Yamaha MT-03 vs KTM 390 Duke: A Detailed Comparison

Yamaha is set to launch bigger displacement motorcycles in India, including the R3 and the MT 03, the naked street fighter. The MT 03 will directly compete with the KTM 390 Duke, which has been dominating the segment for a long time. In this article, we will compare the two motorcycles in terms of their underpinnings, design, equipment and features, engine specifications, and pricing.

Table of Contents

Underpinnings and Design

The Yamaha MT 03 features a diamond-type tubular frame that is both light and strong, with a long asymmetrical swingarm for better handling. It draws inspiration from its larger siblings in the MT lineup, with a sculpted tank flanked by air intakes, a sleek headlight design, and an aggressive overall look.

The KTM 390 Duke is built around a lightweight split-steel trellis frame that keeps the center of gravity closer to the weight. It features minimal bodywork, with a sculpted fuel tank with angular shrouds and a large LED headlight for an extremely sporty design.

Equipment and Features

The Yamaha MT 03 comes with 17-inch wheels, a 37mm USD fork up front, a monoshock at the rear, disc brakes with ABS, LED lighting, and a fully-digital LCD instrument cluster. It has pre-load and damping adjustment on the rear suspension, but not on the front, and does not offer riding modes.

The KTM 390 also has 17-inch alloy wheels, but with larger 43mm WP USD forks, a 10-step adjustable rear monoshock, a color TFT display, dual-channel ABS with radially-mounted brake callipers, adjustable levers, and a quickshifter, among other features. It is better equipped than the Yamaha MT-03.

Engine Specifications

The Yamaha MT-03 uses a liquid-cooled twin-cylinder engine, while the KTM 390 Duke features a single-cylinder setup. They offer similar performance, but differ in terms of engine specifications.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both motorcycles are great to ride, be it in the city, on highways, or attacking a set of twisties. However, pricing is a key factor. The KTM 390 Duke is priced at Rs 2.96 lakh ex-showroom, while Yamaha has not revealed the price of the MT-03 yet. If Yamaha can match the pricing, the MT-03 will be a great alternative to the Duke. However, in terms of value-for-money, the KTM 390 Duke remains the segment leader.