KTM ownership in Thailand. Reliability, parts etc?

[JeffersLos]

I am considering a Duke 390 or an RC 390 as an everyday runaround. They're light, nimble, okay power, cheap maintenance in terms of gas, oil, tires etc.

 

The issue is that they're not known as the most reliable brand on the planet, and there's only one dealer here, that isn't really a dealership, they have 3 bikes and also do other brands, so I doubt they have many parts on hand, or have lots of experience working on their models. 

 

Are there any KTM riders here, and what are your experiences? 

 

Reliability is a big factor in the purchase, so I'm also looking at the bigger Kawasaki 650cc twin cylinders. Bigger and heavier and more expensive to run, but an ease of parts with big dealers everywhere, I would guess they are known to be more reliable. 

 

A middle option is the CBR500 series, but I find those boring. 

 

What are your experiences about KTM reliability and servicing/parts etc here?

 

TIA. 

 

[Kwasaki]

I thought KTM pulled out of Thailand so if know little on how maintain a motorcycle yourself best you get something like a 500x. 

 

I know one is for sale 2018 black with extras 18k kilos 140k or acceptable offer. 

 

[papa al]

Z-400.?

 

https://www.kaidee.com/product-365694186

[JeffersLos]

2 minutes ago, papa al said:

Z-400.?

No thanks. 

[papa al]

Had a Duke 200 for a few years now.

Likey.

Filters & such available, but

good luck on KTM parts.

[malathione]

1 hour ago, Kwasaki said:

I thought KTM pulled out of Thailand so if know little on how maintain a motorcycle yourself best you get something like a 500x. 

 

I know one is for sale 2018 black with extras 18k kilos 140k or acceptable offer. 

 

They came back under a new distributor. 

[warrima]

I had a duke 390 from new as my daily commuter bike for a few years and absolutely loved it. When it started needing parts though things got costly. Fuel pump failed and they had to order one from Europe. Must have came in a container as it took months. 10k or something crazy like that. 

 

Let it go after that. You tend to outgrow the little bikes pretty quickly anyway. The duke tops out pretty fast and you find yourself going for another gear it doesn't have. 

[n00dle]

KTM has a huge presence and factory in the Philippines, worth bearing in mind before seeking parts in Europe. Have a good friend who was one of their quality control engineers. We used to get to use the bikes on a regular basis.

[JeffersLos]

1 hour ago, warrima said:

I had a duke 390 from new as my daily commuter bike for a few years and absolutely loved it. When it started needing parts though things got costly. Fuel pump failed and they had to order one from Europe. Must have came in a container as it took months. 10k or something crazy like that. 

Thanks for the information. That's the kind of thing I expected, and puts me off.

 

I'll take the extra cost of the Kawasaki 650 series with dealers and parts everywhere. 

[Kwasaki]

2 hours ago, warrima said:

I had a duke 390 from new as my daily commuter bike for a few years and absolutely loved it. When it started needing parts though things got costly. Fuel pump failed and they had to order one from Europe. Must have came in a container as it took months. 10k or something crazy like that. 

 

Let it go after that. You tend to outgrow the little bikes pretty quickly anyway. The duke tops out pretty fast and you find yourself going for another gear it doesn't have. 

Yeah the fuel pump packed up on my Honda after 27 years and got another with the same pressure value from Lazada in 2 days. ????

[Kwasaki]

19 minutes ago, JeffersLos said:

Thanks for the information. That's the kind of thing I expected, and puts me off.

 

I'll take the extra cost of the Kawasaki 650 series with dealers and parts everywhere. 

The 650 twin is bulletproof.

[Kwasaki]

2 hours ago, malathione said:

They came back under a new distributor. 

That's good to know not my thing but s good bike and has popuplar following.

[Kwasaki]

3 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

No thanks. 

A fair call from Papa the Z400 seeing as you were looking at a 390.

[papa al]

1 hour ago, Kwasaki said:

The 650 twin is bulletproof.

Depends on the bullet.

[Kwasaki]

1 minute ago, papa al said:

Depends on the bullet.

???? the Kwacka twin is not far off what it was so many years ago it's only changed a bit because of the fuel injection computer brigade. ????

[Chungju]

I had ktm 690 enduro purchased new from the previous importer, Kunka. When I visited the current new importer showroom to ask about parts and service they said “you didn’t buy the bike from us” and could not really provide any support. 
 

Tells something about the attitude I guess. I gave up and sold the bike. I use to have Kawasaki before and the service and spare support was very good. I would recommend to go with Kawasaki or Honda for carefree life.

[thailand49]

You comments or reference read them you pretty much answer your own questions! 

If it is still not clear DONT! ????

[papa al]

3 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

???? the Kwacka twin is not far off what it was so many years ago it's only changed a bit because of the fuel injection computer brigade. ????

357 mag would render it scrap.

[papa al]

9 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

No thanks. 

Agree.

Reasons a Z-400 sucks:

1. is a Kawasaki.

2. is a twin.

