2025 update KTM camshaft failures 790 890 901 LC8c engines︱Cross Training Adventure

See our 2026 update here!    • KTM 790 & 890 camshaft failures! Causes, p...   Otherwise continue with our older 2025 KTM camshaft failures update on motorbikes with the LC8c engines since 2018. It includes KTM's 790 and 890 and Husqvarna Norden 901 camshaft failures. Hopefully we can summarise this objectively and dig a bit deeper into some potentially dodgy statistics and secondhand information. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. A quick history of established facts since 2018. It's not always an actual KTM camshaft failure, sometimes it's just abnormal camshaft wear. A growing number of angry and frustrated owners report the issue online. Some owners had warranty claims rejected. After two years KTM does not publicly admit there is a problem but the later said they fitted a larger oil strainer to correct the problems with KTM790 camshaft problems. 2021. Again, KTM does not admit a problem exists, but wider finger followers with a new DLC coating are used in 2021 models to allegedly correct the problem with KTM 890 camshaft failure. Others were fixed under warranty but waited up to six months due to the lack of camshafts. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. Many owners had to pay for repairs as they were already outside the one year warranty period. 2020. And in warranty claims, a new cylinder head is installed with enhanced oil delivery and a screen mesh filter to better filter out impurities in the oil. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. January 2024. When it took six years of pressure for KTM to finally admit the problem it is understandable that many are sceptical of KTM's claims. Several owners have attempted to publicly compile a data base but most owners do not even know these exist. Some disgruntled owners believe all camshafts will fail prematurely but there are plenty of owners with high mileage and zero issues. A Facebook group about KTM Failed Camshafts begins. It includes owners with camshaft failures and also owners wanting to keep informed about the issues including the Norden 901 camshafts. They highlighted this case of a 2023 KTM 890 with camshaft failure after only 11000 miles. July 2024. KTM finally admits publicly there is a problem after six years. At the same time, MCN reports that an engineer ran tests on his failed camshafts that suggested the camshafts are of insufficient hardness. We could not find other verification of this and KTM denies the hardness is a problem. KTM confirms a goodwill scheme that will cover the costs of repairs for both past and future cases. They also admit camshaft issues still affected some 2020 890 models. They claim there's nothing wrong with the camshafts. KTM states the problem was resolved with changes made back in 2020 and 2021. KTM also posts on the Failed Camshafts Facebook group and apologised to owners who 'feel affected by the camshaft topic'. KTM claims that most reported cases are just discoloration and running marks that can be fixed by cleaning the camshafts. February 2025. KTM announces a premium four year warranty on their larger models. This is also extended to 2023 and 2024 models. The biggest question? How many LC8c models are affected? In January 2025 KTM claimed there were only 250 cases over three years - only 0.5% of LC8c models sold worldwide. What about all those claims rejected but later accepted under the goodwill scheme? So KTM is certainly not the only brand when it comes to trying to sweep problems under the carpet. Is KTM's camshaft issue just another example of KTM treating their customers as lab rats? Perhaps. That's a topic I also explored a few years ago when a lot of the early TPI enduro models were seizing. So who knows what the actual truth unless a KTM whistle-blower gave us precise figures and information? Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vidHas the problem been fixed? Partially fixed perhaps. KTM's publicly announced modifications may have reduced the incidence but only time will tell. Look at this database. Camshaft wear is reported anywhere between 2500km to 70000km. There are definitely reports of 2023 models and later, but relatively few. We need to see a lot of riders with high mileage to know if the failure rate is lower. Some owners believe there could be a range of causes, and that overall the engine design itself does not allow sufficient lubrication. ing. What about you? Ever had a KTM camshaft failure? Did KTM look after you? Do you think KTM's claimed failure rate of 0.5% is probably true or not? Let us know in the comments. Should you buy a secondhand or brand new LC8 model? 0:00 Intro 0:21 History 2018-2025 3:08 Warning signs 3:26 Chances of failure 4:30 Has KTM solved it? 5:13 Should I buy a KTM? 5:47 Blown out of proportion? #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #ktmcamshafts