[ashwinprakas]

Originally Posted by narayan

Why does the DUKE have such a poor resale value ? I was casually checking prices of used Dukes in Chennai on olx/quickr. Most look like dealer bikes and were being quoted at 1.25-1.75 range.

But if what you are saying is correct, it will be a good option for me to consider next year when I will actually be on the look out for a bike

Do browse through the ownership threads on xBhp before finalizing on purchase, most recently I've seen two user experiences of rebuilding the motorcycle at 30k km's and 65k km's.

Have attached links(in the respective mileages) to the OP's on xBhp, the 30k rebuild was due to a seizure and the OP has provided scanned images of the bill for the rebuild as well with a total cost summing to 25k/-.

Doesn't mean much, but then they'd give you a fair idea of ownership experience and cost come worst case scenario.

Cheers,
A.P.

[VijayAnand1]

Originally Posted by LoneTraveller

Hello everyone,

I am writing this post on the behalf of my relative.

He owns a KTM Duke 390, which has ~17k kms on the odo. He is quite unhappy with the jerky power delivery in the lower gears and is considering getting a remap for linear power delivery.

He has shortlisted a Stage 1 Remap by Mantra Racing. But before going ahead, he has a few questions:

1. Has anyone tried their remap? Could you please give your suggestions regarding the same?

2. Is it worth the investment? Would it solve the above mentioned issue?

3. How about considering powertronics over mantra ecu remap?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Lonetraveller

So far, there hasn't been any usage report brought in by Mantra Racing user, though there are many videos that circulate from Mantra Racing itself as to what they have to offer. Powertronics is basically the PowerCommander of India. Also, they have downloadable maps from their website and are very support friendly as far I know.

You have a quickshifter option and switchable map button also sold as an accessory in the Powertronics setup.

Now, the Mantra is a good 5 to 5 grands cheaper when compared to the piggyback ECM of PowerTronics. The Powertronics is a piggyback, the Mantra is a complete standalone. So, you swap the ECM and you basically have a single map, and cannot switch to different maps as you would on PT piggyback ECM.

With customizable maps, quickshifter, map toggle switch, PowerTronics has a slight advantage here.

Mind you, Mantra is for Competition Use only as they mention.

Rest, the choice is yours!

Cheers!
VJ

[fiestarry]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

I'm in a terrible fix!
[*]Duke 390 - Nov'13 edition[/list]I had bought the Duke from a friend in Nov'14. The bike has clocked only 2500Kms till date.
So should I hold on in the hope or let it go?

I would recommend that you sell the bike before it starts becoming a liability. Given that you ride so little, you could end up spending lots of money to keep the 6 year old in SAFE riding condition. Tyres and certain other critical parts age very quickly and you may not know when they started giving up in between your sporadic rides. Rent a relatively new bike when you plan a ride.

[mithun]

Originally Posted by narayan

Why does the DUKE have such a poor resale value ? I was casually checking prices of used Dukes in Chennai on olx/quickr. Most look like dealer bikes and were being quoted at 1.25-1.75 range.

But if what you are saying is correct, it will be a good option for me to consider next year when I will actually be on the look out for a bike

Lots of newbie KTM owners rip/abuse their bikes to the highest levels.

Another problem is that KTMs are fancied by the lots of young blood who are having very less income levels and they fail to properly service their bikes at regular intervals which leads to bad ownership experience.

Originally Posted by ashwinprakas

Do browse through the ownership threads on xBhp before finalizing on purchase, most recently I've seen two user experiences of rebuilding the motorcycle at 30k km's and 65k km's.

Have attached links(in the respective mileages) to the OP's on xBhp, the 30k rebuild was due to a seizure and the OP has provided scanned images of the bill for the rebuild as well with a total cost summing to 25k/-.

Doesn't mean much, but then they'd give you a fair idea of ownership experience and cost come worst case scenario.

Cheers,
A.P.

In on the xBHP threads, one of the owners has mentioned that the engine got blown up due to low engine oil level due to his fault and not to due to KTM's engine.

[ashwinprakas]

Originally Posted by mithun

In on the xBHP threads, one of the owners has mentioned that the engine got blown up due to low engine oil level due to his fault and not to due to KTM's engine.

Blaming KTM was never the intention, it was just to give an overview to a potential owner contemplating a used motorcycle.

[mercedised]

Hi Bhpians,

I recently bought a 2018 Duke 390 clocked 3600 kms. Got it checked at service center before buying and they gave thumbs up. There was one particular problem I was facing, The gearshifts particularly 1st, 2nd and 3rd made 'clunk' sound, similar to when the chain is loose or clutch cable is not properly adjusted. I got it checked at local mechanic today and he says that there is play in rear wheel (sprocket) cush bushing and asked me to get it rectified through KTM service center. I also checked other bikes and there was no play in rear sprockets of those bikes. He checked chain slack and clutch, condition of sprockets all of which were good.

My question is what might cause such wear n tear in the cush bushing so early? Since the bike is under warranty, does the warranty covers the cush bushing?

[ashwinprakas]

Originally Posted by mercedised

My question is what might cause such wear n tear in the cush bushing so early? Since the bike is under warranty, does the warranty covers the cush bushing?

It's a consumable, it happens, it won't be covered under warranty as its a consumable.

[antonjeeper]

Originally Posted by mercedised

Hi Bhpians,

I got it checked at local mechanic today and he says that there is play in rear wheel (sprocket) cush bushing and asked me to get it rectified through KTM service center. I also checked other bikes and there was no play in rear sprockets of those bikes. He checked chain slack and clutch, condition of sprockets all of which were good.

