[VijayAnand1]

Originally Posted by jomson13

Rode a couple of RC's - one yesterday and another today.
The one from the morning was in decent nick, only problem is that it is well used - 74k kms in 9 years.
It recently got a lot of engine work done at the ASC - New block, piston, crankshaft,
Camshaft and timing chain were also changed last year.
Bike feels pretty good now, at least its much better than the lesser run bike that I rode yesterday night.

On the seating position - I don't know why but I found the RC to be better!
Maybe because my back is pretty straight on the RC vs slightly bent on the duke.
I find myself sitting too close to the bars on the duke.
Also, the seat of the RC is wider and offers more wiggle room for the rider.

After the initial duke (asking 1.8L) today morning's RC is the second bike that I am seriously considering.
The RC owner is asking 1.15 which is reasonable I feel.

Should I be worried about the engine work or do I trust that the ASC has done a good job and forget about it.

I plan to get the bike checked at my FNG today evening, if he gives the green light then i'll pick it up.

Make no bones, the RC is a sweetheart, especially the older ones, they still have a charm like no other. 1.15 is an okay price, considering all the engine work that has been carried and the bike chugged along for 74k kays, even still considering the bike is in good shape.

Strongly recommend you to get a mechanic's advice, on the engine part primarily. Murphy's Law anything that can go wrong will go wrong, right after you get the bike. Start off with the engine, cooling system, tires, chain sprocket and overall bodyline of the bike. If it gets the nod from your mechanic, then why not.

I'd like to echo your point on straight up sitting bikes vs slightly forward set lean. Actually the forward set lean on RC is comparatively easier on the back than an upright position, as the entire weight of the torso rests on the tailbone and hence the back pain.

When you're set forward, most of your torso weight is offset forward, on your legs and hands, hence it feels comfortable. It varies from person to person, but personally a I prefer a little spirited position, as it helps feel natural with the motorcycle.

Cheers!
VJ

[anilupadhya]

Originally Posted by Vikram8891

Any suggestions will be welcome. Sadly, none of my friends and acquaintances in Bengaluru own this bike so I don't have another bike for comparison.

Have you tried a change of brake pads? Maybe a ceramic type. Not sure what comes on the new gen Duke 390.

[Vikram8891]

Originally Posted by anilupadhya

Have you tried a change of brake pads? Maybe a ceramic type. Not sure what comes on the new gen Duke 390.

Hi Anil,

Did not change the brake pads yet. The SVC tech told me the Gen 3 comes with sintered pads as standard. I have crossed 1600 kms on the bike and the play in the lever feels too much. I have tried adjusting the reach but it does not alleviate the issue. The brakes are good but they definitely need a firm tug on the lever to get them working.

[jomson13]

Originally Posted by Shonith

This is what i followed to check some of the engines,

Hope this helps

My mechanic rejected the bike saying that the engine work was not done properly; it sounded off and vibrated quite a lot as per him.

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

Strongly recommend you to get a mechanic's advice, on the engine part primarily. Murphy's Law anything that can go wrong will go wrong, right after you get the bike. Start off with the engine, cooling system, tires, chain sprocket and overall bodyline of the bike. If it gets the nod from your mechanic, then why not.

I'd like to echo your point on straight up sitting bikes vs slightly forward set lean. Actually the forward set lean on RC is comparatively easier on the back than an upright position, as the entire weight of the torso rests on the tailbone and hence the back pain.

When you're set forward, most of your torso weight is offset forward, on your legs and hands, hence it feels comfortable. It varies from person to person, but personally a I prefer a little spirited position, as it helps feel natural with the motorcycle.

Cheers!
VJ

I rode this particular bike again today, this time for a slightly longer period in quite a lot of traffic.
The total duration was 1.5 hours with two main stops - fuel and dropping off my laptop bag at home.
I felt noticeable pain in my neck and elbow regions. Guess age is beginning to show

Now I'm reconsidering the entire RC thing!

[TheHelix0202]

Originally Posted by Vikram8891

Agreed and this is one of the first things I did myself as I mentioned in the post. I guess I will need to get used to it.

Do NOT confuse DOT 5 with 5.1

DOT 5 is silicone based and NOT used for ABS vehicles. Use DOT 5.1. Or DOT 4 Racing.

The 390 comes with sintered pads and steel braided lines as OEM. The brake fluid swap would do wonders.

[shadowrider]

Originally Posted by Samarth 619

Hello guys, I have a 2013 Duke 390, 1.8~lakh kms done.

Even after so many services and all, one issue remains unsolved:- the speedo often randomly shows 0 during a ride.

Now, I read somewhere that changing stator coil will eliminate this issue...I've heard it costs around 3k which I'm happy to bear if it solves it.

This is a known issue and there is no guarantee that changing the stator coil will fix it. I have this issue and the only way for me to solve this is with a new meter, as the svc test rode the bike after fitting a different meter and it never showed the speed going to zero. Also check if your grounding points are covered in dust or rust as it can also cause issues with the speedometer.

