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BHPian vishal.jaykuma recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Hello everyone! This is going to be a relatively long post. So do set some time and as always, I appreciate feedback and tips about the bike and how to ride better. So without further ado.
Prologue:
2014: 2nd year of college, I owned a Yamaha R15 V2.0 in White/Blue. It was a phenomenal machine and I loved riding it. Being my first bike and having no other major experience in riding, and exhibiting college kid hooliganism, I ended up having a couple of crashes - one serious and one minor. That was the last straw for my parents and we ended up selling it. It broke my heart and it took me a while to accept the fact and get over it.
2015: We were in the market for a vehicle. I had just recently test-ridden my friend's 1st gen Duke 390 and I was in love with the surge of power and the raw manner in which it was delivered. Based on past experiences, the plan was instantly shut down by my parents and it was understandable. I tried to push them to get a Volkswagen Polo GT TSi (me being an enthusiast), but since we already owned a Hyundai Grand i10 automatic, the need for another hatchback was not the best idea. We ended up taking delivery of a Hyundai Creta 1st gen diesel automatic. It was a great car and we put lots of kilometers on it.
2016: Since the car had been taken in the company's name, which my father was planning on closing, we couldn't hold on to it. And so with a heavy heart, we bid farewell to the car. 2017 was the year when I moved to the US for my Master's Degree, hence all automobile purchases were forgotten for a while.
2020: I returned from the US in August, peak pandemic time. We felt the need for a second car and unanimously agreed on the Kia Sonet GTX+ Diesel automatic. One of the most amazing cars you can get in the market, albeit the brakes are the weak link in the package. We still own this and the Grand i10, and they have been extremely reliable.
2022: The bike-owning bug bit me again. I was in Bangalore at the time, and test rode everything from the Royal Enfields to the KTMs for a year. Here are my honest observations.
Royal Enfield Meteor 350: This was the first bike that I considered. It was supremely comfortable and you get that "Aaah" feeling when you sit on it. Couch-like comfort and sorted ergonomics, I was almost sure that this would be the one. The engine was disappointing and low on power for my liking. The plan was scrapped.
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650: This was a bike that stayed on my list till the very end. More on this, later.
Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650: I just absolutely loved this bike and I wish that it was a little bit easier to handle and live with, not to mention the astronomical price tag. The obvious limitations led me to scrap this one from the list as well.4. Royal Enfield Himalayan: I had been following the launch of the Himalayan for over a year, from final sketches to spy shots. It seemed like the perfect adventure motorcycle for my 10-year pending Ladakh plan. But the usability of the Himmy on an everyday basis for my 5'8, 70kg frame seemed a bit too much. The 196kg kerb weight added to the confusion. This was the first bike that I actually booked, before shifting the booking to an Interceptor.
Triumph Speed 400: Enjoyed riding the bike, but I did not enjoy the lack of presence because it has a pretty slim profile. The tractability of the engine was fantastic, and I did not feel any major vibrations or heating issues. I still recommend this bike to friends who are in that price bracket.
Bajaj Dominar 400: Controversial opinion, but I think this motorcycle is severely underrated. Extremely comfortable to ride, even with a pillion. The engine is really powerful as well, and I don't mind front-heavy bikes so I did not feel the difficulty in steering. In the current competition, this is a good alternative, but not the best. Again, I would recommend this bike for anyone who wants to tour a lot. If you need more convincing, watch Bajaj's official odysseys on YouTube
KTM Duke 390 Gen 2: An absolute hoot to ride. I did not even get close to the complete performance of the motorcycle, yet I loved it. It just felt a bit small compared to the other bikes I have ridden, which wasn't a problem but yet something to consider.
KTM Adventure 390 Rally: Another serious contender that seemed to fit all my requirements. The only issues I had with it were the inconsistent quick-shifter and the overall dimensions of the bike, which was a bit too difficult for me to maneuver through traffic. Also, i did not like the older TFT and felt that the newer engine was a lot more friendly.
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401: Part of the final 3 contenders, I felt that this was the perfect blend of what I was looking for. On the downside, the motorcycle felt a bit too small and compact and lacked road presence. I also wanted the features that this one lacked over the Duke - cornering ABS and traction control.
The Final Choice:
Almost one month into the booking of the Interceptor which was already transferred from the new Himalayan, I cited silly reasons and canceled the booking altogether. I had taken multiple test rides of the latest 3rd-Gen Duke 390. Mind-blowing performance and seemingly mini superbike levels of acceleration. I was blown away and I couldn't look at any other motorcycle the same way again. Twist in the tale, Aprilia launched the RS457 at a staggering price tag of 4.13L ex-showroom Chennai. It was difficult choosing between the two. The lack of communication, dealerships, service, prolonged delivery dates, and horror stories of Aprilia, not to mention the enormous price tag difference between this and the Duke - almost 1.3L on road, helped me finalize the bike I wanted the most. The 2024 Duke 390.
Delivery Experience:
Riding Experience:
It has only been two days since I took delivery, but I have been able to gather some thoughts about the bike.
That's all for now. I will keep updating this thread with more experience on the bike and riding gear, when I go for a ride this Sunday. Here are some photos to sum it all up. Thank you for reading!
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