all things KTM

[maxredline]

First off, as of the beginning of 2025 no one seems to know what direction KTM is going other than down hill. 
I am posting regarding KTM 790 and 890 cam issues.
 KTM blew it with the models engine. How could that happen other than poor quality/control testing.
It makes me leary of all KTM products more than ever now engineered at that time frame and makes me look a little closer.
 Does that monkey on their back worry me as a possible owner, Oh ya! I hear 2022 and above should be okay but that is enough
for me to say away from this reported awesome handling machine.
 I do believe I will be happy on a Triumph Street Triple which looks better and is more old school that the angular KTM.

Once upon a time I would not buy a Ducati. I have now and would again. I will not buy a KTM.
And yes I am going to keep the RS for what it is great at.

[Grumpy Goat]

I too am following the [latest] KTM saga with interest, especially since I came very close to getting an 890 Adventure when I ended up buying my Tiger 900 Rally Pro. There were various reasons for that decision, and I can safely say it was a good one. I still like the KTMs for their performance and their attitude towards motorcycling. BUT they have always had drama as well, and those of you who actually know me, know that I intensely dislike drama, especially when it comes to optional aspects of my life. Too much drama even with a motorcycle I love and poof ... its gone; life is too short.

I have a friend who is into KTMs and he has an original series (2019-2021?) 790 Adventure R he picked up new in Alaska a few years back, when that bike was the bike to get. Bike didn't even make it out of the shop and it had significant issues. That was my first red flag. He got it fixed and rode it back to Texas and has kept it since then. He still likes the bike, and he can work on anything mechanical and has a huge barn for a garage so he can take it apart and leave it apart while he waits for the drama to play out. 

The Triumph Steet Triple and the KTM Adventure bikes are two different types of bike so you must not be too committed to one or the other.   

I myself love triples, although who would have known that the Triumph triple I would end up with would have a T-plane crank and not really sound much like a triple at all. But I got used to it. I can't get past the bug-eyes of the some Triumph bikes, but they have improved the face of the Street Triple to where it is not a deal breaker any longer. I would still own a Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ over a Street Triple though.

[Duccrazydave]

A few months ago, I saw a video of a KTM 890 engine teardown. He explained and showed an oil passage intersection incorrectly drilled that was starving the top end of the correct amount of lubrication. I initially thought those KTM failures might be due to some type of metallurgy issue, as Ducati had with their cam followers on the 4 valve engines years ago. 
In both cases - drama, lol.
I will say, I've had the pleasure of riding a 890 Duke R twice (thanks Phil & Bruce) and I can't think of a ride that so completely fed my inner hooligan, Hoonigan?