Image courtesy: Kamil
The KTM 390 Duke is a naked sports motorcycle designed to offer a sporty feel, often referred to as a street fighter. This vehicle is built for aggressive performance and thrill. The ex-showroom price for this model is ₹2.95 lakh. Despite the addition of new features, the company has maintained the old price.
What’s new?
While the core design language has not changed, several major updates and additions have been introduced in this iteration.
- Engine Capacity Increase: The engine has been upgraded to 399 cc, up from the previous generation’s 373 cc unit.
- Cruise Control: A significant addition making the bike more suitable for touring.
- New Colour Scheme: The bike features a new Gun Metal Grey colour scheme, which looks bold and improved compared to previous offerings.
- Enhanced Electronics: Traction Control, ABS, and a Quick Shifter are available as standard, the overall feature set is highly detailed, including settings for Launch Control and customizable switches.
- Refinement: The 399 cc engine offers much better refinement compared to the older 374 cc engine, with a reduction in vibrations.
Engine performance & Mileage
The 390 Duke is powered by a 399 cc LC4C engine (Liquid Cooled, Four Valve DOHC). Its performance is outstanding and aggressively delivered.
- Power Delivery: Performance is strong, offering a great thrill when riding. The mid-range performance is excellent, and the engine’s entire character changes drastically after 7000 RPM, delivering very strong power.
- Throttle & Clutch: The bike uses Ride by Wire technology, resulting in a sharp throttle response. It is equipped with a Slipper and Assist Clutch, which feels light, allowing comfortable use even if the quick shifter is bypassed.
- Low RPM Issue: Keeping engine under low RPMs at higher gears causes stalling. This necessitates keeping the bike in lower gears, which does increase fuel consumption.
- Mileage: Riders can generally expect a mileage of around 20 to 25 kmpl. Mileage can be improved further if riding conservatively (90 – 105 km/h) on highways.
Handling & Ride Quality
The KTM 390 Duke is designed to be a sporty machine, which dictates its ride characteristics.
- Suspension: The suspension setup is stiff and firm, aligning with its street fighter design intended to offer a sporty feel. The front features WP Apex 43 mm USD suspension, offering rebound and compression adjustability. This adjustability allows the rider to soften or harden the front suspension based on riding conditions (city, highway, or track). The rear suspension is a WPFX unit which absorbs small potholes, but larger bumps are definitely noticeable.
- Handling and Stability: Bike handles corners really well and very stable at higher speeds. The front end feels heavier, which contributes positively to stability. The wide handlebar provides sufficient leverage for flicking the bike through traffic.
- Comfort: The seating (split seat setup) feels comfortable initially.
- Rider: The footpegs are rearset, leading to a sporty riding position. However, the lower body position can feel slightly cramped on extended long rides, requiring the rider to stretch their legs.
- Pillion: Comfortable during short rides. Long rides can be done, but with regular breaks.
Brakes & Electronics
The Duke is heavily tech-loaded, boasting an impressive suite of features.
Key highlights include:
- Braking
- Front: 320 mm hubless disc with a radially mounted ByBre caliper provide sharp initial bite and strong, progressive braking. Handles 90% of stopping power.
- Rear: Functional but less impressive.
- Electronics
- Instrument Console: Full-color TFT display with gear position indicator, tachometer, fuel gauge, phone/headset connectivity, and warning indicators (ABS, TCS, etc.).
- Ride Modes: Track, Rain, Street. Rain mode significantly increases ABS intervention.
- ABS Modes: Road and Supermoto (rear ABS OFF).
- Quickshifter + Auto-Blipper: Works, but is known to feel rough/jerky. Can be turned On/Off.
- Cruise Control: Major touring upgrade; now included with handlebar controls.
- Additional Features:
- Traction Control (On/Off)
- Launch Control (On/Off; locked until 1st Service)
- Lap Timer
- Switchgear customization
City-ride, Touring & Offroad
- City Ride: The 390 Duke is generally considered inappropriate for city use compared to 200 cc or 250 cc motorcycles. The low-end torque deficiency requires the rider to make frequent gear changes and maintain low gears. Issues like jerking and stalling can still occur, although less frequently than in the previous generation.
