it's funny how the market puts us in this spot... Light and higher performance, no reliability. Or reliable and too heavy for many to pick repeatedly, alone. We need a Japanese dualsport / light ADV that is light enough. 450RL?
I have a 2024 690. Bought new. The very first thing i did out the dealer and even during breaking period was to add the fuel dongle ( Rottweiler, about 30 bucks ) , the bike runs way better. Out the factory they run very lean, they get hot because of that. It also runs cooler with the dongle. For the fan that is not starting i would just let the dealer figuring out, its a very expensive bike and you should take advantages of warranty work. But yea, i can understand the disappointment.
I had this same thought after watching the EICMA videos this week. CF Moto is building some really great bikes now for half the price. As they continue to expand their fleet of offerings, the KTM variants seem even more pointless and overpriced.
CFMoto, Moto Morini, and some KTM owners (bikes made in a certain counry) are going to be able to release their own BIG MISTAKE videos soon if geopolitics continue down the path they are on
The DR is a great bike, I loved mine. But the 690 just makes it feel like a chinese knock off. I wish that wasn't the case because I'd have a lot more money if I had a DR instead of a 701. But the bikes live in 2 different universes of performance. Sucks that Spite is having such a bad experience with his 690. My 701 has been pretty solid.
My 701 I previously had for 3 years was flawless the entire time. Did develop a bit of a coolant leak just around the time I was trading it in (talk about timing), but I think it was just the coolant hose that needed to be tightened, judging by where the coolant seemed to be coming from. On my second KTM now, the 1290 SAS and so far after a year, no problems. Only issue it has had is the rear tire leaking air, but that wasn't the bike's fault. Tiny little nail found its way into the tire.
You know what wouldn't have let you down, Spite? Your KLR650, that's what! LOL Seriously - sucks about your troubles with both bikes. WRT the KTM - had one, bought it used spent around $6k between my own and dealer investigations trying to figure out what was wrong with it. Never did. Traded it on a KLR650 and no regrets! I want to love KTM, love the color schemes, the bikes themselves, the power they make - but they can be trouble, and when they are - they are BIG trouble. Not too mention they are $$ and there are plenty of other options in the market. Will never buy KTM again and these types of vids simply reinforce my position. Stay safe, brother!
Unfortunate. I have 3 KTMs, two Hondas and a Yamaha and they all have little quirks but none have had any real issues. I read all about KTM “problems” but I haven’t had any to speak of. I will say though, the KTMs all ride better than my other bikes.
No more KTM for me, almost 2 yrs ago at Barber Motorsports track for my very 1st time there. My 2019 KTM 390 duke bolts that connect the rod to the crank sheared which destroyed the motor. Bike was at 9k & had been well taken care of. Yea I was not happy.
I had a Superduke GT, relatively new (2019 Model). During a trip out of state the engine studs keeping the cylinder heads attached to the block backed off causing the coolant and oil to mix together in a fraction of a second, the engine instantly grenaded. Totally stranded and had to rent a uhaul from a small town to get back. Got rid of that thing and bought a Honda. I'll never trust a KTM again for anything long/remote. Super fun bikes but fragile as hell.
2016 690 still going strong. Get a lower temperature thermoswitch. Chuck the nuclear furnace of a stock exhaust, O2 delete and run a richer map, the engine will never overheat. LC4 KTMs are super reliable bikes and easier to work on than most makes. Since you have a 24’, also delete the EGR/SAS
Surprised there's not more KTM fans complaining that this is a one off. , and I've owned 4 KTM/Husqs and currently have a 690 Enduro. Great performance but you never fully trust these things I'd say.
Have a KTM Duke 890R sitting in my garage at home, waiting for a repair because it will turn on, but it won't turn over. Won't even bump start. But just the latest episode in a series of problems. Will never buy a KTM ever again.
It sucks to have to spend more money on an already expensive bike, but the fix is relatively easy. Ditch the stock nuclear hot restrictive exhaust and it's CAT in favor of the straight through can of your choice, add an O2 sensor eliminator dongle to richen it up a bit from the excruciatingly lean 14.7:1 target AFR of the ECU, and replace the radiator thermo switch, which doesn't activate the fan until the already cooled water at the bottom of the rad is at 215F for a 185F (85/80C) switch. The engine will run much cooler with these mods and be a lot more fun to boot. The fan runs all the time with the lower temp radiator thermo switch when riding slow off road but that's OK, better than the motor going nuclear. The stator's 300 watt output handles the extra fan runtime fine. Since the stock headlight sucks, it also got a bright Cyclops LED headlight, which drops the electrical draw quite a bit, never had any charging issues with the fan running more often. After doing the O2 dongle and exhaust can, I went farther with my '23 701 and added a PC6 with Rottweiler's map and trimmed back the airbox snorkel. It is legit fast now and can badger sport bikes on the canyon roads - it pulls like a fast charging moose. It has never gotten hot or let me down. Current noise and emissions regs are particularly tough for massive thumpers - there is a reason Honda and Suzuki don't update their ancient grandfathered to comparatively lenient noise and emissions standards 650s...
@@monsterboomer8051 no. what he's saying is these bikes run really hot in stock form cuz they need to pass emissions standards to be able to distribute them to dealerships. a bike running high temperatures has higher chances of it's components failing. especially the electronics near the exhaust headers.
