While watching this excellent video, I would develop questions. You answered them as though mentally connected. You gave information while riding. Plenty of visuals of the bike both stationary and in motion. None of the boring walk-arounds we see so much. You even discussed inexpensive mods an owner can do. I don't see a single weakness in this production; Great Job!!
I have 4 decades of riding including 2 decades of racing dirt & tracks. Bought the 390 Duke and got 12, km last summer. Juste love the bike... Light, handles like a charm, fun power that keeps you within the speeding limits, and cheap to buy. I had several problems with the cooling system, but great KTM service and the bike seems to run great now. I grew up on the 500 600 650 XL & XR and the power of that that little bike feels like a old XR 650 on steroids.
I am going to be riding again after a 20 years hiatus and a bit weak lower back. My 19yo son will get his motorcycle license soon this year. I wanted to buy a 2014 Honda CB500F, considered a 2018 Benelli Leonchino 500, forgot myself when I sat on a Yamaha MT-07, but considering price, weight & size, power & torque, and handling, I am going to get this KTM Duke 390 V1 ABS. It should be a good bike for me and my son as our first bike. Afterwards, add the Yamaha MT-07 once my son can handle it.
Where do I start? Hmmm, likable reviewer, awesome production quality, subtle but tasteful advertisements of the gear worn and lastly you made a solid relatable daily rider review. And yeah, I dig the pink RayBan. Dope across the board.
+CLUTCH1ST They are RayBan knock offs, only $12 bucks! When I buy the expensive ones I lose them or sit on them, but for some reason the cheap ones last forever... Knock on wood... Thanks for watching!
I agree, RevZilla does the best bike reviews. Thanks guys, I love this bike. But I'm gonna start on a Suzuki S40 cruiser and then over the winter, strip it and turn it into a cafe racer with the Ryca kit
That was the most well done review of anything I've ever seen. Clearly laid out, articulate, high def, with classy gear advertisement that did not take away from the purpose of the video. People from other industries need to see this to see a review and product overview done right. Thank you for this!
First video I've seen from you guys and I love it. It was super unbiased and gave me some critical info that I wanted to know since I'm looking at getting into riding. You guys gained my sub and business!
There's something I love about revzilla reviews.It might be the the actual reviewers giving relevant info without going overboard but honestly I think its the nostalgia and "coolness" of seeing familiar roads I have ridden.
9 ปีที่แล้ว +11
Wow, i'm amazed at whole quality and editing of this video, even host is nice, everything is clear and well spoken.
Nice to see this perspective. In India, where this is made btw, (also build quality is fairly phenomenal) this would be considered an upgrade after learning on a 100cc-150cc 12 bhp machines. Right now the growth market is 300-750 cc performance and leisure motorcycles out here. I wonder if you guys would get your hands on something called the Mahindra Mojo.
I was serious enough about buying one of these this year (2022) that I went and looked up maintenance schedule. Apparently you're REQUIRED to go and pay the dealer to hook up their computer, read codes and log back to the mothership, at about $125 per time, to maintain warranty. Nope sorry. I'm not buying a bike that I am required to pay the dealer for maintenance. I've never taken a bike to a shop for maintenance and I'm not gonna start. Real shame because honestly this bike looks like exactly what I want apart from that. I guess I'm going to an Asian bike.
saw this and was eager to see what you thought. The levers are almost always a cost cutting location on the value oriented bikes. Nice to see a quick and easy fix for it. I'm a fan of all things Austrian (Glock, Kasekrainer, Mozart, victorian era coffee shops, and of course KTM!) I personally found the naked style bike a lot better when I was first starting to ride years ago. The more upright position and handlebar leverage prevented a few embarrassing drops of the bike! Also the pink shades rock!
You guys give product info on everything BUT the bitchin' pink specs!! In all seriousness, mad props to you all for making a review brand that not only is shot great (seriously, well done to whomever is shooting and editing these things), but also integrates your site in a way that isn't intrusive. I'll definitely be back.
Ok guys that was an amazingly good quality review. I love the way you guys seamlessly switched to the focused part of the bike without cutting to another clip. Keep it up.
Another super review! I wish any one else who wants to post a "professional" review had to make it as good as what you guys do! I don't necessarily mean the technical gear, but the fully explained thoughts and the way you guys draw comparisons and contrasts with other bikes. PLEASE keep up the great work!
Literally the best KTM 390 review on TH-cam! Good job and I love the detail about some of the finer (but important) things like the levers and also the shifter. It's good to know that those problems can be mostly fixed. thanks for an open and honest review!
Great review. From the video quality, to the camera angles, audio, editing, music, everything about this video was a work of art, and the review itself was great, so I'm definetely thinking about getting this bike next year.
Fantastic review, the best I've seen yet, well done. I am in the market for a Duke 390 but no dealers have any in stock so I can't get a feel of its size. Finally after watching and reading dozens of reviews someone finally noted how TALL they were. THANK YOU.
I picked up one of the first dukes to come to Australia and I agree with the gear lever it does feel clucky but I found throttle response to be good and I grew to like it because it encouraged me to keep the revs up.
