KTM gone into administration?
Discussion
My local KTM dealer (now closed ironically) when I went in last year to look at a 50cc crosser for my son, they generously offered a couple of hundred off, which actually brought the price down under 6 grand!! 
If that's a reflection of their pricing across the range, I'm not surprised they've got issues.
If that's a reflection of their pricing across the range, I'm not surprised they've got issues.
Freakuk said:
When I bought my Gen3 SDR I also considered Ducati's V4SF, but the KTM was £8-10K cheaper which goes a long way towards fuel, tyres, running costs and certainly swayed my decision.
I’m also a gen3 SDR owner. Considered Aprilia but rejected at least in part because of sketchy dealers where the local ktm (now closed) dealer was good all round. I had a dreadful experience with Triumph, so much so I’ll never buy another one. BMW I considered less reliable / more trouble than KTM. Ducati is simply too much money for the badge.I was going to play safe with mt10 or gsxs1000 but they didn’t offer enough over a number of used options and I fancied trying top flight electronics on a powerful bike.
Reality is I’d have just as much fun on a £5k gsx s750.
Very sad news, I really do hope they pull through. They have a fantastic range of motorbikes but some poor dealers. I found Jim Aim KTM is brilliant even if they are an hour and a half away, they really have deep technical knowledge of the bikes and do a great job, but some others, one in particular near me, is appalling.
I might bring forward my 1390 purchase.
Tim Rodie has some wise words about KTM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHEseEf683o
As for selling ugly bikes, Tim in the video is riding a heavier, less powerful, ugly bike which is less capable than the KTM equivalent, but will sell much better, maybe due to dealers ?
I might bring forward my 1390 purchase.
Tim Rodie has some wise words about KTM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHEseEf683o
As for selling ugly bikes, Tim in the video is riding a heavier, less powerful, ugly bike which is less capable than the KTM equivalent, but will sell much better, maybe due to dealers ?
trickywoo said:
Reality is I’d have just as much fun on a £5k gsx s750.
And that's why I'm not interested in new bikes (or cars)There is a huge range of great bikes sub £5k
In the past new bikes were substantially better than the previous models but for 20 years they have been far faster than can be used on the road, reliable etc
I have tried hundreds of bikes, some much faster and more expensive but I still keep my 990 SM as it's perfect for me
KTMsm said:
In the past new bikes were substantially better than the previous models but for 20 years they have been far faster than can be used on the road, reliable etc
I know why they do it but the press / YouTubers do normal punters no favours. Every new bike is the best and a huge jump over last years model according to them. The reality is a well maintained bike of the past 20 years, as you say, is at least the equal of anything new.I have 2 mates with KTM's - they love them...
1 currently a Gen3 SD and a GT, after having a Gen 1 SD.. other mate has had the Super Adventure, Gen 2 and Gen 3 SD and now a GT..
They will not admit their flaws, don't want to talk about the numerous and consistent suspension and electronic failures..
The Gen3 SD has been in the garage longer than it's been on the road and is now called triggers broom - it's on the 3rd wiring loom FFS...
The Super Adventure went in for suspension failure and on the 4th time of getting it fixed, it failed coming out of the car park..
His brand new GT, with 150 miles on it broke down around 8 times on a trip...
They have absolutely abysmal build quality, but fan bois be loving them!
1 currently a Gen3 SD and a GT, after having a Gen 1 SD.. other mate has had the Super Adventure, Gen 2 and Gen 3 SD and now a GT..
They will not admit their flaws, don't want to talk about the numerous and consistent suspension and electronic failures..
The Gen3 SD has been in the garage longer than it's been on the road and is now called triggers broom - it's on the 3rd wiring loom FFS...
The Super Adventure went in for suspension failure and on the 4th time of getting it fixed, it failed coming out of the car park..
His brand new GT, with 150 miles on it broke down around 8 times on a trip...
They have absolutely abysmal build quality, but fan bois be loving them!
the cueball said:
I have 2 mates with KTM's - they love them...
1 currently a Gen3 SD and a GT, after having a Gen 1 SD.. other mate has had the Super Adventure, Gen 2 and Gen 3 SD and now a GT..
They will not admit their flaws, don't want to talk about the numerous and consistent suspension and electronic failures..
The Gen3 SD has been in the garage longer than it's been on the road and is now called triggers broom - it's on the 3rd wiring loom FFS...
The Super Adventure went in for suspension failure and on the 4th time of getting it fixed, it failed coming out of the car park..
His brand new GT, with 150 miles on it broke down around 8 times on a trip...
They have absolutely abysmal build quality, but fan bois be loving them!
One of my riding buddies got his Super Adv R stuck in a deep mud puddle, which fooked the gearbox. It was a $10K bill from KTM to fix, that put me off.1 currently a Gen3 SD and a GT, after having a Gen 1 SD.. other mate has had the Super Adventure, Gen 2 and Gen 3 SD and now a GT..
They will not admit their flaws, don't want to talk about the numerous and consistent suspension and electronic failures..
