Why I'm getting rid of the KTM GT 2022 | Update | 4K 

Do the horror stories of KTM put you off buying one?

Reliability is my number one factor in choosing a bike. Just Japanese and Triumph so far, very happy with them.

I went to a local KTM dealer 2 weeks ago, money in hand, expecting to negotiate a new 890, they kept me waiting for an hour because the salesman was "taking lunch" (taking lunch at 3 pm). As I told them that I had to go back to work they answered "wait, he is upstairs, he will come down any minute"; The guy was taking a 60 minute break INSIDE the premises while a customer was waiting, cash in hand, to buy a bike. All that came to mind at this point was "If that´s how they handle a customer who hasn´t bought the bike yet, then what will happen after you are forced to go there for maintenance or repairs"? I´m picking my new F750GS next week.

Sorry to hear you've had so many problems, it really takes the shine of what should be a wonderful experience. All the best and may you have better luck with your next bike.

My 2017 and 2019 KTM SDGT bikes were the most unreliable vehicles I’ve ever owned. Many electrical gremlins. The most concerning was the 2019 bike shutting off with no warning on three occasions while riding at speed in traffic. Currently have 9 motorcycles in my garage, yet the KTM spent more time in the repair shop than all the other bikes combined. I’ll never buy another KTM.

Thank you!!!! It is so rare to find honest videos. So many RU-vidrs are all about being fishing for sponsors and loving on all these products and manufacturers and dealers, all the while trying to attract more fast goodies.. If you get the gold you did it the slow way. The right way.. Thank you.

New subscriber gained. Looking forward to seeing what you get next. Bad luck on the GT ☹️, I did a lot of miles on my 2020 model with zero issues.

That's a real shame, but totally understand. Hope you have better luck with your next bike!

Just watched your 3 vids about the issues you’ve had and as others have said, it’s such a shame KTM have let you down. It’s part of the reason I’ll not be buying one. You hear how good they are to ride but if they’re in the dealership it means nothing. Fair play to the finance company. Looking forward to seeing what you get to replace it.👍🏻

Good luck mate. I was going to get Ktm Gt but bought a ducati pikes peak instead, best decision ever. Hope you get sorted. 👍

One more post on the GT and how well the finance company deal with the return will help anyone else faced with a similar problem. Thanks for your updates.

Man sorry to hear, happy finance is getting you sorted. I have a '21 1250GS with 7,000 miles no issues yet, look forward to see your future considerations and what you end up on.

Very sad to see and so sorry mate! I know another guy that’s struggling currently with a KTM and issues all the time. It’s done take it back get another one but this time a tiger 1200 you’ll have no issues there. Hope you get sorted 👍

Hi bud, thanks for making the video, it helps everyone. I've not owned a KTM, but from what I've seen I'm very unlikely to. Hopefully you'll get something else and put this down to a bad experience.

Thanks for documenting all your issues so well. Although I’m a KTM fan I think it’s important people know it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Now my 2017 GT did have some silly electrical issues with the MTC failures here and there when I took first delivery but instead of bringing it to the dealer I swapped out the god-awful stock battery for a higher-capacity Li-Ion battery and I’ve never had another problem. 10,000 happy miles, so far. Lots of other GT owners have seen the same and even with my ‘22 500 EXC-F a better battery cleared up all the hard starts it had with the stocker. KTM needs to up their battery game as strong as their bikes.

sorry to hear this mate. Lot of people our there with KTM's with no issue but this one definitely has a ghost. I can imagine the frustration. Happy new bike shopping!

Damn... that sucks ⚽⚽ Thanks for your vids... hope your move on is as pain-free as possible! (Reckon I'll stick with the Tracer 9GT)

I had a 2019 SDGT and experienced all the KTM over complicated electronic faults. Stuck at it for 18 months then it had to go, real shame as it’s a wonderful bike to ride. Now at the other end of the electronic spectrum, bought a 2020 Suzuki 1050 VStrom, brilliant bike. Ultra reliable and absolutely no problems. KTM (and a lot of other manufacturers) are creating solutions to problems we never had before the electronic revolution. ABS and traction control is all you need - NO more.

Such as shame as if they worked as they should, they are great bikes. Ended up not getting one myself as I had these concerns around KTMs. Good that the finance company will let you take it back, who knows what would have happened had you bought it cash. You never had any issues with that Tuono V4 Factory mate :) Ride safe

absolutely gutted for you fella. you hit the nail on the head when you said they are too complicated for the dealers to fix. I have great relationship with my local ktm dealer in Sheffield. They can be honest with me. Especially as I'm a helicopter engineer and they are a flying bag of electrical faults. I feel their pain. My 2020 is great. behaved itself very well. It seems the TFT upgrade on the new models has caused massive unreliability. Going to keep mine at the end of the finance agreement. Look forward to seeing what you pick?? My choice would be a 2013 pre Skyhook multistrada 1200 with Ohlins. There are some very nice one owner ones about.

