KTM 890R- The Super Scalpel!

[Supermofo]

Poor show indeed. I'd have rejected it too. Who wants an engine change in a new bike. Plus if it blows up in 350 miles what chance at 10k. Too many unknowns.

Did they say what had gone wrong?

[weeksy]

Poor show indeed. I'd have rejected it too. Who wants an engine change in a new bike. Plus if it blows up in 350 miles what chance at 10k. Too many unknowns.

Did they say what had gone wrong?

[Nidge]

Sorry to hear that Tricky but hats off to Premier for their handling of it.

I'm back there tomorrow as there is a small chip (5mm) in the paint on my speedo bezel. No-one knows how it happened but I'm 99.999999% sure it wasn't there before my service last week but was the first thing I saw when I collected it.... Triumph refused a warranty claim and apparently the bezel isn't available separately and only available as a complete instrument cluster. Andy at Premier found out he could remove one from a new bike he has in stock and will be replacing mine with it. Whilst I would rather I didn't have to go back I cannot praise them highly enough for the way they look after their customers

[IOU0]

The curse of the Katie Boom.
Sad that things haven't moved on much from 2002 and self destructing clutch bearings.
I suppose that's the problem with a small volume manufacturer, most of the r&d is done by the paying punters.
It took Ducati enough years to get the message, only hope this doesn't hamstring sales too much!
Premier sound like a decent dealer.........or do you just spend a lot there?

[G.P]

The curse of the Katie Boom.
Sad that things haven't moved on much from 2002 and self destructing clutch bearings.
I suppose that's the problem with a small volume manufacturer, most of the r&d is done by the paying punters.
It took Ducati enough years to get the message, only hope this doesn't hamstring sales too much!
Premier sound like a decent dealer.........or do you just spend a lot there?

I think a lot of progress has been made since 2002. They are making many time more bikes across a much wider range these days, I think they're still maybe premature in releasing bikes to market though. I heard of a couple of engine failures on the first 1290 Superdukes - you don't anymore though...

As for Premier, I've also bought a couple of bikes from them, a 790 KTM which I later traded for a Ducati Monster 1200. I wouldn't hesitate in using them again and thoroughly recommend them. Now that they are a Triumph dealer as well as KTM they can spread their bets and I'll be taking my Triumph Tiger to them for its next "big" service.

[IOU0]

Fwiw, my own KTM was absolutely flawless......apart from usually trying to kill me.
I appreciate that the smaller manufacturers have to cut a few corners here and there, but when there are 'known' issues, don't shove your head up your arse and expect them to go away.
I was tempted by a 790, but the stories of blocked oilways and dripping seals and a lack of KTM goodwill had me spend my cash on something Japanese!

[weeksy]

Fwiw, my own KTM was absolutely flawless......apart from usually trying to kill me.
I appreciate that the smaller manufacturers have to cut a few corners here and there, but when there are 'known' issues, don't shove your head up your arse and expect them to go away.
I was tempted by a 790, but the stories of blocked oilways and dripping seals and a lack of KTM goodwill had me spend my cash on something Japanese!

As we know, i'm a KTM fanboi, but it was me who suggested to Tricky that he rejected the bike. None of the things i've seen with his 890 have made me think i made a mistake getting the XSR900 instead of a 790 again. The things are often minor, but they're the same things time after time, year after year, same issue... GET IT SORTED KTM.

[stray cat]

Hmm.. reading all this, my other 2-wheeled candidate might get promoted..... wouldn’t be a hardship, as it was a VERY close decision...

[Tricky]

The curse of the Katie Boom.
Sad that things haven't moved on much from 2002 and self destructing clutch bearings.
I suppose that's the problem with a small volume manufacturer, most of the r&d is done by the paying punters.
It took Ducati enough years to get the message, only hope this doesn't hamstring sales too much!
Premier sound like a decent dealer.........or do you just spend a lot there?

