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Perfect London commuter bike KTM 390 Duke?

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Val
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Joined: 03 Nov 2012
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PostPosted: 22:07 - 23 Nov 2012    Post subject: Perfect London commuter bike KTM 390 Duke? Reply with quote
Perfect London commuter bike KTM 390 Duke?

what do you think about it:

https://www.ktm.com/gb/naked-bike/390-duke/highlights.html#.UK_lH2cyos9
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 22:16 - 23 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
Perfect London commuter bike = C90 cub.

20,000 cabbies can't be wrong. And even if they are, they wont admit it.
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map
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Joined: 14 Jun 2004
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PostPosted: 22:23 - 23 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
stinkwheel wrote:
Perfect London commuter bike = C90 cub...

...but do they go south of the river at night?

valko wrote:
Perfect London commuter bike KTM 390 Duke?
what do you think about it:
https://www.ktm.com/gb/naked-bike/390-duke/highlights.html#.UK_lH2cyos9

IMHO as a toy it's ok.
As a commuter it's lacking certain things, like a screen/fairing for a little weather protection. Plus if it's a commuter then I tend to carry stuff, can't see where to put it on that.

Riding position may be slightly higher than normal, so view over traffic improved for spotting the gaps. Then an Africa Twin, TDM or any other of that ilk has been doing that for years.

So, it might be a commuter for you but IMHO not the best.

Are you're looking for some justification to buy it or some acceptance/recognition of your choice? If you're buying it to fit in or even show you're different then I really question those motives. Just get the bike because you like it. That's all the reason/justification required.
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G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 11:04 - 24 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
Taxi drivers use cubs because they're very cheap on fuel and reasonably reliable.
If that's your main criteria, fair enough; me, I generally want speed and safety.

The KTM will be lacking power and has widish bars.
As a commuter, probably won't be as good as a £700 cb500 - more likely to be nicked too. I expect it's pretty slow and a bit lumpy.
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c_dug
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PostPosted: 13:39 - 24 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
The more I consider it the more I think the perfect bike for filtering around London would be a supermoto with clip-ons.

Or maybe a Suzuki Goose Thinking
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blurredman
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PostPosted: 14:30 - 24 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
The best commuter bike is something you don't take too much pride in.
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Val
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PostPosted: 15:00 - 24 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
ok I confess - it is not the perfect commute, but I just really like it a lot Laughing

For some unknown to me yet reasons I do have a soft spot for all KTMs, probably because they still do two strokes and all four strokes they do are kind of cool mean bikes Cool
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G
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Joined: 02 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 15:11 - 24 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
valko wrote:

For some unknown to me yet reasons I do have a soft spot for all KTMs, probably because they still do two strokes and all four strokes they do are kind of cool mean bikes Cool

Except for the smaller dukes, which are slow boring bikes with a bit of slap on Wink.

Suspect the same is true of the 390 by it's good mpg claims.
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Val
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PostPosted: 16:21 - 24 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
G wrote:
Except for the smaller dukes, which are slow boring bikes with a bit of slap on Wink.

Suspect the same is true of the 390 by it's good mpg claims.


Do not bet your money on that, for example 690 Duke has 78 mpg and you hardly can find more fun 600cc bike although there are a lot of boring bikes there doing 50 mpg Razz
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Irn-Bru
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PostPosted: 17:03 - 24 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
No way does the Duke 690 do 78mpg, my 690 SMC (same engine) did 60mpg at a push which is still impressive if you ask me for a 654cc 65bhp thumper - all down to the FI really.

I don't think any KTM is a suitable commuter bike, they are absolute thief magnets, I used to browse the KTM forum when I had my 690 and it was sickening how often stolen bike threads popped up.
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G
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PostPosted: 17:12 - 24 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
valko wrote:

Do not bet your money on that, for example 690 Duke has 78 mpg and you hardly can find more fun 600cc bike although there are a lot of boring bikes there doing 50 mpg Razz

I have a KTM690 enduro which has an identical engine to the Duke.
It doesn't do 78mpg. In reality, for most people a cb500 with better suspension and wide bars would be just as fun for a lot less money.
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Rogerborg
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PostPosted: 22:46 - 24 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
Irn-Bru wrote:
I don't think any KTM is a suitable commuter bike, they are absolute thief magnets

I was thinking it would probably be a great way to get to where you're going, but not back again.
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pinkyfloyd
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PostPosted: 01:59 - 25 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
map wrote:


Are you're looking for some justification to buy it or some acceptance/recognition of your choice? If you're buying it to fit in or even show you're different then I really question those motives. Just get the bike because you like it. That's all the reason/justification required.


This man talks truth.

I'm not a big fan of KTM bikes but I do like that one. Its kind of cute.
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Val
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PostPosted: 19:40 - 16 Dec 2012    Post subject: when you think than it cant get better Reply with quote
And they plan to have faired and touring versions later
Laughing



https://blog.motorcycle.com/2012/12/03/manufacturers/ktm/ktm-developing-faired-and-touring-versions-of-390-duke/

https://blog.motorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/120312-ktm-moto3-production-racer.jpg
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Irn-Bru
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PostPosted: 20:00 - 16 Dec 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
Not much of a touring seat eh Razz
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mysterious_rider
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PostPosted: 21:36 - 16 Dec 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
It's not really a commuter, it's a town hackabout isn't it. Still, I'm sure it'd be fun in the twisties.
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Glenn Ashby
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PostPosted: 11:24 - 15 Jan 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
stinkwheel wrote:
Perfect London commuter bike = C90 cub.

20,000 cabbies can't be wrong. And even if they are, they wont admit it.


+1 agree with Stinkwheel because I own one and used to use it for work. Very Happy
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