Duke 390 priced at $5K

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mitiasbikes

Well-known member
Wow, this is the best deal for the new bike on the market. Imagine what the SM Version would be like :) comparing that to CBR250 is like comparing CBR250 to Grom.
 
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ratlab

ratlab

Well-known member
Blankpage said:
Thats what I thought for an instant until I realized I had no evidence to support such reasoning.
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a guy on adv forum had one for a year in the phillipines-he had lots of problems,but thinks the u.s. market will sort the warranty claims out better.
 
Roadstergal

Roadstergal

Sergeant Jackrum
Sharky said:
A 390 probably won't be that great of a big track bike. Cart track would be fun though.
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As I mentioned in our review, I was interested in the RC390 until I got a 690 and rode it at the track. At no point did I think, wow, the I-4s just didn't have enough steam on me down the straight - I need to knock 300ccs off of this thing and keep the weight about the same...

Even at the Sears Point kart track, a 300+lb bike is a lot to hustle around, and the rest of the tracks in the area are tighter.

It'd be great for a spec race series for 390s.
 
Burning1

Burning1

I'm scareoused!
RightCoastBias said:
The duke will likely have better suspension as well.

I think the only problem you'll have with one of these is getting one. I have a feeling they'll be like the FZ-09 and be sold before they hit the floor for a while. For the sake of KTM continuing production, I hope that's the case.
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Most dealers were taking preorders before the official announcement. If you want one, you need to be on the list with a deposit.
 
Burning1

Burning1

I'm scareoused!
Sharky said:
A 390 probably won't be that great of a big track bike. Cart track would be fun though.
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It will be fine. My GS 500 was heavier with about the same power output, and it could still run in the A group with the literbikes at sears point.
 
Sharky

Sharky

Well-known member
Burning1 said:
It will be fine. My GS 500 was heavier with about the same power output, and it could still run in the A group with the literbikes at sears point.
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Didn't say you couldn't, but you are going to be spending some cash on rebuilds. I have a Duke and I don't believe for a second that a high strung single from KTM is going to survive very long running pinned on a big track. You will spend more on a rebuild than the cost of an appropriate big track bike. Knock yourself out though.

Oh and see the thread with the review of the 690 Duke...
 
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Burning1

Burning1

I'm scareoused!
Sharky said:
Didn't say you couldn't, but you are going to be spending some cash on rebuilds. I have a Duke and I don't believe for a second that a high strung single from KTM is going to survive very long running pinned on a big track. You will spend more on a rebuild than the cost of an appropriate big track bike. Knock yourself out though.

Oh and see the thread with the review of the 690 Duke...
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If it's anything like the Ninja 250, it won't be an issue to pull low milage engines out of bent frames for rock bottom prices in about 2 years.

There's an appeal to small displacement track bikes that some folks get, and others don't.
 
channelcat

channelcat

Banned
entry level is entry level...one could wring it out on the track for two seasons, then sell it to a noob for $2k to learn on the street. after a year, when the noob is ready to step up, they can sell it for a grand to a gearhead to fix up and love for a while. bottom end starts to go, gets traded for dank, and 80k miles from the factory heads for the scrapyard, and China as mill fodder, and everybody gets to own a KTM for a minute, and everybody comes out a winner. rinse, and repeat.
 
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Donelop

Donelop

Banned
How is riding a 390 Duke any smarter than commuting on a DRZ? Last I checked, thumpers are much harder on themselves when you wring em out on the freeway for too long. Ptwins are a bit more reliable for little bike commuting.
 
channelcat

channelcat

Banned
true. but larger pistons can push higher gear ratios=lower revs. my mpg went down after gearing up, I think cause the motor gets to optimum operating temperature less frequently.
 
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Jacare

Well-known member
Any preferred KTM dealers closer to south bay/ San jose that are still taking deposits. I think I may do something stupid this weekend.
 
mosquito

mosquito

Above all I like to play.
?? Because you want it doesn't make it stupid.

You want it, you can afford it, you'll enjoy it? Those make for good reasons to me.

:ride
 
phocup

phocup

Well-known member
Jacare said:
Any preferred KTM dealers closer to south bay/ San jose that are still taking deposits. I think I may do something stupid this weekend.
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Moto Cafe.

And its not stupid until the contract is signed. You can always have your deposit back when the crates start dropping.
 
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