QUICKSPIN I 2024 KTM 390 Duke
P106
There's more of a direct lineage
between the 390 and its 1390 big-
ger brother than almost anything
else
on the market. The 390 rolls
into 2024 with new, unapologeti
-
cally aggressive styling, a snappy,
more powerful
single-cylinder mo-
tor (it's gone from 42 to 44 horse-
power for 2024), a new chassis,
and
brand-new electronics that
include cornering ABS and trac-
tion control. KTM claims it's 90
percent
new, which is a signifi-
cant number to claim, given the
success of the old model.
The new motor
receives a
new airbox, cylinder head, ex
-
haust, and a revised shift drum
for
cleaner gearshifts—the latter
you'll want to pair with KTM's
optional quickshifter for maxi
-
mum close-no-throttle fun.
The biggest thing is
capac-
ity has jumped from 373cc to
399cc
via a 4mm longer stroke
to 64mm, while the bore re-
mains unchanged at 89mm.
Power
is delightfully smooth
from a closed throttle, but there
are new Street and Rain riding
modes if you want to work your
way up to the claimed 44 horse
-
power. There's also an optional
Track
mode that unleashes ev-
erything the motor has to offer.
The midrange
torque from the
little single-cylinder is ultra-im-
pressive. It's still got that manic
rev
we all love in a high-perfor-
mance single, but you can be a
bit
lazier in your riding and let
(Above left) The new shock is
now side-mounted compared
to the centrally-placed unit
of the pre-2024 models to
accommodate the larger airbox.
(Above right) New extended front
panels make the 390 look bigger
than it really is. (Below) Rennie
makes his best attempt to stop
on the orange line as fast as
possible and fails. At least this
shows the brakes work just fine.
