2014 KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R Recalls, Complaints & Safety

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling all model year 2014 1290 Super Duke R motorcycles manufactured July 1, 2013, to April 30, 2014. The affected motorcycles may leak fuel from the threaded inserts at the rear of the gas tank.

Remedy: KTM will notify owners, and dealers will seal the threaded inserts to prevent future fuel leaks. If the motorcycle shows evidence of an existing fuel leak at the threaded insert, the gas tank will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2015. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's number for this recall is TB1507.

640 vehicles affected

MY FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER COMPLETELY LOST PRESSURE AND THE ABILITY TO SLOW DOWN THE MOTORCYCLE. I AM FORTUNATE THAT IT DID NOT CAUSE ME TO CRASH. THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS MANUFACTURED BY BREMBO. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE SAME MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT AFFECTED THE 2015 AND 2016 KTM 1290 SUPERDUKE R MOTORCYCLES, WHICH HAVE AN OPEN RECALL ON THE SAME BREMBO MASTER CYLINDER. I AM NOT SURE WHY THE 2014 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THIS BIKE NEW, THE FRONT BRAKES WOULD "GROAN" AS YOU WHEELED THE BIKE AROUND AS IF THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT RETRACTING / PISTONS STICKING. THERE WOULD ALSO BE A LOW SPEED PULSING TO THE BRAKES AS IF THE ROTOR WAS WARPED (WHICH HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME IN DECADES OF RIDING). THIS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE UNTIL THE ROTORS WERE DEFINITELY WARPED. I TOOK THE BIKE TO MY DEALER AND KTM REFUSED TO COVER REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE BIKE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS MUST BE SOME KIND OF MANUFACTURING ISSUE. I PAID TO REPLACE THE PADS AND ROTORS, AND NOW, WITH NEW ROTORS AND PADS, I HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE SUPERDUKE FORUM ONLINE, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH VARYING RESULTS AS FAR AS DEALER SUPPORT, RANGING FROM REPLACEMENT TO THE OWNER BUYING AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT WHICH SOMETIMES STILL HAS THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE JUST DISCOVERED A POSTING FROM JAN 2017 WHICH DETAILS EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG AND HOW TO FIX IT, AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE A RECALL - THE MOUNTING POINTS ON THE BIKE FOR THE BRAKE ROTOR ARE NOT COMPLETELY FLAT AND THEREFORE THE ROTORS ARE NOT ALIGNED CORRECTLY. I PLAN TO TAKE MINE APART AND FILE THEM DOWN TO FIX THIS NOW, BUT KTM NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS, AS I, AND I AM SURE MANY OTHER OWNERS, HAVE SPENT MONEY AT DEALERS DIAGNOSING THE ISSUE OR PAYING FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NEEDED. LINK TO THE FIX BELOW, SEE POSTING BY USER ON JAN 4, 2017: HTTP://WWW.SUPERDUKE.NET/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=29&T=26777&HILIT=FRONT+BRAKES+ISSUES+RESOLVED#P330231