It’s somewhat funny seeing how corporate talk replaces “recall” with “technical information” and instead of solving an actual problem detected with certain motorcycles, it kind of only makes the fog thicker. Namely, visordown got wind that the UK KTM dealer is replacing the front sprocket of the 390 Duke bikes with a new one during routine service operations.
It looks like the front sprocket of the bikes built until March this year might become misaligned, and as a result, the chain could come off the teeth. The info apparently comes from Indian websites, much closer to the place where the 390 Duke is being built.
The problem was detected by KTM, apparently, and correctly manufactured front sprockets begun to be installed right off the mill since March, with corresponding units being sent to dealers around the world for replacement.
Now, the UK branch of KTM says that the Austrian manufacturer has not issued an official recall and the whole matter is to be referred to as TI or Technical Information. Since authorized dealers are replacing a specific part of a certain bike, to us this sounds like a recall, even though not an official one, much like we’re getting from the NHTSA every time something goes wrong with a car or bike.
The same KTM source quoted by the British magazine adds that “only safety related issues are subject to a recall and in those instances it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to contact all affected customers.” To us, and pretty much any rider in their right mind, having the chain potentially jumping off the front sprocket in the middle of a curve or when passing sounds like a very serious “safety related issue”, well-worthy of KTM “contacting all the affected customers” and throwing a party in case all the bikes receive correctly-manufactured front sprockets before someone get hurt… or worse.
The problem was detected by KTM, apparently, and correctly manufactured front sprockets begun to be installed right off the mill since March, with corresponding units being sent to dealers around the world for replacement.
Now, the UK branch of KTM says that the Austrian manufacturer has not issued an official recall and the whole matter is to be referred to as TI or Technical Information. Since authorized dealers are replacing a specific part of a certain bike, to us this sounds like a recall, even though not an official one, much like we’re getting from the NHTSA every time something goes wrong with a car or bike.
The same KTM source quoted by the British magazine adds that “only safety related issues are subject to a recall and in those instances it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to contact all affected customers.” To us, and pretty much any rider in their right mind, having the chain potentially jumping off the front sprocket in the middle of a curve or when passing sounds like a very serious “safety related issue”, well-worthy of KTM “contacting all the affected customers” and throwing a party in case all the bikes receive correctly-manufactured front sprockets before someone get hurt… or worse.
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