5Likes
|
|
16 Nov 2019
|
|
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,105
|
|
Cluster of clutch failures on KTM 790 Adventure
I have a KTM 790 Adventure and so far am happy with the bike but there's a pile of clutch failures being reported by owners.
And worse than that, KTM is refusing to accept liability leaving owners in some cases with a major bill for engine rebuild.
The clutch on the 790 is wet, meaning it relies on an oil feed and it seems the oil jet easily becomes blocked. It's supposed to be checked on each service but who knows whether this is being done, and with service intervals so far apart...
If you are a 790 Adventure owner you need to be aware of this problem and check the clutch for signs of oil burning and blocked jet. If you are thinking of buying a 790 Adventure I would suggest you investigate this issue before proceeding.
In the report below, to add insult to injuury the owner was unfortunately also let down by KTM's breakdown recovery: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1824...1919730120817/
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
|
17 Nov 2019
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 489
|
|
didn't hear about clutch issues yet when I was on the market for 790R,
good to know. I would also add a note about potential problem with overheating rear shock because of cat proximity. There's been numerous reports of rear shock failures because of that. There is already heat shield available on the market. Mostly affected are R models though.
|
17 Nov 2019
|
|
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,105
|
|
I think I should explain more so people get a feel for the scale of this problem.
Some owners have questioned why this apparently seems not to have affected the 790 Duke which was introduced a year earlier. The answer is we don't know.
Uli Schildt picked up his bike in Arizona and rode 3,000 miles back to Washington State. A week later his clutch failed but KTM refused to replace it under warranty. Uli writes, "[KTM] say the clutch is a 'wear item'. I tried to reason with them, to no avail. Left several messages at KTM in California but they have not replied."
Uli suggests, "anybody with a 790 to pull the clutch cover and inspect. This takes less than 5 minutes and requires almost no mechanical skill. You don't need to drain the oil, since the clutch is well above the sump (although a few drops may come out)."
And this is what David Bentley's clutch looked like when followed Uli's advice and removed the cover. It seems in perfect condition.
But this is what Mark Ferbrache's clutch looked like with signs of oil overheating and burning.
Mark writes that he had to replace his clutch at his expense, "KTM just said wear and tear so had to pay myself." If your clutch looks like this you might want to investigate further, so take the three bolts and cover off, then take out each plate and check them for heat damage, loss of material, etc.
J P De Villiers writes, "After my first clutch burnt and the fault was put on me after only 2700 km. I put a [heavy duty] Rekluse torque drive with the hope it will be a stronger replacement. It took exactly 300 km, clutch started taking high an slipping exactly like before."
In Quintin Mclaughlin's case he had only just run the bike in and had the initial service before setting off on a road trip through France, Spain and Portugal. Clutch failure at only 2,000 miles and KTM's reaction is to leave him stranded for four days and having to arrange repatriation of him and bike despite supposedly being covered by KTM Mobility breakdown cover.
Laia Sanz's clutch had to be replaced at the Bosnia Rally. Laia is a thirteen-time Women's Trial World Champion, so you would expect SHE knows how to use a clutch.
Bill Cairns was one of the first to report a clutch failure to the community. Bill is a avid poster of biking action videos and KTM took one look at these and decided Bill was misusing the clutch. KTM would not allow the warranty on the rest of the engine to continue unless Bill spent close to £3,000 on a complete engine rebuild.
The 790 community generally believes the clutch problems are due to a lack of lubrication and possibly because the oil filters are not picking up small amounts of debris that is then blocking the oil jet lubricating the clutch, however KTM REFUSES to engage with any of the owners who have had problems, making a resolution impossible to determine. This is irresponsible in the extreme.
I believe these reports are only the tip of the iceberg.
READY TO RACE (but hey guys, please be gentle with the clutch)
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Last edited by Tim Cullis; 18 Nov 2019 at 11:11.
|
18 Nov 2019
|
|
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,105
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by tremens
I would also add a note about potential problem with overheating rear shock because of cat proximity. There's been numerous reports of rear shock failures because of that... Mostly affected are R models though.
|
From https://790adventure.net/early-fault...shock-failure/
There is a theory going around incriminating the catalytic converter... Some facts however don’t align very well with this theory:
This failure is only on the R, the S model is not affected at all;
There is at least one example of a failing shock absorber on a bike with the catalyser removed from day one. Ergo, the catalyser in that case was not to blame;
As bikes get more mileage, failure rate should have increased. This is not the case, the bikes with failing shock absorbers are all low mileage (less than 2k, very new).
