The KTM 390 Duke was known for its loud styling, explosive mid-range performance and an aggressive nature that made it the benchmark 400cc naked bike in India. In order to avoid the 40 percent GST on motorcycles above 350cc, KTM has downsized the engine to 350cc. We spent a couple of days with the bike to find out if the legend lost its hooligan edge.
Styling and Features
The 399cc model will still be sold alongside this new 350cc Duke and called the 390 Duke R. Visually, not much has changed with the new model. The easiest way to identify the new 350cc Duke from the original 399cc version is the black frame, replacing the orange unit seen on the 390 Duke R. Apart from that, the motorcycle remains identical. You still get the sharp and aggressive styling, TFT display, traction control, launch control, and the bi-directional quickshifter.
Engine, Performance, and Mileage
Just like what Triumph did with its 400 range, KTM has reduced the stroke of the engine from 64mm to 56.15mm while keeping the bore unchanged. The earlier 399cc engine produced 46PS at 8,500rpm and 39Nm at 6,500rpm. The new 350cc motor now makes 41.5PS at 8,600rpm and 33.5Nm at 7,000rpm. That is a sizable drop of 4.5hp and 5.5Nm.
The big difference now is in how the power is delivered. The older 390 Duke had a strong surge in performance from around 5,500rpm, but the new bike feels noticeably more linear and calmer. The big surge in power now arrives much later, closer to 8,000rpm, which means you have to work the engine harder to extract that typically dramatic 390 performance.
That change has made the bike feel less intimidating and easier to control, but also less exciting than before. Then there is refinement. KTM singles have never really been known for smoothness, and unfortunately the downsized engine also feels quite buzzy. Vibrations can be felt through the handlebar, footpegs and even the tank area at certain points in the rev range.
With the previous engine, our two biggest complaints were a weak bottom-end and excessive vibrations. Those negatives are still present with the downsized 350cc engine, perhaps even more pronounced. In our performance tests, the new Duke managed 0-100kph in around 6.2 seconds, roughly one second slower than the earlier 399cc bike. That is still properly quick in the real world, but it no longer has the manic acceleration that made the 390 Duke iconic.
Efficiency is what you would expect with this performance and The Duke returned around 23kpl in the city and 27kpl on the highway, which are respectable numbers considering the performance on offer.
Price and Verdict
The entire reason behind this downsizing was affordability, and on that front, KTM has nailed it. At Rs 2.77 lakh (ex-showroom), the new 350cc 390 Duke is Rs 62,000 cheaper than the Duke R, which is a massive difference. For many buyers, especially younger riders upgrading from smaller motorcycles, the trade-off in performance makes sense. The bike is now friendlier, easier to manage and less likely to get you into trouble every time you twist the throttle.
It is still fast, sharp and will be a significant step up from smaller bikes. But at the same time, it has undeniably lost some of the spice and drama that defined the 390 Duke name, especially in the mid-range. While this is still a good motorcycle, I think it should have been called the 350 Duke because the 390 Duke badge represented something legendary in the Indian performance bike scene and should have been reserved only for the true hooligan.
Rishaad Mody
Dinshaw Magol
