KTM The Greatest or Unreliable?
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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.
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....
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.
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 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’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!
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 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.
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!
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.
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 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.
Para mi descalificaron los modelos con el tanque de gasolina a los lados del motor...!
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 .
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 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!
Honesty love KTM but their warranty’s are horrible...
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/
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 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!
KTM are extremely unreliable!!
I know a guy, he bought a new KTM Motorcycle, after a few weeks it broke down. And He is waiting an eternity to be fixed...
I rode a second hand Honda Motorcycle, and in the over 5 years that I rode it, I never had a serious problem..
My advice, stay away from KTM, buy a Honda!
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.
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???
The quality is really a problem, and the warranty exceptions are an embarrassment. Anything containing rubber is excluded!
So when the front fork gave up on the 2019-bike, starting to leak oil badly, NOT COVERED by the warranty...
Same thing with the leaking front tire, or rather front rim sealer. The rubber sealing making it possible to use tubeless tires, leaks. Yea you guessed it - not covered by warranty...
KTM are fast, but the quality really sucks, and their refusal to take responsibility for it makes it worse! My next bike will be japanese, probably a Honda. My 1990 NX650 has passed 19 000 mil (190 000 km/118 000 miles) and 30 years with only one repair, starter motor one way clutch changed.
Tires have of coarse been changed many times, and the clutch once. But that is parts that wear.
KTM is worse than "slightly" less reliable. I have been off-roading with 4 different KTM riders while riding either my old CRF230F or XR650L. Three out of the 4 riders had serious issues with their bikes. Two had severe overheating that required shop work to address after the rides and one had trouble restarting after a tip over. Rear shock failure and other issues had also cropped up on the latter, a nearly new bike.
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.
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!!
They advertise themselves as hooligan bikes,and people will ride the nuts of them,maybe they get bad press because of harsh treatment.... I test rode a 390 Duke and came away buzzing.....Only the rubbish trade in price made me walk away...
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.
Hmmmm .. I typed in ‘KTM reliability problems’ after seeing this ... OMGawd so many horror story’s , they go on forever.
some guys rebuilding motors 3 , 4 times .. they’re lucky that KTM parts are so cheap 😂🤣
You don't become the fastest growing brand in North America if the product is notoriously unreliable. I own a 690 Enduro. Bought it over the CFR450L for a couple reasons. Longer service intervals (oil change specifically). The 690 is almost the same weight-wise, more features, more power and only a couple bucks more. Bang for the buck the 690 was the better deal brand d eww off the showroom floor. Disclosure I ma a long time Honda fan. All my bikes up to this one have been Honda.
It's best not to buy into the marketing. Make decisions based on personal experience and/or from friends and forums where they discuss issue, solutions, dealer/manufacturer backup and support. The figures quoted does not brake down how many of KTM's sales were road bikes. The sales figures quoted will also include the KTM owned Husqvarna off-road bikes sales and the new KTM owned GasGas off-road bike sales. KTM's are no different in reliability from other premium European brands like BMW, Ducati and Triumph but definitely not as problematic as MV Agusta and Aprilia which are built in smaller factories mostly by hand and dealers are far and few in some countries. If you don't like being technically invovled in your bike repairs, buy Japanese!
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.
No you should have not bought a KTM 790. The T7 has two strong factors that the 790 doesn't. 1) Two groups (one from Germany, and they got a third party to do their own separate research) have done tests and both agree that Yamaha's CP2 700 is the most reliable motorcycle to date. KTM does not have that (yet, or maybe ever), though it was just launched. 2) Those who have ridden dirt bikes, and have had the opportunity to ride a T7 and 790, agree that the T7 is more like a dirt bike. It may not have the top notch components, but it's chassis geometry is what gives it great traction and capability. In regards to reliability with KTM. Their 390 RC and Duke, along with having bikes made in India, are what make me stay away from their brand. The 390 has been around for a long time now, and you cannot read about them without hearing horror stories of reliability with the engines. After several years, it is unacceptable for any brand to leave something like this untouched. Enjoy the T7.
Anecdotal? I will say after riding many European brands for over 4 decades, you WILL be seeing your dealer often, And, unfortunately, you may only have one in your town here in the US. Just an indisputable fact. Therefore, they had better be MORE reliable. And we ALL know that simply isn't true. Pragmatism will win every race.
Anecdotal? I will say after riding many European brands for over 4 decades, you WILL be seeing your dealer often, And, unfortunately, you may only have one in your town here in the US. Just an indisputable fact. Therefore, they had better be MORE reliable. And we ALL know that simply isn't true. Pragmatism will win every race.
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.
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!!!
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 think in a good year KTM sell 400000 units my guess is 1/3 in India
Honda sell 20 Million bikes maybe 1/2 are little Step Thu thats a lot of bikes left
how are they the biggest selling brand ?