I don‘t know what it is with those bikes but it seems to be hit or miss. I‘m from Austria and KTMs are obviously super common here but I‘ve never heard anyone complaining about reliability. Used to have a Duke with the 690 LC4 engine and also never had a problem. Maybe it’s part of an evil plan by KTM to ship all the faulty bikes overseas where there are no parts available to fix them 😂
I had the exact same problem with my H701. It was covered under warranty, but still. It’s a royal PITA when it happens smack dab in the middle of an adventure.
A garage packed to the brim with motorcycles at home & the 2 you take end up letting you down. That sucks. Especially knowing that the dumb little Hawk is just sitting there back at home. And I know your pain. I picked up a bike 450Km (280 miles) up the coast for a mate & the 5 hour highway ride back turned into a 12+ hour back road slog because the bike kept overheating. Unfortunately, I was on my own without any tools so I had to just grin & bear it & baby the thing all the way back.
The breakdown feature is included on way too many KTM's. By now there's no excuse with these big bike makers to come out with nothing less than a good bike that can clock serious miles before issues pop up. That little 2023 RC390 I had had a fan sensor go out and started smelling an odd electrical smell when sitting at stop lights. Parts support is abysmal and so is their warranty support. I sold it at 3500 miles. Was my first foray into something not Japanese and will be my last. Was going to look into one of the new bigger models but didn't want to get a bike that grenades itself before the first oil change.
if you knew that there is an issue to get parts for a ktm, WHY WOULD YOU BUY ONE! especially when you know that they are NOT known for their reliability and you are going to need parts!
I bought a new 2023 690 enduro r spent 5 months out of 11 months I owned it in the shop, first and last ktm bought a new 2024 t7 and a fully modded 2019 Drz for the same money
I read 3 stories today about KTM being in DEEP trouble financially. One story said they need $100 million to keep things going. I'm thinking that China may own KTM soon. At any rate, it doesn't look like a good time to be a KTM owner.
I am currently in the process of canceling my contract of buying a 1290 SDR last year in October. not even 2000km and now has problems with the oil system. 3 Months at the dealer and they got no idea what is wrong. KTM even wanted them to ship it back to me unrepaired. It is brand new with warranty... Fuck KTM, never again.
I will never ever buy a european bike. Only Japanese bikes for me, I have seen way too many people have way too many issues with them. Thats just me though, I am sure there are plenty that love their KTMs , Husky, BMW ect. I am just glad we have so many choices
Owner of a 2016 KTM 690 Duke 12000 miles......no problem to report.....runs like a dream.....hard on tires, chain and sprockets but its the fun that cost.....not repairs.
On my 2018 250 excf the fan didn't work at last ride. We were doing single track. It boiled out. After the ride at home, I found the problem. The 10 ams fuse had blown. I replaced it, no problem.
great video! sorry to see your weekend go bad due to bike issues. These newer models dont have a thermostat switch that you can replace with one that makes the fan kick in earlier?
Lol at "everythings an argument with them" when talking about TJ's. I called about warranty work on something I had bought from them and they had the shittiest tone and told me it would be 4-6 months wait and id most likely have to pay for diagnostics. Basically made it such an inconvenience I didnt even bother and just sold it
Why do these places stay in business? They aren't a Federal office like the post office, their services aren't needed if they are crap at doing things, just stop going there.
After watching your videos for years it was awesome to finally talk to you in person at Get On Adv Fest. Also I really appreciated your advice about using anaerobic gasket maker to fix the leaking stator cover on my TW200. Awesome video as always.
Yep! I was getting ready to do an adventure ride out here on east coast and started my 790 and its just started smoking and smelled of antifreeze. Its always little things with these KTM bikes. Im in a love hate relationship with this bike. Check fuses and hose clamps on radiator.
this was possibly the best ad for the new drz4s ive seen so far lol. Jk love the bike. That KTM is a beast. Cant imagine the frustration of getting all the way there and having that issue
Sorry to hear about your bike. I had a 701 for 3 years before I traded it in last year for another KTM. Never had any problems with my 701 in those 3 years (though admittedly it did a develop a small coolant leak as I was trading it in, but dealer dealt with that) and the current KTM (1290 SAS) at 1 year old has been good so far. Hope you can get yours sorted out in quick and easy manner.
Spite glad you’re OK after your little spill. My 2023 KTM 890 adventure S model bought in Southern California. I now have 3000 miles on it. Two countershaft seals later, TFT screen has failed me once, been stranded on the road twice, everything they say about KTM is 100% true. Heck my dealer wouldn’t even take it back in on a trade for another Bike. I was told they wouldn’t be able to resell it, or it would just sit in front of the store looking pretty. What a big sucker I was. I should’ve listened to my inner self and bought the Africa twin or the Suzuki Vstrom 👍… It’s no big wonder that corporate KTM is in Big, big trouble at this very time worldwide… Hopefully you have better luck with your KTM😎
I did an Iron Butt from So Cal to Benson AZ and back on my carbed 498 Beta. At the turn around point there was a 690 KTM stranded in Benson. I would not ever get a KTM after seeing this. Even my old KTM 300 was a darn money pit.
My 22’ 690 enduro has 12.000 km and has been bulletproof with zero issues. Most 690s have very few problems, since the engine is well engineered. I think you got unlucky with yours.
