Thinking seriously about buying a 2023 KTM Superduke 1290 GT?

[Martylaa]

Always fancied one of them for a sports tourer, seen a nice one local to me with the tech pack fitted and low miles.

It’s just the KTM last year woes, gremlins with KTM and spare part horror stories I keep hearing about is putting me off seriously moving forward on one, bike would come with a 2 year warranty, thoughts?

 

[johnnyboy]

Always fancied one of them for a sports tourer, seen a nice one local to me with the tech pack fitted and low miles.

It’s just the KTM last year woes, gremlins with KTM and spare part horror stories I keep hearing about is putting me off seriously moving forward on one, bike would come with a 2 year warranty, thoughts?

None really, it’s your thoughts that are important....

 

[fred22]

You will have zero resale value. BMW wouldn't take my KTM as a trade last year and I believe that's now pretty common across dealers.
Your warranty is worthless if they can't get parts. Personally I have had no problems getting parts via Fowler's even when they were out of stock and needed ordering from KTM. But I don't have a warranty.

If you can afford to write off your money in a worst case scenario then go for it. KTM lc8 is the best engine

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

bike would come with a 2 year warranty, thoughts?

You will need it

 

[markie_wales]

My gen 1 GT was fabulous and I shouldn’t have sold it. The only issue was with the LHS switch gear that had an issue with the main beam switch - replaced under warranty with an upgraded part and was then bullet proof for 4 (?) years and over 20k miles.

My Gen 2 GT was an utter nightmare. I had it for 15 months and 14k ish miles. A thousand of those were to / from the dealer. Left me in limp mode. Left me stranded (wouldn’t start). Went away a few times on it and never had a trip where something didn’t go wrong. Only a years warranty then and in the last 3 months out of warranty it cost be <£1k to keep fixing stuff.

I walked away from the brand and have no idea how they’d get me back.

Shame because when they work they are one of the best bikes on the planet.

So if you get a good one, you’ll utterly love it.

Cheers

Markie.

 

[J biker]

Yes. Dont do it.

Had 2016/17 1290 gt. Suspension could not be dialed in. Either sea sick inducing wallow, or too firm, causing stability issues on bumpy roads. Add in a gearbox full of false neutrals. Sold..at a big loss after 6500miles, said I would not have another…then..

Bought a 1290 Superduke R (same engine) in 2023.
Dropped a valve on day 1 of a bike tour straight after first service. Off road for 3 months to sort. KTM version of sorting was to replace 1 cylinder/barrel/head. Which left me wondering about any debris left lodged in oil ways. Plus I noticed later that the radiator had some damage on the engine side, obviously from when in the workshop…too late though to complain at that point.
Later, arranged another 3 day trip to find a none starting 1290, due to flat battery. That should be easy enough, just charge it? Well yes, but no…as the seat lock disintegrated when trying to open it with the key (the bloody key fob also fell apart in my hand at the same time, I kid you not). So rather than go to KTM I sorted it myself, but lost a day touring.
Then..heading back from the shortened trip, the KTM branded tanklock tankbag catch jammed after re-fuelling, unable to remount it or carry it the remaining 200 miles, it had to be dumped.
I later changed the battery at around 18 month, it was not holding charge.

I am now very happy, because I sold it in December !

So the advice is, dont do it!
On paper the spec, Vtwin etc looks good, reality of day to day life with them is different.

 

[J biker]

Would add, I deliberately avoided the Evo, with electronic suspension, due to issues…didnt really work out

KTM electrical gremlins are well documented, with their entire range suffering issues.

 

[GADGET]

As above, I had one, engine was fab, could be ridden on a twisty road, just on the throttle/engine braking, providing it was a decent road surface, on a bumpy road the suspension was awful, only solution was too slow down, no mechanical/electrical issues though. On recent history would not buy any KTM., even if it was cheap.

 

[fred22]

To clarify,If I had money to spare, to gamble, I would be buying a new KTM. Right now. I would be at the KTM dealer. Nothing anyone has said about mechanical issues and suspension cannot also be applied to BMW GS, honda africa twin, etc. it's just it feels like the chance of getting a lemon KTM is higher, always has been. No one can quantify that. And It's always been the case that they didn't hold their value (for many reasons) But if you get a good one then personally I think they piss on all other 'adventure' bikes from some height, they are phenomenal and exciting and whilst the mo' power thing is childish, we ride motorcycles for childish emotional reasons

 

[jefformston]

At the other end of the scale, my 2021 1290SAS has been great, no electric gremlins or suspension problems. Probably the best suspension I’ve had on any bike. The front discs did need changing due to slight warping at 6,500 miles, sorted by the dealer.

I replaced the chain and sprockets at 24,000, other than that and fluids nothing else has needed attention.

I agree with the posts above re trade in, BMW dealers won’t take them, neither will the local Honda dealer.

Luckily I’m happy to keep mine for the foreseeable.

