Funny story, I went to the local KTM dealer, told them what I was looking for in a bike was reliability, just wanted to ride, do not like to work on the bike, don't want it to spend more time in the shop than on the road. And their reply was "We do sell Kawasaki too, I think you are looking for a Japanese bike."
Having owned 13 different brands of motorcycles over the 45 years I’ve been riding, I can honestly say that no brand is without their faults or problems. Yes, I have owned (and still own) KTM’s that have had parts replaced under warranty. I have also owned, (and still own) Japanese motorcycles which have had parts replaced under warranty. In my experience the statement that the Japanese motorcycles are infallible is a myth, as in the last 5 years I’ve had Japanese bikes that have had leaking fuel lines, bad ECU’s, and even one that had to have its crankshaft replaced under warranty. For me the key to all of this is finding a dealership that will work with you on solving any problems that do come up. Too may dealerships are only interested in selling bikes and accessories with little or no regard for customer service after the sale.
Yeah man, the big 4 Japanese companies have undisputed reliability in the motorcycle market. KTM has perhaps the highest performance for money but the over tuned over stressed engines tend to blow head gaskets.
Never had a blown head gasket in mine and I use mine on track. The key is understand your bike and only do maintenance yourself if you know exactly what you are doing.
Yeah. You are absolutely right! Finding the dealer who does better Pre-delivery inspection is the key. Having said that there is no brand which outstands from YAMAHA OR HONDA.
Very well put, I think you have hit the nail squarely on the head. The dealer that is your friend becomes the most valuable asset in a bike relationship.
KTM fit with a new breed of buyer who use the new financial products ( large deposit / monthly payments / trade for new after set period / service and maintenance included ) . The "owner" isn't bothered about reliability as its not his problem and the 2nd hand market is left to pick up the tab for the long term issues of high stress components and complicated electronics . Its a business model that does not build long term brand loyalty or pride of ownership in my opinion , but will no doubt 'shift a lot of units' ... its like selling washing machines .
Anyone that buys a vehicle with a moto ready to race should expect high maintenance and short life. A lot of real racing machines are only expected to last to the end of the race then the machine is stripped down and gone over. Not For Me.
I proudly own a 2014 1190 Adventure R. Right away I had to replace the air filter system due to dirt particles passing through the OEM system. Unfortunately, even though this was a well documented issue, KTM did not cover this change out. Last year the CPU went out. I was extremely disheartened as all warranties had long expired. KTM stepped up big time and had it replaced for me free of charge! I have had many bikes and many brands over the last two decades and I have decided that my favorite flavor is orange. Be safe!!
I got my first bike in July, a 390 adventure. I’ve had 2500 problem free miles so far. Has a ton of features for the price. I won’t hesitate to buy another.
Owned 12 KTM's. 4 Ducatis. 1 Triumph Thruxton. 1-Aprilia V4 1000. I feel most problems are niggles revolving around maybe side case gasket leaks (Mine has not) or mainly electrical glitches--or is that Bosch's issue? Warranty covers all as it should. I had to use it to repair a wiring loom wire with came loose (see electrical issues above) and a whole gearbox when I crushed it into a missed gear all my fault but under warranty time period and covered. The wiring loom was a-3-part order process one part a a time which took way too long. This got me a free Alpinestars $800 Adventure jacket for my rant, though. KTM's make you smile. They are rowdy and fun and don't give a F. I try to start out looking at the competition and it goes like this: The new Duike 890R or a Ducati Hypermotard 950? When I price them with the NOT generous Ducati discounts the Duke was over $4000-6000 cheaper, OTD; 30 lbs less weight; and 7 HP more. 890R has also nipped maybe the best motorcycle middleweight ever in two comparoes this spring: The Street Triple 765R. That KTM can come out in year ONE and arguably dethrone the longest standing perennial champ middleweight says about what the narrator says here. KTM don't care and they aint scared. I wonder of Ducati, Triumph, Apriia, BMW are any better or worse? I believe BMW is actually very low on reliability scorecards? My Aprilia scared me enough that I traded it in--on a Superduke 1290R. The warm-stat cam chain rattle just didn't seem right.
After considering all « mid-weight » adventure bikes, my heart went for a Triumph Tiger 900 GT (not the pro). I am seriously in love & i am very happy after my first 1500 km (1000 miles) with it. Fabulous bike! I have 2 friends who have V-Strom 650 X (2018 & 2020) & they love their bike; awesome value, quality & reliability for a raisonnable price (aluminium side cases, crash bars... included). More road oriented than the Ténéré 700, but still very good for gravel & dirt roads!
If KTM could get bullet proof reliability like Honda, they would be the kings. I probably wouldn't buy one though, reliability is something which I think should be a given in this day an age. (Hence I drive a Volvo and ride a Honda).
I have KTM 1090 Adventure, my wife rides KTM 790 Adventure and my kid KTM Freeride 250F. When after fall all the liquid from radiator of Freeride leaked out bike was able to return back riding 20 minutes with no cooling. Replaced radiator, started engine and no problem. 1090 Adventure developed bad oil leak after first 3000km, apparently it was failed thread of loose bolt. After service fixed it (had to take front of the bike apart to get to problem - I have ridden 12,000 KM in three moths time with no mechanical issues at all. After installing Powerparts - heated grips software developed glitch that is minor annoyance : sometimes it continues to jump over selections in menu itself until u hit "back" button. No issues with new 790 Adventure after more than 8000 km bike is perfect. However break pads wore off at 7000 km. But that is I guess depending from riding style. On my 1090 they are still good for another 1500km after I ridden with them 12,000 km. Previously I owned Husqvarna 701 Supermoto/Enduro and Kawasaki Z900. Kawasaki was with no issues at all for all the time I owned the bike. Husqvarna was thirsty on oil a bit.
I'd stick with any Japanese brand over any European pos.....been burnt with a triumph rocket3 and a ducati xdiavel s....now its time to ride the mt09....reliability trumps exclusivity in my book....
Maybe you need to sharpen your chriteria at the moment of choosing an european bike. Both of your choices are pretty...ahem. To think thats the only thing Europe has to sell speaking of motorbikes...You just bought the two most powerful engines in the european market, but that is all. Try a balanced bike for a while. reliability isn't on the owners manual of the Diavel or Rocket 3, but try a BMW and see what happens.
@@DifferentSpokesTV I tend to dissagree, and KTM is THE ONLY brand in Europe you buy and insurance companies dont want to hear about. Guess the reasons. The video is really far from reality.
Over 10,000 miles on my Griso 1100, 1 oil leak due to a faulty component, fixed under warranty one month out of warranty ',:) Yet to leave me stranded but now that I've said that... maybe next week.
I bought a motorcycle about 3 months ago. I was open to many different styles (keep this in mind), and I looked seriously at the KTM Duke 790. After researching it in depth, though, I did find a lot of forum posts stating KTM still had reliability issues, particularly with certain nuts/bolts loosening and falling off. I ended up buying a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 (again, I was open to many styles), because I owned a Ninja 650 before and never had any issues with it for the 10,000 miles that I owned it.
2020 Versys 650, 50k Parts replaced (beside the usual stuff like tires, chains, etc): 0 it's still running like on day one..beside some rattling noise in the cockpit
Been riding nothing but KTM's for the past 20+ years and don't expect to change anytime soon (although those Betas are tugging at my loyalty a bit). In my experience, quality and reliability has never been an issue. Most recent, a 2019 enduro r, my first 4-stroke / dual sport after a lifetime in the woods on nothing but 2-strokes... absolutely amazing
Straight to the point and entertaining presentation.... You and Yammie Noob are the two hottest biking channels right now. Those conventional journalists at MCN/Bike World are boring . Just my opinion! Love from India!
I have been riding over 50 Years, mostly off-road/racing. Had allot of bikes be 6 KTMS including my current 690 08’. I plan on selling as I want an adventure bike. 390 may be all I need at 71 but the s450 sounds perfect. My KTMS have been very reliable compared to the rest/
As always, a great video. I am on my third Super Duke GT after having been a cruiser rider for over 20 year... I love KTM! I would really like to see your comments on a Super Duke GT
Thanks! I've actually never ridden the Super Duke although I've ridden both Super Adventures. Great motor! I think a lot of cruiser riders may be shocked how comfortable the naked bikes feel. Cruisers look comfy because the riders sit back, but the naked bikes put you in such a natural position. Cheers and have fun on your KTM!
I have a SuperDuke GT and it’s awesome. Vibrates a good bit, but other than that it’s badass. I’m not a fast rider, I just like great handling and good brakes, as well as a torquey engine, so it’s perfect for me. I bought it because I know someone who had one who let me ride theirs. Five minutes on his convinced me.
KTM are made to run fast to get fun. I just need to run longer... My dream adv bike? Enormous tank, no electronics, no plastic covers, simple big cc engine. working windscreen.
I value reliability and longevity over performance. KTM is fairly new, I think it will be interesting to see what happens long term with them. That is going to be the story to watch.
I had a SuperDuke 1290 (2015) and found it to more problem prone than my other rides, an issue compounded by the fact that, at least in the Dallas area, KTM dealers are really only interested in their dirt bikes and rarely bother to even carry or fix the street bikes. Cool bikes but for me at least mediocre ownership experience. Your mileage may vary. Thanks for another great vid! Really enjoying your work.
Thanks for the comment! Sorry to hear about your SuperDuke. It's a downer when you can't trust your bike. Every time you crack open that throttle you wonder whether something will break.
Different Spokes TV Thanks. As many others have noted as well it was electronics issues, with the KTM warranty pretty much stating “we don’t cover the electronics”. Disappointing for an otherwise outstanding bike. First world problems. ☺️ I now ride a MultiStrada and it’s been bulletproof across tens of thousands of miles.
Just got my 790 S back from the dealer after brake recall repair. Caliper was found bad and after 5 weeks of waiting for a caliper, dealer took one off of a floor bike. It was in for 600 mile service and is a hard starter too. I'm headed out for a bucket list trip and I love the bike, but afraid I'm gonna end up stranded with all the quality concerns I've heard about. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the video, great job.
i own a bajaj dominar 400 which has the ktm 390 engine i have rode it quite a lot and i had no issues with it so far in last 3 years. however it only has non switchable abs which is more of a problem when taking that street bike offroad. if i were to take the buying decision now i would have gone with the ktm 390 adv. I WOULD ALSO FACTOR IN HOW BIG IS THE SERVICE NETWORK OF THE BRAND OF BIKE AND AVAILABILITY OF SPARE PART. a problem is a problem when it cant be fixed.
Good point with the dealers. They're growing so fast though there should be one or more in most big cities. We have quite a few around Toronto. Thanks for sharing!
Looking forward to KTM's high end RC790/890 sportbike. There are thousands of RC390 owners who are upset there's nothing by KTM to upgrade to and they have to look to other brands.
