Okay, let’s talk about my 2017 Duke 390 KTM. This bike, man, it’s been a journey, a real rollercoaster. So, I got this thing, right? And for a while, it was smooth sailing. I mean, with regular check-ups, oil changes, and keeping it clean, this bike was purring like a kitten. They say these things can go for 60,000 miles easy if you treat ’em right. And yeah, I was totally babying this machine.
First off, I noticed the bike started running a bit cooler on the highway. I used to always keep an eye on that temperature gauge, and it was sticking around 7/8 bars for longer stretches. That’s way better than before when it would creep up to the 9th bar pretty quick. There was this one time, though, stuck in some gnarly traffic, and it hit the 10th bar. But hey, that’s expected when you’re barely moving.
But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. I started noticing some weird stuff going on. Like, one day, I see moisture in the TFT display. Then the odometer started resetting itself, which was a real pain. And don’t even get me started on the Bluetooth – it kept cutting out, and sometimes the whole screen would just go black. I was like, “What is going on here?”
Then, bam, one of the fork oil seals decided to call it quits. Oil started leaking out, and I knew I had to get that fixed ASAP. So, I took it to the KTM service center, figuring I’d get the clutch switch and side stand checked out while I was at it.
I’d heard whispers about electrical issues with these bikes, and I guess I was starting to see them firsthand. It’s a bit of a bummer, you know? You buy this cool bike, expecting it to be all reliable and stuff, and then these little gremlins start popping up.
Maintenance
- Regular Oil Changes: Kept up with oil changes religiously. Used fully synthetic oil, like the manual said.
- Filter Replacements: Swapped out the oil and air filters on schedule.
- Cleaning: Gave it a good wash and kept the chain lubed.
- Fork Oil Seal Replacement: Got that leaky seal fixed at the service center.
- Clutch Switch and Side Stand Check: Had them looked at while it was in the shop.
But you know what? I still loved the bike. It’s a blast to ride, and when it’s working right, it’s an absolute joy. I just wish these little issues wouldn’t keep popping up. It’s like, come on, KTM, get your act together! I know they say the engine should do 100 if you use fully synthetic oil and keep the bike clean, but I’m starting to have my doubts with all these electrical gremlins.
I guess that’s the thing with these bikes. They’re awesome, but they can be a bit of a headache. You gotta be prepared to deal with some quirks, and maybe have a good mechanic on speed dial.
Anyway, that’s my story with the 2017 Duke 390 KTM. It’s been a wild ride, and who knows what’s gonna happen next. But hey, that’s part of the adventure, right?
