2020 Vitpilen 401 rants

[waxfiggy]

Hello! I am new to this forum I figured this would be the best place to share my experience as the other forum that I found is pretty much dead (vitpilenforum) and I do not have a Facebook acc.

I bought the bike brand new from GP Motorcycles in San Diego, CA around mid-March of this year.
I ride anywhere from 10~50 miles per day / 100~300 on weekends. I am currently sitting around 1,800 miles. I got the first 600mi service done at the dealership.

Now here are some of the issues that I've experienced with this Indian manufactured bike.

1. 30mins out of the dealership, I saw something leaking on the left side (some on top of the engine, and some around the chain sprocket guard). Not sure if this was engine oil leaking or the dealer put too much chain lube? anyhow, it disappeared after 30 more mins of riding and never happened again.
2. Brake fluid at the front was not filled to the minimum. I only noticed after 300~400mi. I've looked at one other bike online and saw that bike (svartpilen) did not have it filled to the minimum line either. Called the dealer and they said "we have the same bike in service right now and this bike is not up to the minimum either. This is normal but if you want we can fill it up to the minimum line next time you bring it in" (picture included)
3. One of the screw that is attached to the exhaust is slightly loose no matter how much I try to screw it in. It makes this annoying rattling noise around 3~4k rpm and still does. I will be getting a Leo Vince slip-on exhaust once it becomes available in June. (2020 leo vince are back ordered. not sure if 2019s would fit? Leo Vince service advisor said it won't fit.) (picture included)
4. Before I got the first 600mi service done at the dealership, I've had "Quickshifter Failure" light come on 6~7 times. Not sure how I've "failed" it since I didn't bother to use the quickshifter at all before 600mi. After I got the 600mi service done, and started using the quickshifter, that warning sign never came back on.
5. Tail part has small black paint on top of the plastic (At the bottom, behind the taillight). I think they tried to paint over whatever damage /scratch they did to the plastic. No surprises as this is Indian manufactured. (picture included)
6. Taillight has a small silver piece of plastic stuck at the bottom of the light housing. Again, this bike is manufactured in India so I'm not surprised. But damn, stuff like this makes it feel extra toy-ish, like I bought this bike from toys-r-us instead of a motorcycle dealership. (picture included)
7. Headlight fogging and leaving this flower pattern dry marks. I called the dealer and they said they will replace the headlight with a warranty claim when I bring it in for the 4,650mi service. (picture included)
8. False neutral at least once a day when I upshift from 4th to 5th using the quickshifter.
9. Engine randomly shutting off from 2nd to 1st (I think it is 2nd to 1st but I can't recall every situation it happened in). After researching the forums and youtube, some have said this happens when you fill the gas to the top. While this is true for most bikes, at least for my case, my gas tank was half empty when this happened. Not sure if anyone has found a solution to this. It happens at least once a day just like the false neutral.
10. Just found out today that I can't complete the oil change on my own without removing the exhaust header.

My previous bikes are R3 and R6. I bought both bikes used, 2015 R3 at 13,000 miles, 2009 R6 at 11,000 miles. I rode the R3 up to 27,000 miles and R6 up to 16,000 miles. Both of the bikes have not had a single issue and I was able to do the oil change on them fairly easily (R3 - 10 mins, R6 - 30 mins due to complicated fairing removal).

That being said, I knew the vitpilen, especially the 2020 model, would have a lot (crap ton) of issues based on the fact that this is the first street bike in years for Husq, KTM 390 (duke.rc.adv) sibling's reliability nightmare stories and 2020 being made in India in Bajaj. I knew all these issues would happen but I bought the bike anyway because 3 months ago, it was the most beautiful looking bike I've seen. However, after dealing with these little annoyance, I don't think I will ever go for another husqy/ktm product. I will stick to Japanese bikes after this one!

Let me know if you guys have experienced similar issues or different issues with your 401's! Let's share the pain

 

[aitormartin]

I've had a few issues aswell with my 2018 vitpilen. I bought the bike with 6.500km and now its at 11.500km so it probably had other issues before me buying it.

1. False neutrals when downshifting. Thankfully it only happened once, but it was pretty scary. it was right before a tight corner while going downhill...

2. Condensation spots in the instrument cluster. I tried to remove them and while I was at it I took the opportunity to Change the polarity of the LCD display. I managed to remove the spots, but new ones appeared so I didn't solve this one really.

3. The bike only starts up with the handlebar pointing to the left... This one really pisses me off... I just left the bike to my mechanic, hopefully he can figure this one out. This issue is becoming worse and worse with every passing day, so I decided to take the bike to the shop before I can't start it anymore (which almost happens yesterday).