I was in the same boat, I've owned 3 R6's over the years, but found them a bit painful to ride as I've got older, so I got an RC390, fun bike but lacks any grunt chasing litre bikes, so I ordered an Aprillia RS660 but thats no where in sight. I therefore snapped up a run out '18 Duke 790 for a steal. Its a wicked ride, I've got a set of Woodcraft clip-ons to add to make it more sporty riding position, but an RC890R would now be the dream machine for me.
Out of 6 bikes I own at this moment 4 are made in Europe. And 2 are orange! The only one I need to get rid of is Ducati, complete junk, and it’s my second one. My personal experience with ktm is very positive. If I had point out any negatives, is dealer service is far below average and no one knows how to work on big bore twins , at least near me. I love my super duke for the street and my 250 exc is by far best enduro I ever rode. Would I buy a RC8 to trash it at the track day? I can’t afford to so I stick to my 10 year old R6 and have similar fun. Great video. Dzięki wielkie!!!
My 1190 Adv, 2013 model (first year) just clocked 72 000 km. Factory replacement of air filter is th e only "issue" I have had so far. Changed sprockets and chain twice, plus tires every year. Thats about it. And I use it for adventure touring in all types of weather and on various road surfaces.
My experience having owned a 1290 Super Adventure are and 525 exc, is that they where both reliable the performance and character of the bikes was worth the additional maintenance cost required to keep them going. In saying that the additional maintenance is no more than the BMWs I previously owned. Never had any warranty issues with either KTM, other than factory recalls on the 1290. Both issues for the recalls had not occurring on my bike. The most unreliable bike I ever owned from new was a Kawasaki, it was so bad I will never buy another one, closely followed by a Yamaha. Probably the most reliable bike I have owned was a Suzuki and I ave also had good runs out of the 3 Harley Davidsons I have owned. In some cases I believe it is the luck of the draw as to whether you get a good or bad bike. My experience is that European bikes are more expensive to maintain that Japanese bikes, but require a lot less money spent on accessories etc to get the bike set up the way you want it. Would I buy another KTM, yes definitely.
I've got a 2017 690 DUKE. Most fun I've ever had on two wheels. (on the road) My only complaint is that it just kills my ass. A couple hours and I'm done. I've been eyeballing a 790R, but the T7 is an attractive bike too. If you could find one anywhere. I'd have one or the other already if I weren't pandemic unemployed.
Just bought a 2020 790 Adventure (no R). I rode it 183 miles off road today in the southwest Utah and (northwest) Arizona desert. What a great bike! It does everything really well. Can't think of a single thing it does not do well. I got about 60 MPG today too (no I'm not making that up).
I am from Austria..so I am Biased..lol...I have had KTM for years without any issues. It kinda reminds me of Mercedes owners in the US, that keep complaining about reliability issues. While Germans love Mercedes and own them for decades without issues.When you look at german Taxi, they are all Mercedes..do they have issues? No, otherwise they couldnt take the beating to be a daily taxi vehicle. Yet, somehow the american sold Mercedes have bad image. No idea, why there are different levels of experience on each continent while the products are pretty much the same. my advise, BUY KTM..You can't go wrong!
Well, I know this is about bikes, but I can't help but comment on the absolutley horrid reliability of Mercedes. My MB Sprinter has confirmed to me that German cars in general and Mercedes in particular are the most unreliable machines this side of the Soviet Union. And at least Lada parts are a thousnad times less expensive than Mercedes. Rant, rant, rant!
These companies have a few factories. One factory usually covers a certain region. The quality can vary from one factory to another. Especially when some materials are not adapted to local conditions. European cars have a bad reputation in S.E.A because their trim would peel off after a couple of years due to the type of glue they were using. Not suited to our perpetually warm and humid climate. Not sure what Austrian weather is like but KTMs have been known to overheat here due to our weather.
Ralph, I can offer you a little perspective as an American who lived many wonderful years in Germany (and enjoyed many weekend trips to the Eastern Reich). I will caveat that my German experience is now 24 years old. Mercedes in Germany would shock the average American by its simplicity. German Mercedes had cloth seats, manual transmission, steering, windows, and door locks, and usually no air conditioning. Mercedes in the U.S. base models have power everything - more systems to go wrong.
You made the right choice on the T7. I just can’t get past the Praying Mantis look. I did buy a new KTM690, sold it 6 months later. The clutch burned up at 600 miles and KTM denied the warrantee claim, said it was normal ware are tare. 😳
I’ve been riding motorcycles for 57 years… I was stated earlier, all brands have their faults and issues and lemons. What makes the difference is the dealer!
This is a very good thought piece. Of note, you didn’t mention that KTM really dominates the dirt enduro segment. They deliver class leading power and light weight. KTM has created a modern two stroke. The Japanese are 30-50 Kilos heavier in every category. I have a 2013 KTM 500 EXC, I have beaten up badly on the trails and it has performed well. I acknowledge that the air filter and oil changes are very frequent. But that is a small price to pay.
Comes down to personality and and personal experience, I think. I will always choose solid reliability, lower maintenance intervals, and great performance, over a hyper performing, futuristic looking thing that requires constant maintenance. So far, I'm very happy to have chosen the Tenere 700. Hope you get yours soon....ride safe!
I love KTMs, No baggage in terms of heritage, no traditions, no purists to piss off. 1300cc naked bike? Hold mein Red Bull. But having said that, I ended up passing up on a KTM and bought a Ducati instead. Looked at a Hypermotard 1100 and a KTM Supermoto 950, heard plenty of issues with the latter. One of the few weak points was the fuel pump amongst other things.
Have own 2 1290's (R and S version) and currently a 500 EXC-F. The 1290's were plagued with problems from delivery and required fixing of hoses and electronic issues; gave up and with back to BMW GS series adventure bike. The 500 is simple enough and is a great DS bike and in SM trim is great street performer! No other 500 on the market matches it's overall performance. Waiting to see if the new 490 will be as reliable as the 500 or just a problem child like the 1290's.
Like you, I recognize their popularity but hasten my purchase of one due to covered components or lack thereof. Their paperwork clearly states the computers are not covered. The heart of features that make them desirable also make it the achilles heel for jumping to orange and black. My .02. Hard to deny their power and features in the price point though.
I've heard this about the electronics not being covered, but if that's true it must be only in the US. Of course I'm in Australia where such a warranty would be illegal due to consumer law. It's the standard 24 month warranty here.
I have 2 KTM Dukes one of which I use in the track and 1 for commuting with over 15,000 kms not a single issue on my 200 Duke. I dont have a truck so I ride the KTM 390 Duke 114kms to the track, then ride on track for a total of 3 hours then ride back to Manila. No issues. Just follow proper maintenance and dont full around with the bike if you dont know what the heck you are doing on the mechanicals. Most issues encountered by KTMs are related to user doing their own maintenance with very little know how.
I've been using my KTM 390 Duke for 7 years now and ridden it for over 87000kms in the harsh road conditions and climate of India. Never have I felt it unreliable. In India, the 400-600cc bikes are considered a higher segment, and KTM rules the roost here with the best bang for the buck offerings.
I bought a 2019 790 Adventure S. Front rotor got replaced under warranty. Besides that, I am fully happy with it, mainly because I am short (5'6") and the size of the bike fits me exactly like my previous G650GS did. Seat has two height settings, handlebars has 6 different positions. Most people (taller) who tries my bike tells me they feel a bit cramped. I personally love it. All day riding without any pain. I tried also the Tenere 700 and totally different bike. Both bikes are good options but for different riders. Are KTM unreliable ? Maybe KTM are more performance bikes and are ridden harder, so that make them proned to show problems more often ? Maybe ? If you ride any bike as hard as a KTM, I bet you they will show similar issues. But honestly, I've had only one KTM so far, and that's not over !
Yep. Definitely younger styling. If they did a more conventional headlight/ headlight fairing then us oldies would be more interested. Oh and the garish colour schemes but hey, with their growth, will they really care. QC is important though especially for longevity of the brand. Good job.
My 690 Enduro R, didn't give me too many problems, just an improperly mounted chain guard (dealer's fault) and a failed instrument cluster (covered by warranty), other than that not much to complain about. Maybe a bit of rust on the hardware and the turn signals breaking off-road, but these are not real issues. I really enjoyed the bike.
I've owned owned 6 KTM's all have been amazingly reliable, especially considering the performance. I think their success and market share will continue to increase.
@@Fordahord1 you'd say that but the man said he had them being amazingly reliable tho. Same goes for my 2018 390 adventure with loads of kilometers on it
The questions for me regarding reliability - is the dealer far away? Will it affect the resale value? Will I be left stranded when exploring off grid? How much will spares and repairs cost when out of warranty? For me reliability is a very high priority so I probably won't be buying a KTM, especially at a premium price.
I have a 2020. 1290 super adventure R and oh my god is it fast nimble and amazing to ride my only dislike is the seat hard and uncomfortable after about 90minutes I have to stand up for 4/5 minutes and let my backside get feeling again but I love this bike a huge Improvement over my klr650 Wich has 318000 miles till the cam chain broke. The Accra Povick exhaust is a waste of 900$ does not change the sound or preformance of the bike I learned the hard way I will be looking at a Remus exhaust to change the sound but I’m in love with my SAR
KTM tickles the little boy that still is to be found inside most of us. Wheelies, jumps and tricks and class leading performance are a sure way to get the buyers attention. And nothing wrong with that. Personally, after 4 decades riding bikes they are not any longer interesting to me. Bikes should be fun, and KTM bikes are just that. No wonder that they are popular with younger riders. Never owned one, even if I´ve thought about it from time to time. Only had japanese bikes, current one is a 750 Kawasaki. Now for the tenth season so it propably is a keeper. Thought about trading it for something different but can not find any real reason to do it. It still is fun to ride and never had any issues with it. Only normal maintenance. Thanks for the video!
I've owned a duke390 for more than a year as my first bike. Issues i have encountered so far are, faulty rad fans(twice) and a minor leak on the stator side. Both covered by warranty. I still feel that it's realiable enough. I use it almost every day pre covid.
I had a KTM 990 SMT. The fuel pump quit when just out of warranty. It was very expensive to replace. I've heard it's a common problem on KTM s. When it came time for a new bike I bought a Kawasaki. No problems so far. Hope I didn't just jinx myself.
KTM is doing *exactly* what Harley SHOULD be doing (and I fear with their new 'rewire' they will no longer be moving towards). I fully expect my son will not be lusting for an HD when he's 18, he'll be lusting for a KTM. Harley, you listening yet???
I owed a 2017 Duke before. I had it for a year and it was OK. I didn't ride it hard so I was lucky that it didn't break or anything. However, I think I was lucky as the other guys who bought a Duke at the same time as I did had factory defects which the dealership also owned up to so it's good that they honoured the warranty but down time for any new bike sucks. These days, I'm just sticking to the big 4 as I prefer hassle-free ownership.
The Pentons were KTMs imported by John Penton, a famous enduro rider of the 70's, who put is name on them. After a while, KTM decided to keep their own name .