- Offroad/Poor Roads: The bike offers a high ground clearance of 183 mm, which is good enough to handle poor roads comfortably. However, the stiff suspension means large bumps are felt.
- Touring: The addition of Cruise Control makes the 390 Duke more ready for touring. The excellent performance makes cruising at 120 km/h and overtaking easy on highways.
Competition
In its price segment (₹2.98 lakh ex-showroom), the KTM 390 Duke’s raw performance is currently unmatched by competitors such as the TVS RTR 310 or RR 310. While Triumph Speed 400 & Scrambler 400x offers good performance, its service and showroom network is currently limited in India. Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 offers similar frantic and aggressive nature but loses on electronics, ride quality and touring abilities.
Pros
- Unbeatable Performance: 46 bhp, aggressive power delivery and a thrilling ride unmatched at this price point.
- Tech-Loaded: Comes with adjustable suspension, multiple ride modes, Launch Control, Cornering ABS and the new Cruise Control system.
- Excellent Braking: Sharp front-end bite with strong stopping power.
- High Ground Clearance: 183 mm clearance helps tackle rough roads with ease.
- Adjustable Suspension: Front suspension supports both rebound and compression adjustments for tuning.
Cons
- Vibrations: Still present, especially on the footpegs and fuel tank between 5000 to 6000 RPM, though improved from the previous generations.
- City Riding Difficulty: Low-end torque requires frequent gear changes, making city commuting tiring.
- Quickshifter Quality: Not smooth; shifting may feel jerky.
- Heating Issues: Not a deal breaker, expected from a high performance single-cylinder engine.
- Stiff Suspension: Sporty setup leads to a firm ride that feels harsh over larger bumps.
Final Verdict
The KTM 390 Duke is the definitive choice for riders who demand maximum performance and power delivery in the sub 4 lakh price bracket. It is highly tech loaded and offers good overall comfort. Suitable for both younger and matured riders and keeps you addicted to its power for years.
If you are willing to manage frequent gear changes and can tolerate the inevitable single cylinder vibrations and heating issues, this bike is highly recommended. While it may feel slightly inappropriate or demand frequent attention in city traffic, taking it on the highway will certainly bring a smile to your face.
Technical Specifications
Engine and Transmission
| Engine Type | 4-Stroke, Single Cylinder, DOHC |
| Displacement | 398.63 cc |
| Power | 46 PS @ 8500 rpm 39 Nm @ 6500 rpm |
| No. of Cylinders | 1 |
| Cooling System | Liquid Cooled |
| Valve Per Cylinder | 4 |
| Starting | Self Start Only |
| Fuel Supply | Fuel Injection |
| Clutch | Assist And Slipper Clutch |
| Gear Box | 6 Speed |
| Bore | 89 mm |
| Stroke | 64 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 12.71:1 |
| Emission Type | BS6-2.0 |
| Gear Shifting Pattern | 1 Down 5 Up |
| Spark Plugs | 1 Per Cylinder |
| Caliper – Front | 4 Piston |
| Caliper – Rear | 2 Piston |
Dimensions
| Fuel Capacity | 15 L |
| Fuel Reserve | 3 L |
| Saddle Height | 820 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 183 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1357 mm |
| Kerb Weight | 168.3 kg |
| Pillion Seat | Yes |
| Pillion Grab Rail | Yes |
Suspension/Wheels/Brake
| Suspension Front | 5 Click Compression And Rebound Adjustable, Open Cartridge, WP Apex USD Forks, 43 mm Diameter |
| Suspension Rear | Adjustable WP Apex Monoshock, 5 Step Rebound Damping, 10 Step Preload Adjustable |
| Brakes Front | Disc |
| Brakes Rear | Disc |
| ABS | Dual Channel |
| Tyre Size | Front: 110/70-17, Rear: 150/60-17 |
| Wheel Size | Front: 431.8 mm, Rear: 431.8 mm |
| Wheels Type | Alloy |
| Frame | Split – Steel Trellis Frame |
| Tyre Type | Tubeless |
