The smallest Duke from KTM has been improved in power and refinement. KTM bikes, especially the smaller ones aimed at new riders, have a youthful and sporty appeal. The new 390 Duke has a new frame, a better engine, and a more aggressive look with a redesigned LED headlight. KTM claims the new chassis offers better rigidity and feedback than before. Despite these upgrades and a premium finish, the Duke's price remains at $6,299. Does this makes it one of the most advanced entry-level motorcycles available?
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00:00 We are here with the 2024 KTM 390 Duke,
00:04 which might be one of the most feature-rich,
00:06 small displacement naked bikes,
00:08 and a bike that is 90% new for 2024.
00:12 So the changes start with an all new engine.
00:14 It's a little bit more compact than before,
00:16 and actually is a larger displacement.
00:18 Now you've got a larger airbox on this bike,
00:21 and overall a just more refined package.
00:24 A couple other things,
00:25 you've got a transmission with an updated shift drum,
00:28 and new fifth and sixth gear.
00:30 You've got an all new chassis,
00:31 it's gonna be more rigid than before,
00:33 offering a little bit more stability.
00:36 You've got adjustable WP suspension,
00:38 and out back here you've got a offset shock
00:41 that allowed KTM to actually lower the seat height
00:44 on this bike.
00:45 Sounds silly to talk about electronics
00:47 on a small displacement machine,
00:49 but man, this is an impressive electronics package for 2024.
00:53 You've got street and rain ride modes,
00:55 adjustable trash control,
00:57 ABS with a available super moto mode,
00:59 and a five inch TFT display.
01:02 Now we've seen TFT displays
01:03 on KTM small displacement lineup before,
01:06 but this one has a little different operating system,
01:08 and just feels more well featured.
01:11 Another thing that I will add is that KTM has updated
01:13 the switch gear on this bike.
01:15 It is really nice feel,
01:17 and again, just on a small displacement machine,
01:20 it's really nice to see these features.
01:22 Adding to that,
01:23 you've got adjustable brake and clutch lever.
01:25 Now all of that is wrapped in an updated design
01:29 that really pulls a lot of inspiration
01:31 from KTM's larger displacement, Super Duke naked bikes.
01:35 It sounds funny to get excited about the looks
01:37 of a small displacement machine,
01:39 but to KTM, it's really important
01:41 to build in that premium look and feel,
01:43 because hey, in some parts of the world,
01:45 this might be the largest displacement machine
01:47 that is available to riders.
01:49 Not necessarily the case in the US,
01:51 but what that does mean for those folks in the States
01:54 is that you have an entry level machine
01:56 that has this premium look and feel to it.
01:59 One of the things that stands out is these tank covers,
02:02 gives this bike almost a big bike look to it,
02:04 and helps it feel really comfortable from the saddle.
02:07 Now, what is this bike like to ride?
02:09 Well, let's be honest, it's mostly an around town bike,
02:12 and we didn't really get to do a lot of that today
02:14 on our first ride with it.
02:16 We were kind of up in the canyons,
02:17 riding some twisty roads,
02:18 getting a little bit of highway riding in,
02:20 and it is surprising how versatile this bike is,
02:23 and what it is capable of.
02:25 I remember riding some of these small displacement bikes,
02:27 you know, seven, eight years ago,
02:29 and it felt like they were pretty limited.
02:31 And now you can get out on some open roads
02:33 and have a ton of fun.
02:35 Now, this thing still feels really nimble and lightweight,
02:38 but there's a great sense of stability to that.
02:40 That's great because for the newer rider,
02:43 they're gonna have that sense of control,
02:45 but it also allows them to grow with the bike,
02:48 and to feel like they're honing their skills
02:49 and getting faster as a rider.
02:52 A big thing there is gonna be that adjustable suspension.
02:55 I think it's really nice to have that
02:56 on an entry-level package,
02:58 and have people be able to adjust that suspension,
03:00 not only to accommodate them,
03:02 but help them learn how to tune their motorcycle
03:04 to work for them.
03:05 Is this the most capable suspension package in motorcycling?
03:08 No, it's not.
03:09 We're still working with an entry-level machine
03:11 for the most part,
03:12 but there's a really good sense of control,
03:14 and the clickers do allow you to change the feel
03:17 of the motorcycle,
03:18 and tune it to the type of riding that you're doing.
03:20 We do have a slipper clutch this year,
03:22 and that makes a big difference in around town riding,
03:25 some stop and go stuff, really light feel,
03:27 and it's really just a nice, enjoyable motorcycle to ride.
03:30 Power is very tractable with an immediate delivery.
03:34 Out on the open road,
03:35 you do start to feel a little bit of vibrations,
03:37 about 6,500 RPM,
03:39 and what I will say is that it does have a bit
03:41 of a narrow power band.
03:43 Best power is gonna be from about 7,000 to 9,9500 RPM.
03:48 That makes this thing a little bit busy
03:49 when you are riding at a higher speed.
03:52 You have to work the shift lever pretty hard
03:54 to keep it in that sweet spot,
03:55 but again, that's not really what this bike
03:57 was developed for.
03:59 This is gonna be more for that around town riding,
04:01 but you do still have that performance to pick up the pace,
04:04 and again, grow with the motorcycle.
04:06 As for the electronics,
04:08 are traction control and things like Supermoto ABS necessary
04:11 on a bike like this?
04:12 Maybe not, but it is nice to have that extra sense
04:15 of security on a bike.
04:17 What I will say is this TFT is absolutely gorgeous.
04:21 Not only is the display crystal clear
04:24 and easy to read at a glance,
04:25 but the new switch gear that KTM is using,
04:28 it's just really easy to use,
04:30 and it is such an intuitive system.
04:33 This has all of the features and niceties
04:36 of a big displacement, really high-end motorcycle.
04:39 That is really cool for new riders.
04:42 Another important thing to consider
04:44 is that lower seat height.
04:45 It feels really good for a shorter rider.
04:48 Not an issue I normally have,
04:49 but I do appreciate when a manufacturer addresses that.
04:53 It's just gonna give you that little extra sense of control,
04:56 and I think help people kind of get comfortable
04:59 as they're growing with this motorcycle.
05:01 What you have in this new 2024 390 Duke
05:05 is a bike that looks really good,
05:08 but not only that, it has the premium components
05:11 that you normally wouldn't really expect to find
05:14 on a small displacement, entry-level machine.
05:17 Yes, there are still going to be some limitations.
05:19 Again, this isn't the most capable suspension package,
05:22 and that engine starts to feel a little bit uncomfortable
05:25 at a really quick pace.
05:27 What you do get is a bike
05:28 that is gonna be a lot of fun around town,
05:31 really capable, and just a machine
05:33 that helps you feel comfortable
05:35 as you're growing into motorcycling.
05:37 So those are our thoughts from our first day
05:39 with the 390 Duke.
05:41 Hope you enjoyed the video.
05:42 If you've got any questions, drop them below.
05:44 We'll try to get you answers.
05:46 Be sure to hit that like button and subscribe to the videos.
05:49 Hey, also don't forget that there is gonna be a full review
05:52 on this bike up at CycleWorld.com.
05:54 We hope you check it out and get more information
05:57 and more from our time with the bike.
05:59 Thanks for tuning in.
06:00 We'll see you on the next one.
06:01 (motorcycle engine roaring)
06:05 (motorcycle engine roaring)
06:09 (thunder rumbling)