LC8 report, 23,000km
 

As now I have covered some 23,000kms, and some of them in pretty poor conditions, in the UK and Iceland.

Rear tyres last about 11,000kms when I went to Iceland that was mainly due to the sharp lava and me having a ball off road with all that power!

Now at 22,000kms I have just replaced the front tyre and the head bearings, these were due to a lot of sleeping policemen on the London roads and more to the point that the front wheel does come up more often than it should oopps!

It’s just great in first gear, just roll on that power and up she comes, then into second and yes third! This is one smooth motor.

On the down side is the fuel pump KTM have put on it – it’s the same Mitsubishi electric one that Honda fit to the Africa Twin, CBR, etc and has a habit of just giving up.

Mine did on the motorway stopping the bike there in it’s tracks.
If it’s any consolation the KTM price for the pump is just 75 pounds and Hondas 135 pounds!

Oh yeah, and the pump is under the battery and that’s in the belly pan with all the electrics! Nice one KTM. Just don’t cross that deep river, and short out the battery !

Having cured this problem on my Honda years ago with a vacuum fuel pump, the same that is fitted to the KTM 640, I have since tried to fit it to the 950 to no use as the 950 cannot produce enough suction to activate the pump in order to work it !

One other problem that I have just informed KTM UK of is that the 950 suffers from carb icing, this I have experienced from my Kawasaki days in the mid 80's (GPZ's etc)

They have already addressed the flat spot the bike has between 3 and 4,000 rpm, this is cured with a new carb vent pipe system, mine has not been done yet.

The other small problem is the breather pipe that comes up from the crankcase into the top of the airbox, that’s ok, but it throws oil onto the paper element, then it drips into the front carb, causing the bike to smoke now and again when starting up.

Like all other KTM's it runs too damned hot.

I just love the bike even though it has a few teething problems, I knew it would have and like every other first production bike to have been made has suffered too.

It does start up a lot of conversations in London while parked up and many ask if I would take it off road! Just waiting to hear if KTM will sponsor me for the Dakar!

Andy

I remember a recall on the 950 for a strengthening band around the clutch (basket?). Apparently it was prone to breaking, the dealer should remove it, leaving you to continue using the bike but not at full throttle until the band was replaced at a later date when they became available.

Do you have any experience of this & has it been fully rectified yet?

Are they expensive to have dealer serviced?

Perhaps you should put a posting in the Honda section advising AT owners about the fuel pump. I'm sure some of them would appreciate a cheaper fix if it's the same pump.

Thanks

Steve