2020 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 2020 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%
- Powertrain (other)233.3%
- Driver assistance116.7%
- Electrical116.7%
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
The shifting mechanism components became loose, and it hindered me from shifting up - it would upshift with difficulty, then it would go from 1st gear to neutral, making for a very dangerous experience. It quickly degraded and I could not shift out of 1st gear at all.
THIS FAULT HAS OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN 220 MILES (2 WEEKS). WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AND ENTERING A CORNER (IN MOTION), THE DASH SHOWED THE ALERT OF "MTC FAILURE". THIS FAILURE NOT ONLY CAUSED THE BIKE TO BECOME UNSETTLED/UNSTABLE, BUT UPON TURNING THE THROTTLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE CORNER, I DISCOVERED THAT IT COMPLETELY STOPPED ALL PROPULSION TO THE REAR WHEEL. THE MTC FAILURE STOPS THE POWER DELIVERY TO THE BACK WHEEL ALTOGETHER, MAKING THE BIKE UNSTABLE AND UNABLE TO BE CONTROLLED THROUGH ACCELERATION (THE VERY THING THAT NEEDED FOR STABILITY ON A TWO WHEEL VEHICLE). I WAS ABLE TO PULL IN THE CLUTCH AND COAST THROUGH THE TURN, PULLING OFF THE ROAD ONCE THROUGH THE CORNER, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS BEYOND DANGEROUS NONETHELESS. HAVING SPOKEN WITH KTM AND HAD MY BIKE TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE MTC FAILURE AND BEHAVIOR OF THE MOTORCYCLE FROM THAT FAILURE WAS NOT THE RESULT OF AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION, BUT EXHAUST SERVO CABLES BEING OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. WHILE THE DANGER OF THE BIKES BEHAVIOR AND LOSS OF PROPULSION IS PROBLEMATIC IN ITSELF, THE GREATER ISSUE IS THE CAUSE OF THAT FAILURE COMING FROM COMPLETELY UNRELATED ISSUES. THE EXHAUST SERVO CAUSED THIS FAILURE ON MY MOTORCYCLE TWO TIMES NOW IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS (220 MILES), BUT I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS SAME FAILURE HAS BEEN CAUSED BY AS LITTLE AS A LOW BATTERY. HAVING SPOKEN WITH KTM A NUMBER OF TIMES AND CONTINUING TO SPEAK WITH THEM REGARDING THIS ISSUE, THEY HAVE NO PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. NOT ONLY THAT, THEY HAVE NO PLANS OR IDEA HOW TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND RECTIFIED IMMEDIATELY, AS IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The shifting mechanism components became loose, and it hindered me from shifting up - it would upshift with difficulty, then it would go from 1st gear to neutral, making for a very dangerous experience. It quickly degraded and I could not shift out of 1st gear at all.
GEAR SHIFTER HITS THE KICK STAND IF USER MAKES THE WRONG ADJUSTMENTS. USER CAN HAVE ACCIDENT IF THEY DON'T NOTICE THEY MOVED THE SHIFTER WHEN BIKE HAS KICK STAND DOWN.
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
THIS FAULT HAS OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN 220 MILES (2 WEEKS). WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AND ENTERING A CORNER (IN MOTION), THE DASH SHOWED THE ALERT OF "MTC FAILURE". THIS FAILURE NOT ONLY CAUSED THE BIKE TO BECOME UNSETTLED/UNSTABLE, BUT UPON TURNING THE THROTTLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE CORNER, I DISCOVERED THAT IT COMPLETELY STOPPED ALL PROPULSION TO THE REAR WHEEL. THE MTC FAILURE STOPS THE POWER DELIVERY TO THE BACK WHEEL ALTOGETHER, MAKING THE BIKE UNSTABLE AND UNABLE TO BE CONTROLLED THROUGH ACCELERATION (THE VERY THING THAT NEEDED FOR STABILITY ON A TWO WHEEL VEHICLE). I WAS ABLE TO PULL IN THE CLUTCH AND COAST THROUGH THE TURN, PULLING OFF THE ROAD ONCE THROUGH THE CORNER, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS BEYOND DANGEROUS NONETHELESS. HAVING SPOKEN WITH KTM AND HAD MY BIKE TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE MTC FAILURE AND BEHAVIOR OF THE MOTORCYCLE FROM THAT FAILURE WAS NOT THE RESULT OF AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION, BUT EXHAUST SERVO CABLES BEING OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. WHILE THE DANGER OF THE BIKES BEHAVIOR AND LOSS OF PROPULSION IS PROBLEMATIC IN ITSELF, THE GREATER ISSUE IS THE CAUSE OF THAT FAILURE COMING FROM COMPLETELY UNRELATED ISSUES. THE EXHAUST SERVO CAUSED THIS FAILURE ON MY MOTORCYCLE TWO TIMES NOW IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS (220 MILES), BUT I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS SAME FAILURE HAS BEEN CAUSED BY AS LITTLE AS A LOW BATTERY. HAVING SPOKEN WITH KTM A NUMBER OF TIMES AND CONTINUING TO SPEAK WITH THEM REGARDING THIS ISSUE, THEY HAVE NO PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. NOT ONLY THAT, THEY HAVE NO PLANS OR IDEA HOW TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND RECTIFIED IMMEDIATELY, AS IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS FAULT HAS OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN 220 MILES (2 WEEKS). WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AND ENTERING A CORNER (IN MOTION), THE DASH SHOWED THE ALERT OF "MTC FAILURE". THIS FAILURE NOT ONLY CAUSED THE BIKE TO BECOME UNSETTLED/UNSTABLE, BUT UPON TURNING THE THROTTLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE CORNER, I DISCOVERED THAT IT COMPLETELY STOPPED ALL PROPULSION TO THE REAR WHEEL. THE MTC FAILURE STOPS THE POWER DELIVERY TO THE BACK WHEEL ALTOGETHER, MAKING THE BIKE UNSTABLE AND UNABLE TO BE CONTROLLED THROUGH ACCELERATION (THE VERY THING THAT NEEDED FOR STABILITY ON A TWO WHEEL VEHICLE). I WAS ABLE TO PULL IN THE CLUTCH AND COAST THROUGH THE TURN, PULLING OFF THE ROAD ONCE THROUGH THE CORNER, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS BEYOND DANGEROUS NONETHELESS. HAVING SPOKEN WITH KTM AND HAD MY BIKE TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE MTC FAILURE AND BEHAVIOR OF THE MOTORCYCLE FROM THAT FAILURE WAS NOT THE RESULT OF AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION, BUT EXHAUST SERVO CABLES BEING OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. WHILE THE DANGER OF THE BIKES BEHAVIOR AND LOSS OF PROPULSION IS PROBLEMATIC IN ITSELF, THE GREATER ISSUE IS THE CAUSE OF THAT FAILURE COMING FROM COMPLETELY UNRELATED ISSUES. THE EXHAUST SERVO CAUSED THIS FAILURE ON MY MOTORCYCLE TWO TIMES NOW IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS (220 MILES), BUT I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS SAME FAILURE HAS BEEN CAUSED BY AS LITTLE AS A LOW BATTERY. HAVING SPOKEN WITH KTM A NUMBER OF TIMES AND CONTINUING TO SPEAK WITH THEM REGARDING THIS ISSUE, THEY HAVE NO PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. NOT ONLY THAT, THEY HAVE NO PLANS OR IDEA HOW TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND RECTIFIED IMMEDIATELY, AS IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.
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 .