3. is lightweight vs a 650

4. outperforms KTM 390.

Yucky .!!

????

[OneMoreFarang]

I bought a Duke 390 about 5 years ago. I only use it in Bangkok, mostly Sukhumvit, and I am really happy with that bike. It's basically a 125cc frame with a 390cc engine. Nimble and lots of power - for sure enough for inner city traffic.

 

The dealer situation is definitely not so good. I bought it when Burn Rubber was the dealer/importer. Then they stopped. I wrote a mail to KTM Austria asking where I should service my bike and they gave me an address in Bangkok. Yes, they did the service, but I wasn't impressed with their abilities.

Then later the new dealer/importer opened in Ladprao. Again, I was not impressed with their service.

And then later I discovered that there is a relatively big shop in Phetchaburi Road. 

 

My bike had never any issue except from an empty battery. I don't know how good the part supply is.

As far as I know the 390 is built in India and I guess many parts come from India. I think the bigger bikes are made in Austria, and probably parts from there. Parts supply for one kind of KTM bike is likely different than the other kind of bike. Made in India or Austria.

 

I expected European service quality. Oh no! I.e. they asked me which engine oil they should use. I told them: Look into the manual! And then they told me many customers think the synthetic oil is expensive and that is why they ask (and often use cheap oil). When I had an empty battery (I didn't know that it was an empty battery) it was maybe 1000km before a service was due. They asked me if they should do the full service. I said yes, go ahead. When I picked up the bike, I noticed that the chain was not cleaned or oiled, and I asked them about that. Shouldn't that be part of the service? According to them: No, not really, should we do that? YES!

 

And about working on the bike ourselves: Are you an electronic specialist? If not, then forget about doing much on the bike. The 390 is throttle by wire and many other sensors, ECUs, etc. I.e. the main light does not have inputs for low beam and high beam. It has power input and CAN-Bus input (computer signal)...

If the bike breaks down somewhere on the road, then likely no tools will help at all, because it's all electronic. One infamous example is the side stand. There is a sensor if that side stand is up, and if not, then the bike can be started but the engine will stop if a gear is selected. If that sensor fails or the connection is bad, then better find a KTM dealer nearby. 

 

Having said all that, I am still happy with my little Duke, and I don't think about exchanging it with anything else. 

Also, my experience with other brands in Thailand is limited. I.e. does Honda or Yamaha have a good, fast and reliable service and spart part supply? I don't know.

 

If you have more questions, especially about the Duke 390, ask! 

 

[papa al]

7 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

125cc frame with a 390cc engine.

5 5

&

[373.2cc]

&

You can remove the whole instrument/ control cluster thing and it will run.

Seen it.

[Kwasaki]

1 hour ago, papa al said:

357 mag would render it scrap.

Well the bullet-proof thing as far as I know is a Brit term about motorcycle engines.

We blast or shoot the engines reving em not literally. ????

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, papa al said:

5 5

&

[373.2cc]

&

You can remove the whole instrument/ control cluster thing and it will run.

Seen it.

But remove the side stand sensor and it won't run anymore. ???? 

[papa al]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

But remove the side stand sensor and it won't run anymore. ???? 

unplug it, it will.

[OneMoreFarang]

6 hours ago, papa al said:

unplug it, it will.

No, it won't. And you can't even shortcut it.

I never had that problem, but it was discussed in the 390 forum.

[OneMoreFarang]

20 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

I am considering a Duke 390 or an RC 390 as an everyday runaround.

This is the place to get all the info you want about those bikes.

Before you buy it or after.

 

https://www.ktmduke390forum.com/

[Kwasaki]

9 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

But remove the side stand sensor and it won't run anymore. ???? 

You by-pass that easy on any bike. 

[papa al]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

you can't even shortcut it.

papa can't, but

Elon Musk [x-moto man]

and humble others could

& have.

Not a big deal.

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

it was discussed in the 390 forum.

papa saw that discussion.

 

have actually seen a beat-up early -200

running with all the smart-stuff gone.

Just basics: lights, pumps, fan,

Ignition, starter, ecu, ...

papa was shocked.!

Guy said you just needed to remember to 

  put gas in  it, as

 no odo

nor gauge.

Kinda cool.

[OneMoreFarang]

41 minutes ago, papa al said:

papa can't, but

Elon Musk [x-moto man]

and humble others could

& have.

Not a big deal.

papa saw that discussion.

 

have actually seen a beat-up early -200

running with all the smart-stuff gone.

Just basics: lights, pumps, fan,

Ignition, starter, ecu, ...

papa was shocked.!

Guy said you just needed to remember to 

  put gas in  it, as

 no odo

nor gauge.

Kinda cool.

I think all the small Dukes from 2017 on have throttle by wire. Without that "smart-stuff" riding will be difficult...

 

[Kwasaki]

19 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think all the small Dukes from 2017 on have throttle by wire. Without that "smart-stuff" riding will be difficult...

 

Without smart stuff you can nearly always get yourself home. ????