Entertainment
KTM Duke 390: Ready to race
Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen, also known as KTM, is an Austrian motorbike manufacturer who came up with the Duke 390 in collaboration with Bajaj Auto.Ankit Tuladhar
Performance
This bike is a real performer! With its engine churning out 43.5bhp, this bike is really fast. It can get from zero to 100 kmph in just 5.5 seconds, topping out at 169 kmph: This bike is thus not for the faint of heart. When accelerating, you’ll notice a gentle hum in the handlebars in the first and second gears, but the acceleration smoothens out as you progress to the third gear. That’s great for city riders because you can easily cruise the city on third gear. And because this bike has a mid-range punch, it can speed you past slowpokes and lane-cloggers with just a twist of the throttle.
The Duke 390 may be the fastest Indian bike till date, but that doesn’t mean it’s an unsafe ride. It comes equipped with an ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)—meaning the brakes don’t lock up, and its Metzeler Sportec M5 tyres are the stickiest tyres on an Indian bike.
Handling
Those Metzeler tyres stick to the tarmac like glue, and paired with its stiff suspension setup, the bike handles corners like a dream. The stiff suspension does give it a harsh ride-quality in the city as our roads are full of potholes, but that inconvenience is something I would put up with for the sake of better handling. The ABS gives you the confidence to brake late for a corner entry and you should be able to corner at higher speeds. The bike’s body too has been designed to ensure great handling: The engine has been mounted on a steel trellis frame and it has a light but stable die-cast aluminum swingarm. The bike does have a hidden switch to turn off the ABS, but it is recommended that you ride with the ABS turned on as that setting suits the conditions of our streets.
The Duke 390 doesn’t take much to get comfortable with. After riding the bike for a while, you should be able to understand the basics of the bike and make the most out of it. This bike features an underbelly exhaust (that is, the exhaust is placed under the bike’s engine). That design and placement allow the bike to maintain a low centre of gravity—to enhance handling—while at the same time ensuring that riders don’t suffer burns from the heat produced by the exhaust. The front shock absorbers are the same 43mm diameter ones as those on the RC8R (KTM’S 1190cc superbike) from WP, which means they are pretty decent too.
The Verdict
I must say that, overall, I am pretty impressed with the bike. Some people do wish that it would look different from its smaller siblings, the Duke 125 and Duke 200, but I think the orange trellis frame and the orange wheels give it a distinct look. And the bike maker’s decision to go with the underbelly design for its exhaust means that the clean look isn’t compromised. I especially like how the instrument panel gives us so much information about the bike. It shows us the gear we are in, for how long have we ridden the bike, the average speed we have travelled at and the distance we can travel with what’s left in the tank; it also features a shift-lift, which shows you the perfect time to shift gears. I do have a few gripes, though: I noticed that the bike heats up fairly quickly in the city, due to the traffic, and I think it could use a bigger tank. Even though the bike offers decent mileage, the smaller capacity of the tank limits its range and you’ll have to make stops at the petrol pump frequently.
I think it’s fairly priced—at Rs 5, 49,999—because its performance, handling and looks are all great.
Ride safe! Happy riding!
Engine Single-cylinder, 4-STROKE DOHC
Displacement 373.2cc
Power 43.5bhhp @ 9000 RPM
Torque 35nm @ 7250 RPM
Transmission 6-speed wet clutch
Brakes 300mm 4 POT front brakes, 230mm single pot rear disc brakes
Weight 139kg (dry) 154kg (wet)
Tyres Metzeler Sportec M5 17- 110/70 front, 150/60 rear tyres
Cooling Water-cooled engine
Seat height 800mm
Tank capacity 10.2 Litres