[rageraver]

Walkaround at the Bangalore Showroom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujchiHl-oy0

[VijayAnand1]

I think what I would be more interested is in the rear shock absorber and the front forks. I think the newer ones are shod with separate gas charged rear shock absorber which was a Achilles heel for the earlier Duke 390 which would sag under heat from the exhaust.

The newer ones with the higher up mounted gas canister charged shock, the ride should be more pliant now. Was looking for a close up of the rear shock.

Cheers!
VJ

[GreaseMonk]

The Powerdrift preview states the Duke 250 has a larger rear sprocket. If this is compatible with the other bikes in the line-up, it offers owners of the 390 an affordable option to make their gearing more aggressive.

[Pri2]

The Duke 250 simply seems like a great business decision. Charge over 40K for additional 5BHP + a slipper clutch & cosmetic changes. Wonder what will happen when ABS becomes mandatory and thus a part of the standard package.

[Vik0728]

Got a chance to experience the D250 in person last weekend and here are my first impressions:

There are no TRs yet for the D250. From what I understand, they must commence in about 2-3 weeks, and apparently the KTM folks (Langford Road) are getting another D250 exclusively for that purpose.

What I did observe are:

- The D250 is a bit taller than the D200, which is very apparent when you sit on the 2 bikes back to back. For riders shorter than 5.6", the saddle may appear quite daunting and will leave them tiptoeing most of the time.

- The seat texture, design, cushioning is all new and feels top notch.

- The bike does not feel heavy, though the additional weight is quite noticeable if you have been riding a D200, or have just got off one.

- The sound of the D250 is unlike any other KTM I have heard. Gone is the reminiscent purring and the BS-4 Compliant exhaust makes this new kid sound more like the Hondas.

- The DRL comes on as soon you switch on the ignition and the moment you start the engine, the Headlights turn on.

- The fuel tank is all metal and the handle bar is wee bit wider than the D200.

I have posted this elsewhere and doing the same here. the bike was too good to resist and I booked one for myself

[hiren.mistry]

Originally Posted by Vik0728

- The sound of the D250 is unlike any other KTM I have heard. Gone is the reminiscent purring and the BS-4 Compliant exhaust makes this new kid sound more like the Hondas.

- The DRL comes on as soon you switch on the ignition and the moment you start the engine, the Headlights turn on.

- The fuel tank is all metal and the handle bar is wee bit wider than the D200.

Congratulations on your booking!
I am keenly waiting for a ride review on the Duke 250/390 mainly from the exhaust note perspective. I was never a fan of the old bike's note.

I got a chance to sit on the Duke 390 and I loved the snug fitting

Regards

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by hiren.mistry

I got a chance to sit on the Duke 390 and I loved the snug fitting

Hiren, Vijay a few posts back mentioned the possibility of a gas charged rear shock. Could you please let us know if that is indeed the case on the 390 if you managed a look.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers

[hiren.mistry]

Originally Posted by Cyborg

Hiren, Vijay a few posts back mentioned the possibility of a gas charged rear shock. Could you please let us know if that is indeed the case on the 390 if you managed a look.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers

Cyborg,
The shock is made by WP and I don't think it is gas charged like the ones you see in Pulsar 200NS (Nitrox).

You can have a look at my post here.

Cheers

[The_Mad_Hatter]

I saw that the new 2017 Duke 390 has an increased seat height of about 830 mm, if I'm not wrong. Any idea if this would benefit taller riders? I'm 6'2", and one reason I kind of shied away from the older 390s (apart from the lower capacity fuel tank) was that it seemed slightly small for me.

[abhinav.s]

Originally Posted by The_Mad_Hatter

I saw that the new 2017 Duke 390 has an increased seat height of about 830 mm, if I'm not wrong. Any idea if this would benefit taller riders? I'm 6'2", and one reason I kind of shied away from the older 390s (apart from the lower capacity fuel tank) was that it seemed slightly small for me.

You would have to test ride it to gauge the comfort. Just an increase in seat height might not make it comfortable for taller riders. It also depends on your frame and build (legs longer than torso or torso longer than legs etc). On the whole the new KTM series is still a compact motorcycle though the seats are made better and comfortable compared to the pre-facelift model. KTM is generally good with test rides so once they have the TR bike take it out for a slightly longer distance and you will know if the bike suits you or not. All the best!!