Sorry to hear of your problems that would have been so frustrating! Hope your sorted now

So gutted for you, as many have said, in terms of how they ride they really are fantastic bikes! Out of interest, did they ever replace the battery? These (all manufacturers and even a lot of modern cars) are so sensitive to electrical spikes often a slightly dodgy battery can cause reoccurring EML. B interesting to see where you turn next as this bike really is on its own in my opinion. I rode some BMW’s and just didn’t get on with them, and they have plenty of horror stories regarding electrics. Fortunately my KTM has been good as gold!!

Sorry to hear that your KTM is not doing very well. I have always thought they are brilliant motorcycles - if they work. I ended up buying a new Africa Twin, done around 45k miles on it and guess what! The only issue I had was a fuse from 12v socket. This bike took me to Norway, Montenegro etc., to me reliability is number one. Cheers from Bristol

Yup, I been watching lots of videos on this bike and it seemed amazing but after 7 months of problem they should've just switch your bike. Can't imagine how frustration it was to not be able to enjoy a great bike (in paper). Excited to see which one u choose next and hopefully with don't see an engine light for a while 🤣🤣

Looking forward to seeing what you get 👍

I nearly bought a 1290s Adventure last year but due to KTM reliabilty issue I opted for the Suzuki V Strom 1050 XT - Sure it doesn't have the Kudos of a KTM but it has all the speed and electronics you need for the road, its comfortable for touring, and most importantly the brand has bullet proof reliablity. I understand from several of my freinds that they have the same electrical issues with BMW motorcycles - Too many sensors etc go go wrong I hope you resolve this asap and look forward to seeing what you buy next.

My son had, I think, the same model as yours. The radiator starting leaking from a weld and it cost him c.£500 to replace. The dealer told him that they had seen many of these and that it was a fault in the manufacturing process but of course, KTM would not admit it and it was outside of the warranty (he bought it as used).

Sorry to learn of your problems. The worse part being they've done so little to solve the issue. Or replace the bike straight off. Glad it sorted out somehow. When I bought my 2019 1290SAS I was concerned. Came from a 1200GSA. It had its niggles and issues as well. Over two seasons I've done 55.000 kilometers with it. Only one issue, it emerged last year. Not the only one who've had this. Related to the starter clutch (intermittent whining sound when starting, occasionally). Part was replaced under warranty fall 2022. Other than that, bike's been absolutely fantastic. On or offroad.

Congratulations 👍🏽 on giving it back now. I never thought about KTM, coming from Hondas ATs RD04 and 07, test drove a 950 but motor was far to sporty, now I am as yourself probably on the long stroke AT. You will see, there is the torque like in a landcruiser, thats what we need off road, not the rpms

Thanks for opening our eyes and ears. KTM's intransigence and indifference to the bikes issues is not unknown to a growing number of riders (occasional walkers !). In Australia an item must be "fit for purpose" or you are entitled to a brand new bike or a total refund, even outside the stated manufacturer's warranty period. I once saw a bit of humour, an add for KTM offering a free dog with each bike, "because no-one should have to walk home alone". Maybe they should get real with this offer.

I would recommend looking at the Suzuki GSX-S 1000 GT plus. Had mine since May and flog it on curvy backroads regularly with no issues. Panniers are great too.

Thanks for posting this. I have been looking at different bikes that might be good candidates for touring and this WAS on my list; but, after listening to your tribulations spanning more than half a year, I would be wise to look elsewhere. Kind of a shame as the platform (on paper at least) looks to be pretty amazing.

Sorry to hear about your issues over the last 7 months. I was looking at the Super Adventure S and the GT, But I am thinking I will look at other bikes (non KTM) instead. On a side note, How are you liking the RPHA 70ST? it seems like it is decently quiet while on the road?

I think we all knew that warning ⚠ would flash up on the dash, on the ride back from the dealers……… I just sold my V Strom 1000 we’ve been all over Europe and the U.K. in all weathers, it may not have the speed of a KTM and it definitely wasn’t sexy but……..zero failures nothing went wrong or broke, just the usual service items. Purchased an ex demo for £7500, sold for £5750, home serviced (easy on a V Strom) bargain! I’m tempted to buy another when the latest update arrives in May but fancy a change, KTM won’t be on my list of potentials but I’m looking forward to see what you settle on? Don’t forget - update on how smooth the process went for returning the bike etc. good luck 👍.

I'm gutted for you mate! It's for exactly the reasons you've stated that I am going to sell my '21 SAS this year. In all honesty I haven't had any problems with it other than the odd fault that goes away when you do a reset. But the feeling that if I did have a serious issue KTM wouldn't sort it out gives me a very uneasy feeling especially as I have a couple of european trips lined up for the summer. I am going to go back to Ducati or BMW I think. I've realised that the support I receive (or don't receive) from my manufacturer or dealer is as important to me as the riding dynamics of the bike itself. The bike is brilliant, the support for it is really, really poor. (Unless you live near to a handful of good KTM dealers) It feels like owning an MV again! No surprise MV are going to be piggybacking KTM dealerships in the future eh?!!

