Alright, let’s talk about my little experiment with my 2016 KTM Duke 390. I was itching to see just how fast this thing could really go, you know, push it to its limits.
So, I picked a nice, long stretch of open road. It was early morning, hardly any traffic, just me and my Duke. I made sure my tires were good, chain lubed, and I was geared up. Safety first, right?
Getting Ready
First things first, I warmed up the engine properly. I let it idle for a bit, then took a few easy laps, gradually increasing the speed. I wanted everything to be nice and smooth before going all out. I mean it is a single-cylinder, 373cc engine, so need to be kind to the machine.
The Run
- Phase 1: I started accelerating, shifting through the gears. This bike picks up speed pretty quick. I was hitting 60 mph in what felt like no time at all. Did some research online and found out it should be around 4.19 seconds or so, not bad.
- Phase 2: Kept pushing, the engine was roaring, and the wind was really starting to hit me. I crouched down a bit to reduce the drag.
- Phase 3: Now, I was really flying. The speedometer was climbing steadily, 80… 90… 100 mph. The bike felt stable, but you could definitely feel the vibrations. I guess reaching 100 km/h in about 4.34 seconds is not too shabby.
- Phase 4: I saw the needle hit around 104 mph, and it felt like it was starting to plateau. The engine was screaming, but it didn’t seem to have much more to give. I read somewhere the top speed should be around 106 mph, but you know, wind resistance and my weight, all that plays a part. The quarter-mile time, they say, is about 13.30 seconds, hitting around 96.3 mph. Seems about right from what I was feeling.
Afterthoughts
Honestly, it was a bit of a rush. I didn’t maintain that top speed for long, just wanted to see what the bike could do. I eased off the throttle, let the bike coast down, and pulled over to take a breather.
I checked the bike over, everything seemed fine. It’s a solid machine, that’s for sure. It’s not the fastest bike out there, but it’s definitely got some kick to it. Some folks online were saying they could hit around 84 mph indicated on their Duke 200, which is not surprising given the power-to-weight ratio, even with a 100kg rider.
Would I do it again? Probably not on a regular basis. It’s fun to test the limits, but it’s also good to be responsible. Plus, there was this one time with a demo 390 that I easily hit 90 on, and I reckon it could have gone faster, but the conditions weren’t exactly ideal.
Anyway, that’s my story of testing the top speed of my 2016 KTM Duke 390. It’s a fun little bike, and now I know exactly what it’s capable of.
