How many of us over the years have looked at a KTM and thought, "My God, I want that so badly, but it's just a bit too impractical and expensive to justify"? I've lost count of the number of times that thought has rummaged around in my head, and the number of times I nearly pulled the trigger on buying a couple of models.
I'll take a 450 SMR and a Super Duke 1390 R Evo, oh, that'll be $33,499? Never mind, I'll just get a Yamaha MT-09 SP and be happy, but look at shades of orange from afar. Well, no more.
The Alpine Creditors Association (AKV) recently posted a press release that documented the first creditor's meeting and report session in the insolvency proceedings of KTM AG. Basically, it gives us an insight into how KTM AG will move forward under self-administration and one of the steps advised was that KTM has a "Clearance sale at retailers".
We don't know when said sale will happen or even that it will for sure, but all other actions advised by AKV seem to be underway, so it's reasonable to assume this will happen.
That's right, the brand that's the epitome of toys for big boys is having what'll likely be an insane sale. All the juiciest machinery that you've eyeballed but never bought because it's just a bit too expensive could be reasonably priced, or even a steal. The question is, would you still want to buy it now?
We have no idea what the future of KTM will be in reality. Right now, all we're seeing are reports of the brand halting production, withdrawing from racing series, not paying employees, and possibly relocating production once it starts up again. None of this is what you want to hear when you're about to spend a considerable chunk of change on a bike from said company.
We don't know how long KTM's after-sale services will run for and, if they do, how good they'll be. That'd be risky enough to make anyone think twice about buying a new bike, even if it is heavily discounted. But throw in the fact that KTM's have been dealing with a huge reliability issue in the form of camshafts, and you've got an even bigger dilemma on your hands.
Buy a ticking time bomb that could be a nightmare to repair, or get lucky with your pick and get the deal of a lifetime. But there's one more factor to take into consideration before buying, and it's something that could turn a good deal into a terrible one for the consumer.
If the after-sale service sticks around for a while—I imagine here that most people would keep a new Superduke or the like for a few years—it could be finishing up by the time you try to sell your bike, making it nearly impossible to get a good price for it. So, although you saved a lot when buying the bike, you still lose a lot in the resale value.
Decisions, decisions.
Of course, these are all just possible scenarios and things to ponder because we really want to know if you would buy a new KTM that goes on clearance sale. I mean, you could just save a crazy amount on a new bike that ends up being reliable and KTM make a business comeback, in which case you feel like the world's biggest winner.
Who's hitting the KTM discount store? Let us know.
