KTM recently launched the 350cc KTM 390 Duke in India, and on paper, it seems to be a slightly less powerful 390 Duke R, available at a much lower price tag.
And if that has interested you in this bike, here's a closer look at the new KTM 390 Duke through 10 detailed images:
Still Looks Sharp & Aggressive
If you like the way the KTM 390 Duke R looks, the 350cc 390 Duke looks exactly the same: super sharp, and sporty. The fascia looks quite aggressive with a clean looking LED headlight with neatly integrated DRLs, while the overall stance is quite compact and the sharp tank shrouds and sleek looking tail section complete the overall look. , Interesting Colours On Offer
The Atlantic Blue is our favourite colourway, for it looks rich and attractive without looking too gaudy or shouty. The bike's design is enough to grab a lot of attention so the blue colour looks classy. We quite like it!
The black takes the opposite approach, giving the aggressive-looking bike a blacked-out treatment. It's also quite nice to look at and if you want a bit of stealth to your steed, this is the one to get.
The Gun Metal Grey though, is the most underwhelming of the 3. The grey makes the bike look a bit drab and doesn't do justice to the aggression that the design has. It's somewhere between the attractive blue and subtle black and it doesn't do either well.
Packs Modern Hardware
The bike doesn't just look sporty, it also packs the hardware to match. There's a fully adjustable 43mm upside down fork and rear monoshock that has 5 step adjustability for damping and 10 steps for preload. The Duke's stock suspension is already quite good, so adding adjustability to it further sweetens the deal. You can tune the suspension exactly how you want it and that just makes the entire riding experience so much better.
And then there are the brakes: 320mm front and 240mm rear disc brake setup, both of which offer sharp and precise braking performance, exactly what you want from a bike that goes as fast as the 350cc KTM Duke 390.
Still Quite Fast
The 349.32cc liquid-cooled engine makes 41.5PS and 33.5Nm, both of which are healthy output figures. The bike is still quite fun to ride, its mid-range punch is still strong enough and it still feels quite exciting to ride. That said, the on-paper difference between the 350cc Duke and 390 Duke R is hard to miss. The 390 Duke R is still the quicker and faster bike.
Is Feature-loaded
Maintaining its modern approach, KTM has given the 350cc 390 Duke the same TFT console that looks and feels quite expensive. It doesn't feel super cluttered like the older gen 390 Duke's console did and this one's a lot more readable even on the go. And then it's the fact that it has Bluetooth connectivity as well as turn by turn navigation. On the whole, it has pretty much everything you could ask of it.
And it's not just the convenience features. There's cornering ABS, switchable traction control, bidirectional quickshifter, a slipper clutch, cruise control and a launch control. So these aren't just features which will make the brochure look fatter, these will actually either keep you safer on the bike or take the sheer fun quotient on the bike up a notch or even two.
Handles Beautifully
The 3rd generation KTM 390 Duke got a completely new chassis over its predecessor and this bike too handles quite well, same as the 390 Duke R.It's sharp while being predictable and the bike leans, turns and changes lanes in the blink of an eye. So the bike also demands alertness and skill from the rider. If you give it that, the 390 Duke will feel incredibly satisfying to ride hard.
Very Well Priced
At Rs 2,77,268, the 350cc KTM 390 Duke is Rs 61,731 more affordable than the 390 Duke R, which makes it quite well-priced. Yes, it's still a bit more expensive than most of its rivals but it also has a lot more kit, features and sheer excitement on offer than its rivals. So if you want speed, excitement and fun, the KTM 390 Duke is still one of your best bets.