RE: KTM 390 Duke: review
Discussion
markrc said:
Looks great, sounds like they've got away with a big bike look, small bike feel without feeling too tiny - I'm interested!
How tall are you Markrc? I'm 6'1 and I was really interested in the 200 to replace my GS500F which got written off. It was a really cool looking machine but the bars where way too close to be comfortable, felt like my hands where against my chest when I sat on that, article says it uses the same chassis. For the record If I were shorter I would definately have given the 200 a shot, it was such a neat little thing. I bet this one is a cracker (if it fits)
Gavlar83 said:
could turn out be a nice weekday commuter, cheap to run, and (with full off road wheels) and nice little field bike at the weekend
I'm not one that goes for low power for a commuter personally.After trying a variety of bikes on a 6.2 mile commute through the centre of reading (I also had the option of circa 15 miles on the motorway, which didn't take much longer) I got a 2006 GSXR1000 just for commuting. Other bikes I used included a CCM404 (DRZ engine) and KTM690, also used a NSR125 in the past for the same journey.
If I'm going out for 'fun', I quite like to have fairly low power so I can 'use' it. If I'm trying to get A to B as quickly as possibly with as little effort as possible, I want lots of power and narrow bars.
As for the field bike - I suspect you'd have more fun on an old CG125 or something, as you'd be happier to chuck it about and not worry about losing value.
MC Bodge said:
Good stuff.
A small, light bike with a poky single. Bikes like these are to be encouraged.
I wonder how many people will bother to learn to ride motorbikes in the UK in the future, though?
To be fair, with bikes like this on offer suitable for ages 19+ that have passed their (A2 or higher) test then it should encourage plenty. If you're after a more sportsbike look then there's the Ninja 300 and if you need to get yourself to and from work there's the Honda offerings.A small, light bike with a poky single. Bikes like these are to be encouraged.
I wonder how many people will bother to learn to ride motorbikes in the UK in the future, though?
People seem to forget you can still be completed unrestricted at 21, you just need to retest both modules on the bigger bike after holding the A2 for 2 years.
There is a huge unaddressed market in the fun sector.
That's 250cc-350cc adventure bikes.
The nearest are the Suzuki Van Van 125/200, Yamaha TW200, Derbi Adventure 125, Duke 200/390, Honda CRF250L etc
The Derbi with a 250cc engine would be ideal but I can't see that happening, I'll probably have to make my own
Hopefully one day manufacturers will make us the fun version of the RG1200!
That's 250cc-350cc adventure bikes.
The nearest are the Suzuki Van Van 125/200, Yamaha TW200, Derbi Adventure 125, Duke 200/390, Honda CRF250L etc
The Derbi with a 250cc engine would be ideal but I can't see that happening, I'll probably have to make my own
Hopefully one day manufacturers will make us the fun version of the RG1200!
Globs said:
There is a huge unaddressed market in the fun sector.
That's 250cc-350cc adventure bikes.
The nearest are the Suzuki Van Van 125/200, Yamaha TW200, Derbi Adventure 125, Duke 200/390, Honda CRF250L etc
The Derbi with a 250cc engine would be ideal but I can't see that happening, I'll probably have to make my own
Hopefully one day manufacturers will make us the fun version of the RG1200!
The problem here is that you've got two different markets - those looking to take their bike on off-road adventures and those mostly in it for the 'style'.That's 250cc-350cc adventure bikes.
The nearest are the Suzuki Van Van 125/200, Yamaha TW200, Derbi Adventure 125, Duke 200/390, Honda CRF250L etc
The Derbi with a 250cc engine would be ideal but I can't see that happening, I'll probably have to make my own
Hopefully one day manufacturers will make us the fun version of the RG1200!
Of course there's the 125 Varadero that does the adventure style at a slower speed.
If you actually want to go riding off road, there's plenty of smaller bikes that can be adapted - but in these days where a KTM690 enduro weighs less than the new-school 250cc trail bikes, why would you go for a slower version?
