To see other low cc bike reviews, see this playlist here: bit.ly/NLowCCReviews Edit: Indian company just bought 48 percent of KTM What would you like me to test ride for you next? Tell me below!
I’m retired Met Police, London. Always one foot down! And, it’s always the left foot, so that the right can hold the bike on the brake. The idea is that 2 wheels and your left leg form a tripod, so is stable. Selecting gear requires a quick swap of feet - right foot down, left foot up to select gear and left foot back down, and then right foot back up to set off. It’s called the Hendon shuffle!
Here, in the EU, we like our right foot down. If it slips it is less likely to fall head first on the opposing traffic lane. Hand on the brake, no shuffle needed!
I can see by which side of the road the traffic flows would affect your adopted style, definitely need to be safe. I actually make use of the brake feature on my lastest GSA. Makes life easier on hills 👍
I’ve had my 2019 KTM Duke 390 for a year and a half. I’ve put 4000 miles on mine. I ride it daily to commute to work. I do some cruises on Sunday. My buddies with Harleys and Sport bikes were skeptical about it but after a test ride, they love it. It’s a great bike to learn proper techniques like trail braking and shifting it and out of turns. It’s fun to pull wheelies on and eventually I’ll learn to drift this supermoto like thumper. I think it sounds like a dirt bike. ABS brakes have helped in wet conditions a few times and the interactive tft display paired with my phone and helmet Cardo system allows me to listen to Spotify and change tracks with handlebar controls, use GPS, and answer and make phone calls. I love this bike and will eventually get a 790 Duke but this 390 is a great tool to learn how to ride.
@@alex5761 The 890 is impossible to find by my dealership. They were gone. I’ll eventually get the 790 or 890 in the next few years. I’m still really enjoying my time on the 390.
I have really enjoyed sharing your growth as a motorcyclist. I went through the process with my wife (and Joe Jackson was right, it is different for girls,) and I enjoy seeing more women pick up the sport. I think sometimes having a man involved in the process is not a positive, and I think you are a great resource for women looking to get into riding, for whom I imagine you are pretty inspirational. Keep up the good work. Cheers and thank you.
When my wife wanted to take her driving licence (with my enthusiastic blessing), which was around 1995, we barely could find gear for her. Only Hein Gericke had some jackets. Now, things have changed, fortunately !
I took my 2019 Duke to the track after putting on better tires, exhaust, power commander w/ quick shifter & what a blast! Great corner speed, not the muscle my Ducati Monster 1100s has on the track but I love the ride, great bike!
I´m from Argentina, and just got a Duke 250 last week (it´s basically the same bike with some cc less, and the old ktm dashboard). I fell in love with ktm dukes after trying a friends 390 of the older model a few years ago, the size, and weight/power ratio is so nice that they are some of the funniest bikes to ride on the city and some twisty roads. even the 250cc is really fun to ride everyday at legal speeds, here in Argentina more than 90% of bikes sold everyyear are less than 250cc, so we see the 390 as medium cc bike. also prices are a lot higher here. but i think that KTM dukes are bikes that makes you smile on every ride, and also look back at them after you park it since they have a really personal design.
Hi Doodle, i guess a lot of people will be testing the KTM Duke after watching this very impressive review of this 390cc single at a very competitive price which you rated highly.
KTM's have a lot of character and tend to grow on you. Once you get used to a KTM, other bikes can seem kind of dull. I have a KTM 1190 Adventure and just added cruise control to it, so now it's good for taking longer trips. I'm thinking of adding a smaller cc bike next spring for when I want a more sporty ride, so I'm planning to look at the KTM 890 Duke.
I commute 60 miles a day when in the office in London on my 2020 (7500 miles 1 year in) and it never fails to make me smile. Best tool for the job, light, responsive and 78mpg, with two teeth less on rear sprocket and still fast enough for the motorway/traffic light grand-prix and London traffic.......I've been riding bikes since 1987, have bought, sold, swapped more than I care to remember from RD250LCs to VTR1000 Firestorms but this one is a keeper. My BMW F800 hates it as she ends up staying in the garage whilst I play out with the mistress. Same colours, mine has a top box and rack from Givi fitted, which is also excellent.
KTM 790 Duke’s are pretty heavily discounted at a lot of dealers lately. They’re a little nicer, and can be picked up for around $7-8k new now. Quickshifter+ is available and highly recommend it. It will change your life... I’m 6’3” and every bike I’ve owned is too tall for me to reach with both feet to the ground. Dirt bikes and ADV. I’m always left foot down with right foot on brake to keep the tail light on. You’d be surprised how much that helps vehicles pulling up behind you at stoplights see you. Even during the day time. People focus on light sources.
I have had a 2018 Duke 390 for over two years. It's a superb bike. Mine also has a luggage rack just over the rear seat. I have a Givi 26-litre box attached. The bike has always started first time and doesn't use any oil between 5,000 km/3,000 mile services. It feels like a 500 performance-wise. My bike has had an air-box mod which gives it more low-down shove, allowing it to be geared-up a touch. Good video.
I've had a hornet 919, a BMC Big Daddy full custom chopper, and multiple dirt bikes. Now I want a Duke 390 lol. It's not just "a beginner bike". It's a fun bike. Great video!
Doodle, when Hollywood discovers you, & makes you the biggest star ever from the Dominican Republic, please don’t forget us little people. The ones who loved & cherished you when you were riding in the ATL💯🏍🇺🇸👍🏽
Yay!!! I'm 6'1 and 200 lbs, and I love this bike to the point where I still have no interest in buying a more powerful bike. It's light, incredibly comfortable to ride (unlike the earlier models), cheap to service and the mileage is insanely good.
Duke 390 and Ninja 400 (at least w/ an elevated handle bar) are probably the two most popular choices for gymkhana right now, due to their nimbleness and great customization potential
Right now you can get the 790 Duke for ~$2500 more. You get a lot for the $2500. Power is very tamable with 4 different ride modes, quickshifter (up and down), lean sensitive ABS, traction control, and anti-wheelie mode. The 390 is nice, if you can afford it the 790 has better power for passing at speed and is just as nimble. Also less likely to outgrow it. My .02. Great review!
