NEW 2024 KTM 390 Duke: The Best Handling Lightweight Motorcycle?

KTM has always done things a little differently than other manufacturers, and the 2024 390 Duke is no exception. While other big names are going for larger displacement, KTM doubles down to make their bike the best handling bike in the small displacement class! Add in some great tech, and you've got a compelling entry! Check it out for yourself by connecting with the awesome team at Macleans Sports here: www.macleanssp...

[@hank4787]

I have never heard the weight/agility ratio for motorcycles put any better than that Peter!! KTM has really hit the sweet spot with the 390 and with the tweaks done on the 2024 I'm sure the fun factor has not only been preserved but enhanced! I have owned a 2019 Duke for 4 years now and have asked myself on hundreds of California foothill rides, "what do I need this bike to do that it doesn't do"? Couldn't come up with an answer so bought another used 2020 Duke a couple of months ago as a backup. Can't understand the "beginner" label this bike seems to have on it, because once the addiction has begun how can you end it?

[@PeterLoweOne]

Thanks for watching! I think people just assume that small displacement means a beginner bike, and they never actually spend time watching a video like this or even looking at the bike. This has a LOT of great features. I'm a big fan of this bike!

[@BlackArroToons]

Unique fairings design. Classic orange KTM color, and good to see this smaller engine bike is still going. Thanks for the helpful review!

[@shawnh4528]

They call it the "Spoilers" the extensions in the body pannel ❤

[@kennywheelus6857]

❤I flipping love this bike,I've been waiting on it since I first heard it was coming out after the 2023 model,I loved that one too,I finally got approved for one that I'm going to pick up tomorrow a couple hours away from me at a dealership,I'm getting Atlantic blue,bro I'm super excited to get my first Duke,this will be my first manual transmission bike with 6 speeds. I do definitely love how they changed where the exhaust pipe is at bottom an the white led lights,just a beautiful awesome bike.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Thanks for sharing! You're going to love this bike. Congratulations!!

[@kennywheelus6857]

@@PeterLoweOne ,oh no problem,an ty yeah I think I've fallen in love with it an hadn't even sat on it yet

[@michaelrieser9928]

I got the orange! It’s a lot, but I like loud colors. I could have gotten the 2023 model for $1900 less but the 2024 is a much improved bike. Plus side by side the 2024 is a step up in quality. Play with the sag settings on the rear suspension to find your sweet spot. Helps it to corner better. I almost at 600 for the service and then I can rev more, then it will be even better. Ktm….they are just fun

[@kennywheelus6857]

@@michaelrieser9928 , awesome, yeah I'm working on getting my 2024 model soin

[@shawnh4528]

​@@kennywheelus6857shoutout for your first KTM, I wish you have the best experience with it PS The first gen 390's (2013 one's) had the signature underbelly exhaust which used to offer phenomenal road presence with that unique exhaust note but the second gen 390(2017) lost it since it's believed to have caused issues with the low ground clearance so they removed it in the second gen. Now with the 3rd Gen, it's back since I believe the second generation is believed to cause excessive heating issues because of the Exhaust going side ways all the way to the back so now they redesigned it to have the underbelly exhaust back again. Some folks say, it gives the best of both the worlds. 🤘

[@arunrkrishnan8642]

Completed 4k kms on my gen 3 duke 390. Love it.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Thanks for sharing!

[@JoshDayTV]

great review bro you show the bike right away no crazy transitions and get right into it. Refreshing

[@Isotope9]

Any improvement on the comfort of the previous gen seat will be welcome. Even the KTM Powerparts seat is unconformable during longer rides. That said, my 22 390 Duke is so much fun to ride and I expect this to be the same or better. It may be time for me to trade in...

[@shawnh4528]

No, atleast based on some of the reviews I have seen. They say the seats are quite hard when the ride is above an hour but for the performance, the 398.6cc engine offers phenomenal performance and I hear it clocks 178kmph. Cooling and refinement appears to be like the previous gen so I guess we shouldn't expect that in this current gen.

[@lonelybob1902]

the orange color of this brand look so unique and classy ngl

[@carloscruz-kj7jz]

Best explanation of the KTM 390 that I have seen in English and Spanish. I am looking to buy a bike and it’s between the KTM 390 and the Yamaha MT03/R3 This explanation has help me more on the KTM 390. Awesome explanation brother.

[@AliHAzeez]

i'm torn between KTM 390 and Yamaha MT-03 for my daily rider.. i was riding a 120cc before and now i'm looking into this category to step up and have more fun .. any opinions or thoughts are appreciated and if Peter can make a little comparison, that would be amazing

[@tylerwilliams1882]

If you want a cheap economical and extremely reliable bike go for the MT-03. If you want a fun punchy hooligan machine go the the Duke 390. The 390 demands respect because it wants to float the front wheel, it's basically a supermoto with the body of a street bike. The MT-03 is very predictable and builds power as you scream the engine. Coming from someone who has owned both I would 10,000% recommend the duke. It's my favorite bike I own! Don't get too stuck on the spec sheet performance. The MT-03 feels like a dog comparatively.

