2023 KTM Duke 390: 10 finer observations after 2 days of ownership

The motorcycle is fantastic. Extremely flickable and nimble and much more useable through the rev range compared to the previous generations.

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:

1. The showroom experience was a bit of a mixed bag. I knew the Whites Road and Ambattur Estate showroom staff very well. Since the Ambattur one was in close proximity to my house, we decided to go with them. Big mistake.
2. The sales executive with whom I was in touch, promised the delivery of the bike in 3 days but failed to deliver.
3. He tried to offer to sign on my behalf, all because I said that my office is in Nungambakkam and I cannot travel during the day just to sign a form. Basically, forgery.
4. They tried to push us to IFFCO-TOKIO insurance, with which we have had bad experiences in the past. We finalized on National insurance. Didn’t bother me much, because it is just for a year. We can always change it post that.
5. No PDI was offered on delivery day, even though I had specifically requested it. The bike was already under the orange covers when we arrived. By then, we were already done with the experience so we didn’t care much. I did inspect the bike before I drove off. They gave a host of paid basic accessories namely, riding gloves, mobile mount, helmet, visor, helmet lock, helmet cleaner, and balaclava. Pretty impressive list.
6. I have decided to get all services done at KTM West Mambalam through a contact. I am done with KTM Ambattur.

Riding Experience:

It has only been two days since I took delivery, but I have been able to gather some thoughts about the bike.

1. The motorcycle is fantastic. Extremely flickable and nimble and much more useable through the rev range compared to the previous generations.
2. Heat can be felt in stop-and-go traffic, which I had to deal with on my very first day. The fan does come on promptly to aid in dissipating some of it, but just like all single cylinders, you can feel it.
3. Finding neutral is a challenge. I expect this to improve after the first service. I have discovered that neutral is easier to find when the bike is turned off, whether in traffic or when you have come to a complete halt. It is a little weird and needs getting used to. I will mention this during the first service, which is 1000 km or 45 days.
4. The quick-shifter is fantastic! Downshifting is much smoother than upshifting, and I want to take this to the MMRT track someday to extract maximum performance.
5. The engine can be scary and dangerous in the wrong hands. Luckily, I am at a more mature age and my prior experience in testing much bigger bikes helps me keep this in check. I learn something new about the bike every day.
6. I am not a sedate rider, nor a hooligan. I’m still trying to find the perfect balance and not go overboard.
7. The seat has to be the biggest downside. It is extremely hard and I am already considering getting a custom seat cover with added padding to aid everyday riding comfort, or perhaps a gel seat for touring.
8. Still getting used to riding with riding gear. My Viaterra Shifter gloves were biting into my knuckles and causing extreme discomfort and pain, so I wrote to them and requested a replacement or change in size. I am still unsure what the reason is, because I tried the Grid and Holeshot in person and they seemed fine. The customer service required some pushing to get this replacement process started, as they were refusing any assistance citing warranty issues.
9. Clan SNKR shoes were advertised as UK8 but were one size larger for me. I brought this to their attention and they instantly offered to send me a UK7 as a replacement in two days and will collect the shoes from me shortly 10/10 customer service and the boots are fantastic as well. Of course, all of this is my personal experience and nobody paid me to say any of this. All of these were impulse buys after doing extensive research.
10. My 2024 version Rynox Urban X jacket is doing duties as expected. Fantastic jacket, but still runs a little too warm for Chennai heat. I have removed the chest armors for more airflow in city riding.
11. My LS2 Vector-2 Touring Helmet is amazing as well. The only gripe is the visor usability with gloves. The visor locking mechanism is a nice touch but gets difficult in city traffic where I spend most of my time trying to find neutral, so I can’t use my left hand to open the visor

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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