Performance with KTM is good, but quality . . . not so. Plastic doesn't always mean bad, but in the KTM it is. My friend and I both bought new bikes at the same time, Me a BMW HP2 Enduro and my friend a KTM 950 Enduro. After 1 year of hard enduro offroad and street hooligan riding, my HP2 was still as I bought it, without any flaw or damage. The KTM 950 Enduro of my friend thou, had been in repair so many times that in 1 out of 3 rides his bike was at the dealer. Many parts just broke of, specially the plastic parts. Oil problems, cooling problems, electrical problems, faring broke lose on several places, everything you can think of. We formed a team of 4 HP2 enduro bikes, and none had any issue, 2 of our other friends also had the KTM 950 Enduro, and both had the same problems. KTM's are great performers, as long as they function. (I loved to ride the KTM 950 of my girlfriend, when riding off road tracks, but wouldn't swap the HP2 for a KTM, even when the prices were the same). And okay, the HP2 Enduro was 50% more money, had more HP, more Tq, and less weight, in general, the best enduro bike I have ever owned. And an iconic collectors item, since BMW only build e few. Yes, I am a bit biased :) . But I acknowledge that in many fields the KTM is master, but that does not make them reliable.
Hell yes!! Love this video, Super Duke 1290 GT will definitely be my next new bike. Wish the dealer network were a bit bigger here in NJ, I’m sure it’ll get there.
So, it took me close to a month to fully receive my bike due to electrical issues throughout the bike. KTM ended up sending a tech and replacing the entire wiring harness on a brand new bike. Its a gem now, and currently no performance complaints. I've taken it on single track and pounded pavement. Just had to be patient I guess, and that month delay sucked.
Yes, I've had to wait a month for a fix and it sucks when it happens in the middle of the riding season. Especially here in Canada where the season is not that long.
I soooooo want to get a KTM...but honestly, am a little apprehensive re: engine heat, reliability, warranty ...Love to hear real experience from KTM owners
A 450-500 cc bike with over fifty horsepower sounds amazing. no one does this because of euro license tiers but to me a light weight 60 hp bike would be the perfect size.
My 1090 developed computer problems - sent it to the shop under warranty - they fixed it and about 10 miles later the same false warning signs appeared. It's over computerised. Then the panniers refused to lock properly. Then I traded it in...It was always kept in a garage and cosseted, but that wasn't enough.
Hey. I'm from India and I've owned a KTM Duke 390 for the last 7 years. I've heard and witnessed friends having reliability issues, but I've had absolutely none. The bike has one recall in the first 12 months, but that was cause the rear mudguard was too rigid and had a tenancy to snap when riding on our bad roads. Also, it's a known fact that the KTMs manufactured in India for the Indian market are of a compromised quality (to be priced competitively) as compared to the ones for export. That literally makes the bikes half the cost to us cause there's a lot of parts shared between KTM and Bajaj Motorcycles. The Yamaha is a safer bet, but the 790 Adventure would have been a more interesting bike and more of an adventure, including ownership and not just riding. Cheers.
I have a superduke and 690 duke at the moment. Some of the dealers are terrible, some are great, but you can count on KTM corporate never returning your phone call for recall or warranty issues. The bikes themselves both have 20k trouble free miles on them, with the exception of crappy clutch hydraulics on both, and an issue with a performance reflash that the dealer messed up.
I had a 2012 KTM 990, great bike, road highway and dual track with it, maintenance was a nightmare, had to remove both gas tanks to change the oil. I think you have to remove the1090’s gas tank to do maintenance. I traded it for a BMW F800 gsa, I’ve never regretted the change. By the way I live in S. Dakota, the Yamaha dealer in Rapid City is selling the T7 like hot cakes, he sold 5 and has deposits on 5 more, hope you don’t have to wait much longer. I want to see your review.
Thanks for sharing! I'll do a bunch of videos on it as soon as it arrives. I don't know why manufacturers design bikes that have to be disassembled for routine maintenance. Say what you will about Guzzi and BMW but at least with those cylinders sticking out the sides you can adjust your own valves.
I currently have my 2019 Yamaha Tracer GT for sale as I want to get an ADV bike instead. Your video perfectly encapsulates my conundrum. I would like to get a middleweight adventure bike and am leaning towards the Tenere 700. But, there are none at my local dealer, and who knows when they will be available here in British Columiba. However, the same dealer has three 790 Adventure R's on their showroom floor. You get a lot of extras for the extra money on he KTM vs the Yamaha, and unlike the Yamaha, the KTM is available now. Hmm..
I have owned three KTMs,one used and two new.Yes they are a bit more money but not many other company's offer high end parts as KTM.Warranty I would not know about as I never needed it,all my KTMs are trouble free.
Same continent really doesn't say that much. Even India is on the same continent. Both Harley Davidsons and formerly Victory was made on the same continent, but I can tell you, Victory was far superior in the long run.
You ask a good question: performance vs reliability. Highly subjective. I'm with you, I'd have chosen the Yamaha. Esp. on a purchase where you are going to ride tens of thousands of miles over many years. Bike reliability issues in the boonies is a nightmare, imho. Long-term reliability is important to me. A bike you are going to flip relatively quickly, maybe no so much. Nice video!
I have a 790 R for 18k km, no other issues than minor wear and tear. 2 warranty exchanges (swingarm & dash), so cannot confirm that KTM doesn‘t honor warranties. Its an Adventure bike and my riding breaks some wear parts, that is normal (broke more on my old 800GS). Do yourself a favour and ditch the T700 for the 790R. Its the one you can ride like a fat 500 EXC on dirt roads and scratch your knees on twisties with a smile!!
I have the KTM 790 adventure r it's a great bike. I love the performance a twist of the throttle makes for a big smile. But there are a few cons that come with the bike. I will do my best to explain. First it's very expensive I am reminded every time I go off road it's very hard to get comfortable because you don't want to crash and mess up your beautiful expensive bike. Second all of the electronic aids really hinder you from knowing what the bike is all about. I feel that it would power wheelie all the way up in third gear but the electronic aids prevents that from happening. Last it's very tall and I have dropped it when turning the bike around on uneven ground. Of course this was while I was off roading. I can honestly say the pros still out weigh the cons. Suspension, braking, power plus I really love the looks. I didn't at first but it has really grown on me. I get strangers all the time complimenting that it's a beautiful bike. I think a lot of people here in the US don't know about KTM yet. I get asked a lot what brand is the bike. I tell them it's a KTM and they say what a beautiful bike. When that happens I feel like I own a majestic sports car. I have 5.5 k miles on it and no problems yet but time will tell.
Thanks for the comment. Yes the 790 R is one of the few bikes that I've sat on where I can't quite put my heels on the ground. It's huge. But you're right, what a beautiful bike. Cheers!
This is just my opinion and experience. I own a Duke 390 for a couple years now, one thing the mechanic told me was that these engines come unlimited, meaning that the rev limiter is the actual engine limit. I dont know if this is a fact since I did not fact check it because to me that information is useless since I do not drive the bike on that rev range, but according to him, many people do. And they are the ones that complain about reliability. So, maybe if you drive it as a race vehicle all the time, then it falls within reason that the bike will have issues sooner than later? Because all machines will have issues eventually. Dunno, just my 2 cents.
I chose reliability and went with the very old engine design on the V Strom 650. Haven't had personal experiences with the KTMs but I've seen ppl on youtube taking their babies for low mileage inspections and casually throwing talks about front fork leaks and the likes as if it's common with them, didn't even seem agravated about it. Didn't make a good impression on me. It's hard to strike a good balance between performance and realibility, common sense dictates that the balance tips towards one or the other.
I only know one guy with a KTM. He stopped riding with us at the beginning of last season because his bike has a bunch of digital gremlins and NEVER runs lol.
i have been riding for 45 years and the only bike that left me stranded at the side of a road was the mythical Suzuki V Strom 650. That bike has a fanatical following but it had some serious faults which the manufacturer refused to address. Moving on I have a very large dealership nearby which sells,Honda,Triumph,KTM and Ducati. One of the more mature salesman warned me several years ago to stay away from KTM and Ducati. I did and purchased Triumphs instead. Are they perfect ? no not at all but for the most part service and reliability have been good. Almost as good as the Japanese bur not quite.
Hey, I am from India. The very country where the ktm 390 were born. Ktm took the Indian market like a storm. Now we have orange bike rally here in every states. Bikes are reliable and easy to maintain here because most dealership have all parts ready in case of any issue. I own a 390 first generation and it still got those 44HP to thril me any time..!!
You know what I would like from KTM, a bike that you don’t have to take back to the dealer for oil leaks and electrical problems before you get to ride it much. Deciding to go with a Tenere 700 was the best decision you’ve made. My 790 has been in the shop for two of the four weeks I’ve owned it! It’s still there! I will get rid of this thing eventually and will never own another!!! May sell it back under the lemon law!
Unreliability is never an acceptable trade-off. And yes, KTM styling is an aquired taste; one I have not acquired BTW. Because of my long and firmly established taste, aquired way back in the late '60s, I'm happily sticking with Triumph. My new T120 for the road; for dual purpose there's always the Scrambler line (for looks) and the Tiger line for performance. And for VALUE! Well, for value no one has ever come close to the Japanese. Not even close. Oh, and for reliability as well. I've got a 43 year old Yamaha XS650 and 39 year old Yamaha XV920 THAT HAVE NEVER HAD A REPAIR or hickup OF ANY NATURE (that's excluding fluids and tires of course). Fortunately, in my retirement, I can affored any bike I want so I'll continue to cater to my aesthetic sensibility above all. But I need to aquire a couple new bikes for my sons-in-law so I'm looking real hard at Suzuki's 650 VStrom, Yamaha's Tenere 700. The only fault I can find with either of those bikes is that they look a little bit too much like a KTM. : ) KTM is just not on my RADAR at all (though I'm happy to see your video so as to keep up with the times). Too much of the appeal of KTM seems to stem from the agility of the professional riders they hier for promotional films.
Dude i started watching your channel for the harley pan america, became interested in the tenere 700, and ended up getting a duke 390 due to the price... its my 3rd new bike, and it blows my mind how great it is! Btw- you talked about waiting for a retro ktm- they use husqvarna for that, and their Norden 501 might be my IDEAL motorcycle! If not a norden 1301!
That is awesome! Keep me in the loop about your 390 as we're possibly interested in trading in Brooke's Honda for a 390 Adventure. They have the same motor and share some parts. Cheers!
@@DifferentSpokesTV dude for the weight she will LOVE the power. Im actually considering doing some tkc80 tires and the adv skid plate on the duke- but i might try to get the husq spoked wheels first, so i can have a set of road tires and a set of adv tires. Btw, the biggest downside of ktm so far is the connectivity. One of the reasons i got the bike was for the ktm my ride app which should allow me to control my music etc through the bars. It doesnt work. The app has 1.5 stars, and all the comments are the same. When you buy a ktm with all this electro stuff... you expect it to work. Especially something as simple as a simple app they advertise to work with the bike.