Man you really have no luck with KTMs do you…. I had a duke 690 a couple years ago and also had a few issues….it sucks cos when they are good they are soooo good but no having a SV650 and a R1 I couldn’t go back! Shouldn’t say this outloud but they have never let me down
Probably a good time to go to sturgis instead of the rally. I went to the rally this year and it was really crazy, I only went into Main Street like once. Spent the whole week riding all the routes. Rode everything you did and visited the Same places
KTMs kick ass. Best bang for the buck when working correctly. Their electric issues can really suck thought. Thankfully, I've gotten lucky with my 890 and half the electrical issues were caused by myself. Firmware updates have fixed some of the others. Just encountered the dash moisture issue recently.
My 2024 KTM 790 Adventure caused me to miss out on some riding this year due to a coolant leak and an oil leak. I am still waiting for backordered replacement parts. If I EVER buy another KTM, it might actually be an old one where the previous owner was an expert mechanic!That way, they would have already fixed or replaced the bad parts that KTM allowed. The 790/890 Adventure is so much fun, but I fear there is a real flaw with the engine design itself.
I have 2 KTM's...an 02 520exc and an 06 450exc dual sport. Both bought new. Thay have been used and abused for all these years, and have never been anything but reliable. I rode XR'S for years before going orange. The issue is not with KTM'S. It is with the complexity and technoligy that has been built into newer bikes. I have many riding buddies that have had lots of reliability issues with Honda Yamaha Kawasaki...and KTM'S. The electronic gizmos and EFI is the issue. They all run great...until they don't! Many of us with older, simpler, carb bikes have towed/rescued many high tech newer bikes...a lot!! The thing is...even the older bikes are still better than 99% of riders. Very few, even pro level desert racers can ride my 520 at its performance capabilities. I certainly can't!! Bikes are too finicky and expensive these days. They should all go back to simpler and more reliable engines. Maybe focus more on suspension instead. Almost all bikes need to have the suspension done on them, to make them work better. Even new ones.
You've probably had it looked at by now, but have you had any hard or awkward drops prior to this situaiton? The radiator mounts on the 690 are notoriously weak and even with crashbars, if it hits the ground in the right way it'll bend the mounts and cause a pinhole leak in the radiator. I had this happen even though I had Outback Motortek crashbars. It wasn't even a hard drop, I just got unlucky with how the bike landed. I've since switched to the flatland racing rad guard/reinforcement and have had plenty of crashes since with no issues.
I got your grilled cheeseburger covered... Come to Houston, visit Moon Tower, and order the Cheesus Christ. Big ol burger patty and fixins between two grilled cheese sammys. Gotta love it. Go crazy and add a fried egg if you like eating messy.
Had someone I know, trying to invite people to ride down with him to Todos Santos, Southern Baja California. Owned a KTM 1290 Super Duke. Couldn't get the Pan America guys, the Africa Twin guys or the GSA guys to go with him. A rolling liability, where are you going to get parts for a KTM down in Baja? Exactly!
I have this bike. It came with a working key and a mystery key that didn't work. The dealer blamed KTM but I eventually got a 2nd key. Also that little gray sticker on the frame (above the clutch cover) says my bike is 770 lbs. 😂
so sad to see a company that worked so hard to get rid of the stigma of unreliability fall back to old ways, so many stories now of bad bikes, chocolate cams and electrical woes that id never own another.
Have owned many KTM thumpers, 2 640 Adventures, 1 690, now a 701. All have been rock solid reliable. You do need to do keep up with maintenance and upgrade a few parts here and there but I wouldn't buy any other thumper on the market. All of the "middle weight" bikes weigh 100+ lbs more than the 690/701, which is too much for what I want to do and ride
Bought a 1290 sas 2023 , never going to buy KTM ever again, abs pump issue causing panic brake randomly, started to have coolant lost 250ml in 4 days and counting , paint peeling everywhere on the clutch bracket and reservoir , battery drain issue , between 50-80km the steering will wobble uncontrollably , if you let go and will also go right instead of straight. There was also a chemical / electrical smell when starting in the garage KTM dealer said everything was "normal" . The adaptive cruise control took them a month to fix . I traded it and never looking back , lost thousands but that was better then keeping it. Dangerous bike. Believe everything you see in forums about KTM , it’s not exaggerated. Extremely unreliable!
I was looking forward to my trip to Chang International Circuit (motogp track) in Thailand, and when I finally got there, my bike started overheating after the first session, just after i put some supercorsa SC 1 on it. It was overheating the whole day, and i had to come back to pit after 5 minutes every session, could not fix it. Skipped day 2, and the race day, and came back home disappointed, depressed and angry. Shit happens. Bike is currently in BKK being repaired, not sure what was wrong yet. I know exactly how you feel bud.
Dude I’m sorry to hear that :( I have a ‘23 superduke and I beat the CRAP out of it all the time and 10k miles later it’s still perfect. I thought about trading my ktm 450 dirtbike for a 690 enduro.