[@drewellis2697]

I’m in the exact same boat lol

[@gamotronix_sakib6548]

Bro do you ever ride motorcycles? Is there any video of you riding one? Please give me a link.

[@PeterLoweOne]

I've ridden my Z900RS SE. The fact is that most of these bikes wouldn't be on video if I had to ride every one. They're brand new bikes. I offer a different video than what others are doing, and if that's not for you, I'm ok with that. I will, however be riding many of these bikes this summer.

[@gamotronix_sakib6548]

@@PeterLoweOne awesome. I love when people show bike ride. I asked about bike ride video because I see you are very passionate about bikes. It would be awesome getting your expression on the video, like most of them do.

[@PeterLoweOne]

@@gamotronix_sakib6548 I live and work on the East Coast of Canada. We're getting over a foot of snow tomorrow. If my channel made riding reviews the priority, it wouldn't have enough videos to make it worthwhile for me. Obviously I'd like to ride as much as possible and make videos that way too, but relationships have to be established, and bikes have to be available.

[@gamotronix_sakib6548]

@@PeterLoweOne got it

[@Mark1607979]

Best review that I came up on for this bike. really got me even more hyped. Just waiting for the orange color coming to the shop and I'm buying it.

[@Diabeekei]

Is this preferable over the rc for a 30/70 road/track?

[@PeterLoweOne]

The RC is a great bike too. I think you'll find this to be more comfortable on the road, but it will really depend on what you want out of a bike to decide which of those two is a better bike for you.

[@2cleverxhalf]

I owned a 2017 390 Duke and it was a great bike. I regret selling it. But, the ninja 400 is also a great handling bike, but doesn't have the punch of the KTM. The ninja does it with revs. Recently I bought the 690 Duke. But that's a different story. I like your reviews. Showing a bit more about what the dash offers I have not seen as much.

[@ashutoshbehera4283]

please do a video on RC 390

[@PeterLoweOne]

As soon as I can get my hands on one, I will! Stay tuned!

[@dank4014]

How bright is the horn light?

[@betaboyz7220]

I’m 6 foot 6 with a 34-36 inch inseam , looking at this or the 790, whatcha think ?

[@PeterLoweOne]

You'd have to try them both. Neither of these bikes are very tall, you may be just as comfortable on a taller bike. It's always difficult for me to tell what will be comfortable for someone else.

[@gekolizzard]

2019 had better looks.. Black and orange.. Most fun I’ve ever had on a bike. Still have my Duke.

[@johnfink1322]

Would you recommend the duke 390 to a brand new rider

[@giovanhagar]

I think most people will go with the Ninja 500. That white spring on the side reminds me of the old Ninja 650r.

[@LaLa4iZ]

Great review, might be my new bike :)

[@alastairtheduke]

These are super fun

[@PeterLoweOne]

Yup! They are!!

[@vijayam1]

Astute, brilliant and concise..

[@GHOSTY-1503]

What's the top speed mph ?

[@jhern]

Thinking about this or the mt 03 as my first bike what do yall recommend?

[@PeterLoweOne]

MT-03. It’s a little more versatile, less focused. As a new rider, you might love sport riding the most, but you might love cruising for hours. You won’t know until you start to ride regularly. The MT 03 will offer more sporting capability than your skill and also be more enjoyable as a commuter, or a longer distance bike etc.

[@MeGe-yq4ec]

Hello, does this bike have something like a tech pack to unlock?

[@Mark1607979]

I think it only have quick shift

[@Zigbop98]

Does it come with a quick shifter

[@michaelrieser9928]

I got one, thought it had one, but it’s an add on. I was bummed! It’s ok the quick shifter is cheap, $300-$400. I was for sure going to get it but now I don’t know. It’s really easy to shift, I mean the clutch lever is smooth and light. For $6299 plus fees, it’s a lot of bang for your buck. Plus you can’t beat ktm for the ride quality. Fun, Fun, Fun!

[@obeii1805]

@@michaelrieser9928expensive it’s only a 390cc

[@shawnh4528]

@@michaelrieser9928 I guess the superduke 1390 needs tech pack to have quick shifters if I'm not wrong but are you sure the 390's require you to buy it separately. If that's the case, I guess KTM's making money there but in my country it has quick shifter but folks say it's not smooth. Again this could be wrong but I'm sharing my views based on what I see on some reviews

[@michaelrieser9928]

Didn’t come with quickshifter. The U.S. version. But I’m getting it out in this week, it’s $250. Not really necessary , but could help on the freeway and when at a stop you have to go from 1st to 2nd to third, if you’re trying to get up to 40mph. In a larger engine bike 2nd gear is taller. My last triumph 675r Daytona could easily hit 60mph comfortably. I’m finding the 390 duke has all the power I want but you change gears alittle more. When my break in period is done I can go to 8000 to10,000 rpm’s. This will allow me to stay in gears longer. Another reason why the quickshifter wasn’t that urgent. But it will be a great addition. I hear the 2024 quickshifter is very good

[@MrJhobert]

​@@michaelrieser9928 $250 is a good deal to have the quickshifter on. My dealer to where I got the bike was charging $800 for it.

