KTM 390 Duke
Remember seeing something really fast and loud, leaving an orange streak as it zipped past? Well, you’ ll be seeing more of that now ...
Cutting-edge revamp for the game-changer
HE KTM 1290 Super Duke R is an irresistible design. I know many who would give an eye, an arm and a kidney to own the Super Duke but KTM are not interested in bringing it to our shores just yet. But there’s hope. Now you can have a scaled down version of the bike, at a fraction of its price, right here in India. Presenting the stunning new 2017 KTM 390 Duke. From the tank design with razor sharp extensions to the sinister split headlight and the new KTM MotoGP racing orange — the new 390 Duke looks like a mirror image of its elder sibling. The headlight comes with 20 LED (lightemitting diodes) and is brighter than ever. The fuel tank is all-steel now and larger with a capacity of 13.4 litres as compared to the older model’s 10.5-litre one. More range means longer rides with fewer fuel stops in between. The new shape of the tank along with a larger and softer saddle help carve out more room for the rider and, of course, is a lot more comfortable than the wooden seats of the outgoing Duke.
By the way, I’m right now on the above mentioned comfy seat of the new 390 Duke and waiting (read: itching) for my turn to twist the throttle across Bajaj Auto test-track near Pune. One can’t call the 2017 version a facelift because the new 390 is light years ahead of the older model. And we just don’t mean this in terms of features and gadgetry, but purely as a bike.
For the price, the fit-and-finish is decent and, like the 2017 RC 390, the new Duke comes equipped with better rear-view mirrors, adjustable levers, CANBUS system, and an E-Vap unit. The switchgear is all-new, too, and comes with new buttons on the left side of the handlebar which help you navigate through the much-talked-about coloured TFT information cluster. This gives the rider a whole bunch of information, including the My Ride feature which can connect to a smartphone. From tethering
music to answering phone calls, the rider can do it all without letting go of the handlebar. I’m old-school and would still prefer to pull over to the side, rather than doing it on the go.
Apart from the superficial bits, the most important improvement is the new fuelling system. A lot has gone in behind the scene to make the 390 Duke smoother off the mark, and in terms of how intuitive it has become. Imagine coming out of a fast corner and twisting open the throttle without stressing about the on-off, jerky power delivery of the old Duke. This is even more evident during slow-speed rides, especially in city traffic. The power delivery is linear and the throttle never feels as scratchy as in the old 390 Duke. Many aspiring KTM 390 Duke buyers get intimidated during the initial test ride due to its burst of power, especially while negotiating city traffic. This has been ironed out, and how.
A big thumbs-up to the new intake and exhaust system, the 46-mm throttle body and the precise fuel-injection system. And, more importantly, the new ride-by-wire system which gives the KTM a smooth and crisp throttle response. Since there’s no throttle cable, it electronically conveys the throttle commands of the rider to throttle valve positions. Thus, at all times there’s just the perfect blend of power and torque on tap, which makes the new 390 perfect for pretty much every kind of rider.
Nevertheless, it still packs every ounce of fun and excitement that you’d expect from a KTM. Don’t mistake its smoothness for dullness, because the KTM is seriously fast. Wring the accelerator and before you know it, you’ll be catapulted past the 150-km/h mark. It
continues to be powered by the 373-cc liquid-cooled single that punches out 43.5 PS at 9,000 rpm, but, thanks to the new fuelling system, exhaust and ECU mapping, it now produces 37 Nm at 7,000 rpm — that’s two Nm more than the older 390 Duke and one more than the new RC 390. This is mainly to compensate for the five-kg weight gain and to fit in with the new all-rounder character of the bike.
To keep the bike as engaging, the swingarm has been shortened by 10 mm and new easy to maintain WP opencartridge upside-down front forks have also been included in the package. The setup gives outstanding stability at high speeds, and equally nimble characteristics to dominate the corners. And, in spite of the steel trellis frame now being split into two sections which are bolted together, it continues to offer good torsion rigidity.
The tyres further boost your confidence. The Metzeler tyres on the current Duke did win everyone’s heart by virtue of the top-class grip they had to offer. But when it comes to replacing them, the hefty price-tag would burn a hole through the pocket. KTM have tried to address this as well on the new Duke which comes with more durable Metzeler tyres, which are also rated for a higher speed. The new compound also offers grip that is as great as before and, at the same time, promises longevity and comes at a more affordable price.
The six-speed gearbox comes with slipper clutch, as before, but now the new Duke comes with two-channel Bosch ABS which can be switched off completely or, in supermoto mode, can disengage from the rear wheels helping fast riders to drift through corners. Stopping power has been improved with a larger 320-mm front disc sourced from ByBre, which many KTM owners have been hoping for.
To be honest, there is hardly anything we can complain about, going by our short ride experience on the track. We still have to ride the bike in the city to understand if the heating issue has been resolved as well, which many new buyers are apprehensive about. The other issue could be fuel economy. The new 390 Duke can comfortably return 25-30 km/l, if not more, but be a hooligan and the figure drops below 20 km/l.
In terms of price, you’re looking at a sticker of Rs 2.57 lakh (on-road, Pune) which is quite brilliant if you look at the entry-level performance bike segment. For that price, the bike is fast, well speced and looks like nothing else on our roads. The 2017 KTM 390 Duke is a lot more versatile and usable now, without really losing its core character.