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KTM Motorcycles

About KTM

KTM Sportmotorcycle AG is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and moped manufacturer. KTM is most commonly known for its off road motorcycles though in recent years it has expanded into street motorcycle production.

The company was founded in 1934 by engineer Hans Trunkenpolz in Mattighofen. It started out as a metal working shop and was named Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. In 1937, it started repairing and selling DKW motorcycles, and Opel the following year.

In 1954 KTM began producing motorcycles, almost all of the components being produced in house, with the notable exception of engines, made most often by company Rotax.

In 1955, a businessman Ernst Kronreif became shareholder of the company, on acquiring a sizable portion of the company. It was then renamed Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen.

KTM's first moped, called Mecky was launched in 1957, followed by Ponny I in 1960 and Ponny II in 1962, and the decade saw the beginning of the bicycle production.

Kronreif died in 1960 and Trunkenpolz two years later, of a heart attack. Company name was changed back to Kraftrader Trunkenpolz Mattighofen with his son Erich taking managing the company. In 1978, US subsidiary KTM North America Inc. was founded in Lorain, Ohio. In 1980, it was renamed KTM Motor-Fahrzeugbau KG.

Since 1990, KTM motorcycles and automobiles (X-Bow) have been designed by KiskaDesign, a Salzburg-based design firm. It is responsible for the overall branding for KTM; including the design of the vehicles, shops, exhibits and printed material.

KTM first participated in motorsports events in 1953 in the 5th Gaisberg competition in which it won the first three places. One year later, KTM won the Austrian 125 national championship. Two years later, in 1956, KTM participated in the International Six Days race for the first time and Egon Dornauer won the gold. 1966 year marks the winning of the Austrian national championship by Manfred Klerr using the new 250cc Motorcross bike. In 1973, the Austrian team records the first World Championship points and the first Grand Prix wins.

Moto blog

Go Cuckoo for KTM

Thu, 27 Feb 2014

Pull open any manufacturer’s gifts and accessories catalog and you’ll usually find the same kind of officially-branded items like key chains, beer mugs and iPhone cases. Most manufacturers offer similar items, with only the colors and logos to differentiate them. Once in a while however, manufacturers offer something that truly stands out.

2014 AMA Supercross – Atlanta Results

Mon, 24 Feb 2014

KTM‘s Ken Roczen continues to impress, taking his second AMA Supercross win of his 450-class rookie season at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Roczen, who also won the season opening Anaheim 1 round, took advantage of a mistake by Kawasaki‘s Ryan Villopoto to take the win and move within nine points of the defending champion in the rider standings. The main event started with Smartop Motoconcepts Suzuki rider Mike Alessi taking the holeshot for his best start this season.

WP Suspension forms North American Subsidiary

Fri, 21 Feb 2014

Austrian company WP Suspension has restructured its North American operations, forming a new subsidiary with a network of authorized centers. The newly-formed WP Suspension North America Inc. will help meet the demand for the company’s suspension products as well as parts and technical support.

2014 KTM 450 Rally Replica Announced

Thu, 20 Feb 2014

KTM announced it will offer an official replica production version of its Dakar-winning 450 Rally bike. Marc Coma rode the 450 Rally for his fourth Dakar victory and 13th in a row for KTM in January, finishing nearly two hours faster than any other motorcycle entrant. The 2014 KTM 450 Rally Replica will be available for purchase later this year for €24,000 (US$32,881) for privateer racers or anyone else who wants to own their own rally bike.

Lotus C-01 Motorcycle Revealed

Thu, 20 Feb 2014

After remaining mostly quiet since releasing an initial teaser last June, auto racing team Kodewa has revealed its Lotus C-01 motorcycle. Officially licensed to use the Lotus automaker’s brand, the C-01 is a carbon-clad V-Twin boasting approximately 200 hp. Before we get much further, let’s clear up some possible misconceptions.

2014 AMA Supercross – Arlington Results

Tue, 18 Feb 2014

James Stewart‘s hot streak continues with his second-consecutive win and fourth AMA Supercross podium in five weeks after an impressive effort at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Fresh off of signing a contract extension with Yoshimura Suzuki, Stewart took control of the Arlington main event on the third lap, passing holeshot-taker Ryan Dungey and running away with the win. With his win last week at San Diego, Stewart becomes the first rider to win back-to-back races this season and establishes himself as a championship contender as we approach the mid-way point of the 2014 season.

Motorcycle Stability Control Retrofit Now Available for 2013 KTM 1190 Adventure

Tue, 18 Feb 2014

As promised, KTM has made available the new Motorcycle Stability Control system as a retrofit kit for 2013 1190 Adventure and Adventure R models. The 1190 Adventure models are the first motorcycles to be equipped with the MSC system from Bosch. MSC works with the 1190′s combined antilock braking and traction control systems, allowing both rider assist aids even when leaned over.

2014 AMA Supercross – San Diego Results

Mon, 10 Feb 2014

James Stewart captured his first AMA Supercross win of the season, leading all 20 laps before a crowd of 56,828 fans at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif. The Yoshimura Suzuki rider becomes the fourth different winner of  the season in the 450 class through six rounds. The news was less positive for last week’s winner Chad Reed.

KTM Developing 500cc and 800cc Twins

Wed, 05 Feb 2014

After setting a new company record for motorcycle sales on the back of small displacement models like the Duke line (like the 390 Duke pictured above), KTM is turning its attention to mid-sized models. Speaking with Overdrive.in at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo, KTM Chief Executive Officer Stefan Pierer says the company has 500cc and 800cc parallel Twin engines in development, with new models expected to enter production within three years. The new mid-sized models will be produced in India for the Indian market to avoid the country’s stringent import duties.

2013 US Motorcycle Sales Data

Tue, 04 Feb 2014

The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) reported a modest 1.4% growth in U.S. motorcycle and scooter sales in 2013, with consumers purchasing 465,783 vehicles. The sales data represents numbers from the MIC’s member brands which include BMW, Can-Am, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, the Piaggio Group (which includes Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Vespa), Victory, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha.