KTM 390 Duke 2025
The benchmark A2 naked, rebuilt sharper for its third generation.
63.8/ 100
Scored within naked, methodology here
€6,299
list price
- power
- 45 hp
- wet weight
- 165 kg
- tank range
- 429 km
The short version
The 390 Duke has defined the A2 naked class since 2013 and the current generation keeps it there. The 399 cc single pulls harder through the midrange than any rival, the electronics package embarrasses bikes two classes up, and the 15 litre tank fixes the old model's biggest complaint.
Where it wins
- Strongest engine in the class with 45 hp and real midrange
- Cornering ABS, traction control and a 5 inch TFT as standard
- 15 litre tank gives over 400 km of range
Where it loses
- Firm seat wears thin past an hour
- Quickshifter still costs extra on a bike sold on its electronics
Score breakdown
Engine and performance
17.8 / 25Handling and chassis
15.1 / 20Value
7.7 / 20Practicality
9.1 / 15Technology
8.3 / 10Reliability and ownership
5.8 / 10The full review
Why the 390 Duke keeps winning this class
KTM claims the third-generation 390 Duke is 90 percent new, and for once the press agrees with a marketing number. Reviewers describe a bike that feels ridiculously light and narrow, traces an easy line through any corner without effort, and brakes with a confidence small bikes rarely manage. The consensus is that the handling gap to the rest of the A2 field has widened, not closed.
It has defined this class since 2013 by being the complete package rather than the cheapest or the friendliest. Rivals still attack it one line at a time: the Triumph undercuts it, the Yamaha out-gentles it, the Husqvarna re-dresses it. Nobody outpoints it across the card.
Engine, chassis and electronics
The engine's party trick is midrange that arrives from real-world revs, where the class twins ask to be wrung out first. Testers praise how usable the whole bike is at legal speeds, which matters more on an A2 licence than any headline figure. The adjustable WP suspension and the electronics suite, cornering ABS, lean-sensitive traction control and a proper TFT, remain a small miracle at the money.
Long-term owners note the generation change also brought more cooling capacity and longer service intervals, evidence KTM actually read its complaint box. The quickshifter still costs extra. Some habits survive full redesigns.
The daily reality
The one complaint that unites every road test and owner thread is the seat, which one owner memorably compared to sitting on a stone. An hour is comfortable, two is a negotiation. Everything else about daily life is unusually well sorted: an upright roomy position, a reachable 820 mm seat height, and the 15 litre tank that finally gives the Duke touring-grade range.
It is the most complete A2 naked on sale, the press keeps scoring it that way, and so does my formula. When the enthusiast reviewers, the owners and the spreadsheet all agree, the decision writes itself.
Full specs
| Engine | |
|---|---|
| Engine | Single cylinder, liquid cooled, DOHC |
| Displacement | 398.7 cc |
| Power | 45 hp at 8,500 rpm |
| Torque | 39 Nm at 7,000 rpm |
| Power to weight | 0.27 hp/kg |
| Chassis | |
| Wet weight | 165 kg |
| Front suspension | WP APEX 43 mm open cartridge, 150 mm |
| Front adjustability | Compression and rebound |
| Rear suspension | WP APEX monoshock, 150 mm |
| Rear adjustability | Preload and rebound |
| Front brake | 320 mm, radial 4-piston |
| ABS | Cornering ABS |
| Dimensions | |
| Seat height | 820 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1476 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 15 L |
| Claimed consumption | 3.5 L/100 km |
| Fuel range | 429 km |
| Ownership | |
| Price | €6,299 |
| Service interval | 10,000 km |
| Valve check | 20,000 km |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Equipment | |
| Dash | TFT |
| Ride modes | Yes |
| Traction control | Yes |
| Quickshifter | Optional |
| Cruise control | Not available |
| Connectivity | Yes |
Compare the 390 Duke
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 vs KTM 390 Duke
45 hp vs 45 hp / 169 kg vs 165 kg
KTM 390 Duke vs Triumph Speed 400
45 hp vs 40 hp / 165 kg vs 170 kg
Aprilia Tuono 457 vs KTM 390 Duke
47.6 hp vs 45 hp / 175 kg vs 165 kg
KTM 390 Duke vs Yamaha MT-03
45 hp vs 42 hp / 165 kg vs 167 kg
KTM 390 Duke vs Triumph Trident 660
45 hp vs 81 hp / 165 kg vs 190 kg
Frequently asked
- Is the KTM 390 Duke A2 licence legal?
- Yes. The KTM 390 Duke makes 45 hp (33.1 kW), inside the 35 kW A2 ceiling, so it is sold A2 compliant with no restriction kit required.
- How fast is the KTM 390 Duke?
- Our power-to-weight model estimates 0 to 100 km/h in about 5.5 seconds, from 45 hp moving 165 kg wet. That is an estimate for comparison, not a measured time, and it is labelled that way everywhere on this site.
- What is the fuel range of the KTM 390 Duke?
- About 429 km on paper: a 15 litre tank against a claimed 3.5 L/100 km. Ride it with enthusiasm and the maths gets worse, never better.
- How tall is the seat on the KTM 390 Duke?
- The KTM 390 Duke seat sits at 820 mm, which is about average for the class, manageable for most inseams with a little practice. At 165 kg wet, weight does the rest of the talking at a standstill.
- How much does the KTM 390 Duke cost?
- €6,299 list price in the EU market this site scores. It earns 7.7 of 20 value points on our formula, which weighs price against equipment and running costs.
The workshop
Build your 390 Duke
The upgrades owners actually fit, at typical retail prices. Tap a part to bolt it on and I re-run the full 100-point scorecard on your build, same math as the official score above. Shop links are affiliate links: they support the site and cost you nothing extra.