Seriously, you guys make some of the best bike reviews and supply the best consumer information. I don't think anyones really doing it much better. MotoVloggers are fun and sometimes are really great but these excel for sure. I hope they keep coming.
Just amazing and TOP review. I have the 125cc for about 5 years and I'm very happy...390cc in my garage will be a dream! BTW: Those cars in reverse are LOL
I've been interested to get my first bike and wanted something sporty looking and landed on this video. You guys covered every topic and every question I had. This was amazing to watch and really have set my decision on getting this bike. Amazing job!
Probably the best bikereview i've seen in years. I have just decided, after much hesitation, to get a motorcycle license and are looking at the 390 at a beginners bike. You mention every single aspect of owning a bike for beginners, helpfull tips like the sadle bag, what tools to get and generally how the bike will feel for a beginner. I've looked at the 690 aswell but i feel like the 390 will be better for my beginning career, the 690 might be a bit much and having a nimbler bike will make it possible to try out different aspekt at lower speed. Keep up the good work!
From 1:16 on, there was a lot of "This is gonna be...", "That's gonna be...", "That's gonna give you..." but you're describing things that "actually are" not something that is going to happen in the future. It just sounds strange. You're doing a better job than I probably would, I just felt it worth mentioning.
That's a pretty polished review. I was set on one of these for awhile but didn't buy and I'm glad I spent the extra $2k on an FZ-07. That said, I would have been happy with the Duke or one of its competitors like the R3.
I be been considering one of these KTMs for my commute to work. I’m also 6’3 so you answered my main concern over this bike. Nice to have a bike reviewer who’s a proper height!
Solid review! I like how in US this is considered a starter bike. And in Singapore its something we have to have at least a year of riding experience to get.
Hands down best review I've ever seen. The different types of camera angles made a huge different vs the usual rider POV. still debating between this one and the FZ-07 tho lol
This was an outstanding video. It was well shot, it answered all of my questions, and it was easy for a newbie like me to follow along. Thanks for cutting through some of the crap. Keep up the great work.
Counterpoint: The Duke 390 and RC390 have major issues with overheating, stalling, wheels shattering, bad vibration and very poor build quality (you can even see that on the one in the video with its bent turn signal). Minimum Dealer Pack add-on is $700 for them as well. An RC390 ends being around $7000 before taxes and registration. Rode both of these and then rode the R3 and went with the R3, $5,350 OTD, all included. No regrets!
+- RunningWithScissors - I didn't have any issues with overheating but I agree with you on the stalling. I talked about that a bit more in depth in the written article (www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2015-ktm-390-duke-review) as a side effect of the shift lever and gear box that I addressed in the video. As far as vibrations go, I found that the Duke did a very good job at balancing out the vibrations normally felt from a single cylinder engine. There was minimal vibration in the handlebars compared to what I was expecting given the fact it's a thumper. All that being said, I am very excited that you seem to be really happy with your R3! That's the most important thing. Like I said in the video, it's all about finding the bike that's right for you! Congrats on your new bike!
+Spurgeon Dunbar Many of the issues seem to be Hit or Miss on any specific KTM and may be the result of lack of quality control in the manufacturing, but all are common enough that there are lots of mentions on Forums on the Net about them. Do a Google Image Search for "Broken KTM Wheels" and see the result of what are probably defective, porous castings. The RC390 I test rode ran very hot and stalled a lot, and the build quality on the Duke 390 I test rode waa atrocious. They both vibrated quite a bit and my hands were going numb after about 10 miles. Like other street KTMs I've ridden (Duke 690 was the worst for this) the seating position puts you way forward, and it made me feel like I was sitting on top of the instrument panel. My local dealership sold their allotment of both of the KTMs and several were back on the floor as trade-ins within months with less than 300-600 miles on them. I moved down to the R3 from a 1996 Ducati 916 Senna Edition (which I should have kept and parked in my living room as a piece of art). With over 45 years of riding experience and 37 bikes owned, I realized that I just like the smaller. lightweight bikes better. It all comes down to "Whatever blows your skirt up" and I'n sure many KTM owners are very happy with their purchases. Cheers!
+- RunningWithScissors - I am with you on the smaller and lighter bikes. I think the trend of "bigger is better" has gotten a bit out of hand. Your 916 is the perfect example. That bike made about 105hp give or take as well as a healthy amount of torque from that V-twin. A modern 600cc I-4 will do that all day long and then some. I think it's great to see manufacturers starting to focus their attention on creating balanced smaller bikes as well as larger ones. I will say that I wouldn't mind having that 916 hanging around my house, even if it's just for the eye candy effect. Cheers to you, sir!
Comprehensive enough, Spurgeon. But the machine you are riding appears to be from the 2014 and earlier batch. These are made a cpl hundred KM from where I live. So a few things I would like to add. The 2015 bikes have a bunch of changes that KTM made without additional cost after listening to rider input. These include little things like dust covers for the suspension components and sealed LED indicators, to big stuff like slipper clutches. Concerning any build quality doubts because it is made in "INDIA"; well you should see how the US made Harley Davidsons fare out here in the third world. Just kidding. The EU imports actually go to Mattinghoffen first and undergo QC there before being dispatched to dealers. I am not sure if the US imports undergo the same somewhere. The maintenance costs in India are actually a significant bit lower than other similar motorcycles, mostly because most of the 250cc plus bikes here are imported either as kits or fully built. I think the maintenance for KTM's is higher in the US for the same reason i.e its an import. It is a learner bike there but here, it is pretty much the most power you can reasonably utlize in an urban environment. The wheel breaks have been mostly because of the deplorable state of road infrastructure in India.
