2015 KTM 1290 Super Duke R Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2015 KTM 1290 Super Duke R, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine233.3%
- Brakes116.7%
- Driver assistance116.7%
- Fuel system116.7%
- Other / unspecified116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
DURING NORMAL RIDING CONDITIONS THE OIL SYSTEM OF THE ENGINE WILL NOT CYCLE THE OIL THROUGHOUT THE MOTOR PROPERLY. A "LOW OIL" WARNING WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND ON THE LAST INCIDENT, WHICH OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 700 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, THE SEALS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE CASE STARTED TO FAIL FROM THE OVERPRESSURE IN THE MOTOR. THIS ALLOWED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OIL TO BE SPILLED IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE CREATING AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS RIDING SITUATION. THIS EVENT HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN TOTAL WITH THE FIRST AT 193 MILES, THE SECOND AT 498 MILES AND THE THIRD TIME AT APPROXIMATELY 700 MILES. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BOTH THE SECOND AND THIRD INCIDENTS. AFTER THE SECOND EVENT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE MOTOR AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. LESS THAN 200 MILES LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN WITH ME ALMOST CRASHING THE MOTORCYCLE DUE TO THE OIL SPILLAGE. THE MOTORCYCLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTICS.
UPON INSPECTION OF THE OEM ENGINE OIL FILTER DURING THE INITIAL BREAK-IN OIL CHANGE (659 MILES ON ODO). THE FILTER ELEMENT AND CORE WAS COMPLETELY COLLAPSED. STARVING THE ENGINE OF "FILTERED" OIL AT THE MOST CRITICAL TIME, DURING NEW ENGINE BREAK-IN. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I AM EXPERIENCING PULSING BREAKS AT LOW SPEEDS AS WELL AS A WHINE WHEN PUSHING THE MOTORCYCLE AT LOW SPEEDS. I HAVE REPLACED THE PADS AND ROTORS MORE THAN ONCE AND THE ISSUE RETURNS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I JUST PURCHASED THIS BIKE AND THE SPEEDOMETER IS HORRIBLY INACCURATE. THIS IMPACTS SPEEDOMETER READING, ODOMETER, ESTIMATED RANGE, AND MAY IMPACT TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MOTORCYCLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND BURST INTO FLAMES. THE DRIVER CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS IN A BURN UNIT FOR TWO MONTHS. HE DIED AS A RESULT OF HIS BURNS. OTHER THAN THE BURNS, THE DRIVER WALKED AWAY FROM THE CRASH.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
AS MENTIONED ON MANY MANY WEBSITE FORUMS FROM EXISTING OWNERS I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE. PULSING AND GRABBING OF THE FRONT BRAKES, DEALERS DIAGNOSE AS 'WARPED ROTORS' MOST OF THE BIKES ARE STREET RIDDEN AND THE BRAKES NEVER GET HOT ENOUGH TO SIMPLY WARP. HERE IS THE PROBLEM THE MOUNTING SURFACE FOR THE BRAKE ROTORS ISNT TRUE, THE WHEELS ARE DEFECTIVE, BY REMOVING THE ROTOR AND FILING DOWN THE ROTOR SURFACE(WHEEL) POINTS, MAKES THE ROTOR RUN TRUE, THUS PREVENTING UNEAVEN PRESSURE DURING HARD BREAKING AND FIXING THE CAUSE. KTM NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THIS AND RECALL ALL FRONT RIMS THAT EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .