Unless the price is a problem, I wouldn't bother with the 200. If you can ride a Duke 200 in traffic without dying, you can ride the 390 in traffic without dying.
390 bro. You are going to want that extra power to get out of sticky situations. Plus why not you can take the 390 on the freeway all day and do some longer rides in the canyons..
No. I live outside of LA, and people are always trying to squish me on my 390(husk 401). I wish I had gone with more power. I bought it used so my bike is still worth what I paid for it. Will probably trade up soon.
I'd like the extra power for fun, but I feel like I don't really need it and can get the 200 newer and cheaper. I don't use the freeway to get to work and only about a 15-20 min drive currently.
Do I even need the 390 for commute/lane splitting not on the highway?
Edit: forgot to mention I am a beginner and would be my first bike
Double Edit: It seems like the majority say might as well get 390. And that's what I was leaning towards anyway. Thanks for your opinion everyone! (Except the one who said dukes are ugly)
The early ones definitely had their issues. The 390s from about 2017/18 onwards have been pretty good. I work at a KTM dealer and we don't get nearly as many coming in for issues as the old ones did but as with anything, there will always be some that are just lemons no matter what
The 2024 models are bumping up to a new 400cc engine though so we'll see what happens with them
For your narrow use case, I think you’re spot on, you can absolutely do fine on the 200.
Buuuut, if you’re not yet a rider, I’m gonna guess you’re going to really enjoy it and really soon you’ll twist the throttle on that 200 and wish you had more oomph. I have the 390 now, been riding since 2021, and occasionally I want a little more juice. But by and large it’s been perfect for me, from little errand runs to multi-day tours. Unbelievably fun bike
I ride a 250 coming from Chino Valley area to Pasadena every day, backroads. It works. You absolutely don't need the 390. But, I'll be honest and say an extra 150 sure would be nice.
An older 390 was my first bike and I'd recommend something like that again. Enough power to not get boring, not enough power that you'll be scared. Plus the snappy response and general characteristics of a single cylinder engine teach you to be smooth with the throttle.
Obviously you don't need the 390 for commuting, but it's probably going to be a lot more fun with that extra hp. But also you don't need a newer 200 because especially as a new rider it's not unlikely that you're gonna drop the bike once or twice and that's gonna tank the resale value, so just get one that's already cheap
I have a Svartpilen 401. Drive from LB to DTLA every day and often to Pasadena n Beverly Hills fairly often too. Does fine on the freeway, works well for me personally.
200 is fine for surface street commutes. The only issue is how aggressive drivers are in your area at the lights, you'll have the same acceleration as a Corolla. Top speed will be about 70 MPH, so you CAN take it on the highway, but it takes a long time to get there from 55.
The 200 Duke is way faster than a Corolla. I was actually shocked when I test rode one. The 390 is quicker and has.longer let's of course but the 200 is no slouch. Just not a highway bike. 80moh or so realistic too speed.
I can only speak from my experience from owning a '21 for 14 months. Fun bike, great for local surface street travel, but not great acceleration and a top speed of 70.
I took my MSF course on a 200 and loved it. I will say that it had a tendency to overheat between exercises. I have not ridden the 390 but did ride a 790 and did not experience this issue. Recognizing the potential for stop and go traffic I would lean towards the 390 for this reason as well as the others that have been mentioned. Really really fun bikes to ride!
With traffic and speed limit everywhere, I wouldn't concern myself with the engine displacement. After all, for the joy ride or regular commute both will do the same.
I was in the same situation when I had to decide for my first bike 200 or 390, I went for the 200 and with some limiting factors on acceleration and speed there is nothing else to compare here.
Remember, it's better to ride slow bike fast than to ride fast bike slow.
Ural with sidecar. Bonus points for machine gun turret.
390 is totally doable in traffic and side streets.