Reliability will be a difficult issue to judge with a KTM, because the power delivery encourages a different ride style of riding to other bikes. The sweet spot of a KTM 790 is in a narrower band than the Yamaha T7, which has a longer more linear delivery. The bike wants you to hammer it (I own one), it's not a bike that likes to be ridden gently. I'm sure this will influence reliability more than the quality of manufacture. I love my KTM, and its electronics, but I think I would prefer the Yamaha T7 power delivery.
Keep Up The Good Work... When are you set to pick up the T7? I was so set to pick the T7. However, when I heard of the Rally version, I decided to hold out for that.... Safe riding!
Different Spokes TV Hope you get the bike soon. I have watched every TH-cam video there is to watch in this bike. Sadly, most the videos are European and Australian content. It will be nice to have someone producing a local content. Like yourself, I prefer Yamaha. I grew up with a Yamaha generator in Nigeria during the 70s and 80s. That same generator is still operational today... AMAZING!
I hesitate between the t7 and the 790s.... I am a beginer in off road but 30 years on road with my honda's like the vfr 750 Someone can help me decide?
I'm starting to wonder about the Tenere as well. I'm almost at 5 months since I ordered it and I admit to getting a little antsy. I actually was going to buy the KTM 790 Adventure R when I started to see reports of oil leaks online. I was also less than impressed with the fact that the more expensive version, the R, had half the warranty the regular version has, something about the R being a "competition model". Ya right.
Sorry in advance for the long post; Not me, but I've got a mate in the UK who's on his second SD (the first was stolen). Neither has given him any trouble, and he has used them day in, day out since he bought the first one, which was a 990 Super Duke. He put loads of Carbon Fibre on it and after about 3 years it was stolen. He bought another and that has been pretty much faultless. Neither of the 990s has caused him any trouble, and he's been riding them since his first one (2006? 2007?) The second one had much less in the way of CF and is pretty much bog stock and must be 10 years old now. They were/have been used under all conditions as a daily commute from the east end of London in to the centre, rain or shine. Also, from what I hear, the smaller capacity KTMs had some major problems with their India-produced machines (smaller capacity). These problems apparently affected the frames, but the company was pretty good about dealing with these problems. I understand that more recent production has been much more reliable. From what I understand, it seems that warranty claims are left much more to dealers, and my friend, being a good customer, has had no problems at all with even the smallest claim. However, I could say exactly the same for even the Japanese "Big Four", but Honda managed to shaft me so badly in the 80s that I will never, EVER buy another Honda. Having said all that; I think that you do have to differentiate between the Japanese, the Europeans, and the rest (effectively China, H-D and Enfield). There seems to be no doubt that the "Big Four" are still significantly more reliable than the rest, but the "serious" european companies have been taking great strides in this respect. By that, I mean companies like Triumph and, to a lesser extent (maybe) KTM. At least in Europe, Triumph actually owns most of the importers that sell Triumph (Unfortunately, not Spain - where I live) and so is able to ensure availability of parts. Historically, BMW always had the necessary parts in stock, so this wasn't a problem. Unfortunately, it seems that BMW reliability has gone out of the window at about the same time as they started to produce more "Interesting" machines (about the time of the release of the 800s). Unfortunately for you, Guzzi have always been at the lower range of reliability, along with Ducati and Aprilia. Ducati seem to have improved since coming under the VAG wing, but the Italians just seem to be seen as "Toys", even by their owners, so expecting reliability is probably not very wise. Which leaves KTM. My suspicion is that KTM themselves see themselves as being somewhere between Triumph and BMW for reliability. It is important to them, but it won't shape their philosophy. But you yourself said it best, something like "I've never had one, but I really want one" that makes them an aspirational brand, and THAT, sir, you can't buy.
Thanks for sharing! There are a lot of guys that just want that front wheel in the air and ultimate reliability is not the number one priority. That used to be me, but I'm 45 now and have other expenses and so the Japanese bikes make a lot of sense. Cheers!
@@DifferentSpokesTVOnce again, sorry for the long post; I'm 57 and my friend is in his late 40s. He's pretty much like you, but I was always that much madder than anyone around. I think that, for me, the advantage of the power delivery of any big V twin is that the fun is simply enjoying the power. I've had inline 4s and yes, it was fun rolling on the power on the motorway (Freeway), but I was ALWAYS aware that the power could launch the tyre sideways at the first opportunity. In fact, just to prove it to myself, I once rode an EXUP 12km on a twisty, Spanish road without ONCE having the rear wheel running at the same speed as the bike (It was either spinning, sliding, or both). And that bike was brilliant. But it was ultimately unsatisfying. I knew thAt I would never have the ability to ride the bike to IT's limits. The rider was always the limiting factor. But with a V twin, it is not about the rider limiting the bike, it is about the bike allowing the rider to have more fun, at lower speeds, in more places. On big bikes, it's a waste to ride them on a commute. You know that their abilities are far greater than the commute can provide. Unless the big bike is a V twin. There is something about the surge of power, the lack of fuss in simply riding, and the simple joy of a big twin putting the world into reverse. And part of that is the sound, and however good the Beemer twins are, for me, that flat drone is such a turn-off that I just couldn't consider one as my next bike.
@@DifferentSpokesTV I know what you mean, I only got a car when I was well into my 30s, and it used to annoy the hell out of me when people were so blasé about reliability. And the reality is that an unreliable bike, even when it's not your primary transport, is a real PITA, That is one reason why I'd be very, very cautious about buying either Aprilia or Ducati. However, from all that I've heard, most of the big KTMs are pretty damned reliable. It used to be the smaller ones that weren't, but even those seem to be much more reliable these days.
The warranty in Australia is fine, 2 years on their street bikes. I've heard in the US it doesn't cover the electronics, but that wouldn't be legal here due to consumer law.
I like the looks of the KTM's and they sound like they'd be great but I've stick with Japanese bikes and thusfar been very happy. I wouldn't rule out a KTM but if I were to replace my KLR it would be for the Tenere and not the 790
Ye, they do grow fast thanks to the Indian marked and low cost production ( that will also be done in China ). I would like to buy one, but I'd like to have a bike that is not only made for riding fast, but also TO LAST PS - a light bike is great to have if it has to be lifted after some "resting" in the dirt, but in open areas with strong side-winds, while moving fast - the heavier, the better. And the insurance companies hate KTMs. 🤢
If you read the UK's Motorcycle news page on the KTM 790, there are a real lot of owners moaning about reliability. Whether that's conclusive evidence, I don't know. Japanese bikes always do seem to top the reliability charts. My brand of choice, Triumph (yes I'm from the UK, so unsurprising), seems to do okay, but they're probably not as reliable as the Japanese manufacturers. I had a test ride of the KTM 790, it was certainly a very good bike to ride, very entertaining. The 1290 Super Duke R just blew me away with it's performance. Would I buy either ? Probably no, the insecty and orange styling isn't really my thing and the unreliability reports a bit concerning.
Funny story, I went to the local KTM dealer, told them what I was looking for in a bike was reliability, just wanted to ride, do not like to work on the bike, don't want it to spend more time in the shop than on the road. And their reply was "We do sell Kawasaki too, I think you are looking for a Japanese bike."
That's hilarious! Wow! Thanks for sharing :)
Same here with my dealer, KTM tucked away in the corner, asked to see a Z900 and they're all sold. Will probably be a Z900 over an 890KTM
Apt least they are honest
Because the markup was higher on the Kawi?
@@Nordkapp65 but i tried the 890 and never see this performance and light feeling ib any japanese bike....
Having owned 13 different brands of motorcycles over the 45 years I’ve been riding, I can honestly say that no brand is without their faults or problems. Yes, I have owned (and still own) KTM’s that have had parts replaced under warranty. I have also owned, (and still own) Japanese motorcycles which have had parts replaced under warranty. In my experience the statement that the Japanese motorcycles are infallible is a myth, as in the last 5 years I’ve had Japanese bikes that have had leaking fuel lines, bad ECU’s, and even one that had to have its crankshaft replaced under warranty. For me the key to all of this is finding a dealership that will work with you on solving any problems that do come up. Too may dealerships are only interested in selling bikes and accessories with little or no regard for customer service after the sale.
Yeah man, the big 4 Japanese companies have undisputed reliability in the motorcycle market. KTM has perhaps the highest performance for money but the over tuned over stressed engines tend to blow head gaskets.
Never had a blown head gasket in mine and I use mine on track. The key is understand your bike and only do maintenance yourself if you know exactly what you are doing.
@@LanceLumbanPHI Nice, but the fact that it's a known problem for ktm speaks for itself.
Yeah. You are absolutely right! Finding the dealer who does better Pre-delivery inspection is the key. Having said that there is no brand which outstands from YAMAHA OR HONDA.
Very well put, I think you have hit the nail squarely on the head. The dealer that is your friend becomes the most valuable asset in a bike relationship.
KTM fit with a new breed of buyer who use the new financial products ( large deposit / monthly payments / trade for new
after set period / service and maintenance included ) . The "owner" isn't bothered about reliability as its not his problem
and the 2nd hand market is left to pick up the tab for the long term issues of high stress components and complicated
electronics . Its a business model that does not build long term brand loyalty or pride of ownership in my opinion , but will
no doubt 'shift a lot of units' ... its like selling washing machines .
Excellent analysis! Thanks for that.
Bought a 2020 790 Adv at the beginning of May, I've got 6900 trouble-free miles so far, love this bike.
Did u try the t7 first? Is the 790s vibrates a lot compared to the t7?
@@michelwaknin9893 didn’t try the T7
How bout now ? Lol
Anyone that buys a vehicle with a moto ready to race should expect high maintenance and short life. A lot of real racing machines are only expected to last to the end of the race then the machine is stripped down and gone over. Not For Me.
I proudly own a 2014 1190 Adventure R. Right away I had to replace the air filter system due to dirt particles passing through the OEM system. Unfortunately, even though this was a well documented issue, KTM did not cover this change out. Last year the CPU went out. I was extremely disheartened as all warranties had long expired. KTM stepped up big time and had it replaced for me free of charge! I have had many bikes and many brands over the last two decades and I have decided that my favorite flavor is orange. Be safe!!
Thanks for sharing. That's good to hear that the dealer was able to help you out. Take care!
I got my first bike in July, a 390 adventure. I’ve had 2500 problem free miles so far. Has a ton of features for the price. I won’t hesitate to buy another.
Owned 12 KTM's. 4 Ducatis. 1 Triumph Thruxton. 1-Aprilia V4 1000. I feel most problems are niggles revolving around maybe side case gasket leaks (Mine has not) or mainly electrical glitches--or is that Bosch's issue? Warranty covers all as it should. I had to use it to repair a wiring loom wire with came loose (see electrical issues above) and a whole gearbox when I crushed it into a missed gear all my fault but under warranty time period and covered. The wiring loom was a-3-part order process one part a a time which took way too long. This got me a free Alpinestars $800 Adventure jacket for my rant, though.