Life is too short to only have 1 motorcycle! Every Motorcycle rider should have a bike for the road and one for off-road. I own a Yamaha XT 250 for trail riding and a Suzuki GSX-R750 to tear up the roads. My buddy has a Yamaha Super Tenere, a Suzuki GSX-R600 and a Honda CFR 250L. Go For it Girl, Enjoy motorcycles!
This brings up a point I wish was talked about more often: if you're a smaller/lighter person, get a smaller/lighter bike. If you weigh less, you can get moving with less power, and having a lighter bike is going to make a huge difference in your ability to handle the bike and really control it. If you're on a heavy bike that's hard to control, you won't have fun, and if you don't have fun, you won't keep riding. The gears are oddly short on the 390, though, you may want to try a Ninja 400 or Z400 as well.
Having had both the Duke 390 and the RC390 the gearing comes from the factory for “urban” use. The best improvement it to go up one tooth on the engine sprocket to a 16 tooth. It helps to spread out the transmission gearing, and slow the engine down at highway speeds, making it much more enjoyable to ride for any distance. 😉👍🏍
Mmm... if there’s anything I’ve learned from jiu jitsu, slow speed courses, and Jocelin snow, it’s not the weight it’s the skill. The littlest person can have the most control with the right technique
Doodle On A Motorcycle Just because something can be done doesn’t mean it’s the best approach. Do you commute in a Mack truck just because it technically can be done? MotoGP riders are all small, small people can certainly get there, I’m just saying master a small bike first instead of rushing to bigger bikes. All of the seasoned riders I know agree with that statement, many started on way too big/heavy/powerful bikes and ended up downgrading to get better, not sure why you’re giving pushback after just gushing about how much you like the Duke 390, which is a smaller, lighter bike.
Doodle On A Motorcycle This is definitely true, but I think it’s easier for most people to acquire those skills on a bike they feel comfortable riding.
If you are thinking of buying this motorcycle this young lady has described it perfectly. Every thing she says about it is correct. And I'm 6 feet Tall weigh 120 K and the power is awesome even at my weight. I have the 2021 model.
Neighbour picked one of these up near new for 4K AU. Seller got it for his wife and let it go with about 1000km. Neat little machine and it’s ridiculously nimble. It also keeps up with the bigger stuff quite well. But it’s definitely compact.
This bike is NOT only for beginner. It is more fun to ride fast in a slow bike than to ride slow in a fast bike. I have more fun in my R3 than my other powerful bike.
It's more appropriate for normal roads with speed limits and laws if you ride a fast bike fast you will either crash or loose your license. Neither is fun. I wouldn't even ride a sports bike on the road that's not what it's designed for gsxr600 R6 zxr-r cbr600 are the worst bikes for the road.
The only reason I got the 790 duke is because I wanted 2 cylinders (less vibrations). Otherwise I would get the 390. Light bikes are more fun. Anyway, also the 790 is pretty nimble and agile. You feel confortable at the first ride.
@@lucaforgia883 I have a f800gs not that different from the Duke engine wise it's happy to plod along at 60mph at 4krpm and return 80mpg. I bought it in 2014 and been working out ever since. My plan is to build muscle to make the 214kg more manageable
Saw ...2020 KTM Duke 125cc, 150cc, 200cc, 250cc, 390cc today at a Dealership. Loved them all. The 200cc and under had 28" seats. I'm 5'7". I liked the smaller ones heightwise... The 200cc is $4k new...
What I love about it: upright riding position, Bluetooth connectivity with the TFT display, fuel efficiency, nimbleness, torque, mirrors do not vibrate at all (I like the stock look), very bright headlights, backlit controls, supermoto mode, and cheap parts! I also love that it looks like its bigger brothers. What I don’t like: shifting every few seconds, barely highway speed capable (tops out around 90mph), tank capacity. It does have some cheaper components, but I can forgive that for the price point.
@@DoodleOnAMotorcycle Personally I don't like cruising near redline. Not that I need to, or want to, go faster than 90 mph, but it amounts to no ability to down shift, typically more vibration, and I believe shorter engine life if you are riding at redline all the time.
bruh ..it goes aroun 170 kmph or 105 mph , it does not top out at 90. and if you add powertoronic or just add a smaller sprocket you might get longer shifts and tops speed.
Bajaj in India didn't buy KTM they own about 48% of the company which is why the smaller models are made in India to keep costs down. All of the larger bikes, 790/890/1290 ect.. are still made in Austria by KTM themselves. Thats why you can tell a bit of build quality difference between the 390 and its larger siblings.
Thanks so much for this review, I only saw one for the first time a couple of days ago in a triumph dealership. It was very nicely priced and I was thinking about purchasing it as a short ride commuter bike but didn’t know much about it.
Highly recommend the 390. It's what I started on. And it's an incredibly fun bike. Especially through twisties. A little buzzy on the highway and wouldn't recommend long highway runs just from a comfort standpoint. But it'll do it perfectly fine in that role of necessary.
Highly recommend against the small KTM. The 390 is a flawed engine, either by design or manufacture, doesn't matter, the engines are lovely until they blow a gasket or chew themselves to pieces. And quite a lot of them do. They're ticking time bombs, in some cases, ticking literally. I would seriously steer you towards one of its Japanese competitors.
I have a similar Indian-made single-cylinder Euro-brand bike that I use for shopping these days, since now I work from home. It's nimble AF. The build quality for the Indian bikes seems pretty good, gotta say.
How would these compare to Benellis? They're an Italian brand that got acquired by a Chinese conglomerate, the same thing that happened to KTM with an Indian group.
I love the look of the KTM Duke 390! I am a bit tall for for that sweet ride but it looks like a blast. Awesome review and thanks for sharing your experience!
At 3:20, you discuss the redline on the bike (in first gear), but your tach is only showing 7500....redline doesn't start until 10,000. You mention that the bike only has 700 miles on it. The break in period is for the first 640 miles. The tach will show red at anything above 6000 rpm, until the setting is changed after the first break-in. This bike makes the most power at the higher revs, like 8-10k. Just wondering if maybe you were shifting early due to the screen screaming at you angrily above 6k.....? Just taking a guess! Acceleration is supposed to be like 0-60 in 5.5 seconds. I think its a great bike! Thanks for the video!
I live in Spain and the Dukes are very popular here. Nice used ones can be had for around 4000€. They wreak havoc in the twistes, regularly passing bikes with over twice the displacement.
