[niranjanrvce]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Bottom line is that a 390 rider and a 200 rider can tour together, but it will not be enjoyable for either. One will burn out trying to keep up, the other will go to sleep trying to keep down.

So Doc, the question is - will you upgrade to the 390?
Or pick up something else - Ninja 300?

[dkaile]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Bottom line is that a 390 rider and a 200 rider can tour together, but it will not be enjoyable for either. One will burn out trying to keep up, the other will go to sleep trying to keep down.

On a lighter note, never had this problem with the Harley Gang. Right from 900cc to 1700cc we all ride together enjoying each others time to time overtake maneuvers. Difference of frame of mind, perhaps...

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by niranjanrvce

So Doc, the question is - will you upgrade to the 390?
Or pick up something else - Ninja 300?

I want the touring/enduro 390. The 200 km tank range on the 390 is something that is hard to overlook, not to mention that the 390 is the 200 with a bigger engine.

Originally Posted by dkaile

On a lighter note, never had this problem with the Harley Gang. Right from 900cc to 1700cc we all ride together enjoying each others time to time overtake maneuvers. Difference of frame of mind, perhaps...

Bullet groups on club rides also ride like that. I can never ride like that. I am almost always No. 2, dancing on the backside of No. 1. Being No. 1 is never as much fun. In one you are defending and being pushed, in the other you are attacking and doing the pushing.

But this is on similar bikes with closely matched specs and riders. The point I was making is that between the 390 and the 200, its a no contest.

[ashwin23]

Originally Posted by ebonho

But this is on similar bikes with closely matched specs and riders. The point I was making is that between the 390 and the 200, its a no contest.

This can't be more true. Earlier this morning I came across a 390 on outer ring road, me on the 200. I wanted to catch up to him to get a closer look as it was my first sighting of a 390. Well...no dice. The baby duke nearly burst a lung trying to play catch up, tried to get his attention but he seemingly took off whilst hardly breaking a sweat. I didn't have a prayer of getting close and mind you I'm fairly sure he wasn't pushing the 390 all the way. I felt like he stole the power from my ride as I rode home the rest of the way feeling under powered almost like the 390 stole my mojo!

The gearing of the two vehicles also probably plays a part. At 3 digit speeds the 200 is definitely not as comfortable so it's probably easier to stay at higher speeds on the higher displacement vehicle. All this on the highway will definitely translate to being really frustrating for both riders.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by ashwin23

I felt like he stole the power from my ride as I rode home the rest of the way feeling under powered almost like the 390 stole my mojo!

Think about how I felt after riding the 390 for 3 months and then getting the garage cover off Baby Duke to give her a run. First reaction was, man is the clutch gone? Lots of noise and no forward thrust. Numbers on the speedo also looking different, not responding/galloping as quickly. Spent over a thousand bucks and got her an out of turn service as well, and then rode with the 390.

Bottom line - on the bypass on the way back I realized that Baby Duke is still as fast at the top end as she has always been. Its just that the game has moved on. The 200 is still a stonking bike. The 390 is stonkinger.

The way I lok at it, no reason to feel bad. We've enjoyed biking nirvana for 18 odd months while most of the 390 guys have been patiently waiting (something I could not do when the time came to decide - 200 or wait). They deserve their day in the sun now.

[ashwin23]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Think about how I felt after riding the 390 for 3 months and then getting the garage cover off Baby Duke to give her a run. First reaction was, man is the clutch gone? Lots of noise and no forward thrust. Numbers on the speedo also looking different, not responding/galloping as quickly. Spent over a thousand bucks and got her an out of turn service as well, and then rode with the 390.

Bottom line - The 200 is still a stonking bike. The 390 is stonkinger.

The way I lok at it, no reason to feel bad. We've enjoyed biking nirvana for 18 odd months while most of the 390 guys have been patiently waiting (something I could not do when the time came to decide - 200 or wait). They deserve their day in the sun now.

Haha, stonkinger? That's a new one

Yeah it's surprising that I can relate to exactly what you're talking about, for a while it felt like I'd changed my bike and there was raucous noise without much actual output. I didn't think it possible by just tailing a faster motorcycle.The 390 sure is something else, I'd love to give it a whack sometime.

I've actually only had the 200 for about 2 months now although I'd been riding a 200 on and off before from a friend of mine, bought mine from fellow BHPian Niranjan. I could realistically have waited for the 390 but considering I'll only be able to hold on to the bike for about a years time, didn't really want to wait too long to get my hands on one.

And yes I took my ride out to run some errands a little while ago, it felt as fun as always again (whew!) I'm sure we'll agree though that the KTM's are just a different breed of motorcycle from anything that we're used too. Fun fun fun!

