Sulky KTM

[Deleted account 240831001]

My 1190 obviously didn't like being loaded up with a load of holiday crap because first of all nothing happened when I pressed the tit to start it prior to actually leaving home but removing my holdall then randomly tugging wires under the pillion seat cured that.

It's next little sulk is that the fuel gauge stopped working after I filled up at Harwich so the gauge shows full and it says I've got 380 to empty all the time

Not to worry. I'm old enough to remember not having fuel gauges and I can get 200 miles cruising at 75mph on a motorway and still have about 4l left. It wouldn't be a proper holiday if the bike behaved all the time and if this is all it throws at me I'll be perfectly happy.

 

[Rasher]

I must be mad chopping in a 5 year old 21,000 mile Yamaha for a brand new 1190 Adventure, have a feeling the chances of the brand new KTM is breaking is far higher than that of the Yamaha.

At least it is far lighter when time comes to push.

 

[DING-DONG]

Strange someone with a 1290 GT is having the same issue with fuel gauge, randomly showing 380 mile to empty.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

I must be mad chopping in a 5 year old 21,000 mile Yamaha for a brand new 1190 Adventure, have a feeling the chances of the brand new KTM is breaking is far higher than that of the Yamaha.

At least it is far lighter when time comes to push.

10k and mines done nothing more than eat an oil filter

KTM's are proper bikes and repay a little bit of TLC in spades, I wouldn't have it any other way

Andres

 

[Giles]

Mine has been faultless. Middle of winter and the starter motor groaned a bit (but still fired up), but other than that - 100% reliable and an absolute pleasure to ride.

I have a new WC RT at work, 650 miles on it, and it's shit!!! The gearbox / transmission / clutch on it is absolutely appalling!!

It would have to be something very special to tempt me away from what I have at the moment ....

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

.............

It would have to be something very special to tempt me away from what I have at the moment ....

Like a 1290R

Having ridden Melch's SD, man, what an engine!!!!

Andres

 

[Giles]

Ha ha ...

I rode the SA, and yes ... all very nice, (liked the front end), but worth an extra 6k??

I agree, if they do an R version I'd definitely be on a test ride ...

*edit ... What I'm saying is, if they ever did an adventure R with a 1290 motor ....

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

...........

*edit ... What I'm saying is, if they ever did an adventure R with a 1290 motor ....

And that's what the current rumours would seem to suggest for 2017

The SA holds no appeal for me, it's very much 'GSA" territory but...............an 1190R with the 1290 lump in it, spank me baby, spank me

Andres

 

[Giles]

Yes ... I'd heard the rumours ...!
For me, it's about what bike would suit my preferred riding / roads, and that for me is still back B roads (as you will soon find out ) so GT's super duke R's SA's are all too big and heavy for where I want to play.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Yes ... I'd heard the rumours ...!
For me, it's about what bike would suit my preferred riding / roads, and that for me is still back B roads (as you will soon find out ) so GT's super duke R's SA's are all too big and heavy for where I want to play.

Trust me, Melch's SD was like riding a 650 size and weight wise....................with creamy torque from tickover all the way to the flashing red lights..................it felt like a completely different engine to ours

Andres

 

[Giles]

Ohhh ...!!
I'll have to have a go on it then ...!!

 

[cookie]

Not had any issues with either of mine. 8K on the S and 3.5K winter miles on the R, which is still the best bike for the minor roads I like To ride that I can imagine.

The 1290 motor might be fun, but please keep the conventional suspendies.

 

[cookie]

I must be mad chopping in a 5 year old 21,000 mile Yamaha for a brand new 1190 Adventure, have a feeling the chances of the brand new KTM is breaking is far higher than that of the Yamaha.

At least it is far lighter when time comes to push.

I must say I'm surprised.

Aren't you the guy who sold a perfectly reliable 1200 for the yam because you were worried about it going wrong?

Whichever way you look at it, KTM are not Yamaha when it comes to dependability. A sight more fun though


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

The last Yamaha I bought brand new had three different issues repaired under warranty and had two trips on a recovery truck because of one of them in the first year I had it so they're far from perfect.

The good news on the KTM is that my rear tyre doesn't seem to be losing pressure as badly after I fired it up to 60psi then dropped it back to normal so that might not need looking at when I get home

 

[Melch]

Trust me, Melch's SD was like riding a 650 size and weight wise....................with creamy torque from tickover all the way to the flashing red lights..................it felt like a completely different engine to ours

Andres

Oi!!!!

Ohhh ...!!
I'll have to have a go on it then ...!!

You are welcome to have a go if you fancy.

 

[twizzle]

Flashing you say? I preferred the more permanent light as it was less of a distraction..

 

[Melch]

No you didn't

 

[Rasher]

I would have preferred conventional suspension on mine but had no choice, not sure the KTM test riders the exact same weight as me, the ability to set sag correctly is probably the most important part of suspension setup which is taken away by all these high tech ES bikes

The demo rode nicely though, and I figured I will get used to its handling, and not seen too many complaints about the handling or suspension on these beasts.

I am hoping reliability on a new bike will be fine, seen very few reports of major failures apart from engines getting destroyed due to crap air filters, but with UK / European roads it is likely to be OK for at least 20-30k by which time I will have got rid of it. Did see a "high mileage" test and strip down on one, but only 30,000 miles - they reckoned it all looked good internally, with the exception of some valve springs that were below service length.

Main concern was the demo bike at a few months old with just a few thousand miles had more corrosion than my Yamaha at 5 years old and 20,000 miles. Will get some ACF-50 on it from day one.

I think the oil filter and starter motor problems have been cured for the 2015+ models and airbox design No.3 although getting slated online is probably a bit better than V1 and V2. If I keep it beyond the warranty period I will fit a Uni-Filter - hoping to be able to extend warranty for 3rd year and then flog it.

 

[Jumpjim]

The fuel gauge issue is a known problem.

I've just had my fuel sender replaced under warranty, and after a year I now have a working fuel gauge! Yay! Having said that the bloody fuel range is still in kilometres even if it says Miles after it on the dash. Why KTM can't sort that with a software update is beyond me....

Either way just done 2000 miles from Sussex up to the Outer Hebrides and back from Sussex and th bike was faultless. The EDS suspension was great actually.... Comfort mode for bumpy single tracks, and back in Street for a hoon through the glens of Scotland. It's a noticeable difference between the two settings.

 

[cookie]

I would have preferred conventional suspension on mine but had no choice, not sure the KTM test riders the exact same weight as me, the ability to set sag correctly is probably the most important part of suspension setup which is taken away by all these high tech ES bikes



Main concern was the demo bike at a few months old with just a few thousand miles had more corrosion than my Yamaha at 5 years old and 20,000 miles. Will get some ACF-50 on it from day one.

I think the oil filter and starter motor problems have been cured for the 2015+ models and airbox design No.3 although getting slated online is probably a bit better than V1 and V2. If I keep it beyond the warranty period I will fit a Uni-Filter - hoping to be able to extend warranty for 3rd year and then flog it.

manual suspension bikes are/were available for £1000 less, but more or less built to order, no stock. maybe not anymore?

quality of finish on my two 1190s seems pretty good to me. no corrosion anywhere except the crappy indian made PP top box rack, where the paint just fell off as it was not prepared properly rusty underneath the paint. i've had it powdercoated now

regardless of warranty, i've put a gasket between the airbox and lid.