390 Duke owner here, I hear the pain in your voice. The higher end lemons seem to be much more catastrophic to brand reputation. As a learner bike I haven’t had much problems with my Duke but it has shut off once or twice during a hard down shift. I think if you had came in knowing that there is generally higher probability of failure, discussed with dealer and planned for part or unit replacement you may have just happy with a replacement. I am looking at the 890 Adventure as an upgrade and your video helps with the decision. I had a Cannondale bike for many years and didn’t know how good of a bike it was until I went with a new brand.

Such a same, I’ve owned 10 ktms over 15 years, never really had any issues with any of them, currently got 1290 Adventure new model, I’ve done 10k with no problems. Good luck to you 👍😁

As a KTM owner these videos are very important. Unfortunately quite anxiety provoking seeing that I’ve had not a problem in the last two years of ownership, but it feels like I’m riding a ticking time bomb! Keep thinking I should trade it very soon.

What put me of KTM was when I took an 890R demonstrator out and loved it so told the salesman I wanted one, he then said if you want the same spec as the bike you've ridden (quickshifter ,electronics package etc) it's going to cost you nearly another £900, as every other manufacturer was offering these things as standard I decided against the 890R and opted for a Street triple RS and couldn't be happier with it, KTM continually shoot themselves in the foot.

Thanks for the video, Bro. I was looking at the Super Adventure but Im going to the GSA afet this. Thanks for saving me a lot of heartache.

First time I’ve seen your channel. Thanks for posting this. I was planning to pull the trigger on a 2023 KTM Adventure S, but with what I’ve read about the problems people have with KTMs and now seeing your video, no thank you. I have a 1986 BMW R800 motorcycle, a 1999 Harley Sportster 1200 Custom and a 2001 Harley Electraglide, all of which have carbs and non of which have any tech. Tech is great when it works and a PITA when it doesn’t. And expensive to fix. I have tech on mine and my wife’s car and I hate it. My old bikes never give me any trouble and I’ve had them for over 20 years. Maybe I won’t buy a new Adventure bike. I don’t need that kind of grief. Good luck. Don’t rule out older bikes. You can work on them yourself and they don’t cost an arm and a leg. Maybe I’ll find a BMW 1000cc GS bike from the 1990s. I can work on them and no tech. Did I say I hate tech? Keep the shiny side up.😎

Ahh man, this is the first video I have seen of yours. I feel for you, I can't imagine the disappointment you have had to go through with this. I can't wait to see what bike you go for next, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a Honda after this fiasco with them being renowned for their reliability etc. Regardless, I'm going to sub to find out where the story goes next. I'll keep everything crossed that your next ride is a peach 🤞!

I'm interested in how everything goes with returning it. Hopefully smoothly.

Wow, And I was going to get an 890 Adventure , I'm glad I went with a 2023 Triumph 900 GT Pro. I just subscribed, looking forward to see what you get next. , Good luck from New Jersey-USA

What a nightmare. I agree with all the comments left on this. I feel your pain and that's why I got the GSA. Good luck with your search mate.

Thanks so much for the ongoing feedback. It’s changed my opinion of KTM being an aspirational brand to one that I will completely avoid. KTM take note as I don’t think I’m alone. Good luck for the future and I look forward to the update with your new bike 👍🏻

Posted widely about our 2019 Gen 2 GT in FB ktm groups warning folk, why did you 🤢 in a year of ~19,000 miles: multiple MTC fails, limp modes, power up button fails, fuel cap fails, tft fail, rear shock fail, rear hub collapse, front caliper seizure, pannier fails. Forever disconnecting the battery and discharging the ECU. Dumped at great expense. The Gen 2 SA-S was little better and the Gen 2 SD-R was just behind. For anyone who rides the miles all seasons they are trash. Only a great dealer, Craigs, kept me sane, always had a courtesy bike. 2x Gen 1 SD-R were excellent as was the Gen 3 SD-R.

Got rid of my GT last year. I felt that the quality just wasnt there. Got myself a BMW XR for this year. Hoping for some good riding this summer. Well. GL on your next machine

Just got rid of my 21 Superduke R after 18 months. Leaky radiator, bike went into the dealership, took KTM 8 weeks to try to wriggle out of the warranty claim and say it had never been serviced. Obviously mentioned the log on the dash and their system, but they wanted physical proof of a receipt before they'd accept the claim. Then it took them another month to fix it. That was enough for me to not want to deal with them again or keep the bike outside of warranty.

Good that somebody like you, report the reality. Journalists just tell us the best about KTM and never ever talk about reliability, which is at least most important and listening to owners, there are a lot who suffer with KTM's. I clocked 75.000 miles on my V-Strom without any single issue. Whatsoever you choose, I wish you all the best, this time.