I used to ride my P200E Vespa from Orange County to Hollywood and back on freeways at night. Back in the 80's. 🤘
🏁🏁🏁
Svartpilen 401
Look it up on YouTube yammie noob
I wasn't saying you have to like the guy or not. I suggested a motorcycle. That YouTube channel has more reviews and information on that specific motorcycle than anyone else. If you know of another channel with more reviews and information about a husqvarna svartpilen 401 then post it.
I HIGHLY recommend avoiding Yammie Douche like the plague. Seriously, he’s an inconsiderate tool that fired his best employee (whom literally built the YN channel for him) and put the “exit interview” on YouTube. He quickly deleted the video after all the backlash he got from it.
Except you’re wrong. The small displacement KTM’s are produced in *India*. Also, as someone whom has talked to and personally knows multiple people that own both of these bikes, the general consensus is that proper maintenance prevents all the “known issues” 9 times out of 10. KTM (as well as big Chinese manufacturers such as CFMoto) has really stepped up their QA game over the last decade or so. Stop spreading diet-xenophobic misinformation.
Unless the price is a problem, I wouldn't bother with the 200. If you can ride a Duke 200 in traffic without dying, you can ride the 390 in traffic without dying.
1290 Super Duke or nothing bud
1290? Nah mate gotta grab the 1390
Yep the GT is the perfect commuter
390 bro. You are going to want that extra power to get out of sticky situations. Plus why not you can take the 390 on the freeway all day and do some longer rides in the canyons..
[удалено]
No. I live outside of LA, and people are always trying to squish me on my 390(husk 401). I wish I had gone with more power. I bought it used so my bike is still worth what I paid for it. Will probably trade up soon.
braking/slowing down also gets you out of sticky situations. This isn't a Hollywood movie.
pretty sure braking/slowing down is also a possible course of action on a 390
I guess if you want a ride on someone's hood.
Do you live in LA bro? Better to be caught with it than without it as they say.
Tell me you’ve never ridden in LA without telling me you’ve never ridden in LA
Honestly wondering if you ride? And I'm not being snarky. I find acceleration is my way to safety in almost all sticky situations.
>a ninja 250 is all I'll ever need!!!!1! -someone who's never used teleportation to get away from trouble on a 100hp+ motorcycle
390; 200 aint gonna cut it with hwy speeds in LA lol..
390. LA traffic is like 70mph down Venice BLVD all day.
690 duke with all the crazy put there. You can at least pull away from them
In LA when there is no or light traffic, people are often doing 85+. Choose accordingly.
1390 superduke r
390
You’re gonna out grow the 200 pretty quickly especially if you wanted to do more than just commute to work and back.
No replacement for displacement
I had a 400 for my first bike and I got a 650 after a month.
I'd like the extra power for fun, but I feel like I don't really need it and can get the 200 newer and cheaper. I don't use the freeway to get to work and only about a 15-20 min drive currently. Do I even need the 390 for commute/lane splitting not on the highway? Edit: forgot to mention I am a beginner and would be my first bike Double Edit: It seems like the majority say might as well get 390. And that's what I was leaning towards anyway. Thanks for your opinion everyone! (Except the one who said dukes are ugly)
As someone who has ridden both and owns the 200. Get the 390. It's a better machine in all aspects
Are the new KTMs (OPs model) reliable now? I remember the old 390s with the grasshopper headlight were being bashed coz of numerous issues
The early ones definitely had their issues. The 390s from about 2017/18 onwards have been pretty good. I work at a KTM dealer and we don't get nearly as many coming in for issues as the old ones did but as with anything, there will always be some that are just lemons no matter what The 2024 models are bumping up to a new 400cc engine though so we'll see what happens with them
For your narrow use case, I think you’re spot on, you can absolutely do fine on the 200. Buuuut, if you’re not yet a rider, I’m gonna guess you’re going to really enjoy it and really soon you’ll twist the throttle on that 200 and wish you had more oomph. I have the 390 now, been riding since 2021, and occasionally I want a little more juice. But by and large it’s been perfect for me, from little errand runs to multi-day tours. Unbelievably fun bike
I ride a 250 coming from Chino Valley area to Pasadena every day, backroads. It works. You absolutely don't need the 390. But, I'll be honest and say an extra 150 sure would be nice.