@@walrus-splice-renewable many of us likes riding fast bikes but there's also a large number of riders who will never reach the potential of bikes such as a R1 or even 600cc class bikes. Track days are expensive and there is no way you could ride fast on city roads
MinimalistInDisguise I fully understand it and it’s an expression I use. I like to push the envelope of a bike, to ride it “balls out” few people are actually capable of doing that with litre plus bikes, certainly not me.
My son has Svartpilen 401, my son's girlfriend has a Duke 390, my partner has a bmw G310R and I have a vitpilen 401. I have been riding for 40 years ! I can say for an absolute fact : 1. The KTM 373cc and BMW 313cc motors are awesome. 2. Small punchy singles are wicked in traffic and on back roads. 3. Insurance, Registration, Tyres, Service Items and Fuel are all very Cheap. 4. The 390 and its Husqvarna cousins will stand up on the back wheel on command...... 5. My Vitpilen will do 160 kmph - just - with a proper 6 foot bloke on board. Great fun... mind you we are in New Zealand so almost all roads are narrow and twisty..... and lane splitting is LEGAL. I will post a video one day showing how motorcyclist tackle motorway traffic - It is interesting....
@@DoodleOnAMotorcycle th-cam.com/video/2OAm-exRb8c/w-d-xo.html. I took this 2 days before Xmas - these are two suburban roads in wellington - we have green space everywhere here !
I considered the KTM 390 when I was bike shopping but ended up going with the BMW G310R. Its great for riding the twisty roads in the Appalachian foothills near my home. The longest trip I have done was 250 miles in a day and the bike was extremely comfortable with minimal road fatigue
My God! You are GORGEOUS!!! You give great advice from a female bikers point of view!! Greatly appreciate your honesty on everything!! You should be a great inspiration for any women thinking about getting into any level of motorcycle riding!! Keep up the great work and all the great information!! Stay beautiful!!!
I have a 2018 390 duke n love it .. I ride it more then my Triumph tiger 800 .. I went up to a 16 tooth front sprocket n the bike handles highway much better ...
Excellent!!! I'm so glad You had a chance to check this one out!!! I've been looking at the 390 and 790 too. Only WISHING the 790 was priced like the 390 was!!! Lol. But where I'd ride it,I'd need the 790. Anyway,Great video Doodle!!! As always,looking forward to the next one!!! :-)
Just like some other things I bought over the past several years, it’s all fun until the maintenance and mechanical issues start popping up. Lack of reliability compared to others kills the fun factor, IMO. unless I can afford to own/operate/maintain more than one bike (while this duke is sidelined for repair), I’ll stick with Yamaha or Kawi. Even Suzuki, Honda
About track days, it really depends on the track. I did some hours on shorter tracks with tighter turns, the 390 kills big bikes there 🎉 The nickname ‘corner rocket’ is absolutely spot on 😊
Check out the 2020 Kawasaki Ninja 650. It has a low seat height, TRT display and costs $7,500 new. Only 2 calendars but rides smooth and has a high redline. Also sits upright for long cruses.
Great little bike I agree. One of mine is even smaller/lighter, Honda Monkey 125 :-) though no where near as powerful as the Duke 390. Just a small correction the Indian based motorcycle manufacturing company Bajaj Auto owns 48% of KTM stock, so it's more of a cooperation that take over. That being said Bajaj Auto is one of the largest producer of motorcycles in the world, approx 6.3 million units in 2019. Great review of the Duke 390, keep up the excellent vlogs, stay and ride safe always.
I've gotten my 18 390 up to 99MPH. Ive owned it for 5 months before selling to buy a fz 09. I kinda regret. It's an absolute fun and extremely well handling and nimble bike. It carves corners with ease and extremely flickable
I have a 2016 390 duke been riding 50 years and I must say I love this bike I bought it second hand as new 900 miles on the clock by the way ktm only get the 390 made in India they were not bought out.
Actually, BAJAJ ( the indian manufacturer) bought around 50% of KTM between 2007 and 2012 , and since then, they where partners on the smaller KTMs and husvarna models (200s/250s and 390s ) and bajaj manufactures all them, and also use a lot of their engine technology on their own models (Bajaj Pulsar NS200 and RS200 are based on the duke 200, and the Bajaj dominar is based on the duke 390 motor)
They make them cheap due to the materials so be on the lookout for failures and take the extended service plan if you plan on keeping for years. There is nothing wrong with that but if it is a toy (mc, atv, boat, etc), you get what you pay for. For tight, curvy mtn roads, a smaller displacement bike is FAR better to ride and more fun.
According to my local dealer, the smaller sport bike like this are the hottest sellers for the younger riders. Whether it is because they are cheap to buy, cheap to ride, and they look good, who knows. I would recommend to everyone to test ride some of the naked bikes from BMW. I think you will be surprised. And because of the boxer twin motor carrying the weight really low, steering is light as a feather..
Indian company (Bajaj) didn't buy out KTM, they have shares in KTM. Bajaj has 48% share but they haven't bought KTM. KTM is making Duke and RC 125, 200, 250 and 390 in India. Next year KTM is coming out with Duke and RC 490 (twin cylinder), it will be made in India too.
Are you familiar with the “N+1 Rule”? The N represents the number of motorcycles in your garage, and the +1 is the bike you would love to have in your garage. There’s always room for one more. 😁 Thanks for the video.
Nice upload Miss Doodle. I'm interested to know the accessory of that motorcycle. It is located on top of the passenger's seat, not way behind the bike.
Add 2 teeth to the rear sprocket and dunlop q3+ one size up and you will be pleasantly surprised😮 smoother ride and cornersike it on rail,s and it already fantastic at cornering
Hey! Nice video! 👍 I happen to bump into ur video by chance coz I too ride a first generation Duke 390 and love watching stuff about it online. I would like to point out a couple of things that I noticed that you might want to correct: 1. The engine displacement is 373.2cc and not 390cc (here in India we like to pass it off as a 375 😋) 2. The exhaust on the one you were riding is an aftermarket exhaust, the stock exhaust doesn't sound anything like that. Best wishes. Cheers!
Everyone has a different angle what is best or most desirable for them. Its the reason I own far more than one bike. All mine don't even equal the bill on the newer KTM's, but I'm partial to the Classics myself. Hope you manage to find a 390 that suits you. Very best wishes Doodle.
