Thank you for recommending this video. I was looking at this bike, the Kawasaki Vulcan S, and Honda Rebel 300 or 500. I guess I will go with the other options. I really liked the aesthetic of this bike, and that's the only reason I was interested in it, but I don't want to have to keep putting money into it because it's unreliable. Having to do regular maintenance is different from a bike that destroys itself due to bad manufacturing.
This is completely unacceptable. I don’t care about looks and feel and shit… if you cannot provide a quality product then it is a bad product, period. Thank you for sharing this.
25:06 excellent analysis. I believe these are same engines used in duke390, manufactured in India Pune plant by Bajaj. You should tag share tweet about it to them, as this is totally a common issue in many bikes in India too. After so many years, they are not getting it right, is what surprise me.
I just got mine and stumbled upon your video's. I usually don't keep bikes long but love my Svartpilen 401. Just for reference I have a Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE and Triumph 1200 Speed Triple RS. This bike is fun and am hoping maybe mine being a 22 they did something to improve manufacturing. Thank you for such a detailed breakdown. Really appreciate it. Good luck. Trailer it to a hundred yards to the dealer and then ride it and trade it in. I know that might sound bad to some people but it's their problem now imo.
Thank God I got the Svart made in Austria. I really wanted the Norden 901. First I noticed a downgrade in materials and painting in the engine bay from the 19 to 20 and then I heard every KTM/Husky manufacture was sent to India, it was a no no for me.
Shouldn't the warranty cover this? The factories were transfered to India so I am not surprised. I just bought Svartiplen, will have to keep an eye on it.
Sorry you're hitting the same issues. It's incredibly frustrating. On the impeller, they sell a seal kit with the impeller, nut, seals, and washer. I've broken several removing them. If you're super patient you can pry them off with a small pick but at this point I throw some pliers on it and yank then replace it. I don't recall my head looking that bad but I did take it in to get resurfaced, I'll check the water jackets to see how terrible they line up with the gasket. I'm also very sorry you had to reinstall the piston, that was probably the worst experience I've ever had getting a piston back in a cylinder.
These poorly manufactured engines really hurt the reputation of any bike they are in. I had planned to keep mine for many more years but at this rate there is just no way. I ride about 12,000 miles a year and id say if i had only rode about 3,000 a year I would not have even known about this issue for a few years. Super frustrating. I was really wondering how you got your impeller off. I wish you the best of luck with yours brother.
I would recommend staying away from anything with an engine made in India by Baja motors. As for me I will be sticking with Japanese bikes from now on.
The earliest models (and maybe some into 2019 I've heard?) were made in Austria so there's some thoughts out there that those years are potentially more reliable, apparently there's a way to check the VIN to confirm which factory the bike was assembled in too.
I did test ride it around for awhile after rebuilding it. With what I found inside these motors I would recommend they all get a head gasket replacement every 9,000 in my opinion. This motor is known industry-wide to have this issue no matter what bike is in. I'm sticking to Japanese stuff from now on. I now have a yamaha XSR900. I love it a thousand times more than I ever did the Vitpilen.
The location is not really an indication of quality. Royal Enfield is made there and they have a good reputation. Seems more like they took shortcuts at the Indian manufacturing facility. It's similar to how people always bash on China, but almost everything we own is made there.
Three weeks of researching a vartpilen, and i finally find this video. Definitely needs to be shared more. I just almost threw away $4k
Get a Japanese bike. You won't be disappointed.
bud, im 2 months from buying a new one. i was. thank god i saw this.
@@miken8778 what did u get ?
Huge thanks to you for making this video. It was far more informative than all those paid "contents" from motorcycle journalists.
Thank you so very much, this was an eye-opener to be sure. Note definitely taken.
Thank you for recommending this video. I was looking at this bike, the Kawasaki Vulcan S, and Honda Rebel 300 or 500. I guess I will go with the other options. I really liked the aesthetic of this bike, and that's the only reason I was interested in it, but I don't want to have to keep putting money into it because it's unreliable. Having to do regular maintenance is different from a bike that destroys itself due to bad manufacturing.
Every prospective buyer should watch this
This is completely unacceptable. I don’t care about looks and feel and shit… if you cannot provide a quality product then it is a bad product, period. Thank you for sharing this.
