2016 KTM problems??

motosickness
Edited Date/Time 3/31/2016 9:47pm
So I've been on Honda's for the last two decades or so. I've been disappointed with the current models so thinking about switching I had access to a 16 kx450 and a Ktm450. Both were night and day better then my current 2014 Honda. The KTM was the best stock bike I've ever ridden by far. So I decided to go with the KTM my dealer has 1 more 450 coming in and it's all mine.

Then at the track yesterday there were some guys there that had a 16 350 and a 16 250. They only had hem for a few weeks and have very low hours on them. One of their bikes (I think the 350) the shock piston froze up and the front spokes exploded (saw pic) These guys were from Sweden and said that KTM admitted an issue with front wheel spokes being too thin and the Clarence on shock piston being too tight and ceasing.

Interested to know if anyone else is having or heard of these issues? Possibly fixed on the later released bikes? I'm sure we'll know more after Mini O's.
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benchracermx 11/22/2015 2:30pm
11/22/2015 2:30pm
Yes... My suspension guy had an 85 shock that did this! Ktm warranted it I think!
Olson
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Olson 11/22/2015 2:38pm
11/22/2015 2:38pm
There's been quite a few problems with the shock the last couple of years. This is the first one I hear about the 2016 model though. I don't think you have to worry, check your spokes and your regular points on the bike and you will be fine. If a problem occur KTM is very good to deal with. Ride on!
CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 11/22/2015 2:49pm
11/22/2015 2:49pm
I'm 50 hours deep on my Factory Edition and haven't ran into any problems(knock on wood)...Whistling
Charper732
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Charper732 11/22/2015 3:24pm
11/22/2015 3:24pm
can confirm '16 issues with the wheel. My buddy got a '16 450 and exploded a couple spokes on it. I think that was the front wheel and the rear wheel he had issues with the spokes constantly loosening.

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Motofinne
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Motofinne 11/22/2015 3:27pm
11/22/2015 3:27pm
When i get my 2016 450 i will replace the spokes before i even sit on the bike. New spokes are only about 130-150€ and i would not want to jump a 20 meter jump and have the front wheel explode when i land!
motosickness 11/22/2015 4:02pm
11/22/2015 4:02pm
The Guys at the track said that KTM is replacing them with thicker ones. The rears are thicker and seem to be ok but if you look at the front spokes they are noticeably thinner then any other fronts I've seen.
yzrider53
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yzrider53 11/22/2015 5:05pm
11/22/2015 5:05pm
It would appear that ktm has superceeded the front spoke part numbers for the 16's to the 15 part number.
ob
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ob 11/22/2015 6:34pm
11/22/2015 6:34pm
I've been riding and racing KmartTrailMachines since 97. I think they are the only motocross race bike with a real warranty. I once had a cylinder crack on a 250sx it was a year old, they sent me a cylinder, gasket kit, and a check for $80. If it's any kind of manufacturing problem they will fix it. But they are a really well built bike. That being said, please buy a Honda. It's to hard to get a deal on KTMs right now.
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crusher773 11/22/2015 6:39pm
11/22/2015 6:39pm
I agree with above. My experiences with the Japanese are once it leaves the showroom you are on your own. KTM looks at it more of like "that shouldn't happen we'll take care of it". Then they want more info from you so they can fix the problem and keep it from happening. They are the only ones that are focused on bettering their machines with a purpose to go racing.
ob
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ob 11/22/2015 6:43pm
11/22/2015 6:43pm Edited Date/Time 11/22/2015 6:45pm
And by the way I'm still on KTM. 16 350sxf, riding KTMs for almost 20 years now. And I came from a Honda family.
Rich Piano
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Rich Piano 11/22/2015 6:51pm
11/22/2015 6:51pm
Use it in a sentence please.

"Clarence ceased" to get a correct clearance measurement when he put the shock together right when he took a poop break and it seized.
slipdog
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slipdog 11/22/2015 7:02pm
11/22/2015 7:02pm
Rich Piano wrote:
Use it in a sentence please. "Clarence ceased" to get a correct clearance measurement when he put the shock together right when he took a poop...
Use it in a sentence please.