Older guy living in Asia now for the last 15 years. After that whole drama with u getting kicked out by the other guy, I started to watch your channel, mix compatibility.......I wonder if this episode will change your wants/needs when it comes to adv bikes especially. Yep I have fixed up/tuned up Honda Rally 300. Yes I do have stock MT450 (well 15t up front, too short gearing for ADV highway riding). Yep, CFMOTO Papio SS. A Vstrom 250sx. All start, all run, all stop, all suspend, all provided miles (well km here) after miles of reliable adventures. Good luck.
there's several places here in PDX that serve burgers made with a pair of grilled cheeses as the "buns"; better food is just one reason to move from TX to OR, as are the greater abundance of good riding roads
Comment edit: Sorry seems like you said it as the fatty matty or something like that. If you head E outta sturgis to Rapid north of 90 is a quaker steak looking place called "Sickies" the burger there called the Twin Cam is a burger between 2 grilled cheese, they have a ton of other fun stuff too. If you're in Hill City, Alpine Inn is the place to go, IMO. Best potato salad around, and fantastic desserts! A few years ago they had a wild deal on Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon, it's still wicked, but used to be even cheaper! Since i'm already going ham in the comment, Pairie Berry the Red Ass, holy moly such a fun semi-sweet.
@spitescorner my 701 fans went dead on the trail too. My dealer informed me it was a blown fuse only... Can't fully trust the bike which sucks bc as I'm buying mods and planning my next big trip, I don't have the peace of mind. I will say in the first 4-5000km there were many electronics issues landing me in limp mode all the time... seems to have settled down.
I really like the 990 Duke, but I'm afraid to buy one because everyone who buys a KTM seems to have trouble with them. That is a shame. I think I will buy another Kawasaki instead.
As someone that bought an almost 30yr old shadow, I do know quite well how it feels to get somewhere and have the bike quit working😂 I feel so bad how that trip played out for you, bro but hey...content🤷♂️
Make me more frustrated I wasn’t able to go! I woulda been a non-TW version street riding with you guys on all the streets! Couldn’t make it work so I’m sad too!
This might be funny but have a 2016 hawk 250 since new i put together and I've been impressed till today... i ride it in town more often than my klr650
Don't get stranded in the middle of nowhere, with Riders Share! Get $25 off your first rental: www.riders-share.com/welcome/spite
There is ZERO FUN riding a bike you simply do not trust...
Especially while out on the trails ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Ah yes. The full KTM experience
😂😂😂
The hawk 250, not fast, but it will run
The problem with KTM is when they’re working they’re the best.
That’s every motor right before it explodes
Owning a KTM is like dating a stripper. You know it won't last but it's so much fun
KTM is just helping you have a more exciting adventure. Look at all the fun wiring you got to play with.
There's a silver lining in everything
Bummer. Did you forget the 5$/month fan subscription to unlock during summer? 😁
I always say the R in KTM stands for reliability
Im glad I got a T7, it might be big, or whatever, but it gets me anywhere, and takes a beating and just keeps going!
it's funny how the market puts us in this spot... Light and higher performance, no reliability. Or reliable and too heavy for many to pick repeatedly, alone. We need a Japanese dualsport / light ADV that is light enough. 450RL?
I have a 2024 690. Bought new.
The very first thing i did out the dealer and even during breaking period was to add the fuel dongle ( Rottweiler, about 30 bucks ) , the bike runs way better. Out the factory they run very lean, they get hot because of that. It also runs cooler with the dongle.
For the fan that is not starting i would just let the dealer figuring out, its a very expensive bike and you should take advantages of warranty work.
But yea, i can understand the disappointment.
CFMoto makes a more reliable KTM than KTM. they really gotta get their act together
This true I have the 24 790 and it's been outstanding
This is true I have the 24 790 and it's been outstanding
I had this same thought after watching the EICMA videos this week. CF Moto is building some really great bikes now for half the price. As they continue to expand their fleet of offerings, the KTM variants seem even more pointless and overpriced.
CFMoto, Moto Morini, and some KTM owners (bikes made in a certain counry) are going to be able to release their own BIG MISTAKE videos soon if geopolitics continue down the path they are on
@gettinglucky nah.
My DR650 doesn't let me down! Doesn't have an ecu, fuel pump, water pump, radiator, or radiator fan to fail.
Yeah but it looks and performs horribly
What a dr650 doesn't have a ecu ? 🤔 You sure about that?
The DR is a great bike, I loved mine. But the 690 just makes it feel like a chinese knock off. I wish that wasn't the case because I'd have a lot more money if I had a DR instead of a 701. But the bikes live in 2 different universes of performance. Sucks that Spite is having such a bad experience with his 690. My 701 has been pretty solid.
@DB-sd3cw it's not even a contest. Marry a supermodel with daddy issues, or a totally grounded fish wife. Choices....🤣
Riding the Kawasaki cousin bike and I agree; the Iron Age engine block and brick-shithouse construction make it hard to kill.
All KTMs should come standard with a Honda.
My 690 took me to a lot of places, including the ICU.
But it never failed me.
yikes. 701 here, super reliable bike. which is unusual for a KTM.
My 701 I previously had for 3 years was flawless the entire time. Did develop a bit of a coolant leak just around the time I was trading it in (talk about timing), but I think it was just the coolant hose that needed to be tightened, judging by where the coolant seemed to be coming from. On my second KTM now, the 1290 SAS and so far after a year, no problems. Only issue it has had is the rear tire leaking air, but that wasn't the bike's fault. Tiny little nail found its way into the tire.
I have a 2020 701SM bought brand new and never had any issues with it. Most fun you can have on two wheels.
@@likkitongue Nice, mine was a 2020 SM as well.