I disagree, I think they've moved on massively- yeah, they definitely do seem to have more issues than the average Japanese manufacturer, but I honestly don't think they have a really bad record- no worse than, for example BMW or Ducati, and better than Aprilia?

Maybe my experiences have been untypical, and I've been lucky but the 890 was my 5th KTM and the only one that I've had any problem with .
My little 390 was ridden on the stop everywhere , did numerous trackdays and never missed a beat, ditto the 790 for 7k miles.
My trusty old 2003 525EXC has been upside down numerous times, completely submerged in a lake, and thrashed to bits throughout its entire life so far and aside from a new starter solenoid 5 years or so ago and recently, reapirs to the now quite brittle and fucked wiring loom, all it's ever needed ( apart from tyres, chains/sprockets and wheel bearings ) over the last 15 odd years is a battery now and again - the engine has still never been apart .

As for the 890, it's really disappointing and to be honest has made me a bit sad, as it really is a cracker of a bike, but I do fear there may be a bad batch of motors, or possibily maybe even something a little more serious, as a quick google unearthed one or two stories of fairly serious engine (oil/plain bearings) issues, and I don't want to be that Guinea pig.
Anyway, that's pure specu;lation on my part, time will tell , and if the fears are unfounded, then I'd buy one again.

As for my specific situation, as others have said, Premier Bikes are a quality dealer and have been spot on through out, so they'll definitely have more of my custom in the future.
I've also had a nice email from KTM UK themselves apologising and offering a significant size voucher to be used against bikes,accessories, clothing etc if I chose to go with the new engine and not reject the bike , but decision has been made, new bike ordered and (fingers crossed) being delievered tomorrow.

And this one has a Bluetooth Dash!

[stray cat]

new bike ordered and (fingers crossed) being delievered tomorrow.

And this one has a Bluetooth Dash!

Well that’s funny; so has my alternative....

[weeksy]

new bike ordered and (fingers crossed) being delievered tomorrow.

And this one has a Bluetooth Dash!

Well that’s funny; so has my alternative....

You're not getting the 890R either ?

[stray cat]

new bike ordered and (fingers crossed) being delievered tomorrow.

And this one has a Bluetooth Dash!

Well that’s funny; so has my alternative....

You're not getting the 890R either ?

Well I am still at the moment ... but this has rather worried me I have to say! So I am having a bit of a think.

[Nidge]

And this one has a Bluetooth Dash!

I think I know what you’re getting then.... nice choice

[Dodgy69]

Maybe Ktm should concentrate on fewer engine variants and get them right, rather than 100cc increments and still not sorted previous.

[Dodgy69]

And this one has a Bluetooth Dash!

I think I know what you’re getting then.... nice choice

Excellent choice.

[KungFooBob]

But is it an R an S or an RS.

I'm betting it's the RS

[Tricky]

But is it an R an S or an RS.

I'm betting it's the RS

Theres a question.....
And is it from Hinckley, Bavaria, or Italy?

[weeksy]

But is it an R an S or an RS.

I'm betting it's the RS

Theres a question.....
And is it from Hinckley, Bavaria, or Italy?

Well it ain't from Japan!

[Supermofo]

But is it an R an S or an RS.

I'm betting it's the RS

Listening to Front End Chatter podcast a while back both Martin FG and Si Hargreaves said they preferred the S (that is the base model isn't it?) as it was softer suspension and more fun. They said the RS was a pretty serious type of riding experience vs the playful cheap one.

Hadn't ridden a triple until Weeksy's XSR I'm keen to try the Trumpet now too.

[KungFooBob]

But is it an R an S or an RS.

I'm betting it's the RS

Listening to Front End Chatter podcast a while back both Martin FG and Si Hargreaves said they preferred the S (that is the base model isn't it?) as it was softer suspension and more fun. They said the RS was a pretty serious type of riding experience vs the playful cheap one.

Hadn't ridden a triple until Weeksy's XSR I'm keen to try the Trumpet now too.

It's to replace a super sharp KTM tho'... so it's bound to be the RS