Wow, new to your channel but feel your pain. I've been tempted to go for this bike but my Yamaha MT10 hasn't missed a beat in 30,000 miles and 7 years. Not sure I need or want all the tech. Hope you get sorted with a new bike soon.

Have also a '22 GT. Had also problem getting the luggage. But this was just a logistics issue because of the pandemic. They had workforce issues in the warehouses. Currently have like 6k kms on the bike. Otherwise it has been trouble free but there is some annoying thing where in cold weather the engine cuts out sometimes on low RPMs when the engine is cold. Hope it stays that way because I really like the bike.

KTM-keeps taking money!

They are deepening their partnership with CFMOTO. Their reliability will only get worse.

I had a similar experience here in the Philippines with a brand new KTM390 Adventure. Problem here is there's no way of throwing it back. Due to a disreputable dealer non of the four services (in 10 months) were registered, so no warranty cover. Before you ask, the dealer can set their own service schedule, I was told so they have an opportunity to make money. KTM build quality was terrible. I had shown interest in a 1290 Super duke R and was reassured by KTM as it is manufactured in Austria quality is not a problem. Ive just priced a 1290 Evo from Manila. 2.3Million Pesos making it almost £36k? A Kawasaki ZH2 is 920K Pesos £14,153.00 I couldn't enjoy the 390 awaiting the next problem. My head has to overrule my heart. Parts if needed from Japan take weeks, parts from KTM I've been told can take a year. The dealer said he advises customers to order from the UK and fly parts out at their own cost. Oh as an aside I've just replaced the rear tyre on my Benelli. There is not one single place in the whole of Cebu that balances the wheels for motorcycles. It appears KTM Quality is also back in the 1970's just as this place. I feel your pain watching this.

That's a real shame because the bikes are brilliant, assuming they work as intended (I never had a problem with my Gen 2 SDR). I hope you're able to fully enjoy your next bike.

That’s a shame mate love that bike , don’t know what the fk KTM are playing at or how they get away with this shit it’s a disgrace, I’ve got a 390 adventure which I love but the dash is misting up been waiting over a year to get it changed 🤦‍♂️but it’s the dealership and their after sales service, Portman in Glasgow absolute bunch of arse holes, would never buy any KTM EVER although I love the wee bike only cost £5k but still my hard earned money

Thanks for sharing, wish I had seen this in December (2022) before buying my 1290 SAR. Ridden once, then back at the dealer since Jan 10th. They tried twice to fix it and KTM now agreed to replace the rear wheel, but earliest delivery will be Feb 25th so minimum 7 weeks without my €20k bike. In 40 yrs of year round ridding and no end of different (Japanese) bikes have never experienced anything like this.

I have a 22 Superduke Evo and it has been in the dealership now for 2 1/2 months waiting on KTM. The throttle under acceleration cuts out and starts to stutter intermittently. Hopefully KTM does the right thing and fixes the bike, the technician told me it happened to him as well while testing it, and it scared the hell out of him as well. He said he almost wrecked it. I understand your pain, my friend.

I owned a new 2021 KTM 1290 SAS and had its own share of small issues. However, for every single issue, KTM (both the dealer, KTM UK and KTM Austria) made it so painful to deal with the to the point that when I realized I had to send dozens of emails about the same issue begging for a check, I decided I had enough and went to BMW and got a 1250 GSA.

KTM 640 owner here.....fantastic bike :) !! KTM950/990 are the ones to get if you want to avoid these more modern issues

Under 4K miles my display reboot twice whilst I was riding down the motorway, cruise disengaged without warning (electronics cut out 100%). I mentioned it to the KTM dealer, they literally shrugged their shoulders- so they either didn't care or didn't know how to fix it. Zero problems for the last 9K miles (in all weathers), so whatever the problem was has gone- is there such a thing as running-in electronics? This is the problem with KTM, when they are good they are reliable, but when they are bad they are a nightmare to diagnose. Sounds like you got the Friday afternoon special from Austria. You have my sympathies. Parts problem was there 18 months ago when I picked up my 1290SAS, couldn't get anything without backorder and a long wait, so not surprised.

Thank you,got the message! Much appreciated.

Thank you youve helped me walk away from a new 1290 R . i was on the fence with it and after some research and coming on to your videos Im walking away from a KTM

I am ex 890 Duke R and now 1290 Adv S rider. Clutch burnt out in 890 at 1300 km,(out of warranty ). I couldn't reach a problem in 1290 adv s yet. But after watching you, I'm scared. Good luck.

Feel your pain, after 10 months & only 2000km i got rid of my 2022 SDR

Sorry to hear of your troubles. What you have put up with is absurd and actually you should place a % of blame on the dealership. I say that because if the service was done then a technician should have rode it to make sure the dash did not fail again. Would save so much time for you. Now that said I still ride my 2017 SDGT and it has been faultless. I have almost 45K miles and have only spent money on wear items. My friend has a 2020 version with 9K miles and also zero issues. Closing, I am happy for you that your insurance will cover you and get you back onto another bike. Ride safe!

