First Look: 2024 KTM Duke 390

The first KTM Duke – the 620 – appeared nearly 30 years ago, as a 1994 model, and it’s fitting that three decades on, we’re seeing a complete revamp for the entire range. That includes this, the new 2024 KTM Duke 390.

2024 KTM Duke 390

The 390 is KTM’s middleweight marvel that has long belied its capacity, with a plucky little 400c-class single, that’s been able to hold its own, even against more pedestrian competition with twin-cylinder engines.

KTM’s high performance dirtbike experience helped it produce a light, tough, grunty and powerful little engine that’s a joy to ride on the road – and even worked well on track in RC390 sportbike form. Added to KTM’s dirt-derived chassis fundamentals: skinny, lithe, featherweight yet stiff, and you had a compelling mini super-naked.

2024 KTM Duke 390

We always want more though. And for 2024 that’s what KTM is giving us, with an all-new 390 Duke. It gets a completely revised LC4c engine design, in an uprated frame, with the latest running gear, and an even sharper styling job.

The 399cc liquid-cooled DOHC four-valve single cylinder engine is lighter and more powerful than before, while complying with the latest and future Euro5+ emissions and type approval regs. Capacity is up from 373cc to 398.7cc, thanks to a 4mm longer stroke – now 64mm, and the same 89mm bore.

2024 KTM Duke 390

Power is up, but only by a small amount: 1kW or 1.34bhp, with a claimed 33kW or 44.3bhp at 8,500rpm, while torque is up by 2Nm to 39Nm@7,000rpm. That’s a common situation: meeting tougher emissions and noise regs generally cuts power, so it takes a lot of work, and sometimes extra capacity, to get things back on track grunt-wise.

It’s hard to make big gains these days, especially on smaller single-cylinder motors.

2024 KTM Duke 390

On the chassis front, there’s a new frame concept: a revised steel tube trellis main section curves around the engine, while the subframe is a pressure-cast aluminium unit. The cast aluminium swingarm now uses a side-mounted direct rear monoshock suspension setup rather than a central linkage-operated shock absorber.

That’s to allow a bigger airbox design, as well as a lower overall seat height, and is perhaps the most obvious visual change to the Duke range. The suspension parts themselves are both by the firm’s WP sub-brand, with APEX 43mm open cartridge front forks adjustable for rebound damping and preload, with a rear WP APEX split-piston design monoshock that’s also rebound/preload adjustable.

2024 KTM Duke 390

Brakes are by the Brembo subsidiary brand ByBre, and there’s a tasty 320mm front disc, clamped by a four-piston radial mount caliper, with a twin-piston caliper/240mm disc rear fitment. The 390 Duke also gets a proper Bosch 9.3 cornering ABS setup, with a supermoto mode to disengage the rear channel.

2024 KTM Duke 390

Bosch also supplies the ride-by-wire engine management system, which works with a solid suite of electronic riding aids. There’s adjustable cornering traction control, assisted by an IMU setup, plus selectable Street and Rain riding modes which adjust throttle response to suit conditions.

The five-inch TFT full colour LCD dashboard also has a Track mode, which adds a large rev-counter, and also activates launch control and a lap timer – nice. Bluetooth phone connectivity is also present and correct, and there’s an optional Quickshifter+ unit that can be added to the riding package.