November 9, 2018
KTM Duke 390 review © Motorcycle Daily
Austrian KTM is famous for its naked bikes. These motorcycles stand out with their bright orange colors, distinct cage-type frames, daring engines and good dynamics. The middle model in the line of such bikes is the KTM Duke 390. This is no longer a small-sized “trifle”, but also not yet a fast Duke 790.
This kind of motorcycle is perfect for those who want more dynamics and speed, but a top-end sportbike is redundant or unaffordable. After all, the cost of a KTM Duke 390 in Russia is from 440 thousand rubles (less than $7 thousand). Considering the brand's reputation, this is a very reasonable price tag. The bike will definitely please a novice rider, and will not disappoint an experienced motorcycle racer.
KTM Duke 390 © revzilla.com
Construction and chassis
The motorcycle is based on a “cage” frame welded from round and irregular steel pipes. It is the same as that of the younger “Duke” with a 200 cc engine, so the unification of the models is obvious. The same goes for the suspension. At the front, the bike is equipped with an inverted “telescope” with 43 mm stays, at the rear – a pendulum with a monoshock absorber.
Duke 390 frame © MNNTHBX
The wheels have the same diameter, 17 inches, but are equipped with different tires. The front tire is 110/70 and the rear is 150/60, manufactured by Metzeler. These are pretty cool tires for motorcycles of this class, but it’s not surprising. The KTM Duke 390 produces more than 40 “horses”, so it doesn’t need any wheels. The tread is road type, with a shallow herringbone pattern, which is quite standard for motorcycles with a hint of sport.
Braking is handled by Brembo ByBre discs, one each at the front and rear. The front has a diameter of 320 mm, the rear – 230. The number of pistons in the calipers is four and one, respectively. There is an ABS system manufactured by Bosch (9MB). Some people may not find the brakes too impressive, but since the bike is not very heavy, they are sufficient.
Brakes © revzilla.com
The length of the KTM Duke 390 is exactly 2 meters, the width along the handlebars is 87 cm, the height is 1.25 m, the landing is 80 cm. The wheelbase is 1357 mm. It’s the dimensions of the bike that may raise questions. It was clearly designed for a rider of average height. If your height has exceeded 180 cm, the landing may be uncomfortable.
In particular, the aerodynamic “fairings” on the sides of the tank raise questions. A tall person runs the risk of resting his knees on them, and then he will have to forget about the convenience of a long ride and the aerodynamics thought out by the manufacturer.
Knees close © revzilla.com
The weight of the KTM Duke 390 cannot be called light, but 1.5 quintals (without fuel) is normal for a 400 cc bike. Some budget classmates are approaching the 200 mark, or even slightly exceeding it. The tank holds 13.5 liters of gasoline, that is, the curb weight of the bike is about 160 kg.
Reviews from KTM RC 390 owners
Surprisingly evil spendthrift, old Japanese four-hundreds like the CBR400 or XJR400 take off, although the KTM has less horses and torque. The fit with a height of 184 cm is ideal, long arms and legs are not a hindrance. There is enough wind protection, there is no desire to install a higher glass. It rips wildly from a standstill, especially if you rev the engine before the start; after 120-130 km/h it slowly gives up, but up to 150 it drives confidently, overtaking is easy. Personally, the power is enough for my eyes and ears, I don’t see any point in taking anything else, there’s nowhere to drive 200+ anyway, and now they’ve hung cameras everywhere that hit the tail. Vladimir, St. Petersburg, KTM RC 390 '2015.
The motorcycle is obviously not bad, but the price is too high, for this money you can get an R1 or a liter CBR alive and fresh, I’m generally silent about six hundred. Among the scabies, the KTM RC 390 is the best, but the 600cc is a different class, so the KTM didn’t stay long with me, I bought it, rode it and sold it a month later for the same money. Dmitry, Moscow, KTM RC 390 '2016.
I fell in love with this style at first sight, although initially I wanted to take a road bike, I was looking at the Duke with the same engine. Then I came across a review of the RC 390, was hooked, and a week later I bought it. The motor is under warranty, I bought it new, at a discount, since I bought it at the beginning of the 2018 season, and the motor was released in 2021, I haven’t climbed anywhere myself, even an oil change - everything to the dealer. The impression is good, I've driven a little over 5,000 kilometers this season, I drive carefully, and I'm gradually getting used to it. Vladislav, Chelyabinsk, KTM RC 390 '2017.
