Rumor mill, new SD and Adv bikes from KTM

[Smoker]

Too bad half of the dealers in the Mid-Atlantic are dropping KTM.


http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/rumors/new-ktm-superduke-adventure-bikes-2013-rumor/

The news coming out of Holland this morning is that KTM is working on a new set of Super Duke and Adventure series motorcycles, slated to appear in 2012 as 2013 model year bikes. The news comes from Dutch site Nieuwsmotor, who talked to Robert Prielinger, Head of Development / R & D of Street Bikes at KTM, while visiting the KTM factory, and according to Prielinger KTM is working on a new v-twin motor and electronics package that will see introduction into the Super Duke and Adventure lines by 2013. Also new for the 2013 Super Duke line is a new single-cylinder engine model, which will pick up where the KTM 690 Super Duke left off.

[bubba zanetti]

Beat me to it.   Just came here to post this ...

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-new-bikes/ktm-plan-1200cc-adventure-and-superduke/16777.html

KTM plan 1200cc Adventure and SuperDuke

Whole host of new models planned by KTM. But you'll have to wait until 2013 to see them all.

Read more: http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-new-bikes/ktm-plan-1200cc-adventure-and-superduke/16777.html#ixzz1BVzca5z5

[squeezer]

I think their designs have always been awesome looking as well as functional. I can't wait to see what the new ones look like.

Too bad half of the dealers in the Mid-Atlantic are dropping KTM.

Seriously. Much as I like to look at 'em, they're not really a genuine option for me without a dealership within at least decent towing distance.

[Rincewind]

I think their designs have always been awesome looking as well as functional. I can't wait to see what the new ones look like.




Seriously. Much as I like to look at 'em, they're not really a genuine option for me without a dealership within at least decent towing distance.

+1 and +1.  We used to have a dealer in the county until only recently.  

[expatbrit]

I thought I'd be OK with a 'crap' dealer in town. Not so much. *sigh*.

[BobW]

It's a shame to see how few shops are left near me and the one in our area is now only doing the dirt bikes. I understand the new Director of Marketing(?) is ex Ducati and has an all or nothing attitude on inventory. Has anyone else heard if that is the reason so many shops are dropping them? It's crazy for Corporate to think a dealer would not stock what sells or has a least the potential to move and obviously there is no profit in floor planning white elephants. They are such a small OEM that it would be easy for them to work with these small demographic areas to special order, etc., rather than have no presence at all. I know lack of dealers hurts BMW and is an extreme problem with Moto Guzzi. Hope they get their shit together, the bikes are too good to have a few knuckleheads put them on the endangered species list.

[R Doug]

Bob, my local KTM shop told me KTM North America told them that they either add X number of units to their current inventory OR they'll have to drop the KTM roadbike lineup.  My local shop said

Eventually, I suspect KTM will come around to using smaller shops like my local KTM dealer to pick up a small inventory some day soon.

If not, I'll most likely say to KTM

[Fourstring]

Bob, my local KTM shop told me KTM North America told them that they either add X number of units to their current inventory OR they'll have to drop the KTM roadbike lineup.  My local shop said

Eventually, I suspect KTM will come around to using smaller shops like my local KTM dealer to pick up a small inventory some day soon.

If not, I'll most likely say to KTM

On the flip side, my local deal secured an RC from another dealer for a customer with cash, and KTM wouldn't allow them to sell.  I have no idea why, and neither did he.

[BobW]

On the flip side, my local deal secured an RC from another dealer for a customer with cash, and KTM wouldn't allow them to sell.  I have no idea why, and neither did he.

That is an amazing example of a business model that represents pure arrogance as it's best feature, but I've read some posts from deep pocket, "perfect demographic" dealers and that "position" is fine/advantageous for them. The line of bikes is so diverse as are huge sections of the country that it is incredibly short sighted to think a shop in rural NC,WV,MT,ID, etc., would be flush with the same range of potential buyers as in LA or Daytona. I'm a "good customer" at this point in my life and they make it all but impossible to get my business. I am not allowed to get a bike from a great, long time KTM dealer that is local and already has me as a customer, because. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[mike in oregon]

I heard from my local KTM dealership that in order to sell the lc8 powered bikes, they had to send one of their crew off for special training on the maint. and repair of the different variants of that engine.  If the dealership would not do this, they could not sell the lc8 powered bikes.  My local place sold far more KTM dirt bikes than the expensive bigger bikes, so they opted out of carrying the 990 Adventure, Superduke, Supermoto, RC8,etc.  In the past, I bought a 950 Adventure and 950 SM from them, but I would rather they have techs that know what the heck they're doing when they work on the bikes.  Contrary to popular opinion, they are not too bad to work on-chain to gear driven cams, means the cams lift right out for valve adjustment with no cam chain to mess with, etc.  All pretty straight forward.  I miss my 950 SM.