KTM's make you smile. They are rowdy and fun and don't give a F. I try to start out looking at the competition and it goes like this: The new Duike 890R or a Ducati Hypermotard 950? When I price them with the NOT generous Ducati discounts the Duke was over $4000-6000 cheaper, OTD; 30 lbs less weight; and 7 HP more. 890R has also nipped maybe the best motorcycle middleweight ever in two comparoes this spring: The Street Triple 765R. That KTM can come out in year ONE and arguably dethrone the longest standing perennial champ middleweight says about what the narrator says here.
KTM don't care and they aint scared. I wonder of Ducati, Triumph, Apriia, BMW are any better or worse? I believe BMW is actually very low on reliability scorecards? My Aprilia scared me enough that I traded it in--on a Superduke 1290R. The warm-stat cam chain rattle just didn't seem right.
Thanks for the info. That's a lot of KTM experience talking. You're right, BMW was on the bottom of the Consumer Reports list.
After considering all « mid-weight » adventure bikes, my heart went for a Triumph Tiger 900 GT (not the pro). I am seriously in love & i am very happy after my first 1500 km (1000 miles) with it. Fabulous bike!
I have 2 friends who have V-Strom 650 X (2018 & 2020) & they love their bike; awesome value, quality & reliability for a raisonnable price (aluminium side cases, crash bars... included). More road oriented than the Ténéré 700, but still very good for gravel & dirt roads!
Thanks for the comment. Those tigers are beautiful bikes.
With how competitive the adventure bike market is you really can’t go wrong with any of the major brands. The tiger is a phenomenal machine. Enjoy!
That Triumph seems to be the best value out there right now! Ride safe!
If KTM could get bullet proof reliability like Honda, they would be the kings.
I probably wouldn't buy one though, reliability is something which I think should be a given in this day an age. (Hence I drive a Volvo and ride a Honda).
I have KTM 1090 Adventure, my wife rides KTM 790 Adventure and my kid KTM Freeride 250F. When after fall all the liquid from radiator of Freeride leaked out bike was able to return back riding 20 minutes with no cooling. Replaced radiator, started engine and no problem. 1090 Adventure developed bad oil leak after first 3000km, apparently it was failed thread of loose bolt. After service fixed it (had to take front of the bike apart to get to problem - I have ridden 12,000 KM in three moths time with no mechanical issues at all. After installing Powerparts - heated grips software developed glitch that is minor annoyance : sometimes it continues to jump over selections in menu itself until u hit "back" button. No issues with new 790 Adventure after more than 8000 km bike is perfect. However break pads wore off at 7000 km. But that is I guess depending from riding style. On my 1090 they are still good for another 1500km after I ridden with them 12,000 km. Previously I owned Husqvarna 701 Supermoto/Enduro and Kawasaki Z900. Kawasaki was with no issues at all for all the time I owned the bike. Husqvarna was thirsty on oil a bit.
I'd stick with any Japanese brand over any European pos.....been burnt with a triumph rocket3 and a
ducati xdiavel s....now its time to ride the mt09....reliability trumps exclusivity in my book....
I tend to agree. Thanks for the comment.
Maybe you need to sharpen your chriteria at the moment of choosing an european bike. Both of your choices are pretty...ahem. To think thats the only thing Europe has to sell speaking of motorbikes...You just bought the two most powerful engines in the european market, but that is all. Try a balanced bike for a while. reliability isn't on the owners manual of the Diavel or Rocket 3, but try a BMW and see what happens.
@@DifferentSpokesTV I tend to dissagree, and KTM is THE ONLY brand in Europe you buy and insurance companies dont want to hear about. Guess the reasons. The video is really far from reality.
Over 10,000 miles on my Griso 1100, 1 oil leak due to a faulty component, fixed under warranty one month out of warranty ',:) Yet to leave me stranded but now that I've said that... maybe next week.
I bought a motorcycle about 3 months ago. I was open to many different styles (keep this in mind), and I looked seriously at the KTM Duke 790. After researching it in depth, though, I did find a lot of forum posts stating KTM still had reliability issues, particularly with certain nuts/bolts loosening and falling off. I ended up buying a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 (again, I was open to many styles), because I owned a Ninja 650 before and never had any issues with it for the 10,000 miles that I owned it.
Thanks for sharing!
2014 1190Adv 30K.
Fuel pump replaced, forks serviced, chain guide replaced, valve clearance check, change fluids and tires.
Not too bad.
only 30k out of a fuel pump and you think its not too bad lol.
last bike l sold had 175k on the clock and still running same fuel pump
2020 Versys 650, 50k
Parts replaced (beside the usual stuff like tires, chains, etc): 0
it's still running like on day one..beside some rattling noise in the cockpit
Been riding nothing but KTM's for the past 20+ years and don't expect to change anytime soon (although those Betas are tugging at my loyalty a bit). In my experience, quality and reliability has never been an issue. Most recent, a 2019 enduro r, my first 4-stroke / dual sport after a lifetime in the woods on nothing but 2-strokes... absolutely amazing
Straight to the point and entertaining presentation.... You and Yammie Noob are the two hottest biking channels right now. Those conventional journalists at MCN/Bike World are boring . Just my opinion! Love from India!
I have been riding over 50 Years, mostly off-road/racing. Had allot of bikes be 6 KTMS including my current 690 08’. I plan on selling as I want an adventure bike. 390 may be all I need at 71 but the s450 sounds perfect. My KTMS have been very reliable compared to the rest/
As always, a great video. I am on my third Super Duke GT after having been a cruiser rider for over 20 year... I love KTM! I would really like to see your comments on a Super Duke GT
Thanks! I've actually never ridden the Super Duke although I've ridden both Super Adventures. Great motor! I think a lot of cruiser riders may be shocked how comfortable the naked bikes feel. Cruisers look comfy because the riders sit back, but the naked bikes put you in such a natural position. Cheers and have fun on your KTM!
I have a SuperDuke GT and it’s awesome. Vibrates a good bit, but other than that it’s badass. I’m not a fast rider, I just like great handling and good brakes, as well as a torquey engine, so it’s perfect for me. I bought it because I know someone who had one who let me ride theirs. Five minutes on his convinced me.
KTM are made to run fast to get fun. I just need to run longer...
My dream adv bike? Enormous tank, no electronics, no plastic covers, simple big cc engine. working windscreen.
Sounds like you're looking for a 2004 R1200 GS :)
i think the closest you can get to that with a new bike would be urban gs
I own a Duke 790 for 26 months and almost 20,000 km now. I haven't had any problem with it. It's the perfect street bike for me.
Thanks for the input. I rode one last year and it really was an awesome bike.
You definitely did not make a mistake getting the t7. Such a wonderful bike
I value reliability and longevity over performance. KTM is fairly new, I think it will be interesting to see what happens long term with them. That is going to be the story to watch.
Had 2 690s, both have stranded me on way to a holiday with serious engine trouble (as in, need a new piston/cylinder). It's Yamaha for me from now on.
Also lots of smaller stuff like oil leaks, brake rotors warping, stickers peeling.
Thanks for sharing. I looked at the 690 Enduro too but the higher maintenance and questions about reliability made me hesitate.
@@DifferentSpokesTV same question for me....i prefer the 790 but i am more calm and confident for the future when i look at the t7...
I had a SuperDuke 1290 (2015) and found it to more problem prone than my other rides, an issue compounded by the fact that, at least in the Dallas area, KTM dealers are really only interested in their dirt bikes and rarely bother to even carry or fix the street bikes. Cool bikes but for me at least mediocre ownership experience. Your mileage may vary.
Thanks for another great vid! Really enjoying your work.
Thanks for the comment! Sorry to hear about your SuperDuke. It's a downer when you can't trust your bike. Every time you crack open that throttle you wonder whether something will break.
Different Spokes TV Thanks. As many others have noted as well it was electronics issues, with the KTM warranty pretty much stating “we don’t cover the electronics”. Disappointing for an otherwise outstanding bike. First world problems. ☺️ I now ride a MultiStrada and it’s been bulletproof across tens of thousands of miles.
Just got my 790 S back from the dealer after brake recall repair. Caliper was found bad and after 5 weeks of waiting for a caliper, dealer took one off of a floor bike. It was in for 600 mile service and is a hard starter too. I'm headed out for a bucket list trip and I love the bike, but afraid I'm gonna end up stranded with all the quality concerns I've heard about. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the video, great job.
i own a bajaj dominar 400 which has the ktm 390 engine i have rode it quite a lot and i had no issues with it so far in last 3 years. however it only has non switchable abs which is more of a problem when taking that street bike offroad. if i were to take the buying decision now i would have gone with the ktm 390 adv. I WOULD ALSO FACTOR IN HOW BIG IS THE SERVICE NETWORK OF THE BRAND OF BIKE AND AVAILABILITY OF SPARE PART. a problem is a problem when it cant be fixed.
Good point with the dealers. They're growing so fast though there should be one or more in most big cities. We have quite a few around Toronto. Thanks for sharing!
Looking forward to KTM's high end RC790/890 sportbike. There are thousands of RC390 owners who are upset there's nothing by KTM to upgrade to and they have to look to other brands.
I was in the same boat, I've owned 3 R6's over the years, but found them a bit painful to ride as I've got older, so I got an RC390, fun bike but lacks any grunt chasing litre bikes, so I ordered an Aprillia RS660 but thats no where in sight. I therefore snapped up a run out '18 Duke 790 for a steal. Its a wicked ride, I've got a set of Woodcraft clip-ons to add to make it more sporty riding position, but an RC890R would now be the dream machine for me.
Out of 6 bikes I own at this moment 4 are made in Europe. And 2 are orange! The only one I need to get rid of is Ducati, complete junk, and it’s my second one. My personal experience with ktm is very positive. If I had point out any negatives, is dealer service is far below average and no one knows how to work on big bore twins , at least near me. I love my super duke for the street and my 250 exc is by far best enduro I ever rode. Would I buy a RC8 to trash it at the track day? I can’t afford to so I stick to my 10 year old R6 and have similar fun. Great video. Dzięki wielkie!!!
My 1190 Adv, 2013 model (first year) just clocked 72 000 km. Factory replacement of air filter is th e only "issue" I have had so far. Changed sprockets and chain twice, plus tires every year. Thats about it. And I use it for adventure touring in all types of weather and on various road surfaces.
Thanks. Glad to hear the bike is working out for you.
My experience having owned a 1290 Super Adventure are and 525 exc, is that they where both reliable the performance and character of the bikes was worth the additional maintenance cost required to keep them going. In saying that the additional maintenance is no more than the BMWs I previously owned.
Never had any warranty issues with either KTM, other than factory recalls on the 1290. Both issues for the recalls had not occurring on my bike.
The most unreliable bike I ever owned from new was a Kawasaki, it was so bad I will never buy another one, closely followed by a Yamaha.
Probably the most reliable bike I have owned was a Suzuki and I ave also had good runs out of the 3 Harley Davidsons I have owned. In some cases I believe it is the luck of the draw as to whether you get a good or bad bike.
My experience is that European bikes are more expensive to maintain that Japanese bikes, but require a lot less money spent on accessories etc to get the bike set up the way you want it.
Would I buy another KTM, yes definitely.
