Crossed 1,500 km with my 2023 Duke 390: 5 quick observations

The mileage since day 1 stands at 23.24 kmpl. The best figure that I have got is 26.34 kmpl and the worst is 20.41 kmpl.

BHPian neil.jericho recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

During a recent monsoon ride to Chikmagalur with fellow TBHPians, my KTM Duke 390 finally crossed the 1,500 kilometer mark. This seems to be the right time to pen down a few observations on the motorcycle.

1. There is only one way to ride the KTM Duke 390 and that is suns out, guns out blazing fast. All. The. Time. Gentlemanly cruising or pottering around town is simply not possible with this motorcycle. Trust me, Ive tried and failed miserably
2. The maturity in the suspension gives you so much confidence, especially as the action picks up and you are leaned over at triple digit speeds. Lets not forget you get adjustable suspension with the Duke 390. It is so easy to find the right setup, even for someone who has never worked with adjustable suspension in the past.
3. The mileage since day 1 stands at 23.24 kmpl. The best figure that I have got is 26.34 kmpl and the worst is 20.41 kmpl. I am told that filling up with Speed / XP 95 makes the ride experience a whole lot better.
4. The aftermarket TVS ProTorq Extreme tires provide excellent grip in the dry and wet. We were riding from Chikmagalur to Bangalore (often leaned over) at non forum friendly speeds on wet roads and the tires inspired an unshakable confidence that the stock tires simply cannot.
5. If your better half / family members / best friends are hardcore environmentalists, you should avoid buying the Duke 390. Unlike other motorcycles, you cannot switch the Duke 390 off at signals. Without the fan constantly running at traffic signals, the heat build up will quickly lead to the infamous Coolant temp. high warning on your dash. Leaving your motorcycle constantly running is terrible for the environment, I know, but great for heat management on the Duke 390.

Hopefully I can make enough time to write a proper review of this motorcycle is quite frankly, a better bike for superbikers to downgrade to, than for young / new enthusiasts to upgrade to.

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