KTM Duke 390 Review - Is this the best A2 License bike?

[@JustForFun-zh7cy]

Welcome back!

[@Tripleb6036]

Thanks vince. How are you doing?

[@JustForFun-zh7cy]

@@Tripleb6036 All good apart from this pandemic! Not many airlines hiring , so bike hopefully later in the year... lets see!

[@Tripleb6036]

Fingers crossed. Yeh this pandemic is really dragging now and they keep extending the lockdown in the UK. Who knows when it will end. Hopefully soon.

[@martyaquino7849]

Ey mate, your VStrom 650 review brought me to your channel. Great review! I have my 390 Duke primarily as a daily rider since April 2021. Been good so far, no major issues. Really a fun bike with lots of usable power.

[@jdaxphotoshots5203]

Youre back... From Cebu. Nice to see you brother. SOON to rides with you

[@avz.ytchannel]

Welcome back sir

[@Tripleb6036]

Thanks . 👍

[@biyahenithirdy]

its been long while Idol hahaa i've been waiting for your next vlog it take 7 or 6 months you didnt upload for your next video but welcome back to the philippines hahah still no. 1 here in bamban,Tarlac i hope see you soon

[@Tripleb6036]

Thanks bro. Yeh it’s been a crazy year so not many uploads but I’m back now. More to come. Stay safe.

[@biyahenithirdy]

@@Tripleb6036 you too and to your family stay safe .. as of now there`s a new virus so double or triple safe to us.. more videos and more knowledgable video ..

[@rogerandroid2186]

You seem to be quiet of recent. Hope you are OK. Will be good to see some more of your Vlogs when you are able. I'd love to see a back to back comparison of the Suzuki V Strom 1050 XT vs Suzuki GSX S1000 GT, which are two different bikes at similar price points. Both would be excellent for touring I think. Take care.

[@Tripleb6036]

Hi Roger, All ok thanks just a lot has been going on. I may be back up and running in the next month or two. Hope you’re well.

[@1990-t1j]

I have a white 2018 390. Never failed me. Excellent engine which doesn't consume any oil between 5,000 km oil changes. 149 kg dry weight, so around 162 wet/fuelled. No overheating on mine, either. Same climate as you. I want a CRF300L to go with it. Which one do you prefer in Cebu, the CRF or Duke, PNM? Nick

[@Tripleb6036]

Definitely prefer the CRF, it’s not as quick but I love that I can go anywhere on it

[@iconictv1120]

Its been awhile sir, how are you? Greetings from the philippines!

[@Tripleb6036]

I'm good thanks although can't wait for lockdown to end. How are you?

[@iconictv1120]

​@@Tripleb6036 i'm good as well, if this pandemic didn't happen, probably i am at UK right now :(

[@Tripleb6036]

@@iconictv1120 Yeh it's really dragging on now. Hoepfully by Summer the UK will start to open up as they are vaccinating already.

[@iconictv1120]

@@Tripleb6036 that's what i am hoping as well, maybe by summer i can finally go there.

[@iconictv1120]

@@Tripleb6036 by the way, you got a nice bike. I do also have a Duke but the 200 only but it always surprises me.

[@vince38curious2]

I've been looking at the 390 here in Australia just the last couple of days it`s a nice looking bike. Just don't know how it will handle my 6ft 2in 110kg any feedback would be welcome?

[@Tripleb6036]

It’s definitely a nice looking bike. I’ve just been looking at mine in my garage and it stands out. I’m 6ft with pretty long legs, weigh about 90kgs and I feel comfortable on it. There’s enough leg room to not feel cramped. It’s better than the Kawasaki Z650 I’ve previously owned in that department. I think you’d be fine but best to at least sit on it in a showroom if possible first. It also has no problem getting up to speed with me on it and suspension is setup decently, not too soft.

[@vince38curious2]

@@Tripleb6036 There is a Team Moto Dealer 2km down the road from my house that has a couple of examples as well as the ADV and 290. I'm going to be buying my new ride when I move to the Philippines next year ! I'm still undecided it's been 25 years since I stopped rideing here in Australia my last bike was an XR200r so the CRF 300L OR RALLY are looking like a good option as well !

[@davidfleet]

@@vince38curious2 I’ve just bought a CRF250L. The 300 isn’t arriving here for another 3-4 months. Even the 250 is perfect for the roads here, plenty fast enough to overtake most traffic, works great on provincial back roads (unpaved, gravel, mud) . I’ll be doing a review on it soon. The only issue is if you’re in Luzon and wanting to go on the expressways the bike needs to be 400cc plus (the Duke qualifies).

[@vince38curious2]

@@davidfleet I will be living on Mindanao Zamboanga city so the highway CC Restriction won't be a problem! Also I'm not Moving till at least January next year ! I'm still getting the last details of the purchase of Kareoke bar restaurant finalized !

[@sp69]

What is the intro song?

[@Tripleb6036]

Can’t remember off the top of my head. Sorry.

[@trailguy]

Have you had any tickets from the police? Is there a much greater risk of that in the cities compared to the provinces? In the USA, the worst places is the suburbs near the cities I think because in the cities the cops are worried about much bigger problems and in the rural areas there’s just few of them to worry about. But in the suburbs, they write tickets all day.

[@Tripleb6036]

I’ve never had a ticket for speeding. They do throw up checkpoints randomly sometimes, even here in Barili but as long as you have your license and registration on you it’s fine. I got stopped one time south of Dumaguete at a checkpoint and didn’t have my papers but the police were very friendly and more interested in my Ninja250 than giving me a ticket. Just smiling , being respectful and polite goes a long way here. I have had the odd 100 peso fine for minor indiscretions but they were from traffic enforcers and not the Police.

[@trailguy]

@@Tripleb6036 interesting. Do traffic indiscretions count against your license or cause insurance to go up? That’s what happens in the states. Here, if you get a 4ticket within a 3.5 year period you lose your license for 6 months minimum. And when any ticket is 3.5 years old it drops off the tally, unless it’s driving under the influence, that sticks to you for 10 years.

[@Tripleb6036]

@@trailguy put it this way, my wife’s sister got stopped at a checkpoint on a scooter, she has no driving license as I suspect is the case for at least half the people here. She got a 100 peso fine and was on her way again in minutes. No other punishment. Insurance is not compulsory here. I have it on my bikes and car but I’m probably in a very small minority that does within Barili. It’s totally different here from the States or the UK where I’m from. I’ve gone past police here way over the speed limit and they smile and wave . You’ll understand when you’re here. The rules either aren’t in place, are not enforced strictly or people in general are left a little bit more to their own devices than we are in the west. Some places you don’t even have to wear a helmet although it’s changed in the 7 years I’ve been here with more local governments enforcing a helmet wearing policy but it makes absolutely no sense as the driver has to wear one but not the passengers (even kids). Personally, I love the freedom in comparison to the nanny state we have in the UK now where they tell you what to do in every situation. In the YK They even tell you on the weather forecast to take an umbrella if it’s raining now. I think anyone who needs that advice probably shouldn’t be out on their own 😂

[@trailguy]

@@Tripleb6036 lol thanks. I agree more than I can explain here..

[@trailguy]

I like the Duke, it’s second to the Z400 for me.

[@Tripleb6036]

It’s a fun bike. However I’d stick to the Japanese brands for the reliability if you’re not in the city and near your mechanic. The Z 400 has more than enough power for here. I had a Ninja 400 for a year or two and it was plenty fast enough for the roads. The main benefit I find for bigger capacity bikes here is that they make travelling longer distances more comfortable and easier.