By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Kawasaki Z 300 (MY2015) vs KTM 390 Duke (MY2013)
Kawasaki Z 300 vs KTM 390 Duke: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
You'll feel the Kawasaki Z 300 flick into a bend off a light nudge at the bars. At the bars, the KTM 390 Duke's front darts in with a sudden snap. Then it's settled, tracking right where you aimed.
So which one do you buy?
The Z 300 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
By a nose: Z 300
For the ride to work, the Z 300 noses ahead. What tips it: lower running costs. Don't let that alone make the call.
What makes each one tick
Z 300
The throttle wakes little down low. The twin wants the gearbox worked hard, since peak torque doesn't arrive until 10,000 rpm. The featherlight clutch doesn't fight the constant shifting.
390 Duke
A punchy single sits in the 390 Duke's tiny orange trellis frame, shared with its smaller sibling. The swingarm and trellis frame look like they belong on a higher-priced machine. At low revs in town, the single pulls cleanly without a surge or a stumble, and it won't hammer your spine. The engine's hungriest with the tach needle swinging high.
Nils rode the 390 Duke in Salzburg State in 2013 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Z 300 has the lower seat: 30.9 in (785 mm) vs 31.5 in (800 mm).
- The 390 Duke makes more peak power: 44 hp (32 kW) vs 39 hp (29 kW).
- The 390 Duke makes more peak torque: 26 lb-ft (35 Nm) vs 20 lb-ft (27 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both fall short
Long-haul comfort is a weak spot for both. If you tour, shop with that in mind.
Traveling with luggage
Look elsewhere
Loading up for a long trip isn't a strength of either bike. Expect to compromise on what you bring.
Don't look for a gap on twisty roads and a first bike: there isn't one. Go by how each one fits you.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Z 300
What owners say
Strengths
- Agile and fun handling in the urban jungle
- Legendary reliability on a proven platform
Trade-offs
- Peaky power delivery demands high revs
390 Duke
Strengths
- Snaps Into Corners Without Punishing You
- The Motor Wants Revs
- Fueling Is Genuinely Good
- ABS That Actually Works
- Lightweight and agile handling
Trade-offs
- Knee Angle Cramps Tall Riders
- No Screen From The Factory
- Bolts Work Themselves Loose
- Questionable build quality and reliability
- Uncomfortable for longer rides
Known problems to check before you buy
Z 300
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
390 Duke
- Overheating / fan problems Insufficient cooling led to fan failures and high engine temperatures in stop-go traffic, triggering limp mode.
- Electrical system glitches Various sensors and solenoids fail sporadically, leading to warning lights, intermittent starting issues, and erratic behavior. Some owners report complete electrical shutdowns.
- Stalling when hot or cold Difficult hot or cold starting, and occasional engine cut-outs while idling or at low speeds, possibly related to fueling.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Telescopic
- Front tire
- 110/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Z 300 | 390 Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 30.9 in (785 mm) | 31.5 in (800 mm) |
| Z 300 | 390 Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 296 cc | 373 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin | Single-cylinder |
| Power | 39 hp (29 kW) | 44 hp (32 kW) |
| Peak power at | 11,000 rpm | 9,500 rpm |
| Torque | 20 lb-ft (27 Nm) | 26 lb-ft (35 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 10,000 rpm | 7,250 rpm |
| Z 300 | 390 Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 US gal (17 L) | 2.9 US gal (11 L) |
| Z 300 | 390 Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 140/70-17 | 150/60-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Z 300 | 390 Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Standard (from 2016) | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
