KTM 390 Duke 2017 Colours, Price, Mileage, And Reviews

KTM 390 Duke 2017 Colours, Price, Mileage, And Reviews

In terms of roadster fun, the Duke 390 is a bit like the 357 Magnum category: a "ball" would say the "djeuns", whose weight/power ratio is most advantageous. A bike with the plastic dream, reviewed this year and become directly accessible to holders of the A2 license, without losing its pure juice. Need a vitamin C cure? Read this essay quickly!




In 2017, the KTM Duke 390 adopts the euro4 standard and evolves intelligently without cutting corners: a very efficient mono in a featherweight chassis. All just remembered our excellent memories in test ...






Life often teaches us that we must not trust appearances. The bike too. We already know that small cylinders are regularly able to put a pill too big ones. And would the Duke 390 be able to do the same? On the roof of the old Fiat factory in Turin, we are jumping from the saddle of the Duke 125 to that of the 390. It is pouring rain, and we turn the throttle to throw ourselves on the oval of the circuit offered to us. Curious? Not as much as the reaction that follows ...

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The Duke 390 leaped in a hoarse roar. The thunder that resonates? No, the engine! Through an exhaust, however, similar to that of the 125, it gives the voice, a sign of a higher engine capacity. While 48 km / h is displayed on the meter, the shift light has been flashing for a while. The engine ruptures to the bottom of 1st. Clack. The second pass easily, while we attack the banking, this famous type of turned bend. The sky is illuminating. Flash. A lightning? No, a photographer ... Some suspension bounces later - the bend in question is paved and smashed - the movement is well cashed. Nearly 80 km / h are displayed at a depth of 2. It is now necessary to take the brakes on the wet track. Quick. The bike stays online. Stronger. The ABS still does not trip. A few meters from the turning point, the lever comes almost to a stop. The Metzeler Sportec M5 does not pick up, while the anti-lock is barely felt and continues to optimize the stopping distance. The radial caliper does not let go of the case and masters its subject. Sporty, perfectly calibrated, the ABS officiates brilliantly on the wet ground. Releasing the brakes, the bike turns naturally, all its lightness and ease.



Orange alert!
After a few laps, we take shelter in the ramp to the roof. Spiraling, it offers tight turns and dry. We take part of the shots. The balance of the Duke 390 is even better when you play with the weight of your body. It is placed to the nearest centimeter. The knee comes out quickly inside the bend. The 149 kilos dry settle without effort. They are obvious, just placed on the ground on gums behavior once again impeccable. The 150/60 rear tire offers ease of cornering, control, and comfort, as well as stability. The 110/70 front offers precision, progressive commitment, and serene guidance. We control perfectly.




A euro4 engine in shape
Once again, the motor health surprises. While the sound of the most sporty and powerful resonates in the building, we take advantage of the moment. Departures are lively, immediate reminders. At least when the report is well chosen. The injection makes it easy to maintain a steady state and does not pose any problem once the "nerve range" (2,500 / 4,000 rpm) is exceeded. The comfort zone then starts. At least on the first three reports. We only use two here. The accelerator type Ride By Wire (electronic, without cable, so), novelty 2017 on the Duke 390, offers on its side a precise gas management. Just notice the engine stay a few moments in the towers after cutting. What makes the change of gear more pleasant, a bit like an RPM Assist Suzuki.




All in muscles
The rain has gone! By taking the route leading into the surrounding mountains, we take full advantage of the qualities of the cycling part of the Duke 390 2017. Its sports tires are going to delight. On the attack on dry and dry roads, the socks of the archduchess rally to the snow-capped summits with haste. The bitumen rippling under the Metzeler Sportec M5 would be a nightmare on most current roadsters. Not with the Duke 390! If the rigor of winter is no doubt, that suspensions of the KTM either! Particularly criticized in our Maxitest (read reviews on the 390 Duke here), depreciation has progressed well. The new elements officiate brilliantly to erase potholes, various holes, and reliefs of all kinds. Just manage to make the rear of the motorcycle do deliver. Conditions? Downhill, in a sharp bend, at full load, and on the corner ... all in a succession of vacant bumps. The Duke 390, however, has lost nothing in guiding precision and has self-stabilized. A treat that keeps even beginners safe from inappropriate reactions.




