is routed right through the frame on the left side. My first gen was close to unbearable in hot Kerala summers. I've cooked my shin under the jeans a couple of times. And most of the heat was felt on the left side. The big exhaust box which contains the cat also sits very close to your foot. I've countered the heat by constantly moving and not getting stuck behind other vehicles, later in my ownership.

That said, the second gen is much better in this aspect and KTM proactively improved the cooling system drastically from the Gen 1 ADV & Gen 3 LC4c onwards. This point doesn't get stressed enough. It made the whole package a lot more reliable. The first gens used to burn through stator coils and head gaskets for fun.

Originally Posted by TheHelix0202

Honestly, the whole single bike garage conundrum is having me rip my hair out.

The SMCR might fit you better but the tank range is concern.

[100Kmphormore]

Congratulations and nice to see another same vintage 390 on this forum. A lot of rbps insights were read before I finalized on mine. Completely agree with the view related to mileage, low end response and heat, which are the only 2 downsides, but have got accustomed to it now. Fuel X sort of robs its character. I have been lucky to not have had any issues like the o2 sensor, fuel pump etc, though it has run around 10000 km lesser than yours presently.

The bike seems to have done oil change at around 55-60% of the prescribed 7500 km/yearly schedule. Any reason for the change that early? I am at 6200 km currently after the last oil change and majorly city ridden (short commutes) without any enthusiasm, what do you suggest?

The stock bike has a rather jumpy rear suspension which rbp upgraded to YSS with preload adjust. With the right settings, the front and rear feel well in sync now. However, while the combination works perfectly in the city (may be a bit hard for some), the front is still a tad softer than I would have liked on the track.

The stock needs to be adjusted, particularly if you are heavier built. For my 96 kg frame, I had to get it adjusted to the 2nd from last else it was a back breaking ride, especially if you hit a bump at speeds more than 30 kmph. The previous owner at 65 kg had nearly flown off the handlebar when he did the same once since the then stiff rear just jumped him. The front though is quite stiff on mine, not jarring but you get feedback unlike my erstwhile V15 and Himalayan where you felt the prominent disconnect.

[sac23]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Oh and be warned - KTM engines drink oil. As per his calculations - the bike has always needed a topup of around 100 ml every 1000kms.

I own a gen 2 390 myself and I have experimented with different oils to see if there is a change in the oil consumption. I have used Motul 7100, 300V, Shell Advance Ultra, Gulf Syntrac and Castrol Power1 Ultimate. The oil consumption was more with some oils like the 7100 and Shell Advance Ultra. To confirm that this is not specific to my bike, we tested it out in different KTM bikes and it turned out that Castrol Power1 Ultimate was the oil which could last the longest without any considerable drop in oil level.

The conclusion was that due to the extreme heat of the 390 engine, oils with lower Noack volatility vapourises and gets sucked into the air box via positive crank ventilation valve and gets burned in the engine.

Try using Castrol Power1 Ultimate the next time.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by TheHelix0202

Honestly, the whole single bike garage conundrum is having me rip my hair out.

Single bike garages are a big balancing act indeed! Thankfully I'm so happy with the Tiger Sport 660 on that front.

May be give the Tuono 457 a try as well? Combines your likes of twin and fun.

Originally Posted by b16h22

Congrats on the purchase There are a few reasons for the heat.

Totally agree with you there - just something the rider needs to get used to and accept as a compromise for living with this bike.

Originally Posted by 100Kmphormore

Congratulations and nice to see another same vintage 390 on this forum...

The front though is quite stiff on mine, not jarring but you get feedback unlike my erstwhile V15 and Himalayan where you felt the prominent disconnect.

He had forgotten that he typed all these on the forum

Front feels stiff enough on the road, but is soft for the track. The first right hander at Kari which comes at the end of the main straight is a bumpy 90° that is taken at ~100kmph and the bike could be way stiffer. Overall a good compromise for the price for sure.

Also is accentuated by the fact that the weight is less and you don't feel like you can just relax and let the machine do its thing - which is something i used to feel on the Tiger Sport 660, same corner - with an even softer suspension.

Originally Posted by sac23

Try using Castrol Power1 Ultimate the next time.

Exactly the same conclusion rbp arrived at, after testing out the various options available. Bike is currently running Castrol Power1 Ultimate. Oil checks and topup are just another part of living with this bike.

[TheHelix0202]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

May be give the Tuono 457 a try as well? Combines your likes of twin and fun.

The budget was nerfed at home

I couldn’t even stretch for the Adv S like I’d originally booked.

Did the PDI of my X yesterday, though. Happy enough with it. Taking delivery today!

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by TheHelix0202

Did the PDI of my X yesterday, though. Happy enough with it. Taking delivery today!

Hearty congratulations Welcome back to KTM. Waiting for your feedback on the bike.

I hope you have gone through the Motorinc first video which says the X is the recommended product for most people - and since you want the best of both worlds - 19 makes sense over 21 inchers in the front