Is The KTM 390 Duke The Most Advanced Entry Level Motorcycle?

The KTM 390 Duke is an aggressively styled naked bike that embodies these qualities, offering a peppy riding experience for new riders, and anyone seeking a compact, easy-riding streetbike for around-town use.
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[@whiskeyshots]

I'm 6'2" 250lbs and own the 2017. It's fine for me. Your complaints about cruise control and other amenities ignores the price point of the bike. KTM gives you a LOT for what you pay. The 390 Duke is an excellent urban assault bike and is fun in the twisties. I take my Vulcan Voyager if I'm going anywhere that I need power and amenities.

[@michaelrieser9928]

I’m 6’ 220 lbs. the 2024 390 fits me great for what it is. And what it is, is a whole lot of bike for $6299. It’s not a 1000cc naked bike. I have a 2007 990 superduke, I hope to upgrade that to a new 990. But for heading on the backroad the 390 is awesome fun and really rides more impressive then its class.

[@ironmaiden5658]

Always wanted a KTM 390 after owning a 2010 KTM 250 EXC dirt bike and discovering how awesome KTMs are.. I ended up settling on a 2015 Honda CBR300R which I'm extremely happy with. Still got it today.

[@MrAST834]

can't wait for the new 390 adventure

[@Ntmoffi]

I love my 23' but the next version will be dope!

[@williamwintemberg]

Nice fair review Adam! Incidentally, your reviews on the 8r convinced my wife to move on one. She loves it!

[@funroadz]

Love mine! Been having a blast. Especially with a slip-on exhaust installed. I went with the Ixil and looooove it.

[@shawnh4528]

Shoutout from India for the appreciation to the Indian manufacturers. Bajaj also manufacturs Triumph Speed 400 and Scram 400, would be great to hear your thoughts about that bike as well. There's also an electric motorcycle called Ultraviolet which made a model based on the chassis from the previous gen KTM RC 390. do share your thoughts. Thanks for a wonderful review, KTM's set the 300cc segment on fire in India.

[@DouglasRosser]

I just bought a 2024 KTM 390 Adventure and I'm super happy it's built by Bajaj and popular in its home country. The level of aftermarket support coming from India and China is great.

[@bfarm44]

My 5’8” frame loves the ergonomics of this bike I’m happy with the changes they made to the seat hight and they seemed to have addressed the heat issue with the previous model which ran fairly hot. On sale in my neck of the woods for $5300 right now and that’s a bargain for all you get. Bringing a bike down to trade shortly. The exhaust could be a bit deeper and louder I’ll address that after break in

[@MegaKei1]

I can't wait for the Adventure model

[@michaelrieser9928]

I had that seat experience, I’m 220 lbs, I played around with the sag setting and put it on 5. Less slide, better lean in the turns. Throw on some Dickies carpenter jeans, strong and no sliding😂

[@desmomotodesmomoto2033]

Puerto Rico looks nice.

[@leeinwis]

I like ther tacos .

[@desmomotodesmomoto2033]

@@leeinwis I like their bitches.

[@aashishnakarmi1690]

This bike easily outdoes its class, youll see once the engine breaks in. 100 is nothing for this bike.

[@laz1go286]

For how long though 🤷‍♂️ It's a KTM not a Honda😅

[@aashishnakarmi1690]

@@laz1go286 you doubt indian made bikes untill you own them. Youll know how reliable those bikes are. Unlike european bikes, these are made to last.

[@laz1go286]

@@aashishnakarmi1690 I don't doubt Indian made bikes. I doubt KTM! That is a difference. I road the previous KTM 390 Duke and it's fun must admit. However two of my friends who had the same bike got fatal engine damage on them. In both cases rod bearings gave in and a the blocks were toast. And that at 6000 and 12500 kms. My friends weren't happy, I can tell you that..🤷‍♂️ Not to mention the oil leaks and the delamination of the camshafts. So good luck with it, for all the KTM fans.. On the other hand I sold my 2007 VFR800 Vtec with 232 000kms 3 years ago! No engine issues, no smoke, factory torque an power figures on the dyno, etc. That's where KTM still needs to catch up on 😉

[@aashishnakarmi1690]

@@laz1go286 certainly not on honda level, but these lower cc ktms are much more reliable than the twins.