Jesus.....so sorry to hear your issues, especially after such a big investment. Well, I was considering the SA GT and it would have taken a lot of faith to move from Japanese, but I must admit this has thrown me off completely as something like this would break my heart. Well, good old Jap it is again !! Thanks for the headsup.

I'm considering stepping up into the midsize adventure bike bracket and I have a KTM dealer locally. Needless to say I've been considering the KTM 890 adventure standard model. The electronics do scare me although I have to say I've got to triumph Bonneville with a mild electrical glitch and I took that Coast to Coast and back.(USA) I have a 2014 KTM EXC 350 with over 8,000 mi almost 400 hours and it has been a rock. I really like the idea of the compact bike and the low center of gravity but I don't need electrical problems somewhere out in the wilds of the American West, strong argument for the tenere 700.

I was going to get the GT 1290 and couldn’t get the dealer to budge on the price so I was looking others and came across the Suzuki GSXS1000f so I purchased the Suzuki. I got the bike for 10,600 out the door with a factory rebate. I’m pretty satisfied with my purchase. I purchased a extended warranty so the bike is covered for 6 additional years. I added a touring screen for extra wind protection. I’d look at Suzuki’s GT if I were shopping.

In April 2022, I picked up my brand new KTM 1290 SD GT and now, 8 months later, I already got rid of it. The bike was delivered with a scratched gas tank and some nasty looking plastic parts (passenger handle, license plate holder, sidebags). The gas tank and the passenger handle got replaced, other parts were not. Overall, the build quality of KTM is certainly not keeping up with the price they ask for this machine - but I was told that this is normal and that I should enjoy the ride instead. The ride was indeed a pleasure - until I reached a mileage of 3500 km. At this point, the never ending series of issues began. First, the brake handle feedback became random, unpredictable, fading. The „pressure point“ of the handle moved from what I’d consider normal to very soft and late (when the brake got warm) and then on to very early and hard (when the brake cooled down again). This process repeated continuously. Riding like this wasn‘t fun, mainly because I never knew how the brake would react in the next curve and whether or not it might fail completely at some point. Two different, certified KTM dealerships did not manage to fix the issue in one of the minimum five visits at their workshops. They started by changing the brake fluid, went on to change the brake pump, brake handle, checked the ABS module and adjusted the brake calipers, etc. Eventually, the rim was corrected/adjusted because the mounting points for the brake discs were not even enough/not meeting the factory tolerance and this was suspected to cause the brake issues that I reported over and over again. I did not get to validate whether this last fixing attempt solved the issue because I eventually traded the GT for a BMW because I completely lost my trust in the bike and in KTM after months of unsuccessful fixing attempts. In addition to the brake issues, I encountered the following problems: - Two times within less than 500 km I had to deal with a broken „Brake Switch Front“; a sensor that informs the rear light and the cruise control if the brake handle is pulled. With this sensor broken, you constantly get error messages in the display and the cruise control won‘t work anymore - both are not what you want when riding a premium sports tourer with such a high price tag. - Various electronics and software issues, e.g. the C2 switch constantly losing its configuration (to open the audio playback control) or the damper adjustment getting stuck. - A complete failure of the rear light and the brake light due to a broken pin on the plug that connects the rear light to the bike’s main cable tree. This happened during a two-day tour in the Alps in autumn 2022. No error message was shown in the display, the backup program that should have compensated that defect failed and did not activate. We rode for an unknown amount of time with a broken brake light until somebody stopped us and warned me about this safety-relevant problem. We were lucky that we did not end up in an accident. After months of unsolved issues with the front brake and the tragic incident with the brake light, I eventually requested KTM to either replace the obviously faulty bike, support a trade-in or, as an absolute minimum, to take it back to the factory for a full overhaul. KTM rejected all three options. Also, the dealership, that sold the bike to me, was completely uncooperative. When I confronted them with my legal protection insurance, they kept on rejecting an exchange, but finally proposed to send the bike to Mattighofen for a detailed inspection. However, I was so fed up with the bike, KTM and their customer service that I decided to trade my GT for a BMW S 1000 XR at the dealership that I trust and who knew the history and the issues of my GT and wanted to take care of them. After only 8 Months and 7500 km, I sold the GT for 55% of the original purchase price. That‘s a huge loss, but I am glad that I got rid of it. One thing is for sure: I won‘t buy another KTM in the foreseeable future and my advice to everyone out there is to think twice before spending your money on a KTM. Their bikes are great if you are lucky and get one that works… but in case you get one that doesn‘t work as it should, then you cannot expect much support from KTM‘s customer service. I don‘t want to bother myself with poor build quality and technical issues, and act as an unpaid test rider for KTM. I need a reliable and safe bike that allows me to enjoy riding, and to focus on the road instead of watching for potential technical issues while riding. Our cases are not the only ones out there. Therefore, unless KTM drastically improves their product quality, they are not the right brand for me. Cheers!