Thanks for the input. I guess any bike can leave you stranded out there. I’m glad to hear your KTM worked out well.
yamaha's are unreliable... ye right
I love my 1290 SAS ❤️
3 Years no Problems, just fun.
Good to hear. Thanks for the comment!
It's been 2 years. Has it been reliable?
I've got a 2017 690 DUKE. Most fun I've ever had on two wheels. (on the road) My only complaint is that it just kills my ass. A couple hours and I'm done. I've been eyeballing a 790R, but the T7 is an attractive bike too. If you could find one anywhere. I'd have one or the other already if I weren't pandemic unemployed.
Thanks for the comment. Hope you get back to work soon. Take care.
Hmmm, I am liking the 390 Adventure. Decisions, decisions...
Maybe it's your next ride :)
Maybe wait for the parallel twin, single 390 is too viby by all accounts, Indian moto vloggers have many stories. Or get the new Tenere 700.
I own the 390 Adventure. Put 100 miles on it today. The buzzy nature of the single doesn’t bother me. Great bike.
Yay a vegan , subbed
aaand I just realised it's her in the video and your partner XD always a nice surprise to find out channels I like are vegan
I'm definitely tempted by the speed and engineering to get one.
Just bought a 2020 790 Adventure (no R). I rode it 183 miles off road today in the southwest Utah and (northwest) Arizona desert. What a great bike! It does everything really well. Can't think of a single thing it does not do well. I got about 60 MPG today too (no I'm not making that up).
Wow. You live in one of the best places in the world to adventure ride. Thanks for the comment. Cheers!
I am from Austria..so I am Biased..lol...I have had KTM for years without any issues.
It kinda reminds me of Mercedes owners in the US, that keep complaining about reliability issues. While Germans love Mercedes and own them for decades without issues.When you look at german Taxi, they are all Mercedes..do they have issues? No, otherwise they couldnt take the beating to be a daily taxi vehicle. Yet, somehow the american sold Mercedes have bad image. No idea, why there are different levels of experience on each continent while the products are pretty much the same.
my advise, BUY KTM..You can't go wrong!
Thanks! It is weird that the same products can have such a wide variance in reliability.
Rc 390 had overheating problems
Well, I know this is about bikes, but I can't help but comment on the absolutley horrid reliability of Mercedes. My MB Sprinter has confirmed to me that German cars in general and Mercedes in particular are the most unreliable machines this side of the Soviet Union. And at least Lada parts are a thousnad times less expensive than Mercedes. Rant, rant, rant!
These companies have a few factories. One factory usually covers a certain region. The quality can vary from one factory to another. Especially when some materials are not adapted to local conditions. European cars have a bad reputation in S.E.A because their trim would peel off after a couple of years due to the type of glue they were using. Not suited to our perpetually warm and humid climate.
Not sure what Austrian weather is like but KTMs have been known to overheat here due to our weather.
Ralph, I can offer you a little perspective as an American who lived many wonderful years in Germany (and enjoyed many weekend trips to the Eastern Reich). I will caveat that my German experience is now 24 years old. Mercedes in Germany would shock the average American by its simplicity. German Mercedes had cloth seats, manual transmission, steering, windows, and door locks, and usually no air conditioning. Mercedes in the U.S. base models have power everything - more systems to go wrong.
I bought my first motorcycle in March and I bought a 390 duke and I absolutely love it
Awesome! Congratulations. What a fun first bike to hone your skills. Stay safe and have fun!
You made the right choice on the T7. I just can’t get past the Praying Mantis look. I did buy a new KTM690, sold it 6 months later. The clutch burned up at 600 miles and KTM denied the warrantee claim, said it was normal ware are tare. 😳
Wow, thanks for the info! Good to know.
@@DifferentSpokesTV >> No, there must have been another fault !!! - ( no clearence i.e.)
I’ve been riding motorcycles for 57 years… I was stated earlier, all brands have their faults and issues and lemons. What makes the difference is the dealer!
This is a very good thought piece. Of note, you didn’t mention that KTM really dominates the dirt enduro segment. They deliver class leading power and light weight. KTM has created a modern two stroke. The Japanese are 30-50 Kilos heavier in every category. I have a 2013 KTM 500 EXC, I have beaten up badly on the trails and it has performed well. I acknowledge that the air filter and oil changes are very frequent. But that is a small price to pay.
Comes down to personality and and personal experience, I think. I will always choose solid reliability, lower maintenance intervals, and great performance, over a hyper performing, futuristic looking thing that requires constant maintenance. So far, I'm very happy to have chosen the Tenere 700. Hope you get yours soon....ride safe!
Well said! I'm in the same camp although my patience is starting to wane. Hope it gets here soon. Thanks and take care.
2017 KTM SDGT. No Issues at 20K miles. Very Reliable. Fun & Easy to work on. Parts are allot cheeper than BMW. Best- Doc
Thanks for sharing! Good to hear it's working out.
I love KTMs, No baggage in terms of heritage, no traditions, no purists to piss off. 1300cc naked bike? Hold mein Red Bull. But having said that, I ended up passing up on a KTM and bought a Ducati instead. Looked at a Hypermotard 1100 and a KTM Supermoto 950, heard plenty of issues with the latter. One of the few weak points was the fuel pump amongst other things.
Have own 2 1290's (R and S version) and currently a 500 EXC-F. The 1290's were plagued with problems from delivery and required fixing of hoses and electronic issues; gave up and with back to BMW GS series adventure bike. The 500 is simple enough and is a great DS bike and in SM trim is great street performer! No other 500 on the market matches it's overall performance. Waiting to see if the new 490 will be as reliable as the 500 or just a problem child like the 1290's.
Like you, I recognize their popularity but hasten my purchase of one due to covered components or lack thereof.
Their paperwork clearly states the computers are not covered. The heart of features that make them desirable also make it the achilles heel for jumping to orange and black. My .02.
Hard to deny their power and features in the price point though.
Yes, the one thing thing I've heard stories about is the electronics breaking and bikes not starting. That makes you seriously hesitant to get one.
I've heard this about the electronics not being covered, but if that's true it must be only in the US. Of course I'm in Australia where such a warranty would be illegal due to consumer law. It's the standard 24 month warranty here.
@@Joric78 We need to pass laws like that in Canada :)
I have 2 KTM Dukes one of which I use in the track and 1 for commuting with over 15,000 kms not a single issue on my 200 Duke. I dont have a truck so I ride the KTM 390 Duke 114kms to the track, then ride on track for a total of 3 hours then ride back to Manila. No issues. Just follow proper maintenance and dont full around with the bike if you dont know what the heck you are doing on the mechanicals. Most issues encountered by KTMs are related to user doing their own maintenance with very little know how.
I've been using my KTM 390 Duke for 7 years now and ridden it for over 87000kms in the harsh road conditions and climate of India. Never have I felt it unreliable. In India, the 400-600cc bikes are considered a higher segment, and KTM rules the roost here with the best bang for the buck offerings.
Even 200cc is considered high in India, the average bike is 125-150cc
I bought a 2019 790 Adventure S. Front rotor got replaced under warranty. Besides that, I am fully happy with it, mainly because I am short (5'6") and the size of the bike fits me exactly like my previous G650GS did. Seat has two height settings, handlebars has 6 different positions. Most people (taller) who tries my bike tells me they feel a bit cramped. I personally love it. All day riding without any pain. I tried also the Tenere 700 and totally different bike. Both bikes are good options but for different riders. Are KTM unreliable ? Maybe KTM are more performance bikes and are ridden harder, so that make them proned to show problems more often ? Maybe ? If you ride any bike as hard as a KTM, I bet you they will show similar issues. But honestly, I've had only one KTM so far, and that's not over !
Yep. Definitely younger styling. If they did a more conventional headlight/ headlight fairing then us oldies would be more interested. Oh and the garish colour schemes but hey, with their growth, will they really care. QC is important though especially for longevity of the brand. Good job.
My 690 Enduro R, didn't give me too many problems, just an improperly mounted chain guard (dealer's fault) and a failed instrument cluster (covered by warranty), other than that not much to complain about. Maybe a bit of rust on the hardware and the turn signals breaking off-road, but these are not real issues. I really enjoyed the bike.
Glad to hear that it's holding up. Those Enduros have to be able to take a beating with the way their owners ride them. Cheers!
I've owned owned 6 KTM's all have been amazingly reliable, especially considering the performance. I think their success and market share will continue to increase.
how long did you ride the same bike???
@@Fordahord1To own 6 probably says something about riding A LOT
@@GabrielSebastianElliman yea and if you ride them a lot they go boom so makes sense
@@Fordahord1 you'd say that but the man said he had them being amazingly reliable tho. Same goes for my 2018 390 adventure with loads of kilometers on it
@@GabrielSebastianElliman only issues with a 690s tho
The questions for me regarding reliability - is the dealer far away? Will it affect the resale value? Will I be left stranded when exploring off grid? How much will spares and repairs cost when out of warranty?
For me reliability is a very high priority so I probably won't be buying a KTM, especially at a premium price.
I have a 2020. 1290 super adventure R and oh my god is it fast nimble and amazing to ride my only dislike is the seat hard and uncomfortable after about 90minutes I have to stand up for 4/5 minutes and let my backside get feeling again but I love this bike a huge Improvement over my klr650 Wich has 318000 miles till the cam chain broke.
The Accra Povick exhaust is a waste of 900$ does not change the sound or preformance of the bike I learned the hard way I will be looking at a Remus exhaust to change the sound but I’m in love with my SAR
KTM tickles the little boy that still is to be found inside most of us. Wheelies, jumps and tricks and class leading performance are a sure way to get the buyers attention. And nothing wrong with that. Personally, after 4 decades riding bikes they are not any longer interesting to me. Bikes should be fun, and KTM bikes are just that. No wonder that they are popular with younger riders. Never owned one, even if I´ve thought about it from time to time. Only had japanese bikes, current one is a 750 Kawasaki. Now for the tenth season so it propably is a keeper. Thought about trading it for something different but can not find any real reason to do it. It still is fun to ride and never had any issues with it. Only normal maintenance. Thanks for the video!
I've owned a duke390 for more than a year as my first bike. Issues i have encountered so far are, faulty rad fans(twice) and a minor leak on the stator side. Both covered by warranty. I still feel that it's realiable enough. I use it almost every day pre covid.
Thanks for the comment. Sounds like you have a good dealer where you live.
I had a KTM 990 SMT. The fuel pump quit when just out of warranty. It was very expensive to replace. I've heard it's a common problem on KTM s. When it came time for a new bike I bought a Kawasaki. No problems so far. Hope I didn't just jinx myself.
Yamaha- FZ750, 20K miles, 1x warranty claim on front discs; 2x 350LC, 18K miles, no problems.
Honda- CB900FA, 10K miles, zero problems; CX500A, 8K miles, indicator relay blown.
Suzuki- GS750, 6K miles, no problems; V-Strom1000, 25K miles, rear wheel spokes replaced under warranty; XF650, 11K miles, no problems; GS1200, 9K miles, zero problems.