Quick question: Do you know if the 2016 model got a slipper clutch or quickshifter upgrade stock? Thank you! My 390 has been a blast and you're on the nose as far as your criticism. US importation and "exotic" status make the Duke more expensive to wrench on. All 125-300 Dukes go back to Austria for QC check before distribution, so you're correct on the "Indian made" stigma being out of the question; fit and finish on these are great, specially for a 300-400cc.
This is such a great review, not only looking at the beginner rider, but also the seasoned rider. Really considering getting myself one. Keep up the good reviews! +RevZilla
I have duke 390 and I love it. The only thing that annoys me is that on/off feeling with throttle that you have mentioned at 6:20. As a new rider it gives me hard time with handling at sharp curves. Apart from that everything is perfect for me 💪
Great video and review. Hopefully this will be the format moving forward, very well thought out. Excellent commentary by Spurg. Are we going to see more videos like this?
Yet another outstanding and first class review/road test by the most capable Motorcycle "Journalists" out there. Thanks to all at Revzilla for sharing.
Good review, I'm a little sad I've gone to far down the rabbit hole to want to even buy a low cc bike. My 599cc (non ss) is what I'd call adequate power now. They're making so many good 300-500 cc bikes now.
totally sold on the adjustable levels, headin' to your blog to check out the details..perspective's great, but to be honest, real world riders outside of the US won't hardly have a chance to grow out of the performance envelope on this thing..
one performance thing I like to suggest is windshield. if you do decent amount of touring or ride at high speed windshield will save you from wind blast & u will get less tried & ride it with ease.
Great review! Glad manufacturers are pushing for more entry level bikes. No excuses from noobs now about bikes not being cool or powerful enough. This is plenty for someone to really learn how to ride effectively with. Great bike!
I have a 2016 390 Duke with a gel seat, new levers and Black Widow exhaust, I also changed the gear shift lever and brake levers. I'm doing the spal fan and engine ice coolant tomorrow to fix any heat problems here in Florida during Summer months. Let me say it's a really fun bike that pulls hard through ALL the gears. And with the exhaust it sounds nasty.
+doubledoubleandfries They're the Icon Hypersport Pro Short Gloves. The palms are kangaroo! -DrewZilla *www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/icon-hypersport-pro-short-gloves
Spurge, would love to see how you mounted that Kreiga on the Duke since the bike doesn't have too many good mounting points on the back. I just ordered a set of Kreiga's from Revzilla and now wondering how I'm going to get them on :)
+Akhil Almeida The beauty of Kriega's frame loops is that you mount them to the subframe under the passenger seat. You then adjust the frame loops so they barely stick out from where the passenger seat meets the tail. No need to run straps to turn signals and footpegs! See the fitting video linked below. -DrewZilla *vimeo.com/79612231
I'm late as shit but Giannelli is your best bet. I paid 300€ for mine, and it sounds much better than Akrapovic or Arrow. (Granted IIRC Giannelli slip-ons are made by Arrow). Sounds awesome, and doesn't have a cat, and is E-approved. Without DB-killer it is too loud, but cops never complained.
Very good review; kudos! I would really like to see the 2016 KTM 690 Duke Review. I like that you showed a few accessories installed. You may have wanted to tell us that whatever tool you buy, they need to be metric to work on the KTM's, and not imperial.
Brilliant review! I would just like to add a bit of owners perspective here. Though this bike could be great for beginners ,I still think a beginner could be better off with either the R3 or Ninja 300.I reason I say this is because though this bike makes about the same power as the ninja and R3(around 40bhp) the way the power is delivered is kinda lurchy. Compared to say the Ninja 300 or the R3 this bike requires finer throttle modulation,in that sense it's a little less forgiving. My first bike was the the Ninja 250R and it was an absolute gem to learn on mainly because of the way it delivered its power in a linear manner.Also the brakes on this bike aren't all that good.Though they have sufficient bite and safety net of ABS they simply lack feedback . I've also had a few outings on the track and it can be a pretty fun machine on tight tracks where you can really make the most of its light handling characteristics.Here in India this bike makes sense because it really bridges the gap between the mellow 250s and the more expensive 600cc+ bikes and of course its cheap(its made here). I got mine in 2013 had some concerns since it was a new bike then,but apart from a few niggles the bike has been reliable overall in my 30000+ kms of ownership.
