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-   -   My 2014 KTM Duke 390 | Ownership Review (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motorbikes/242452-my-2014-ktm-duke-390-ownership-review-9.html)

Kudos and respect to you! This gives me immense confidence that I can keep mine for real long time and that 30K is nothing. Cheers!

Thanks Dhruv! I can understand the love and passion behind your spending.

My clutch is still the stock and I am ok with it. It gives a bit of exercise for good and I never face any issues with it. I may want to upgrade when the current clutch runs out.

Glad to hear it from you gentlemen. Matter of fact, there are many unsung BS3 heroes out there, who haven't seen their forum pitch for their record to be sung publically. Said and done, BS3 and BS4 390s are pretty solid bikes, the iterations progressively ironed out and the last of 2017s were extremely reliable bikes, considering proper due diligence and services were carried out.

BS3 bikes are a different bunch, they're fragile yet tough. Trust me they can take quite a beating, barring extremely intentional thrashing and poor care-for would end up emptying the pocket in no time. They were raw, visceral and still elicit that two-strokish madness like no other; some call it character, some call it wicked, but it's mostly the wonderful chassis and that mental dirt-bike derived motor, scaring the wits in no time, if given the twist of the wrist without heed.

Today's Dukes are mere plastic toys than the actual visceral elicitation the BS3s elicit. Make no mistake, the new 390/399 they're still no slouch, but somewhere down the line, they've become too good, too smooth and too electronically-aided, which is a bummer IMHO.

@ashkamath, 11 year is a lot for brake pads and cables especially one that's sitting near a coast line. Though it's great to see things have lasted this far, it's recommended to replace your brake fluid, brake pads and throttle/clutch cable as a preventative measure, as throttle and clutch cable innards are made of iron liners, they're easily prone to rusting which can't be fathomed by the naked eye.

Also brake fluids that's sitting for more than two years is eventually going to corrode the innards, aggravated more near coastal areas. Would strongly recommend you give it the gentle care it requires so that it lasts even longer and still elicits to put that smile on your face.

Gentlemen keep the old one running, it's a mental gem!

Cheers!
VJ

Well said VJ! Cheers to all Duke fans in here.

Thanks for your advice. I have changed the master cylinder and brake fluid about an year ago, mainly due to signs of corrosion and age and the A.S.S. recommended that it be changed and I agreed. The bike hasn't been used close to an year now as it is in a different city (Mangalore) where as I reside in Goa. Planning to get both the cables and brake pads changed now as a preventive measure following your advice, during the next service, soon. Thanks again.

I got a 2013 Duke 390 on the 31st of October, 2013, my most expensive bike ever at 1.98L on road back then. I was nervous, I remember stalling her 23-24 times before finally setting off from the showroom..

11 years later, there are stories of minor repairs, some niggles, etc but after I found a good service center, the entire story remains far more pleasant than any problem I faced.

There are unsolved random problems, rarely in rain, the front brake goes spongy, the meter shows 0 speed for no reason during the ride, etc. but it has never stopped or left me stranded ever.

The list of problems caused due to service center's mishandling is far bigger:- meter gone kaput 2 times, each time after a water wash as it was misinstalled, both bearings were gone as they fit old bearings in a wrong way when wheel was changed, but I kept thinking it was a disk brake problem due to the noise, etc.
At 1.4 Lakh kms, I got its engine overhauled (Rs. 66000), which remains the biggest expense it has seen and well deserved too. This setup has again done 21000 kms after overhaul.
At 1.61 Lakh kms, I'm happy as one can be. Imagine test riding Ninja 650 and returning somewhat unimpressed, because you own a BS3 390.

Recently got it undergeared by installing the entire chain sprocket kit of Duke 250. Its snatchy-quick now! Does 50 kmph in 6th easily.
I try to ride below 80 but I'm seeing 87 or 96 or 91 very often, unknowingly, before I slow down. I'm trying my best not to overspeed, and follow the nationwide legal top speed (for motorcycles) of 80 kmph.

So, when will I get rid of it? I don't want to, ever, even if someone offers me double the price I got it for.
I'm not going to get another bike like it. Pollution norms have destroyed all the fun, and e bikes are miles away from fun.
Its nearing the 15 year registration expiry point, no worries, I'll renew it, for as long as I can.

The key to a peaceful life with a BS3 Duke 390 is getting a good, experienced mechanic, preferably in an official service center. That's it.

1.4lakh kms is what i would consider maximum life for a high compression engine like the 390’s. There is no denying the fact that you have kept, maintained and ridden it well!

Did you try to get a brand new engine instead of overhauling? I dont know if buying an entire engine is even possible for bs3 models now. It may be possible for models that are in production. If my memory serves me correctly i believe the price for the bs3 engine was around 70k.

Thanks. I tried to maintain her well, and ridden it with respect, with the exception of 2 trackdays on BIC early on. ;)
I had no idea that getting an entirely new engine was even an option. I just did what the mechanic recommended when the exhaust was giving white smoke and the engine was burning oil- overhaul. Block, piston, con rods, valves, etc, etc. Around 35-37 components (as per bill) were replaced in total.
On a sentimental note, I still have the older piston as a showpiece, a memory of a kind.

70k in my opinion was a decent price for this engine, no doubt. I could've chosen it if I knew & had the choice.

Yes, I understand the relationship with your bike is sometimes very romantic & flows from the heart more than the brain for approving such costs

This reminds me of my Ex Girlfriend a lot $$ :p
Cheers, keep greasy!

Good to hear that there are d390s going strong even after 40k km where most start to burn oil.

Before the overhaul do you remember if you have ever done a valve clearance check or not?

Engine rebuild process has commenced

After 2 months of waiting and doing alot of back and forth with Zenngine about what parts needs to be ordered, decided to order the parts in two phases, first is to order the main parts and other small components of the engine and phase 2 will be to order the braking components and swingarm bushes and other smaller parts which might be needed.

Here's the part list which have been ordered for the engine, there's one section in the estimate which will be finalized once the engine will be opened.





Next update will be when the engine will be opened.

Cheers,
Dhruv Shetty.

I myself never did it, but I remember the service mechanic saying he did it. How often he did it, I have no memory.

--
Hey Guys, recently, I'm facing this problem where I get "kit-kit" sound from the engine on revving hard (while riding only, not neutral rev-bombing) as if its on a pressure.
Any idea what it could be & how to solve it?
I'm using stock exhaust but there could be some internal damage (without any crash) to it, I think, some years back, I heard metal clanging voices in it but they disappeared. Is this related to it?

The engine rebuild starts (Around 40k)

After months of waiting and lots of discussions, the rebuild finally started, during the wait for the rebuild, I had a few dreams related to it and second thoughts about switching to slipper clutch. When I received the first batch of photos of the bike on the lift with the engine running and getting washed, I was watching the videos on repeat for quite a while. When the engine was stripped down it revealed lots of hidden damages.

Bike up on the lift and ready for engine removal


Coolant and engine oil drained


Radiator and bend pipe out
The radiator is going to reused for now as it has some life left in it and will be replaced down the line.






Engine down



On the bench ready to be stripped for further inspection


Top cover off


From here all the hidden damages started to show which was sort of expected.

Cylinder head
The cylinder head had taken quite a heavy wear, all the contact surfaces where the camshafts shits and rotates were beyond saving. So now the cylinder head is attached to the shopping cart.:p








The oil was also entering the combustion chamber through the valves.


Now comes the other half where more surprises came up

This came as a surprise, the crown of the piston did not have much of carbon buildup with all the oil burning and coolant mixing which didn't show any signs in the oil.


Between the two rings, one can notice the black marks, that is the oil and coolant burning and forming a layer of something and the scratches on the cylinder walls and piston.



Here is the crankshaft bearing with some nice wear which was causing the crankshaft to move in all directions.


Clutch basket has seen better days


The output shaft which is on its way out and going to be replaced.


The toasty looking insides of the engine

The magnet was badly stuck in place and took 2 hours to come without going down with a fight as it destroyed itself and a tool in the shop and damaged the shaft which it was sitting on, so it did quite alot of damage to come off.


The only component to survive is the gearbox, rest of them are toast, so it will be 90% new engine.

After opening up the engine, i came to know where my coolant was disappearing without a trace, the area where the coolant pump is, the sealing surface was worn out like the rest of the engine.

Along with the rebuild, all the engine bolts are getting replaced with fresh looking bolts as all the casings will be changed, with a new block and cylinder head with its cover.

After the rebuild, the Brake calipers are getting rebuilt with fresh fluid and swingarm refresh.

In a way i am excited to see and feel how the slipper clutch is going to behave.

Until the next update.

Cheers,
Dhruv Shetty

While you are at it, upgrade the rear suspension to adjustable unit from Adv 390. Which may need swingarm upgrade as well. Well worth it.

That's a good idea, but for now I will keep it on the backburner as i just changed the shock a year ago and I may upgrade the suspension to some nice aftermarket one down the line, if my skills allow me to do it lol:. The Swingarm is just getting it's bushings refreshed along with fresh grease.

For the brakes, in 1 or 2 years time, I will do complete brake system upgrade, RCB brake master cylinder and HEL brake lines.

Cheers,
Dhruv Shetty.