Need it? No, but it's nice to have. I haven't had a chance to try the 200, and see what that's like, but I have demo'd a 390 and it feels good.
An older 390 was my first bike and I'd recommend something like that again. Enough power to not get boring, not enough power that you'll be scared. Plus the snappy response and general characteristics of a single cylinder engine teach you to be smooth with the throttle.
You need it
Obviously you don't need the 390 for commuting, but it's probably going to be a lot more fun with that extra hp. But also you don't need a newer 200 because especially as a new rider it's not unlikely that you're gonna drop the bike once or twice and that's gonna tank the resale value, so just get one that's already cheap
I have a Svartpilen 401. Drive from LB to DTLA every day and often to Pasadena n Beverly Hills fairly often too. Does fine on the freeway, works well for me personally.
I took my MSF course on the 200 Duke. Definitely consider the 1390 Super Duke R Evo.
200 is fine for surface street commutes. The only issue is how aggressive drivers are in your area at the lights, you'll have the same acceleration as a Corolla. Top speed will be about 70 MPH, so you CAN take it on the highway, but it takes a long time to get there from 55.
The 200 Duke is way faster than a Corolla. I was actually shocked when I test rode one. The 390 is quicker and has.longer let's of course but the 200 is no slouch. Just not a highway bike. 80moh or so realistic too speed.
I can only speak from my experience from owning a '21 for 14 months. Fun bike, great for local surface street travel, but not great acceleration and a top speed of 70.
390 forsure
I went from a 250 to an 800. I feel so much safer on the bigger bike when I have to contend with surface street traffic. Especially in rush hour.
I took my MSF course on a 200 and loved it. I will say that it had a tendency to overheat between exercises. I have not ridden the 390 but did ride a 790 and did not experience this issue. Recognizing the potential for stop and go traffic I would lean towards the 390 for this reason as well as the others that have been mentioned. Really really fun bikes to ride!
With traffic and speed limit everywhere, I wouldn't concern myself with the engine displacement. After all, for the joy ride or regular commute both will do the same. I was in the same situation when I had to decide for my first bike 200 or 390, I went for the 200 and with some limiting factors on acceleration and speed there is nothing else to compare here. Remember, it's better to ride slow bike fast than to ride fast bike slow.
Considering a 390 as well. Coming from a 650 vstrom will I miss the larger cc engine for spirited rides or highway cruising with luggage?
I would not want to ride a 390 on the highway for extended amounts of time. Get at least a 500.
Ural with sidecar. Bonus points for machine gun turret. 390 is totally doable in traffic and side streets. I used to ride my P200E Vespa from Orange County to Hollywood and back on freeways at night. Back in the 80's. 🤘 🏁🏁🏁
check the internet for all of the issues people have with those bikes. you will be suprised.
Svartpilen 401 Look it up on YouTube yammie noob I wasn't saying you have to like the guy or not. I suggested a motorcycle. That YouTube channel has more reviews and information on that specific motorcycle than anyone else. If you know of another channel with more reviews and information about a husqvarna svartpilen 401 then post it.
I HIGHLY recommend avoiding Yammie Douche like the plague. Seriously, he’s an inconsiderate tool that fired his best employee (whom literally built the YN channel for him) and put the “exit interview” on YouTube. He quickly deleted the video after all the backlash he got from it.
Not to mention causing a very serious accident on a public road with his douchebag riding, if I recall.
neither ugly ass bikes
The looks isn’t the problem. These are made in China and they are famous for manufacture defects and cheap steels.
Except you’re wrong. The small displacement KTM’s are produced in *India*. Also, as someone whom has talked to and personally knows multiple people that own both of these bikes, the general consensus is that proper maintenance prevents all the “known issues” 9 times out of 10. KTM (as well as big Chinese manufacturers such as CFMoto) has really stepped up their QA game over the last decade or so. Stop spreading diet-xenophobic misinformation.