KTM 390 Duke - RIDING IMPRESSION

Hard to believe the builder of a $10,000 dual-sport bike and high-end adventure motorcycles is also responsible for the $4,999 naked bike you see here.

But KTM is able to translate its Ready to Race slogan into fun (and fast) streetbikes even at the entry level.

There isn’t much to give away the little Duke’s low price or Indian manufacture either. The inverted WP fork and single shock deliver good ride quality and keep the chassis well under control, even at trackdays. Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tires help in all respects.

Sure, the steering head nut’s sort of shiny/scratchy polished finish is indicative of lots of India-sourced parts I’ve seen before, but the frame welds and very cool aluminum swingarm look great and are nicely finished. Paint and graphics are well done too.

The jewel here is the 40-horse, DOHC, 373cc single—it absolutely sings. Tractable and quick revving from 2,000 rpm, the engine really wakes up at 7K and keeps pulling to a 40-hp peak. Some engines just seem happy. This is one of them. ByBre (ByBrembo) budget brakes work exceptionally well, but the bike’s light weight aids stopping.

The tach is part of the relatively small LCD instrument display and is difficult to read, but a shift light helps a bunch.

Ergonomics are just roomy enough for my 6-foot-2 frame, but the hard seat challenges your ass to a duel every ride. I was happy to put up with it for the sharp handling and great engine. Just leave some budget for an aftermarket seat and you will smile for every mile.