Ktm Duke 390| First Ride Impressions| Should You Buy It?

From the day first when Ktm Duke 390 was launched I was very much anxious to get a test ride and hearty thanks to one of my friend from whose help I was able to get my hands on the KTM DUKE 390 itself.

The first grip of the bike was itself so much exciting and full of enthusiasm that I could not wait longer to revolve it high on the streets. Here it comes how was the experience of mine.

 

Most of my friends from the first glimpse of the bike said that something or the other is missing….but after having the complete view of it their doubts got clarified. The bike looks compact and so well crafted that even pointing out its silencer is difficult. Obviously it’s the same in the design as of its younger sibling KTM Duke 200 with few minor tweaks like the paint job done and the bold 390 imprinted on the petrol tank. The digital console gives a complete view of the activities happening in or outside the engine, be it the rpm of the engine, fuel consumption rate (mileage), gear shift indicator, the speed attained by the bike etc. The naked look of the bike itself gives the impression of shedding out the extra weight so providing an easy maneuverability while riding it and not to forget to mention while parking the bike. But don’t get confused with taming it easily, as it can be a very big task for a newbie rider who are not used to revolving their bike with so much amount of torque. The turning indicators are quite small but makes the LED lights makes its presence felt large under operation. The rear view is also impressive with such bold 150 section tyres. The rear tail lamp though miniature in size but with comes with bright illumination and the rear white LED on the number plate holder is also quite awesome.

With the complete naked design the bike there comes the upright seating arrangement suitable for touring long stretch at once. The tank is designed aesthetically making sure that the grip of tank is easy and comfortable even for longer rides or for aggressive track riding. The handle bar is quite wide and the angle of holding the bars with the wrist is also less henceforth reduces more fatigue on longer rides. The pillion seat is a bit height but thanks to the mono suspension & the rear grab rails making it easy to absorb the bumps and counter their imbalances. The bike is suited for tall and medium-height people.

Undoubtedly I can feel of the 390cc engine grunting under me as soon as the engine was ignited. As soon as you rotate the throttle the engine roared like the chained beast ready to break all the limits. The moment I shifted the gear down from neutral, the crankshaft got connected to the driving gear and then I released the clutch slowly & the bike moved ahead. Since I was on off road so I limited the throttle rotation to an optimum level.  The road grip was very good on the off road itself and as soon as I reached the tar road the throttle got twisted and the ECU pushed the calories into the engine and the bike said- zzzooooooommmmmm!!!!!!

Up to the first gear the bike went easily to around 52 -55kmph then came the second gear at which I can attain a speed of around 85kmph as my ride was not long enough to cruise on higher speed. Since I was doing more than 10500rpm on first gear itself then I understood the meaning of revolution limiter in the engine which almost did it work  as the bike did not started for around 2min after I switched off the engine. It reduces the exaggeration of the engine & thereby lessens the vibes and wear & tear of other mechanical parts. The gear shift is very smooth and the long stroke length makes cruising on highways easier. The mono shocks does its job very well and the front 150mm telescopic upside-down shocks absorb all the vibes easily. No need to mention that with use of ABS as standard the company has given lot more consciousness on the safety issues as it is of utmost significance under high-speed braking. Undoubtedly the bike is full of power plus performance all under the same chassis.

Mileage is of utmost concern of the bikers & this is where most of the Japanese rivals get beaten compared to the desi bikes. The best feature which this Austrian bike is having that its displays the fuel consumption rate in the digital console. When I was riding the bike it displayed 24kmpl on the console which is quite appreciable considering the 390cc power mill. Again it depends upon individual riding conditions and the quality of petrol used.

Overall the experience was just fantabulous. Each and every aspect of the bike is crafted with utmost perfection & the pinnacle of performance plus track riding ability is in the DNA of the bike. When it comes to the after-sales service the Indian firm Bajaj Auto is definitely distinctly ahead……! Offering such a power & performance-packed tool that too at such a competitive price is just the gift from Bajaj Auto to all its fans. Kudos to the manufacturing team at Bajaj Auto.

Found this post useful, feel free to comment.

Signing Off:-