A bike that will be in the history book for being the best in class. Amazing what KTM has been doing for the 390 Duke. Still my favourite bike in the world.
@@kalnwi2023 as a Z 400 owner, I was looking at these bikes. I bought mine salvaged for 3000 with less than 5000 miles. Still reliable as ever. I think I’ll hang on to my little Z 400
@@Voltomess i havent tried the other 2 bikes you've mentioned, but as Mark said the Duke is definitely a fun bike. Mine's been reliable as well, been my daily ride to work since last year 😁
Excellent review of easily the best bike in its class. I rate mine as the best sub-500 cc bike I have owned, and I used to have an XT500E 499 cc]. Mine doesn't use a drop of oil between 5,000 km oil changes, but I conduct regular checks as a YT friend's burned oil, although he uses a 10w40 oil. 15w50 is recommended and is what I use. Fully synthetic, of course. When I had it recently serviced at 20,000 km [the valves hadn't been done at 15,000 km as per the handbook] the excellent mechanic conducted a compression test and announced it wasn't worth doing a shim, adding that a friend of his races an RC390 and didn't need a shim until 40,000 km. People do them too early, he said. Wait until you can use a bigger shim. Mine has an Indian-made reverse rack which hovers over the rear seat, attached to which I have a Givi 26-litre top case, just wide and tall enough to take my Roof Boxer V8. It even looks okay, especially from the back. If you are happy with the gearing, leave it as it is, but I do recommend a K&N air filter with six holes drilled in the airbox cover.
Great review Mark. That’s such a fun little bike, my friend had one and it was a good laugh. Obviously not the fastest in the world but it goes well for a single cylinder. 👍🏻
I have the exact same bike, same year, same colour. I still have the stock exhaust but with the baffle core drilled out and it sounds pretty good. Reliability has been fantastic although it only has just over 5,000km on the clock. I bought it a little over a year ago, 2 years old, 1,200km on the clock and got an amazing deal on it. I love this little bike. I have my full licence now so I am window shopping for a bigger bike. The logical option is to get a Duke 790 but when I ride my 390, I feel like I don't even need a bigger bike. It's fantastic.
Had mine just over a year now as a commuter companion to my F800GT. Just over 7000 miles last year - love it, been super reliable and good fun for a 60 mile commute each day on my weeks in the office. Mine does 78mpg, with -2 teeth on the rea sprocket, downside is it struggles to get to 90+ mph. Ride it more than the Beemer to be honest. Short service intervals are the only negative but the rest is superb.
Great review, makes me confident in buying one, looked at this exact model today here in Australia. If all goes well I'll be on it in the next few days.. Cheers.
Strange how we became familiar with contemporary design, this looks quite attractive as well as good fun. Had it been around when I first started we would have hoped the rider was was ok after the incident which caused the loss of 90% of the front end. Great review 👍 as always, thank you 😊
The power to weight ratio really makes this an engaging, fun bike to ride/own. It's a focused bike, for road use, stiff suspension which didn't suit me when I took it into the rough, and is why I sold it and opted for an MT07. I actually regret selling it. I think I was too precious with it, being brand new and all.
Hi Mark, I was really impressed with this little guy. I've never owned a KTM & you don't see many here in the State's. It sounded great. It appear's that the engine is rock solid. You really can have more fun on smaller bike's. Have a great day!! Illinois, USA
I bought my 2020 390 Duke new in 2020 and have never regretted it. I agree 100% with everything you said in your review. Here's what i did to mine that turned it into a different bike; I installed the Coober ECU, the derestricted air box cover, and de-cat pipe. It still has all of the characteristics in your review but fuel delivery is precise at all RPM's (even at an idle in 1st with your hand off the throttle). The exhaust picks up a different note running the stock slip-on and sounds amazing. I think this set-up bumped up the redline by about 1.8k. It's so ridiculously fun to drive that I giggle every time I get on it.
@@markpulling12 Build quality is average. Check out the looms and connectors. Yikes! And that compression ratio! 12.6:1 ??? That is 1,000cc sportbike territory and they all need 98 RON fuel in my experience. Even 95 RON is too low. I hear a LOT of KTM dealers are delivering these in Australia with 91 RON. Naughty dealers. Goodbye engine! I bought a 2022 version and it's heavy at 166kg kerb weight. It gets me around but you need at least 7,000 RPM or it won't do any inclines at all. I can't wait to ditch mine. Never ridden in the wet.