The Gen3 SD has been in the garage longer than it's been on the road and is now called triggers broom - it's on the 3rd wiring loom FFS...
The Super Adventure went in for suspension failure and on the 4th time of getting it fixed, it failed coming out of the car park..
His brand new GT, with 150 miles on it broke down around 8 times on a trip...
They have absolutely abysmal build quality, but fan bois be loving them!
Bob_Defly said:
One of my riding buddies got his Super Adv R stuck in a deep mud puddle, which fooked the gearbox. It was a $10K bill from KTM to fix, that put me off.
Ouch...Mine wouldn't take his offroad as it was too heavy and expensive..
Much the same as the GS w
ker that comes out with us sometimes though..Sad sad news, but I hope KTM manage to come out the other side of this still producing fun and exciting bikes. They are one of the few manufacturers who seem to value fun and excitement on bikes beyond their superbike/super sport models.
I can't comment directly on reliability as I've not owned a KTM but my real world understanding from KTM owners I've talked to (not just listening to internet amplification of negativity) suggests their reliability is no worse than any other European manufacturer.
However, I do agree that very few KTM bikes could qualify to enter a beauty contest let alone have a chance of winning!
I can't comment directly on reliability as I've not owned a KTM but my real world understanding from KTM owners I've talked to (not just listening to internet amplification of negativity) suggests their reliability is no worse than any other European manufacturer.
However, I do agree that very few KTM bikes could qualify to enter a beauty contest let alone have a chance of winning!
I wouldn;t say i'm a KTM fan or anything. Though I do have three in the garage...
Was considering the track only 990R next year (as I can't bring myself to buy an RC8C) - I like the dealers, and how they market themselves. But pricing is a big issue, as is the constant discounting - I'd never bring myself to buy without a decent discount, as you'd know theres one on the horizon anyway...
I'm sure they'll be ok with new investors.
Was considering the track only 990R next year (as I can't bring myself to buy an RC8C) - I like the dealers, and how they market themselves. But pricing is a big issue, as is the constant discounting - I'd never bring myself to buy without a decent discount, as you'd know theres one on the horizon anyway...
I'm sure they'll be ok with new investors.
From my own experience, sample size of one:
Bought a vitpilen 701 in may. It spent half the summer with electronic gremlins. It left me without throttle randomly on an A road which was scary, had to be recovered. Had to take it to Saltire motorcycles which was over an hour from me. My closest dealer had closed, and now saltire has also closed now leaving the nearest now over 2 hours away. They simply flashed the ecu and sent me home. I took a half day off work for that. Issue reappeared very soon after and needed to go back again.
Then the clutch slave cylinder went 3 hours from home on my way back from croft and took two consecutive AA vans a full day to get me home.
Swapped it in last month. Lost so much summer riding to reliability.
As others have said it's doubly annoying because when the bike worked it was 10/10. It was perfect for me.
Bought a vitpilen 701 in may. It spent half the summer with electronic gremlins. It left me without throttle randomly on an A road which was scary, had to be recovered. Had to take it to Saltire motorcycles which was over an hour from me. My closest dealer had closed, and now saltire has also closed now leaving the nearest now over 2 hours away. They simply flashed the ecu and sent me home. I took a half day off work for that. Issue reappeared very soon after and needed to go back again.
Then the clutch slave cylinder went 3 hours from home on my way back from croft and took two consecutive AA vans a full day to get me home.
Swapped it in last month. Lost so much summer riding to reliability.
As others have said it's doubly annoying because when the bike worked it was 10/10. It was perfect for me.
the cueball said:
They have absolutely abysmal build quality, but fan bois be loving them!
We'll have to agree to disagree on that, I'm on most of the KTM groups, have owned them for 8 years and currently own around 10 of them yes there is the odd problem and the odd problem bike (and KTM should do better) but the vast majority are fine However, taking your story at face value, the question is why do your mates love them even if they are unreliable?
The answer is because no one else makes a bike like them, I'm regularly laughing inside my helmet
I sold a 990 smt a few years ago, he took it for a test ride and came back and said "Honda wouldn't sell the public a bike like this" and bought it immediately
I've had 3 KTMs over the years, all with weird problems:
Clutch slave cylinder died on 690SMC, quickly followed by clutch master cylinder failure. Starting the engine when hot was awful - sounded like a bag of spanners for at least 30 seconds!
Duke 690 had leak in clutch hydraulic line.
All 3 machines suffered misting up dash issues.
Welding failed on exhaust joint.
All 3 machines guzzled engine oil, tyres & chains.
Chain tension on the Duke was an issue - if it was just a little too slack, it would wobble about & take out chunks of rear tyre(!!)
None of the issues were deal breakers, but I never experienced similar issues with a Japanese bike.
Clutch slave cylinder died on 690SMC, quickly followed by clutch master cylinder failure. Starting the engine when hot was awful - sounded like a bag of spanners for at least 30 seconds!
Duke 690 had leak in clutch hydraulic line.
