Comparison: RE Continental GT vs. KTM Duke 390

Royal Enfeild Continental GT

KTM Duke 390

• Displacement: 535cc
• Max Power: 29.1 BHP
• Max Torque: 44 NM

• Displacement: 373.2cc
• Max Power: 43 BHP
• Max Torque: 35 NM

Royal Enfield Continental GT, there is nothing as stunning as the Continental GT in the motorcycle space today. The design is a beautiful blend of retro with modern manufacturing and the result is a drop dead gorgeous motorcycle which is extremely well finished and an instant eye-ball magnet.

Stuff like the spoke wheels (which are made of aluminium, only motorcycle in India to have this), Paioli canisters (pure show off this), bar end mirrors (optional equipment but we expect each and every GT owner to fit them), beautifully sculpted single seat (you would be foolish to opt for the the twin seat) and subtle chrome touches all add to the visual delight.

The Continental GT is one bike which can make you a superstar on the road, just because of the way it looks.

On the contrary, the Duke’s minimilistic styling might work for some but most people in India love a full faired motorcycle as it gives the appearance of a sports bike. However, look at this motorcycle from the side and you are bound to appreciate the exposed parts like the orange coloured trellis frame, ‘RACING KTM’ engraved on the engine and white coloured WP monoshock.

The Continental GT ‘s console is classy and the use of fonts it just right. The GT’s cluster looks amazing at night with the best backlit seen in a long time. The Continental GT has good build quality too, save for the minor irritants which you would discover when observed closely.

Whereas, Without doubt it’s the Duke 390′s console which is the most advanced, showing a rich array of data including kms to service, distance to empty, average speed, mileage, etc. The only sore point about the KTM’s instrument cluster is that it’s a bit small. The fonts aren’t that big specially for the trip meter readings and the tachometer can be almost useless at times.

The Continental GT uses clip-on handlebars and the seating position is less aggressive than you would expect. What spoils the GT’s ergonomics are the too rear seat foot pegs.

The KTM Duke 390 surprising however, doesn’t score well in the ergonomics departments. The seating position is upright and long riders hold the straight handlebar in a way which folds their hands, transferring some pressure on their upper back. The seat is super hard while the foot peg position is a bit weird.

The Continental GT is the highest capacity engine  (535cc). It’s the least advanced using air-cooling and 2-valve technology. 29.1 HP of power seems nothing for a 535cc engine but torque output is respectable at 44 Nm. What blunts the Continental’s performance is the weight, which at 184 kgs is quite heavy, more so by cafe racer standards. The biggest issue with the GT is of course the way this engine is fuelled. The fuelling feels very snatchy pre-2000 RPM while vibrations kick in abundance post 3000 RPM. Thus, clearly the Continental GT isn’t meant for the highways while in the city it’s a bit too heavy for easy manoeuvrability. However, what is appreciatale  about the GT is the way it sounds, it’s easily the best sounding machine amongst the duo.

Whereas, without any doubt, the Duke 390  would rule this department. Equipped with modern engines with 4-valve technology and liquid-cooling, the Duke 390 overshadows, the  Continental GT in performance and that’s simply because the 373.2cc engine outputs a massive 43.5 PS of power and 35 Nm of torque. Not only does the KTM have more power to punch out it’s contendor, it is also the lightest bike here by a fair margin and that translates into an unbelievable power to weight ratio.

Not only is this British branded motorcycle (Continental GT), the best Royal Enfield, it is also quite fun to ride. Underpinned by a double cradle chassis, Paioli twin rear shocks and grippy Pirelli tyres, the GT can carry good speeds through long sweepers and remains glued to the road even when cornered with aggression. It doesn’t feel as nimble. The Continental GT even without ABS inspires the confidence of braking hard and is the only bike here which uses Brembo units (not Bybre).

The Duke 390, on the other hand, is totally effortless to pilot for any type of rider. For example, the Duke is so light, you can reverse it out of parking with one hand whereas the GT is super heavy at parking speeds. The KTM takes away the handling merits aswell, thanks to its massively sharp steering and amazing grip from its super sticky Metzeler tyres. The Trellis frame is in a world of its own, giving the 390 a splendid feeling of lightness.
You can run circles around the Continental GT, that’s how good the Duke 390 is when it comes to dynamics!!

The Royal Enfield Continental GT without doubt wins in style quotient sector.

However, when you look at the big picture by gauging these two bikes as a whole, it’s the Duke 390 which emerges on top. Not only does this KTM comprehensively out-gun the other bike in performance, hardware and handling, it also re-writes the complete definition of value for money. The Duke 390 not only walks away as the winner of this shootout but also makes its contendors feel a bit unaccomplished, clearly signifying how stupendously good this orange-wheeled monster is.