Are you already a proud owner of this dynamic Austrian motorcycle brand? have some doubts about maintenance tips? Are you looking for any ownership reviews to help you decide if you want to go with this option? Are you concerned about getting some of the best alternative options for spare parts? If you are one of those guys who are looking to buy these beasts and you have some doubts about some specific things, then this article is for you. So I am here to share Keep reading to clear your mind
The Story Began With KTM Duke 390
Let me introduce my journey with this beast and how it became the jewel of my garage. It was back in 2020 when I was looking for my first bike, and I had two requirements: the first was that the bike must have an oil-cooled engine and the second was that it must be capable of doing 120 KMPH cruising, as I was upgrading from Bajaj CT100, so I wanted a relaxed engine for my long rides
I shortlisted NS/RS 200 and RC390 (AND I WAS AWARE OF WRIST AND SHOULDER PAIN BECAUSE OF ITS RIDING POSITION, BUT I STILL READY TO ACCEPT THAT PAIN). So I visited Maitri Motors in Karol Bagh and bought an RC390, but I had to return it after a few minutes of the purchase
Buying Duke was not on my list and I bought it by going out of my list and budget, I bought this 2018 KTM Duke 390, with 33000km on ODO
Major Issues I Faced In These Years
I ran over a pothole on the Delhi-Moradabad highway at a speed of 100+ km on the same night of bike delivery, and it caused my rear alloy to bend slightly, which resulted in four punctures, so I had to change the rear tire within 24 hours after purchase. It was my first ever big bike and I didn’t have prior experience with such bikes
I needed to replace the tire, which turned out to be a drastically horrible experience for me as the shopkeeper damaged the rear abs ring, which started showing an ABS failure sign on the screen and due to covid there was not available of abs ring in service center so I had to ride a bike with the error which caused the failure of abs motor and it was 24k INR to get New ABS motor
I went on my first ever LONG RIDE, which was approximately 1450 km from Rudrapur to Amritsar, where I faced my first breakdown in my bike I stayed in Ludhiana City, and when I was about to leave my relative’s place, it stopped working, and I had to call my native city, but the matter didn’t get solved. I called a nearby service center, and they took it and fixed the issue, which was a magnetic coil replacement. I was back on my journey the next day.
Accessories That I Have Added During Ownership
I used the KTM Duke 390 as my primary bike to commute in the city and for long rides on the highway. Due to being a naked sports bike, I faced windblast at 80–90 kmph so I got myself a visor shield, which gave me good wind protection at even 130–140 km, and I was comfortable behind the bars I went with hjg 4*4 fog lights which enhanced road visibility much better for night rides and aftermarket seat covers for better sitting comfortable
Service Cost And Spare Parts
Talking about service cost and parts availability There was never any negative experience that I ever had; maybe being in a remote location with limited bikes in the area gave me that privilege, but it was always satisfying to visit there every time. It was my personal experience to be more open with staff, as it was always a friendly gesture. Whenever I visit, they always have availability for running parts. It’s rare when I have to place my order and wait for its arrival. Maybe it’s because I never had an issue with any internal or external component of my bike.
And talking about labor charges, I personally felt that sometimes labor charges are more costly than those of other brands in these years, I have changed the chain sprocket only once and the clutch plates also once; otherwise, the quality of the components is really good, which lasts very long so I am good on regular services and the bike doesn’t ask for heavy work on it
Know Everything About New GEN Duke 390
Best Tires For Daily Commuting
If you want to use this bike for your daily commute, then you should think about getting tires that have a good life span without affecting its performance or quality. It had Michelin street-radial tires. I had already done good research before buying this beast I went for Apollo tires because they come with dual compound tires, and my decision was proved right when I replaced my tire after riding for 23000 km without a single puncture, so I upgraded tires with Apollo. explorer I’m satisfied with Apollo products now and I will surely go for the same brand next time
Fuel Economy
After doing all types of experiments on KTM Duke 390 in different situations and conditions, I can tell you that I have received a good amount of fuel economy I have riddled it as a maniac, of course, in controlled circumstances where it gave me at least 19kmpl on meter console and I have also tested its fuel range where I was at places with fewer fuel stations and it gave me 41 kmpl by riding it on 5th gear between 55 and 60 kmph
Reliability
I have ridden this beast for such a long time that it never broke down in the middle of nowhere, where I had to ask for help. I’m so confident with this amazing machine that sometimes I leave for a ride only having fuel in the tank and no cash or digital money on me because I know this bike is never going to put me in any trouble, no matter if it’s about its engine or any component on it
Seat Height
As I am 170 cm (5’7″) tall, I get my ankles in the air if I put both feet on the ground, or I can have one foot flat on the ground and the second one tip-toeing on a seat height of 835 mm. so if you are 5’9″ or taller, then you will get both feet flat and it can be struggling situation for riders shorter than 5’6″ in traffic or on odd-even roads
My Ownership Verdict And Words For Fellow Riders
if you are already an avid owner of this mesmerizing beauty, then you know the contrast between maintaining this bike and If you don’t act like an idiot on your bike, it’s going to not give you any trouble. Keep it clean, maintain it periodically, and make no-nonsense modifications to this bike. Then this bike will keep you alive on the road with less burden on your pocket and mind
And for those people who are going to get one for themselves, there is only one thumb rule: if you have a mature mind, then go for it. Sure, you will be amazed by its power delivery, but be safe on the road for yourself and for other road users. By this, you are going to enjoy this machine; otherwise, there will be no delay in getting the consequences
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