Nice review & a great bike. I really like this & the Husky Vitpilen 401. There's something to be said for riding a fun well spec'd small bike to it's full potential as opposed to using a fraction of a big bike's performance for most of the time.
couldn’t agree more, i just sold a 98 Superhawk and bought one of these and i have miles more fun on this little thing than i ever did on my litre bike
Was pleasantly surprised to see you reviewing this bike today as I've owned one since this model came out in 2017. Only difference is I have the orange one. I only bought it to see how I got on with naked bike with the intention of moving to a bigger naked if I did. Nearly 5 years later I still have it and its still a hoot to ride. Its a perfect second bike to my z1000sx. I've changed the seats to the slightly more comfortable ergo ones. I've also fitted a black widow end can which has a deeper sound than the standard one and of course a tail tidy which the bike badly needed. I've only covered about 4000miles but every time I ride it I ride with a big smile. 100% best bike in its class. No bike is perfect and here are a few negatives. Its a naked bike so not good on motorways unless you ride slow because of the wind blast. I fitted a power parts screen which makes little difference. If left for too long now it struggles to start and all sorts of errors come up on the TFT. Also I don't have a garage and my bikes live under sheets outside so after 5 years corrosion is starting to appear in several places on the bike. This is the main reason i'll probably sell my 390 this year. I would recomend a duke 390 to anyone thinking about buying one though. Its a shame you didn't get hold of a 2021 spec bikes as its more than just a colour change. The engine was updated slightly and it now comes with an up and down quick shifter which I think is something that would make a difference on these little bikes. Thinking of replacing with a Triumph Trident or even Street Triple. What do you think good upgrades? Are either of these bikes as much fun?
Hi Paul great comment thanks I'd say the trident 🔱 is about the same fun as the 390 ,tbh I wasn't that blown away when I rode it ...but if you could stretch to the street triple 765 rs .. that is supposed to be amazing :) Cheers mark
@@markpulling12 Thanks Mark I've been wondering that about that with the trident and would have loved to see a back to back with the 390 Duke but as they're not meant to be in the same category no one compares them. Looks like a street then but is the RS worth the extra over the R?
Well Sir, I plumped for a 390 Duke as a second bike for commuting, bought online from Poole Moto on your recommendation. Mentioned that you had good things to say about the bike and them and they were complimentary of you. Cut a fair deal on a second hand one. Can't wait for it to be delivered! Keep up the good work.
I would highly recommend locktighting the two bolts that hold the kickstand on. I have lost one of the bolts twice. The last time I glued it on and I think it's going to stay on this time.
nice vid again thank you..i have a 2018 "from new" love it,,fitted booster plug and it works well makes the motor very smooth at lower revs, then i fitted DNA air filter ,it really lets it breathe and revs even more freely..very easy to change oil and filters, don't forget the drain plug at the front of the motor as the gauze behind it get just as dirty as the main filter..
@@markpulling12 yes about 6 per cent more than nothing but only under 3,000 revs cos it fools the ECU into give 6 pc choke but you never get choke over 3,00 revs no matter how cold the motor is.
Great review Mark, although these reviews are bad for me because now I want one of these. Couldn't work out whether it has a gear indicator but even so, a very striking looking bike.
I've been waiting for this review man.. its an absolute monster of a bike in India. It's like a superbike for me cuz i ride just a 200 cc bike and wanna upgrade to this in the distant future.
I always hear people say this is the Ultimate beginner bike. The upright commanding seating position gives great leverage, control and confidence for someone who's not used to motorcycles yet. Looks cool to, with the exception of the headlights. I never liked KTM's buggy headlights💖💖👏🏼👏🏼
Finally a review on the duke 390 been waiting for this one I think this will be my next bike upgrade from tnt 125 good value for money with a lot of power for A2 license. Great review Mark as usual keep it up mate
Had a few bikes triumph Rockets, Duc Diavel Carbon etc so this little bike has a lot to live up to lol! Wanted a smaller bike to go in back of the campervan so it’s between this and a Honda CB500f which is a grand dearer. Any advice?
@@markpulling12 Thanks for your quick replies! Never had a KTM this one’s only got 1.5k miles looks brand new so will give it a try! Just been watching the Diavel V4 review you’ve done. Keep up the great work - very informative Mark! 😀
It has a lot of features for an entry level bike, but where I live these cost as much as an sv650, so its hard to get excited about them. Nice review though!
If you only have an A2 license I‘d still recommend the 390. It is a complete package with a lot of effort put into the small details and good suspension. The only nice thing about the SV 650 is the engine, the rest is quite outdated and cheaply made.
I have a 2017 from new and it’s a amazing….. just wish I knew why the coolant keeps needing to be topped up (every 100 miles)… it’s getting into the oil. Water pump seal service made no difference. May be do a cylinder gasket change when I find time but it’s still so good to ride (done about 6000m). Everything else about the little Duke has been great.
This one is a bike truly for fun. It gives me the feel of direct connection to this machine, especially through the huge vibration of the handle bar.😂😂😂
I had an accident many years ago and it caused me to stop riding. The left foot and ankle don't work like they used to. By chance, I ended up with a 150CC scooter a couple of years ago. It's rekindled my desire to ride. I am off to a basic motorcycle course later this month to see if I can still do it. Then, once I am back in the saddle, I'll be looking to buy one of these. :)
Two personal preferences for me and not flaws or issues with the bike itself is I prefer the rear subframe in black. And the stock exhaust is too quiet but instead of spending extra unnecessary monies on a slip on it entire exhaust a hole saw will remove the db killer rather handily and it sounds so much better. But spend away if you like. I don’t mind the stock can it is small enough
Hi Mark, I'm actually thinking of this over the honda and Zontes 300/350 you review. I love the zontes, not convinced by parts availability. KTM Duke just so many parts. The honda is a bit beyond my price point for my first bike. Your reviews are brilliant!!!
