KTM Duke 390

Detailed Review by Maxabout Team

Overview

The 2022 KTM Duke 390 has been successful in grabbing the attention of those who thrill for the joy of street motorcycling. The bike is lightweight and gives a power-packed performance. It was upgraded with a BS6-compliant engine back in February 2020. It guarantees a thrilling ride experience whether one is riding it through the streets or going through a forest of bends. The bike is manufactured in India at Bajaj’s Auto plant in Chakan. At present, the MY2022 KTM Duke 390 is priced in India at INR 2.94 lakh (ex-showroom).

KTM Duke 390 Design & Style

Going by the design statement, the bike rides on a lightweight split steel trellis frame. The bike offers maximum maneuverability and precision. It has been equipped with all-LED headlamps and DRLs that offer it a fully-offensive stance. The bike has not received a cosmetic update since a long time as it was last updated in 2017 when it got an all-new design. However, the new colour options do add up to its astonishing look. As per the latest details available, KTM would be unveiling the 2023 model of Duke 390 by the end of this year. Some media reports also claim that the brand is planning to replace the Duke 390 with a bigger twin-cylinder Duke 490. But according to us, it won’t be happening as Duke 390 is a single-cylinder model and it offers excellent value for money in this price segment. The KTM Duke 490 would be priced on the higher side and would be catering to a different segment of customers.

KTM Duke 390 Engine & Gearbox

The 2022 KTM Duke 390 is powered by a BS6-compliant 373.3cc liquid-cooled, DOHC single-cylinder engine. The engine has been upgraded to meet the stringent emission norms. Despite the BS6 update, the output figures of the bike remain unchanged. It churns out 43.5HP of maximum power at 9000 rpm and 37Nm of peak torque at 7000 rpm. The engine of the bike remains mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The updated exhaust system with a catalytic converter is a part of the BS6 upgrade of the bike. The motorcycle has been equipped with a Quickshifter+ that allows the rider with clutchless upshifts and downshifts to have a comfortable ride irrespective of its terrain.

KTM Duke 390 Instrument Console

The BS6-compliant KTM Duke 390 comes equipped with a TFT instrument cluster. It not only displays the riding data but also provides Bluetooth connectivity. It comes with an ability to toggle Supermoto Mode that disengages ABS at the rear wheel and toggles the Quickshifter+. The Quickshifter icon appears on the screen once the bike is turned on. One can change the display theme, the shift light, clock, these all are available in the settings of the instrument display.

KTM Duke 390 Dimensions, Mileage, and Top Speed

The 2022 Duke 390 measures 2002mm in length, 838mm in width, and 1274mm in height. It has a seat height of 823mm with a wheelbase of 1357mm. With the updated exhaust system along with the catalytic converter, the bike is now 4kg heavier than the previous-gen model. The bike now has a kerb weight of 167kg. The fuel tank capacity of this street motorcycle is 13.5 litres. It has a ground clearance of 151mm which is quite good. The mileage of the bike stands at around 25-30 kmpl while the top-speed offered by Duke 390 is 167 kmph (approximate).

KTM Duke 390 Brakes and Suspension

KTM Duke 390 rides on a split steel trellis frame while the suspension of the bike is handled by WP Apex UpSide Down forks at the front with 142mm wheel travel and a WP Apex mono-shock at the rear with 150mm wheel travel. The braking power of the bike comes from a 320mm single disc at the front with 4-piston fixed calliper and a 230mm single disc at the rear with a 1-piston floating calliper. It gets BOSCH 9.1MP 2-Channel ABS with Supermoto mode which allows the rider to turn off the rear wheel ABS. The street motorcycle rides on 110/70-R17 tubeless tyres at the front and 150/60-R17 tubeless tyres at the rear.

KTM Duke 390 Colours & Graphics

The 2022 model of the KTM Duke 390 is available in two colour options: Metallic Silver and Ceramic White. The look of the bike looks quite appealing. The Metallic Silver colour on the bike looks nice and classy while the wheels of the bike in this colour variant are in orange colour. The exposed trellis frame is also painted in orange and the bolt-on subframe is painted in black. On the other hand, the Ceramic White colour comes equipped with all-black alloy wheels and black/white trellis frame.

Verdict and Competitors of KTM Duke 390

Considering the price, the 2022 BS6 KTM 390 Duke is one of the best products in its class and it offers excellent value for money. The bike looks appealing from almost all angles, and it is a fun-to-ride motorcycle. Coming to rivals, it competes in the Indian market with the likes of Bajaj Dominar 400, BMW G310R, Honda CB300R, TVS Apache RR 310, and the Kawasaki Ninja 300.