[IshaanIan]

Originally Posted by The_Mad_Hatter

I saw that the new 2017 Duke 390 has an increased seat height of about 830 mm, if I'm not wrong. Any idea if this would benefit taller riders? I'm 6'2", and one reason I kind of shied away from the older 390s (apart from the lower capacity fuel tank) was that it seemed slightly small for me.

You will need to ride the bike to know. That said, have you tried the RC series? The RC bikes feel a LOT more roomy. I am exactly 6ft tall with longer than usual legs and the RC feels like it is built to be roomy for taller riders. The riding position on the old Duke series always felt cramped and when I sat on the new Duke 390, it still felt cramped compared to my RC390 but I thought it was better than the old Duke. Did not bother sitting on the 200 because I was simply checking out the 390 for a friend of mine who is anyway short so roominess wasn't a criteria in my mind when I went to the showroom. Last time I rode an old Duke, it was a friend's 200 and that was a year and a half ago so not sure if it is all in the head or whether the new Duke actually felt better.

[Vik0728]

Originally Posted by The_Mad_Hatter

I saw that the new 2017 Duke 390 has an increased seat height of about 830 mm, if I'm not wrong. Any idea if this would benefit taller riders? I'm 6'2"

Hey The_Mad_Hatter, I have not ridden the Duke 200 extensively so I may not be able to comment on the improvements (if at all) on the 2017 D390.

I did however, get to try out the D250 and it felt lot better. I am 6ft tall and my reason for shying away from the old Dukes is exactly as yours.

The seating feels good for tall riders now, probably it is the combination of really wide seats and a slightly longer handle bars on the D250.

Originally Posted by IshaanIan

I am exactly 6ft tall with longer than usual legs and the RC feels like it is built to be roomy for taller riders. Last time I rode an old Duke, it was a friend's 200 and that was a year and a half ago so not sure if it is all in the head or whether the new Duke actually felt better.

+1 IshaanIan and the ONLY reason I am shying away from the RC series is due to a very committed/aggressive posture.

Have your tried/witnessed any handle alterations on the RC series, probably to raise the handle bar a tiny bit to improve ergonomics?

[IshaanIan]

Originally Posted by Vik0728

Have your tried/witnessed any handle alterations on the RC series, probably to raise the handle bar a tiny bit to improve ergonomics?

No way. That would not only ruin the looks but also the riding experience. The whole point of that steeper rake and the low clip-ons was to lend the bike razor sharp agility and immense feedback levels. I would rather buy a duke than alter the handle bar on the RC as you would still have the weight distribution of an RC but no longer would be in the ideal position to take advantage of it hence your riding experience would be hampered. I understand that many people find the stance too aggressive which is why I rarely recommend the bike to people but since it is my first bike, I got acclimatized to the riding position very quickly and don't find it an issue at all upto 200kms of riding after which my butt starts to hurt and all I need is a smoke break before the next 200km jaunt. I can clearly make out the difference on other bikes with more upright riding positions and they definitely do feel more comfortable physically speaking but since I am used to the RC, I feel nervous on more upright bikes as it feels like I have lost a certain level of control over the machine. I dont have anything against folks who prefer an upright stance but then simply buy a Duke as I feel it is sacrilege to alter the RCs ergonomics to that extent. Just my honest opinion. KTMs entire strategy was to make more focused machines with a clear purpose. The Duke does its job excellently as a street fighter and I would rather have slightly more cramped ergos than a bike with handicapped dynamic capabilities.

PS: congratulations on the booking when do you expect to take delivery of your bike and which colour scheme have you gone for? AFAIK you have two choices with the 250 no?

[Urban_Nomad]

The Duke 250 review by overdrive is out:

http://overdrive.in/reviews/2017-ktm...t-ride-review/

Looks extremely promising!

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

250 gets the attention of the magazines-

Motorbeam -

https://youtu.be/Om5bGb9Np0M

Powerdrift -

https://youtu.be/d99-RkZUdKs

https://youtu.be/8hXLc-_SnrU

Overdrive -

https://youtu.be/HmdEKA2-E6o