06-28-2023, 12:36 AM
(06-27-2023, 11:12 PM)m in sc_imp Wrote: my take:
being in engineering/manufacturing/qc control (for 25 years now) has formed my opinion years ago on what comes out of India, particularly in metallurgy and castings. I still see it regularly. Its way too hit and miss for my liking. I owned a ktm390 built in india, the 1st year us model duke. the ONLY reason i bought it was because i knew ktm was carefully watching the 1st year on qc, and they still had issues. Looking at what the RE owners accept as 'ok' also is interesting. (im actually on the owners group page as i was considering it, I like the idea of a 650 INT). Nope, not for me. They aren't there yet IMHO and nothing anybody on here says is going to change that. Its a purely mechanical/quality issue for me, nothing else.
I was a bit sceptical about the INT650 I purchased last Nov. A test ride and then finding one second hand at a great price convinced me to try one out, a '22. So far, so good, at 4k miles (3300 of that me), but you do read a fair share of issues on the forums. Parts seem very inexpensive, tho'. But this is a "ride-for-a-year" bike, so hopefully it will last. : )
At least that's what I keep telling myself, it's such a fun bike to ride!