Moto Guzzi- V50, 8K miles, electrics in the wet problems, big ends failed.
Kawasaki- KMX175, 7K miles, zero problems.
I don't blame you buying a Yamaha over a KTM. The point of a motorcycle is to ride it, not wait for parts to come in.
KTM is doing *exactly* what Harley SHOULD be doing (and I fear with their new 'rewire' they will no longer be moving towards). I fully expect my son will not be lusting for an HD when he's 18, he'll be lusting for a KTM. Harley, you listening yet???
Yes, I agree. There are a lot of young guys looking at Dukes rather than Sportsters. We'll see how Harley's second quarter numbers look soon. Cheers!
I owed a 2017 Duke before. I had it for a year and it was OK. I didn't ride it hard so I was lucky that it didn't break or anything. However, I think I was lucky as the other guys who bought a Duke at the same time as I did had factory defects which the dealership also owned up to so it's good that they honoured the warranty but down time for any new bike sucks. These days, I'm just sticking to the big 4 as I prefer hassle-free ownership.
KTM,,,,,, back in the '70's,,,,,, it was called, PENTON,,, I believe?
Thanks for this! Never knew this! Wondered what happened to Penton.
The Pentons were KTMs imported by John Penton, a famous enduro rider of the 70's, who put is name on them. After a while, KTM decided to keep their own name .
Performance with KTM is good, but quality . . . not so. Plastic doesn't always mean bad, but in the KTM it is.
My friend and I both bought new bikes at the same time, Me a BMW HP2 Enduro and my friend a KTM 950 Enduro.
After 1 year of hard enduro offroad and street hooligan riding, my HP2 was still as I bought it, without any flaw or damage.
The KTM 950 Enduro of my friend thou, had been in repair so many times that in 1 out of 3 rides his bike was at the dealer. Many parts just broke of, specially the plastic parts.
Oil problems, cooling problems, electrical problems, faring broke lose on several places, everything you can think of.
We formed a team of 4 HP2 enduro bikes, and none had any issue, 2 of our other friends also had the KTM 950 Enduro, and both had the same problems.
KTM's are great performers, as long as they function. (I loved to ride the KTM 950 of my girlfriend, when riding off road tracks, but wouldn't swap the HP2 for a KTM, even when the prices were the same).
And okay, the HP2 Enduro was 50% more money, had more HP, more Tq, and less weight, in general, the best enduro bike I have ever owned. And an iconic collectors item, since BMW only build e few. Yes, I am a bit biased :) .
But I acknowledge that in many fields the KTM is master, but that does not make them reliable.
Thanks! That's some good info there. When you're building a bike for off road use you definitely have to build it more solid.
Hell yes!! Love this video, Super Duke 1290 GT will definitely be my next new bike. Wish the dealer network were a bit bigger here in NJ, I’m sure it’ll get there.
I hope so too! The company is growing so fast there will be many dealers popping up.
So, it took me close to a month to fully receive my bike due to electrical issues throughout the bike. KTM ended up sending a tech and replacing the entire wiring harness on a brand new bike. Its a gem now, and currently no performance complaints. I've taken it on single track and pounded pavement. Just had to be patient I guess, and that month delay sucked.
Yes, I've had to wait a month for a fix and it sucks when it happens in the middle of the riding season. Especially here in Canada where the season is not that long.
@@DifferentSpokesTV it wouldn't have been so bad if the bike was BRAND new. Like 200 miles new.
I soooooo want to get a KTM...but honestly, am a little apprehensive re: engine heat, reliability, warranty ...Love to hear real experience from KTM owners
My family has been on ktms since the mid 90s and have had maybe 4 bikes shit themselves, but we are only harescramble racers not street biker riders.
Honesty love KTM but their warranty’s are horrible...
A 450-500 cc bike with over fifty horsepower sounds amazing. no one does this because of euro license tiers but to me a light weight 60 hp bike would be the perfect size.
My 1090 developed computer problems - sent it to the shop under warranty - they fixed it and about 10 miles later the same false warning signs appeared. It's over computerised. Then the panniers refused to lock properly. Then I traded it in...It was always kept in a garage and cosseted, but that wasn't enough.
Thanks for the info. That's one of the things I've heard about the KTMs. The electronics break down.
Hey. I'm from India and I've owned a KTM Duke 390 for the last 7 years. I've heard and witnessed friends having reliability issues, but I've had absolutely none. The bike has one recall in the first 12 months, but that was cause the rear mudguard was too rigid and had a tenancy to snap when riding on our bad roads. Also, it's a known fact that the KTMs manufactured in India for the Indian market are of a compromised quality (to be priced competitively) as compared to the ones for export. That literally makes the bikes half the cost to us cause there's a lot of parts shared between KTM and Bajaj Motorcycles. The Yamaha is a safer bet, but the 790 Adventure would have been a more interesting bike and more of an adventure, including ownership and not just riding. Cheers.
I have a superduke and 690 duke at the moment. Some of the dealers are terrible, some are great, but you can count on KTM corporate never returning your phone call for recall or warranty issues. The bikes themselves both have 20k trouble free miles on them, with the exception of crappy clutch hydraulics on both, and an issue with a performance reflash that the dealer messed up.
Thanks for the info. A lot depends on how conscientious your dealer is.
Adventure bikes must be absolutely reliable. This makes the Honda CB500x very attractive.
I had a 2012 KTM 990, great bike, road highway and dual track with it, maintenance was a nightmare, had to remove both gas tanks to change the oil. I think you have to remove the1090’s gas tank to do maintenance. I traded it for a BMW F800 gsa, I’ve never regretted the change. By the way I live in S. Dakota, the Yamaha dealer in Rapid City is selling the T7 like hot cakes, he sold 5 and has deposits on 5 more, hope you don’t have to wait much longer. I want to see your review.
Thanks for sharing! I'll do a bunch of videos on it as soon as it arrives. I don't know why manufacturers design bikes that have to be disassembled for routine maintenance. Say what you will about Guzzi and BMW but at least with those cylinders sticking out the sides you can adjust your own valves.
I currently have my 2019 Yamaha Tracer GT for sale as I want to get an ADV bike instead. Your video perfectly encapsulates my conundrum. I would like to get a middleweight adventure bike and am leaning towards the Tenere 700. But, there are none at my local dealer, and who knows when they will be available here in British Columiba. However, the same dealer has three 790 Adventure R's on their showroom floor. You get a lot of extras for the extra money on he KTM vs the Yamaha, and unlike the Yamaha, the KTM is available now. Hmm..
I have owned three KTMs,one used and two new.Yes they are a bit more money but not many other company's offer high end parts as KTM.Warranty I would not know about as I never needed it,all my KTMs are trouble free.
Thanks for the info. Good to hear your experience is positive.
What Italy (Moto Guzzi) has to do with Austria (KTM) is beyond me.
very similar in quality of parts, screws etc. !!!
Just the fact that are both European, nothing more. Just a broad (and slightly unfair) generalization. 🤣
Same continent really doesn't say that much. Even India is on the same continent.
Both Harley Davidsons and formerly Victory was made on the same continent, but I can tell you, Victory was far superior in the long run.
@@exothermal.sprocket I know. Completely agree with you. I'm 100% on your side of the argument that it was an unnecessary and unfair generalisation.
All European cars are unreliable soooooo
You ask a good question: performance vs reliability. Highly subjective. I'm with you, I'd have chosen the Yamaha. Esp. on a purchase where you are going to ride tens of thousands of miles over many years. Bike reliability issues in the boonies is a nightmare, imho. Long-term reliability is important to me. A bike you are going to flip relatively quickly, maybe no so much. Nice video!
Thanks! I think ten years ago I would have gone with the 790, but I'm older and wiser now :)
I have a 790 R for 18k km, no other issues than minor wear and tear.
2 warranty exchanges (swingarm & dash), so cannot confirm that KTM doesn‘t honor warranties.
Its an Adventure bike and my riding breaks some wear parts, that is normal (broke more on my old 800GS).
Do yourself a favour and ditch the T700 for the 790R.
Its the one you can ride like a fat 500 EXC on dirt roads and scratch your knees on twisties with a smile!!
I own 2 KTM. Those bikes keep me miling every ride! Being from trail bike background, I don't mind a little more maintenance. Well donne KTM!
I think you mean smiling, and I'm with you brother.
I have the KTM 790 adventure r it's a great bike. I love the performance a twist of the throttle makes for a big smile. But there are a few cons that come with the bike. I will do my best to explain. First it's very expensive I am reminded every time I go off road it's very hard to get comfortable because you don't want to crash and mess up your beautiful expensive bike. Second all of the electronic aids really hinder you from knowing what the bike is all about. I feel that it would power wheelie all the way up in third gear but the electronic aids prevents that from happening. Last it's very tall and I have dropped it when turning the bike around on uneven ground. Of course this was while I was off roading. I can honestly say the pros still out weigh the cons. Suspension, braking, power plus I really love the looks. I didn't at first but it has really grown on me. I get strangers all the time complimenting that it's a beautiful bike. I think a lot of people here in the US don't know about KTM yet. I get asked a lot what brand is the bike. I tell them it's a KTM and they say what a beautiful bike. When that happens I feel like I own a majestic sports car. I have 5.5 k miles on it and no problems yet but time will tell.
Thanks for the comment. Yes the 790 R is one of the few bikes that I've sat on where I can't quite put my heels on the ground. It's huge. But you're right, what a beautiful bike. Cheers!
This is just my opinion and experience. I own a Duke 390 for a couple years now, one thing the mechanic told me was that these engines come unlimited, meaning that the rev limiter is the actual engine limit. I dont know if this is a fact since I did not fact check it because to me that information is useless since I do not drive the bike on that rev range, but according to him, many people do. And they are the ones that complain about reliability.
So, maybe if you drive it as a race vehicle all the time, then it falls within reason that the bike will have issues sooner than later? Because all machines will have issues eventually. Dunno, just my 2 cents.
I chose reliability and went with the very old engine design on the V Strom 650. Haven't had personal experiences with the KTMs but I've seen ppl on youtube taking their babies for low mileage inspections and casually throwing talks about front fork leaks and the likes as if it's common with them, didn't even seem agravated about it. Didn't make a good impression on me. It's hard to strike a good balance between performance and realibility, common sense dictates that the balance tips towards one or the other.
I only know one guy with a KTM. He stopped riding with us at the beginning of last season because his bike has a bunch of digital gremlins and NEVER runs lol.
EXACTLY, MY POINT EXACTLY!!!
they are reliable pieces of junk!!
Maybe he just got tired of waiting for you?
@@montaego haha no his bike pretty much never ran after 2 weeks of owning it.
@@sciencemilitia1853People do prefer the older models without all the electronics because of this. My only worry is having to pick mine up.
i have been riding for 45 years and the only bike that left me stranded at the side of a road was the mythical Suzuki V Strom 650. That bike has a fanatical following but it had some serious faults which the manufacturer refused to address. Moving on I have a very large dealership nearby which sells,Honda,Triumph,KTM and Ducati. One of the more mature salesman warned me several years ago to stay away from KTM and Ducati. I did and purchased Triumphs instead. Are they perfect ? no not at all but for the most part service and reliability have been good. Almost as good as the Japanese bur not quite.
