KTM v GS build quality.

[cookie]

it is a sharp practice introduced by KTM in the last couple of years

You still get all the power but if you want Quickshifter and other electrickery you have to pay for it as an extra whereupon the dealer activates it

It gets a bit worse tho as all new bikes have it for free until first service so you can try it

I have the full tech pack on mine which should be just over a grand but i got it heavily discounted it gives me the QS the full customisable track pack for anti wheelie slide control etc and is all very good but it does have to be bought which i think is a bit of a rip off compared to other bikes

I know about that, but he said "release the power" and there has never been any power restriction.

TBH I would probably avoid any of the street range built after my 1190. The activation thing rubs me up the wrong way and although there are one or two fuck ups with the 1190 (that shitty airbox) they can be sorted by an owner. The endless litany of electrical fails with 12/1390s puts me right off.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

I know about that, but he said "release the power" and there has never been any power restriction.

TBH I would probably avoid any of the street range built after my 1190. The activation thing rubs me up the wrong way and although there are one or two fuck ups with the 1190 (that shitty airbox) they can be sorted by an owner. The endless litany of electrical fails with 12/1390s puts me right off.

ah with you

No always full power but in my case it would be almost unrideable without the extras which as you say is a con but there we go

I think all bikes have their own little foibles and common faults or failures KTM Super dukes have the infamous disc warping and rear brake cooking off and the slave cylinder fail which was always solved by fitting Oberon

Ducati V4 engines have water pump issues as a common fault

BMW seem to have a host or litany of common problems these days though

 

[Arsey]

There is a nicely sorted one in Guernsey up for sale with barely any miles on it.

@Bonnie Tyler just PX it again the his GP. It has every farcle once can think off from Yamaha catalogue on it.

It sold the same day …..

I’ve had quite a number of BMWs over the years and probably over 25 KTMs.

I very much doubt I’ll ever buy a new model from either.

Both have let quality slip lately and BMW continues to release bikes before they are finished and rely on recalls to fix issues.

The pricing has got stupid and some of the models have gone in the wrong direction.

KTMs have also got pricey . The fact that one of my best mates was the local dealer meant that I always got a good price with discount on bits .

But he’s just retired and we no longer have a local dealer.

The last three bikes I’ve bought have cost less than the price of a farkled Wankpanzer.

The blinkered PCP muppets have much to answer for.

Motorcycling is on the slide in the UK. The young are coming though and us old cùnts are increasingly looking at lighter cheaper bikes for our fun.

It’s strange how this is not repeated in Europe.

For instance, we were having a coffee in Brittany the other day and some young lad came past our cafe giving his Sherco 50 the full beans .

He saw us wearing bike jackets and gave us a thumbs up.

He was starting his bike career and wanted to be part of the pack.

In the UK the little cùnts just want to nick bikes and deal drugs.

Shame…….

 

[TIJ650]

Has news of the little contretemps in Ukraine not reached Scotland yet?

мне нужен твой бензин!!

 

[EVskiy]

мне нужен твой бензин!!

И на хуй тебе нужно Русское топливо? Что в Шотландии недостаточно высасывают нефти из Северного моря?

 

[cookie]

Motorcycling is on the slide in the UK. The young are coming though and us old cùnts are increasingly looking at lighter cheaper bikes for our fun.

It’s strange how this is not repeated in Europe.

For instance, we were having a coffee in Brittany the other day and some young lad came past our cafe giving his Sherco 50 the full beans .

........

Shame…….

I'd say the local weather may have some bearing in this.

 

[TIJ650]

И на хуй тебе нужно Русское топливо? Что в Шотландии недостаточно высасывают нефти из Северного моря?

Only interested in the cheap stuff. Think it’s outrageous how much tax there is on fuel in Europe in general. The tax amount actually exceeds the NET amount which no longer makes it a levy, but a legal extortion

 

[J biker]

Owned three GS and one S1000r.
Two KTM, one an early GT, now riding a year old Superduke 1290r.