My question is what might cause such wear n tear in the cush bushing so early? Since the bike is under warranty, does the warranty covers the cush bushing?

Do not worry. You can easily get it replaced as most of these things gets worn out without much effort or at least some of them. While doing the check at ASC, take a look at the front sprocket clamp as well and if it is rusted, get as new one. It helps as I own a 2015 Duke 390 as well.

[mercedised]

Originally Posted by antonjeeper

Do not worry. You can easily get it replaced as most of these things gets worn out without much effort or at least some of them. While doing the check at ASC, take a look at the front sprocket clamp as well and if it is rusted, get as new one. It helps as I own a 2015 Duke 390 as well.

The front sprocket is rusted as well, just checked.

[VijayAnand1]

Originally Posted by mercedised

Hi Bhpians,

I recently bought a 2018 Duke 390 clocked 3600 kms. Got it checked at service center before buying and they gave thumbs up. There was one particular problem I was facing, The gearshifts particularly 1st, 2nd and 3rd made 'clunk' sound, similar to when the chain is loose or clutch cable is not properly adjusted. I got it checked at local mechanic today and he says that there is play in rear wheel (sprocket) cush bushing and asked me to get it rectified through KTM service center. I also checked other bikes and there was no play in rear sprockets of those bikes. He checked chain slack and clutch, condition of sprockets all of which were good.

My question is what might cause such wear n tear in the cush bushing so early? Since the bike is under warranty, does the warranty covers the cush bushing?

It's about time you brought this topic up. There have been instances in the MY 2018/2019 where some bikes have extremely early cush drive rubber wear. The cush pads of the D390 will have very very minute play if you try to rotate the rear sprocket front and back by holding it tight, which is normal. But if you observe play, i.e. you can freely move the sprocket front and back with least effort and the lateral play is more, you have a bust cush drive.

Don't write it off yet, it's just bad luck.Unless, if the previous owner had a very peculiar throttle input style, cush drives last more than 11k plus easily. Proper chain slack is also key to increasing cush drive rubber life.

Hope it helps!

Cheers!
VJ

[mercedised]

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

It's about time you brought this topic up. There have been instances in the MY 2018/2019 where some bikes have extremely early cush drive rubber wear. The cush pads of the D390 will have very very minute play if you try to rotate the rear sprocket front and back by holding it tight, which is normal. But if you observe play, i.e. you can freely move the sprocket front and back with least effort and the lateral play is more, you have a bust cush drive.

Don't write it off yet, it's just bad luck.Unless, if the previous owner had a very peculiar throttle input style, cush drives last more than 11k plus easily. Proper chain slack is also key to increasing cush drive rubber life.

Hope it helps!

Cheers!
VJ

Thanks, I am taking the chance and will get it rectified at the next service. What should be the ideal service interval for Duke 390? Company says 7500 kms, but does the oil lasts for that much time in our conditions?

[VijayAnand1]

Originally Posted by mercedised

Thanks, I am taking the chance and will get it rectified at the next service. What should be the ideal service interval for Duke 390? Company says 7500 kms, but does the oil lasts for that much time in our conditions?

Nopes! Look no more than 4k max for a FS and 3.5k for a SS.

Cheers!
VJ

[timuseravan]

Originally Posted by mercedised

What should be the ideal service interval for Duke 390? Company says 7500 kms, but does the oil lasts for that much time in our conditions?

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

Nopes! Look no more than 4k max for a FS and 3.5k for a SS.

Cheers!
VJ

I am sure it must be Ok. The first generation bikes (including mine) had oil change interval of 5k. Why would the company increase this to 7.5k unless they are confident?
The only thing which will affect oil in our conditions is the heat. KTM must have run tests and increased the limit after feedback from initial batches.

[ashwinprakas]

Originally Posted by timuseravan

I am sure it must be Ok. The first generation bikes (including mine) had oil change interval of 5k. Why would the company increase this to 7.5k unless they are confident?
The only thing which will affect oil in our conditions is the heat. KTM must have run tests and increased the limit after feedback from initial batches.

You can use an Oil for 2k kms or 10k kms and companies aren't going to say no to either because the effects of a delayed oil change only bites you in the long run.

So unless you clock very low miles it is best to follow the thumb rule of 1.5~2k kms per liter if you intend to clock some serious miles on the machine at hand.

This used to be common sense but lately manufacturers have started to become selfish and buyers are becoming more and more ignorant, hence it has come to a point where anything flies.

P.S. FS or not, combustion blow-by and clutch wear residue really do wear down an oil. Long term owners would be able to give you a better picture.

[timuseravan]

Originally Posted by ashwinprakas

You can use an Oil for 2k kms or 10k kms and companies aren't going to say no to either because the effects of a delayed oil change only bites you in the long run.

There is a difference between company not saying No and a company actually recommending a longer oil change interval and in fact increasing the oil change interval.

Originally Posted by ashwinprakas

This used to be common sense but lately manufacturers have started to become selfish and buyers are becoming more and more ignorant, hence it has come to a point where anything flies.

It definitely is common sense if you forget the advances in oil technology, manufacturing tech and modern tolerances from the past 20 or so years.

If the companies are selfish, wont they actually recommend shorter oil change intervals? More sales for their dealers and service centers, right? Mahindra actually recommends 20,000 km oil changes for diesel Scorpio!
I may be an idiot, but I think the people who designed and engineered the vehicles and have decades of experience know the best way to maintain their vehicles.

But I agree buyers are mostly ignorant for following thumbs rules from 80s