KTM Duke - quality?
Discussion
cwis said:
Still got my 2013. I replaced the regulator/rectifier after the magic smoke came out. It's a bit of a bugger to pull apart...
Nothing else has gone wrong or dropped off (touch wood!) despite daily use as a commuter. It still sticks a smile on my face - so chuckable and zippy!
that's what i want to hearNothing else has gone wrong or dropped off (touch wood!) despite daily use as a commuter. It still sticks a smile on my face - so chuckable and zippy!
My friend bought one new as a commuter in 2014. Over about 8000 miles in 3 years, he had the hot stalling issue repeatedly, both fork seals go and finally the head gasket go. It also got very loud as seemingly all of the packing evaporated in the standard exhaust. Not ideal at 6am in the morning.
After the head gasket, he sold it as spares or repairs as outside of warranty for a significant loss. It did generally rot cosmetically, but he wasn't big on protective coatings or cleaning. Difficult to tell, but in my view it was a mess of the wrong colour orange, in too short a time.
In the same period on a similar all weather year round commute but over 6k miles, my 2013 Honda required it's centre stand pivot regreasing as it started to seize. Zero other problems.
Personally I wouldn't touch the Indian made KTMs.
After the head gasket, he sold it as spares or repairs as outside of warranty for a significant loss. It did generally rot cosmetically, but he wasn't big on protective coatings or cleaning. Difficult to tell, but in my view it was a mess of the wrong colour orange, in too short a time.
In the same period on a similar all weather year round commute but over 6k miles, my 2013 Honda required it's centre stand pivot regreasing as it started to seize. Zero other problems.
Personally I wouldn't touch the Indian made KTMs.
evil len said:
I'm not impressed with KTM plastics and transfer/graphics quality. At the NEC a couple of years ago, the flagship 1290 had wrinkled transfers ...
Same here, had a SD1290 for a long weekend when I was looking at a new bike, and for its original list price the perceived quality was just about "ok". Dull paint with stickers versus alternatives with lovely deep flawless paint jobs.Stickers on self coloured plastic is ok for an off road bike I guess .......
I've had 2 now, and rejected many many others on the grounds that for their age or mileage, they weren't in the condition they should have been (and some through no fault of their owners)
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love KTM and there is something about the brand that I can't quite shake off as its always something I end up looking at when i've got something else but there is just no comparison between KTM and Japanese stuff. Stickers, plastics, engine finish, dodgy threads etc. Some of it is small stuff, but they cost a premium yet the build quality just doesnt stand up.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love KTM and there is something about the brand that I can't quite shake off as its always something I end up looking at when i've got something else but there is just no comparison between KTM and Japanese stuff. Stickers, plastics, engine finish, dodgy threads etc. Some of it is small stuff, but they cost a premium yet the build quality just doesnt stand up.
Chicken Chaser said:
I've had 2 now, and rejected many many others on the grounds that for their age or mileage, they weren't in the condition they should have been (and some through no fault of their owners)
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love KTM and there is something about the brand that I can't quite shake off as its always something I end up looking at when i've got something else but there is just no comparison between KTM and Japanese stuff. Stickers, plastics, corroding springs, engine finish, dodgy threads etc. Some of it is small stuff, but they cost a premium yet the build quality just doesnt stand up.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love KTM and there is something about the brand that I can't quite shake off as its always something I end up looking at when i've got something else but there is just no comparison between KTM and Japanese stuff. Stickers, plastics, corroding springs, engine finish, dodgy threads etc. Some of it is small stuff, but they cost a premium yet the build quality just doesnt stand up.
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