New subscriber here. And soon to be new rider. While I'm seriously considering the Versys X 300 as my first bike, the Duke 390 is definitely on my radar. Good review. Going to check out more of your videos.
I have a 390 Duke and can say they sound better with the stock exhaust. Aftermarket mufflers make them sound like a dirt bike. A single will always sound like a single though.
I'm Austrian born (US citizen now) and whimpered a silent tear when I heard India bought KTM - so glad of the correction! Austria is beautiful but small and with few industry boasts to claim, I want to cling onto KTM !!! (yea we can Ski, LOL)
If you think the Duke390 is light try out a CB300R. Think a MT-03 is a better option than the Duke390. I love my WeeBee300! Last Christmans/NewYears rode it down the CA coast all the way down Baja to Cabo and back, 3500miles, in 10days. It did fine. About a month ago rode up/down the North CA coast and coastal mountains over a long weekend, 1000miles. I have my WeeBee down to about 300# feels like nothing there compared to any of my previous "big" bikes. Good to see you are a responsible and respectful person, cleaning up a borrowed bike and not borrowing something if you can't buy/replace it. That is a reason why I don't ride other's bikes cause if I crash it I might not be able to replace it.
If NOT for the at least 30-40 mins (out of 1 hr) of highway ride during my daily commute, I would NOT have upgrade to my current 2017 Ninja 650 from Ninja 300. Even Ninja 300 had no problem in cruising up to 75-80 mph, but it lacked a passing power on a highway. That was basically only reason I upgraded my bike. Depending on your riding habits, I think 400 - 700 cc will be the most practical bikes for city & highway combined commuting or even some touring in my opinion. In most cases, my issue with the long hour touring has been the seat (butts hurting after an hour or so😞), but not the power of the bike.. 😊
Hi doodle, thanks for the video. I love the duke but can't flat foot it either. I have no problem riding it on my own but my concern is about taking a passenger, I feel like if I lean it the person in the back will fall off. Did you try riding with someone on board? Have any tips about that? Thanks
Are those stock exhaust? I did not think so. Try the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401/701? The 401 was $5000 but moved to $5300. Essentially same bike with different look. I just got that. It's very nimble and easy for a beginner biker.
To see other low cc bike reviews, see this playlist here: bit.ly/NLowCCReviews
Edit: Indian company just bought 48 percent of KTM
What would you like me to test ride for you next? Tell me below!
I love ktm motorcycle so bad. My wish on this coming christmas is to have one 😇 Duke 200 😍😍🔥 I'm hoping that you can grant my wish ♥️
I own the 2021 390 Duke and I can tell you your review is perfect.
its 373.2 cc displacement not 390 ;)
exhoust isnt stock
Let's all give a shout out to Mark for so generously loaning his bike to Doodle.
For real thoooo
@@DoodleOnAMotorcycle Mark is the best......
GOOD MAN 🍻
Hey, This is Deep from India, this bike is a hero in here and a household name now a days. We love Duke 390
I’m retired Met Police, London. Always one foot down! And, it’s always the left foot, so that the right can hold the bike on the brake. The idea is that 2 wheels and your left leg form a tripod, so is stable. Selecting gear requires a quick swap of feet - right foot down, left foot up to select gear and left foot back down, and then right foot back up to set off. It’s called the Hendon shuffle!
Police on bikes CAN RIDE!!!
Here, in the EU, we like our right foot down. If it slips it is less likely to fall head first on the opposing traffic lane. Hand on the brake, no shuffle needed!
I can see by which side of the road the traffic flows would affect your adopted style, definitely need to be safe. I actually make use of the brake feature on my lastest GSA. Makes life easier on hills 👍
I am short so one foot is all i can really do anyhow.
This is definitely the way in LHD countries. Robin has a good point about swapping foot down in RHD countries too, never thought of that.
I’ve had my 2019 KTM Duke 390 for a year and a half. I’ve put 4000 miles on mine. I ride it daily to commute to work. I do some cruises on Sunday. My buddies with Harleys and Sport bikes were skeptical about it but after a test ride, they love it. It’s a great bike to learn proper techniques like trail braking and shifting it and out of turns. It’s fun to pull wheelies on and eventually I’ll learn to drift this supermoto like thumper. I think it sounds like a dirt bike. ABS brakes have helped in wet conditions a few times and the interactive tft display paired with my phone and helmet Cardo system allows me to listen to Spotify and change tracks with handlebar controls, use GPS, and answer and make phone calls. I love this bike and will eventually get a 790 Duke but this 390 is a great tool to learn how to ride.
Why not go with the 890 duke r?
@@alex5761 The 890 is impossible to find by my dealership. They were gone. I’ll eventually get the 790 or 890 in the next few years. I’m still really enjoying my time on the 390.
@@jimmytorello7041 yup you’re right!! Same for me here in montreal, canada
@@jimmytorello7041 The 890 is great if you like missiles, but it's VERY uncomfortable…
How was the reliability
I have really enjoyed sharing your growth as a motorcyclist. I went through the process with my wife (and Joe Jackson was right, it is different for girls,) and I enjoy seeing more women pick up the sport. I think sometimes having a man involved in the process is not a positive, and I think you are a great resource for women looking to get into riding, for whom I imagine you are pretty inspirational. Keep up the good work. Cheers and thank you.
@@kevinwalsh9483 Doodle rules!!!!!!
Loving the Joe Jackson reference
@@kevinwalsh9483 ok, EVERYBODY rules
When my wife wanted to take her driving licence (with my enthusiastic blessing), which was around 1995, we barely could find gear for her. Only Hein Gericke had some jackets. Now, things have changed, fortunately !
I took my 2019 Duke to the track after putting on better tires, exhaust, power commander w/ quick shifter & what a blast! Great corner speed, not the muscle my Ducati Monster 1100s has on the track but I love the ride, great bike!
I have this bike and I love it. I'm a new rider did my homework on what I wanted in a bike. I'm so glad i got the 2020 Duke 390
Any breakdowns?
I just picked up a 390 ADV and love it. KTM is the largest selling bike brand in Europe, great choice and a fun ride!
