KTM, the renowned Austrian motorcycle manufacturer, has recently announced a comprehensive free repair program to address camshaft issues in their models equipped with the LC8c parallel-twin engine. This program, which extends beyond the warranty period, aims to address owners’ concerns regarding premature wear of this crucial component.
Gareth Edmunds, KTM’s Head of Customer Service in the UK, stated to MCN: ‘We are committed to supporting our customers affected by this situation, even if they are few in the UK’. The company has shown flexibility regarding maintenance requirements, agreeing to consider cases where services were not exclusively performed at official dealerships, provided they are properly documented.
Federico Valentini, KTM’s Vice President of Global Motorcycle Marketing, clarified that the issue primarily affects 790 Duke and Adventure models manufactured between 2018 and 2020, as well as some 890 Duke and Adventure models from 2020: ‘Out of approximately 55,000 units sold globally over a three-year period, we have confirmed about 250 cases, which represents roughly 0.5% of the models sold’, Valentini explained.
KTM implemented improvements starting in 2020, including an additional oil screen and modifications to the finger followers in 2021. Valentini emphasized that these changes effectively resolved the issue: ‘As of 2020, we introduced a wider finger follower with an improved DLC coating, which solved the problems‘.
Despite anecdotal reports suggesting that some newer models, including Husqvarna’s Norden 901 range, may be affected, KTM maintains that there are no known issues with current iterations of the platform.
The company commits to reimbursing owners who have already paid for related repairs, upon presentation of proper maintenance history. KTM dealers are prepared to check for warning signs and perform necessary repairs, which may include replacement of the cylinder head, camshaft, and finger followers.
Although KTM has not initiated a formal recall campaign, given the low percentage of affected motorcycles, the company acknowledges the need to improve communication with customers in similar situations in the future.