I'm not convinced by it's looks but it's definitely grown on me. It's my leading contender based on price point vs availability of spare parts, affordability and reviews overall for my first bike. For a newbee Mark, aged 40+ so want to go to 250+cc bike, what's your top 3-5 newbee Nike's and why, video on it? We all love a list. I love the zontes GK looks but just not convinced on longer term and availability of spare parts. Only 7 for sale in whole UK.
@@jamesoreilly9223 hi James ...here is a list for you of newbie bikes ....I'm not including sports ....cb500f benchmark reliable and lots available second hand ,z400; Kawasaki great fun sloping seat tho,mt03 reliable and fun ,KTM 390;Duke my favourite,cb300 maybe a bit small ...also adv bikes like benelli trk 502 ? .. personally as a first bike I'd recommend the honda CB,500f they are brilliant all round and never go wrong Hope this helps cheers mark
@@jamesoreilly9223 If you don‘t like the looks of the Duke you should consider the Svartpilen 401. It‘s basically the same bike, same frame, suspension, engine. It just has a different style which I really love. I had a 2019 401 and loved it. It‘s more special and at least where I live, even cheaper on the used market than the 390.
I have had 2 of these. Got rid of both within 2 thousand miles. Both had serious issues. TFT steaming up and locking up. Cutting out/stalling all the time, clutch failed on one at 500 miles, oil pressure warning light stuck on etc, etc, and the dealer support and service is very poor down here in Devon.
Looks like a fun little bike. But if I got one, I would have to get it repainted. That orange just hurts my eyes and I don't need a big DUKE painted on the tank. Or I could just pick up a twin cylinder 2021 Z400 in Pearl Nightshade Teal, and for $700 less too. But in the end, I suspect that the KTM is more fun to ride and without a doubt, I love that TFT display. If only Kawasaki would take the TFT from the Z650 and put it on the Z400.
@@markpulling12 Husqvarna have the Vit and Svart 401, same motor, they are also very smart looking, have a look at them for a review if you ever get time I’m sure KTM/Husky be more then happy to let you ride one
An excellent and thorough review Mark. I'm thinking of downsizing. One thing though you usually provide the dealer location usually in Bournemouth, Poole or Soton. Did you get a test ride from a local dealer?
A really nice bike, but the ongoing TFT issues with the 390 models, the 790/890 models and KTM's response to it really puts me off ever owning one. All is fine when the bike is under warranty, but the fact that no changes have been made by KTM to fix the issues will mean big expensive problems when out of warranty!
Yep There are plenty of people waiting for ktm to get there sh!t together with quality control. Ktm knew about the clutch slave failure issues for 4 years before doing something about it. (690)
Am def interested in the KTM 390adv. Any plans to review the 2022 vers? P.s Speaking to my garage re the Zontes GK 350. They not heard anything re when available. Its not as punchy as perhaps this n also from what have heard this sounds better. Think am down to Zontes GK, KTM 390 adv or the Enfield interceptor. Subject to change😂
Whats better mark,,the duke or honda cb500 f,thanks,im looking as some looking for fun coming from a kawasaki er5,after something abit newer and a,b,s,cheers,,great review as per normal👍
Hi the duke is a bit more fun ...but the Honda is the much better all rounder and more reliable and comfortable tricky choice try and ride both if you can:)
Hi virtually nothing...much the same ..all have the same engine..just get the nicest used version you can find ...they are brilliant little bikes Cheers mark
Not sure how you can assume a Euro 4 bike will be the same as a Euro5 , the 2015 duke rode like a bag of poop when it came to a jerky throttle and engine hunting.
Whats it like on UK uneven roads. Does the suspension rattle your teeth out please. Im thinking about one of these or the BMW 310 as a commuter along country lanes.
You can get 65/70 mph UK from them with normal riding but the thing is they love to be revved and ridden hard so you'll probably get less !! :) Cheers mark
Yes Yamaha's are a bit more reliable than ktms ....you can get the occasional little problem with ktms nothing major ...it wouldn't stop me buying one ....I found the duke to be a bit more fun than the mt03 Cheers mark
A Kawasaki z400 would be a great bike as well. you wold have to get one 2nd hand now as Kawasaki did not make a euro 5 version. Mark does a video on this as well.
This KTM 390 is great, I'd also recommend taking a look at the Honda 500 range which they've updated for this year with nice improvements. CB500F/R/X variants.
Thanks for your feedback. I really appreciate it. I may have found the problem. I have a 2019, and I may need to replace the battery. The KTM service tech suggested that this may help as the battery typically lasts 2-4 years. Hopefully this will resolve my issue.
Did you know that KTM’s designers were all abducted by aliens who went on to show them what planet Xnzogg motorcycles look like. When they returned them back these guys got designing the latest KTMs from what they’d seen😆😆
Had one in 2018 always felt like it would break useless on motorway brake would sqeel tightening crash bar on frame caused a crack To underpowered and badly built replaced with nc750x much better and more economical and faster and people call that a boring bike
