KTM 390 Duke or Triumph Speed 400: which one to buy in India

Same price, same engine size, different bike

If you are choosing between the KTM 390 Duke and the Triumph Speed 400, start with this: they are closer in price and engine size than most buyers expect. The 390 Duke is listed at ₹2,39,000 ex-showroom on KTM India's own site. The Speed 400 is listed at ₹2,35,327 ex-showroom on Triumph India's site. Both now run a 349cc liquid cooled single cylinder engine, after both brands revised their engines for India's GST rules on bikes under 350cc.

So this is not a budget decision. It is a character decision. The KTM is the sharper, more highly strung bike. The Triumph is the calmer, more relaxed one. Neither is wrong, but they suit different riders.

What the spec sheet actually says

On paper, the KTM makes more power, 41.5 PS against the Triumph's 37 PS, and more torque, 33.5 Nm against 32 Nm, according to BikeDekho's side by side comparison of the two motorcycles. The KTM is also lighter, 168.3 kg kerb weight against the Triumph's 179 kg, and carries more fuel, a 15 litre tank against 13 litres. Seat height is almost identical, 800 mm on the KTM and 803 mm on the Triumph.

That extra power and lower weight show up on a twisty road. Autocar India's comparison of the two bikes found the KTM gives sharper, more communicative handling and rewards an aggressive riding style, with higher footpegs and a firmer seat that suit a committed rider more than a commuter. The Triumph, by contrast, has a bigger gap between seat and pegs, a plusher seat and lighter steering, which the same review found easier to live with over a full day in traffic or on a long highway run.

Running costs and where you can get it serviced

Rider reported figures collected by Streetbikersworld put the KTM's service interval at 7,500 km and an average service bill near ₹4,500, against a 10,000 km interval and about ₹5,000 for the Triumph. These are owner estimates, not factory figures, so treat them as a rough guide rather than a quote.

Where the gap is wider, and easier to check, is the dealer network. BikeDekho's own showroom locator lists 452 authorised KTM showrooms in India against 232 for Triumph. If you live outside a big city, that difference matters more than any number on a spec sheet. A breakdown or a warranty claim is a lot less stressful when the nearest dealer is in your own town rather than a drive away.

Who should buy which

If you want the most involving ride for the money, ride mostly for the thrill of it, and do not mind a firmer seat, the 390 Duke is the more complete motorcycle. If you want a single cylinder bike that is friendlier for daily commuting, carries a pillion in more comfort, and you live somewhere with easy access to a Triumph dealer, the Speed 400 makes more sense. Either way, sit on both before you decide. The spec sheet gap between them is small. The difference in how they feel under you is not.

Sources

• KTM 390 Duke, price and specifications
• Speed 400, Triumph Motorcycles India
• Speed 400 specification page, Triumph Motorcycles India
• KTM 390 Duke vs Triumph Speed 400 comparison, BikeDekho
• KTM bike showrooms in India, BikeDekho
• Triumph bike showrooms in India, BikeDekho
• Triumph Speed 400 vs KTM 390 Duke comparison, Autocar India
• What it really costs to own a Triumph Speed 400 and KTM Duke 390, Streetbikersworld