The Ultimate Streetfighter: KTM 390 Duke vs Kymco Krider 400 Compared In Images

We pit two potent and desirable 400cc streetfighters against each other in a game of top trumps  

The game of top trumps is simple. You have two contenders, either from the same segment or ones with most competing features, and have them battle it out with their specs and features to see who wins. In this streetfighter showdown we have two very desirable motorcycles. From the West, we have the notorious and undisputed Austrian hooligan - the KTM 390 Duke in orange, and from the East, we have Kymco’s Krider 400 in red. Each one with an edge, an ace up the sleeve; let’s see who comes out on top:

Design

The 390 Duke is an absolute hooligan by nature and comes dressed like one as well. Like a mean, featherweight MMA fighter, it’s lean, sharp and aggressive looking. Even the graphics help accentuate the look, like tattoos on a fighter.  

The Kymco Krider 400 on the other hand is less flamboyant in its styling, yet feels more mature. It wears a muscular, big-bike look. Articulation around the tank and body work scream the Eastern streetfighter design philosophy, like you’d find on most middleweight Japanese bikes.

Features 

Both motorcycles come equipped with LED lighting, be it the headlight, turn indicators or the tail light. While the KTM gets a split, vertically stacked LED unit, the Kymco wears a falcon-styled headlight. The instrument cluster on the Kymco Krider 400 is a nice looking LCD unit; however, the KTM gets an extremely intuitive TFT console with Bluetooth connectivity, giving the Austrian an edge in the features department. 

That said, the Kymco claws back some points with its USB charging port, which in all honesty is a useful feature that’s almost a must have these days. 

Underpinnings

The 390 Duke is famous for its precise handling and corner hungry appetite. Aiding the cause are factors like the split steel trellis frame, WP USD fork and WP rear monoshock. Yes, KTM could have offered adjustable units like it does in its international markets, but in India, only the rear is preload adjustable. The Krider 400 on the other hand gets a preload adjustable USD fork along with a seven-stage preload adjustable rear monoshock. The frame type is a Truss steel tube design, which, like the KTM, uses the engine as a stressmember. 

Engine 

The Krider 400’s heart is a 399.1cc, liquid-cooled, twin-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed gearbox. The 43.5PS and 37Nm that it makes helps it smoothly slip a dagger in the 390 Duke’s direction.

The Duke, however, despite being only a 373.2cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder motor mated to a six-speed gearbox, throws its 43.5PS and 37Nm counter attack faster. Thanks to its weight advantage and features like a quickshifter, it can run circles around the Kymco. See, the extra cylinder and overall construction of the Krider 400 makes it a heavy motorcycle at 205kg (kerb), whereas the Duke is a nimble 171kg (kerb).

Brakes

The 390 Duke features a single 320mm disc brake at the front and a single 230mm disc at the back. Dual-channel ABS is offered as standard and you also get a ‘SuperMoto’ mode, which allows you to disengage the ABS at the rear. The Kymco Krider 400 features a good looking 300mm twin-disc setup at the front and a 240mm single disc at the back. Yes, dual-channel ABS is also standard on the Krider 400; however, it may not be switchable like on the KTM.

Summary

The verdict is simple. If you want outright fun from a sub-500cc motorcycle, the KTM 390 Duke is the one. However, if you’re looking for a big bike feel with a more refined engine that’s not constantly begging to be pushed around, the Kymco Krider 400 is your champion. While the Krider 400 is not available in India, the KTM 390 Duke that’s priced at Rs 2,94,082 makes a very good entry-level proposition.