KTM Duke 390 Review— There is big news for speed lovers in the Indian two-wheeler market. KTM India has introduced its most popular sports naked bike, the KTM Duke 390 in a completely new avatar. In this comprehensive KTM Duke 390 Review, we will talk about how the company has made major changes in its engine and price to avoid heavy taxes and give relief to the customers. The company has specially designed it for those riders who like to go on long journeys along with daily commuting.

KTM Duke 390 Review: With the new engine and low price, is this motorcycle best for you?

New 350 cc engine and GST mathematics

This time, KTM has taken a big strategic step by catching the pulse of the Indian market. The new Duke 390 is now launched with an all-new 349.32 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine. The main reason behind this change is the heavy tax (GST) of 40 percent imposed on motorcycles above 350 cc in India. By keeping the engine capacity just below 350 cc, the company has achieved huge tax savings, the direct benefit of which has been transferred to the customers in the form of lower prices.

This new engine generates power of 41.5 PS and torque of 33.5 Nm. Although this is a bit less aggressive than the old 399 cc engine, the power delivery graph of the new engine is very smooth and linear. The bike now has a 6-speed gearbox with assist and slipper clutch. The biggest thing is that this motorcycle fully supports E20 petrol (a mixture of 20 percent ethyl alcohol and 80 percent petrol), which makes it compatible with the stringent environmental regulations of the future.

On-road performance and long distance travel

During initial testing on the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway and the busy roads of the city, the behavior of the new Duke 390 appeared to have changed significantly. While the older KTM bikes used to throttle at lower RPM, this new 350cc engine feels quite quiet and refined. You get instant torque when overtaking a traffic signal, which helps in overtaking in the city.

Its suspension setup has been upgraded for lovers of long journeys. It gets adjustable upside-down (USD) forks at the front and 10-step preload adjustable monoshock suspension at the rear. Its seat height is now 800 mm, so that even short height riders can handle it easily. The large 15 liter fuel tank eliminates the hassle of frequent fuel station stops during long distance journeys.

Voices from the Ground / Official Statement

“We have re-engineered the Duke 390 with a new 350cc engine block keeping in mind the Indian tax structure. The aim is to make the bike more affordable and accessible to the masses without compromising on performance. The bike offers the best balance between city and highway riding.”
— Regional Sales Head, Bajaj-KTM India

Price difference and other options in the market

Talking about the price, the starting ex-showroom price of the new 350cc KTM Duke 390 in Delhi has been fixed at ₹ 2,78,931. It is about ₹61,000 cheaper than its bigger brother, the 399cc premium variant (now called the KTM 390 Duke R). Coming to on-road prices, its price goes up to around ₹ 3.15 lakh in Delhi and NCR cities.

If you are considering other options in this budget, there is some stiff competition in the market:

• TVS Apache RTR 310: Its starting price is ₹ 2.25 lakh (ex-showroom). It is far ahead in terms of features, but lags a little behind KTM in terms of power.
• Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z: Coming at an aggressive price of ₹1.94 lakh, this bike is a great option for those who have a limited budget.
• Triumph Speed ​​400: Priced at ₹2.34 lakh, it proves to be a premium and comfortable tourer for those who like British styling and smooth performance.

If you want a naked streetfighter motorcycle that sports KTM’s signature sporty looks, is not heavy on the pocket, and has a refined engine for highway touring, then the new KTM Duke 390 will be the perfect value for money option for you.