KTM Duke 390 – One Day With This Beast! » MotorOctane

I was able to get my hands on the KTM Duke 390 for a day to see what’s special about this beast. And honestly, it blew me away. And it’s not just the performance or the looks, it’s the whole package. So, here’s my first impression of the new Duke 390!
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KTM Duke 390 Ride Review

When the Duke 390 was first launched in India in 2013, the bike was an untamed beast that was quite scary and literally frantic. When KTM first launched the Duke, it was priced at Rs 1.80 Lakh (ex-showroom). However, over the years, the Duke 390 has become quite sophisticated in every manner. It is still just as powerful as the first-gen Duke, but it is now controllable and manageable. The first and second generations of the Duke were quite extreme, while the new one has evolved into a more comfortable yet fun-to-ride machine. When I first saw the new Duke 390, I was quite impressed. The seat was much more comfortable, and the seat height was quite accessible. The riding position was not as aggressive, making it a capable tourer. Plus, the power, though plentiful, is quite linear and manageable. But, how is it to ride?

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How Is It To Ride?

The Duke 390 is still the “scalpel” it always was, and it handles like nothing else in the market. Tip it into a corner, and the bike will carve those corners with ease. Credit where it’s due, KTM has done wonders with the new chassis, improving the handling of the bike even more. The ride and handling balance is extremely well done, courtesy of the new fully adjustable WP Apex USD forks and rear shock. There is ample power on tap – twist the throttle until the instrument cluster flashes red in your face. Shift up, no clutch required, the quickshifter has your back. And the bike pulls relentlessly. Speaking of which, the bi-directional quickshifter works seamlessly and enhances the riding experience. 

The engine performs beautifully even at slow speeds and at the redline. Unlike the older Duke 390, the new-gen model is quite decent in low-end torque and tractability, making it suitable for city use. Ride it fast or slow, you are guaranteed to have fun with this bike. Honestly, the Duke 390 can also double as a great tourer, and KTM has added another feature to improve the touring capability – cruise control. So, the third-gen Duke 390 is one of the best motorcycles in India, which offers a fun riding experience. Not only does the Duke offer the best performance in its segment, but it has also improved in other aspects, making it one of the best all-around bikes in India.   

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How’s The Package?

Along with being the best in its segment in terms of performance, the Duke 390 is also one of the most feature-rich bikes. It gets features like cornering traction control, cruise control, cornering ABS, launch control, 3 riding modes, a 5-inch TFT display, supermoto ABS, and the list goes on. Moreover, the bike feels well put together, and all the switches have a tactile feel to them. So, at Rs 3.56 Lakh (on-road, Mumbai), the Duke 390 may seem expensive. But swing your leg on it and go for a ride, and all the pieces will fall right into place. This is one of the best bikes you can buy in India, and the price tag will be justified.

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