This seems to indicate that the issue is probably not the catalyser but more likely a default on some [R model] shocks with a problem from the factory.
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
|
18 Nov 2019
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 839
|
|
For balance, how many bikes have not had clutch problems?
Singling out a few (especially when the root cause is not confirmed) is defective analysis. At least say what % of bikes have shown any problem. I'm up to 7500 miles without any problems, including a fairly hot tour of southern Europe earlier this hear.
|
19 Nov 2019
|
|
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,105
|
|
I've very happy with my 790 as well.
Clearly the vast majority are OK, though I will be pulling the clutch cover on my 790S to take a look once I'm back in the UK.
The issue isn't that there are failures, all mechanical things are subject to breakdown, the two issues are (1) that KTM is refusing to accept any clutch warranty claims, and (2) is declining to engage with owners to try to identify the root cause of the failures.
The bikes are sold as 'Ready to Race' so should be able to take at typical off-road treatment, but in the case of Uli Schildt above (who's 67 years of age) all he has done is to ride the bike across the States, mainly on asphalt and only a little bit on gravel road.
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
|
13 Feb 2020
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Rhône Alpes, France
Posts: 1
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomkat
For balance, how many bikes have not had clutch problems?
Singling out a few (especially when the root cause is not confirmed) is defective analysis. At least say what % of bikes have shown any problem. I'm up to 7500 miles without any problems, including a fairly hot tour of southern Europe earlier this hear.
|
Is yours an R model?
Sorry to re-awaken an old thread but just wondering if anyone has anymore updates on the clutch issues or has anyone heard of any more similar issues?
Thanks
|
14 Feb 2020
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 839
|
|
The R and S models have the same engine, and the Duke is the same in that area. The R does have a different shock so if some of those are suffering from heat from the cat that could be a reason.
Some later feedback on the clutch issue suggests that blockage of the centre oil jet (just 0,3mm dia) could have been caused by excess Loctite on the jet from factory assembly, though this is not yet confirmed. Others think that wrongly adjusted clutch with no free play could have led to clutch slip generating excess heat.
Given that there seems to have been no more occurrences and that all the failures were on low mileage engines I tend to the former. While it's a poor show if KTM aren't picking up warranty I suspect this could be associated with owner attitude and dealer support as much as anything.
I've done 8,000 miles on mine so far with no mechanical problems and planning to do 20,000 round central Asia later this year. Don't let a few isolated events put you off what is a very good bike.
www.facebook.com/motosunburn
|
18 Feb 2020
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 489
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomkat
I've done 8,000 miles on mine so far with no mechanical problems and planning to do 20,000 round central Asia later this year. Don't let a few isolated events put you off what is a very good bike.
www.facebook.com/motosunburn
|
good to be optimistic and I wish you all the best on your trip but 8k miles is not that many yet, any bike or car today (even Chinese) ususaly do this without problems. Potential buyers are right they do research before they commit to buy. The only problem for me with KTM 790 adv is this bike is not too simple for RTW trips or similar.
|
18 Feb 2020
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 839
|
|
It has complex electronics, for sure. There are two sides of that - one, if it breaks by the side of the road I probably won't be able to fix it, and two, hopefully modern electronics should be pretty reliable and NOT break by the side of the road!
I agree 8,000 miles isn't much but the clutch "problems" seem to be restricted to lower mileage engines. It's not like KTM have suddenly forgotten how to make clutch plates after years of doing it.
|
2 Mar 2020
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 2
|
|
KTM 790 adventure R reliability issues
Finished recently 5,000 km off road trip in Central America. Started this section in Chiapas, Mexico with four 790s. The first one blew the rear shock after about 1,000 km and had to be loaded on a truck and sent back to the US. The bike had a total of 5,000 km, most of them on pavement. We replaced it with a 690. After another 1,500 km of off road, we had a clutch failure. We replaced it with a spare one we had. When I replaced the clutch I became very concerned with the design – the diameter and wear areas are very small for a bike of this size (smaller than the 990 and even the 300 – 525 EXC series), and the mechanism to convert the cable pull to a disc separation id very cumbersome. We understood that we cannot use the clutch the way we use it on dirt bikes and on 990 – the clutch should not be used during up hills except for gear changes. If you slip the clutch it will burn very quickly. Actually, in the Rally Mode you get a lot of torque at low RPM and you can avoid using the clutch most of the time, except for very slow crawling up hill. With a minimum use of the clutch, I still burned a clutch on my 790 after additional 2,000 km. The other 2 790s has aborted the trip by then. By the time we finished the trip the clutch is almost done again. The 690 has done the same route with no issues.