"Clarence ceased" to get a correct clearance measurement when he put the shock together right when he took a poop break and it seized.


mx965
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mx965 11/22/2015 7:42pm
11/22/2015 7:42pm
Watched a 16 250 front wheel blow out the other day catapulting the guy to his face.
kiwifan
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kiwifan 11/23/2015 12:29am
11/23/2015 12:29am
I recommend the '16 KX450F, I havent seen those KTM problems around my area but thats not to say it isnt as widespread as people say....exploding wheels would put me off if i was honest I have no desire to ride a bike when its front wheel might explode when landing from a jump, just my opinion tho.
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RCN4HIM 11/23/2015 11:17am
11/23/2015 11:17am
kiwifan wrote:
I recommend the '16 KX450F, I havent seen those KTM problems around my area but thats not to say it isnt as widespread as people say....exploding...
I recommend the '16 KX450F, I havent seen those KTM problems around my area but thats not to say it isnt as widespread as people say....exploding wheels would put me off if i was honest I have no desire to ride a bike when its front wheel might explode when landing from a jump, just my opinion tho.
Rode a 16 350 last week... Add, no desire to get pounded by harsh front forks, gave the bike back and said "No Thanks!"
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RMT 11/23/2015 12:07pm
11/23/2015 12:07pm Edited Date/Time 11/23/2015 12:07pm
crusher773 wrote:
I agree with above. My experiences with the Japanese are once it leaves the showroom you are on your own. KTM looks at it more of...
I agree with above. My experiences with the Japanese are once it leaves the showroom you are on your own. KTM looks at it more of like "that shouldn't happen we'll take care of it". Then they want more info from you so they can fix the problem and keep it from happening. They are the only ones that are focused on bettering their machines with a purpose to go racing.
And there it is. It took 10 posts to turn a thread about the almighty KTM having quality problems (never could happen) into a shot at the Japanese. Good job to you crusher773.
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crusher773 11/23/2015 1:19pm
11/23/2015 1:19pm Edited Date/Time 11/23/2015 1:21pm
Nobody said KTMs don't have problems from time to time. They are just the only ones that step up and take care of them consistently. I rode Hondas for a long time before I switched to KTM. Hondas were junk compared to KTM. My brother had a brand new Yamaha with less than an hour that locked up solid on him. You know what Yamaha did? Nothing.
r.sal923
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r.sal923 11/23/2015 2:54pm
11/23/2015 2:54pm
I one time had a rim and spokes fail on a Yamaha. Cased a 3 gear jump, hub went straight through rim and into the ground. I walked away with a broken collar bone and wrist. If buying a ktm you might want to get better wheels. Nothing like spending 10k on a bike and then dumping 2k for wheels

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swatdoc
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swatdoc 11/23/2015 5:09pm
11/23/2015 5:09pm
2K for wheels????????
The carbon fiber hubs from Dubya aren't even that expensive!
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endurox 11/23/2015 5:14pm
11/23/2015 5:14pm
Rich Piano wrote:
Use it in a sentence please. "Clarence ceased" to get a correct clearance measurement when he put the shock together right when he took a poop...
Use it in a sentence please.

"Clarence ceased" to get a correct clearance measurement when he put the shock together right when he took a poop break and it seized.
slipdog wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/11/22/112213/s1200_Clarence.jpg[/img]


what's our vector victor?
r.sal923
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r.sal923 11/23/2015 8:46pm
11/23/2015 8:46pm
swatdoc wrote:
2K for wheels????????
The carbon fiber hubs from Dubya aren't even that expensive!
Sorry. 1200 for wheels in Canada
keith101
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keith101 11/23/2015 9:48pm
11/23/2015 9:48pm
So guys are buying KTM's for ballpark $10K, then need to invest $1-1500 for wheels, just for peace of mind when riding.....then for the icing on the cake, another $3-4K for new suspension because the stock stuff is so bad that even a revalve won't do the trick?

But the kicker for me is when I read all the chatter about inferior/junk Japanese bikes, yet there's now a Honda steering damper attached to the KTM's.

Doesn't seem like much of a bargain.
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Tonynz 11/23/2015 10:32pm
11/23/2015 10:32pm
keith101 wrote:
So guys are buying KTM's for ballpark $10K, then need to invest $1-1500 for wheels, just for peace of mind when riding.....then for the icing on...
So guys are buying KTM's for ballpark $10K, then need to invest $1-1500 for wheels, just for peace of mind when riding.....then for the icing on the cake, another $3-4K for new suspension because the stock stuff is so bad that even a revalve won't do the trick?

