KTM reliability
Discussion
I'm after a non biased view on KTM reliability, specifically the superduke 1290 r.
Every bike shop I walk into that has an SDR for sale the sales staff are always doing the whole oooo I wouldn't go near a KTM/Ducati/BMW etc as they are so unreliable, but is there any real truth in that or are they just trying to flog a new version of whatever brand they mainly deal in?
I really like the SDR, but at circa 10k for a 2016 decent one, it's a lot of cash for a weekend toy, especially if it's gonna piss me off from breaking down or any other niggles they have.
I've seen a few of you on here have SDRs so just wondering if you can let me know what sort of issues you have had, if KTM are expensive for servicing/diagnostics or if I'm better off sticking with a jap bike in terms of reliability, but also a fair cash saving too?
Would only be used for fun, so not many miles a year and a few track days of I get the chance...I've owned my k8 gsxr 750 since new, and although it's low miles, it's been a brilliant bike with very few issues, pretty much service/ mot and some tyres each year and jobs a good un; back issues are what's making me want a more comfortable riding position otherwise I would keep the gixer..
Every bike shop I walk into that has an SDR for sale the sales staff are always doing the whole oooo I wouldn't go near a KTM/Ducati/BMW etc as they are so unreliable, but is there any real truth in that or are they just trying to flog a new version of whatever brand they mainly deal in?
I really like the SDR, but at circa 10k for a 2016 decent one, it's a lot of cash for a weekend toy, especially if it's gonna piss me off from breaking down or any other niggles they have.
I've seen a few of you on here have SDRs so just wondering if you can let me know what sort of issues you have had, if KTM are expensive for servicing/diagnostics or if I'm better off sticking with a jap bike in terms of reliability, but also a fair cash saving too?
Would only be used for fun, so not many miles a year and a few track days of I get the chance...I've owned my k8 gsxr 750 since new, and although it's low miles, it's been a brilliant bike with very few issues, pretty much service/ mot and some tyres each year and jobs a good un; back issues are what's making me want a more comfortable riding position otherwise I would keep the gixer..
Edited by ollie05 on Saturday 2nd February 15:13
I’ve had 2 KTMs for 4-5 years now.
Only problem I’ve had is a side stand switch go which I replaced myself, 10 second job.
Look after them and treat them with mechanical sympathy as you should anything and they are great.
The kind of problems that hey do have are problems like...” there’s too much sand in the air box when I tried to ride on dunes”, they are small engineering flaws that can be readily modded/adapted.
Only problem I’ve had is a side stand switch go which I replaced myself, 10 second job.
Look after them and treat them with mechanical sympathy as you should anything and they are great.
The kind of problems that hey do have are problems like...” there’s too much sand in the air box when I tried to ride on dunes”, they are small engineering flaws that can be readily modded/adapted.
ollie05 said:
Yes that's why I was looking at 2016 minimum, specifically the SE, how did you find servicing costs, usual or more expensive than the usual Jap stuff?
Also why did you get rid of your 2017, and what did you replace it with out of interest?
Didn’t keep it log enough to get it serviced but they’re not overly expensive. Wanted one since they came out in 2014 but just found it too easy to go too fast on. Bought a 690 smcr instead. Also got a 950 SM for longer journeys. Previously had 2 x SMT’s, another 950 SM and a 990SMR. Not had any serious issues with any of them other than the known weak spots which are easily sorted. Don’t even look at Jap bikes now as they hold no real interest to me.Also why did you get rid of your 2017, and what did you replace it with out of interest?
jackh707 said:
I’ve had 2 KTMs for 4-5 years now.
Only problem I’ve had is a side stand switch go which I replaced myself, 10 second job.
Look after them and treat them with mechanical sympathy as you should anything and they are great.
The kind of problems that hey do have are problems like...” there’s too much sand in the air box when I tried to ride on dunes”, they are small engineering flaws that can be readily modded/adapted.
Cheers for the reply Only problem I’ve had is a side stand switch go which I replaced myself, 10 second job.