Where did you hear that? This says Honda www.motorcyclesdata.com/2020/08/31/european-motorcycles-sales/
I´m from Argentina, and just got a Duke 250 last week (it´s basically the same bike with some cc less, and the old ktm dashboard). I fell in love with ktm dukes after trying a friends 390 of the older model a few years ago, the size, and weight/power ratio is so nice that they are some of the funniest bikes to ride on the city and some twisty roads. even the 250cc is really fun to ride everyday at legal speeds, here in Argentina more than 90% of bikes sold everyyear are less than 250cc, so we see the 390 as medium cc bike. also prices are a lot higher here. but i think that KTM dukes are bikes that makes you smile on every ride, and also look back at them after you park it since they have a really personal design.
Hi Doodle, i guess a lot of people will be testing the KTM Duke after watching this very impressive review of this 390cc single at a very competitive price which you rated highly.
KTM's have a lot of character and tend to grow on you. Once you get used to a KTM, other bikes can seem kind of dull. I have a KTM 1190 Adventure and just added cruise control to it, so now it's good for taking longer trips. I'm thinking of adding a smaller cc bike next spring for when I want a more sporty ride, so I'm planning to look at the KTM 890 Duke.
Sweet!!
I commute 60 miles a day when in the office in London on my 2020 (7500 miles 1 year in) and it never fails to make me smile. Best tool for the job, light, responsive and 78mpg, with two teeth less on rear sprocket and still fast enough for the motorway/traffic light grand-prix and London traffic.......I've been riding bikes since 1987, have bought, sold, swapped more than I care to remember from RD250LCs to VTR1000 Firestorms but this one is a keeper. My BMW F800 hates it as she ends up staying in the garage whilst I play out with the mistress. Same colours, mine has a top box and rack from Givi fitted, which is also excellent.
KTM 790 Duke’s are pretty heavily discounted at a lot of dealers lately.
They’re a little nicer, and can be picked up for around $7-8k new now. Quickshifter+ is available and highly recommend it. It will change your life...
I’m 6’3” and every bike I’ve owned is too tall for me to reach with both feet to the ground. Dirt bikes and ADV.
I’m always left foot down with right foot on brake to keep the tail light on. You’d be surprised how much that helps vehicles pulling up behind you at stoplights see you. Even during the day time. People focus on light sources.
:-D
I have had a 2018 Duke 390 for over two years. It's a superb bike. Mine also has a luggage rack just over the rear seat. I have a Givi 26-litre box attached. The bike has always started first time and doesn't use any oil between 5,000 km/3,000 mile services. It feels like a 500 performance-wise. My bike has had an air-box mod which gives it more low-down shove, allowing it to be geared-up a touch.
Good video.
I've had a hornet 919, a BMC Big Daddy full custom chopper, and multiple dirt bikes. Now I want a Duke 390 lol. It's not just "a beginner bike". It's a fun bike. Great video!
It IS!!
Doodle, when Hollywood discovers you, & makes you the biggest star ever from the Dominican Republic, please don’t forget us little people. The ones who loved & cherished you when you were riding in the ATL💯🏍🇺🇸👍🏽
🤪 never!!
wait what! i didn't know. bigger fan now :)
Yay!!! I'm 6'1 and 200 lbs, and I love this bike to the point where I still have no interest in buying a more powerful bike. It's light, incredibly comfortable to ride (unlike the earlier models), cheap to service and the mileage is insanely good.
Wow!!
Nice video Doodle, beautiful KTM and you're really wonderful!!!
YOU’RE wonderful!
@@DoodleOnAMotorcycle thank you very much, send you a big hug and take care please, up with all the good vibes!!!🍀🍀🍀✌😎🤟💐💐💐
Now, now, Doodle. No laughing at the sound of 4-stroke singles! That 390 has a very sweet exhaust!
🤪🤪
Duke 390 and Ninja 400 (at least w/ an elevated handle bar) are probably the two most popular choices for gymkhana right now, due to their nimbleness and great customization potential
Doodle, Nice review of the KTM DUKE 390. If you want one and can afford it I say go for it. Have a great Labour Day Weekend.
Right now you can get the 790 Duke for ~$2500 more. You get a lot for the $2500. Power is very tamable with 4 different ride modes, quickshifter (up and down), lean sensitive ABS, traction control, and anti-wheelie mode. The 390 is nice, if you can afford it the 790 has better power for passing at speed and is just as nimble. Also less likely to outgrow it. My .02. Great review!
I love the ktm duke 390. Get one. I thought about it but ended up getting the kawi ninja 400. It’s 2 days old I love it.
I just put down a deposit for the 390 Duke! I can’t wait to take my safety course and get started, thank you for the great video on it
Woohoo !!! 😁😁😁
Life is too short to only have 1 motorcycle!
Every Motorcycle rider should have a bike for the road and one for off-road.
I own a Yamaha XT 250 for trail riding and a Suzuki GSX-R750 to tear up the roads.
My buddy has a Yamaha Super Tenere, a Suzuki GSX-R600 and a Honda CFR 250L.
Go For it Girl, Enjoy motorcycles!
This brings up a point I wish was talked about more often: if you're a smaller/lighter person, get a smaller/lighter bike. If you weigh less, you can get moving with less power, and having a lighter bike is going to make a huge difference in your ability to handle the bike and really control it. If you're on a heavy bike that's hard to control, you won't have fun, and if you don't have fun, you won't keep riding. The gears are oddly short on the 390, though, you may want to try a Ninja 400 or Z400 as well.
Having had both the Duke 390 and the RC390 the gearing comes from the factory for “urban” use. The best improvement it to go up one tooth on the engine sprocket to a 16 tooth. It helps to spread out the transmission gearing, and slow the engine down at highway speeds, making it much more enjoyable to ride for any distance. 😉👍🏍
Mmm... if there’s anything I’ve learned from jiu jitsu, slow speed courses, and Jocelin snow, it’s not the weight it’s the skill. The littlest person can have the most control with the right technique
Doodle On A Motorcycle Just because something can be done doesn’t mean it’s the best approach. Do you commute in a Mack truck just because it technically can be done? MotoGP riders are all small, small people can certainly get there, I’m just saying master a small bike first instead of rushing to bigger bikes. All of the seasoned riders I know agree with that statement, many started on way too big/heavy/powerful bikes and ended up downgrading to get better, not sure why you’re giving pushback after just gushing about how much you like the Duke 390, which is a smaller, lighter bike.
Doodle On A Motorcycle This is definitely true, but I think it’s easier for most people to acquire those skills on a bike they feel comfortable riding.