Hey, I am from India. The very country where the ktm 390 were born. Ktm took the Indian market like a storm. Now we have orange bike rally here in every states. Bikes are reliable and easy to maintain here because most dealership have all parts ready in case of any issue. I own a 390 first generation and it still got those 44HP to thril me any time..!!
You know what I would like from KTM, a bike that you don’t have to take back to the dealer for oil leaks and electrical problems before you get to ride it much. Deciding to go with a Tenere 700 was the best decision you’ve made. My 790 has been in the shop for two of the four weeks I’ve owned it! It’s still there! I will get rid of this thing eventually and will never own another!!! May sell it back under the lemon law!
I understand that the digital dash isn't covered by their warranty. Everything else appears to be rock solid though.
Unreliability is never an acceptable trade-off.
And yes, KTM styling is an aquired taste; one I have not acquired BTW. Because of my long and firmly established taste, aquired way back in the late '60s, I'm happily sticking with Triumph. My new T120 for the road; for dual purpose there's always the Scrambler line (for looks) and the Tiger line for performance.
And for VALUE! Well, for value no one has ever come close to the Japanese. Not even close. Oh, and for reliability as well. I've got a 43 year old Yamaha XS650 and 39 year old Yamaha XV920 THAT HAVE NEVER HAD A REPAIR or hickup OF ANY NATURE (that's excluding fluids and tires of course).
Fortunately, in my retirement, I can affored any bike I want so I'll continue to cater to my aesthetic sensibility above all. But I need to aquire a couple new bikes for my sons-in-law so I'm looking real hard at Suzuki's 650 VStrom, Yamaha's Tenere 700. The only fault I can find with either of those bikes is that they look a little bit too much like a KTM. : )
KTM is just not on my RADAR at all (though I'm happy to see your video so as to keep up with the times). Too much of the appeal of KTM seems to stem from the agility of the professional riders they hier for promotional films.
Thanks for the comment! Your sons-in-law are pretty lucky :)
some say that they paint the frames orange to help hide the rust - i could not possibly comment as i like mz's....
Dude i started watching your channel for the harley pan america, became interested in the tenere 700, and ended up getting a duke 390 due to the price... its my 3rd new bike, and it blows my mind how great it is! Btw- you talked about waiting for a retro ktm- they use husqvarna for that, and their Norden 501 might be my IDEAL motorcycle! If not a norden 1301!
That is awesome! Keep me in the loop about your 390 as we're possibly interested in trading in Brooke's Honda for a 390 Adventure. They have the same motor and share some parts. Cheers!
@@DifferentSpokesTV dude for the weight she will LOVE the power.
Im actually considering doing some tkc80 tires and the adv skid plate on the duke- but i might try to get the husq spoked wheels first, so i can have a set of road tires and a set of adv tires.
Btw, the biggest downside of ktm so far is the connectivity. One of the reasons i got the bike was for the ktm my ride app which should allow me to control my music etc through the bars. It doesnt work. The app has 1.5 stars, and all the comments are the same. When you buy a ktm with all this electro stuff... you expect it to work. Especially something as simple as a simple app they advertise to work with the bike.
Reliability will be a difficult issue to judge with a KTM, because the power delivery encourages a different ride style of riding to other bikes. The sweet spot of a KTM 790 is in a narrower band than the Yamaha T7, which has a longer more linear delivery. The bike wants you to hammer it (I own one), it's not a bike that likes to be ridden gently. I'm sure this will influence reliability more than the quality of manufacture.
I love my KTM, and its electronics, but I think I would prefer the Yamaha T7 power delivery.
Thanks for the comment. I do enjoy that kick in the pants that you get with a KTM, but off pavement you're right, a softer delivery is better.
Keep Up The Good Work... When are you set to pick up the T7? I was so set to pick the T7. However, when I heard of the Rally version, I decided to hold out for that.... Safe riding!
Not sure yet. My dealer still has no idea when it's coming. I like Yamaha, but sheesh!
Different Spokes TV Hope you get the bike soon. I have watched every TH-cam video there is to watch in this bike. Sadly, most the videos are European and Australian content. It will be nice to have someone producing a local content. Like yourself, I prefer Yamaha. I grew up with a Yamaha generator in Nigeria during the 70s and 80s. That same generator is still operational today... AMAZING!
Different Spokes TV I think it’ll be worth the wait. Hoping you post vids of when you take delivery and do an in depth review
Lefty Mike I certainly will... Happy riding!
@@leftymike8730 Thanks! Will do.
I hesitate between the t7 and the 790s....
I am a beginer in off road but 30 years on road with my honda's like the vfr 750
Someone can help me decide?
I think you have made a wise choice choosing a yamaha over the ktm. Here in India I've come across lots of riders who complaint about their ktms.
Thanks! KTM is huge in India and that’s one of the reasons they’re growing so fast. Good to hear from the other side of the world.
I'm starting to wonder about the Tenere as well. I'm almost at 5 months since I ordered it and I admit to getting a little antsy. I actually was going to buy the KTM 790 Adventure R when I started to see reports of oil leaks online. I was also less than impressed with the fact that the more expensive version, the R, had half the warranty the regular version has, something about the R being a "competition model". Ya right.
I think they expect owners to beat the crap out of the R more than the regular model :)
Sorry in advance for the long post;
Not me, but I've got a mate in the UK who's on his second SD (the first was stolen). Neither has given him any trouble, and he has used them day in, day out since he bought the first one, which was a 990 Super Duke. He put loads of Carbon Fibre on it and after about 3 years it was stolen. He bought another and that has been pretty much faultless. Neither of the 990s has caused him any trouble, and he's been riding them since his first one (2006? 2007?) The second one had much less in the way of CF and is pretty much bog stock and must be 10 years old now. They were/have been used under all conditions as a daily commute from the east end of London in to the centre, rain or shine.
Also, from what I hear, the smaller capacity KTMs had some major problems with their India-produced machines (smaller capacity). These problems apparently affected the frames, but the company was pretty good about dealing with these problems. I understand that more recent production has been much more reliable.
From what I understand, it seems that warranty claims are left much more to dealers, and my friend, being a good customer, has had no problems at all with even the smallest claim.
However, I could say exactly the same for even the Japanese "Big Four", but Honda managed to shaft me so badly in the 80s that I will never, EVER buy another Honda.
Having said all that; I think that you do have to differentiate between the Japanese, the Europeans, and the rest (effectively China, H-D and Enfield). There seems to be no doubt that the "Big Four" are still significantly more reliable than the rest, but the "serious" european companies have been taking great strides in this respect. By that, I mean companies like Triumph and, to a lesser extent (maybe) KTM. At least in Europe, Triumph actually owns most of the importers that sell Triumph (Unfortunately, not Spain - where I live) and so is able to ensure availability of parts.
Historically, BMW always had the necessary parts in stock, so this wasn't a problem. Unfortunately, it seems that BMW reliability has gone out of the window at about the same time as they started to produce more "Interesting" machines (about the time of the release of the 800s).
Unfortunately for you, Guzzi have always been at the lower range of reliability, along with Ducati and Aprilia. Ducati seem to have improved since coming under the VAG wing, but the Italians just seem to be seen as "Toys", even by their owners, so expecting reliability is probably not very wise.
Which leaves KTM. My suspicion is that KTM themselves see themselves as being somewhere between Triumph and BMW for reliability. It is important to them, but it won't shape their philosophy.
But you yourself said it best, something like "I've never had one, but I really want one" that makes them an aspirational brand, and THAT, sir, you can't buy.
Thanks for sharing! There are a lot of guys that just want that front wheel in the air and ultimate reliability is not the number one priority. That used to be me, but I'm 45 now and have other expenses and so the Japanese bikes make a lot of sense. Cheers!
@@DifferentSpokesTVOnce again, sorry for the long post;
I'm 57 and my friend is in his late 40s. He's pretty much like you, but I was always that much madder than anyone around.
I think that, for me, the advantage of the power delivery of any big V twin is that the fun is simply enjoying the power.
I've had inline 4s and yes, it was fun rolling on the power on the motorway (Freeway), but I was ALWAYS aware that the power could launch the tyre sideways at the first opportunity. In fact, just to prove it to myself, I once rode an EXUP 12km on a twisty, Spanish road without ONCE having the rear wheel running at the same speed as the bike (It was either spinning, sliding, or both). And that bike was brilliant. But it was ultimately unsatisfying. I knew thAt I would never have the ability to ride the bike to IT's limits. The rider was always the limiting factor.
But with a V twin, it is not about the rider limiting the bike, it is about the bike allowing the rider to have more fun, at lower speeds, in more places. On big bikes, it's a waste to ride them on a commute. You know that their abilities are far greater than the commute can provide. Unless the big bike is a V twin. There is something about the surge of power, the lack of fuss in simply riding, and the simple joy of a big twin putting the world into reverse. And part of that is the sound, and however good the Beemer twins are, for me, that flat drone is such a turn-off that I just couldn't consider one as my next bike.
@@DifferentSpokesTV I know what you mean, I only got a car when I was well into my 30s, and it used to annoy the hell out of me when people were so blasé about reliability.
And the reality is that an unreliable bike, even when it's not your primary transport, is a real PITA, That is one reason why I'd be very, very cautious about buying either Aprilia or Ducati.
However, from all that I've heard, most of the big KTMs are pretty damned reliable. It used to be the smaller ones that weren't, but even those seem to be much more reliable these days.
The warranty in Australia is fine, 2 years on their street bikes. I've heard in the US it doesn't cover the electronics, but that wouldn't be legal here due to consumer law.
I like the looks of the KTM's and they sound like they'd be great but I've stick with Japanese bikes and thusfar been very happy. I wouldn't rule out a KTM but if I were to replace my KLR it would be for the Tenere and not the 790
Ye, they do grow fast thanks to the Indian marked and low cost production ( that will also be done in China ). I would like to buy one, but I'd like to have a bike that is not only made for riding fast, but also TO LAST
PS - a light bike is great to have if it has to be lifted after some "resting" in the dirt, but in open areas with strong side-winds, while moving fast - the heavier, the better. And the insurance companies hate KTMs. 🤢
1090adv r 9000 km non issues .great riding experiance.. i ride 35 years , own 21 years a bmw gs and different other bikes .
If you read the UK's Motorcycle news page on the KTM 790, there are a real lot of owners moaning about reliability. Whether that's conclusive evidence, I don't know. Japanese bikes always do seem to top the reliability charts.
My brand of choice, Triumph (yes I'm from the UK, so unsurprising), seems to do okay, but they're probably not as reliable as the Japanese manufacturers.
I had a test ride of the KTM 790, it was certainly a very good bike to ride, very entertaining. The 1290 Super Duke R just blew me away with it's performance. Would I buy either ? Probably no, the insecty and orange styling isn't really my thing and the unreliability reports a bit concerning.