Sport at the end of the handle
So we push a little further, a little stronger. Always with ease. We appreciate the clutch-assisted most effective. This "anti-dribble" appears very pleasant when releasing the left lever. This even on a 373.2 cc engine, for which the engine brake seems more than reasonable. We gain in efficiency what some will lose in fun. A more appreciable, therefore, just like braking. ABS is disconnectable from the instrumentation. However, we prefer to opt for the Supermotard mode. There, it is disabled only at the back and allows some fantasies. We immediately realize the high efficiency of the floating stirrup. After twisting turns, crossing beautiful mountain villages, it's time to go home. Turin direction, about forty kilometers.



A small even for the big ones
In the city, the driving position lends itself perfectly to slow-moving handling. As much as it was ready for the attack a little higher. We will describe the posture as "picked up", as the Duke 390 is compact and narrow. However, she is welcoming. The legs easily tighten the metal tank of 13.4 liters with well-thought ergonomics. The knees of the older children will not return to the cashing provided for this purpose. Those of a 1.80m conductor are positioned just below the lower edge of the tank. The footrests are remote and high, sporty way while leaving some comfort to the legs. Thank you saddle 830 mm high!



Legs folded, diving, arms adopt the same inclination as the thighs, and join the handlebars. Of variable section, it is very pleasant to take in hand and valuing. Slightly tilted on the front, we hold the tank taking advantage of the ample saddle driver. Flat, it is more comfortable than it looks and is even within reach of short legs. No more than 1.65 m at the board is enough to put the toes on the ground. The city of Duke? Comfortable!

The multiple pleasure of mono
And always this pleasure for the passenger. What would be a motor so alive without vibrations, even discrete? On the handlebar of the 2017 novelty, we saw intense mechanical sensations, the rhythm of the blasts of the exhaust and engine breathing. Down in the towers, the mono side is present. The close heartbeats and the relative flexibility testify to it. Evolve in town is mainly on the first three reports, and energetically, the fourth is comfortable recovering from 60 km / h. However, the couple is already very present, even if it reaches its maximum value at 7,000 rpm. We once again enjoy playing the softbox and locking pleasantly, while hearing the noisy fan of the liquid cooling to start regularly. A Duke 390, it heats. And it makes you want.





Blindly ? and muted - very clever who could say to be on a motorcycle driven by a single cylinder and assess the engine capacity. When you move on the handlebars of the Duke 390, the landmarks are disrupted. In the towers, taken at high-speed V, we find in this engine a bit of twin ... V also. Sound level and stroke of the piston, but also on the side of the flights and the engine extension. An engine in staircase then, with three sensitive levels, accompanied each one of a clear thrust and a change of sonority. The Duke goes up so fast at 10,000 rpm that it seems to be running out. However, it runs out of steam just before the break, which is 1,000 rpm higher.

Half a day on the handlebars of the Duke 390 and we are under the spell of a bike as simple and exciting to drive as it can be rewarding. If its new generation fork is not adjustable, the quality of depreciation is the rendezvous whatever the conditions. The top-of-the-range equipment of the Duke 390, backed up by state-of-the-art electronics, quickly makes you forget which engine and engine architecture you are on.




Appraisal: The A2 uninhibited
Of course, the Duke 390 cannot claim the same flexibility of use as the bi or four-cylinder A2 that it confronts. Similarly, a finishing detail of the pot can be annoying, as the absence of passenger handles or even real practicalities. It opposes, however, a unique character, many sensations, equivalent performance, not to mention a behavior worthy of the nobility of his name and equipment. Best of all, the Austrian 390 encourages cheerful driving and does not forget a certain luxury.

The Power Parts catalog of the brand is in charge of allowing you to make it to your envy, more urban or sportier. KTM also implements a "connected" option: the KTM My Ride. What to connect your phone to the beautiful digital instrumentation and the simple pilot ... The Austrians have thought of everything, all uses and especially, they listened to the remarks made by the owners of the bike. It remains to see the reception you will reserve because, in the end, we can be beautiful, be the best proposal for lovers of character and sensations and not succeed to please ... Go understand.

By Benoit Lafontaine, KTM photos