KTM Duke 390: Competing in one of the most competitive segments in the bike market, mid weight motorcycles, there have been few that have captured the performance riders imagination as much as the Duke 390.
For 2025 KTM have even more refined what was already the benchmark in his segment to offer a motorcycle that combines aggressive looks, state of the art technology and track performance in a bike better suited for the mass.
This Austrian-designed Indian-built streetfighter is the epitome of the “Ready to Race” attitude, and it continues to evolve.
KTM Duke 390: Evolution of Design- Sharp and Focused
The Duke 390’s design language says it all about its purpose even before you thumb the starter. The 2025 model retains the aggressive, forward-leaning position that has now become synonymous with Duke models.
Staring at it ready to pounce with its aggressive lines, venomous headlamps and pronounced’ haunch’ needs a strong Fibula.
New in ’25 is a revised color selection with Electronic Orange Metallic, Atlantic Blue and Ebony Black. The premium look is complemented by multi-layered wet paint with clear-gloss graphics to emphasize its muscular shape and reinforce the premium stance.
It’s a pretty sharp-edged tank; it’s not just for looks: “This tank is metal, not plastic, and it gives better knee grip when you’re pushing really hard in the corners.
Duke 290 stays recognized day or night, thanks to its detailed LED head light and iconic duo- color tank. Because what good is blazing a trail if you don’t do it with style!
Heart of the Beast: The Improved LC4c Engine
Under the hood of the 2025 Duke 390 beats the very latest incarnation of KTM’s LC4c single, which is now larger at 399cc compared to the previous 373cc.
That extra capacity coupled with a new cylinder head and gearbox make for a potent motor, which makes a claimed 46 horsepower and 39 Nm of torque – pretty remarkable for a big single in this class.
The engine improvements go beyond displacement. The 2025 is more linear with less aggressive throttle and funny enough, light on its feet compared to the 2019!
Put it all together, and that equals a bike that feels not only more powerful but also more manageable, all the more so when weaving through city traffic where you’re constantly flicking the bike from side to side.
What’s so special about this engine is how it feels. Whereas so many singles feel breathless in the more elevated end of the rev range, the Duke 390’s engine always stays eager and sprightly.
The power delivery is linear but thrilling, with ample low-end stomp to negotiate through city traffic and plenty of top-end power for highway cruising or track days.
The even-shifting, responsive six-speed transmission is all new, as is the standard slipper clutch preventing rear-wheel lock during hard downshifting—at least one of the bike’s many performance enhancements easily doubling as a safety asset.
Chassis/Suspension: Designed to be precise
The Duke 390 has always been a well-telegraphed handler and the 2025 version takes it up a notch. Chassis as well is two-part, welded from a tubular steel section trellis main frame attached to cast-off pressure aluminum alloy subframe.
It’s a really nice mix – as the two provide great twisty-inducing torsional rigidity while making sure things stay light enough for nimble responses.
Fully adjustable suspension is one of the biggest changes for 2025. The front end is equipped with 43mm WP APEX open cartridge forks with adjustable compression and rebound so that riders can dial in the front-end feel to their liking.
On the back, the rear WP APEX shock absorber has a separate piston that provides rebound and preload adjustability and bases comfort and traction.
Claimed wet weight is sub-175 kg but it feels that all of that is sitting below your back pocket because the Duke 390 is flickable, reacts to command inputs with very little fuss and just holds onto lines through corners with total precision.
They are also responsible for the off-set placement of the rear shock absorber—another key feature of the new model’s aggressive styling and its airbox volume being larger and the seat height being shorter than the outgoing unit in a masterpiece of functional packaging.
Kit: Race-Based Knowledge Suite
Easily the most impressive thing about the 2025 Duke 390 is the level of tech that it offers which is light years ahead of what you would have expected in a bike that only costs 5 grand to begin with.
At the heart of this is the 5” bonded glass TFT display, which is also accessed by illuminated switch cubes that have 4-way menu switches for control over the various systems on the bike.
For 2025, the bike is getting a full suite of rider modes. STREET mode (default) allows for full engine and throttle performance for maximum acceleration and PASSION compliance while RAIN mode is more focused on smoothness and intervention of electronic systems to aid with slippery conditions.
New in 2025, TRACK mode changes the display graphics to provide race details such as an enlarged tachometer, lap timer and gear position indicator.
The Duke 390 also gets some top-notch electronics such as cornering ABS and supermoto ABS modes. The latter provides riders with the ability to turn off rear-wheel ABS while keeping up front protection (pointless for me but very good for sliding it into corners on a spirited afternoon ride).
And it doesn’t skimp on connectivity, either. The 2025 Duke 390 is also equipped with smartphone connectivity which allows you to control your music, call and receive and turn-by-turn navigation, all on the TFT screen.
This mix of performance and convenience allows the Duke 390 to be as efficient as a commuter as it’s in the canyons on the weekends.
