The shifting mechanism components became loose, and it hindered me from shifting up - it would upshift with difficulty, then it would go from 1st gear to neutral, making for a very dangerous experience. It quickly degraded and I could not shift out of 1st gear at all.
The worst 2020 Ktm 1290 Super Duke R problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Engine2
- Transmission2
- Acceleration1
- Electrical1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine2
- Transmission2
- Acceleration1
- Electrical1
Recalls 2
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling all 2020-2022 1290 Super Duke R and Super Duke R EVO motorcycles. The main wiring harness may be misrouted or missing parts, which can cause wiring harness damage and result in an electrical short-circuit or engine stall.
- Risk
- An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and repair the main wiring harness installation, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2023. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1‑888‑985‑6090. KTM's number for this recall is KTB2211.
Recall number 22V900000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2020 1290 Super Duke R motorcycles. The wiring harness located in the rear of the motorcycle may be routed incorrectly, which could result in wiring damage and an electrical short-circuit.
- Risk
- An electrical short-circuit could cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- KTM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear wiring harness, and repair as necessary. In addition, dealers will modify a piece of the bodywork called the "tail end lower part" to correct the routing of the wiring harness and add wiring protection and cable ties. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. KTM's number for this recall is TB2104.
Recall number 21V122000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2020 Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 7
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Software update of the race on system
- During continuous product development, the exhaust flap control on the above-mentioned Super Duke models...
- Electrical system
- As a result of our active market monitoring and constant product improvement processes, we have determined...
- As a result of our active market monitoring and constant product improvement processes, we have determined...
- Electrical system
- Engine and engine cooling
What 2020 Ktm 1290 Super Duke R owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Gear shifter hits the kick stand if user makes the wrong adjustments. User can have accident if they don't notice they moved the shifter when bike has kick stand down.
This fault has occurred twice within 220 miles (2 weeks). While riding the motorcycle and entering a corner (in motion), the dash showed the alert of "mtc failure". This failure not only caused the bike to become unsettled/unstable, but upon turning the throttle to accelerate out of the corner, I discovered that it completely stopped all propulsion to the rear wheel. The mtc failure stops the power delivery to the back wheel altogether, making the bike unstable and unable to be controlled through acceleration (the very thing that needed for stability on a two wheel vehicle). I was able to pull in the clutch and coast through the turn, pulling off the road once through the corner, but the problem was beyond dangerous nonetheless. Having spoken with ktm and had my bike to the dealership, I was informed that the mtc failure and behavior of the motorcycle from that failure was not the result of an engine malfunction, but exhaust servo cables being out of adjustment. While the danger of the bikes behavior and loss of propulsion is problematic in itself, the greater issue is the cause of that failure coming from completely unrelated issues. The exhaust servo caused this failure on my motorcycle two times now in less than two weeks (220 miles), but I have been informed that this same failure has been caused by as little as a low battery. Having spoken with ktm a number of times and continuing to speak with them regarding this issue, they have no permanent solution to this problem. Not only that, they have no plans or idea how to prevent this problem from happening in the future. This issue needs to be addressed and rectified immediately, as it is only a matter of time before someone is killed.
Compare the 2020 Ktm 1290 Super Duke R
Other model years
Questions about the 2020 Ktm 1290 Super Duke R
Is the 2020 Ktm 1290 Super Duke R reliable?
Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 2020 Ktm 1290 Super Duke R, 1.5 times a typical 1290 Super Duke R model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Ktm 1290 Super Duke R?
Engine and cooling, with 2 complaints. Next is transmission (2).
How many recalls does the 2020 Ktm 1290 Super Duke R have?
2 recalls, covering electrical system.
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