I feel exactly the same way.
25:06 excellent analysis. I believe these are same engines used in duke390, manufactured in India Pune plant by Bajaj. You should tag share tweet about it to them, as this is totally a common issue in many bikes in India too. After so many years, they are not getting it right, is what surprise me.
Indian is the new Chinese
I just got mine and stumbled upon your video's. I usually don't keep bikes long but love my Svartpilen 401. Just for reference I have a Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE and Triumph 1200 Speed Triple RS. This bike is fun and am hoping maybe mine being a 22 they did something to improve manufacturing. Thank you for such a detailed breakdown. Really appreciate it. Good luck. Trailer it to a hundred yards to the dealer and then ride it and trade it in. I know that might sound bad to some people but it's their problem now imo.
Very nice.
after repair i rode it for 30 minutes and have not had an issue. honestly im too afraid to ride it any more.
Thank God I got the Svart made in Austria. I really wanted the Norden 901. First I noticed a downgrade in materials and painting in the engine bay from the 19 to 20 and then I heard every KTM/Husky manufacture was sent to India, it was a no no for me.
On the sticker that has your Vin number on it on your triple tree. What company is listed as the manufacturer?
@@bushidosteelcraft1677 

@@bushidosteelcraft1677 This is my VIN. KTMAGVBKUNJ401KM
Really want a 401, but can’t justify the risk. Such a shame.
Thank you for showing this, going to get myself a premium headgasket before it breaks!
Shouldn't the warranty cover this? The factories were transfered to India so I am not surprised. I just bought Svartiplen, will have to keep an eye on it.
Sorry you're hitting the same issues. It's incredibly frustrating. On the impeller, they sell a seal kit with the impeller, nut, seals, and washer. I've broken several removing them. If you're super patient you can pry them off with a small pick but at this point I throw some pliers on it and yank then replace it. I don't recall my head looking that bad but I did take it in to get resurfaced, I'll check the water jackets to see how terrible they line up with the gasket. I'm also very sorry you had to reinstall the piston, that was probably the worst experience I've ever had getting a piston back in a cylinder.
These poorly manufactured engines really hurt the reputation of any bike they are in. I had planned to keep mine for many more years but at this rate there is just no way. I ride about 12,000 miles a year and id say if i had only rode about 3,000 a year I would not have even known about this issue for a few years. Super frustrating. I was really wondering how you got your impeller off. I wish you the best of luck with yours brother.
Im buying the cb300 now 🤔🤔🤔
Hi like your video
Când you help ME to find the instruction manual for The engine?
Is on the KTM website. It cost about $35 dollars US
Has this issue been resolved in the 2023 engines? Or should i avoid these bikes all together? Anyone know? thanks!
I would recommend staying away from anything with an engine made in India by Baja motors. As for me I will be sticking with Japanese bikes from now on.
The earliest models (and maybe some into 2019 I've heard?) were made in Austria so there's some thoughts out there that those years are potentially more reliable, apparently there's a way to check the VIN to confirm which factory the bike was assembled in too.
My 2018 model has had the head gasket seal done @ 20000k and I am having to do it 7000km later. It's an issue regardless of where it was made.
Do you still ride yours after rebuilding? Does the engine need opened by 10,000 miles?
I did test ride it around for awhile after rebuilding it. With what I found inside these motors I would recommend they all get a head gasket replacement every 9,000 in my opinion. This motor is known industry-wide to have this issue no matter what bike is in. I'm sticking to Japanese stuff from now on. I now have a yamaha XSR900. I love it a thousand times more than I ever did the Vitpilen.
@@bushidosteelcraft1677 Thanks for your response. Yeah agree with you. 10,000 is also way too soon for all these issues on any bike.
India manufacturing at its finest.
The location is not really an indication of quality. Royal Enfield is made there and they have a good reputation. Seems more like they took shortcuts at the Indian manufacturing facility. It's similar to how people always bash on China, but almost everything we own is made there.
I'll stick with my SRX600 air-cooled thumper
Wise choice. Those are solid machines.
get my Vitpilen for 4500 bucks as old stock demo bike from 2021 yet they made mistake and sold me 2023 bike :D So not can complain much :D
Someone screwd up those holes bad
sad to watch...made in india-thats why they so cheap...sorry mate..