How disappointing, sorry to hear you haven’t had a luck with your superduke. I’m on my second. I had a gt for 2 years/15k miles and now have a gen 3 R which I have had for 2years/ 8k miles.! I have had no issues with either other than had to change the abs distribution block on the gt. I always fancied a tuono. So between the two superduke I bought a brand new factory tuono…. It broke down on the way home from picking it up and every day for the next week until I threw it back at Colchester Kawasaki. I then went and got my R !! Absolute brilliant bike .. I love it.

So sorry to hear this, I had a brilliant 990 adv, 40k miles no issues, however, in 2016 I swapped it for a 2015 1190 adv r, it was the most unreliable p o s I have ever owned... 5 returns to dealers, I even had a meeting with Ktm where I suggested they extended the warranty, they refused. Clearly they had no faith in the bike either... I sold it.... back to the dealer... and bought a Triumph 800 tiger. Incidentally. I have had a bmw s1000xr, we need to meet up I have a story you might find interesting...

Thanks so much for your honesty. I almost traded my Honda CRF250L and my 600 Ninja for the KTM 390 ADV.

Its a really pity this has happened and fully understand your feelings and frustration. I have a 2020 model and have been lucky that have had no issues other than General Failure messages that you just hit the set button on. I've done 15,000 miles on mines and by a long way its the best bike ive had in all respects. Getting parts and accessories for any bike is an issue these days with problems with supply chains. If i was looking at another bike it would probably be Kawasaki H2 SX SE Performance Tourer or Ducati V4 Pikes Peak. I would also be tempted to wait for the new BMW GS1300 but dont know if i can bring myself to be a GS owner

I was gonna buy a KTM, just changed my mind - Thanks for helping with my decision

Bought my 2019 KTM Duke 390 (much simpler bike). Had the stator go at around 5k miles. Ever since then, I've been relatively trouble free. 14k miles and counting. I did have small niggles with it, the screen sometimes decides to just turn off until I give it a nice punch and it collects condensation too which isn't a big deal for me since I live in a pretty dry climate. Even though my problems haven't been that serious, I don't think I'll be buying another KTM as it's my one and only form of transportation.

Weird. Sorry to hear this. Thing is: I own the same bike (2017) and right now it has 101.000 km on it. Without a single failure! Likely I am just a lucky guy.

I had a full engine rebuild when my Rc8 was 1 year old due to a faulty casting on the casing. It took a long time to get it done. But no problems since then and it was 11 years ago.

Not sure how you have managed to get your money back, but fair play to you. Don't think we have such a system here in the US. I have a 2019 2nd gen model SDGT and its been a wonderful bike. Really unique in what it does so kudos to KTM. I will not claim it has been trouble free, but nothing major like you seem to have had. The bike did shut down one time, while at my dealership in Asheville, NC interestingly enough. The technician had to "reboot" it to get the bike to come back on. I also did have a repetitive problem with the "race-on" button not working but i traced that down to the steering lock sensor and that problem went away. Not had any issues for a while now. Overall, very happy with the bike. It puts a smile on my face every time i go out on it. Yet i do here a lot of "noise" from other owners about electronic gremlins and poor dealership / KTM response. It is something they need to resolve IMO. Stiil, its the best performing, best handling, best grin inducing bike i have ever owned. And ive had a few of em now....

Same shit here mate, been fucking hell back and fro from the dealers getting this and that fixed. All documented on the channel but nice to know I'm not alone

Similar experience over 5 months - great bike (when it didn't have faults) too unreliable- Carried a spare lithium battery and obd2 reader. Had enough Trading mine in for H2SX SE - unfortunately no insurance so cost on me a short ownership of less than 3000K.

I had a 2020 1290 Super Duke lots of electrical issues, the worst being the exhaust valve problem putting the bike into limp home mode a number of times.This and awful dealer backup from Procycles in Australia trying to say it was not covered by warranty the second time they had to fix it. I got to the point where I had no confidence taking it for a long ride. I got rid after a year and 6500 kms and happily own a 22 BMWS1000RR that has great dealer back up and no problems at all.

This is a bike I've been interested in. I'm trying to convince myself that I can live with a little less reliability in exchange for high performance. Both reliability and performance are important. The 2018 Yamaha FJR that I owned had a pretty significant recall that required significant shop time, so Japanese bikes are not immune to problems. I've owned many Japanese bikes but feel like I should experience at least one high performance bike in my life. I've followed a few KTM owners who have had a good experience with their machines. We'll see.

Well done on being able to return the KTM. Only ever owned one and that was one to many. Vowed never again.

I feel your pain. I had a Gen 1 GT. Just a nightmare. Broke down on my first trip 500 k from home. Cost me a fortune to get it home which KTM would not reimburse. Then swarf in the motor. KTM wouldn't change the motor or the bike choosing to extend the warranty while I owned it. The front brake rotors needed replacing and then the rear drive hub. All this in two years of ownership. Needless to say as soon as it was off warranty I got rid of it and lost more than half of it's original purchase price. It's a real shame because when they are on song there is nothing else like them. I was seriously considering buying a Gen 2 but in the interim I bought a Husqvarna Norden 901 which is really the same as a KTM 890 and having engine fault lights and it cutting out. Never buy a KTM again. I have more faith in my 20 year old high mileage Yamaha FZS 1000.