All 3 machines suffered misting up dash issues.
Welding failed on exhaust joint.
All 3 machines guzzled engine oil, tyres & chains.
Chain tension on the Duke was an issue - if it was just a little too slack, it would wobble about & take out chunks of rear tyre(!!)
None of the issues were deal breakers, but I never experienced similar issues with a Japanese bike.
the cueball said:
I have 2 mates with KTM's - they love them...
1 currently a Gen3 SD and a GT, after having a Gen 1 SD.. other mate has had the Super Adventure, Gen 2 and Gen 3 SD and now a GT..
They will not admit their flaws, don't want to talk about the numerous and consistent suspension and electronic failures..
The Gen3 SD has been in the garage longer than it's been on the road and is now called triggers broom - it's on the 3rd wiring loom FFS...
The Super Adventure went in for suspension failure and on the 4th time of getting it fixed, it failed coming out of the car park..
His brand new GT, with 150 miles on it broke down around 8 times on a trip...
They have absolutely abysmal build quality, but fan bois be loving them!
Did they used to be slightly better? I kept reading about how the Gen 1 GT/S was considerably more reliable (electronics wise!) than the later ones with the TFT dash etc - but at the expense of a known fault with the gearbox?1 currently a Gen3 SD and a GT, after having a Gen 1 SD.. other mate has had the Super Adventure, Gen 2 and Gen 3 SD and now a GT..
They will not admit their flaws, don't want to talk about the numerous and consistent suspension and electronic failures..
The Gen3 SD has been in the garage longer than it's been on the road and is now called triggers broom - it's on the 3rd wiring loom FFS...
The Super Adventure went in for suspension failure and on the 4th time of getting it fixed, it failed coming out of the car park..
His brand new GT, with 150 miles on it broke down around 8 times on a trip...
They have absolutely abysmal build quality, but fan bois be loving them!
Id consider myself to be a prime KTM customer, 40years old. Riding a competitor bike, some money to spend on a bike etc. However, the only reason why Ive never considered a KTM and probably never will is the styling is awful. I saw the latest 1390 SuperGTDUkeGTtouringReadyToRaceSuper1390 at MCL2024 threw up a bit in my mouth.
I've never ridden a KTM but I have zero desire to to buy one for this one reason.
How many potential customers are like me perhaps?
I've never ridden a KTM but I have zero desire to to buy one for this one reason.
How many potential customers are like me perhaps?
My experience buying new bikes:
Kawasaki ZX9R - needed complete gearbox replacement after 2.5 years, Kawasaki paid parts not labour as it was out of warranty (and was a known problem)
Honda Fireblade - no issues
Suzuki GSXR 1000 - no issues
Ducati Monster - master cylinder leaked and replaced under warranty in year 1, rear brake pipes identified a potentially faulty and replaced free in year 6!
BMW R1300GS - starter solenoid replaced on recall after 6 months (wasn't causing a problem). Absolute saga and total pain with luggage, still ongoing.
So, in my (limited) experience I'd say having issues with new bikes is quite common. Of mine, the treatment from Ducati has been exceptional. I wouldn't discount a KTM on reliability grounds (although there is a lot of noise!!). I considered a 1290GT when I bought my previous GS and also a SD when I bout my Monster (a 1200R). I preferred the bikes I bought for my own idiosyncratic reasons but I must say a big concern with the KTMs was the constant discounts they threw around. It certainly sewed the seed of a question in my mind around if you can always buy these things cheaply, then what's wrong with them?? If it wasn't discounting during the year, then if=t was shifting the previous year's unsold models cheaply in the New Year. Money per se isn't a huge factor in my decision making and this, as I say, was a really a concern around "why are they having to give them away all the time?".
Kawasaki ZX9R - needed complete gearbox replacement after 2.5 years, Kawasaki paid parts not labour as it was out of warranty (and was a known problem)
Honda Fireblade - no issues
Suzuki GSXR 1000 - no issues
Ducati Monster - master cylinder leaked and replaced under warranty in year 1, rear brake pipes identified a potentially faulty and replaced free in year 6!
BMW R1300GS - starter solenoid replaced on recall after 6 months (wasn't causing a problem). Absolute saga and total pain with luggage, still ongoing.
So, in my (limited) experience I'd say having issues with new bikes is quite common. Of mine, the treatment from Ducati has been exceptional. I wouldn't discount a KTM on reliability grounds (although there is a lot of noise!!). I considered a 1290GT when I bought my previous GS and also a SD when I bout my Monster (a 1200R). I preferred the bikes I bought for my own idiosyncratic reasons but I must say a big concern with the KTMs was the constant discounts they threw around. It certainly sewed the seed of a question in my mind around if you can always buy these things cheaply, then what's wrong with them?? If it wasn't discounting during the year, then if=t was shifting the previous year's unsold models cheaply in the New Year. Money per se isn't a huge factor in my decision making and this, as I say, was a really a concern around "why are they having to give them away all the time?".
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