I had a get-off on my 501 recently that twisted the front end and bent the handlebars, and I was going to take it to Elite because there’s nothing KTM specific about the inspection and work that needs to be done. They would not even take my bike, even though I have purchased numerous bikes from them over the years.
I can understand them not wanting to get into the job and finding they need a KTM part that they can’t get, so I guess it’s time to find a new KTM service shop. Such a bummer.
There’s nothing that prevents them from being an independent dealer, so it’s a very odd, and telling, stance to refuse generic service because a brand.
Are you sure the bars are bent bent? I’ve dropped dirt bikes and big bikes a thousand times, HARD, and never bent the bars. It’s more likely that they just shifted / moved a bit on the clamps.
The in the field trick is to put one side of the wheel against a rock or tree (ie, if bars are tweaked to the right, put the left side of the wheel against the obstacle) then slam the wheel into the obstacle by turning the bars…hard
In addition to Rich’s advice, loosen up triple clamp and axle pinch bolts and then bounce it around. Often fixes it right up.
Yup, good point. My Aprilia has bushings that simply tweaked a bit. With the mount that Ass Shack has, seems possible it just moved a little.
Yeah, 99% sure that Donkey Hut’s bars aren’t bent…
The left side of the bars are lower and closer to the rider than the right side is one symptom; the left side is where the bike landed upside down and took the brunt. The other is that the fender is significantly out of alignment with the front tire. So there’s definitely a twisting force at play with regards to the wheel/fork/bar alignment. But the bar being lower/closer on one side suggests it didn’t shift.
I had an issue with them prior to them dropping KTM, dealing with not making good on an instore credit I had with them for a few years. My son and I both bought brand new bikes from them and they wouldn’t honor my credit unless I could produce proof in writing. WTF?
Gotta think there’s a big backstory between elite and KTM
When did they drop KTM? I had now clue. That really sucks.
It is a haul, but I had a good service experience with Fay Myers, down south!! And I do believe they are also a KTM dealer.
Bummer about Elite.
As long as we’re on the topic of the service at local KTM shops, I had an “interesting” experience with Fay Myers recently.
@Arrivo and I have been having conversation about me buying his 790. I wanted to have the cams inspected first, to at least get eyes on them. I took it to FM and said “I want the valves checked and cams inspected.” Received the work order via SMS the next day. Mind you, I brought the bike down with the tank and all body work off, as we had been doing some other things on the bike.
Work order showed $500-700 for the valve check (don’t recall, but that seemed kinda reasonable) but ~$9xx for the cam inspection. Insert record scratch sound effect.
After some texting back and forth, it was clear that “inspection” in KTM speak = a 3rd party process that apparently involves an electron microscope and MRI…or some shit.
Called up the service dept and basically laid out a flow chart for them:
That’s it. I was clear to redefine “inspection,” as “send me pics of the cams.”
I went round and round with them for, no shit, a week, trying to get them to do this. They wouldn’t budge. I eventually said F it, picked the bike up, expecting to a get a bill for the text and email conversations.
My sense is they’ve been round and round with KTM and 790/890 cams enough to now have a process whereby they get $$$$ from the customer on the front end for anything involving “inspect / photograph / put your hands on” the cams, so that if/when KTM denies a warranty repair, they’ve at least gotten some $$ for labor?
So, I’m going to buy the bike from the Steve and will check the valves and inspect the cams myself at the next valve check interval.
This was my first experience with any CO KTM dealer service center on a multicylinder bike and it was NOT confidence inspiring…
I sadly find a lot of dealers lacking after-sales. With extremely low-effort on the service side. Probably a good idea to build a sticky of ‘known goods’ in here.
I had better experiences with the CO Springs KTM dealer. WAY better.