18 months of owning a KTM Duke 790

**Blackbird** · 29th September 2020, 09:29

I've had my KTM Duke 790 for 18 months now. KTM's and other European bikes in particular have a somewhat variable reputation with respect to reliability and servicing costs, sometimes deserved, sometimes not. What we end up buying is a highly personal thing depending on what we look for in a bike. On a wet day, I sat down and detailed my thoughts about owning one. Hope it's not too boring: https://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2020...ss-report.html .

Cheers,

Geoff

**Ulsterkiwi** · 29th September 2020, 15:32

what are you doing? we can't have things posted about motorcycles on this forum!!!

**Blackbird** · 29th September 2020, 16:08

Originally Posted by Ulsterkiwi

what are you doing? we can't have things posted about motorcycles on this forum!!!

Sorry Paul, what was I thinking? I'll try harder to be obnoxious and irrelevant in future

**Gremlin** · 29th September 2020, 17:38

Haha, I feature in the first sentence

It wasn't really affirming KTMs are awesome, more that I simple see 3 levels of reliability. Japs, main Euros, "special" Euros

Owning both a BMW and a KTM concurrently (along with a Honda) my eyes are open, but I really enjoy the Euros that much, that I guess I'll suffer some potential issues - like hanging out in Huntly for an hour, playing with my life, because the Aprilia wanted more parts.

**Blackbird** · 29th September 2020, 17:43

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Haha, I feature in the first sentence

It wasn't really affirming KTMs are awesome, more that I simple see 3 levels of reliability. Japs, main Euros, "special" Euros

Owning both a BMW and a KTM concurrently (along with a Honda) my eyes are open, but I really enjoy the Euros that much, that I guess I'll suffer some potential issues - like hanging out in Huntly for an hour, playing with my life, because the Aprilia wanted more parts.

I laughed my head off when you said that Alan! My best friend in the UK had a Guzzi 1100 Sport. He claimed he was on first name terms with the AA recovery service in 5 counties

.

I know exactly what you mean about Eurobikes though

**caspernz** · 29th September 2020, 19:19

Nice write up Geoff, despite you mentioning your enjoyment of the 790 there's no hint of rose tinted glasses in there

Only surprising part was you've had it for 18 months already

**Blackbird** · 29th September 2020, 20:12

Originally Posted by caspernz

Nice write up Geoff, despite you mentioning your enjoyment of the 790 there's no hint of rose tinted glasses in there

Only surprising part was you've had it for 18 months already

Thanks , Rob - I try to be impartial

Yep, time flies when you're having fun. When I bought it, I remember you saying that you thought it suited me. I'm still not sure how to take that

**caspernz** · 29th September 2020, 20:42

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Thanks , Rob - I try to be impartial

Yep, time flies when you're having fun. When I bought it, I remember you saying that you thought it suited me. I'm still not sure how to take that

No need to be coy...for the same reason I still have a Busa

**Navy Boy** · 30th September 2020, 09:47

Originally Posted by Blackbird

I've had my KTM Duke 790 for 18 months now. KTM's and other European bikes in particular have a somewhat variable reputation with respect to reliability and servicing costs, sometimes deserved, sometimes not. What we end up buying is a highly personal thing depending on what we look for in a bike. On a wet day, I sat down and detailed my thoughts about owning one. Hope it's not too boring: https://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2020...ss-report.html .

Cheers,

Geoff

Thanks for that Geoff - I enjoyed reading it and many of the things you've said strike a chord with me. I do after all have eclectic tastes in bikes...

The Euro brand question is a good one and is something I ruminate on regularly. Having a dealer you have a good relationship with really helps as you say and the price you pay for exclusivity and that certain 'something' is usually worth it IMHO.

**Blackbird** · 30th September 2020, 10:00

Originally Posted by Navy Boy

Thanks for that Geoff - I enjoyed reading it and many of the things you've said strike a chord with me. I do after all have eclectic tastes in bikes...

The Euro brand question is a good one and is something I ruminate on regularly. Having a dealer you have a good relationship with really helps as you say and the price you pay for exclusivity and that certain 'something' is usually worth it IMHO.

Thanks Lee - you of all people would know what was meant

. Some of it is deserved, some not. My Blackbird fried its stator (a known fault up to the 2002 model). The Street Triple had its reg/rec replaced under a world-wide recall, the GSX-S 1000 had the ECM replaced to improve bottom end fuelling so issues aren't solely the province of mainland Eurobikes. I must say that the "certain something" of the KTM has made it the right choice for me though. Absolutely no regrets.

**Moi** · 30th September 2020, 11:00

To me, what you ride has far more to do with the "value" aspect rather than the "cost" aspect - if you're all "know the cost of everything but the value of nothing" then owning a bike must be the greatest disappointment you can imagine. Bikes are not cost efficient. However, they offer value beyond belief.

If you get on your bike and worry about the cost of the tyres you need to buy soon, or worry about the licence and ACC fee you need to pay, or worry about some other aspect's cost I believe you're missing the point.

But if you get on your bike and look at the tyres and think they'll need replacing soon cause you've ridden the bike as often as you can and the little hoon in the head is saying "So what, you've had fun!" then there's a value in the bike. And it doesn't need to be the hoon either, the black dog can be a better behaved companion when you get out on a bike...

**Bonez** · 30th September 2020, 11:28

Originally Posted by Moi

To me, what you ride has far more to do with the "value" aspect rather than the "cost" aspect - if you're all "know the cost of everything but the value of nothing" then owning a bike must be the greatest disappointment you can imagine. Bikes are not cost efficient. However, they offer value beyond belief.

If you get on your bike and worry about the cost of the tyres you need to buy soon, or worry about the licence and ACC fee you need to pay, or worry about some other aspect's cost I believe you're missing the point.

But if you get on your bike and look at the tyres and think they'll need replacing soon cause you've ridden the bike as often as you can and the little hoon in the head is saying "So what, you've had fun!" then there's a value in the bike. And it doesn't need to be the hoon either, the black dog can be a better behaved companion when you get out on a bike...

Exactly. I couldn't agree more. It's not what you ride but the fact you do ride is what really matters.

Just saying...

**Navy Boy** · 30th September 2020, 12:05

Originally Posted by Moi

To me, what you ride has far more to do with the "value" aspect rather than the "cost" aspect - if you're all "know the cost of everything but the value of nothing" then owning a bike must be the greatest disappointment you can imagine. Bikes are not cost efficient. However, they offer value beyond belief.

If you get on your bike and worry about the cost of the tyres you need to buy soon, or worry about the licence and ACC fee you need to pay, or worry about some other aspect's cost I believe you're missing the point.

But if you get on your bike and look at the tyres and think they'll need replacing soon cause you've ridden the bike as often as you can and the little hoon in the head is saying "So what, you've had fun!" then there's a value in the bike. And it doesn't need to be the hoon either, the black dog can be a better behaved companion when you get out on a bike...

That's deep man, deep...

**Navy Boy** · 30th September 2020, 12:07

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Thanks Lee - you of all people would know what was meant

. Some of it is deserved, some not. My Blackbird fried its stator (a known fault up to the 2002 model). The Street Triple had its reg/rec replaced under a world-wide recall, the GSX-S 1000 had the ECM replaced to improve bottom end fuelling so issues aren't solely the province of mainland Eurobikes. I must say that the "certain something" of the KTM has made it the right choice for me though. Absolutely no regrets.

I'll be in touch ref coming up your way later this year Geoff. Then we can compare Euro brand bike stories over a cold one.