KTM 390 Duke: The Undisputed Champion of Indian Motorcycles

KTM 390 Duke:The history of the KTM 390 Duke began in 1934 when Johann Trunkenpolz, an Australian engineer, opened a vehicle repair shop in the Austrian town of Mattighofen. After a few years of fixing motors, he opened up shop and started selling Opel vehicles and DKW motorcycles. He was on shaky ground when the Second World War broke out. After levelling off, business started to decline. Before long, his only means of subsistence were repairs.

KTM 390 Duke
Image Credit: Google

KTM 390 Duke Price

The cost of the stylish street bike is $3,10,520. Electronic Orange and Atlantic Blue are the two colours available for the bike. 

Birth of the Elite KTM Motorbikes

Johann was forced to close his workshop when the Second World War ended due to a sharp decline in the demand for motor repairs. His dream was to build his own motorcycles, and after years of planning, refining, and testing, he eventually produced the R100 prototype, the first KTM motorcycle.

KTM 390 Duke
Image Credit: Google

Three bikes were produced every day when production began in 1953 with just 20 workers. All of the original components—aside from the engine—were constructed in his house. The R100’s rise in popularity was mostly attributed to its formidable power. The company’s first racing victory, at the Australian National 125cc Championship in 1954, increased its already-found popularity. As a result, KTM gained notoriety and the KTM 390 Duke was developed.

 KTM 390 Duke is Born

Its later growth was made possible by the R100 model’s initial success from KTM. Launching new models like the Grand Tourist and the R125, Johann capitalised on his newfound prosperity. He was soon consuming a growing portion of the motorbike market. More prestige was added when Egan Dornaeur, riding a KTM bike, won a gold medal at the International Six Days Trial.

KTM would introduce dozens of distinct models over the ensuing several decades. Nothing would attract as much attention as the KTM 390 series of 2012. The engineers at the Indian automaker KTM Bajaj utilised their combined experience to develop the KTM 390 Duke.

KTM 390 Duke Features

What makes the KTM 390 Duke different from the competition are a few features. One reason is that KTM’s engineers made one of the lightest bikes available by utilising the most recent developments in material design and construction. In particular, given the size of the engine, its lightweight design offers unmatched acceleration and fuel efficiency.To put it into perspective, when the fuel tank is completely full, the weight is less than 150 kg.

Acceleration and mileage aren’t the only areas where the KTM 390 Duke excels. This machine is very easy to ride and incredibly agile. A person seeking a dependable commuter bike or an enjoyable ride around town can consider the KTM 390 Duke.

Evolution of the KTM 390 Duke

2017 saw the release of a new 390 Duke from KTM that featured several significant changes. To start with, the front brake disc was enlarged from 300 mm to 320 mm. In addition, they added a half-gallon to the gas tank and switched the throttle to a wire system. They did not, however, cease with internal adjustments. ​ Stated differently, they included the kinds of contemporary features and improvements required to maintain the KTM 390’s leadership position.

KTM Duke 390 Engine

KTM 390 Duke
Image Credit: Google

The KTM Duke 390 boasts an all-new 399 CC engine that produces more power and torque than the model from the previous generation. With a 6-speed gearbox, the KTM 390 Duke can reach a peak torque of 39 Nm at 6,500 rpm and a maximum power of 46 PS at 8,500 rpm.

KTM 390 Duke Suspension and Brakes

The KTM Duke 390 is constructed on a brand-new split trellis frame that has an aluminium subframe that was pressure die-cast. Its front suspension consists of a 43mm WP APEX inverted fork, while its rear suspension is a 10-step preload adjustable WP-APEX monoshock absorber. There are five compression and preload adjustment settings on the front suspension. Five-step rebound damping is included in the rear suspension’s 10-step preload adjustability.

KTM 390 Duke
Image Credit: Google


The KTM Duke 390 has a default seat height of 820 mm and a ground clearance of 183 mm. However, you can reduce the seat height to 800 mm.

KTM 390 Duke Rivals

Several brands compete fiercely with KTM Duke 390 by selling comparable motorcycles in the same market. Its fiercest competitors are the Honda CB300R, Bajaj Dominar 400, and Yamaha MT-03. The QJ Motor SRK 400, TVS Apache RR 310, Benelli TNT 300 (coming soon), and Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 are some of the other rivals. 

KTM 390 Duke Review on You-Tube

Also Read: Tata Tiago EV Shakes Up the Auto Industry: Latest News in India

Share to Others