Q.Are KTM dukes 200 or 390 worth for daily city commute?

[USER="6"]Roshun[/USER] One remedy for this could be upgrading to a higher pressure radiator cap. The senior road test editor of motorcyclist magazine, Ari Henning has used one for his RC 390. Here's what he has used: [ATTACH=CONFIG]n17682[/ATTACH] PC: [URL="http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/long-term-ktm-rc390-how-to-protect-rcs-radiator-0"]motorcyclistonline.com[/URL] This $ 20 investment is quite effective in not only keeping the coolant inside but also increase its boiling point so that it stays stable when the engine is pushed hard. However, an important point to note is that using any higher pressure-rated caps may compromise the entire cooling system as the system may not be able to handle the pressure which the cap does.

[URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/6"]Roshun[/URL] This is the first time I am hearing of this issue. I have read some travelogues where people have done ladakh trips on the D390 and they haven't mentioned any issues other than the need to carry a lot of fuel owing to the low capacity fuel tank. Some have also mentioned that the fuel efficiency improved at higher altitudes helping them avoid frequent refueling. I think this may be a case with coolant filled above recommended levels. The heating problem with the Duke 390 had more to do with the fan design. The initial fan was designed to throw the hot air towards your legs. This was okay in high speeds as it used to get diverted with the wind however in stop go traffic it was quite bad. In my version, in 2015, they changed the design of the fan so is that it blows air towards the other direction in low speeds. That has improved things a lot as compared to the earlier version . Many , who had the 2014 version have upgraded the fan to the newer version for the same reason. As the fan setup was similar and the assembly was more or less plug and play it was a simple and sensible modification.

[URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/12"]Arjun[/URL] I haven't heard about the bikes heating up that much in city traffic, but recently a person I know took his KTM 390 to Ladakh. There, what was happening is that, the coolant would overflow and spill out from the coolant reservoir. Have you faced this issue? I suspect it is because of the altitude, which is causing the radiator cap to exceed the recommended pressure. What do you think Arjun?

[URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/40"]Praveen[/URL] Mine is the 2015 version. It came with an improved fan and a slipper clutch. I haven't tried changing coolant yet, as my commute being short, heating hasn't been much of an issue. Most of the time I reach home by the time the fan starts. Its not a problem in long drives as engine remains cool in higher speeds. The heating happens mostly in stop go traffic and during waits at traffic signals. When its running, the heat is hardly felt. I won't consider that as a major problem, but for city driving, I feel its quite a pain to keep the 390 on a leash. The Duke 200 will feel more at home.

[URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/12"]Arjun[/URL] Oh yes, I forgot to mention about the heating issue. I heard the 2016-batch (Both Duke and RC) came up with a redesigned fan for the radiator, which has considerably reduced the heating issues. Which year model is yours? Also, many recommend 'Engine Ice' coolant for the Duke and RC to improve the engine's cooling systems. Have you tried it? Apparently, it is quite effective it seems. [URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/7539"]rakesh.manju[/URL] According to a few dealers, the 2017 Duke is expected to hit the showrooms in April, next year. The new Duke is expected to come with a host of upgrades including a bigger fuel tank, brighter lights, ride-by-wire throttle and a slight bump in power at the same time ensuring reduced emissions to comply with the future emission norms. [URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/posts/1169-ktm-to-launch-adventure-series-may-add-250duke-to-lineup?post=12315"]Click this link[/URL] to know more about the 2017 390 Duke.

[URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/7539"]Rakesh.manju[/URL] As [USER="40"]Praveen[/USER] mentioned, I own a Duke 390 and I use it for my daily office commute. Even though my commute is not very long, I face heavy traffic. The Duke 390 has ample power and it helps to overtake quickly and squeeze into small gaps before others can think of making a move. While pulling out from signals, you can pull out quick and can get unrestricted traffic for a while. The brakes are superb and you would always feel in control. However, the engine does heat up in traffic. When you are stuck in traffic and then get heat on your legs, it gets more frustrating.Also, for commute like 7-8kms in heavy traffic it does get frustrating. The Duke 200, is a more controlled bike which has decent pickup and doesn't heat much. I have taken the 390 on a few highway trips and its a charm on the highway. The seats are hard and that gets painful after a while but that can be taken care of with gel seats. For city use, I would recommend the Duke 200, as it heats lesser and has a more controlled power delivery. It takes time to get used to riding the 390 in heavy traffic and knowing you have a lot of power to tap and bring unable to do so is all the more frustrating.

[URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/7539"]Rakesh.manju[/URL] The Duke twins pack plenty of power and the 390 Duke comes with the added safety of ABS unit. Both bikes are quite capable for both city commuting and highway jaunts. However, the bikes have short gearing because the engine is kept on the boil to extract maximum performance. So, you'll have to shift gears often at low speeds. They are primarily performance machines and are not exactly designed for relaxed riding. But the drivetrain is so versatile that many riders use Dukes for touring purposes as well. The 390 Duke has a really long sixth gear which enables the bike to comfortably cruise at around 120 kph without much strain to the engine. [URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/12"]Arjun[/URL] will be able to help you out more on the everyday usability of the bike as he himself owns one. Cheers!