+todd baker Intervals for the KTM come in at 4,660 for oil changes and 9,321 for major services such as valve checks. While the Ninja 300 appears to require a bit more attention with it's valves requiring a check at 7,600 miles, you need to keep in mind that oil change intervals are more spread out. In addition, the KTM requires a more involved oil change process than a traditional spin on filter and it also requires the valves to be checked at the 600 mile service. Like I said in the video, a lot of the smaller services like adjusting your chain, changing your oil, or swapping out brake pads can easily be tackled using basic hand tools in your garage. Adjusting the valves is a bit more tricky if you've never done it before. It's a bit time intensive but if you're handy with a wrench and you have an afternoon to kill, it's nothing that can't be done. If it's not something you feel comfortable tackling, your local dealer should be able to handle it for you in an afternoon. As far as KTMs in general, they tend to have slightly shorter service intervals compared to most of the competition.
+Scoobs_Motovlogs Spurgeon discusses and compares maintenance in his companion article. I highly recommend taking a look. Hope this helps! -DrewZilla *www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2015-ktm-390-duke-review
Other than you calling them calibers instead of calipers, great review! Haha kidding aside, I have the 15 390 Duke and absolutely love it, great city bike for me.
I thought this review was fantastic and really innovative with the camera work - I really liked this this bike before but the reviewer pointed out weak points - the gear changes and the clutch. Still a nice bike but not perfect.
+Suchith Keats I believe the earlier US-model 390 Dukes to arrive here all had the conventional bulbs. The video shows a stock US-model bike. Since then, I believe KTM has switched to the LED turn signals. -DrewZilla
Awesome review. This bike is at the top of my list now. I'm trying to come home with a new bike this weekend so I gotta decide quickly. Thanks for the help.
best audio in helmet i ever heard and great review
PKL RIK lol no it's not.
PKL RIK Mm, no worries, I appreciate you admitting your mistake, most people would just insult me. Cheers for being cool.
Yeldur, I don't want you to feel left out this time, it's not good for one's ego, so consider yourself "insulted", and have a great day ; ).
TH-cam wouldn't feel right without it, I appreciate your assistance in this matter!
Yeldur,
My pleasure to be of assistance ; )
While watching this excellent video, I would develop questions. You answered them as though mentally connected. You gave information while riding. Plenty of visuals of the bike both stationary and in motion. None of the boring walk-arounds we see so much. You even discussed inexpensive mods an owner can do. I don't see a single weakness in this production; Great Job!!
twosence fromcleveland I can't agree enough!
I like how you went from reviewing the bike...to giving us general beginners tips.
@marco antonio gutierez rosales "Driving a car is more simpler than playing video games on a computer."
* Laugh in clutchless belt transmission *
I have 4 decades of riding including 2 decades of racing dirt & tracks. Bought the 390 Duke and got 12, km last summer. Juste love the bike... Light, handles like a charm, fun power that keeps you within the speeding limits, and cheap to buy. I had several problems with the cooling system, but great KTM service and the bike seems to run great now. I grew up on the 500 600 650 XL & XR and the power of that that little bike feels like a old XR 650 on steroids.
I am going to be riding again after a 20 years hiatus and a bit weak lower back. My 19yo son will get his motorcycle license soon this year. I wanted to buy a 2014 Honda CB500F, considered a 2018 Benelli Leonchino 500, forgot myself when I sat on a Yamaha MT-07, but considering price, weight & size, power & torque, and handling, I am going to get this KTM Duke 390 V1 ABS. It should be a good bike for me and my son as our first bike. Afterwards, add the Yamaha MT-07 once my son can handle it.
Love all the cars in reverse at 2:54 =P
You sir, have a eagle eye. I didn't even notice the cars in reverse when I was editing this video.
+ItsMeHammie I love these kinds of shots, really funky when you examine them but only a hand few of people notice them in the actual video! :P
+Dustin Carpio Superb editing sir! The cutaways matched the narration perfectly.
Where do I start? Hmmm, likable reviewer, awesome production quality, subtle but tasteful advertisements of the gear worn and lastly you made a solid relatable daily rider review. And yeah, I dig the pink RayBan. Dope across the board.
+CLUTCH1ST They are RayBan knock offs, only $12 bucks! When I buy the expensive ones I lose them or sit on them, but for some reason the cheap ones last forever... Knock on wood... Thanks for watching!
I agree, RevZilla does the best bike reviews. Thanks guys, I love this bike. But I'm gonna start on a Suzuki S40 cruiser and then over the winter, strip it and turn it into a cafe racer with the Ryca kit
+ashrafc That sounds awesome! Take photos and tag @RevZilla on Instagram so we can follow along with the build!
+CLUTCH1ST I don't like your pink sunglasses even if your Bruce Jenner.
+CLUTCH1ST You mean like Dopey in "Snow White", CLUTH1ST?
That was the most well done review of anything I've ever seen. Clearly laid out, articulate, high def, with classy gear advertisement that did not take away from the purpose of the video. People from other industries need to see this to see a review and product overview done right. Thank you for this!
First video I've seen from you guys and I love it. It was super unbiased and gave me some critical info that I wanted to know since I'm looking at getting into riding.
You guys gained my sub and business!
There's something I love about revzilla reviews.It might be the the actual reviewers giving relevant info without going overboard
but honestly I think its the nostalgia and "coolness" of seeing familiar roads I have ridden.
Wow, i'm amazed at whole quality and editing of this video, even host is nice, everything is clear and well spoken.
