KTM 390 Duke Maintenance Schedule
This is the maintenance schedule and service intervals for the KTM 390 Duke, KTM’s entry-level roadster.
The KTM 390 Duke uses the same engine block as in the KTM 390 Adventure and KTM RC 390, so the maintenance schedule has a lot in common.
The 390 Duke is powered by a single-cylinder fuel-injected engine that makes peak power of 32 kW (43 hp), with 37 Nm (27 ft-lb) of peak torque.
It was built to compete with other entry-level roadsters like the BMW G 310 R and Honda CB300R.
This site has links for things like oil and spark plugs from which we earn a commission (which unfortunately nobody can save, not even us). If you appreciate this work, then please use those links. Thanks!
What you need to service your KTM 390 Duke
Servicing your 390 Duke is fairly easy, relatively speaking. It’s a single-cylinder engine with exposed parts. So when the valve service comes up every 15000 km it’s not an overwhelming task.
Aside from basic motorcycle maintenance tools, here’s what you need to service your 390 Duke.
| Part | KTM 390 Duke spec |
|---|---|
| Engine oil | The manual requires SAE 15W-50 oil that meets JASO T903 MA2 spec, and recommends Motorex oils, e.g. Motorex Top Speed 15W-50, a full synthetic. |
| Oil filter | Use a Hiflofiltro HF155 as a high-quality drop-in replacement. |
| Spark plug | Standard spark plug is a Bosch VR 5 NEU. You can also use a LKAR8A-9 per the good people of ktmduke390forum.com. |
| Fork oil | Use SAE 4 fork oil. |
| Air filter | Use a K&N KT-1217 air filter. |
| Brake fluid | Use a DOT 4 fluid e.g. Castrol DOT 4 full synthetic. |
| Coolant | The manual calls for Motorex Coolant M3.0, which is an OAT coolant based on ethylene glycol that’s silicate, nitrite, amine, borate, and phosphate free. (Most coolants contain at least phosphates or silicates… be wary) |
| Clutch cable lube | Use either engine oil or Protect all cable life, an affordable and quality lubricant. |
| Chain maintenance | Use Motul chain paste, a low-mess, high-quality chain lube. The manual recommends the more expensive Motorex chain lube. |
| Grease | Grease external parts with Motorex 2000 long-life lubricant per the manual, or any good lithium soap-based grease. |
Maintenance schedule for the KTM 390 Duke
The schedule below comes straight from the manual for the 390 Duke, though it has been formatted slightly to look better on a web page.
The maintenance schedule for the KTM 390 Duke comes in two parts: required work and recommended work.
KTM recommends most of the work be done by mechanics, and users only do the following:
- Check brakes (maybe replace if necessary)
- Check/adjust tyre pressures
- Check/adjust chain tension
- Check coolant and brake fluid levels
And very little else. Of course, servicing the 390 Duke isn’t hard as a single-cylinder mostly-naked bike, so it’s up to you.
Required work
The required service has three main kinds of service: break-in, 7500km (4650 mi), and 15000 km (9300 mi). The last two services are repeated every 7500 and 15000 km respectively.
Some items are every 1-2 years. Attend to each item whenever the sooner of the distance or time interval has arrived.
| 000 miles | 0.62 | 4.65 | 9.3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000 km | 1 | 7.5 | 15 | Every |
| [Dealer] Read out the fault memory using the KTM diagnostics tool. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| [Dealer] Program the shift shaft sensor. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check that the electrical system is functioning properly. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Change the engine oil and the oil filter, clean the oil screens. (Motorex Top Speed 15W-50, HF155) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the brake discs. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the front brake linings. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the rear brake linings. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the brake lines for damage and leakage. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the front brake fluid level. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the rear brake fluid leve. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the tire condition | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check tire pressure | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the shock absorber and fork for leaks | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Clean the dust boots of the fork legs | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Check the chain, rear sprocket, and engine sprocket. | ✓ | ✓ | Year | |
| Check the chain tension | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the coolant level. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check that the radiator fan is functioning properly. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Change the air filter, clean the air filter box. | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Chek that the throttle cables are undamaged, routed without sharp bends, and set correctly. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the cables for damage and routing without sharp bends | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the valve clearance, change the spark plug. (LKAR8A-9) | ✓ | |||
| Change the front brake fluid. (Castrol DOT 4) | 2 years | |||
| Change the rear brake fluid. | 2 years | |||
| Check the steering head play. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the headlight setting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Final check: Check the vehicle for safe operationa nd take a test ride. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| [Dealer] Set the service interval display. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| [Dealer] Read out the error memory after the test ride using the KTM diagnostics tool. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Make a service entry in KTMDealer.net | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
Recommended work
Recommended service has different intervals to the above required service. It’s every 7500 km (4650 mi) or 30000 km (18600 mi), or every 1 or 4 years.