So with all the hype that KTM created around the 790, it has clutch that is not suitable for serious off road riding. I don’t know the reasons – the use of mechanical vs. hydraulic clutch to save money, the resultant weak clutch springs, the small diameter and wear areas of the discs, or whatever. So if you are going on a serious off road adventure ride, either forget about KTM 790 or bring plenty of spare clutches. I am taking for the next section 3 spare KTM clutches and will also test the Rekluse clutch that has more discs.
|
4 Mar 2020
|
|
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,900
|
|
Annoying Orange
Had an hour's spin on a loaded up 790 last week.
11,000 miles iirc – only issue owner has had was an incorrectly fitted oval? coolant hose. A common fault he said, though you do wonder how you can fit that wrong.
Well, until we rode up over the High Atlas off-road. Then his near-full tank started oozing fumes and when he opened the backward-facing filler to relieve the pressure he got well and truly hosed. We thought it might be elevation gain (>1200m in an hour), or very slow speeds cooking and shaking up the fuel, but 790s must be designed for that so presumably a filler venting problem?
Not my CoT but loved the quickshifter once I realised it had one. Quite a revelation. Another amazing tech advancement while enables smoother and less distracted riding.
I wonder if the clutch mech is spec'd down as it's expected to get less use?
Other observations of mine: 'Comfort' seat is a plank but very low (a factor for many shorter buyers, I bet) and economy over 1100kms was disappointing: as low as 19kpl, never more than 22 (54-62mpg). And this was all below 100kph (apart from my short stint) alongside 310GSs getting up to 100mpg.
Engine was very smooth but lacked torque, I thought.
Owner thought so too, on the piste. Anyway, he was very happy with it.
|
13 Apr 2020
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 23
|
|
KTM recall info
Might have the clutch looked at while having this recall service done on the rear brake ...
https://www.advpulse.com/adv-news/kt...-models-in-us/
stay safe ...
|
13 Apr 2020
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 839
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Scott
a filler venting problem?
'Comfort' seat is a plank but very low
economy .. as low as 19kpl, never more than 22 (54-62mpg).... alongside 310GSs getting up to 100mpg.
Engine was very smooth but lacked torque, I thought.
|
Sounds like a venting problem, the only time I brimmed my 790 and parked it with a hot engine, excess fuel dripped from the overflow tube.
Don't know if you had the standard S seat, which isn't strictly a 'comfort' seat though it is wider and lower than the R. It's certainly more road friendly, and I found I could do one full tank (about 400 kms) before my bum started crying for mercy.
The engine is lumpy under 3,000 rpm, most likely due to its 75-degree firing interval. Above that it's lovely. Torque is related to power and speed of course, I never felt short of power on my fully loaded Euro tour last year, though unsurprisingly the more you rev it the faster it goes. 95 bhp is plenty for me, though I know some differ.
As ever, it's good to have a variety of views on something
|
14 Apr 2020
|
|
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,105
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Scott
economy over 1100kms was disappointing: as low as 19kpl, never more than 22 (54-62mpg). And this was all below 100kph
|
On my Jan-Mar trip through Spain to southern Morocco and back I recorded odometer readings and fuel consumed every time I filled. The worse was a constant cruise control riding at 120 kph (GPS speed reading) on Spanish autovias where the lowest I got was 19.9 kpl (56 mpg imperial) and the best was on the N8 between Azrou and Marrakech where I achieved 25.3 kpl (72 mpg).
This is almost as good as my 690R so I was well pleased. Obviously a bike with less than half the capacity would be more economic.
I found the fuel computer on the bike to be optimistic by about 8%, so these fuel consumption figures were calculated from how much I used to top up the tank to completely full.
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Last edited by Tim Cullis; 15 Apr 2020 at 00:16.
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 2 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 2 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Next HU Events
ALL Dates subject to change.
2024:
- California: April 18-21
- Virginia: April 25-28
- Germany Summer: May 9-12
- Québec: May 17-19
- Bulgaria Mini: July 5-7
- CanWest: July 11-14
- Switzerland: August 15-18
- Ecuador: August 23-25
- Romania: August 30-Sept 1
- Austria: September 12-15
- France: September 20-22
- Germany Autumn: Oct 31-Nov 3
2025 Confirmed Events:
- Virginia: April 24-27 2025
- Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
- Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
- CanWest: July 10-13 2025
- Switzerland: Date TBC
- Ecuador: Date TBC
- Romania: Date TBC
- Austria: Sept. 11-15
- California: September 18-21
- France: September 19-21 2025
- Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025
Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!
Questions about an event? Ask here
See all event details
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
|
|
|