[@waynerooney6023]

@@laz1go286 These 390s are actually quite reliable. It's the super high end KTMs that require constant service. I've got a 390 ADV with just over 6000km on it and haven't had any issues so far. I've been on trips where i'm going highway speeds all day and it chugs along no problem

[@michaelrieser9928]

Thanks for showing it can Hang on the freeway. I prefer my larger bikes on the freeway, but the 390 is very capable for what it is.

[@leanit5756]

Bike is $6,300 in US, and quick-shifter is another $200. With. a little care, the end of the ignition key easily turns the shock rebound screw without damage to either one. Shift light is set at 6,500 but manual says during break-in don't exceed 7,500. Lack of padding at front of seat provides a little relief for bigger than average nut sacks.

[@jaredroman3810]

As a Puertorican who lived in Ponce, hearing people call it “Ponz” instead of “Ponce” makes me die on the inside. (Also calling Puerto Rico a US territory makes me die inside, even if it’s technically true). But kudos for the video. Awesome stuff. ❤

[@T3-RIDER]

How long till it breaks down?

[@leeinwis]

67 days

[@rayowens5742]

Won’t take long

[@barrydelljeremy8879]

390 and 690 are the most reliable KTMs

[@gaut413]

Thank you for appriciating indian R&D and Bajaj & RE 👏👏🤝❤️

[@otlndsh]

Why are the turn signals so massive? Great bike tho. I have the 390 Adv. Lots of fun.

[@aashishnakarmi1690]

Its US norms, needs to be bigger than a certain size.

[@laz1go286]

So U can change them. And make the aftermarket retailers happy 😅

[@michaelrieser9928]

I know, I don’t even notice the ones in the front but I ordered smaller ones to swap out, especially the back with the tail tidy. I’m 6 feet, the buck rides great, lower when you put your feet down at a stop. But it’s a different bike than a 990. Pretty lively for 399cc, seems more like a 600. You can keep up with anybody

[@otlndsh]

So does this engine vibrate more than the smaller, original 373cc engine? I always thought my 390 Adv is pretty smooth. But maybe since they increased the CC of the engine it's more vibey?

[@goodvibesvince]

The seat height is actually pretty high on a Duke sitting at 32”.

[@laz1go286]

We've missed the walk around shots. It would have been nice Adam if you had done it in the beginning.. But nice review anyway, and the bike got broken in that's for sure😅

[@phatnum17]

There was a video before this one where he does thT

[@laz1go286]

@@phatnum17 gotcha bro. I didn't see that..

[@keithdavison6791]

What's the company (KTM) service like, I did see issues over cam shafts and they have "washed their hands" why would you buy a KTM from a manufacturer like that no matter how good this bike is?

[@lucascarracedo7421]

The problem is always the same. Early models of the Duke 390 were problematic, they fixed that in later revisions. The stigma remained. People don't know how to buy stuff, so they rush to buy new releases to feel like they are cool (they are not, they look dumb). The same will happen with this G3 update for this bike. People will pay a premium to be guinea pigs for KTM and someone else, someone smarter, will reap the rewards at a later time when all the kinks have been sorted.

[@jonomasonILoveU]

@@lucascarracedo7421 G3 is tweaked to perfection I`m on the 2024 390 and it`s the bomb ! . Never had a problem with the G2, had it fully seviced at my local dealer which is guaranteed to cover the warranty. This model has a 4 year warranty.

[@lucascarracedo7421]

@@jonomasonILoveU yeah but still, any new model is bound to have a higher number of bad parts for obvious reasons than an older model with a more refined assembly process and part history. The G3 is probably the only bike of its kind, as in a premium package in a lower CC range, so it's hard to compare to with anything. I am not particularly a fan of the direction they took, but can appreciate it for what it is and it's the bike I'd recommend to almost anyone. I have personally had issues not long ago with a G2 I bought almost exclusively for stunting. But before any of the fun stuff, it became obvious that the stator was really bad so it sent back to the dealership. It had 200 miles on it of mild use. Took two months to get it sorted. Which also means that a proven model isn't as safe anyway. Luckily it wasn't my main bike, or I would have been furious. I'd stick with KTM anyway, but that experience left a bad taste to be honest.

