I've owned KTMs and it's one of the brands I'm most passionate about but they weren't very reliable in the early 2000s. I wouldn't be surprised if KTM didn't want to torture test their bike for months with cameras rolling. It could have done more harm than good for their brand reputation. Great bikes for blasting off-road and on trails, not so sure about going around the planet on one though. lol
KTM's poor reputation re reliability is what made me go for my MT-03 over the Duke 390 for my first bike. I'm sure they're better now but I just feel better going with a Japanese brand over KTM.
It was their product they didn't want scrutinized. They had low financial backing and diecast and various componentry designed to be light weight, not strong. The platform was supposed to go in the opposite direction of a Honda 600R, it was supposed to win closed circuit races, not to be flogged. Their single cam engines were highly stressed, heated quickly, and valve trains and cam chain/tensioner designs lent themselves to massive chain slap and stretch. AKA High maintenance. Not like a slow revving, counterbalanced, low compression Honda engine. I just wish they were honest and said they don't want to subject their product to such a torture test. Claiming "you might fail," is blame shifting before anything even went wrong.
KTM or BMW adventure bikes? Share your opinion below!!!
I've owned KTMs and it's one of the brands I'm most passionate about but they weren't very reliable in the early 2000s. I wouldn't be surprised if KTM didn't want to torture test their bike for months with cameras rolling. It could have done more harm than good for their brand reputation. Great bikes for blasting off-road and on trails, not so sure about going around the planet on one though. lol
True
KTM's poor reputation re reliability is what made me go for my MT-03 over the Duke 390 for my first bike. I'm sure they're better now but I just feel better going with a Japanese brand over KTM.
It was their product they didn't want scrutinized. They had low financial backing and diecast and various componentry designed to be light weight, not strong. The platform was supposed to go in the opposite direction of a Honda 600R, it was supposed to win closed circuit races, not to be flogged. Their single cam engines were highly stressed, heated quickly, and valve trains and cam chain/tensioner designs lent themselves to massive chain slap and stretch. AKA High maintenance. Not like a slow revving, counterbalanced, low compression Honda engine.
I just wish they were honest and said they don't want to subject their product to such a torture test. Claiming "you might fail," is blame shifting before anything even went wrong.
Another wonderful vid from you Mistershifter! I miss riding my KTMs 😅
The bmws broke frames along the way. The ktm was a better bike at the time.
Goooood to watch. Hahahahaha