Please keep us updated with your progress on this as even owners across teh globe are still trying to resolve this issue. It even affects duke 200.

[Shonith]

I was curious to know how much does a bs4 390 duke actually weigh with full tank of fuel. So i took the bike to a weigh bridge.
My bike is running on apollo alpha H1 tyres, has amaron battery and has a tail tidy apart from this it doesnt have the following,
1. Knuckle guards
2. Grab handles
3. Pillion footrest
4. Crash guard
5. Tool kit
6. Wheel hugger/ saree guard.
Total weight of my bike is 160kg.

[lobojames9]

Hi,

I just bought a KTM Duke 390 Gen 3. Does anyone have the owners manual that can be shared with me?

The showroom only gives a pamphlet and the KTM app just redirects to the website when I look for the owners manual there. Really disappointed not to receive a printed owners manual as I generally like to go through it thoroughly when I get a new vehicle.

[VijayAnand1]

Originally Posted by lobojames9

Hi,

I just bought a KTM Duke 390 Gen 3. Does anyone have the owners manual that can be shared with me?

The showroom only gives a pamphlet and the KTM app just redirects to the website when I look for the owners manual there. Really disappointed not to receive a printed owners manual as I generally like to go through it thoroughly when I get a new vehicle.

https://www.ktmshop.se/bike-manuals/...4960_en_OM.pdf


Here you go.

Cheers!
VJ

[slalom]

Hey guys ,any one tried fixing the duke 390 gen 3 mirrors on to the 2014 Duke 390 ,any ideas of how to get an adapter to get the job done

[saikishor]

What is the lifespan of a replacement chain kit of a 2nd gen Duke 390? I replaced the first set at 15k kms IIRC, and almost 13k kms later the chain has started to cry. Notably, on my part, I havent taken care of this chain properly like I did with the chain that came with the bike from factory. On the first set I used to diligently clean and lube every 500 kms, but this one, I lube it when it cries too much or when I have spare time with me.

Will the chain last for another 1k kms? I am planning on replacing it with a Rolon brass chain, suggestions regarding this would be helpful.

[VijayAnand1]

Originally Posted by saikishor

What is the lifespan of a replacement chain kit of a 2nd gen Duke 390? I replaced the first set at 15k kms IIRC, and almost 13k kms later the chain has started to cry. Notably, on my part, I havent taken care of this chain properly like I did with the chain that came with the bike from factory. On the first set I used to diligently clean and lube every 500 kms, but this one, I lube it when it cries too much or when I have spare time with me.

Will the chain last for another 1k kms? I am planning on replacing it with a Rolon brass chain, suggestions regarding this would be helpful.

13k is a good enough life for your second set, considering it wasn't loved much. Rolon Brass or RK Takasago are best bet, I'd recommend RS Takasago, excellent product. For the 390, anything over 14k is a bonus considering the riding style and maintenance involved. You can squeeze another 500 to 1000 kays easily considering the chain is slacked well and lubed well, shouldn't be a worry.

Cheers!
VJ

[saikishor]

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

13k is a good enough life for your second set, considering it wasn't loved much. Rolon Brass or RK Takasago are best bet, I'd recommend RS Takasago, excellent product. For the 390, anything over 14k is a bonus considering the riding style and maintenance involved. You can squeeze another 500 to 1000 kays easily considering the chain is slacked well and lubed well, shouldn't be a worry.

Cheers!
VJ

Chain slack is not a problem as of now, it has been adjusted to the required setting. I have to lube it and see. I just want it to last for a month, so that once I ride it back to Hyderabad, Ill get the chain kit replaced. Currently, I use the bike for a 5km office commute in Whitefield, and hence am not too bothered. I just hope it doesnt snap in the middle of nowhere!

[VijayAnand1]

Originally Posted by saikishor

Chain slack is not a problem as of now, it has been adjusted to the required setting. I have to lube it and see. I just want it to last for a month, so that once I ride it back to Hyderabad, Ill get the chain kit replaced. Currently, I use the bike for a 5km office commute in Whitefield, and hence am not too bothered. I just hope it doesnt snap in the middle of nowhere!

As I said, a chain will snap only if it's too kinked and way too unevenly stretched with excessive power demanded from them. When you lube, observe if the chain jumps when turning the wheels (don't keep the engine running ever with gear) if all is good and no jumps observed, you can use the chain for 1k more, provided you are easy with the throttle.

Cheers!
VJ

[sole_rider]

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

For the 390, anything over 14k is a bonus considering the riding style and maintenance involved.
Cheers!
VJ

Guess I got a pretty huge bonus then.

Stock chain and rear sprocket at 22748km now on my 2024 February 390 adv.

I take care of my chain very diligently. Lubed almost exclusively using 140 grade gear oil. Always cleaned using diesel.
Oh, and if it helps, I changed the front sprocket every 10,000 km.