KTM has detected a problem with the front sprocket of the 390 Duke which could potentially cause the chain to come off loose. The Austrian manufacturer is addressing this problem by replacing the sprockets on 390 Dukes manufactured till March 2014 free of charge all over the world.
According to KTM, the front sprocket can become misaligned, causing the chain to come off the teeth. Although there hasn’t been any reported incidents so far, this is quite a serious issue as the chain coming off the sprocket teeth can potentially lead to rear wheel lock-up, and maybe the inevitable skid. KTM has already adressed this issue in production, so bikes made after march 2014 should be safe from this glitch.
KTM has made no official announcements on this, and insists that this is not a recall, with a spokesman stating to Visordown, “Within the EU we use the term TI or technical information. This basically means it’s an issue we are aware of and something that is carried out when the bike is next taken into a dealer, at no cost to the customer. Only safety related issues are subject to a recall and in those instances it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to contact all affected customers.” The company’s Malaysian arm however asked its customers to check if their “sprocket plate doesn’t have any of its indentations lining up with the shaft pieces. They should be opposite to stop the plate sliding off,” according to the Duke 390 forum.
So, if you own a pre-March ’14 390 Duke, we’d suggest you get your bike to the nearest Probiking stat!
Dont know how KTM India says there was no incidence of the front sprocket coming off.
It was in December 2013 if am not wrong ,when i was riding from Nagpur to Mumbai and had traveled hardly 70kms when the front sprocket just came off locking the rear wheel. i thank my lucky stars that i was doing only 80kmph on the odo and it was 7am in the morning with no heavy traffic on the highway. With great difficulty i could control the bike but could prevent a fall.
It was heart breaking to see something like this happen to a brand which most of us have looked up-to as kids. I have owned 2 Enfields since 1999, have professionally participated in many rallies,dirt races and touring extensively on them in which i have had my share of breakdowns of which many a times i was stranded in the middle of the highway but trust me non of them were life threatening as the one on the KTM 390. And finally after nearly 7 months KTM India decides to recall their bikes..