The 2020 BS6 KTM 390 Duke has been launched. Let’s See How It Performs.
The 390 Duke had previously been updated in 2017 with major updates to the bike’s frame, body work, electronics and engine. Now KTM has launched the 2020 BS6 390 Duke with a few new features and a BS6 compliant engine.
Visuals
The bike now features two new colours with updated stickering other than that, the bike is visually the same with the LED headlamp and DRL, muscular tank shrouds, split-seats, and a TFT instrument cluster which allows for Bluetooth connectivity with a phone for call notifications and music playback control, ABS mode controls with On,Off and SuperMoto Mode (Rear Wheel ABS Off), a new option for toggling the Bi-Directional Quickshifter on and off. The overall build quality of the motorcycle is quite good with very less vibrations, good quality welds at joints and no panel gaps.
Engine
The engine is the same 373.2 cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, DOHC engine found on the older models but it is now BS6 compliant. The power figures have not changed and it still produces 43.5 Hp of power and 37 Nm of torque. The exhaust system has been updated with a new catalytic converter and has been rerouted under the engine instead of the side, this has resulted in a 4 Kg increase in kerb weight and the bike now weighs 167 Kg.
The bi-directional quickshifter works well, but only after 2000 rpm, below that the gear shifts are very clunky. This happens because the quickshifter found on the motorcycle is a electronic one, which works by sensing the mechanical movement of the gear lever rather than a conventional one, in which there is a sensor on the shift rod. Still quick-shifting is not required in low speed riding so it should be okay but we hope that KTM is able to tweak it a bit and improve it’s performance.
Handling
Even after gaining weight the 2020 BS6 KTM Duke 390 is still as nimble as before and rockets through corners very easily. All thanks to the Split-Trellis Frame and the suspension, which includes a set of WP Open Catridge USD Forks (with 43 mm travel) at the front and a WP Monoshock at the rear.
In the braking department it gets the same 320 mm disc up front with a Four-Piston radial fixed caliper and a 230 mm disc at the rear with a Single-Piston floating caliper, both of them are paired to a dual-channel ABS system by Bosch.
Final Thoughts
The 2020 BS6 KTM 390 Duke is a refresh with new colour options and a bi-directional quickshifter, other than that the bike is the same corner rocket it has been since the beginning and handles and performs quite well. It is one of the most powerful motorcycles in this range and beats the lower priced TVS Apache RR310 and the higher priced BMW G310 R, Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the Yamaha YZF R3 by a big margin with it’s only competitor in terms of performance being the Kawasaki Ninja 400 but the price difference is just too high to compare these two.
The 2020 BS6 KTM 390 Duke is now available in two color options: Ceramic White, Silver Metallic and is now priced Rs 5,000 higher than the BS4 model and now retails at Rs 2,52,928.
*Price indicated is ex-showroom, New Delhi (April 2020).
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Also See
2020 TVS RR310 BS6 Review- What Are The Changes
BMW G310 GS vs KTM 390 Adventure Comparison
2020 Yamaha FZ 25, FZS 25 BS6 Pre-Bookings Open