[Sam.k]

Gentlemen - I am considering an upgrade from the sedate Honda Unicorn to either the Duke 200 or the CBR 250.I am more inclined towards the duke due to its more upright seating/riding position(I am 37 now..) than the CBR and the lightness of the bike.I would to know how refined the Duke is considering that i have been riding the ultra refined Unicorn till date.Similarly can i use regular petrol on Duke or is it a strict no no?

Has anybody tried smaller sprockets(39,40T etc..) at the rear to make the bike more smoother on long rides.

Thanks
Sam

[Joxster]

Originally Posted by Sam.k

Gentlemen - I am considering an upgrade from the sedate Honda Unicorn to either the Duke 200 or the CBR 250.I am more inclined towards the duke due to its more upright seating/riding position(I am 37 now..) than the CBR and the lightness of the bike.I would to know how refined the Duke is considering that i have been riding the ultra refined Unicorn till date.Similarly can i use regular petrol on Duke or is it a strict no no?

Has anybody tried smaller sprockets(39,40T etc..) at the rear to make the bike more smoother on long rides.

Thanks
Sam

We're hijacking doc's thread here, but to answer your question, the Duke IMO is a very refined bike. It all depends on your riding style as well. I have ridden the bike sedately as well as pushed to its limits, and I never felt that the engine was struggling. It has a very refined way of picking up speed, as well as slowing down. The Duke doesn't like being ridden too slow though, it likes being spanked
I haven't made any modifications to my bike, and honestly don't feel the need to either. The suspension is very well setup for this bike, and the engine is perfectly smooth on long rides as well.
I would suggest you to take a fairly long test ride to understand what I mean.

Cheers

[Sam.k]

Originally Posted by Joxster

We're hijacking doc's thread here, but to answer your question, the Duke IMO is a very refined bike. It all depends on your riding style as well. I have ridden the bike sedately as well as pushed to its limits, and I never felt that the engine was struggling. It has a very refined way of picking up speed, as well as slowing down. The Duke doesn't like being ridden too slow though, it likes being spanked
I haven't made any modifications to my bike, and honestly don't feel the need to either. The suspension is very well setup for this bike, and the engine is perfectly smooth on long rides as well.
I would suggest you to take a fairly long test ride to understand what I mean.

Cheers

Would regular fuel work for the duke?

[ashwin23]

Yeah regular petrol works. Fill from a reliable petrol bunk and there are no issues. I almost always fill at the same bunk.

Also a note on your original query, the CBR seating position is actually quite comfortable. That shouldn't be a reason to write it off. Give them both a ride and decide what you like better

[ebonho]

Sam, speaking about the sprockets, in retrospect I preferred my original 43T one to the new 42T one I have on my bike now. The 42T has not given me any additional top speed (she still touches 139 only), and the acceleration is not as razor sharp on the throttle as before, nor does she redline in the higher gears (5th and 6th) as easily as before.

On the fuel, the regular fuel from good pumps is more than enough to keep the Dukes happy. No need for expensive premium fuels. Besides some "perceptional" smoothness I have not seen any improvement in any tangible parameter - be it top speed or mileage (with either Speed or Extra Premium or Shell).

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by ebonho

The 42T has not given me any additional top speed (she still touches 139 only), and the acceleration is not as razor sharp on the throttle as before, nor does she redline in the higher gears (5th and 6th) as easily as before.

Doc,
With one tooth reduction would it make so much of a difference? With the drop the initial might have smartened up but might have gone un-noticed. Would not see any increase in ur top-end unless you increase the teeth or broaden the final drive ratio.

Correct me if am wrong mate

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by ku69rd

Doc,
With one tooth reduction would it make so much of a difference? With the drop the initial might have smartened up but might have gone un-noticed. Would not see any increase in ur top-end unless you increase the teeth or broaden the final drive ratio.

Correct me if am wrong mate

Bro talking about rear sprocket.

Dropping a tooth will reduce the acceleration and "theoretically" (if adequate torque / revs available) increase the top end (arou nd 3-4 kmph in the case of the Duke 200 per calculations). So a 42T rear sprocket should theretically be able to push a Duke 200 doing 139 kmph previously (on 43T rear sprocket) to a top end of 142-143 kmph.

Not so in my case.

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Bro talking about rear sprocket.

Dropping a tooth will reduce the acceleration and "theoretically" (if adequate torque / revs available) increase the top end .

Woops my bad, was thinking vice-versa. All my trial and errors were associated with the GB Sprocket. Yes it should have ideally increased or is it the slow degradation in the engine which is not yielding the desired results?

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by ku69rd

Woops my bad, was thinking vice-versa. All my trial and errors were associated with the GB Sprocket. Yes it should have ideally increased or is it the slow degradation in the engine which is not yielding the desired results?

I am suspecting the latter. There seems to be an oil mist around the top of the tappet cover where it meets the head. Not wet. Pretty powdery dry. But its there and seen for the first time. Need to see what that's about.

Incidentally one would not expect any engine (even a Bullet) to degrade at 7K kms.