The original KTM 390 Duke was introduced internationally in 2013. Two years later, it finally hit American shores. If you’re a seasoned rider the 390 Duke might seem underwhelming, since you are probably used to big placement motorcycles that take advantage of our wide-open highways.

2023 KTM 390 Duke Review

Don’t be fooled though, this motorcycle is not your everyday entry-level motorcycle. If there is one thing I have learned in my 22-year experience on two wheels, is that often times the smaller bikes, bring the biggest smiles.

To make it stand out overseas, but also to appeal to the American taste, KTM needed a wow factor that you just don’t get from your Honda Rebel 250. They designed it after its bigger brother, the KTM 1290 Super Duke R. The whole Duke lineup carries a similar design throughout, but the new bolt-on exposed tail section tubular frame is visible on 1290, 390, and 125. The 790, and 690 use a different tail frames.

The 390 Duke has its recognizable ready-to-race, naked street bike frame, six LED bulb headlights, and a show-stopping aggressive styling. It has a mono rear shock and comes in two color options; white with orange accents (my favorite), and orange.

Now for the specs: 

The KTM team has been hard at work over the past few years. They have found a way to take an already good below 500cc class motorcycle, and turn it into arguably one of the best on the market.

It features a fuel-injected single-cylinder and twin overhead camshafts tied to a six-speed transmission capable of 43.5 horsepower. This is where the preconceived notion of “entry-level” is thrown around like it's a bad word. But the thing to remember is that this bike only weighs 362 lbs. wet. Which means that it is more than capable of being put to the test. You also have the newly designed clutch. KTM says its slipper clutch “prevents annoying rear wheel chatter when braking sharply or decelerating – and gives the wheel just that bit of braking for a controlled rear wheel slide. The latter allows the clutch to be pulled and controlled with just one trigger-happy finger – which saves energy when riding”.

Making this mighty mouse stand out even more, is the premium-grade parts that are not normally found on bikes of this class. Features such as forged aluminum pegs and shifters, 2-channel Bosch ABS, and state-of-the-art digital display. The display has all the features you can ever want right at your fingertips. If you want to disengage ABS brakes, say for a rear slide, then it's easy to find it on the display drop-down menu. Riders can also link their phones to manage calls and music. The display screen also self-adjusts the brightest based on its surroundings. You can have no fear of being blinded by the 5.2 in display down a curvy back road in the dark of night.

As for comfort, the motorcycle has a newly designed seat with a 32.7 seat height. The seat was designed for long-ride comfort while maintaining a big bike race-ready feel. The 3.5-gallon steel tank has knee cutouts like the cafe racers of old, allowing taller riders to feel more comfortable. You will also find inverted 43mm forks that are meant to cut down on the dreaded vibrations that plagued the previous generations when at high speeds.

As you can see, this is not your typical entry-level motorcycle. To even call it entry-level is doing it a disservice. There is so much packed into one motorcycle, you can’t help but be at least intrigued. This is a class-leading motorcycle that beginners and seasoned riders will enjoy. Couple that with a starting price of only $9,199, the 390 Duke will fit many people’s budgets fairly easily.

If you are skeptical that this mighty 390 can bring a smile to your face, swing by your local RideNow KTM dealership and see what all the fuss is about.