In my experience there's a lot less ewan and thingy wannabes in the lower capacities - they tend to be the sort that will just go out and buy a GS with matching suits etc.
So not sure there is much of a market myself.
Oh and yes - go get yourself a ride on a 690 with a safari tank etc. My 690 took me around the first Hare and Hounds I did and also has taken me on a 7 country tour of Europe include a variety of reasonably-serious off road.
FestivAli said:
How tall are you Markrc? I'm 6'1 and I was really interested in the 200 to replace my GS500F which got written off. It was a really cool looking machine but the bars where way too close to be comfortable, felt like my hands where against my chest when I sat on that, article says it uses the same chassis. For the record If I were shorter I would definately have given the 200 a shot, it was such a neat little thing. I bet this one is a cracker (if it fits)
Hmmmm... I'm 6'2 so looks like that's a no go then. However I'm currently riding a 225 Serow (In Uganda) and although it's pretty (read very) small, I'm coping ok but haven't done any long trips. It's also useful having a smaller bike when you're riding off-road (the conditions of the roads here are terrible).Thanks for your advice!
I own the Duke 200, same bike, smaller engine ( 
) I use it every day to commute no problem. You can get a rack and a box that goes over the pillion seat, kills the awesome looks but you do need it for work commuting. The seat is comfortable enough but does get pretty unbearable if you are on the motorway for a couple of hours. I wouldn't take a pillion on it though for a few reasons; my insurance doesn't cover it, I have a metal rack over the pillion seat which is a ball ache to remove but more importantly that pillion seat may as well not be there its so small, even in the KTM promotional images which show someone pillion on the bike they aren't on the seat properly they are putting all of their weight on the person riding the bike.
I have also had a few reliability niggles such as the engine management light coming on the other day for no reason (I had to idle the bike for 15 minutes to reset the system which seemed a bit stupid)
The stock tyres are a pile of crap
The instruction manual with the bike is translated directly from German so some of the instructions are completely incorrect
It often will jump out of 6th gear into the nothingness between 5th and 6th - to avoid this you have to double and triple check you are properly in 6th gear, it doesn't happen with any other gears.
The speedo now and then, maybe just once a week for a second will flash completely the wrong speed. So often have I been going 60 and as if by magic monetarily done 3mph. I suspect its bad coding on the instrument panel.
Other than those small things after owning the 200cc version for nearly 6 months now everything else has been bliss... well other than the fact that its a 200cc with a tiny underbelly exhaust so sounds like a sit on lawn mower and like hell I can be bothered to pay £400 for a proper exhaust to make it sound better.
) I use it every day to commute no problem. You can get a rack and a box that goes over the pillion seat, kills the awesome looks but you do need it for work commuting. The seat is comfortable enough but does get pretty unbearable if you are on the motorway for a couple of hours. I wouldn't take a pillion on it though for a few reasons; my insurance doesn't cover it, I have a metal rack over the pillion seat which is a ball ache to remove but more importantly that pillion seat may as well not be there its so small, even in the KTM promotional images which show someone pillion on the bike they aren't on the seat properly they are putting all of their weight on the person riding the bike.I have also had a few reliability niggles such as the engine management light coming on the other day for no reason (I had to idle the bike for 15 minutes to reset the system which seemed a bit stupid)
The stock tyres are a pile of crap
The instruction manual with the bike is translated directly from German so some of the instructions are completely incorrect
It often will jump out of 6th gear into the nothingness between 5th and 6th - to avoid this you have to double and triple check you are properly in 6th gear, it doesn't happen with any other gears.
The speedo now and then, maybe just once a week for a second will flash completely the wrong speed. So often have I been going 60 and as if by magic monetarily done 3mph. I suspect its bad coding on the instrument panel.
Other than those small things after owning the 200cc version for nearly 6 months now everything else has been bliss... well other than the fact that its a 200cc with a tiny underbelly exhaust so sounds like a sit on lawn mower and like hell I can be bothered to pay £400 for a proper exhaust to make it sound better.
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