Are KTMs super unreliable?

Halaburda120
Profile picture for user Halaburda120
Posts
46
Joined
11/25/2018
Location
Windber, PA US
Halaburda120
Edited Date/Time 1/12/2019 3:59pm
Why do people hate on ktms reliablilty? A lot of people call them junk and say they fall apart. I personally never owned or rode one. I think they’re very nice bikes. Are they as bad as people make them?
13
|
SmokinJoe439 1/10/2019 4:14pm
1/10/2019 4:14pm
No all bikes have issues and owner maintenance or lack of can be a big contributing factor in how reliable or unreliable a bike is.
12
drt410
Profile picture for user drt410
Posts
2075
Joined
3/18/2017
Location
Boston, MA US
drt410 1/10/2019 4:15pm
1/10/2019 4:15pm
Halaburda120 wrote:
Why do people hate on ktms reliablilty? A lot of people call them junk and say they fall apart. I personally never owned or rode one...
Why do people hate on ktms reliablilty? A lot of people call them junk and say they fall apart. I personally never owned or rode one. I think they’re very nice bikes. Are they as bad as people make them?
No.
mattyhamz2
Profile picture for user mattyhamz2
Posts
10864
Joined
7/6/2015
Location
So Cal, CA US
Fantasy
767th
mattyhamz2 1/10/2019 4:15pm
1/10/2019 4:15pm
SmokinJoe439 wrote:
No all bikes have issues and owner maintenance or lack of can be a big contributing factor in how reliable or unreliable a bike is.
This x2

The Shop

See All »
lostboy819
Profile picture for user lostboy819
Posts
11509
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Somewhere, CO US
Fantasy
1442nd
lostboy819 1/10/2019 4:15pm
1/10/2019 4:15pm
I didn't care for mine. Great motor but awful suspension and just not easy to work on like Honda or Yamaha. Didn't fall apart or have a unusual number of failures either.
2
1
Kyle978
Profile picture for user Kyle978
Posts
1296
Joined
10/7/2013
Location
Steers & Queers, TX US
Kyle978 1/10/2019 4:20pm
1/10/2019 4:20pm
I've put over 100 hours on every brand bike, by far the least issues with KTM's. Very solid bikes.
5
1
ktm_kev
Profile picture for user ktm_kev
Posts
131
Joined
11/27/2012
Location
West Hills, CA US
ktm_kev 1/10/2019 4:21pm
1/10/2019 4:21pm Edited Date/Time 1/10/2019 4:21pm
I've owned multiple KTM's since 2008. No issues with any of them
1
1
jeffro503
Profile picture for user jeffro503
Posts
27442
Joined
7/22/2007
Location
St Helens, OR US
jeffro503 1/10/2019 4:23pm
1/10/2019 4:23pm
Well.....there is a ton of orange and white bikes at the tracks , so my firm belief is that everyone secretly hates them so much that they put 100's of hours on them until they fail.....then bitch about it. I own two new Husky's , and I hate them so much that I'm on a mission to make them look bad by telling everyone that I broke something on one of them. I'm still working on trying to break something.......and I'm hoping that around the 150 - 200 hour mark , I will get my revenge! I know damn well a bolt will come loose , or another part may fail , and being an MX SJW I will tell everyone on planet earth how bad both my bikes suck!
22
1
peelout
Profile picture for user peelout
Posts
17867
Joined
1/6/2011
Location
Ogden, UT US
peelout 1/10/2019 4:23pm
1/10/2019 4:23pm
i've never had a single wood screw fall out of my plastics bro
36
motoarmageddon 1/10/2019 4:32pm
1/10/2019 4:32pm
dude I know had a ktm 450 lunch the engine with 30 hours. The chromoly frames get smashed flat on the undercarriage
1
8
kb228
Profile picture for user kb228
Posts
6161
Joined
1/31/2018
Location
Mansfield, OH US
kb228 1/10/2019 4:33pm
1/10/2019 4:33pm
I think the reliability stigma has more to do with all models of euro bikes in general street and dirt. Theyre historically not as good as jap brands.

That being said its not like theyre junk and will break every week. Theyre still good. KTMs dirtbikes are their best products. 1290s cant even get horns that work.
1
2
Tarz483
Profile picture for user Tarz483
Posts
6352
Joined
2/25/2009
Location
Mankato, MN US
Fantasy
583rd
Tarz483 1/10/2019 4:47pm
1/10/2019 4:47pm Edited Date/Time 1/10/2019 4:50pm
I Dont own one, so im going just by things ive read
I read
1. They are Lighter because they are reducing about
If material used on Motor, frame and just about everywhere
So some say that the other bikes are built
stronger.

