First Ride: 2022 KTM Duke 390

I have never ridden a KTM street bike!! I have also never ridden a small displacement motorcycle that wasn't a dirt bike. The KTM 390 Duke is a great bike for beginners, has lots of great features and nice screen display.
Things I wish it had: auto cancelling turn signals. Lol.
‪@KTM‬
‪@GoPro‬

[@RussXodare]

On the back roads, that 390 would keep up with higher powered bikes.. And you will definitely have a much larger smile on your face...

[@MotherMotos]

Definitely capable. My friend has a Duke and LOVES it.

[@theaustralianconundrum]

@@MotherMotos This is my only roadbike now as of Mid March 2023 when I bought a new grey/orange version. I'm done with bikes that can exceed 100mph in 4 seconds. I LOVE this little bike. The only caveat is that has almost no torque or bhp low down. It is very similar to a 1973 RD 350 I owned as a young guy. I find once above 6500rpm it really picks up but 8,000+rpm is where the engine likes to be. Enjoy.

[@janarthanan8409]

In India people are crazy with this bike. Ya it is entry level bike for Americans but for Indians this is their dream bike...

[@MotherMotos]

My first bike was a DR200 but most people in America get an R6 or a Sportster for their first bike. American mindset is that if it’s small it’s beginner. But this bike is so easy to toss around, it’s a fun bike to play on and stunt on. 👍

[@username120889]

Kids bike 🤣🤣🤣 indian dream 🤣

[@username120889]

Kids bike 🤣🤣🤣 indian dream 🤣

[@rushyt1252]

@@username120889 shut up you bugger it's more sexy and you can't even off road with your 1000 cc bike

[@theaustralianconundrum]

These have a very high compression engine of 12.6:1 which is R1 or GSXR-1000 territory. That said they are VERY prone to knock sensor stall when the ECU is running lean under 6,500RPM and you don't fill it with high Octane gas. In Australia our RON rating starts at 91 then up to 95 (KTM recommend this for the 390) and then to 98 which I run. We can also get AVGas from our airports at 110 RON and very pure quality for piston aircraft engines. I do know USA gas is rather low quality from the pump and a lot of KTM 390 owners report issues stateside. High compression like these requires substantial anti detonation gas so I run 98 and it's smooth as silk. I like the little bikes.

[@MotherMotos]

What’s the ethanol percentage in AUS?

[@theaustralianconundrum]

@@MotherMotosRe edit. In Australia our Regular RON 91 has Ethanol 10 in it. And no I do not use that! Cheers.

[@jonnantau9354]

Nice review! Just bought one

[@MotherMotos]

Awesome! Have fun on it! We are actually looking pretty hard at getting the 390 Adventure.

[@edhsu3374]

Saving up for this bike rn, its like 10k USD here in Taiwan. Bikes price makes me want to move back to Canada ugh

[@MotherMotos]

Nice! It’s a fun bike! Import fees making the price so high?

[@edhsu3374]

@@MotherMotos yeah, most bikes are almost double the price compared to US and Canada:(((

[@sellignomod83]

I meant 390 not 900. So sorry

[@justinhermann9584]

Anyone that says this is a great starter bike has no idea how to ride a machine. This bike eats asphalt for breakfast. What a beast.

[@MotherMotos]

For weight, size, price and someone getting used bike controls. Yes, it’s a decent starter bike compared to an S1000XR. “Starter bike” is a loose term. If someone wants to start on a S1000, more power to them. Literally.

[@justinhermann9584]

@Mother Motos The term "starter bike" is typically used on bikes less than 600cc. While it may be true, I wish It wasn't the first thing said in every bike review ever! Lol, great video though, and thank you.

[@sdhute]

I like far lcd display on that bike. How is it in the right light ?