Look after them and treat them with mechanical sympathy as you should anything and they are great.
The kind of problems that hey do have are problems like...” there’s too much sand in the air box when I tried to ride on dunes”, they are small engineering flaws that can be readily modded/adapted.
scorcher said:
Didn’t keep it log enough to get it serviced but they’re not overly expensive. Wanted one since they came out in 2014 but just found it too easy to go too fast on. Bought a 690 smcr instead. Also got a 950 SM for longer journeys. Previously had 2 x SMT’s, another 950 SM and a 990SMR. Not had any serious issues with any of them other than the known weak spots which are easily sorted. Don’t even look at Jap bikes now as they hold no real interest to me.
Admittedly I've not ridden a 690 and I'm sure they are fun, but just don't appeal to me aesthetically, I don't even like the Duke 790, the superduke is the only one I really like the looks of, annoying as it's expensiveI sold my 14 month old 2016 sdr with 3200 miles on last May for £9500 , it still had a few months warranty on, to be fair I did hand it back to the shop to sell and they sold it for 10k, i needed the room because i had also purchased the mk2 sdr and couldn't be arsed with selling privately so i would expect to pay well below 10k now .
Both mk1 and mk2 have been faultless, i still need to get my mk2 in for its brake recall and 2nd service but that can wait until the weather warms up . Both my 1290 sdr have been faultless but both have and one is still under warranty so understand your concern about spuncking 10k on a bike without it. Do not fit a quick shifter to a mk1 bike and buy the best you can and enjoy .
I do have an old 2013 rc8r that has also been faultless and rides as it left the factory from new, I think you would have to be very unlucky to buy a dog of 1290 but i guess its possible.
free png upload sites
Both mk1 and mk2 have been faultless, i still need to get my mk2 in for its brake recall and 2nd service but that can wait until the weather warms up . Both my 1290 sdr have been faultless but both have and one is still under warranty so understand your concern about spuncking 10k on a bike without it. Do not fit a quick shifter to a mk1 bike and buy the best you can and enjoy .
I do have an old 2013 rc8r that has also been faultless and rides as it left the factory from new, I think you would have to be very unlucky to buy a dog of 1290 but i guess its possible.
free png upload sitesIve had a couple KTMs over the years, and have had both good and bad experiences-
Got a RC8 brand new in 2010. Oil leaks from the water pump housing from a couple hundred miles. Went back over 8 times in the six months I had it, to be fair everytime it went back I always got booked in straight away and got a courtesy bike. Every time they replaced the water pump seal/shaft and changed coolant and oil/filters. They would last between two hours and two weeks before failing and leaking again. On the last one I had to get in touch with KTM in Austria, who in turn sent out the UK technical expert to the dealership, he found that the water pump housing had been mis-machined by a fraction of a mm, this in turn caused the shaft to run eccentrically, causing the seal to fail almost immediately.
If I hadn't got in touch with KTM directly I think the dealers would have endlessly changed seals until the warranty had expired. I ended up trading it in against an s1000rr a few months later (which has been pretty much faultless), as coolant and oil had mixed so many times I thought it was potentially a time bomb due to potential bearing issues due to this.
A couple of years later I bought a late 990 adventure off of an Australian who bought it brand new to tour Europe and North Africa, he had done 18k miles in six months. I had a couple of minor issues sorted under warranty when it was being serviced and still have it until today. Its had no failures besides what I would consider wear and tear.
I think my RC8 was probably a Friday afternoon bike, which every manufacturer seems to suffer from occasionally
Got a RC8 brand new in 2010. Oil leaks from the water pump housing from a couple hundred miles. Went back over 8 times in the six months I had it, to be fair everytime it went back I always got booked in straight away and got a courtesy bike. Every time they replaced the water pump seal/shaft and changed coolant and oil/filters. They would last between two hours and two weeks before failing and leaking again. On the last one I had to get in touch with KTM in Austria, who in turn sent out the UK technical expert to the dealership, he found that the water pump housing had been mis-machined by a fraction of a mm, this in turn caused the shaft to run eccentrically, causing the seal to fail almost immediately.