Ergonomics and Comfort: Dream of Versatility
Don’t be scared off by the Duke 390’s radical looks, because as bold as it may be, KTM has managed to toe the line between sport and practicality.
Thickened seat foam and a redesigned base provides both rider and passenger with exceptional comfort, while the new shape (narrower at the front, but tapering wider to the rear) makes it easier to bring your feet into contact with the ground when at a stop, a concern for many smaller riders.
The seat height is 820mm as standard – although an optional lower seat from KTM PowerParts drops it to 800mm for vertically challenged riders.
Components include lightweight forged aluminum footpeg hangers and footpegs offering superb grip for balance while shifting through the range gears or braking aggressively into the next turn.
The handlebars are far enough forward to give the rider a bit of a sporty lean while still feeling ok on longer rides.
That well-considered riding triangle works in conjunction with the narrow middle of the KLR, putting you atop a machine that immediately feels at home, be you picking your way through downtown gridlock or pushing the boundaries of your local mountain pass.
Frame: Confidence Around Every Corner Brakes: Panic Stopper
Helping to manage the Duke 390’s impressive performance are high-performance brakes, which give strong, constant stopping power across a wide range of conditions. While at the back is a 240mm disc with a twin-piston caliper.
Larger disc dimensions compared to previous generation also provides better cooling and with more brute stopping power, topping off this package is the fact they’re also more durable and last longer — ideal for track days or fast street riding in the hills where brakes really take a hammering!
Back-biased braking torque is controlled by a new cornering ABS system tuned with a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU), which effectively prevents lock-up by modulating brake pressure according to lean angle.
This is an extremely sophisticated system which acts as a comforting safety net without being overbearing in everyday riding.
Value Proposition: High, Not At A Premium Price
Even with the premium features and performance, the 2025 KTM Duke 390 comes at a price of about ₹2,95,000 (ex-showroom) in the Indian market.
That puts it at the premium level of the segment, but one that offers excellent value given its high-tech package and race-derived engineering.
This is a great deal more than the initial sale. The Duke 390 is known for low ownership costs, and the 2025 model increases maintenance intervals further.
The first being at 1,000km, then major services at 10,000km intervals and that is fair for a high-end performing machine.
An ever-growing network of KTM dealer ensures that KTM service is always at hand on the road and with the introduction of friendlier Duke owners, it wasn’t going to get any easier for its competition.
For a lot of riders, a sensible purchase, reasonable maintenance cost and healthy support community make the Duke 390 their ticket into higher-performing motorcycling.
The Ride: It’s More than a Series of Parts
Technical specifications and numbers can outline a motorcycle’s potential, but they can’t quantify the intangible nature of the ride.
The 2025 Duke 390 transfers a raw sense of connection between rider and machine that emits a spirit for thrashing about while still catering for those learning the ropes.
Inputs are met with immediacy and accuracy and its easy to put the bike where you want it on the road. The engine’s nature provides plenty of thrills to hold the attention of more proficient pilots yet is still easy to manage for those with more modest saddle time.
The electronics package is somehow a safety net, though it does little to blunt the rudimentary mechanical experience that’s the very essence of why motorcycles possess such a special place in the heart.
But more significantly, every trip is an absolute adventure on the 390. In the city or on the open road, the Diavel – inspired by the contemporary custom scene – is a style icon that integrates with advanced technology to form a 21st century, high performance muscle bike, designed to deliver authentic Ducati performance.
It is this sense of emotion, more than any particular feature or spec, that has won over a loyal stable of fans for the Duke 390.
KTM Duke 390: Up the middle Business Class bar.
In the posts about the 2025 KTM Duke 390 this model doesn’t stay true to the ethos of the series as a pioneering motorcycle in the mid capacity class.
With a high level of technological development already invested in his design, and packed into a design that looks impossibly cool, KTM has produced a machine that should be accessible to the seasoned fan while also tempting to the committed newcomer.
What makes it so special is the way it brings high-performance biking within the reach of the everyman. Up until now technologies and innovations that came with rather high price tag are finally within easy reach, enabling more riders to enjoy the special ride that only a fine tuned machine can offer.
In an age of specialization, the 390 Duke does a remarkably good impression of a bike with split personalities: a commuter from Monday to talk about it Wednesday; a canyon-carving hooligan on cappuccino skis through the weekend; and a scratch-day play bike for those track days where…
you know… everyone shows up on the big bores, so you can crack the throttle wide open down the straights without getting rearrested for modulating the atmosphere.
Featuring unmatched flexibility and its characteristic, dynamic design, it masters a range of applications on the racetrack, in the city, and on the highway; no one rides like a KTM DUKE 390 rider.
While motorcycling continues to evolve in response to shifting regulations and ridership trends, the Duke 390 shows that the future holds plenty of promise for enthusiasts who appreciate the analogue connection between a specified rider, and a carefully considered machine designed to move them around said place.