KTM has gone ahead and introduced the white colour scheme on the 390 Duke for the Indian market. The colour scheme is not exactly new; as it has been available in international markets for quite some time, now. Indians interested in buying the 390 Duke will finally have an option to choose something other than the ‘electric orange’ colour scheme on sale.
We spoke to a few KTM dealers and were told that the white colour option can be obtained at the same cost of Rs 2.38 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) as the orange bike. However, we were also told that the price of 390 Duke has seen a price hike four times, in the last two months, making the 2018 390 Duke around Rs 10,000 more than the 2017 variant.
Interestingly, dealers have also informed us that the updated 390 has had a few technical updates for the 2018 iteration. Part of the technical changes is the updated software for the instrumentation and the increased idle rpm. The idle now ranges from 1,200-1,800rpm instead of the 1,200-1,600rpm seen on the older model. We also hear that the design of the radiator shrouds have been tweaked for better hot air management.
The 2018 390 Duke is powered by the same 373cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder unit, with the power figure unchanged at 43.5hp at 9,000rpm and peak torque of 37Nm at 7,000rpm. The 390 Duke comes with a Bybre 320mm front disc, chomped on by a radially-bolted four-piston calliper and a 230mm rear disc, bitten by a single-piston floating calliper and armed with switchable two-channel Bosch-developed ABS.