You know what wouldn't have let you down, Spite? Your KLR650, that's what! LOL
Seriously - sucks about your troubles with both bikes. WRT the KTM - had one, bought it used spent around $6k between my own and dealer investigations trying to figure out what was wrong with it. Never did. Traded it on a KLR650 and no regrets! I want to love KTM, love the color schemes, the bikes themselves, the power they make - but they can be trouble, and when they are - they are BIG trouble. Not too mention they are $$ and there are plenty of other options in the market. Will never buy KTM again and these types of vids simply reinforce my position. Stay safe, brother!
Unfortunate. I have 3 KTMs, two Hondas and a Yamaha and they all have little quirks but none have had any real issues. I read all about KTM “problems” but I haven’t had any to speak of. I will say though, the KTMs all ride better than my other bikes.
No more KTM for me, almost 2 yrs ago at Barber Motorsports track for my very 1st time there. My 2019 KTM 390 duke bolts that connect the rod to the crank sheared which destroyed the motor. Bike was at 9k & had been well taken care of. Yea I was not happy.
Yeah I've heard of quite a few 390 failures which worries me about the new ones coming out, the new 390 SMC or Enduro look tempting.
@@ganuvieni was waiting for a new Supermoto Too because the kawii 300 is small and slow and the DRZ Is Carbbed A still
@@TGChauuncyynew DRZ coming out with FI, have you read the news?
I had a Superduke GT, relatively new (2019 Model). During a trip out of state the engine studs keeping the cylinder heads attached to the block backed off causing the coolant and oil to mix together in a fraction of a second, the engine instantly grenaded. Totally stranded and had to rent a uhaul from a small town to get back. Got rid of that thing and bought a Honda. I'll never trust a KTM again for anything long/remote. Super fun bikes but fragile as hell.
Holy crap thats just sad
2016 690 still going strong. Get a lower temperature thermoswitch. Chuck the nuclear furnace of a stock exhaust, O2 delete and run a richer map, the engine will never overheat. LC4 KTMs are super reliable bikes and easier to work on than most makes. Since you have a 24’, also delete the EGR/SAS
Surprised there's not more KTM fans complaining that this is a one off. , and I've owned 4 KTM/Husqs and currently have a 690 Enduro. Great performance but you never fully trust these things I'd say.
Lol why do people keep buying KTMs... With the rep they have. At this point CFMoto is more reliable...
Because they are awesome machines!
Have a KTM Duke 890R sitting in my garage at home, waiting for a repair because it will turn on, but it won't turn over. Won't even bump start. But just the latest episode in a series of problems. Will never buy a KTM ever again.
It sucks to have to spend more money on an already expensive bike, but the fix is relatively easy. Ditch the stock nuclear hot restrictive exhaust and it's CAT in favor of the straight through can of your choice, add an O2 sensor eliminator dongle to richen it up a bit from the excruciatingly lean 14.7:1 target AFR of the ECU, and replace the radiator thermo switch, which doesn't activate the fan until the already cooled water at the bottom of the rad is at 215F for a 185F (85/80C) switch. The engine will run much cooler with these mods and be a lot more fun to boot.
The fan runs all the time with the lower temp radiator thermo switch when riding slow off road but that's OK, better than the motor going nuclear. The stator's 300 watt output handles the extra fan runtime fine. Since the stock headlight sucks, it also got a bright Cyclops LED headlight, which drops the electrical draw quite a bit, never had any charging issues with the fan running more often.
After doing the O2 dongle and exhaust can, I went farther with my '23 701 and added a PC6 with Rottweiler's map and trimmed back the airbox snorkel. It is legit fast now and can badger sport bikes on the canyon roads - it pulls like a fast charging moose. It has never gotten hot or let me down.
Current noise and emissions regs are particularly tough for massive thumpers - there is a reason Honda and Suzuki don't update their ancient grandfathered to comparatively lenient noise and emissions standards 650s...
literally this. now you have a totally different animal
Went the exact same route with my 2016 690, super reliable and runs cool
So you say we highly modify the bike so it actually works? Isn't that something KTM should fix in a first place?
@@monsterboomer8051 no. what he's saying is these bikes run really hot in stock form cuz they need to pass emissions standards to be able to distribute them to dealerships.
a bike running high temperatures has higher chances of it's components failing. especially the electronics near the exhaust headers.
or just buy a Honda
I don‘t know what it is with those bikes but it seems to be hit or miss. I‘m from Austria and KTMs are obviously super common here but I‘ve never heard anyone complaining about reliability. Used to have a Duke with the 690 LC4 engine and also never had a problem. Maybe it’s part of an evil plan by KTM to ship all the faulty bikes overseas where there are no parts available to fix them 😂
I had the exact same problem with my H701. It was covered under warranty, but still. It’s a royal PITA when it happens smack dab in the middle of an adventure.
What was the issue with your 701?
Did they ever tell you what was wrong?
@@spitescornerthey replaced the fan. I had about 1500 miles when it went bad.
This video was a bummer. I felt the frustration. The long trip on top of it all. Dude do you have the unedited version with the meltdown and cussing?
I actually kept the swearing to a minimum. There's mostly just a bunch of sadness.
My dude! I just got paid and I've been meaning to get a Nelson Rigg bag for my ZX4RR. Great timing with the discount code.
A garage packed to the brim with motorcycles at home & the 2 you take end up letting you down. That sucks. Especially knowing that the dumb little Hawk is just sitting there back at home.