I have to say you guys give THE MOST DETAILED REVIEW! Which I really love! where no one does!
Nice to see this perspective. In India, where this is made btw, (also build quality is fairly phenomenal) this would be considered an upgrade after learning on a 100cc-150cc 12 bhp machines. Right now the growth market is 300-750 cc performance and leisure motorcycles out here. I wonder if you guys would get your hands on something called the Mahindra Mojo.
+Ravi Ochani I doubt we'd be able to get a Mahindra Mojo here in the US. So far, Mahindra only sells tractors and side-by-sides (XTV) here! -DrewZilla
I was serious enough about buying one of these this year (2022) that I went and looked up maintenance schedule. Apparently you're REQUIRED to go and pay the dealer to hook up their computer, read codes and log back to the mothership, at about $125 per time, to maintain warranty.
Nope sorry. I'm not buying a bike that I am required to pay the dealer for maintenance. I've never taken a bike to a shop for maintenance and I'm not gonna start. Real shame because honestly this bike looks like exactly what I want apart from that. I guess I'm going to an Asian bike.
I started riding this year and I ride a ktm 390 duke. So far its been a blast! Thanks for the video RevZilla!
Revzilla production quality is outstanding. Great review!
I'm getting a kick of you guys highlighting the different Philly hoods. Mount Airy is definitely super photogenic. Keep up the good work!
saw this and was eager to see what you thought. The levers are almost always a cost cutting location on the value oriented bikes. Nice to see a quick and easy fix for it. I'm a fan of all things Austrian (Glock, Kasekrainer, Mozart, victorian era coffee shops, and of course KTM!) I personally found the naked style bike a lot better when I was first starting to ride years ago. The more upright position and handlebar leverage prevented a few embarrassing drops of the bike!
Also the pink shades rock!
We've come a long way since those OldSkool Infomercials. Awesome Video Review!
You guys give product info on everything BUT the bitchin' pink specs!!
In all seriousness, mad props to you all for making a review brand that not only is shot great (seriously, well done to whomever is shooting and editing these things), but also integrates your site in a way that isn't intrusive. I'll definitely be back.
Man, Revzilla just keeps getting better and better. Love the review, and article. You'll always be my # 1 choice for apparel/gear and now even reviews
feel free to make these reviews longer, when they are this good i really don't mind, just let me get some popcorn first
This is one impressive video...beautifully shot, well paced, and oh yeah... nicely narrated with just enough content. Well done, well done.
Ok guys that was an amazingly good quality review. I love the way you guys seamlessly switched to the focused part of the bike without cutting to another clip. Keep it up.
The logical flow to this review is fantastic. Been a few years since I've had a bike, and the KTM duke is lookin' mighty nice!
Another super review!
I wish any one else who wants to post a "professional" review had to make it as good as what you guys do! I don't necessarily mean the technical gear, but the fully explained thoughts and the way you guys draw comparisons and contrasts with other bikes. PLEASE keep up the great work!
Literally the best KTM 390 review on TH-cam! Good job and I love the detail about some of the finer (but important) things like the levers and also the shifter. It's good to know that those problems can be mostly fixed. thanks for an open and honest review!
Great review. From the video quality, to the camera angles, audio, editing, music, everything about this video was a work of art, and the review itself was great, so I'm definetely thinking about getting this bike next year.
Fantastic review, the best I've seen yet, well done. I am in the market for a Duke 390 but no dealers have any in stock so I can't get a feel of its size. Finally after watching and reading dozens of reviews someone finally noted how TALL they were. THANK YOU.
I picked up one of the first dukes to come to Australia and I agree with the gear lever it does feel clucky but I found throttle response to be good and I grew to like it because it encouraged me to keep the revs up.
Seriously, you guys make some of the best bike reviews and supply the best consumer information. I don't think anyones really doing it much better. MotoVloggers are fun and sometimes are really great but these excel for sure. I hope they keep coming.
These bike reviews that you guys do are the best on TH-cam. More please :)
Just amazing and TOP review. I have the 125cc for about 5 years and I'm very happy...390cc in my garage will be a dream!
BTW: Those cars in reverse are LOL
@RevZilla You guys do the best reviews with such crisp quality and you never leave any info out Great Work!
+Alex Jeffery Thanks! We are lucky to have one hell of a team working on these.
I've been interested to get my first bike and wanted something sporty looking and landed on this video. You guys covered every topic and every question I had. This was amazing to watch and really have set my decision on getting this bike. Amazing job!
Probably the best bikereview i've seen in years. I have just decided, after much hesitation, to get a motorcycle license and are looking at the 390 at a beginners bike. You mention every single aspect of owning a bike for beginners, helpfull tips like the sadle bag, what tools to get and generally how the bike will feel for a beginner. I've looked at the 690 aswell but i feel like the 390 will be better for my beginning career, the 690 might be a bit much and having a nimbler bike will make it possible to try out different aspekt at lower speed.
Keep up the good work!
From 1:16 on, there was a lot of "This is gonna be...", "That's gonna be...", "That's gonna give you..." but you're describing things that "actually are" not something that is going to happen in the future. It just sounds strange. You're doing a better job than I probably would, I just felt it worth mentioning.
