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Cleaner and Quick Shift-ier

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THE KTM 390 Duke got a significan­t upgrade in 2017 that debuted the new chassis, ride-bywire throttle, the TFT screen and of course the SuperMoto ABS mode. In its BS6 avatar, the Duke is 4kg heavier, .23 mm lower and it gets this very pretty new gunmetal livery alongside a slightly updated white one. KTM have fiddled with the fueling so you still get that ballistic

390 performanc­e. Most importantl­y though you get the quick shifter+ aka a bidirectio­nal quickshift­er. This means that you no longer have to use the clutch when upshifting or downshifti­ng out on the track. Like it’s sibling, the Duke

390 has also gained a modicum of refinement and lost some off-the-line punch, thankfully, the 390 Duke had plenty of punch to spare. Whatever fractions of a second you do lose thanks to the extra weight and the exhaust filter, you can more than makeup for it with the time you gain clutchless shifting. It’s not the most refined quick-shifter in the world and takes a little getting used to. Upshifts are mechanical­ly actuated (instead of pressure) while downshifts play on a trick fuel map and the slipper clutch to iron out the lack of clutch-action. The results are a little clunky, but it gets the job done. KTM has also given the 390 an underbelly guard to protect the engine and exhaust from scrapes, a worthy addition considerin­g the loss of ground clearance. Overall, it’s just about Rs 4,000 more expensive and I can’t help but think that it is a fair premium.

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