Attend to each item whenever the sooner of the distance or time interval has arrived. (e.g. if you’ve done less than 7500 km / 4650 mi in a year, still do the annual checks).
| 000 km | 1 | 7.5 | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000 miles | 0.62 | 4.65 | 18.6 | Every |
| Check the frame | ✓ | |||
| Check the link fork | ✓ | |||
| Check the swingarm bearing for play | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Check the wheel bearing for play | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Check the antifreeze | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Change the coolant (Motorex Coolant M3.0) | 4 years | |||
| Empty the drainage hoses | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check all hoses (fuel, coolant, drainage etc.) and sleeves for cracking, leaks, and incorrect routing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Grease all moving parts (e.g. side stand, hand lever, chain) and check for smooth operation (Motorex 2000) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the tightness of the safety-relevant screws and nuts which are easily accessible. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
KTM 390 Duke Tyre sizes and pressures
The KTM 390 Duke ships with the following tyre sizes and pressures.
| Wheel | Tyre size | Tyre pressure |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 110/70 R 17 M/C 54H TL | 2 bar/29 psi |
| Rear | 150/60 R 17 M/C 66H TL | 2 bar/29 psi 2.2 bar/32 psi with passenger |
The 390 Duke ships with either Metzeler Sportec MT Interact or Continental ContiMotion tyres stock.
About the KTM 390 Duke
The KTM 390 Duke is an entry-level “roadster” motorcycle from KTM.
Previously mostly known for their dirt bikes and endurance bikes, KTM started making serious headways into the road segment in the mid 2010s.
The KTM 390 series is an attempt to make an affordable, high-quality road bike for people looking for a lower-powered (but still very freeway-capable) bike that can “do it all”.
The 390 range is also a great option for people in Europe or Australia/NZ who have capacity, power, and/or power-to-weight ratio restrictions on provisional licenses.
The KTM 390 Duke sits alongside the race-oriented RC390 and the adventure tourer 390 Adventure. It uses the same base engine, a 373cc single-cylinder fuel-injected engine that makes peak power of 32 kW (43hp) at 9500 rpm, but it makes decent torque from as low as 2500 rpm — so you have no trouble manoeuvring this around town. It’s not a high-strung sportbike.
What makes the 390 Duke distinct from other entry-level bikes is that it pulls quite a bit of power from its single-cylinder engine. This is in part because it’s a higher capacity one, but also because of the higher compression ratio (12.9:1, quite aggressive, requiring 95 RON as a recommendation in the manual — though it works fine with lower RON fuel) and tuning.
Other single-cylinder bikes in the segment make a lot less power. The Honda CB300R makes 23 kW, and the BMW G 310 R makes 25 kW.
The suspension is cheap in price, but not cheap in quality. The front forks are WP upside-down forks with no adjustability, and the rear shock is a WP shock with preload adjustment. It’s fine, as long as you’re not too heavy (or way too light).
One of the less-cited facts about the KTM 390 Duke is just how light it is. Fully fuelled it weighs only 146 kg (322 lb). That’s so light! It makes the 390 Duke feel toy-like when you sit on it, easy to throw around like a dirt bike, and very confidence inspiring for new riders or those who feel unsure if they could pick up a heavy bike.
Other bikes may feel light, but you really need a bike to actually be light when you get to situations like dirt roads or trying to back your bike into an awkward parking space. Lightness rules.
The KTM 390 Duke also has a decent amount of tech. The latest models (2019 onward) have a TFT display, receiving this ahead of even the racier KTM RC 390. And it has always come standard with Bosch ABS — another thing making it beginner-friendly.
All in, the 390 Duke is a fun bike, both for people used to high-power sportbikes and wanting a city scratcher, or those just getting started.
Reference: Manual for the KTM 390 Duke
The above maintenance schedule came directly from the manual for the KTM 390 Duke.
You can download the manual directly from KTM here.