2. The High performance comes with less reliability.
What lasts longer and which needs more maintenance a Camry
Or a Ferrari?
3
2
deanwhite51
Profile picture for user deanwhite51
Posts
2095
Joined
10/5/2017
Location
Sydney AU
Fantasy
2582nd
deanwhite51 1/10/2019 5:24pm
1/10/2019 5:24pm
Im a KTM fan... but there is a lot of things that I've struggled with.

Brand new KTM 250sxf off the showroom floor, and 2hours in and the bottom end went. KTM sent me a new motor under warranty.
then the ignition cover cracked within the next hour of riding. again, KTM replaced under warranty.
And then at then at 10hours then rear shock went to shit and i believe had an issue with the bladder in it.



I think its more of all the recalls that KTM have and the pricing of parts and the bikes them selfs.
people pay a lot of money for the KTM range compared to the other bikes on the market, and then for them to be released "race ready" with recalls. don't make a great picture.


But that all being said, my 2012 KTM350 exc had 100hours and not one problem.
2
1
CPR
Profile picture for user CPR
Posts
4370
Joined
10/4/2018
Location
AU
CPR 1/10/2019 5:46pm
1/10/2019 5:46pm
Once upon a time yes- ask any radical that had an 80s KTM about reliability, but now no. Actually all the major brands are amazingly reliable considering their performance.
Ask about any brand, any model, and you'll get 'horror' stories.
1
1
yz133rider
Profile picture for user yz133rider
Posts
4464
Joined
8/1/2013
Location
Avondale, PA US
yz133rider 1/10/2019 6:04pm
1/10/2019 6:04pm
Theyre incredible bikes. Other guys mostly are blindly bashing with no actual experience.
3
3
Underground 1/10/2019 6:23pm
1/10/2019 6:23pm
No. But they aren't perfect either. Worked on them for years, owned 2 personally that were solid, talked with lots of owners with similar experiences but they do have their gremlins and you do seem to get Friday afternoon editions.



1
c0ncEpT
Profile picture for user c0ncEpT
Posts
1269
Joined
5/13/2015
Location
Harrison Twp., MI US
c0ncEpT 1/10/2019 8:33pm
1/10/2019 8:33pm
I wouldn't say unreliable but they are annoying to work on when you've owned Jap bikes your whole life.
3
1

Pit Row

See All »
yz133rider
Profile picture for user yz133rider
Posts
4464
Joined
8/1/2013
Location
Avondale, PA US
yz133rider 1/10/2019 8:40pm
1/10/2019 8:40pm Edited Date/Time 1/10/2019 8:53pm
c0ncEpT wrote:
I wouldn't say unreliable but they are annoying to work on when you've owned Jap bikes your whole life.
Yes annoying getting to service the filter with no tools. Annoying to have an hour meter installed stock. Annoying to have odis installed stock. Annoying to have a chain that lasts stock.

9
12
Monk
Profile picture for user Monk
Posts
866
Joined
1/11/2017
Location
CA
Monk 1/10/2019 8:40pm
1/10/2019 8:40pm
I've owned multiple KTMs over the years... With the last 2 pushing over 400hrs on bone stock motors... My recent 16 350xcf had 450+hrs on the motor which most was either racing or training...
4
1
rbyrnes619
Profile picture for user rbyrnes619
Posts
64
Joined
11/7/2017
Location
Temecula, CA US
rbyrnes619 1/10/2019 8:41pm
1/10/2019 8:41pm
I owned a 2015 350sxf for two years and stopped riding it to go back to my 2011 yz450. Horrible 4cs suspension that I had redone to be horrible again. But for the junk side of the house I put more money into the two years of owning the KTM versus the 7 years I've owned 2011 yz450. The KTM is now gone and the Yamaha is still here.
3
Solidkm
Profile picture for user Solidkm
Posts
367
Joined
4/6/2018
Location
Aurora, CO US
Solidkm 1/10/2019 9:18pm
1/10/2019 9:18pm
ktm_kev wrote:
I've owned multiple KTM's since 2008. No issues with any of them
X2. 08, Two 09s, 11, 15, And now Two 17s. My first gen 11 350 had some bugs Buy I really liked that Bike. I’m not against trying another brand, I’ve ever had a reason to switch.
Solidkm
Profile picture for user Solidkm
Posts
367
Joined
4/6/2018
Location
Aurora, CO US
Solidkm 1/10/2019 9:20pm
1/10/2019 9:20pm
I don’t think it’s fair to bring up the 4cs. OP asked about reliability. We all know the 4cs sucked. The Bike was stil reliable tho, specifically the motor. That said, save yourself and don’t buy a used ktm if it has 4cs on it.
RbR
Profile picture for user RbR
Posts
1068
Joined
12/9/2011
Location
Saint Paul, MN US
RbR 1/10/2019 9:30pm
1/10/2019 9:30pm
I had a 2011 350 and loved everything about it. 2015 250sx had an awesome motor, but the forks were horrible. The 2018 350 i'm riding has an awesome motor and the best stock forks I've ever ridden. I did have a faulty fuel pump on the 18, but KTM warrantied it without hesitation.
Underground 1/10/2019 9:33pm
1/10/2019 9:33pm
c0ncEpT wrote:
I wouldn't say unreliable but they are annoying to work on when you've owned Jap bikes your whole life.
yz133rider wrote:
Yes annoying getting to service the filter with no tools. Annoying to have an hour meter installed stock. Annoying to have odis installed stock. Annoying to...
Yes annoying getting to service the filter with no tools. Annoying to have an hour meter installed stock. Annoying to have odis installed stock. Annoying to have a chain that lasts stock.