Got a 2012 990 that will leave many of the new bikes in the dust. More reliable than the other brands and certainly way better build quality. These aren't your grandmother's motorcycles. You should have gotten a 790, or better yet, a 990 as many who have ridden the 1290, 790 and 990 have gone for an older 990.
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!
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. 🤢
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 believe most guys that are happy with ktm they don't keep their bikes more than 2 years! Ktm is unreliable but the biggest problem they had was the lack of parts available for repairs.. we had problems even in europe... iv you want a daily driver ktm is not the bike to go for!
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
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.
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.
Maybe a few thoughts to consider before buying any bike. Cost of ownership including maintenance and parts. I think Japan wins again
The reliability scared me away from ktm.
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...
We are intelligent people, lies do not become us.
KTM is notorious for being incredibly unreliable. How can u be comparing it to the great Mohammad Ali?
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!
What about the Dakar rally winnings bikes of the last twenty years?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakar_Rally#Bikes
Yes they are coming up fast but for me they are ugly and cheap looking compared to a Yamaha. If you want a bit of off road ok but for a road bike defiantly Japanese
Engine break your bikes till first service please if you want better reliability better fuel economy most people who have fucked up ktms never engine breaked
490 siblings will be launch in 2022, power must be around 55HP.
I understand that the digital dash isn't covered by their warranty. Everything else appears to be rock solid though.
Personally I love the KTM angry bug looks but i do own one 🤷🏻♂️
hahahaha you look like a liitle boy in christmas standing on that ktm! and don't worry about the t7, it's tough and relliable and that makes it a great investment and easy to sell in a few years.
Thanks! I'd get the 790 Adventure R as the regular Adventure's handlebars are too low for standing.
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
Great ktm add + 3 minutes of actually talking about the video topic. (At the end)
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
With all the electronics on their bikes as they start to age are going to cause hell. Ktm is a bike to buy and keep for a season or two then sell it before the gremlins come
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
Ktm mechanicals are great. It’s the electronics that let it down. Best electronics are Japanese
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.
You definitely did not make a mistake getting the t7. Such a wonderful bike
As a KTM 390 duke owner. A 500 would be the tits
If you know people who own them you know they are a poor build quality in general compared to some . Parasitic electrical drains, chinese like wheel bearings fuel filters, fuel pumps etc etc. Personally seen plenty of it , 2 stroke electrical stators failing ongoing, starter motors too the magnet bonding process failing . Man i have two paragraphs of problems my friends have experienced witnessed most of them first hand. Signing GAG Order document from ktm before bike replacement so the video footage can not be legally released to the public .
Wow, thanks for the info.
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.
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
Reliability issue. I can really say anything so far about it as I’ve had mine for less than two months. Just got the 620mile service done. But you have no hard data on KTM reliability. And world of mouth are hardly reliable. Case and point is everyone and their momma dogs Harleys. I’ve had zero issues with Harleys over a decade of ownership. Folks will praise BMWs for reliability yet my R1150R has the infamous final drive failure and is sitting waiting on me to fix it. I’ll put up with the inconveniences of slightly less reliability for the soul a KTM has over the gutless big 4 bikes. And I’ll be smiling every mile of the way. And wheelie.
Thanks for the comment. The consumer Reports data puts Harley as being the fifth most reliable brand after the Japanese and BMW last among the big bike companies. KTM is not included.
John hall. Just look at the owners of KTM owners on here. There is your data of unreliability. Remember this is just a small sample. Many more throughout the world!!!
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 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?
Odd to bring MotoGuzzi into the equation.... it'd be like me not buying a Honda car because I once owned a SsangYong that was unreliable.
completely agree. Just because both brands are from the same continent, it doesn't mean anything
If you want a relaxed ride , look elsewhere! 😊 😆
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.
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.
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 :)
KTM needs to pump the brakes on the technology front and focus on their reliability / support image. I don’t care how much power the bike makes, what riding modes it has, traction control settings, race wins ya da ya da ya da.... I want a bike that’s I can love and count on as a trusty old friend to take me to the places I wish to go- and back, again, and again, and again. I’d love to be converted to KTM but KTM needs to convert me, not sycophantic owners (Harley Davidson uses the same approach), when they put out good looking reliable machine with features I actually want - I’ll be there with $ in hand, till then they can keep their ugly looking Red Bull rampage time bombs or sell them to someone else ... makes no difference to me as there are plenty of options available to turn my head elsewhere.
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 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!
KTM is definitely not the best. Massive power but it means nothing if unreliable. BMW best by far imo.
😂
The people I know that run motocross call the KTMs ATMs for a reason..
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.
I'm definitely tempted by the speed and engineering to get one.
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.
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..!!
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.
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
some say that they paint the frames orange to help hide the rust - i could not possibly comment as i like mz's....
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.
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.
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.
1090adv r 9000 km non issues .great riding experiance.. i ride 35 years , own 21 years a bmw gs and different other bikes .
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 :)
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!