And I know your pain. I picked up a bike 450Km (280 miles) up the coast for a mate & the 5 hour highway ride back turned into a 12+ hour back road slog because the bike kept overheating. Unfortunately, I was on my own without any tools so I had to just grin & bear it & baby the thing all the way back.
Broken down w not even 400 miles....so sad
Hard to beat the dependability and dealer support of Japanese motorcycles. Here where I live especially.
Ah yes, the classic KTM experience!
The breakdown feature is included on way too many KTM's. By now there's no excuse with these big bike makers to come out with nothing less than a good bike that can clock serious miles before issues pop up. That little 2023 RC390 I had had a fan sensor go out and started smelling an odd electrical smell when sitting at stop lights. Parts support is abysmal and so is their warranty support. I sold it at 3500 miles. Was my first foray into something not Japanese and will be my last. Was going to look into one of the new bigger models but didn't want to get a bike that grenades itself before the first oil change.
if you knew that there is an issue to get parts for a ktm, WHY WOULD YOU BUY ONE! especially when you know that they are NOT known for their reliability and you are going to need parts!
Forrest Gump
I bought a new 2023 690 enduro r spent 5 months out of 11 months I owned it in the shop, first and last ktm bought a new 2024 t7 and a fully modded 2019 Drz for the same money
What issues did you have?
Suzuki sends you her condolences !
Had a 21 xr650l crank blow on the 3rd mile on the bike. Honda is very reliable but sometimes u get a bad bike off the rip
Just get rid of the KTM and get something reliable, like a Japanese bike maybe?
Yep. Spite used to have a Kawasaki KLR650. They're not as exciting as a KTM, but they're reliable. And that means a lot.
Seems that even Royal Enfield is more reliable than that these days!!
I read 3 stories today about KTM being in DEEP trouble financially. One story said they need $100 million to keep things going. I'm thinking that China may own KTM soon. At any rate, it doesn't look like a good time to be a KTM owner.
My Husqvarna 701 (same as 690) has 20,000 miles. No problems.
My brand new 690 was 4 months old when the oil light came on at idle. It’s now been at the dealer for 3 months. They can’t figure it out.
I am currently in the process of canceling my contract of buying a 1290 SDR last year in October. not even 2000km and now has problems with the oil system. 3 Months at the dealer and they got no idea what is wrong. KTM even wanted them to ship it back to me unrepaired. It is brand new with warranty... Fuck KTM, never again.
Yep. I have a 390. Never buying another ktm and can't wait to get a more reliable brand...
Bummer to hear about the KTM. It you ever want to experience the reliability of a crf dual sport/supermoto and happen to make your way to socal, hmu 👍
I will never ever buy a european bike. Only Japanese bikes for me, I have seen way too many people have way too many issues with them. Thats just me though, I am sure there are plenty that love their KTMs , Husky, BMW ect. I am just glad we have so many choices
Owner of a 2016 KTM 690 Duke 12000 miles......no problem to report.....runs like a dream.....hard on tires, chain and sprockets but its the fun that cost.....not repairs.
If any of my friends are looking to buy a KTM, I have to tell them to think twice.
On my 2018 250 excf the fan didn't work at last ride. We were doing single track. It boiled out. After the ride at home, I found the problem. The 10 ams fuse had blown. I replaced it, no problem.
great video! sorry to see your weekend go bad due to bike issues. These newer models dont have a thermostat switch that you can replace with one that makes the fan kick in earlier?
so if you want this type of bike, what should you get? husqvarna 701? hypermotard?
The 701 is the same bike. Just white.
@@spitescorner so that leaves the hypermotard? a lightweight bike like that looks super fun for commuting
Lol at "everythings an argument with them" when talking about TJ's. I called about warranty work on something I had bought from them and they had the shittiest tone and told me it would be 4-6 months wait and id most likely have to pay for diagnostics. Basically made it such an inconvenience I didnt even bother and just sold it
Yeah, that's why I'm not going to take it in for warranty work. I'm just going to upgrade the cooling system myself
Why do these places stay in business? They aren't a Federal office like the post office, their services aren't needed if they are crap at doing things, just stop going there.
Because they're the only place in Austin to buy a KTM
Sounds like a business opportunity. Open a KTM dealership that does real work, treats customers well.
After watching your videos for years it was awesome to finally talk to you in person at Get On Adv Fest. Also I really appreciated your advice about using anaerobic gasket maker to fix the leaking stator cover on my TW200. Awesome video as always.
Yep! I was getting ready to do an adventure ride out here on east coast and started my 790 and its just started smoking and smelled of antifreeze. Its always little things with these KTM bikes. Im in a love hate relationship with this bike. Check fuses and hose clamps on radiator.
Surely its not because you put a aftermarket dash with gear indicator and coolant temp on a dirt bike that causes this right 😂
I can't imagine that's the issue. It's the only electrical mod on the bike though so I thought maybe
@@spitescorner I'd look into that first then the thermalstat
this was possibly the best ad for the new drz4s ive seen so far lol. Jk love the bike. That KTM is a beast. Cant imagine the frustration of getting all the way there and having that issue
KTM ... Ready To Repair
Dork! I'd like to meet him. Seems like a chill dude.
Edit: Your bike looks so sick, dude. I'd love to own one.
Sorry to hear about your bike. I had a 701 for 3 years before I traded it in last year for another KTM. Never had any problems with my 701 in those 3 years (though admittedly it did a develop a small coolant leak as I was trading it in, but dealer dealt with that) and the current KTM (1290 SAS) at 1 year old has been good so far. Hope you can get yours sorted out in quick and easy manner.
