The Duke 390 (http://www.mybikemyworld.com/article/review/ktm-duke-390-we-bet-you-didnt-know-this-about-the-bike-ridden-on-indian-roads.html/4) is rightfully termed as the Pocket-Rocket, and why not?! Strong performance coupled with the right aerodynamics that suit the Duke's racing style make the Duke 390 a complete package Ready to Race.
The Duke 390 does look very much like its sibling, the Duke 200 (http://www.mybikemyworld.com/article/news/ktm-duke-200-un...) or the 'Baby-Duke' that it is lovingly termed as. Considering the fact that they share the same DNA, each of them stands out in their segment not only with their looks but overall performance as well.
Since we all know what the Duke 390 looks like and have heard of or read about its specs, what I was looking forward to was experiencing it in person. The comfortable familiarity built on as soon as I gripped the throttle. As the key was turned and the kill-switch shifted, I pushed the start button and the engine came to life with a familiar 'G-R-O-W-L' but with a difference – this time it was much louder.
The KTM Duke 390 is surprisingly light, weighing just 139kg (dry weight) which is hardly 14kg more than its sibling. The 1-down, 5-up gear-shift needs a good praise as it is the softest and one of the smoothest ever.
As the bike went rumbling down the lane, I did find the clutch and brake levers a little tight but the feeling vanished in a bit. Vibrations could be felt slightly in the first two gears which too disappeared after the third shift. Excellent pick-up, I must say, as the engine fires up right in second gear itself and you can get the bike revving up to suit your mood. In fact, the bike seems to adapt itself to the riding conditions; 80-85kmph is easily do-able on city roads, 100-120kmph if you need to cruise on long stretches and with its excellent acceleration, the Duke 390 takes you above 120kmph in the blink of an eye! Although the top-speed has been locked at 160kmph, it is not of any inconvenience since Indian roads rarely would allow anything above that, plus taking safety into account, this is good thinking. For those speed enthusiasts who would test the bike's limits on-track, there must be another way around!
Tested the bike on congested roads and found it to be easily manoeuvrable in city traffic too. A journey which would have taken me more than two hours was efficiently completed within an hour - amazing performance displayed by the Duke 390!
Although you may experience heating issues while riding on crowded city roads, its bigger radiator resolves any discomfort as soon as the Duke 390 is unleashed in open spaces.
The strong power delivered by its 373.2 cc liquid cooled, fuel injected engine can be felt at once and the huge torque when combined with an all-new, well spaced transmission, can now be put to good use, be it for speeding, off-roading or touring.
I took the bike from the showroom while it was raining and was swept away by its road-holding capabilities which are at their best while cornering at high speeds. Very soon we were far out of the city limits onto the expressway and the performance it gave even as we climbed the ghats has now lured me to take the bike for long distance touring.
Owing to the relaxed sitting stance, riding long distances on the KTM Duke 390 is absolutely non-taxing while the seat is quite comfortable. Pillion riders too find the gathered sitting posture to be convenient. The rear suspension can be adjusted as per your comfort while the front forks do their job very well. Be it tar, cement or paved roads, the Metzeler Sportec M5 tyres hold on to the surface at variable speeds with good stability while the ABS figures out the rest. While cornering and also during off-roading, be it sand or slush, the thickness of these tyres comes of use while the front and rear Brembo disc brakes and Bosch ABS works very well in synch with each other to give you a hassle free, non-slip ride. Very impressive, you see!
Right next to the console, which is similar to that of the Duke 200, is a press-switch to de-activate the ABS, which you wouldn't need to press and shouldn't, unless you are a professional stunt artist!
The rear-view mirrors are good on this machine and show all that needs to be seen and you don't waste time or patience getting used to them.
With a ground clearance of 170mm, the Duke's underbelly exhaust isn't much of a bother while going off the track and over rubble. The 10.5-litre fuel tank is again similar to that of the Duke 200 and provides the rider with a perfect knee contact. Tested the bike off-road and found it to be a good bet! This reminded me of my tour on the Duke 200 to Spiti (Himachal Pradesh) (http://www.mybikemyworld.com/article/travel/riding-in-spi...) and has now prompted me to do a similar Himalayan on-road/ off-road trip on the Duke 390 this year.
The headlights of the Duke 390 are more than a powerhouse as that of the Duke 200. Apart from the 'feel-good' factor, the high-beam is a good safety measure at jet speeds which the Duke 390 is capable of.
Side indicator and other switches are soft-touch and are placed conventionally ruling out any fidgeting and fumbling.
After all this, another important aspect to ponder upon is the Duke 390's fuel consumption which stands at an unbelievable 38kmpl. Now that comes as a BIG Surprise! Being aware of the flaw in its mileage calculator which the Duke 200 may display, I did not rely on the 390's console reading and did my own calculations to arrive at this wonderful figure.
With its overwhelming acceleration at all engine speeds, outstanding fuel economy, exceptional performance and agility the KTM Duke 390 makes for the perfect companion be it for everyday use, for setting high speed records on track or for some adventurous touring, alone or two-up.
What's Good:
Excellent Acceleration
High Torque
Smoothest Gear-shift
Good manoeuvrability
Soft-touch switches
Very good ABS
High Stability on all terrains and riding conditions
Excellent mileage
Awesome price tag of 1.8 lacs (Delhi price)
What's Not Really So:
Needs better cooling in city
The graphics could have been different considering the Duke 200 has similar looks.