But the kicker for me is when I read all the chatter about inferior/junk Japanese bikes, yet there's now a Honda steering damper attached to the KTM's.

Doesn't seem like much of a bargain.
What brand and year of bike do you ride ?
Lajnus
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Lajnus 11/24/2015 1:10am
11/24/2015 1:10am
motosickness wrote:
So I've been on Honda's for the last two decades or so. I've been disappointed with the current models so thinking about switching I had access...
So I've been on Honda's for the last two decades or so. I've been disappointed with the current models so thinking about switching I had access to a 16 kx450 and a Ktm450. Both were night and day better then my current 2014 Honda. The KTM was the best stock bike I've ever ridden by far. So I decided to go with the KTM my dealer has 1 more 450 coming in and it's all mine.

Then at the track yesterday there were some guys there that had a 16 350 and a 16 250. They only had hem for a few weeks and have very low hours on them. One of their bikes (I think the 350) the shock piston froze up and the front spokes exploded (saw pic) These guys were from Sweden and said that KTM admitted an issue with front wheel spokes being too thin and the Clarence on shock piston being too tight and ceasing.

Interested to know if anyone else is having or heard of these issues? Possibly fixed on the later released bikes? I'm sure we'll know more after Mini O's.
I am 99% sure who those Sweds are, the front spokes are too thin but it did not help that the guy came up short on a huge table.
Shaner325
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Shaner325 3/30/2016 6:57pm
3/30/2016 6:57pm
If you buy new just get all the recalls fixed. Done that with mine and its been fine. I'm having problems with my launch control. I don't know whats wrong with it. I've never used it so I don't miss it.
vetmxr
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vetmxr 3/30/2016 7:14pm
3/30/2016 7:14pm
I've owned them all over the years......in my opinion ktm is the top of the line these days. It doesn't take much time to look and see that they are a higher quality machine. My last Honda was an 08 and I still have it........the new hondas are slow and physically too small for me anymore. I've owned two ktms now and with the exception of maybe a Yamaha, I will be buying more.
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B-EVANS 3/30/2016 8:13pm
3/30/2016 8:13pm
Shaner325 wrote:
If you buy new just get all the recalls fixed. Done that with mine and its been fine. I'm having problems with my launch control. I...
If you buy new just get all the recalls fixed. Done that with mine and its been fine. I'm having problems with my launch control. I don't know whats wrong with it. I've never used it so I don't miss it.
Launch control won't work if you don't change the map switch in the air box to a different setting than standard. If you haven't done that change it to 1 for mellow, or 2 for aggressive(I may not be remembering that right but it's in the book). Then your bar switch will be 1 for standard map and 2 for whatever u set the other switch to. The traction control light should flash then when you flip the bar switch back and forth quickly. Sorry if you've already set that, have seen a couple that didn't and that fixed their problem
B-EVANS
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B-EVANS 3/30/2016 8:16pm
3/30/2016 8:16pm
Shaner325 wrote:
If you buy new just get all the recalls fixed. Done that with mine and its been fine. I'm having problems with my launch control. I...
If you buy new just get all the recalls fixed. Done that with mine and its been fine. I'm having problems with my launch control. I don't know whats wrong with it. I've never used it so I don't miss it.
Sorry. Just saw your other thread about it
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slotsquid 3/30/2016 11:24pm
3/30/2016 11:24pm
Rich Piano wrote:
Use it in a sentence please. "Clarence ceased" to get a correct clearance measurement when he put the shock together right when he took a poop...
Use it in a sentence please.

"Clarence ceased" to get a correct clearance measurement when he put the shock together right when he took a poop break and it seized.
slipdog wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/11/22/112213/s1200_Clarence.jpg[/img]


endurox wrote:
what's our vector victor?


Rumack: Can you fly this plane, and land it?

Ted Striker: Surely you can't be serious.

Rumack: I am serious... and don't call me Shirley.
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cwtoyota 3/30/2016 11:34pm
3/30/2016 11:34pm
How many of you guys have seen trouble with the tapered spline on the KTM shift shaft and shift lever?

A friend of mine ruined a couple of shifters in a row on her 150.

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