Don't need any tools to change my RMX450 air filter and I have plenty of change from the difference in price to buy said bits in what ever colour I wish. I know it's not the MX model but for the sake of two seat bolts and a T bar, it's not a deal breaker. Do you actual even change your filters between motos anyway?
1
1
jwoltz
Profile picture for user jwoltz
Posts
284
Joined
6/24/2014
Location
Fresno, CA US
jwoltz 1/10/2019 9:40pm
1/10/2019 9:40pm
They have ups and down like the rest.
1
KennyT
Profile picture for user KennyT
Posts
4181
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Vista, CA US
Fantasy
280th
KennyT 1/10/2019 9:46pm
1/10/2019 9:46pm Edited Date/Time 1/10/2019 9:47pm
The ones bashing them are the ones that can’t afford them. All of the new bikes are excellent, some people just love to bitch about things
7
9
wnorton729
Profile picture for user wnorton729
Posts
219
Joined
3/15/2015
Location
Vidor, TX US
Fantasy
1885th
wnorton729 1/10/2019 10:08pm
1/10/2019 10:08pm
c0ncEpT wrote:
I wouldn't say unreliable but they are annoying to work on when you've owned Jap bikes your whole life.
yz133rider wrote:
Yes annoying getting to service the filter with no tools. Annoying to have an hour meter installed stock. Annoying to have odis installed stock. Annoying to...
Yes annoying getting to service the filter with no tools. Annoying to have an hour meter installed stock. Annoying to have odis installed stock. Annoying to have a chain that lasts stock.

All I have owned since my son started racing is ktm's and husky's. Now this is from 50's (don't count) to 85's... but has rode all brands. My son isn't some all out beast or whatever, but can definitely get around a track, compared to most his age. He is 9 and even he can tell that the ktm/husky's are not as "solid" of bikes as the Jap brands. His exact words" Daddy, I really like how the kawi and yami feel stable but the ktm/husky feels so light and I can put it wherever I want"... as far as reliability compared to previous owned bikes. For me it seems like there's more "lemons" or "Friday Evenings" with ktm/husky. They're either really good or really bad on realiability from my experience. Oh and I can't stand not using tools on my air filter.. I've never had a problem with any other bike trying to suck dirt in as much as the ktm/husky. But yet that's all I have in my garage.
milliebays
Profile picture for user milliebays
Posts
886
Joined
6/16/2017
Location
Afton, IA US
milliebays 1/10/2019 10:11pm
1/10/2019 10:11pm
KennyT wrote:
The ones bashing them are the ones that can’t afford them. All of the new bikes are excellent, some people just love to bitch about things
yes but you have no problem maintaining a triumph, so your tolerances may be different Smile


its just toyota vs. BMW. Japanese overbuild and have strict demands from suppliers. Europeans less so.
2
chump6784
Profile picture for user chump6784
Posts
1690
Joined
5/9/2011
Location
AU
chump6784 1/11/2019 12:15am
1/11/2019 12:15am
I bought a 250sx new in 2012. In the 12 hours i put on it i could not get the spokes to stay tight. Nearly every one of them needed tightening after every ride. I was also told by multiple people who owned the same bike to expect the pipe to crack within 20 hours. I also worked harder keeping the rust off that bike than the bare metal pipe on an rm125
I am now on a 2018 yz250, tightened a handful of spokes and the whole bike just feels more solid to work on.
Don't even get me started on the ktm 50's
4

Post a reply to: Are KTMs super unreliable?