If I hadn't got in touch with KTM directly I think the dealers would have endlessly changed seals until the warranty had expired. I ended up trading it in against an s1000rr a few months later (which has been pretty much faultless), as coolant and oil had mixed so many times I thought it was potentially a time bomb due to potential bearing issues due to this.
A couple of years later I bought a late 990 adventure off of an Australian who bought it brand new to tour Europe and North Africa, he had done 18k miles in six months. I had a couple of minor issues sorted under warranty when it was being serviced and still have it until today. Its had no failures besides what I would consider wear and tear.
I think my RC8 was probably a Friday afternoon bike, which every manufacturer seems to suffer from occasionally
I had a 2012 690 Duke which developed an oil leak around the cam chain tensioner - fixed under warranty. A 2017 690 Enduro had zero faults over a couple of years, apart from the handlebar grips, which lost their colour & much of their grip: cheap & nasty rubber. Both bikes drank a LOT of oil, but then they were both big singles...
Just keep them spotlessly clean, service them correctly, & ACF50 the hell out of them.
Just keep them spotlessly clean, service them correctly, & ACF50 the hell out of them.
Thanks all that's reassuring to know.
Been to another bike shop this morn, 2016 SDR is up for over 11.5k, way overpriced, but while I was there I quite like the look of the gsx-s1000.
Had overlooked it really as I know it isn't as powerful, and doesn't have the extra gadgets that the more expensive end of the naked market has, but I could pick one up for a good few grand cheaper, and that's for a brand new one, so a nice 3 year warranty.
Sensible head says the Suzuki is a bargain, and with the k5 gsxr engine and 150bhp it won't be a slouch, but the other part of me wonders if I would regret it and it maybe a bit tame...
Either way, gonna sort a test ride on one so I can see either way
Been to another bike shop this morn, 2016 SDR is up for over 11.5k, way overpriced, but while I was there I quite like the look of the gsx-s1000.
Had overlooked it really as I know it isn't as powerful, and doesn't have the extra gadgets that the more expensive end of the naked market has, but I could pick one up for a good few grand cheaper, and that's for a brand new one, so a nice 3 year warranty.
Sensible head says the Suzuki is a bargain, and with the k5 gsxr engine and 150bhp it won't be a slouch, but the other part of me wonders if I would regret it and it maybe a bit tame...
Either way, gonna sort a test ride on one so I can see either way
ollie05 said:
but while I was there I quite like the look of the gsx-s1000.
Had overlooked it really as I know it isn't as powerful
IIRC they out run an S1000r down a quarter mile Had overlooked it really as I know it isn't as powerful
Gearing and setup means you can use ALL the power from the word go. Few people I know have them (faired and un-faired) and they ADORE them.
Saying that, if you like a V Twin and you want a KTM SDR a GSX-S1000 is going to be BORING!
think there are some great deals out there on new ones rather than secondhand now try www.laguna.co.uk
I had a number of problems with my new 790 Duke,
1. oil leak from the output shaft of the gearbox
2. oil leak from Cam Cover gasket
3. New dash
4. poor quality chain seizing up
All this in the first few months of ownership of a brand new bike, and looking at the various forums around these were very coming faults on the new 790 duke.
if were not for the fact that its one of the best bikes I have owned it would not be going anywhere near KTM again. The dealer (big multi franchise dealer in Swindon) I bought from were also very bad, I had to chase them all the time to get these things fixed under warranty. I now use a single franchise KTM dealer who are very good.
1. oil leak from the output shaft of the gearbox
2. oil leak from Cam Cover gasket
3. New dash
4. poor quality chain seizing up
All this in the first few months of ownership of a brand new bike, and looking at the various forums around these were very coming faults on the new 790 duke.
if were not for the fact that its one of the best bikes I have owned it would not be going anywhere near KTM again. The dealer (big multi franchise dealer in Swindon) I bought from were also very bad, I had to chase them all the time to get these things fixed under warranty. I now use a single franchise KTM dealer who are very good.
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