I'm considering this for my second bike, and I must say this was a great review. Keep it up fellas!
I loved this review, camerawork, script, everything. Got my subscription.
That's a pretty polished review. I was set on one of these for awhile but didn't buy and I'm glad I spent the extra $2k on an FZ-07. That said, I would have been happy with the Duke or one of its competitors like the R3.
I be been considering one of these KTMs for my commute to work. I’m also 6’3 so you answered my main concern over this bike. Nice to have a bike reviewer who’s a proper height!
Dudes what do you say? Does Revzilla take top honors in the Motorcycle Riders Choice Award for product video reviews? Hell ya!
I'm an avid rider who grew up in the Titusville area. Seeing your videos takes me back to some great memories
Solid review! I like how in US this is considered a starter bike. And in Singapore its something we have to have at least a year of riding experience to get.
+sooriyah007 That's an interesting perspective. At 6'3" and 210lbs I can't imagine starting with anything smaller than this.
Haha! Then you're lucky you're not starting off here:) Thanks for the review mate!
Hands down best review I've ever seen. The different types of camera angles made a huge different vs the usual rider POV. still debating between this one and the FZ-07 tho lol
Jesus Revzilla just pumps out quality content ... love it.
The production value of this video was AMAZING! Thanks for the info, I think you just sold me on the 390 as my first bike.
This was an outstanding video. It was well shot, it answered all of my questions, and it was easy for a newbie like me to follow along. Thanks for cutting through some of the crap. Keep up the great work.
How in the world does he get such perfect camera shots? Friggin bravo! excellent video.
As an experienced (30year) rider I have a Duke 390 which I commute 62 km everyday. It is my fave bike ever. Light n responsive. Fantastic!
Counterpoint: The Duke 390 and RC390 have major issues with overheating, stalling, wheels shattering, bad vibration and very poor build quality (you can even see that on the one in the video with its bent turn signal).
Minimum Dealer Pack add-on is $700 for them as well. An RC390 ends being around $7000 before taxes and registration.
Rode both of these and then rode the R3 and went with the R3, $5,350 OTD, all included. No regrets!
+- RunningWithScissors - I didn't have any issues with overheating but I agree with you on the stalling. I talked about that a bit more in depth in the written article (www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2015-ktm-390-duke-review) as a side effect of the shift lever and gear box that I addressed in the video.
As far as vibrations go, I found that the Duke did a very good job at balancing out the vibrations normally felt from a single cylinder engine. There was minimal vibration in the handlebars compared to what I was expecting given the fact it's a thumper.
All that being said, I am very excited that you seem to be really happy with your R3! That's the most important thing. Like I said in the video, it's all about finding the bike that's right for you! Congrats on your new bike!
+Spurgeon Dunbar Many of the issues seem to be Hit or Miss on any specific KTM and may be the result of lack of quality control in the manufacturing, but all are common enough that there are lots of mentions on Forums on the Net about them. Do a Google Image Search for "Broken KTM Wheels" and see the result of what are probably defective, porous castings. The RC390 I test rode ran very hot and stalled a lot, and the build quality on the Duke 390 I test rode waa atrocious. They both vibrated quite a bit and my hands were going numb after about 10 miles.
Like other street KTMs I've ridden (Duke 690 was the worst for this) the seating position puts you way forward, and it made me feel like I was sitting on top of the instrument panel.
My local dealership sold their allotment of both of the KTMs and several were back on the floor as trade-ins within months with less than 300-600 miles on them.
I moved down to the R3 from a 1996 Ducati 916 Senna Edition (which I should have kept and parked in my living room as a piece of art). With over 45 years of riding experience and 37 bikes owned, I realized that I just like the smaller. lightweight bikes better.
It all comes down to "Whatever blows your skirt up" and I'n sure many KTM owners are very happy with their purchases.
Cheers!
+- RunningWithScissors - I am with you on the smaller and lighter bikes. I think the trend of "bigger is better" has gotten a bit out of hand. Your 916 is the perfect example. That bike made about 105hp give or take as well as a healthy amount of torque from that V-twin. A modern 600cc I-4 will do that all day long and then some.
I think it's great to see manufacturers starting to focus their attention on creating balanced smaller bikes as well as larger ones. I will say that I wouldn't mind having that 916 hanging around my house, even if it's just for the eye candy effect.
Cheers to you, sir!
Comprehensive enough, Spurgeon. But the machine you are riding appears to be from the 2014 and earlier batch. These are made a cpl hundred KM from where I live. So a few things I would like to add. The 2015 bikes have a bunch of changes that KTM made without additional cost after listening to rider input. These include little things like dust covers for the suspension components and sealed LED indicators, to big stuff like slipper clutches. Concerning any build quality doubts because it is made in "INDIA"; well you should see how the US made Harley Davidsons fare out here in the third world. Just kidding. The EU imports actually go to Mattinghoffen first and undergo QC there before being dispatched to dealers. I am not sure if the US imports undergo the same somewhere. The maintenance costs in India are actually a significant bit lower than other similar motorcycles, mostly because most of the 250cc plus bikes here are imported either as kits or fully built. I think the maintenance for KTM's is higher in the US for the same reason i.e its an import. It is a learner bike there but here, it is pretty much the most power you can reasonably utlize in an urban environment. The wheel breaks have been mostly because of the deplorable state of road infrastructure in India.
