New vehicle horror story, here’s one for you:
(I’ll preface this by pointing out this guy is almost 60, was a licenced mechanic, and raced for Suzuki)
My buddy loved my 2018 KTM 300XC (last years of the carbed bikes) so he ordered a brand new 2022 one last year. Waited almost a year for it and it didn’t arrive until late July so he missed half the riding season. 2.5hrs on it he brings it over to ride with me and me having not ridden a tpi bike we swapped bikes. It wasn’t making power and I knew it right away and told him something was wrong with it which he agreed as soon as he compared it to mine.
Brings it back to dealer, they toss a plate on it and test ride it down the street and the tech loops it backwards breaking plastic bits. They agree to replace the plastic pieces but claim they can’t find anything wrong with motor.
He takes it home, still not running right. Takes it back, they said they’d try replacing sensors but still say nothing found. He takes it home, test rides it down his street and it seizes solid when he hits 4th gear.
Takes it back to dealer, they agree to put a top end in it at KTM expense. Also of note the rear shock is also found to be leaking but they won’t cover it. Bike has 3ish hrs on it. They replace top end but nothing else so potentially there’s still an issue somewhere which caused the low power/lockup which they haven’t found.
Couple months later he gets it back, it’s late Nov at this point and he says he’ll wait until the Spring to go out in it because it cold out. Eff that I tell him, test that bike out now and make sure it’s ok. He agrees on the logic, warms it up properly, takes it down the street, motor locks up again.
Takes bike back to dealer and says he wants a new one, he’s missed a full season of riding with a bike documented faulty all year. They say they have to look into it and then contact KTM. They find not only is the top end gone but the rod is bent among other things and they agree to put a new ecu in it just in case. The dealer now telling him they’ve had a bunch of these same issues on 21/22 tpi bikes but only now fessing up to knowing that.
KTM agrees to pay for parts but he has to pay for labour to a tune of $1500ish. And they still won’t cover the leaking shock.
He got the bike back a few weeks ago and it seems to be running better although he’s only put a couple hours on it.