If you are thinking of buying this motorcycle this young lady has described it perfectly. Every thing she says about it is correct. And I'm 6 feet Tall weigh 120 K and the power is awesome even at my weight. I have the 2021 model.
Neighbour picked one of these up near new for 4K AU. Seller got it for his wife and let it go with about 1000km. Neat little machine and it’s ridiculously nimble. It also keeps up with the bigger stuff quite well. But it’s definitely compact.
This bike is NOT only for beginner. It is more fun to ride fast in a slow bike than to ride slow in a fast bike. I have more fun in my R3 than my other powerful bike.
It's more appropriate for normal roads with speed limits and laws if you ride a fast bike fast you will either crash or loose your license. Neither is fun. I wouldn't even ride a sports bike on the road that's not what it's designed for gsxr600 R6 zxr-r cbr600 are the worst bikes for the road.
The only reason I got the 790 duke is because I wanted 2 cylinders (less vibrations). Otherwise I would get the 390. Light bikes are more fun. Anyway, also the 790 is pretty nimble and agile. You feel confortable at the first ride.
@@lucaforgia883 I have a f800gs not that different from the Duke engine wise it's happy to plod along at 60mph at 4krpm and return 80mpg. I bought it in 2014 and been working out ever since. My plan is to build muscle to make the 214kg more manageable
FOR REAL!!
Looks like a great commuting bike and probably good gas mileage, be safe and thanks for the video!
Yes, it gets about 70 mpg.
Grieg Ragen you can doubt and you’d be still be wrong.
M P ya I get 70 with mine
If you think duke 390 is nimble, try grom🤯
Saw ...2020 KTM Duke 125cc, 150cc, 200cc, 250cc, 390cc today at a Dealership.
Loved them all. The 200cc and under had 28" seats. I'm 5'7". I liked the smaller ones heightwise...
The 200cc is $4k new...
Keep the triumph all the bike you will ever need
What I love about it: upright riding position, Bluetooth connectivity with the TFT display, fuel efficiency, nimbleness, torque, mirrors do not vibrate at all (I like the stock look), very bright headlights, backlit controls, supermoto mode, and cheap parts! I also love that it looks like its bigger brothers.
What I don’t like: shifting every few seconds, barely highway speed capable (tops out around 90mph), tank capacity. It does have some cheaper components, but I can forgive that for the price point.
Omg topping out at 90mph does not make it “barely” highway speed capable, you little hooligan!! 😅
@@DoodleOnAMotorcycle Personally I don't like cruising near redline. Not that I need to, or want to, go faster than 90 mph, but it amounts to no ability to down shift, typically more vibration, and I believe shorter engine life if you are riding at redline all the time.
bruh ..it goes aroun 170 kmph or 105 mph , it does not top out at 90. and if you add powertoronic or just add a smaller sprocket you might get longer shifts and tops speed.
no one bike is perfect for everyone people just need to ride what they enjoy
Bajaj in India didn't buy KTM they own about 48% of the company which is why the smaller models are made in India to keep costs down. All of the larger bikes, 790/890/1290 ect.. are still made in Austria by KTM themselves. Thats why you can tell a bit of build quality difference between the 390 and its larger siblings.
Great video, Doodle! I never thought much about KTM, but this really looks like a good all around capable bike!
It was so much fun!!
Thanks so much for this review, I only saw one for the first time a couple of days ago in a triumph dealership. It was very nicely priced and I was thinking about purchasing it as a short ride commuter bike but didn’t know much about it.
Might get the Duke 390 as my first motorcycle, it looks stunning honestly.
also consider the kawasaki 400, its sitting position is not sporty at all.
Highly recommend the 390. It's what I started on. And it's an incredibly fun bike. Especially through twisties. A little buzzy on the highway and wouldn't recommend long highway runs just from a comfort standpoint. But it'll do it perfectly fine in that role of necessary.
Would've loved to keep it if I had room for two bikes but traded in for a bmw 750 gs because I wanted the highway comfort.
Highly recommend against the small KTM. The 390 is a flawed engine, either by design or manufacture, doesn't matter, the engines are lovely until they blow a gasket or chew themselves to pieces. And quite a lot of them do. They're ticking time bombs, in some cases, ticking literally. I would seriously steer you towards one of its Japanese competitors.
@@patw9175 the engine problems were fixed from 2018 and up. From everything I've seen
I made up my mind. This bike is gonna be my first bike. Buying tomorrow. Cheers!
Woohoo!!
For a single cylinder 300+cc its pretty badass, sounds good n makes a good amount of power. Would love to get one here in Jamaica
🇯🇲 Jamaica!!!!
I haaaveeee a duke 390 ...she's the best ever ...for adventure, for cruising ...for high way speeding ...wow she IS the BEST
I have a similar Indian-made single-cylinder Euro-brand bike that I use for shopping these days, since now I work from home. It's nimble AF. The build quality for the Indian bikes seems pretty good, gotta say.
How would these compare to Benellis? They're an Italian brand that got acquired by a Chinese conglomerate, the same thing that happened to KTM with an Indian group.
I love the look of the KTM Duke 390! I am a bit tall for for that sweet ride but it looks like a blast. Awesome review and thanks for sharing your experience!
At 3:20, you discuss the redline on the bike (in first gear), but your tach is only showing 7500....redline doesn't start until 10,000. You mention that the bike only has 700 miles on it. The break in period is for the first 640 miles. The tach will show red at anything above 6000 rpm, until the setting is changed after the first break-in.
This bike makes the most power at the higher revs, like 8-10k. Just wondering if maybe you were shifting early due to the screen screaming at you angrily above 6k.....? Just taking a guess! Acceleration is supposed to be like 0-60 in 5.5 seconds. I think its a great bike! Thanks for the video!
my adventure 390 is the same way. redline under 500 miles is something like 6500rpm
I live in Spain and the Dukes are very popular here. Nice used ones can be had for around 4000€. They wreak havoc in the twistes, regularly passing bikes with over twice the displacement.
"Better to ride a slow bike fast than to ride a fast bike slow"
Truth!
Never understood this saying. I personally like riding a fast bike fast!