4. Engine randomly shutting off aswell. This happens very few times, but combined with the bike only starting up with the handlebars pointing to the left... It's really anoying when this happens.

I also noticed some dirt getting inside the front headlight (In the bottom part). But I'm not willing to take it appart to remove it to be honest.

Other than that, the bike is really fun and I'm really happy with it. So I guess I'll have to live with it...

 

[Dan00Hawk]

4200 miles on my 2020 Svartpilen, and haven't had any of the issues you are experiencing. Sorry you got one of the lemons...

 

[Vintage Veloce]

Well, mine has been great, no problems. ;-)
But I have found that many of the bolts needed some cleanup. The thread cutting is rough on some of the parts and I use an appropriate tap and die to clean the threads as needed. I never experienced that on a vehicle before... I'm guessing that is some lower quality machining / parts. That said, IMO the bike is pretty inexpensive for what it is, so there are some compromises to accept.
I have found it interesting that bolts all over the bike have "witness marks" where someone at the factory must check the bolts. I have assumed that is some quality control thing they are doing.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

PS: come check out our cheap exhaust explorations:

Akrapovic and LeoVince Replica / Fake Muffler Exhaust Options

I bought two muffler options to compare. (Thanks to BISavage for inspiration!) These seem to only fit 2019 and earlier exhaust systems. The akrapovic replica has a cool shape, and is stainless steel. They also sell this with various carbon look hydro dip films coatings. Beware that those are...

hqvadventure.com

 

[waxfiggy]

I've had a few issues aswell with my 2018 vitpilen. I bought the bike with 6.500km and now its at 11.500km so it probably had other issues before me buying it.

1. False neutrals when downshifting. Thankfully it only happened once, but it was pretty scary. it was right before a tight corner while going downhill...

2. Condensation spots in the instrument cluster. I tried to remove them and while I was at it I took the opportunity to Change the polarity of the LCD display. I managed to remove the spots, but new ones appeared so I didn't solve this one really.

3. The bike only starts up with the handlebar pointing to the left... This one really pisses me off... I just left the bike to my mechanic, hopefully he can figure this one out. This issue is becoming worse and worse with every passing day, so I decided to take the bike to the shop before I can't start it anymore (which almost happens yesterday).

4. Engine randomly shutting off aswell. This happens very few times, but combined with the bike only starting up with the handlebars pointing to the left... It's really anoying when this happens.

I also noticed some dirt getting inside the front headlight (In the bottom part). But I'm not willing to take it appart to remove it to be honest.

Other than that, the bike is really fun and I'm really happy with it. So I guess I'll have to live with it...

Have you talked to the dealership at all regarding the warranty? or has it been expired?

 

[waxfiggy]

Well, mine has been great, no problems. ;-)
But I have found that many of the bolts needed some cleanup. The thread cutting is rough on some of the parts and I use an appropriate tap and die to clean the threads as needed. I never experienced that on a vehicle before... I'm guessing that is some lower quality machining / parts. That said, IMO the bike is pretty inexpensive for what it is, so there are some compromises to accept.
I have found it interesting that bolts all over the bike have "witness marks" where someone at the factory must check the bolts. I have assumed that is some quality control thing they are doing.

that is true. can't really complain after only spending $5000 for a bike hah.

I read on another forum (might have been a reddit post, can't fully recall) that the "witness marks" all over the bike are from stricter quality control from the bajaj factory after so many of their initial ones had issues

 

[aitormartin]

Have you talked to the dealership at all regarding the warranty? or has it been expired?

it has been expired. Also, the dealership where the previous owner bought it has a really bad reputation, a lot of people have told me to stay away from them. So I've never been there.

 

[BISavage]

I have owned many new vehicles and its not a Husky / KTM thing that stuff happens.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

I once picked up my bike from the dealer and as I was about to ride off I saw a closed end wrench still hanginging on the brake bleeder screw! I asked to speak to the shop manager and showed him and he just shrugged.
I should have just pocketed the wrench.

 

[aitormartin]

Update on this:

3. The bike only starts up with the handlebar pointing to the left... This one really pisses me off... I just left the bike to my mechanic, hopefully he can figure this one out. This issue is becoming worse and worse with every passing day, so I decided to take the bike to the shop before I can't start it anymore (which almost happens yesterday).

I just got the bike back. The problem was that the cable that connects to the start button was broken inside the plastic sleeve. He told me that the plastic sleevehat holds the wiring was too stiff, so every time I lock the handlebar I was putting strain on those cables.

From now on I will be much more carefull with that.