10 Things You Didn’t Know About the KTM Duke 390

The KTM 390 Duke is one of those special bikes that was created for the Indian market. It didn’t arrive in the United States until 2013, but since its arrival, it’s been a welcome addition to the KTM team. The first things about the Duke 390 that really grab your attention are the aesthetics and after you’ve taken one for a spin, the performance of the engine. When the new Duke 390 was introduced in 2017, it featured a host of changes and not one of them was frowned upon. If you’re not familiar with the Duke 390 then here are 10 things you didn’t know about the bike, but will be happy to know.

1. It didn’t get an upgrade in 3 years

The KTM Duke arrived in 2013. When the new improved version with its cool enhancements was announced, it had been almost three years since it had received any upgrades and KTM knew that it was time. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with the bike, but with new innovations in technology it was a shame not to share some of them with this outstanding machine.

2. The wheels are over the top

When you first look at the 1290 Super Duke you’re compelled to take a second look because of the crazy looking set that carries it. If you’ve seen one you know what we’re talking about. Think about that then take a look at the 2017 Duke 390 and you’ll immediately see the family resemblance and it’s in the wheels.

3. The bike has muscle

Part of the initial appeal of the Duke 390 is its aesthetic. The bike features angular housing for its vertically partitioned headlamp which is LED and the extensions on the tank give it a beefy and muscular look. The Duke 390 is both sporty and attractive.

4. Stand it beside the Super Duke and they look like a family

The 1290 Super Duke is the flagship model of the brand and the Duke 390 has a similar appearance. In addition to the high mounted LED turn indicators, it also has an underbelly exhaust. The resemblance is quite remarkable.

5. The chassis is exposed like eye candy

The Duke 390 features some of the bare parts of the chassis in an exposed state to give viewers something to see. The all-new frame features a subframe that gives it a muscular yet agile appearance but when it comes to performance, it’s a plus as well because it adds stability when rounding corners.

6. It was upgraded with larger brakes

To enhance the stopping ability of the Duke 390, it was given a larger disc brake on the front. KTM went with Brembo calipers and the bike is released with ABS as a standard feature. The larger brakes increase rider comfort when stopping fast at higher speeds and when not desired, the rider can disengage the ABS feature.

7. It’ the first affordable smart bike for India

The KTM Duke 390 is the first bike for the Indian market that is designed with smart features. It comes with a MyRide interface for connecting to a smartphone through Bluetooth. In a world and an age where technology in the communications realm and staying connected is so highly valued, this is a big advancement.

8. The Duke 390 has an enhanced range

The new steel fuel tank of the Duke 390 is a definite upgrade over the old plastic one. The design of the tank doesn’t increase the weight of the bike but it does up the value of the tank capacity. The old one held 11-liters and the new one holds 13.4 liters for an increased riding range in between fill-ups.

9. It’s cleaner and greener

The new KTM Duke 390 is designed to be compliant with new emissions regulations. The catalytic converter is larger. It can more easily convert exhaust gases in a more efficient way. It leaves a smaller carbon footprint than previous models.

10. The has a new screen

The 2017 KTM Duke 390 kicked off the inclusion of the new TFT screen that takes the place of the small console from the previous version. It’s a lot larger and it’s a lot easier to read. The screen features a blue backlight and the settings are easy to access for retrieving important information.

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