@@walrus-splice-renewable many of us likes riding fast bikes but there's also a large number of riders who will never reach the potential of bikes such as a R1 or even 600cc class bikes. Track days are expensive and there is no way you could ride fast on city roads
MinimalistInDisguise I fully understand it and it’s an expression I use. I like to push the envelope of a bike, to ride it “balls out” few people are actually capable of doing that with litre plus bikes, certainly not me.
I think the opposite. I usually keep my rpm 2.5-4 k RPM. I know the power is there if I need it. I drive a Ducati 1200 Multistrada.
My son has Svartpilen 401, my son's girlfriend has a Duke 390, my partner has a bmw G310R and I have a vitpilen 401. I have been riding for 40 years !
I can say for an absolute fact :
1. The KTM 373cc and BMW 313cc motors are awesome.
2. Small punchy singles are wicked in traffic and on back roads.
3. Insurance, Registration, Tyres, Service Items and Fuel are all very Cheap.
4. The 390 and its Husqvarna cousins will stand up on the back wheel on command......
5. My Vitpilen will do 160 kmph - just - with a proper 6 foot bloke on board.
Great fun... mind you we are in New Zealand so almost all roads are narrow and twisty..... and lane splitting is LEGAL.
I will post a video one day showing how motorcyclist tackle motorway traffic - It is interesting....
Yes send it to me when you do!
@@DoodleOnAMotorcycle th-cam.com/video/2OAm-exRb8c/w-d-xo.html. I took this 2 days before Xmas - these are two suburban roads in wellington - we have green space everywhere here !
@@madpete6438 I always thought lane splitting is illegal here in NZ? I've got a Duke 200 and looking to upgrade to a Duke 390, is it worth it?
@@lucasgray3945 YES. The 200 is too under powered.
If the Traffic is stationary you can move to the front.
i live in italy. splitting is illegal but nobody cares xD
I considered the KTM 390 when I was bike shopping but ended up going with the BMW G310R. Its great for riding the twisty roads in the Appalachian foothills near my home.
The longest trip I have done was 250 miles in a day and the bike was extremely comfortable with minimal road fatigue
Wow!
Whoops I made a typo on the mileage. It was 250 miles.
Those are awesome bikes. Light, nimble, and torqued just enough. A real blast to ride.
For real!
Doodles is the GOAT 🐐! And the exhaust sounds bad ass , poor man GSXer
My God! You are GORGEOUS!!!
You give great advice from a female bikers point of view!!
Greatly appreciate your honesty on everything!! You should be a great inspiration for any women thinking about getting into any level of motorcycle riding!!
Keep up the great work and all the great information!!
Stay beautiful!!!
Your review is on point and that’s what we like! The triple must give you the awesome roll on power thrills and the duke is like nimbler in its way.🌟
I just bought the 2014 Kym Duke second hand and I love it. Pick it up on Tuesday 😊. Also in Australia 😁. Great review
Enjoyed your review. As to power, better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it. Stay safe and enjoy riding!
I have a 2018 390 duke n love it .. I ride it more then my Triumph tiger 800 .. I went up to a 16 tooth front sprocket n the bike handles highway much better ...
Excellent!!! I'm so glad You had a chance to check this one out!!! I've been looking at the 390 and 790 too. Only WISHING the 790 was priced like the 390 was!!! Lol. But where I'd ride it,I'd need the 790. Anyway,Great video Doodle!!! As always,looking forward to the next one!!! :-)
Thumpers are known for being torquey down low. OMG I'm loving the slow mo mounting, the Doodlebun is all bouncey lol.
🤪🤪 I accidentally had the setting on while recording and after like 4 hours of speeding up B roll I just said eff it
RC and Duke 390 always get good reviews.
height is not the issue it comes with the adjustable rear shock and the tools for it
It's called the 390 but it actually has 370 cc's! It's a great bike, I have the 2017 version
I passed my M on a rented Ktm 390 best decision I made. I like the slim profile between my legs.
So great that American dashboards indicate whether you go South, North, East or West.
Just like some other things I bought over the past several years, it’s all fun until the maintenance and mechanical issues start popping up. Lack of reliability compared to others kills the fun factor, IMO. unless I can afford to own/operate/maintain more than one bike (while this duke is sidelined for repair), I’ll stick with Yamaha or Kawi. Even Suzuki, Honda
About track days, it really depends on the track. I did some hours on shorter tracks with tighter turns, the 390 kills big bikes there 🎉 The nickname ‘corner rocket’ is absolutely spot on 😊
I'm impressed, you sending a loaner back all clean and lubed. That's cool, I think i'd loan you my BMW R1150GS! You are 1ST CLASS,
Momma didn’t raise no fool!
Check out the 2020 Kawasaki Ninja 650. It has a low seat height, TRT display and costs $7,500 new. Only 2 calendars but rides smooth and has a high redline. Also sits upright for long cruses.
Nice review. I would like to know what that orange cable you removed from your handle bars is for?
Nice review ! Seems like cool bike for the money for sure ! Glad you enjoyed it !
I have this bike in the Philippines and I don’t regret of getting it. I also own an Aprilia rsv4 here in southern Cali.
Great little bike I agree. One of mine is even smaller/lighter, Honda Monkey 125 :-) though no where near as powerful as the Duke 390.
Just a small correction the Indian based motorcycle manufacturing company Bajaj Auto owns 48% of KTM stock, so it's more of a cooperation that take over.
That being said Bajaj Auto is one of the largest producer of motorcycles in the world, approx 6.3 million units in 2019.
Great review of the Duke 390, keep up the excellent vlogs, stay and ride safe always.
My 2019 version is tops - I am 6'2" and it is tiny, but it flies...! All done at 85mph, though...
Whoa!! 🤪
I've gotten my 18 390 up to 99MPH. Ive owned it for 5 months before selling to buy a fz 09. I kinda regret. It's an absolute fun and extremely well handling and nimble bike. It carves corners with ease and extremely flickable
I habe the rc390 and love it. Its a little compact but an amazing little bike in the turns
I have never ridden one, but I always thought a 390 would make a great starter / commuter / college bike. Thanks for the review.
Agreed!!
@@DoodleOnAMotorcycle can you find out what exhaust your friend has on this 390? Thanks!
I have a 2016 390 duke been riding 50 years and I must say I love this bike I bought it second hand as new 900 miles on the clock by the way ktm only get the 390 made in India they were not bought out.
