Ktm 1290 SUPER DUKE R problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
1,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 to 2022 model years. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 18 complaints (38.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 50.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 11.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
Service Brakes: 7; Engine: 5; Electrical System: 2; Power Train: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Wheels: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2015: 2; 2018: 5; 2019: 4; 2021: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11066771 · 2018-02-03 (February 3, 2018)
SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THIS BIKE NEW, THE FRONT BRAKES WOULD "GROAN" AS YOU WHEELED THE BIKE AROUND AS IF THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT RETRACTING / PISTONS STICKING. THERE WOULD ALSO BE A LOW SPEED PULSING TO THE BRAKES AS IF THE ROTOR WAS WARPED (WHICH HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME IN DECADES OF RIDING). THIS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE UNTIL THE ROTORS WERE DEFINITELY WARPED. I TOOK THE BIKE TO MY DEALER AND KTM REFUSED TO COVER REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE BIKE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS MUST BE SOME KIND OF MANUFACTURING ISSUE. I PAID T…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11066771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11228348 · 2019-06-29 (June 29, 2019)
MY FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER COMPLETELY LOST PRESSURE AND THE ABILITY TO SLOW DOWN THE MOTORCYCLE. I AM FORTUNATE THAT IT DID NOT CAUSE ME TO CRASH. THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS MANUFACTURED BY BREMBO. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE SAME MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT AFFECTED THE 2015 AND 2016 KTM 1290 SUPERDUKE R MOTORCYCLES, WHICH HAVE AN OPEN RECALL ON THE SAME BREMBO MASTER CYLINDER. I AM NOT SURE WHY THE 2014 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11228348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11395746 · 2021-02-11 (February 11, 2021)
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 STA…
Owner-reported narrative. 220 miles reported. Look up ODI 11395746 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11695254 · 2025-10-23 (October 23, 2025)
The contact owns a 2021 KTM 1290 Super Duke R Motorcycle. The contact stated that the motorcycle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V900000 (Electrical System); and the cable tie with the foot section wiring harness protection was installed. The contact stated that while riding and steering the motorcycle at various speeds, the wiring cable underneath the seat was significantly stretched and fractured, causing the motorcycle to misfire and then stall while riding. The motorcycle was taken to the dealer, but n…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11695254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11429340 · 2021-08-16 (August 16, 2021)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11429340 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 0; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1