Engine and transmission
The motorcycle is equipped with a single-cylinder 4-stroke liquid-cooled engine. Its working volume reaches 372 cm³, the compression ratio is 12.6:1, so it’s better not to skimp on gasoline, “God grant that my powerful engine does not wither” ©. The pistons are short-stroke, with a diameter of 89 and a stroke of 60 mm. However, the KTM Duke 390 engine is not a boring 250; the differences from the younger version are not only in the CPG, but also in the crankcase.
The fuel supply system is represented by a Bosch EFI injector with a 46 mm gate. Ignition is from the same manufacturer, electronic processor.
The engine power of the KTM Duke 390 reaches 44 hp. at 9500 rpm, and then drops to 40 hp, so turning it to the cutoff makes sense only when accelerating to maximum speed. Torque is 35 Nm at 7250 rpm.
Transmission - 6-speed manual, with dog clutches and wet clutch in an oil bath. The transmission to the wheel is chain, the gear ratio is 15:45.
Pros and cons of the KTM RC 390
Advantages
- Thoughtful and comfortable fit . Especially for a sport bike - there are no increased loads on the lower back and arms on the KTM RS 390.
- The presence of a host of auxiliary systems , such as ABS and an assistant to facilitate clutch release.
- Excellent brakes that are good without tuning or modifications.
- Low weight , which, coupled with very competent weight distribution, contributes to excellent handling.
- Good wind protection at any speed up to maximum.
Flaws
- High price . A motorcycle from a dealer costs ~400 thousand rubles, and for that kind of money you can buy a slightly used liter sportbike in very good condition. Another thing is that not everyone needs a “liter”.
- Difficult maintenance . KTM RS 390 owners can tell a lot of interesting stories about replacing spark plugs, filters and various fluids.
- Mediocre directional stability at high speed.
- Parasitic vibrations at high speeds.
Dynamics and features of the KTM Duke 390
The motorcycle is not too daring: putting the bike “on the goat” at the start or sharply rushing forward at a traffic light, overtaking everyone and everything, will not work. You can “do a hundred” on a motorcycle in about 5.7 seconds. Big sportbikes do this twice as fast, but the KTM Duke 390 is in a different weight category in which such performance can be called decent. The maximum speed is about 170 km/h, so you can drive it on the track.
As befits a modern motorcycle, the KTM Duke 390 has an electronic instrument panel based on an LCD screen, LED lighting, and advanced on-board electronics. It is not replete with digital systems, but it does not lag behind the times.
Headlights and steering wheel © revzilla.com
Among other features, it is worth highlighting the already mentioned ABS and electronic ignition. There is a PASC slip system in the clutch. But the negative feature of the KTM Duke 390 is the non-adjustable suspension stiffness. It is especially felt when driving quietly on not the best roads.
Steering wheel and instruments © revzilla.com
KTM 390 Duke – TEST
2014 onwards, 373 cm3, 44 l. s., 139 kg, 170 km/h, 289,900 rub.
text: Anton Vlasov photo: Nikita Kolobanov
In the photo: Anton Vlasov
»Once a manufacturer of exclusively off-road motorcycles, today the KTM AG concern has a wide and varied model range, which even includes a unique racing car! And while Japanese companies are marking time, presenting truly interesting new products every two or three years, the Austrian ones are producing original devices every season. The mid-sized naked 390 Duke, which debuted at the end of 2012 at the Milan International Motor Show, is one of the most interesting city cars of the KTM brand in recent years. What makes the device interesting, of course, is not its outstanding technical characteristics, which this simple and inexpensive motorcycle does not have, but its price/quality ratio.