KTM things. Man I need to edit that footage from that trip haha.
You should never have sold your DRZ, Spite. It would have been a great backup bike for this kind of a situation.
Spite glad you’re OK after your little spill. My 2023 KTM 890 adventure S model bought in Southern California. I now have 3000 miles on it. Two countershaft seals later, TFT screen has failed me once, been stranded on the road twice, everything they say about KTM is 100% true. Heck my dealer wouldn’t even take it back in on a trade for another Bike. I was told they wouldn’t be able to resell it, or it would just sit in front of the store looking pretty. What a big sucker I was. I should’ve listened to my inner self and bought the Africa twin or the Suzuki Vstrom 👍… It’s no big wonder that corporate KTM is in Big, big trouble at this very time worldwide… Hopefully you have better luck with your KTM😎
I did an Iron Butt from So Cal to Benson AZ and back on my carbed 498 Beta. At the turn around point there was a 690 KTM stranded in Benson. I would not ever get a KTM after seeing this. Even my old KTM 300 was a darn money pit.
KTM Ready to Race! As long as you have a pit crew to keep it running... Non-biased Yamaha owner here.
My 22’ 690 enduro has 12.000 km and has been bulletproof with zero issues. Most 690s have very few problems, since the engine is well engineered. I think you got unlucky with yours.
Man you really have no luck with KTMs do you…. I had a duke 690 a couple years ago and also had a few issues….it sucks cos when they are good they are soooo good but no having a SV650 and a R1 I couldn’t go back! Shouldn’t say this outloud but they have never let me down
love my sv650, got three Suzukis and a Honda.. Love them all
There are so many KTM’s I want, but I don’t want the headache or to be stranded, so I go for reliability and have never had one. Such a shame.
Probably a good time to go to sturgis instead of the rally. I went to the rally this year and it was really crazy, I only went into Main Street like once. Spent the whole week riding all the routes. Rode everything you did and visited the Same places
KTMs kick ass. Best bang for the buck when working correctly.
Their electric issues can really suck thought. Thankfully, I've gotten lucky with my 890 and half the electrical issues were caused by myself. Firmware updates have fixed some of the others.
Just encountered the dash moisture issue recently.
My 2024 KTM 790 Adventure caused me to miss out on some riding this year due to a coolant leak and an oil leak. I am still waiting for backordered replacement parts. If I EVER buy another KTM, it might actually be an old one where the previous owner was an expert mechanic!That way, they would have already fixed or replaced the bad parts that KTM allowed. The 790/890 Adventure is so much fun, but I fear there is a real flaw with the engine design itself.
I have 2 KTM's...an 02 520exc and an 06 450exc dual sport.
Both bought new.
Thay have been used and abused for all these years, and have never been anything but reliable.
I rode XR'S for years before going orange.
The issue is not with KTM'S.
It is with the complexity and technoligy that has been built into newer bikes.
I have many riding buddies that have had lots of reliability issues with Honda Yamaha Kawasaki...and KTM'S.
The electronic gizmos and EFI is the issue.
They all run great...until they don't!
Many of us with older, simpler, carb bikes have towed/rescued many high tech newer bikes...a lot!!
The thing is...even the older bikes are still better than 99% of riders.
Very few, even pro level desert racers can ride my 520 at its performance capabilities.
I certainly can't!!
Bikes are too finicky and expensive these days.
They should all go back to simpler and more reliable engines.
Maybe focus more on suspension instead.
Almost all bikes need to have the suspension done on them, to make them work better.
Even new ones.
Sometimes things just don't go as you plan them and i know how frustrated it can be when a vehicle breaks down on you when you need it the most.
My first bike is a KTM, it will the last KTM I own.
Hey KTM's are great! I have a KTM 200 Duke 2014 model. It's an awesome solid bike. Never had any complaints with it.
Nice vid, not selling me on KTMs to be sure...
10,000 kms not a single issue apart from an easily fixed oil leak. Love the 690, it absolutely RIPS.
Very low km’s. Get back to us when you have triple the mileage.
You've probably had it looked at by now, but have you had any hard or awkward drops prior to this situaiton? The radiator mounts on the 690 are notoriously weak and even with crashbars, if it hits the ground in the right way it'll bend the mounts and cause a pinhole leak in the radiator. I had this happen even though I had Outback Motortek crashbars. It wasn't even a hard drop, I just got unlucky with how the bike landed. I've since switched to the flatland racing rad guard/reinforcement and have had plenty of crashes since with no issues.
Nope. And no I haven't had it looked at. I'm just going to replace all the factory garbage with good stuff.
I got your grilled cheeseburger covered... Come to Houston, visit Moon Tower, and order the Cheesus Christ. Big ol burger patty and fixins between two grilled cheese sammys. Gotta love it. Go crazy and add a fried egg if you like eating messy.
I have 3000 miles on my '21 SMCR. Been a great bike so far with no issues.
Man such a good reminder not to buy a KTM.. they look so appealing but then this kind of stuff happens…
not a common issue. just read all the comments. a guy with an xr650l blew his motor at 3 miles. So are you gonna scratch honda off the list as well?
There is a reason why KTM has a reputation for not being reliable and the Japanese brands for being reliable.
@@teags603 i've had japanese bikes. KTM requires higher maintenance but Japanese reliability is over exaggerated.
