The new models, which have been designed and engineered by KTM, and the back log of unsold stock are inherently KTM of old. Others may feel assured by the change of finances, but all I see for now is that the warranty should be ‘okay’. That, to me is the only relevance for some time. How things will work (improve?) now for warranty and service will be interesting. It will take a several years to improve the product and their reputation. I will leave it to others to spend their money on their products and test the quality and service for some time. I’m out for the foreseeable.
I had in mind Hero, Mahindra, Bajaj, TVS, Eicher, and various Chinese companies more widely. Going back to KTM, they are probably a dead duck. IMHO.
What's killing it for existing KTM owners like me with pre-finanical meltdown models is the price of parts. KTM are truly kicking the arse out of it. I put my 1190 in for a 60,000 mile valve check service at a dealer last year and it cost me £900. Never paid more than £400 before. There were five and a half hours of labour charges at what I consider a fairly reasonable rate for a main dealer of £78/hour. The killer was the parts and consumables. Best part of £100 for four litres of oil, crazy rices for spark plugs etc. If I'd bought the same Motorex oil from my local independent it would have been half the price. But if you want the dealer stamp in your book all the parts come through KTM and they're clearly top-loading prices to claw some revenue back. Assuming the new owners will still support parts supply fror older Austrian-built models, there will be no such thing as a "cheap" KTM unless you can source consumables independently and either do all the maintenance yourself or use an independent workshop. That surely is going to harm the dealership network. Either that or they're trying to kill off the older bikes. My 1190 is having a make-over and refresh in the spring. It will involve a few non-routine parts like footrest pads, centrestand springs, a headlight mask and a couple of bits of plastic bodywork that have become scuffed. If these can't be founf for love nor money it will be clear where the company is headed. At that point the bottom will fall even further out of the older used-KTM market. I would love to have another 990 SMR. There could be some bargains out there - if you can keep them running. The advantage of obsolete model Ducatis is there's a vast aftermarket network of parts. That doesn't really exist to the same extent for KTMs.
I am not convinced that CF Moto are going to buy/ take over Bajaj/ KTM MotoGP Team. If CF Moto do enter MotoGP, I don't see them being a realistic competitor of Ducati on track save for them sharing the track, for some years. I don't think the current Ducati customer of new bikes is likely to switch to CF Moto bikes anytime soon.
CF Moto are ambitious and ruthless having won Moto 3 in 2024 with relative ease and third this year. MotoGP has one dominant manufacturer, a perfect set up for a new challenger with a big wallet and big objectives. The rumoured V4 road bike is a gauntlet thrown down deliberately aimed at Ducati. Let’s see if: 1 CFM take over KTM MotoGP 2 CFM enter MotoGP 3 Take podiums in MotoGP 4 Produce a competitive V4 road bike.
I'd like to see CF Moto do 2, 3 & 4 next season. I'd quite like Bajaj to remain. Of all the things you listed, I think the most likely is producing a V4 road bike, but one that is competitive to current V4's in the market performance wise -maybe not. Better on price though!
Sorry, for some reason this just hit my Insta….. it gotta be fake…… https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ3nWmniFyg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Well they have said they are cutting production costs by 50% by getting rid of middle management, apparently they had more chiefs than Indians, very much like our NHS, lots of highly paid managers doing sod all, other than being a drain on revenue.
But my big question is would you buy a new KTM now or next year. I’m very tempted to test the 1390 Superduke R Evo, and the Ducati Streetfighter V4S. So if I find the Superduke more appealing than the SFV4S do I risk buying one ?
1290 then? It just didn't hit the spot. I was expecting madness but it was just a bit meh. The streetfighter made me laugh all the time I was on it, and still does. Testing them back to back was really helpful
Yeah I’ll deffo test back to back, I’ve heard the 1390 is way more mad than the 1290, it’s certainly a wheelie monster.
Yes, if true that seems a step in the right direction. Of course it might actually be just a way of maximising profits for the owners by using cheaper Indian labour, as opposed to expensive European chaps. Though either way its better than everyone losing everything. Proof will be in the outcome I guess.
I haven't ridden a V4SF but instinct tells me I'd now make the same choice. I had a gen 1 1290 SDR and loved it, flaws and all. It was a wayward bike in many ways but visceral and possessed of the old KTM spirit in basically being and engine with a wheel at each end and somewhere to sit, the rest left largely up to you. The V4SF is vastly more sophisticated than that but Ducatis are still centred around hard engineering and the rider, like KTMs used to be before the Ruperts took over the boardroom.
