KTM 390 Duke vs TVS Apache RR 310: Slipper Clutch Price Comparison

Just how much would you have to shell out to have a slipper clutch retrofitted onto your 2012 KTM 390 Duke or the 2017 TVS Apache RR 310? Here’s a detailed explanation

KTM was one of the first brands in India to offer a slipper clutch on the 390 Duke back in 2015. That said, not every KTM owner knew that the assembly could be retrofitted onto the very first iteration of the bike (unofficially) through KTM service centres. TVS Motors quite recently drafted a similar proposal where the slipper clutch available on the 2019 Apache RR 310 could be adapted to the previous-gen RR 310 models. While both brands have made this update available to their customers, there is a prominent price difference. So, here’s a closer look at the benefits of having a slipper clutch and the difference in pricing between the two brands. Staring with...

Benefits of a slipper clutch:

During hard downshifts on a conventional clutch, the rear wheel tends to lock up, which results in wheels hops. In comparison, a slipper clutch allows for a certain amount of controlled slippage, enabling the rear wheel to spin freely instead of locking up. In other words, you could shift down a couple of gears rather quickly be it wet, snowy or dusty without having to worry about wheel hops.

Also Read: Top 5 Most Affordable Bikes With Slipper Clutch

Price difference:

TVS Apache RR 310:

TVS officially offers a slipper clutch as an accessory for older Apache RR 310 models. Essentially, customers who own the first iteration of the faired motorcycle can retrofit this slipper clutch onto their bikes for a nominal price of Rs 3,950. You could get this done at your nearest TVS service centre. The brand has managed to keep the price low as the bike’s clutch housing already has enough space to accommodate the slipper clutch assembly. TVS says the update procedure wouldn’t take more than a couple of hours. 

KTM 390 Duke:

Similarly, customers who own the first generation KTM 390 Duke model (2012-2014) can update their bike with a slipper clutch for around Rs 5,000 (including taxes). To break it down, the complete clutch assembly along with the clutch housing costs Rs 4,645 while the labour charge will set you back by an additional Rs 418. Here you’d have to replace the entire clutch housing in the older model in order to adapt the slipper clutch assembly. Thus the extra charge. To put things into perspective, a standard clutch assembly for the KTM 390 Duke costs around Rs 2,5000. As for the fitment timeline, it takes around 2 to 3 hours to equip the bike with a slipper clutch system.