How much of a headache is maintenance on the KTM 390 SMC R?
While KTM makes high performance machines, that usually comes with a more demanding maintenance schedule. As a supermoto, the 390 SMC R could need even more attention, because of its dual purpose nature and the possibility of aggressive riding. There are debates among owners about how much real world time and money it takes to keep the bike in top shape. There are those who worry about parts availability and the need for specialized tools, others that claim modern KTMs are more reliable than their predecessors. It’s often a discussion of comparing maintenance requirements to Japanese competitors or larger KTM models. European supermotos require a fair bit of commitment by potential owners, weighing the fun factor with the commitment needed to properly care for them, and the potential long term reliability issues.
It's a KTM, so yeah, it won't be a Honda. If you know your way around tools, it's not so bad. Just do oil changes and valve checks and you'll be fine.
These things are money pits, forget it. Some new issue will have you going to the dealer every other month. If you want reliability, stick to Japanese.
It's all relative. It’s gonna be a piece of cake to maintain compared to a dirt bike. It's going to be a bit more work than a Ninja 400. Depends on your perspective.
Now the 390 engine is pretty well sorted. Most of the kinks have been ironed out by early ones, but they did have some issues. You just need to follow the manual.
Because supermotos get abused, expect to replace wear items such as brake pads and tires more often. That's true for any bike ridden hard.
If you can’t do the work yourself, the real pain is finding a good KTM mechanic. If you buy, make sure there is a reputable shop nearby.
It's a trade-off. It gives you amazing performance and handling, but at a price of more frequent maintenance. If you love the bike, it’s worth it.
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How much of a headache is maintenance on the KTM 390 SMC R?
23 January 2025 11:44
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