I did get that 820mm seat recently, its a lot more comfortable than the standard one for someone like me.
BHPian psysu recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
The Golden Ticket
I started riding bikes when I was 16 or 17 on our Yamaha FZ in my home. Riding Bikes is not something I found exciting back then. To me it’s just a thing that gets me from A – > B. Then my folks at home bought a KTM Duke 200 (2012, it had its issues in the beginning if I recall correctly but it’s still going strong and its entirely trouble free now). I mostly ridden it around my small town because it was scary for me at that time. I mostly stayed away from that one. Then in 2021, something clicked on one particular ride I did. we were getting our Duke serviced in a nearby city. I was getting our Duke there to my home which is nearly 70km away. I properly rode that Duke for the first time, hitting red line whenever I chose to, and I was going pretty fast. That KTM waved me the Golden Ticket to motorcycles.
The Dream
I just started to earn at that point as well, then a dream emerged in me about getting a KTM 390 as my first motorcycle and I started to save bank for it. In Bengaluru, on my daily walk to my office I would get past a KTM showroom, I never missed a chance to ogle at those Gen 2 390s standing there. After 2 years of savings for it, to my surprise I heard the news about new generation of 390 is going to launch by the end of 2023. I started a wait and gather information as much as I could, I loved the initial pictures of it. To me Gen 2 Dukes are such a sharp neat design, I didn’t like the new ones from all angles but in some angles, it looked great for me. I read the reviews of it everyone was having very strong appreciation for it. I was super excited.
Getting Aboard
I considered other options first before trying the 390. So first I bought myself a helmet (MT Thunder4) and Korda riding gloves. I started visiting showrooms on weekends, and I rented all of it at least for a day. My options were something within 50 bhp. I needed something with an upright position, so sport bikes are out mainly because I’m not used to it.
- Interceptor 650 – Amaazzzzzinngg Sound, Looks aboslutely gorgeous. something told me i would get bored of it lot faster like i did with Honda CB350 we have in our home. I may get one once I get older.
- Triumph Speed 400 – would win the beauty pageant, pretty fast. I really liked it, but I could not connect with the engine at all. the sound is very neutral and it’s not exciting. It feels like a commuter that does the A -> B job very fast and very well. My mind did say get it, but it feels like an arranged marriage. not for me.
- Himalayan 450 – To my surprise, I came very close to booking this one. I liked the high seating position, how big the bike feels in the flesh, how nimble it felt even though it has those 21-inch wheels. I was grinning every time inside my helmet whenever I see a bad road while I ride this one. interesting
Finally, I test rode the Duke 390. I took a very short ride. I was on 3rd gear the bike stared to pull and it was super thrilling to arrive at that red line. And i was giggling like an idiot inside that helmet. I immediately went to the showroom and booked the bike. Then afterwards I visited another showroom to test ride it again. Then that night I rented the bike for a day and went for 250km ride next morning. I just could not stop riding it Yeap the 390 Handed me that Golden Ticket and said go nuts.
My bike got delivered in 2 weeks’ time after the booking. I’m having a blast of time with my 390. After 4 months and 5000~ km, I did get used to the design and keeping up with the performance & handling, yet it feels like there is lot to learn from it. it’s such a laugh every ride, whether it’s to the twisties surrounding Bengaluru or going in a highway for 70km for my usual Sunday breakfast. I also did a trip to my hometown from Bengaluru, which is 500km away, and it was surprisingly comfortable (butt gets numb for every 200km though ). Now I can’t think of travelling by any other means .
Ok some pictures,
Yep i did get that 820mm seat recently, its lot more comfortable than the standard one for someone like me ( 6ft tall ).
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