The KTM Duke 390 has smitten most of the international motorcycling journalists who managed to get astride it.
The 375cc naked bike impresses with its 44bhp, a high power to weight ratio and a nimble chassis. Earlier, we brought you a video showing what the Duke 390 is capable of. The motorcycle accelerates from 0-100 kph in about 6 seconds and reaches 130 before 10 seconds! Review reports suggest that the bike manages a top speed of 160 kmph!
That is one hell of a performance from a bike which is expected to be priced around Rs. 2 lakhs. Thanks to the heavy localization, the Duke 390 gives its rivals a run for their money.
KTM has already announced that the Duke 390 will be launched in India by mid-2013. Motoroids.com reports that the motorcycle would be launched in 30-45 days time and the deliveries would begin in June. Bajaj has already started building the bikes at its Chakan facility near Pune.
While the KTM Duke 200 comes shod with locally produced rubbers, the Duke 390 employs extra grippy Metzler tires which are must to lay all the power on the road. The tires are expected to be made available in the KTM stores once you wear out the original set.
The KTM Duke 390 is easily the most anticipated bike of the year. With its class leading performance and reasonably good fuel economy, the naked sportsbike shows immense potential.
[Source: Motoroids.com]