The only problem I’ve ever had with any of the 7 Japanese bikes I’ve had is my DRZ’s carb clogging..
My 2016 1050 Adv never had any problems apart from the fork seals at 38.000km. 45.000km now. Still won‘t buy any of the newer models though.
Had someone I know, trying to invite people to ride down with him to Todos Santos, Southern Baja California. Owned a KTM 1290 Super Duke. Couldn't get the Pan America guys, the Africa Twin guys or the GSA guys to go with him. A rolling liability, where are you going to get parts for a KTM down in Baja? Exactly!
I have this bike. It came with a working key and a mystery key that didn't work. The dealer blamed KTM but I eventually got a 2nd key.
Also that little gray sticker on the frame (above the clutch cover) says my bike is 770 lbs. 😂
so sad to see a company that worked so hard to get rid of the stigma of unreliability fall back to old ways, so many stories now of bad bikes, chocolate cams and electrical woes that id never own another.
Just curious, couldn't you have taken the KTM to one of the dealers in Rapid City?
I just had my my ktm overheat in singletrack it was a broken wire on the fan relay 2020 ktm 500 w/ 11,000 miles i love these bikes👍
Have owned many KTM thumpers, 2 640 Adventures, 1 690, now a 701. All have been rock solid reliable. You do need to do keep up with maintenance and upgrade a few parts here and there but I wouldn't buy any other thumper on the market. All of the "middle weight" bikes weigh 100+ lbs more than the 690/701, which is too much for what I want to do and ride
Bought a 1290 sas 2023 , never going to buy KTM ever again, abs pump issue causing panic brake randomly, started to have coolant lost 250ml in 4 days and counting , paint peeling everywhere on the clutch bracket and reservoir , battery drain issue , between 50-80km the steering will wobble uncontrollably , if you let go and will also go right instead of straight. There was also a chemical / electrical smell when starting in the garage KTM dealer said everything was "normal" . The adaptive cruise control took them a month to fix . I traded it and never looking back , lost thousands but that was better then keeping it. Dangerous bike. Believe everything you see in forums about KTM , it’s not exaggerated. Extremely unreliable!
Should have had a backup like a DRZ
I was looking forward to my trip to Chang International Circuit (motogp track) in Thailand, and when I finally got there, my bike started overheating after the first session, just after i put some supercorsa SC 1 on it. It was overheating the whole day, and i had to come back to pit after 5 minutes every session, could not fix it. Skipped day 2, and the race day, and came back home disappointed, depressed and angry. Shit happens. Bike is currently in BKK being repaired, not sure what was wrong yet. I know exactly how you feel bud.
I have over 10,000 miles in one year on mine with no problems.
Dude I’m sorry to hear that :( I have a ‘23 superduke and I beat the CRAP out of it all the time and 10k miles later it’s still perfect. I thought about trading my ktm 450 dirtbike for a 690 enduro.
Older guy living in Asia now for the last 15 years. After that whole drama with u getting kicked out by the other guy, I started to watch your channel, mix compatibility.......I wonder if this episode will change your wants/needs when it comes to adv bikes especially. Yep I have fixed up/tuned up Honda Rally 300. Yes I do have stock MT450 (well 15t up front, too short gearing for ADV highway riding). Yep, CFMOTO Papio SS. A Vstrom 250sx. All start, all run, all stop, all suspend, all provided miles (well km here) after miles of reliable adventures. Good luck.
I also live in Rapid and have a heated cooled garage and a tent.
there's several places here in PDX that serve burgers made with a pair of grilled cheeses as the "buns"; better food is just one reason to move from TX to OR, as are the greater abundance of good riding roads
Trail Tech would like a word. :D Their add-on fans are great.
Comment edit: Sorry seems like you said it as the fatty matty or something like that. If you head E outta sturgis to Rapid north of 90 is a quaker steak looking place called "Sickies" the burger there called the Twin Cam is a burger between 2 grilled cheese, they have a ton of other fun stuff too.
If you're in Hill City, Alpine Inn is the place to go, IMO. Best potato salad around, and fantastic desserts! A few years ago they had a wild deal on Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon, it's still wicked, but used to be even cheaper!
Since i'm already going ham in the comment, Pairie Berry the Red Ass, holy moly such a fun semi-sweet.
@spitescorner my 701 fans went dead on the trail too. My dealer informed me it was a blown fuse only... Can't fully trust the bike which sucks bc as I'm buying mods and planning my next big trip, I don't have the peace of mind. I will say in the first 4-5000km there were many electronics issues landing me in limp mode all the time... seems to have settled down.
I really like the 990 Duke, but I'm afraid to buy one because everyone who buys a KTM seems to have trouble with them. That is a shame. I think I will buy another Kawasaki instead.
Tape a powerful magnet to that kickstand switch and zip tie it under the seat while you're at it
As someone that bought an almost 30yr old shadow, I do know quite well how it feels to get somewhere and have the bike quit working😂 I feel so bad how that trip played out for you, bro but hey...content🤷♂️
Make me more frustrated I wasn’t able to go! I woulda been a non-TW version street riding with you guys on all the streets! Couldn’t make it work so I’m sad too!
This might be funny but have a 2016 hawk 250 since new i put together and I've been impressed till today... i ride it in town more often than my klr650
Now we wait for the follow up where KTM refuses to fix it as the bypass switch voided the warranty.