To attract lower 18 percent GST, Bajaj has brought out a downsized 350cc KTM 390 Duke (among multiple other Triumph, KTM and Bajaj models) and save for the smaller 349cc engine, this bike is identical to the 398cc which is now called the 390 Duke R. We've been able to spend some quality time in the seat of the 350cc 390 Duke and put its performance to the test.
350cc KTM 390 Duke Acceleration
In outright terms, it's not surprising that the 350cc 390 Duke is slower than the 398cc model. The sprint to 100kph from a standstill took a full second more on the 350cc 390 Duke than it did on the 398cc model. However, despite being a slower bike in terms of pure performance, the 350 Duke is still an entertaining machine especially once the tachometer crosses 6000rpm! Its acceleration performance is still a little quicker than the Triumph Speed 400 and the RE Guerilla 450.
350cc KTM 390 Duke Roll-on acceleration
Speaking of the tacho crossing a certain threshold, roll on acceleration is where you'll genuinely notice the displacement deficit to the 398cc 390 Duke. While in isolation these timings are still fairly respectable, once you've felt the mid range punch of the 398cc model, the 350cc Duke feels a little watered down and mellow in comparison. Where you will notice this most is that the Duke no longer spins up its rear wheel on Mumbai’s slippery roads as easily as before. The low and mid range are noticeably weaker and the engine only offers that trademark KTM 390 explosion of power once you hit about 8,000rpm One small silver lining here is that the 350cc Duke felt slightly smoother than the 398cc model, although it's still no benchmark when it comes to overall NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) levels.
350cc KTM 390 Duke Braking
One area where the 350cc Duke remains identical to the 390 Duke R is in terms of braking performance. There's plenty of power and feedback available, and the 350cc Duke has one of the best braking setups in this class. You can even deactivate ABS at the rear, for some mischievous behaviour like pulling long slides and backing it into turns - something we definitely did not indulge in (written with a completely straight face).
We were also able to subject the 350cc Duke to our routine fuel efficiency tests and the bike returned 23.06kpl when ridden at a sedate and gentle pace in Mumbai city keeping pace with the usual traffic. Meanwhile, cruising on the highway and adhering to the 80kph legal speed limit, the bike returned 27.21kpl.
350cc KTM 390 Duke specification and price
Except for the lower output, different colours and graphics and the Rs 62,000 price saving over the 398cc 390 Duke R, the 350cc Duke is identical to it in every regard. Sure the hallowed 390 Duke name is now on a bike that is objectively a slower and less exciting machine - which some people will find sacrilegious. Truth be told, you'd only know the difference in performance if you were familiar with how the previous bike felt. In isolation, the 350cc Duke is still an engaging and exciting machine at a decent price point and the huge price difference will convince most customers to make the performance sacrifice. For those who simply can’t bring themselves to do that, KTM thankfully continues to sell the earlier version which is now called the 390 Duke R.
