2024 KTM Duke 390 HUGE Updates: Power, Tech, Suspension!

[@MotoJournoKris]

Goofed up with the accessories listed at the end (Remus exhaust, crash bars, axle armour), they are 2024 accessories, not 2023 as the pop up captions list!

[@marcusgeorge1825]

Hi Kris, I’m sure you also had a chuckle with a 33 kw power plant requiring rain mode. I enjoyed your rant, keep up the great content you provide. 👍😎🇦🇺

[@MotoJournoKris]

Yea, I think they could safely have done without the ride modes with 33kW!

[@michaelrieser9928]

Yeah, just ride safer in the rain. I only ride in the sport mode anyway. If they keep adding stuff the price will go up and then I might as well buy a 890 or something

[@michaelrieser9928]

Yeah, rain mode? I’ve been riding since 2007, not long but improving. I started with a speed triple so I had to be in control of the throttle. The rain mode just makes the bikes feel like they aren’t getting gas! I guess if it was raining a lot I might try it? But if it’s raining a lot I probably wouldn’t enjoy being on a motorcycle. Maybe using that money for a more useful feature. Put it towards a quickshifter. Do you have one on your 401. I just got the 2024 ktm 390 duke, new to lower cc bikes, have to change gears more ( in general). I think after the break in when I can go to 8000-10,000 rpm’s, I will be able to stay in gears longer. Got the bike for value and it got good reviews for backroads( all the power you need). Still getting use to lightness versus 800cc to 1000cc bikes, tires etc. liking it and the cost of gas parts just everything is a fraction of larger bike repairs etc. I have a 2008 990 duke that drinks oil and gets 25 mpg. It cost me $25 to go on an afternoon ride.😂

[@marcusgeorge1825]

@@michaelrieser9928 Sometimes it’sthe smaller displacement bikes that provide the biggest grin, when you can actually use 100% of the engine and be confident in knowing you can stick with the bigger bikes in the twisties. Enjoy! Yes the 401’s come with a quick shifter. It’s not the best, however, it gets the job done. I’m old school, so give me a bike without different engine maps as ultimately your right wrist is a combination of various maps and traction. Same hand and your fingers are the ABS.

[@michaelcrouch5708]

I've never felt any need for more electronics on my 390, it's super lightweight and reletive simplicity is one of its attractions for me, time and again we see manufactures take the initial concept of a basic inexpensive, fun and of course highly successful bike and then develop it into some thing which is far removed from the original model and unsurprisingly sales faulter and finally the model is dropped, but that's progress for you, let's hope that's not the fate of the little duke, I may be wrong and the new bike is a cracking little package, I will find out as soon as a test ride is possible.

[@MotoJournoKris]

Yea my thoughts too, I mean I won't complain if they add features, as long as it doesn't impact reliability or price, but the bikes do get complicated. These do seem a great package though.

[@georgekrpan3181]

SUCH a good looking bike! I think it's better looking than the spy shots I've seen of the 2024 Svartpilen and Vitpilen 401s. '22 Vitpilen 401 owner here.

[@MotoJournoKris]

Yep, I think it'd have to be the best looking of the lot now, unless the final production versions of the 401s do something really amazing!

[@georgekrpan3181]

@@MotoJournoKris We'll see. Cheers Kris!

[@jaydiggy86]

Any idea how far away we are from the svart unveiling?

[@MotoJournoKris]

Afraid not @@jaydiggy86

[@donderstorm1845]

16kg more is way more. hope that's not accurate. is it true that the quickshifter won't be on EU models by default? we have to pay extra or something?

[@MotoJournoKris]

I didn't see the quickshifter listed as standard anywhere, so it looks like an extra! 16 kg would be an huge gain in weight, which just doesn't seem right to me. Even gaining 5kg would be quite a lot, even with the extra electronic systems.

[@donderstorm1845]

@@MotoJournoKris yes, i'm not sure now if the 16kg more is accurate. i saw some websites report that but i don't know if they are correct.

[@dry509]

Yikes.. new engine…wonder about reliability? What do you think? Would you take a chance?

[@MotoJournoKris]

I'd hope for improvements over the existing engine to be honest. It's always hard to tell though.

[@1990-t1j]

It looks brilliant. Extra capacity asnd longer stroke, too. Nick J

[@MotoJournoKris]

I wonder how much more performance you could tune out of them with a few performance mods!

[@1990-t1j]

@@MotoJournoKris It should go well stock with the longer stroke. More low-end torque. I still really like my Mk2. Do you still like your 401?

[@theaustralianconundrum]

These engines already at 12.6:1 compression ratio for a 374cc single cylinder. That's R1, Fireblade, ZX10-R and GSXR-1000 territory albeit they use smaller 250cc capacity bores & pistons. So what could go wrong with a cheaply made budget single that can be revved out to 10,000rpm? @@MotoJournoKris

[@MotoJournoKris]

I'm more worried about electronic system failure to be honest, especially long term, as that complicates the bikes enormously, much like on those more expensive machines. Small capacity hard revving bikes have been around forever in comparison.@@theaustralianconundrum

[@MotoJournoKris]

Yep, there's not much I'd say really needs upgrading on the 401, but more torque is always welcome.@@1990-t1j

[@trashguy]

New swing arm is hot

[@MotoJournoKris]

Right! The details really stand out.

[@theaustralianconundrum]

Having owned a 2022 model I can attest to low quality components, very average assembly standard and wiring looms and connectors that must have been sourced from Jaycar for the home hobbyist. These really are awful. Absolutely NO low down torque needing 7 grand on the dial to even start to make progress. Overall from me I'd rate them a 1.5/5 star bike. @@MotoJournoKris

[@georgekrpan3181]

@@theaustralianconundrum I have a '22 Vitpilen 401 and don't agree with you're assessment about the torque.

[@MotoJournoKris]

@@theaustralianconundrum I can live with the way it develops power down low as I'm happy revving a single out, but I'd say the biggest difference over the more expensive but more basic Japanese bikes is some of that component quality.

[@theaustralianconundrum]

A 2022 Vitpilen 401 produces 21.7Nm @ 3,000rpm. A 2022 KTM 390 Duke produces 23Nm @ 3,000rpm. My 2020 Yamaha XSR900 produces 68Nm @ 2,000rpm. Now that's a torque monster.@@georgekrpan3181