Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

It's about time some experts other than KTM take a look at the rims....
As far as KTM is concerned, they already must be well aware of these incidents, the previous incident had occurred a couple of months back...

Wheel collapsing in such a fashion is not desirable at any speed....

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Doesn't the government have some body which tests and qualifies the vehicles to go under sale in India?
Do we have any such agencies or maybe xbhpians located abroad could get the rims stress tested.

Lets cooperate over this.

Out of serious concern, this can anyday lead into a fatal accident.

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Its very sad to hear Sriharsha. I remember you bought the 390 very recently.

Regarding the rims, my guess is that there is a weak point in the design of the rim. If the impact happens at that point, then it breaks, otherwise it wont.

Because my friend just flew over a speed bump at 80kmph on his 390 the other day and we both were shit scared but luckily nothing happened. Another of my friend ran over a bump at 120! And still came back without cracked rims. The good thing both these guys did is that they didnt brake! Had they braked, almost entire weight of the bike would be on front wheel and they would only manage to shave off 20-30kmph so the speed would still be high, is the worst thing that can happen, if there is a pillion it is even worse! But this doesnt apply to the Sriharsha's case here as he didnt brake and both rims breaking is even worrying.

How was that stone shaped and how big was it? Maybe this helps in deducing what exactly happened.

PS : I read above that nothing happens to Pulsar's rims, but few of my friends have had cracked rims after going over potholes at 60-80kmph.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Here are the pics.

Another issue popped up now, As per KTM Regional service head, Insurance guys are not accepting both wheels damage under accident.
KTM guys from Pune, are asking to find the missing parts of the rim for analysis. Asked him how the heck should I get those parts lying some 100kms away from my place. I did check for them at the spot, before leaving. I couldn't find any.

My bike is hardly two weeks old and I'm already regretting the decision, I won't be having the same confidence having gone through this quality issue and after watching the plight of other 390's from group. No point in owning a high performance bike which you're not sure when it's going to give up.




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A few of us from Hyderabad decide to push things seriously to KTM till some official KTM guys comes down to respond regarding loads of quality issues.
They never come into the picture, having invested so much on a bike, this is not the kind of response expected.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

whoa. that's crazy.

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you said you went over a stone. what exactly was the "thing" you ran over?

was it loose? part of the road (like a divider block)?

the damage looks scary. i see no reason for pieces to break off except if it had to do with quality.


anyway, but i'm pretty sure the Bajaj/KTM will eventually sort this out and replace both the rims under warranty.

it'll just a little "insisting" on your part. they can't afford to take this incident lightly.

make sure you insist on replacement. stand your ground.

seriously, this you could have ended up being a terrifying accident.

you we're practically riding the bike on flat tyres till u came to a halt.

just glad only the bike was damaged in the incident.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

That looks really nasty.. Glad you're safe.

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Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

It was a medium sized boulder/rock, half the size of a volley ball.
I was insisting on replacement, they were like start the insurance process and in the meanwhile we will do the warranty thing as well. Let me just get it clarified tomorrow and I'll push for a replacement.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Dude, I don't think an alloy will take so much damage just by going over a pot hole. This is clearly bad quality.

I'd suggest you to directly write to KTM India and Bajaj about this and send them the pictures too. I've run over many pot holes and speed breakers unknowingly in speeds over 90+ Kmph. Few times I even stopped the bike to check if the alloys are still intact. To my surprise there was not even a minor bend (touchwood) in the alloys.

I'd insist you to stick with getting them replaced with warranty. Do not go with Insurance.

And in your case there must be some defect in the alloys. It is defenitely not the same across all bikes (my bike itself is an example).

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Damn, that's horrible and really scary mate, so sorry for you! But, whats this supposed to mean? Is KTM Bajaj using tin-metal for the rims, to cut down weight of the Bike?!! :/
Even commuter alloys have better quality than these! :/

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Touring with pillion

Luggage is fine and long distance solo rides are also great. However pillion is strictly no-no. The seats are not comfortable for any pillion for long distances. And the seat and bike ergonomy is such that when you brake or even reduce speed via engine braking, the pillion will come down on your back with force pushing you further towards the tank. This keeps happening all the time and makes it very annoying to keep adjusting your seating.
The max I have found comfortable with pillion is about 100km.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences


Those cracked alloys looks horrible man even i also experienced this incident with my 220fi but the rims are just cracked thats it that too after hitting a big stone at 125+kmph. This type of poor quality on the high performance premium bike like D390 is not at all acceptable. Even my friends D200 had suffered with similar damage to both rims when he hit a pothole inside the city.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

The boulder/rock was half the size of a volley ball and both the tyres hit it, is it? You sure were lucky to stay on the bike mate. Hope u get this sorted out soon. If you were at around 80km/h when this happened i dont think we can blame the alloys. Again i'm sorry you are going through this and i'm sitting here and giving my views. But i feel along with the metzelers this is how much these rims can take. After you hit the front tyre and the same happened with the back tyre aswell means that was one hard rock. I might be wrong here..however it is scary...

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences


Are u serious? Breaking of alloys is not acceptable at all. Hitting a stone at 80 is not a big deal. And its clearly quality issue when lot of users of 390 are facing this issue. havent heard so many cracked rim issue from any other bike. Dont they crash at high speeds? Not possible at all.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

@THE46FAN:

extreme bending of the an alloy wheel is probably understandable at high speeds.

but pieces of a wheel completely breaking away is most definitely a quality issue and is unacceptable.

it points to improper manufacturing of the product.

Re: KTM Duke 390 - Owners Reviews and Experiences

Yeah. . Totally unacceptable. .. The spokes tend to break off like twigs...

I had once removed the wheel for repairing a puncture. .. The rim is quite heavy...

Any idea about the weight of the cbr 250 rim in comparison to the one on the Duke ?

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