Several years ago, the owner and CEO of the Austrian concern spoke about the planned global expansion of the model range of purely urban motorcycles of the KTM brand. Then the world community took this news with skepticism, since the “orange” company became famous for its off-road motorcycles, and the attempt to “climb” into territory that was almost unfamiliar and well-developed by its competitors looked unconvincing. Particularly confusing to many was Mr. Pierer's intention to move the production of future naked cars to India, to a joint venture with industrial giant Bajaj Auto, whose income in 2012–2013, by the way, amounted to a “pathetic” $3.5 billion, which is more than the average annual budget, for example. , Malta and Senegal... But a couple of years later, when KTM introduced first the 125 cc and then the 200 cc naked bikes of the Duke family, produced in India and made better than some purely European motorcycles of competitors... when the Austrian concern updated the 690 Duke model, skeptics They became quiet - until the end of the brilliant game, the “orange” were only missing two cars: a medium-sized one and a “liter” one.
The appearance of the long-awaited 390 Duke was the penultimate move by KTM, after which the world could only wait for the debut of the 1290 Super Duke R. But if the super-naked with a V-twin from the RC8 sports bike, presented in November 2013, is rather an image product, then the city 390 Duke is the same gray horse that, without unnecessary pomp and quiet, usually makes the entire cash register. Despite the Indian assembly, the naked 390 Duke is predominantly a European motorcycle designed for holders of subcategory A2 driving license. Because for the Asian market this is a too expensive device, for which most Indians will never have enough money, even if they sell all their belongings, house and relatives, and for US consumers... this KTM is not yet available, although Stefan Pierer threatened to bring the model this year and to North America. Since the Austrian concern very optimistically regards Russia as part of Europe, the naked bike is officially presented in our country.
170 km/h! Externally, the KTM 390 Duke is almost identical to the 200 and 125 cc models, which is easily explained by the more than close relationship of the motorcycles: all three naked bikes are built on a single platform and share not only the same frame, brakes, wheels and suspension, but also plastic, headlight, gas tank and other “exterior”. The most striking difference between the 390 Duke and the “junior” devices is the frame and rims of a bright orange color, which seem to hint at the far from boring character of the model. The motorcycle received a completely new engine, developed from scratch, and not based on the 200 cc engine of the 200 Duke, which in turn was obtained by increasing the displacement of the “single-barrel” 125 Duke. Although the device belongs to the category of “folk” and therefore relatively inexpensive naked cars, its 4-valve 373 cc engine is a high-tech power plant. There is a forged piston, a particularly durable diamond coating on the camshaft cams, nickasil coating on the cylinder wall, a dry sump lubrication system with a high-performance oil pump, and much more. Due to the vertical placement of the gearbox shafts, the already small by definition 1-cylinder engine was made even more compact, and the KTM 390 Duke engine weighs only 6 kg more than the power plant of the 200 cc model!
The engine of the Austrian naked bike is a typical 1-cylinder engine of medium boost: “smooth”, predictable, not particularly high-torque at low and medium speeds, but loving high speeds, spins up quickly and effectively slows down the motorcycle when the throttle is released. And if at the wheel of the 125 and 200 Duke models an experienced pilot acutely feels the lack of power plant performance, then on the 390 Duke the engine is not at all small! Manufacturer declared 44 liters. With. maximum power - these are still toys, but for adults. With a dry weight of 139 kg, the KTM naked easily and quite dynamically reaches 170 km/h (according to the speedometer), which is a very impressive figure for a 373 cc motorcycle.
The gearbox is 6-speed, the gears themselves are short, and therefore you have to actively shift for dynamic acceleration. Considering the “mid-top” nature of the 1-cylinder engine and its rather modest displacement, even when piloted in the “just stole from the salon” style, the motorcycle is not particularly voracious: after the end of the test tests, the on-board computer, which knows everything and even a little more, reported about average fuel consumption of 5.5 liters per 100 km. I am sure that with quiet operation, the 373 cc “single-barrel” gun will pleasantly surprise you with one and a half to two times less consumption of unleaded AI-95.