All of the BMWs were fault free and totally reliable. Around 60 k on them
The GT had suspension and handling woes, a gearbox of false neutrals, but was reliable. Sold at 6k as I could not get on with suspension issues and dangerous high speed handling issues. False neutrals between 3rd, 4th, 5th to 6th , when pushing on were also a bit dodgy..
The 1290r dropped a valve and needed a new top end, just after 1st service. Suspected valve stem flaw at point of manufacture.
Quality? Hmm. Finish, nothing in it. Reliability, BMW have been streets ahead.

To ride, the only one that I have really gelled with, and love? The least reliable one! Since the rebuild under warranty, done another 2 k on the Superduke and love it.

Most miles completed was on the 1200gs Rallye, just over 30k. Still looked new and a good looking bike with the blue frame.

Motorcycle ownership is not always rational, unless you just want a commuter.

 

[Morety]

Had 4 bm's and one KTM. Never had one single serious issue with any bm. Conceded, paint on my LC engines has flaxked/bubbled underneath the engine a little on both bikes after they got to 5 years old despite regular cleaning and acf treatment. Other than that, the only real issue was with my latest RS where the oil level sensor worked for a nanosecond before packing in. I haven't bothered replacing it as I read the oil level off the sigh glass anyway. On-board tpms doesn't read accurately so is treated as a rough guide when looking at pressures (my last one was spot on, this one reads a few psi over gauge pressure).

Air heads had their issues. My RT ate spark plugs regularly (so I carried spares when on tour), needed regular carb fettling, and went through front wheel bearings every 20 to 25 K miles, but other than that, I ran it for years with minimal issues. GSA was pretty much faultless, and mechanically, RS has been faultless.

KTM was ok. Uncomfortable for longer trips, a few mechanical and electrical issues but paint was better. Would I go back to a KTM now? No. I've seen new ones close up and spoken to owners. Whilst the odd owner has had no issues, a majority I speak to all have had electronic issues, electrical issues, all complain about cooked gonads in summer and that they're not as easy to work on as boxers (most seem to have had GS's in the past).

You pays your money and makes your choices.

Only bikes I've had that remained pretty much trouble free were Japanese bikes. Best have been Honda and Suzuki for me.

 

[jefformston]

That was a valve service. Needing 3 new shims (aparently) which I never been shown when asked for. The things cost £3.50 each. They quoted me £800-850. Ended up being £1100.00
They have also reset my chain tension from what @Stevie4scoops & I tensioned it to. A chap at a Yamaha dealer in Rennes on a recent trip to France tensioned it again correctly (yes complete drivetrain is original) despite me not asking him to do so. He was only meant to put a new tyre on, but he had even lubricated it for me, and only charged £30 for the lot. What a legend, gave him my last €5 in cash, although he did deserve more, seeing as it was 5:45pm on a sunny Saturday.

The advantage of a GS main service cost being lower due to the motor layout. With KTM it is a fuel tank and every panel around it has to come off, same goes for an air filter change/inspection.

I’d like to know how you can change the rear tyre without having to retention the chain? , Genuine question as I have a 1290 SAS and it would save me time.

 

[jefformston]

Off topic but has anyone found a supplier of non OEM front brake discs for a 2021 1290SAS? I’m on my second set of OEM front discs and they have warped again. That’s two sets needing to be replaced in 22,000 miles. I never had a problem with the discs warping on my R1150GS in 114,000 miles or my R1200GSA in 48,000 miles.

Love the bike just disappointed at how long the discs are lasting.

 

[cookie]

I’d like to know how you can change the rear tyre without having to retention the chain? , Genuine question as I have a 1290 SAS and it would save me time.

