Just came back from the MCN motorcycle show looking for a new naked and saw the price of the Duke 390, I’ve always been a fan of KTM however the price put me off but fell in love with the 2012+ Duke from the first time I saw it.
Just to give a bit of background I started and have always ridden supersports and fancied a bit of a change due to a change in my riding habits. I use my bike daily for commuting and the occasional sunday rideout down the twisties but the track days are now something that I do very rarely due to travel restrictions.
Anyway in my mind I have decided to get the 390 but my heart is holding me back due to the power drop from the K6, I guess I would like to hear others opinions about changing from a K6 600 to the Duke 390 just to make sure I am not seeing this choice in rose coloured googles.
I went into the ktm centre in croydon not long ago to speak to the sales guy about the 390. The main rhing that turned me away was its exaxtly the same size as the 125 duke and thats just way to small. Parked next to it was a 690 Duke. And that was just enough bigger to make a lot nicer to sit on and has more power then the 390 so you could allways get a secondhand 690 =]
I have now changed my mind again as I can insure a 990 duke/sm/smt for £100 more then the 690 XD
I wouldn’t want to take a 390 out on fast A roads - around town it’ll be great and very twisty roads.
A 690 would be great on the twisty stuff, even some of the faster A roads, but any real fast Nationals you’ll top out on, though that might save your licence
I’ve got a 690 enduro r and even with knobblies on it’s a laugh around town and on the twisties. :w00t:
Disagree slightly, but only on the topping out, you would have to be pushing on quite a bit to top out the 690, its a capable bike, just its a single on an IL4 so your left foot will be busier. the 390 will keep up, but you will need to be riding that little bike to the very edge of its capability. (Gav, pretty sure the ratios are not the same as your enduro, the Duke will sit a 3 at figures with a fair bit left)
the 390 is a fantastic bike either for a newb, or someone looking for fun commuter with another bike for the weekend. Or someone wanting to really hone their skills, by going out on progressive rides on a little bike. the 390 will do 3 figures, it will sit at NSL’s all day long, but you will be a touch wearier for the effort you will have to put in to keep it up there with the more powerful bikes.
If I could afford it I would have a 390 to commute on and keep the 990 for the fun stuff, but I can only afford 1 bike, and the 390 aint it.
Be careful… The same was said about the 125 Duke when it was launched. Fantastic little bike. What they don’t tell you is the huge number of cases of unsatisfied owners who’s bikes have repeatedly failed without even hitting the 5k mileage mark. Electrical woes, head bearings needing replaced, chainS prematurely failing (1 bad link). The list goes on and on and on. Google it for yourself, there is a big thread on bikechatforums.com about it. I wouldn’t touch the 390 for that very reason. You would have to be stupid to buy one until you heard back from some owners who have tried and tested it beyond the joke that is the usual 50mile test ride.
No, I don’t believe you can. Considering I have owned about 50+ bikes, I do my research thoroughly before buying and know the difference between;
a) Sporadic, small teething issues relating to a new range of Motorcycle
b) Serious design flaws that make a motorcycle go back to the Workshop on multiple occasions for serious deficiencies. Reported by multiple owners.
Of course, I see since you have KTM in your name, you are no doubt not going to listen to reason.
I’m just saying give it a year and listen to the reports. That’s what an intelligent person would do if they did their research. Unless you have lots and lots of money to spare, in which case carry on.
