KTM 390 Duke vs Triumph Speed 400: Detailed Comparison

Thanks to the new GST norms, which heavily tax bikes above 350cc, both the KTM 390 Duke and the Triumph Speed 400 now have smaller hearts. Despite what their names suggest, it’s actually a 350cc KTM 390 Duke and a 350cc Triumph Speed 400. So now that this has happened, does this change anything? Will we recommend any of these bikes any more or any less than before? And more importantly, which one is for whom?

We’re here to answer those very questions in this detailed comparison. Here’s how it goes: 

Price & Variants

• Even the previous bikes had a solid price gap between them, and so do these new updated models. 

• Being the usual value-for-money bike it is, the Triumph Speed 400 is priced at just under Rs 2.32 lakh, ex-showroom, and that’s great bang for your buck, given that it has the premium Triumph badge on its tank. 

• And then there’s the 350cc KTM Duke 390, which is priced at just above Rs 2.77 lakh, ex-showroom. On paper, that looks like an outrageous premium over the Speed, given that they both have similarly sized engines with similar outputs. But as we proceed with our story, you’ll see how the Duke justifies it. 

• For now, the Speed 400 wins this round. 

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Dimensions & Design 

• There’s quite a difference in the bikes’ kerb weights, and you will feel that. Not that the Speed 400 will feel like a heavy bike. In fact, it carries its nearly 180kg weight quite well. 

• But it’s more to do with how light the 390 Duke feels. 

• On the whole, though, the Speed 400 will feel like a smaller, more compact motorcycle, but it is the KTM which might feel like it’s too small for slightly heavier/bigger riders. 

• While the 390 Duke is not a big motorcycle either, the tank extensions and aggressive styling do make it look expensive. 

• In terms of design, the Speed 400 looks clean, classical and has excellent finish levels. While it’s quite compact, there’s no doubt that that is the design which more people will gravitate towards, for it’s classically good-looking. 

• The Duke 390, on the other hand, looks sharp and aggressive, but it might be a bit much for a lot of people. The paint schemes are bold, and the massive tank extensions and aggressive face might not be everyone’s thing. 

Features & Safety

• This is where the gap between the two bikes begins to widen. We talked about the 390 Duke somewhat justifying its higher price tag with the more modern kit it packs, and here’s where it all starts. 

• We’re talking cornering ABS and launch control, things you find on much more expensive track-focused sportbikes. And then there’s the bidirectional quickshifter, which even the much more expensive, newly launched BMW F 450 GS doesn’t get. 

• And the quickshifter is absolutely lovely. While newer riders will need a while to get used to its sensitivity, it’s excellent to use once you get the hang of it. 

• Essentially, the 350cc KTM 390 Duke retains all the features which the KTM 390 Duke R gets. 

• The Speed 400 is a retro bike, so we don’t expect it to have the most modern kit. In that way, it packs enough for it to still be called a neo-retro bike. There’s ABS and traction control, so enough to keep you safe on our unpredictable roads. 

• Our only complaint is that we wish Triumph had kept the tachometer on the analogue side of the console, for it’s too small on the digital side of it and is pretty much unreadable on the go. 

Engines

• Being the performance-oriented bike it is, the 350cc KTM Duke 390 makes marginally more power and torque from a similarly sized engine. We still expect it to be fast and exciting, exactly like its bigger sibling, the KTM 390 Duke R. 

• The Speed 400 makes solid performance for being a 350cc bike, but it’s still a bit more relaxed than the Duke. 

• Its smaller engine has actually worked out better, for the bike now feels a lot more relaxed and has more torque in the mid-range, exactly how it should be for a retro bike. You don’t need to rev it out to extract everything from it and it even feels smoother than before. 

BikeDekho Says 

The rivalry between the 350cc KTM 390 Duke and the 350cc Triumph Speed 400 is exactly where it was a couple of years ago, and it still is just as simple as it was then. Want something that’s out and out exciting? Something that puts a big, goofy smile on your face and makes you laugh out loud inside your helmet each time you ride it? The KTM 390 Duke is still the bike to get. Yes, it’s a fair bit more expensive than the Speed 400, but if you want something genuinely fun, it could be worth the money. 

But if you want something that looks conventionally pretty, is still fun but just a bit easier to ride, get the Speed 400. It’s still quite powerful, will tour well (with some luggage accessories), and most importantly, is finished so well it reminds you that you own a bike from a premium brand. If that’s your calling, the Speed 400 is the bike you should get. 

Rivals 

Want something more performance-oriented? Get the 390 Duke. But if you want something more retro and stylish, get the Triumph Tracker 400. 

If you want to go touring, you might like the 390 Duke given its bigger tank and lower weight over the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450.

If you’re on a budget, get the NS400Z, for it’s plenty exciting. But if you don’t mind splurging more to get a properly sporty bike, get the 390 Duke. 

While the RTR 310 is fun and exciting, it’s still not as fun as the Duke and costs nearly as much, so our recommendation would still be the 390 Duke. 

If you want the authentic twin-cylinder experience and don’t mind spending a lot more for it, get the Yamaha MT-03. For the others, the Duke is more value for money.

Here are 5 other options you can purchase instead of the Duke in similar price range.