Austrian bikes quality vs....

I agree with the fasteners getting rusty. Never had issues with the fork guard bolt holes. In my experience, the linkage bearings and seals were of much nicer quality compared to the Japanese. KTMs come with a quality chain, levers, footpegs, chain rollers, etc.

Most of the modern bikes are pretty close on fit and finish. My current Kawasaki is meh, nothing bad nothing good. Honda seem to have the best quality fasteners IMO.

My 2021 GasGas came from the factory with a clutch that slips terribly and a throttle map that feels like shit. Otherwise a fun bike. Going back to Japanese at some point though. 

The linkage bolts are very high quality from what I’ve seen 

So you don’t properly maintain your motorcycles you say?

If you stripped those bolts, that's totally on you.

I think the Austrians has better quality and worse quality control. 

I've owned 3 KTM based bikes and never once even replaced a clutch, never mind have one slipping when I picked it up.  That sounds like something wasn't put together right from the beginning.  

As a guy who was on Hondas for the last 14 years and just recently switched brands, I can attest that Hondas have the best bolts and fit and finish for sure. Honda stock plastics are really strong. I still have plastic from 2016 that looks brand new. 

This is my point, best quality clutch you can buy on a dirtbike.

2017 fc450 clutch slave leaked engine oil from the gasket. Fixed that, weeks later the slave gave up and dumped all its hydro fluid into the engine.

23 sxf, best brakes out there... master cylinder failed at 13 hours.

Oh I know, you’re probably right. But it’s still my experience nonetheless so I figured I’d share it. 

I worked in parts at a large multi line dealership that sold everything but Yamaha and I've had numerous Honda's and Kawi's personally. I can attest, you can't beat a Honda. I currently have a 21' KX450 and the build quality and durability is not on par with a Honda. 

I've been in engineering and then motorsport in some way or another since leaving school, I'm no expert at all but I know good and bad. Personally I'm pretty damn impressed with the Austrian bikes build quality now.

When I stopped riding at first KTMs were oddball contraptions, like '07/'08 I guess, they had some weak links, design quirks and overpriced replacement parts back then from what I remember.

Since riding again, 2011-2015 KTMs seem to be pretty decent imo and a little ahead of Japanese bikes in some ways (not all), and the 2016> KTMs seem pretty awesome in fairness.

I know there are good Japanese bikes, and personal preference wise / vibes and character / nostalgia wise I still love the Japanese brands but I can't stop myself being buying Austrian bikes. If I was faster and worried about the forks it may be slightly different, but probably not.

Fair enough, that just means whomever owned these bikes sucked at working on them!

Clutch life is really dependent on the riding style of said rider. I never use the clutch, even in gnarly single track with rock ledges. I focus on momentum and roll speed. My YZFX clutch has over 100 hours on it, never been apart. Other people burn them up in 10 hours...

In recent years I’ve had Hondas and Austrian bikes.  Also have owned Yamaha Suzuki and Kawie in the past decade.  Honda still clearly no. 1 in build quality for me.  Everything is well engineered, and easy to work on.  Engine cases, nothing stays looking new for so long.  
 I had an 18 husky and a 20ktm, both very well built, but still not as easy to work on as a Honda. Then I got a 22 ktm and omg… quality control seems to have gone out the window at Ktm.  Metallurgy in the engine cases and even hubs seems significantly inferior to the previous bikes. Cases and hubs were stained and corroded after three rides, and I wash my bikes as soon as I’m home from the track.  Forks did not work properly.  I know they are air forks and they suck… I had them on the 18 and 20 models also and they were no where near that bad as the 22.  I assume incorrectly assembled internally.  Engine vibration was ridiculous.  Clearly Ktm have cut corners as they have expanded and also maybe supply chain issues in 2021 may be to blame also. I’m burnt on Ktms and won’t buy another one until they sort their QC out. 

Agree with your sentiment 

Never owned an Austrian bike.  Track I go to they out number other brands maybe 5 to 1.  They are popular.  They sure look quality and one of the guys I talk to at the track put crazy hours on his 450.  They must be doing something right.  With that said, they 23 Honda R in my garage is noting to sneeze at.  Well put together.

Now my Beta 300 RX, it’s as high quality as pretty much any of them or more.  Sherco doesn’t seem to be a slouch……to bad they don’t make an MX.

I had a 2012 ktm 250sx, it was easier keeping the rust off the bare metal pipe of my wife's  RM125 then it was keeping rust off the fasteners on my ktm. 

After owning every brand over the years Yamaha and Honda seem to be the best put together. Just gotta grease the head stem bearings on the Yamaha. I've found linkages to be adequately greased though

First dirt bike was in 1976. Have had Huskies, Hondas, Yamahas, KTMs, GasGas trial and trail, a Beta and one Kawi. All brands have had issues with better or challenging years. Honda 1982  frame cracked,1984 KTM porosity issue, Gas Gas trials bike almost trouble free. But the current mapping on GG off road bikes is crap. The Austrian brand are resting on their laurels. Yamahas were the best bikes I have owned and the Beta a close 2nd.

The wood screws in the tank are the best. 😂

I agree. They never fall out, are super light weight and as long as you aren't a caveman they never strip. (I know you were being sarcastic)

On older KTM’s when I was working on them some of the designs I just scratched my head and thought why did they do that in such a crappy way?

After Decoster entered the picture the quality improved greatly. Same thing happened at Honda when Decoster went there.