[@casave9682]

I keep hesitating pulling the trigger on getting a Ktm 390 as my first bike but once I recently saw the adventure 390 I said that was my dream bike and I would finally do it, called up all the local dealers and the cheapest I could find for a 2023 was 11k usd. I guess I’m putting some knobbys on a duke along the way 😂

[@casave9682]

My first choice was a Crf300l but no one is bringing them to PR 😢

[@MotherMotos]

I guess you’re paying for all the Adv accessories. Engine guard, hand guards, skid plate, etc. That can all add up quickly if you aren’t DIYing the installation. You can get a BMW 310 GS for $8000 but then you have to add $3000 in add-ons to get what the KTM has stock.

[@MKBENTOT]

I have a 2023. Mine gets up to 100mph in no time at all. I mean that’s pretty much its top speed. Rev it till 9000 every gear and your at 100mph in no time 🤷‍♂️

[@MotherMotos]

Hard to play on this one when it’s a demo ride. 😉 100mph would be fun for a sprint on this but not sure about a long stretch at 100.

[@rushyt1252]

It is like 5000 USD in India it's fun and i find naked bikes more sexy than than the rc models

[@Jakubcarphotography]

Aren't all bikes with an engine chain driven?

[@MotherMotos]

Chain, belt or shaft tends to be the standard. Depends on the model of the bike. My R18 is shaft driven, our dirt bikes are chain, a few types of Harley’s are belt driven.

[@bfarm44]

While I would much rather have the second gen rc390 my 38 yrs in the saddle pushes me towards the Duke. Sadly the 690 Duke was a lot better that should never had been discontinued solely because of the cry for more and more displacement. Really should have kept that bike in there lineup I’ve had a lot of smiles on the one I was able to borrow from time to time. This is a lot better for a back that’s had many miles draped over a tank. Time to check one out

[@MotherMotos]

It’s definitely a good riding position. 👍

[@bfarm44]

@@MotherMotos I’m a sucker for that orange too especially on the wheels the kid in me just smiles and smiles

[@oscarr069]

More adventures coming on you mam

[@MotherMotos]

I hope so!!! 🏍💨

[@jamesdiggory1921]

Pls lean the camera Angle. Loved ur Videos tho😍❤️❤️

[@MotherMotos]

👍Still learning! Have only been using my GoPro for 3 months.

[@c.a.marsupial.1282]

It just sounded like you didn't want to be on the Duke. Sounded bored. And I'm curious why everyone was riding so slowly.

[@MotherMotos]

Demo ride. As much as they’re fun to try out new bikes, they can be boring. The most fun I had on a demo ride was the Zero bikes.

[@oscarr069]

❤

[@lucasramon1632]

Olá a duke 390 é boa para iniciantes????

[@MotherMotos]

If you think about it, any bike can be a beginner bike. Lol

[@evenlandaas306]

how quiet is it?

[@MotherMotos]

That’s relative to what “quiet” is. It was on a demo ride so there was noise from other bikes in the riding group so I couldn’t single it out to say it’s quiet.

[@turnonoff]

Ummm IMO this is not the 2023 model KTM DUKE 390. It hasn't been even released in India where it's been mass-produced and shipped globally and for the past couple of years, the only thing KTM was doing were decals and tuning the engine to follow the BS6 norms, and nothing extraordinary. Sources like spy shots and on-road testing encounters in 2023 say that KTM DUKE 390 2023 series will get Super Duke 1290-like headlights, BS6 phase-2 engine norms (complaints), and a few changes. My fingers are crossed. Anyways, nice content. Keep up the good work.

[@MotherMotos]

Oops. Typo. Will fix it. Thx! Excited to see what KTM brings to the market with these upgrades.

[@theaustralianconundrum]

@@MotherMotos Subscribed from Australia. I bought a new 2022 on run out a month ago for $1,200 off retail rideaway with 24 months factory KTM warranty. The 2022 is still latest tech engine and 99% the same. I did notice the USA does not get the gorgeous slimline LED indicators, rear brake/operating lights nor the LED license plate lamp? Really in America they leave these out? Nice video. Great commentary and excellent video quality and sound. Stay safe my American friends!