Quick question: Do you know if the 2016 model got a slipper clutch or quickshifter upgrade stock? Thank you!
My 390 has been a blast and you're on the nose as far as your criticism. US importation and "exotic" status make the Duke more expensive to wrench on. All 125-300 Dukes go back to Austria for QC check before distribution, so you're correct on the "Indian made" stigma being out of the question; fit and finish on these are great, specially for a 300-400cc.
Was expecting just another bike review video, was pleasantly surprised! Thanks :D
This is such a great review, not only looking at the beginner rider, but also the seasoned rider. Really considering getting myself one. Keep up the good reviews! +RevZilla
Give this a quick read. -DrewZilla
*www.revzilla.com/common-tread/why-smaller-is-better
Great read!!! Now i'm even more convinced on downgrading from my SV650 to a little DUke 390, as I mostly do commuting.
Thank you RevZilla..... I got a good review about DUKE 390 from this video than the others...
I have duke 390 and I love it. The only thing that annoys me is that on/off feeling with throttle that you have mentioned at 6:20. As a new rider it gives me hard time with handling at sharp curves. Apart from that everything is perfect for me 💪
Very impressive camera work. Great audio too.
You guys are the best Motorcycle reviewers ever. Like the tips are very helpful and the information is very informative. Thanks dude
Beautiful Philadelphia! One of the many reasons I love RevZilla.
Great video and review. Hopefully this will be the format moving forward, very well thought out. Excellent commentary by Spurg. Are we going to see more videos like this?
imo if you want a sub 600 faired bike an old school 400 is the way to go, such as the rvf400 nc35! 20 years and going with power still unmatched!
Yet another outstanding and first class review/road test by the most capable Motorcycle "Journalists" out there. Thanks to all at Revzilla for sharing.
I wish I had seen this film when I started riding bikes back then! Extremely informative indeed! Well done! :-)
Good review, I'm a little sad I've gone to far down the rabbit hole to want to even buy a low cc bike. My 599cc (non ss) is what I'd call adequate power now. They're making so many good 300-500 cc bikes now.
This is a well done review, with practical answers to issues that matter. Waaay better than is typical. Thanks.
this was one of the best review for this product i've seen so far.
totally sold on the adjustable levels, headin' to your blog to check out the details..perspective's great, but to be honest, real world riders outside of the US won't hardly have a chance to grow out of the performance envelope on this thing..
We had this bike in driving school, quite unconfortable (for me) but drives very vell and, like you said, perfect for beginners :)
one performance thing I like to suggest is windshield. if you do decent amount of touring or ride at high speed windshield will save you from wind blast & u will get less tried & ride it with ease.
I am 6'3 too. The only thing stopping me from buying is the ride quality for tall riders.Will it be suitable for long rides? BTW great review bro
+Balaji Sundar Yes, you should be fine for long rides, but that is rather subjective. Your experience may differ. -DrewZilla
Great review! Glad manufacturers are pushing for more entry level bikes. No excuses from noobs now about bikes not being cool or powerful enough. This is plenty for someone to really learn how to ride effectively with. Great bike!
I’m honestly sad you guys don’t have more subs, so underrated
I have a 2016 390 Duke with a gel seat, new levers and Black Widow exhaust, I also changed the gear shift lever and brake levers. I'm doing the spal fan and engine ice coolant tomorrow to fix any heat problems here in Florida during Summer months. Let me say it's a really fun bike that pulls hard through ALL the gears. And with the exhaust it sounds nasty.
Thanks for including negatives in the review. I was afraid this was a KTM fanboy review.
My first bike was a '07 Hyosung GT650r. I loved that bike, still missed her
which gloves were you wearing spurg? love the tan palms!
+doubledoubleandfries They're the Icon Hypersport Pro Short Gloves. The palms are kangaroo! -DrewZilla
*www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/icon-hypersport-pro-short-gloves
Such a professional non-hesitating video you pulled out, great job!!!
I LOVE YOUR REVIEWS REVZILLA. I LOVE ORDERING PARTS AND HELMETS, etc AS WELL. REVZILLA U RULE
Bravo! This review was so good it made me want a Duke. Well done.
Luiz xtxtMa cDdr312@ zeeawaxingyes
Spurge, would love to see how you mounted that Kreiga on the Duke since the bike doesn't have too many good mounting points on the back. I just ordered a set of Kreiga's from Revzilla and now wondering how I'm going to get them on :)
+Akhil Almeida The beauty of Kriega's frame loops is that you mount them to the subframe under the passenger seat. You then adjust the frame loops so they barely stick out from where the passenger seat meets the tail. No need to run straps to turn signals and footpegs! See the fitting video linked below. -DrewZilla
*vimeo.com/79612231
I think I saw Kelly drive and/or Roosevelt Blvd if I'm not mistaking. Love you guys. Nice and local and I get my stuff in 2 days!
only thing i dont like is the exhaust. need to get a slip on on that thing!