Actually, BAJAJ ( the indian manufacturer) bought around 50% of KTM between 2007 and 2012 , and since then, they where partners on the smaller KTMs and husvarna models (200s/250s and 390s ) and bajaj manufactures all them, and also use a lot of their engine technology on their own models (Bajaj Pulsar NS200 and RS200 are based on the duke 200, and the Bajaj dominar is based on the duke 390 motor)
@@Javiercav maybe so but they don't own ktm.
@@keithdainton6043 no, they don´t own ktm, their are more like a "group" that owns the 3 brands "bajaj ,ktm and husqvarna" for different segments.
Thanks for the deets, Javier!
@@Javiercav 48 % but who's counting lol.
Yes...this bike is emotions for Indian riders... We love this bike so much that..we hve a dream to have this bike....n ur contents...is superb
LOL that’s awesome!!
They make them cheap due to the materials so be on the lookout for failures and take the extended service plan if you plan on keeping for years. There is nothing wrong with that but if it is a toy (mc, atv, boat, etc), you get what you pay for. For tight, curvy mtn roads, a smaller displacement bike is FAR better to ride and more fun.
😮
Wow Mark has a lot in common with me... riding a nice bike and having a sweet Westie dog🥰
According to my local dealer, the smaller sport bike like this are the hottest sellers for the younger riders. Whether it is because they are cheap to buy, cheap to ride, and they look good, who knows. I would recommend to everyone to test ride some of the naked bikes from BMW. I think you will be surprised. And because of the boxer twin motor carrying the weight really low, steering is light as a feather..
Indian company (Bajaj) didn't buy out KTM, they have shares in KTM. Bajaj has 48% share but they haven't bought KTM.
KTM is making Duke and RC 125, 200, 250 and 390 in India.
Next year KTM is coming out with Duke and RC 490 (twin cylinder), it will be made in India too.
The 310 BMW GS is also made in India. It has a great price and is a great bike.
Hmm
Are you familiar with the “N+1 Rule”? The N represents the number of motorcycles in your garage, and the +1 is the bike you would love to have in your garage. There’s always room for one more. 😁 Thanks for the video.
Nice upload Miss Doodle. I'm interested to know the accessory of that motorcycle. It is located on top of the passenger's seat, not way behind the bike.
I think it’s KTM’s own tail bag mount!
I have a 2019, it’s amazing. The reason you can lean so much is the front and back tire are the same circumference
Ooooooh wow!!
Add 2 teeth to the rear sprocket and dunlop q3+ one size up and you will be pleasantly surprised😮 smoother ride and cornersike it on rail,s and it already fantastic at cornering
Oooooh!
Hey! Nice video! 👍 I happen to bump into ur video by chance coz I too ride a first generation Duke 390 and love watching stuff about it online.
I would like to point out a couple of things that I noticed that you might want to correct:
1. The engine displacement is 373.2cc and not 390cc (here in India we like to pass it off as a 375 😋)
2. The exhaust on the one you were riding is an aftermarket exhaust, the stock exhaust doesn't sound anything like that.
Best wishes. Cheers!
Thanks!
Everyone has a different angle what is best or most desirable for them. Its the reason I own far more than one bike. All mine don't even equal the bill on the newer KTM's, but I'm partial to the Classics myself. Hope you manage to find a 390 that suits you. Very best wishes Doodle.
I love the style of the KTM especially the design of the headlight. The headlight look like a shield lol.
I know, right!! 😅 love the look
New subscriber here. And soon to be new rider. While I'm seriously considering the Versys X 300 as my first bike, the Duke 390 is definitely on my radar. Good review. Going to check out more of your videos.
Woohoo!! 😁
I have a 390 Duke and can say they sound better with the stock exhaust. Aftermarket mufflers make them sound like a dirt bike. A single will always sound like a single though.
I'm Austrian born (US citizen now) and whimpered a silent tear when I heard India bought KTM - so glad of the correction! Austria is beautiful but small and with few industry boasts to claim, I want to cling onto KTM !!! (yea we can Ski, LOL)
LOL aww! Well my mistake it was they just bought part of shares - I think less than half
Yup and that company was BAJAJ! They even introduced 125 CC segment too Lol
Great video loaded with useful information you definitely earned my sub. Keep up the good work :)
If you think the Duke390 is light try out a CB300R. Think a MT-03 is a better option than the Duke390. I love my WeeBee300! Last Christmans/NewYears rode it down the CA coast all the way down Baja to Cabo and back, 3500miles, in 10days. It did fine. About a month ago rode up/down the North CA coast and coastal mountains over a long weekend, 1000miles. I have my WeeBee down to about 300# feels like nothing there compared to any of my previous "big" bikes.
Good to see you are a responsible and respectful person, cleaning up a borrowed bike and not borrowing something if you can't buy/replace it. That is a reason why I don't ride other's bikes cause if I crash it I might not be able to replace it.
It’s a good rule! Once I replaced a friends vintage pot I bought with a slightly different pattern.... it was not good enough in her opinion 😬
If NOT for the at least 30-40 mins (out of 1 hr) of highway ride during my daily commute, I would NOT have upgrade to my current 2017 Ninja 650 from Ninja 300. Even Ninja 300 had no problem in cruising up to 75-80 mph, but it lacked a passing power on a highway. That was basically only reason I upgraded my bike. Depending on your riding habits, I think 400 - 700 cc will be the most practical bikes for city & highway combined commuting or even some touring in my opinion. In most cases, my issue with the long hour touring has been the seat (butts hurting after an hour or so😞), but not the power of the bike.. 😊
Hi, great video. I have RC 390 so I can relate to what you were saying. What brand is the rear rack for the top box do you have?
I think it’s KTM!
1000 miles in 2 weeks thats some serious rideing .. kewl vid.. cheers...
No 300!! 🤪 i hit a little over 1000 and got it at 700
@@DoodleOnAMotorcycle oh ok..opps..lol
Hi doodle, thanks for the video. I love the duke but can't flat foot it either. I have no problem riding it on my own but my concern is about taking a passenger, I feel like if I lean it the person in the back will fall off. Did you try riding with someone on board? Have any tips about that?
Thanks
Confused between this and the CB300R
Are those stock exhaust? I did not think so. Try the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401/701? The 401 was $5000 but moved to $5300. Essentially same bike with different look. I just got that. It's very nimble and easy for a beginner biker.