“Adult” Since the motorcycle is built on the same platform as the “younger” models of the Duke family, the Austrian naked bike is compact and slender. And so much so that overcoming traffic jams while driving a 390 Duke is as easy and pleasant as flying as a passenger to your dacha on a Friday evening, drinking cold champagne, bypassing all the traffic jams. But on the other hand, the device seemed to me personally... teenage. This, of course, is not the Yamaha YBR125 “motor bike” so beloved by Russian buyers, but it is also not a full-size, let’s call it that, motorcycle, like the 690 Duke, which has completely different ergonomics. I think that tall, plump and other “oversized” citizens will not be particularly comfortable driving the 390 Duke. The chassis of this inexpensive motorcycle, designed for students, skinny graduate students and other eternally hungry and barefoot youth, is the envy of many naked bikes with a price tag twice as “heavier”! Here is the already mentioned rigid and lightweight chrome-molybdenum frame, and an inverted WP fork with “adult” diameter stays of 43 mm, and a monoshock absorber of the same brand, which, although it lacks almost all adjustments and is not even installed in a lever system, is already adequate from the factory works and does not make you want to throw it away immediately after buying a motorcycle. And although the suspension components of the 390 Duke are the same as those of the “junior” naked bikes of the family, the settings are still different.
The KTM 390 Duke is not only maneuverable, like an aquarium fish in the ocean, but also a very obedient motorcycle with a rather rigid chassis. It is obvious that the suspension of the Austrian naked has considerable potential, which is perhaps even too much for a 139-kilogram vehicle. And therefore, during a quiet city ride, a pilot of average weight and build will probably feel that the 390 Duke doesn’t even smell like comfort: the imperfections of domestic asphalt in every detail will be transmitted directly to the pilot’s spine, and innocent obstacles in the form of speed bumps will seem like a supercross “ comb”... But as soon as you increase the speed a little (or load the motorcycle with a passenger), not a trace will remain of the former army steel: the suspensions begin to compress by at least half of the travel provided by the WP company (150 mm for the fork and monoshock), there is no longer any “effect echo sounder" scanning the road surface, but the device is still perfectly controlled. The 390 Duke is well-balanced, and its generally simple chassis will suffice for most sensible users. Like the 125 and 200 cc models, the 390 Duke is equipped with Bybre brand brakes, the name of which makes an untrained motorcyclist laugh hysterically. But in vain. Because the Bybre brand belongs to the Brembo concern, and these are inexpensive, but high-quality components produced for the Asian market. And although the KTM naked bike has only one brake disc with a diameter of 300 mm at the front, the caliper is... radial 4-piston! This design, amazing for an entry-level motorcycle, works, of course, not like monoblock brackets from Brembo itself, but for a 373 cc, 139 kg machine, it works more than effectively. By the way, the 390 Duke model is equipped with ABS from Bosch - and it can be switched off.
Third element
What's in the bottom line? The official dealer is asking 289,900 rubles for the motorcycle, which is already a very significant amount, but still within the psychological barrier of “300,000.” Considering the “intermediate” concept of the model, which fits harmoniously between the still “childish” 200 Duke and the already “big” 690 Duke, this is an adequate price tag. The 390 Duke is the third and, perhaps, the most significant link in the evolution of the family of Austrian naked bikes, a full-fledged city motorcycle, and not some kind of “transitional element” that archaeologists still cannot find to confirm old man Darwin’s theory. Eh, if the late Charles had seen the 1290 Super Duke R, he would have immediately realized that humanity did not come from a monkey, but came from outer space... /
WHEELIE FACTOR The performance of the 1-cylinder engine of the KTM 390 Duke is quite enough to, with a certain persistence of the pilot, tear the front wheel of a light naked bike off the asphalt simply with the gas in first gear.
But for a full-fledged wheelie, of course, you will need clutch help - and quite a bit. True, the first stage of the 390 Duke's transmission is very short, and therefore very soon after climbing onto the rear wheel, the electronic tachometer tape will hit the insurmountable barrier of the rev limiter, and your epic wheelie will naturally end. As always, there are two options for solving this problem: either learn to shift into higher gears while performing this innocent trick of a city hooligan, or try to immediately lift the naked KTM onto the rear wheel from the second stage of the gearbox. The second, by the way, is not much simpler than the first, since the not-so-impressive torque of the 373 cc engine is clearly not enough here.
Total
The KTM RC 390 has nothing in common with the 400 cc sportbikes of the early 90s, and among modern light motorcycles in this class it has practically no competitors . This fact alone sets it apart from others. Yes, the KTM company has never followed the path paved by other motorcycle manufacturers, and has not begun to do so now. And we can say with confidence that of all the sportbikes in the “up to 600 cc” category, the KTM RS 390 is, if not the best, then one of the best .
