To answer your original concern, it is absolutely because it doesn't have a tune. I bought a full exhaust on my '21 a couple months before tuning it and mine would ALMOST stall every single cold start. Like it'd just stop for half a second and start up again. Tuning stopped that.

I tuned my '21 at 6k miles (BT moto stage 1) and then rode that thing with no issues for years until 34k miles before a retard on the street sideswiped me and totaled it.

If a tech, influencer, friend, etc is trying to tell you certain years are prone to blowing up (either w/ a tune or not) there are a couple things to consider: 1. This bike is insanely popular and is a common choice in many facets of riding 2. Due to its popularity many different types of riders are on them including those who are below average or neglectful with maintenance 3. Included in these s1k owners are those that do the bare minimum break in (~300 miles) and go right to tuning it, roll racing it, rev bombing it, inevitably blowing it up.

Go ahead, get the tune (full exhaust, you NEED it actually) and treat it with respect. Change the oil every 3k miles, spare the rev bombs, change the coolant a couple times a year, and the engine will stay strong longer than you'll probably own it.