[@4308top]

Thx for detailed review

[@kennywheelus6857]

I wish the orange 2024 duke that they had made the seat black an not orange just in my opinion.

[@PeterLoweOne]

I kind of liked it in person. You could always swap it out with the accessories catalog. The blue bike has a black seat.

[@kennywheelus6857]

@@PeterLoweOne ,oh ok awesome,yeah I'm getting mine tomorrow

[@kennywheelus6857]

Yeah I feel you,I like the blue one an my brother is getting the orange one,so when he gets his in a few months,In getting mine in a week or so,we both said the same thing on the seat but we agreed that we'd switch seats with each other,put a orange seat on my blue 2024 duke,but man I really love this lil bike.

[@kennywheelus6857]

@@PeterLoweOne ,yeah that's what me an a buddy of mine decided when he gets his after me,were swapping seats,I'm getting his orange an he'd getting the black one, honestly it doesn't matter to me cause I'm getting a gel cushion for longer rides until I break the seat in anyway but I'd just like to have a tad more cushion since it's gonna be my main commuter bike

[@jeremyhouse129]

Going to have to disagree with you on the seat...i have this bike, its not great at all lol. It does its job but its no comfort feature. Also as a warning to any potential owner...while the blinkers work great...they are not exactly the best build quality and will easily snap the plastic at the strain relief points is someone happens to bump against them. As a long time rider of street and track....I will say this machine is just amazing for crazy handling.

[@kevinholzherr9747]

If i may ask, how tall are you?

[@PeterLoweOne]

I'm about 6 feet tall.

[@kevinholzherr9747]

@@PeterLoweOne oh thanks for the answer, i tried the duke 390 from 2017 an it looked small for me, but i really like the bike, im 6.1 feet tall

[@SayantanPal-e7o]

U r review is soo perfect ❤❤ sir

[@DennisNitschke]

Can i drive the Bike with 1,85 .greetings from Germany

[@SuprioGorai]

We want modified exhaust austin racing video!!!!

[@Dajiednongkling]

Indian attendance-------->

[@Martinx-oo4sq]

Indian chapri nonsense gawad

[@yongseng4743]

Improve the gearbox, it’s hard to neutral

[@PeterLoweOne]

Sometimes that's done on purpose to make it a very quick, short shift from first to second.

[@yongseng4743]

@@PeterLoweOne no wonder

[@Outburst44]

👇 Nepalese Attendance here

[@RadCatFood]

This or CB500f ?

[@PeterLoweOne]

Very different bikes. The CB500F is much less sporty. That may appeal to certain riders, but this is going to be higher tech, and much better handling.

[@herrtomas6729]

Hi Peter

[@nikolamiljkovic7416]

Rider size

[@PeterLoweOne]

I'm about 6 feet tall.

[@nikolamiljkovic7416]

@@PeterLoweOne what do you think, isn't it small for 6'1 drivers?

[@maek112]

​@@nikolamiljkovic7416 what do u think for 6ft? Will it look small or fine?

[@ZuanhardieFamily]

nice.....

[@rivercityrambler7751]

Owned a 22 I bought new to rip around on the back country tighter roads. Had a ton done to it. Had it for a year and got bored with it. Sold it. Also got the bikes weight down to 317lbs wet. This new model is ugly af just like all of the Dukes are now. They tried too hard on the redesign. If I was going to buy a bike in the small displacent category this probably wouldn't be it as the Aprilia RS457 is out there. Not everyone who rides has a YT channel. I have 4 decades of riding experience and well north of 1000 track days over the years. I'm a KTM fan. Have owned 3. Won't consider buying another until they roll out another redesign. I hate it that much.

[@obeii1805]

They flopped with that color it’s way 2 much

[@PeterLoweOne]

It looks better in person, and there is another color option.

[@kennywheelus6857]

Look at the blue one

[@yasseralsaidi1168]

1 cylinder

[@mahdavimail]

This is overrated after all it's a beginner bike that you change eventually why spend on all those gimmicks and a lot of depression when you know you're gonna change it. I am a second gen owner but will change it when I have a chance. It's very unrefined in low revs rattly engine with limited comfortable Rev range

[@PeterLoweOne]

One person's "overrated" is another persons "awesome bike"

[@mahdavimail]

@@PeterLoweOne I was thinking exactly like you wrote when I bought it but I was wrong in this case 😅 It's fine but not as exciting as reviews claim 🤷🏻‍♂️