If it's right when you take the wheel out, it should go back in exactly the same place with exactly the same chain tension when you re fit the wheel.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Off topic but has anyone found a supplier of non OEM front brake discs for a 2021 1290SAS? I’m on my second set of OEM front discs and they have warped again. That’s two sets needing to be replaced in 22,000 miles. I never had a problem with the discs warping on my R1150GS in 114,000 miles or my R1200GSA in 48,000 miles.

Love the bike just disappointed at how long the discs are lasting.

When you get the tyres changed make sure that the fitter makes sure the calipersare correctly lined up - ambience and a jiggle on the forks before everything gets tightened up and the pinch pin nipped up

My man reckons much of the disc warping is as result of the calibers being slightly off - he may be wrong of course

 

[Spook1969]

Off topic but has anyone found a supplier of non OEM front brake discs for a 2021 1290SAS? I’m on my second set of OEM front discs and they have warped again. That’s two sets needing to be replaced in 22,000 miles. I never had a problem with the discs warping on my R1150GS in 114,000 miles or my R1200GSA in 48,000 miles.

Love the bike just disappointed at how long the discs are lasting.

EBC or Brembo

 

[Spook1969]

I’ve had every KTM (large street bikes) they’ve ever made except the 2021 on 1290 SAS, I had the SAR instead.
I’ve had 5 GS’s from 1200 to 1250 but not the new 1300.
In all I’ve done over 80,000 miles on them and if I could I would ride a KTM as they are much more of a ‘left field’ choice and the BMW is a bit boring.
I’ve never had an issue of reliability with any of the bikes I’ve owned, but I do try and keep on top of them, and have no preference over shaft or chain drive. As an out and out missile the KTM is comfortably better than the BMW in every way but do a 500 mile day and its BMW all the way.
IMO KTM peaked in terms of quality and useability with the 1190, the 1290 is too powerful (especially the R which you can’t get decent road tyres for to put the power down) and the electronics are too fragile and poorly thought out. The TFT system on the BMW is far superior. The quality of finish (except the spoked wheels) on the BMW including the fastenings is far better.
In the last couple of years you have to be very selective with your KTM dealer as the customer service is becoming non-existent from KTM HQ and unless your dealer is in your corner you don’t really get anywhere.
(The KTM Centre is where you want to be).
I have the latest R1250GSA and tbh I can’t see myself going back to KTM.
Favourite bikes so far would be either 2013 990 SMT (orange frame) or the 2016 1190S from KTM and the 2018 R1200GS Rallye (blue frame) from BMW. Bought all of them brand new and did over 10,000 miles on each of them and would have all of them again.

Oh yeah and the BMW luggage is ten times better than the rubbish standard KTM stuff.

 

[Dark Flow]

Don’t know - cause I’ve never changed one
It’s not a failure argument - more the fiddling with chains etc

Not to mention the annoying chain slap jerk

 

[Paul S]

Having had 11 BM's (10 GS's) and 6 KTM's including the 1190 Adventure and 3 1290 Super Adventures IMO the quality of finish on the KTM's is better than the BM's. KTM even manage to get paint to stick to their engines which BM have a distinct problem with

The only bike I have ever had that had to be recovered back from Europe was a BM - a new 2004 1200GS with a faulty fuel pump which the local dealer could not fix The only bikes I have ever rejected were both BM's - the 2004 1200GS and a 2013 1200 GS LC - both new models at the time which IMO reflects the tendency of BMW to release bikes without proper testing/quality control.

The KTM's have not been without fault but have never let me down although I have to admit part of the reason I went for a 1290 SAR last year was getting away from the complexity of the electronic suspension of the S model.

Cannot see me buying another BM anytime soon but as they say vive la différence

 

[Dark Flow]

Watched a Ktm being pushed off the ferry recently.
The ferry was docked I should add

 

[jefformston]

EBC or Brembo

No preference really as long as they work and don’t warp.

 

[sven]

Watched a Ktm being pushed off the ferry recently.
The ferry was docked I should add

And I saw a GS LC being pushed on the ferry at Bilbao after being offloaded from a recovery truck in October 2022