Have no words. There are so so many issues of all sorts with KTM simply not acceptable considering the cost.

My experience with KTM Super Adventure S 2022 with a misfire issue (bike has now around 5000KM, but happened from day 1): 1. First service intervention was to adjust the fueling mapping and check the ignition pickup gap (I hope I'm not misspelling)=> NO result 2. Second intervention was to replace the flywheel => NO Result 3. Third intervention, ignition sensor was replaced => NO Result 4. Fourth intervention, flywheel replaced again => The issue seem to be fixed (only ridden the bike for 300 KMs so not 100% sure it was fixed). If you are unlucky you can get a new flywheel (with the new part code) that has the same issue like the one you just replaced. The service has to check very carefully the flywheel for imperfection. On top of this misfire issue I had the following other issue: A. lots of electronic issues which keep appearing and disappearing ( MTC issue, Suspension fault, bluetooth disconnection) B. Wobbling at both low and high speed (both with/without topcase and suspension adjusted) C. Mirrors have started to rattle inside their cases (after 2000 KMs) D. Bike pulls very hard to the right no matter how straight the road is E. Left handle grip has started rotating . It feels like I have two throttle handles F. After so many service interventions the bike has started to vibrate harder and it resonates very bad between 3000 and 5000 RPM. After this experience and KTM support interaction I will most probably not buy any bike from them. The bike has stayed in service for almost one full year, KTM didn't respond any of my emails, they are not willing to extend the warranty, nor the seller or KTM was willing to replace the bike (even if I proposed to support the money difference) although the bike had less than 2000KMs, already 3 interventions and they didn't know how to fix it. Any bike can have issues no matter the manufacturer, but when the support is also utter shit, then it's a recipe for disaster. On top of the money I lost buying this bike (yes LOST, I feel like I was scammed) I lost also money on planned vacations which I had to cancel because the bike was still in service, on insurance costs (using the bike or not it doesn't matter for the insurance company). Sorry for the long post, but I really feel frustrated as purchasing the bike was a financial effort for me and it turned out to be a hellish experience instead of a joyful one.

Had a 2018 SDGT, never had any issues in 2 years. Traded in for a 1260 Multistrada in 2020.

My 22 SDGT, (4000 miles) has a few minor issues, (nothing as severe as yours though,)the response from KTM was very disappointing to say the least, knocking back a warranty claim for an 8 quid part( that has somehow vanished off the bike) an hours labour and perhaps a bit of goodwill on their part, fortunately the dealership has agreed to sort them out on the next service, fingers crossed. I love the bike, my second GT, having done 11k trouble free miles on the first one, but KTM's aftersales attitude does somewhat take the gloss of ownership. The SAS i was considering for next year will be on hold for now anyway.

I have a 2017 SDGT, 30K miles on it now. I had few problems, 1:headlight socket burned out, literally went on fire, I was lucky to notice that early, repair cost £3 and 30 min of my time. I did had MTC failure few times before I swapped battery, since then never. 2. Cooling liquid expansion tank got cracked where it bolts down to radiator, fixed with epoxy resin £5 and 30 min of my time. That's obout it, I'm enjoying the bike every day

I sadly agree. I own the same bike for some years, and had many electronic and mechanical problems. Much more than expected from a premium expensive bike.

Thats a real shame, i was hoping to eventually get a SDR and enjoy the "top hoon" bike. Can't say i don't get to be a hoon on my '16 MT10 but was looking forward to that monstrous torque combined with that HP. Guess ill wait and see if yamaha do a BMW and boost their Naked to 200hp from the 160 they have atm. Subbed.

That's why I bought a new 2018 Suzuki DR200S. Carburetor, air cooled, no computers and a huge gas tank. I can service it my self including valve adjustments. The only bad thing is there is no way to add a kick starter to it even though there is a sealed port in the casing for it. It's perfect for forestry roads or nipping down to the store for milk and bread.

Bad luck mate but at least the end is in sight. I have travelled over 150,000klm on late model harley davidson bikes here in NZ and had 0 problems, faults or breakdowns. I also own other well known Euro sport tourers . Lucky I have a Hog or there would be little riding getting done. Not suggesting you want a HD. They are an aquired taste for when you are in the mood for cruising, but good luck with your new bike.

I had a 690 Enduro R .... 9000 km rocker arm failed. 2 months of mid summers wasted because the part was nowhere to be found. The second time it broke down was at 12000 km and it took me one year to find out the problem ... on the tester nothing so i started swapping injection pomp, injector, the 2 computers and many others. It was the o-ring from the injector, but I had enough. Sold it and my VFR 1200 and bought the Tiger 900 Rally PRO. I only wish i didn't have to sell Honda.

