KTM 390 Duke: Road Missile

KTM 390 Duke

It may seem rather small at first, often mistaken for being a low-capacity motorcycle. But the KTM 390 Duke packs a punch, for it brings with it a riding experience that is second to none and has been known to scare the wits out of riders who may underestimate its raft of abilities. Also, there really haven’t been too many bikes in our market that have offered the kind of performance the 390 Duke does. While the first-generation Austrian bike was hardcore, this second-generation model is more refined, stealthier to look at and is also more premium. When launched back in June 2013, the first-generation street-fighter motorbike came across as a value-for-money package for the kind of performance it offered.

Engine

Packed neatly within the frame is a 373.20cc, single-cylinder engine that produces 42.90bhp and 37Nm of torque. The motor is liquid-cooled and comes paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. The KTM 390 Duke was recently made BSVI-compliant

Specifications

The new Duke 390 looks very different from the bike it replaces, yet manages to retain its naked, street-fighter stance. At the front, it boasts of a razor-sharp LED headlamp, sculpted tank shrouds, an exposed orange and white frame, and a slender tail section. It now gets side-mounted exhaust cans instead of the underbelly one on the previous model. It also gets a sporty, clear-lens tail light at the rear along with sleek grab handles for the pillion. The seat for the pillion too, looks quite sharp. The instrument cluster sports a 5.0-inch colour TFT console that shows information like battery voltage, distance to empty, low oil pressure, service reminder, electronic gear position indicator and trip details.

It also supports smartphone integration via Bluetooth. There’s a tachometer which changes color and becomes red near the redline. Some of the switchgear is carried over from the old bike and happens to be of good quality. In terms of dimensions, the Duke 390 is 2026mm in length, 836mm in width and 1267mm in height. Acceleration is strong and even past 100kph, the motor doesn’t feel strained. NVH levels are well contained. The side-mounted exhausts sound different from the older model; in fact, it’s a lot less noisier and ‘lumpier’. The clutch is well weighted and the 6-speed gearbox works well. The new bike also gets ride-by-wire throttle.

Mileage

The KTM 390 Duke has a fuel tank capacity of 13.4 litres. In terms of mileage, the KTM 390 Duke is capable of returning 26kmpl by ARAI, in BSVI guise.

Mechanical Parts

The older bike seemed to have had a more relaxed riding posture, while the new bike is a bit sportier. It feels more for those who like riding really fast on the track. The handlebar is closer to the rider, so are all the buttons. The fuel tank lid opens away from the rider, and thanks to the revised seat height, riders who are taller also will have no problem positioning themselves. Under thigh support from the split seats is great too. Thanks to the new suspension setup, the handling has improved to a large extent. The ride quality, however, is a bit on the firm side. Around corners, the bike feels planted. Even the braking is now much stronger than earlier. At the front, the bike rides on open cartridge WP upside down forks, while the rear gets a WP monoshock-absorber setup. As far as the chassis is concerned, it is built around a split trellis frame. The Duke 390 runs on 110/70×17 tyres at the front and 150/60×17 tyres at the rear. Retardation duties are taken care of by disc brakes at the front and at the rear.

Features

Features include dual-channel ABS, LED tail light, digital odometer, quick shifter, digital instrument cluster, digital clock, step-up seat, pass switch and passenger footrests.

Colours

The KTM Duke 390, as of early 2020, is sold in two shades – Orange and White.

Brochure

All the details regarding the KTM Duke 390 – namely, the engine, specifications, styling information, colours, dimensions, features and exterior details are extensively covered in the company’s model brochure.

Prices and Variants

The KTM Duke 390 is sold in one variant as of early 2020: the price of the 390 Duke Standard variant is ? 2.48 lakh. (ex-showroom, Delhi). The variant-wise on-road prices are available at autoX.

And just like that, our database includes numerous information and multiple reviews for the KTM 390 Duke. For more on the KTM 390 Duke, be sure to tune into autoX. Also, grab the latest info on the new bikes, only at autoX.

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