350cc KTM 390 Duke vs Triumph Tracker 400: Which One Should You Buy?

The Tracker 400 looks just as beautifully retro as the Duke looks modern

Triumph recently launched the Tracker 400, and it looks quite sporty and fun. We compare it against the recently launched 350cc KTM 390 Duke. Both the bikes get a 350cc liquid-cooled engine with similar power figures. However, there’s a significant price difference between the two. If you wondering which one to pick between these bikes, here’s what you need to know: 

Price & Variants

(both ex-showroom, Delhi)

• The Triumph Tracker 400 is about Rs 31,000 cheaper  than the 390 Duke. 

• That said, the Duke packs a kit that not many bikes in the segment do. This can  justify the higher price tag if that’s the riding experience you’re looking for. 

• All said, the Tracker 400 wins the pricing round of this battle quite comfortably. 

Dimensions & Design 

• At just 168.3kg, the KTM 390 Duke is an incredibly light bike, and it’ll be felt the moment you start riding it. It feels quite nimble and agile.

• While the Tracker 400 feels quite light on the go, you will feel a bit of its weight when you’re just pushing the bike around in a parking lot. 

• In terms of design, the Tracker 400 looks like an old-school flat tracker, and we quite like its styling. The tinted flyscreen, the black USD fork, the tank recesses and the Tracker badging on the tank make it look a bit more sporty and youthful than the neo-retro Speed 400. 

• The Duke 390 looks edgy and sharp. But a lot of people will find it to be a bit too aggressive for their liking. So the Tracker 400 is the more conventionally good-looking design. 

Features & Safety

• The 350cc Duke 390 is still a tech-loaded, performance-oriented bike and you can see that in the sheer number of features on offer. There are features that you usually find on much bigger bikes like cornering ABS as well as launch control. Everything on the bike has one purpose: to make it fast and fun. 

• And then there’s the quickshifter. We still think the best quickshifter in this segment is that on the TVS Apache RTR/RR 310, but the 390 Duke’s quickshifter is still a close second. Once you get used to it and realise that it’s a bit sensitive, it doesn’t take much effort to upshift or downshift. And doing both without engaging the clutch is joyous, to say the least. 

• The Tracker 400 has features that are in line with its neo-retro tag. It has the basics covered, and that’s it. No Bluetooth, no navigation, or any fancy riding aids.  

Engines

• Both bikes’ power and torque figures are in the same ballpark, and that’s impressive for the Tracker 400, considering that the Duke is one of the most powerful bikes in its segment. These are powerful bikes, capable of maintaining triple digit cruising speeds out on the highways. So if you want to take your bike touring, both will be up for the task. 

• That said, the Tracker 400 is a physically small motorcycle, so mounting luggage might not be the easiest. That is a lot simpler on the 350cc 390 Duke which has a lot more space on offer. 

• With the similar output figures, there shouldn’t be a massive difference in their acceleration numbers. That said, we suspect the Duke will be the quicker of the two, even if it’s marginally so, given its sportier background and its lighter weight.

BikeDekho Says 

The 390 Duke is still the sportiest and most fun naked bike you can buy in the sub-400cc category, and it’s quite good value for your money as well. So if you want a bike that is made for giggles and goofy fun, you should still very much get the Duke. That said, the Duke is in no way a beginner-friendly bike, so we hope you get some experience on smaller bikes before hopping onto the Duke. 

The Triumph Tracker 400 looks sporty and fun. But it’s still not an outright performance bike like the Duke. It still strikes a good balance between everyday practicality and performance, which makes it a more beginner-friendly bike than the Duke. So if you’re not looking for outright excitement and want that healthy balance, the Tracker 400 will make for a better buy. 

Rivals 

If you want out-and-out fun and excitement, get the 390 Duke. But if you want more mature performance with good looks, get the Speed 400. 

The Guerrilla 450’s higher weight and tiny tank make the 390 Duke the better and more practical proposition of the two. 

If you don’t mind spending a bit more, get the 390 Duke. But if your budget is tight, the Pulsar NS400Z is actually a lot of fun as well.  

The 390 Duke is more value for money, has more features as standard and is the more exciting of the two. 

The MT-03’s high price deters most people from buying it. So if you’re on a budget too, go for the 390 Duke instead.