So, I've got a 2019 SD GT, I've had it from new, it's now got nearly 20k on the clock and, so far, I've not had any problems. Apart from one. The cables that operate the flapper valve in the exhaust corroded and it stopped the flapper valve working. Yes, the bike went nuts; ABS, MTC and quick shifter stopped working. It went into what seemed to be limp mode and, of course, the MTC system failure warning came up on the dash. I got the cables replaced at a cost of £220 and the bike has been good ever since. Overall, the bike has been really good and I would buy again.

Yes you’re absolutely right we got drained out of patience with KTM SDGT electronic flaws. For the money they cost, it is unforgivable! That’s why I got rid of mine. The bug messages keep on appearing and the dealers can’t solve the issues. And if one that phantom messages are for real?? We can have an accident? Yes, it’s possible. A bike of this price? Unacceptable! I gave mine in a swapp deal at BMW and got my self a S1000 XR. Man, that is a monster and a reliable bike. Go (if you didn’t yet) and try it. Recommendation has been made✌️✌️

Man I hope you are able to return it. I bought a Duke 690 new from a dealership in 2015. KTM had an injection mold issue with the fuel tanks. They would start to crack around the filler and spill gas all over my lap while riding, not good. KTM replaced the tank three times. They finally told me they had no more spare fuel tanks. It stated to crack again so I took it back and traded it in before it stated leaking again. Other problems I had were the water pump started to leak. Out riding one day the bike started sliding around because of coolant on the rear tire. I had to ride it home very carefully for thirty miles. Finally, the drive sprocket has plate with a bent flange to keep the nut from loosening. One day while cleaning the chain I took the cover off and the flange had flattened and the nut holding the sprocket on was hand tight. I torqued the nut and bent the flange back over. Three or four rides later, bang it was flat again and the nut was loose. I bought a few of the flanges and would have to change them out regularly. All this after only owning it for two years and 10,000 miles on the clock. Even though the fixed most of it under warranty I will not be buying another KTM.

Had an S1000XR with a defect. Complained to dealer and they gave me BS explanation. It being difficult to fight Billion dollar companies, I dealt with the handling issue, kept it 1 1/2 years and put 42K miles on it. Dealing with the fact it pulled to the right significantly and had high speed wobble. It eventually put me on the ground with some injuries. I had the choice to fix it or total it with insurance company, so I let them pay me and come pick it up. Bought a 2017 KTM Super Duke GT. No problems with it other than the pannier rubber falls out. Ridiculous for $20K bike. Tried some glue, but hot weather here, it doesn't stay. So I'm usually tucking the rubber back into the groove every time I open the hard bags. A few small dislikes about the bike but nothing serious. 22K miles I got the MTC Failure and limp mode. Searched best I could but had to break down and buy the OBD adapter cable and a scanner. Yes it was exhaust valve code. Saw a video where a guy said the dealer software has them adjusting the cables within a parameter on their computer screen. So I tried adjusting cables a tiny bit at a time while turning key on. After a while I got code off dash, rode bike, no code. (Came back home and thinking I got it, I tightened the lock nut on adjuster cable. Code came back on. Frustrated I loosened the lock nut closest to the valve actuator again, this time about 4 threads, until the adjuster was sloppy where you could wiggle it. Guess what? The code went off and stayed off. (Keep that in mind for possible road side fix) Not thinking that was an end all to future issues I got the ES Eliminator dongle, and removed servo. All good now. But seeing how many things can throw the MTC code, difficulty finding a scanner compatible with KTM ECU, I'm now, casually bike shopping. Sad to say, owning a KTM currently looks like a one and done experience. Unlike GSXR1000, 750, 600, where I repeated purchases for over 30 years upgrading to newer. Have done that with Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, Harley, but don't see it happening with KTM. I'm 62, owned a ton of bikes, roadraced 20 years and have over a million street miles in all kinds of weather. Raced and rode in bad weather without rider aids, don't care about push button suspension. In fact I'd rather turn screws on forks, shocks, and preload. My current shopping includes GSXR1000, R1, and seriously looking at the GSX-S1000 GT. It's relatively cheap. Has the 05 motor which I had in one of my GSXRs. Not as much power as the new GSXR1000 but 150 is plenty and the GT Model comes with Cruise Control. Looking back at the S1000XR BMW issue, I recently bout a 2020 truck in a hurry on a rainy day. Got home and realized it had been in an accident and had shitty bodywork. Car Fax said no accidents. Went back to dealership and raised Hell. After telling them I'll take it to my Bank, they were all too willing to have it repaired perfect until I was satisfied. Lesson learned, the dealer is more afraid of your Bank, than they're afraid of you. And Bank has written rules and good lawyers. I wonder how many KTM owners out there are also One and Done with KTM? Gonna try to enjoy mine since I fixed it, but can see myself any day riding home on a new GSX-S1000 GT, GSXR1000, R1, or maybe an FJR1300.