 

[drdaveboy]

Had a 1190 adv one of the best bikes I've owned in over 80 had a 23 plate suoerduke r also no problems , maybe lucky but loved them both

Sent from my SM-S911B using Tapatalk

 

[J biker]

To clarify,If I had money to spare, to gamble, I would be buying a new KTM. Right now. I would be at the KTM dealer. Nothing anyone has said about mechanical issues and suspension cannot also be applied to BMW GS, honda africa twin, etc. it's just it feels like the chance of getting a lemon KTM is higher, always has been. No one can quantify that. And It's always been the case that they didn't hold their value (for many reasons) But if you get a good one then personally I think they piss on all other 'adventure' bikes from some height, they are phenomenal and exciting and whilst the mo' power thing is childish, we ride motorcycles for childish emotional reasons

…and the chances of getting the bike sorted out, in good time with the manufacturers? Much higher.
Also, try being broken down at the side of the road in France, having to find invoices on your phone to prove servicing and warranty. Take your gamble by all means. Just be very aware of the quality of the bikes and importantly, the quality of service.

 

[Mr Derek]

My SD GT had several electrical gremlins. Had it not had them it was a keeper. Fast as anything, handled well, good luggage, very comfortable. I went to Orkney from Dorset on it and it was far more comfortable than the GS I traded it in for, at a BMW dealer who took it in px at a fair price. I bought it with a lifetime warranty from the dealer. What I didn't expect was for the dealer to go under a year later (Moto Corsa). If I could trust it I'd have another one without a doubt.

Meanwhile, my KTM 790 Duke has been faultless.

KTM make some brilliant bikes. They just don't always make them brilliantly.

 

[DING-DONG]

I bought one of first gen 1 new and it was a great bike, i fitted bst carbon wheels and it had evotechs full catalogue foc after i borrowed them the bike to pattern there parts, I regretted selling it, the only warranty issue I had was the pannier lids deformed (known issue) and was replaced.

I paid full retail £15995 +panniers and 6 months later when they had not sold many they reduced to £10995 I said I would never buy another new ktm after they shafted me, it became the norm with ktm, wait 6 months and they would reduce the price.

 

[Littledumptruck]

My mates one ended up back at Abingdon. After multiple failed engine rebuilds they bought it back off him. Feel sorry for the poor fool that buys that heap. At something like the 20k service a dodgy oil filter failed and was ingested which blocked the oil ways with the obvious end results. Like many brands there’s no spare engines made, so they had to rebuild it which they repeatedly failed to do successfully. It kept braking down, was always returned with obvious faults too. He still says it was the best bike he’s ever owned and the worst bike he’s ever owned.
Another mates 1190, which I actually prefered, has been dead for some time with a failed ecu. Something he’s yet to source a fix for. Tbh as much as I quite fancy one, I’m highly unlikely to bother, not helped by a lack of dealers nearby. I’m more likely to dip into Triumph or Moto Guzzi ownership which I’ve somehow completely failed to do in 30years of riding so far.

 

[Martylaa]

Ah I’m hearing too many horror stories tbh, if it’s still for sale in a few weeks when I get back from work I may go for a test ride, saying that they have a ex demo Moto Guzzi Mandela S for sale and I really enjoyed that bike (I test rode the gen 1 version) and this is a gen 2 for good money.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Check out the scrap bin at your local KTM Dealer for failed components

 

[Rasher]

Had a 1090 / 1190 / 1290 and covered 50,000 miles on them with no major issues, a code reset and fuel guage sender (they all do that sir)

Mate stuck 70k on an early 1190.

Big KTM's are generally OK, electrics just too much to go worng, but saying that, they are all the same, mates GS1250 shat itself in France this year, under 2 years old and lowish miles, gave error for ABS / TC / Cruise Control, indicators stopped working and fromt light going mental, message on dash saying "do not stop engine as it may not start again" (althought luckily it did) dealer in France reset codes and told us "it might get to Calais" - which it did, but all the warnings came back in no time!

The concerns with KTM now are lack of dealers, historically less than stellar customer service when something does go wrong, potential issues with parts availability, but offset that with the cost differential between KTM and BMW / Ducati and they are a bloody bargain if you don't get a Friday afternoon special.

My 1290 Adventure was 7 years old this month, paid £13,100 (ignoring luggage and Akra I got second hand) and WBAB just offered me £5300 for it, £8k for 7 years, or £92 per month.

Not sure how good they are on PCP as residuals are lower than BMW / Triumph / Ducati, but if you swap bikes every 3 years it's a good way to "de-risk" the situation, but with a good discount I would buy one and if nervous then flog it a few months before warranty expires (4 years now)

 

[ktmman]

In response to Rashers post, I still have my 10 year old 1190. 34k, still goes well. Only issue I've had are , leaking rims and full beam switch issues. The 1190s seem to have been built better.
Resale value is terrible, I was offered 4k on a trade in 2 years ago, hence why I still have it.
Might as well run it into the ground, bmw definitely hold their value better.

 

[Rasher]

Just decided to spend a few quid on a full service and suspension service on my 1290 as I cannot see anything out there significantly better, including the 1300GS or 1390 KTM....

...and both would hover around the the £20k mark with good spec / luggage, KTM a bit under (or £3k under if I waited until Xmas) and the BMW a couple of K over.....

...Full suspension overhaul & remap will add up to just under a grand, make the bike feel better than new, and leave me with an extra £12-15k in my bank account, will maybe review the situation in another 3 years when it gets to 10 years old, by then the Chinese may of become established with parts backup, dealer network and proven reliability???