[@terrencesisson]

Tbf some of if not the most reliable motorbikes actually come from India like BMW majority of their bikes are made in India and they last so long

[@florme6494]

Naked bikes are suppose to be comfortable. That’s one of the main reasons for choosing a naked over the sport.

[@claqyagami6914]

So the seat is comparable to the Z-400?

[@michaelrieser9928]

I’m 6 foot, the seat is comfortable. You have to set the sag so you aren’t pushed to the tank. I ride for 3.5 hours with no discomfort. I usually get an upgraded seat but after 4 months it’s not on the top of the list.

[@chaoshimura89]

Vs aprilia 457

[@vijayam1]

Why do I keep getting the feeling that the guy in the front is going T-bone someone! Neat soliloquy..

[@angshumansarmah6626]

I have a 2019 D390 I hate in the city traffic. It really struggles with a lot jerks and jitters when on low rpms. I don't know what to do 🙆 Does the new D390 has this problem too ?

[@TheThooraj]

The new one jerks on track mode and street mode. But you can learn to smooth it out. On Rain Mode it barely jerks. What I've heard from the previous gen owners is they install a Fuel X mod for it to be smoother in traffic. Most of the KTM ADV owners had to get this mod to avoid stalling in traffic (in India) as per my research and speaking to a few owners. This could be your fix. It has 8 remaps to choose from depending on your riding style and conditions. Again, I've never used the product so I have no clue how reliable it is. Maybe check a few youtube videos before you decide on biting the bullet.

[@otlndsh]

BTW not sure if it's the same stalling issue, but the 390s randomly stalling when you pull the clutch is a known issue.

[@1990-t1j]

My 2018 Mk2 Duke 390 is still a great bike. Never been a problem. Made in India is no problem. Almost a plus point now.

[@kostasrestas]

nahh.. i didnt tell that is ....

[@nkolchenko]

I've seen one at a dealership. The assembly quality is ugly. Such a gaps between plastics everywhere. New Vitpilen is so much better (and the seat is much better too)

[@obeii1805]

The bike is very uncomfortable.. couldn’t buy it after sitting on it . I’m 511 and the pegs are so far back like a ss but the bike is too small, bent my knees to much especially for any distance ride will be very uncomfortable

[@cascarification]

Es una moto para adolescentes .

[@lgwappo]

Motorcycles keep getting better but the seats keep getting worse.

[@1122334455da]

Advanced, I would Say RTR 310.

[@WaseemAli-sd6fg]

Hamara bajaj🔥

[@leeinwis]

You don't own the company, why don't you do something useful like clean up that nasty country ?

[@chrislark5855]

Did you say one years warranty 😂😂😂

[@jonomasonILoveU]

It`s 4 years now.

[@saimali3652]

👍

[@andrewbozhozr]

...well.. 6 letters... CFMOTO...

[@leeinwis]

Communist lover spotted .

[@johna6968]

Entry level? Beginner bike? blah blah.. The US bike scene sucks balls

[@leeinwis]

noob

[@michaelrieser9928]

I got a 2007 ktm 990 superduke, love the ktm torque. But repairs can be $$. So these 390s have been getting high praise for years. I got a 2024, they are cheap and the upgrades are cheap. For the freeway it works but I prefer a bigger bike. For everything else it’s awesome. You can ride with anybody on this bike. You can do 0- 106mph easily. And 0-85 mph with force. The U.S. bike market wants you to buy a $13,999 plus fees, $600 first service, upgrade exhaust for $1000+. You can get a 2023 390 duke for $4100 right now. I went for the 2024 because of the improvements and the new quickshifter( it is near flawless).

[@kankit230]

Have a duke 390 , but i think Aprilia rs457 is the new king of the segment, 390 is still the best in cost to performance ratio