[garry]

I'm more brand curious than brand loyal, so it's unlikely my next street bike will be a KTM. I love my 950 SMR and plan to put many more miles on it, but I'm likely to try something different next go-round.

The dealer I bought my SMR from is no longer selling any KTMs, but luckily the local (5 miles away) dirt-only KTM dealer picked up the street bikes at the same time. Not a great rep for service, but at least they are close. I can mail order parts at a discount if needed (ktm-parts.com, etc). I don't think the KTM street bikes have worked out well for the local shop this first year. They still have all the RC8s they started with I think (RC8, RC8R, RC8R Akro edtion, etc).

[expatbrit]

I heard from my local KTM dealership that in order to sell the lc8 powered bikes, they had to send one of their crew off for special training on the maint. and repair of the different variants of that engine.  If the dealership would not do this, they could not sell the lc8 powered bikes.  My local place sold far more KTM dirt bikes than the expensive bigger bikes, so they opted out of carrying the 990 Adventure, Superduke, Supermoto, RC8,etc.  In the past, I bought a 950 Adventure and 950 SM from them, but I would rather they have techs that know what the heck they're doing when they work on the bikes.  Contrary to popular opinion, they are not too bad to work on-chain to gear driven cams, means the cams lift right out for valve adjustment with no cam chain to mess with, etc.  All pretty straight forward.  I miss my 950 SM.

Yeah. That's what I've heard from a lot of the dealers around here who only carry the singles. The big one who carries the twins sells ... few, and has a really poor service rep (that I've managed to discover with them having to do 'gratis/warranty' work in replacing the tank on my SM twice).

It's leading me to want to get rid of the thing; I love riding it, but it's been an unhappy relationship, maintenance-wise and I just don't see it getting better.

[atadaskew]

I heard from my local KTM dealership that in order to sell the lc8 powered bikes, they had to send one of their crew off for special training on the maint. and repair of the different variants of that engine.  If the dealership would not do this, they could not sell the lc8 powered bikes.

I agree with KTM on this.  A miserable dealership service experience is going to do far more harm to KTM's reputation than having fewer shops.
A bike is as reliable as the mechanic who serviced it...
Problem is, we already have very few shops.  Only one in LA, and their service dept frankly blows which is why I would not buy a KTM.

[mugwump58]

Bob, my local KTM shop told me KTM North America told them that they either add X number of units to their current inventory OR they'll have to drop the KTM roadbike lineup.  My local shop said

Eventually, I suspect KTM will come around to using smaller shops like my local KTM dealer to pick up a small inventory some day soon.

If not, I'll most likely say to KTM

The same story I got from the local KTM shop. Dirt bikes are moving pretty well though. Use of the KTM dealer map tells the story. Lots of dirt bike dealer, not so much on the street bikes. I'm not going to by a bike from a dealer that requires overnight stays just to accomplish the travel to get there.

[fastdadio]

Parts and service is Everything after the sale.

[ZenMoto]

I agree with KTM on this.  A miserable dealership service experience is going to do far more harm to KTM's reputation than having fewer shops.
A bike is as reliable as the mechanic who serviced it...
Problem is, we already have very few shops.  Only one in LA, and their service dept frankly blows which is why I would not buy a KTM.

Yeah, and training *should* be required.  At least the Adventure is a PITA to work on.  I trusted my (then brand new) 950 Adventure to a shop down in Orange County that were "KTM experts" and they did way more harm than good.  ...when a shop is installing body panels / gas-tanks with air tools ...bad sign!!!

That was the last time any of my bikes have been, or will be to, a shop for work!  I'd have to applaud KTM for making a stance against dealers thinking they can "wing it" and just fleece customers for shoddy (at best) work.

[jstark47]

Bob, my local KTM shop told me KTM North America told them that they either add X number of units to their current inventory OR they'll have to drop the KTM roadbike lineup.  My local shop said

Coming late to this thread, but I heard the same thing from my local dealer.  The number they quoted was 30 street bikes, including 4 RC8's.  There's no way they could sell that many in two years, let alone one year, so now they have no KTM streetbikes, only dirtbikes.  

[Kraz]

 

I wonder how they'll sell any 2012's with the 2013 news out already...

[Croak]

Same way they've been selling them for the last few years, I imagine.  Deep deep discounting.  Moved a lot of Dukes, moved a lot of RC8's, hell, moved a lot of Norges, Brevas, Tuonos, Shivers, Stelvios, RSVRs, and ALL of the Buell lineup.  Must work, right?

[xbud]

 It works, hell thats when I'm ready to buy.