Oskar Jakobsen slip on? Nah... full exhaust system wtf
What does slip on mean? I hear this a lot but don't understand what it means?
I'm late as shit but Giannelli is your best bet. I paid 300€ for mine, and it sounds much better than Akrapovic or Arrow. (Granted IIRC Giannelli slip-ons are made by Arrow). Sounds awesome, and doesn't have a cat, and is E-approved. Without DB-killer it is too loud, but cops never complained.
Very good review; kudos! I would really like to see the 2016 KTM 690 Duke Review. I like that you showed a few accessories installed. You may have wanted to tell us that whatever tool you buy, they need to be metric to work on the KTM's, and not imperial.
Brilliant review!
I would just like to add a bit of owners perspective here. Though this bike could be great for beginners ,I still think a beginner could be better off with either the R3 or Ninja 300.I reason I say this is because though this bike makes about the same power as the ninja and R3(around 40bhp) the way the power is delivered is kinda lurchy. Compared to say the Ninja 300 or the R3 this bike requires finer throttle modulation,in that sense it's a little less forgiving. My first bike was the the Ninja 250R and it was an absolute gem to learn on mainly because of the way it delivered its power in a linear manner.Also the brakes on this bike aren't all that good.Though they have sufficient bite and safety net of ABS they simply lack feedback .
I've also had a few outings on the track and it can be a pretty fun machine on tight tracks where you can really make the most of its light handling characteristics.Here in India this bike makes sense because it really bridges the gap between the mellow 250s and the more expensive 600cc+ bikes and of course its cheap(its made here).
I got mine in 2013 had some concerns since it was a new bike then,but apart from a few niggles the bike has been reliable overall in my 30000+ kms of ownership.
this was really fun to watch because I have a KTM Duke 125 myself which has the exact same frame
Why does the KTM have more maintenance? Do all KTM's have this trait?
+todd baker Intervals for the KTM come in at 4,660 for oil changes and 9,321 for major services such as valve checks.
While the Ninja 300 appears to require a bit more attention with it's valves requiring a check at 7,600 miles, you need to keep in mind that oil change intervals are more spread out. In addition, the KTM requires a more involved oil change process than a traditional spin on filter and it also requires the valves to be checked at the 600 mile service.
Like I said in the video, a lot of the smaller services like adjusting your chain, changing your oil, or swapping out brake pads can easily be tackled using basic hand tools in your garage. Adjusting the valves is a bit more tricky if you've never done it before. It's a bit time intensive but if you're handy with a wrench and you have an afternoon to kill, it's nothing that can't be done. If it's not something you feel comfortable tackling, your local dealer should be able to handle it for you in an afternoon.
As far as KTMs in general, they tend to have slightly shorter service intervals compared to most of the competition.
+Spurgeon Dunbar Thanks for your reply. It seems like the same kind of maintenance just more frequent. Only one cylinder it should be easy enough.
There's a lot of talk about these things having high maintenance. Dont want a bike that will cost a fortune in repairs... So how good these bikes are?
+Scoobs_Motovlogs Spurgeon discusses and compares maintenance in his companion article. I highly recommend taking a look. Hope this helps! -DrewZilla
*www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2015-ktm-390-duke-review
This review is literally right down from my street
Other than you calling them calibers instead of calipers, great review! Haha kidding aside, I have the 15 390 Duke and absolutely love it, great city bike for me.
CRB Drums Uhh he did say “calipers”. You just heard it wrong.
Better late than review of the KTM Duke 390 by RevZilla. Finally...
great stuff. Best review I have ever seen here on youtube, thank you
I thought this review was fantastic and really innovative with the camera work - I really liked this this bike before but the reviewer pointed out weak points - the gear changes and the clutch. Still a nice bike but not perfect.
Are you guys going to do more beginner stuff? Bikes, gear, what to upgrade when, etc
+simmons865 We probably will. Stay tuned to find out! -DrewZilla
What I mostly took from the video is that green shoelaces really clash with orange..
+Scott Cairns A few dollars for some orange laces might help with that! We'll get on it! -DrewZilla
The review was great BTW. Sorry if I was fixated on the laces! :-)
+Scott Cairns Just goes to show that Hi-Viz WORKS! -DrewZilla
Hey Spurge, why is the led turn signals replaced with conventional one's? and the led tail light also looked different. Were those custom changed?
+Suchith Keats I believe the earlier US-model 390 Dukes to arrive here all had the conventional bulbs. The video shows a stock US-model bike. Since then, I believe KTM has switched to the LED turn signals. -DrewZilla
I want to get the KTM RC8R because i love how it looks but now with the new R1 it's difficult to choose
buy the rc8r and keep it as ktm is not making them anymore. Ive only seen two on the street so no one will have your bike.
Very well done! I have been riding for forty years and I really enjoyed this. You cover it all in a very low key manner. Thanks so much.
I've been thing of getting the duke. Good review
Awesome review. This bike is at the top of my list now. I'm trying to come home with a new bike this weekend so I gotta decide quickly. Thanks for the help.
I ALWAYS appreciate you and Lemmie.