KTM

KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG

Type	Corporation
Industry	Motorcycle
Headquarters	Mattighofen, Austria
Key people	Stefan Pierer (CEO) Dr. Rudolf Knünz (Chairman)
Parent	KTM AG
Subsidiaries	Husaberg, Husqvarna
Website	ktm.com

KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG is an Austrian motorcycle manufacturer owned by CROSS Industries AG and Bajaj Auto Limited. KTM was formed in 1981 but traces its foundation as early as in 1934. In 1992 the company was spun off from its parent company KTM when it ran into financial troubles. KTM was split into four companies, all of which shared the same "KTM" branding, and in present have many more subsidiaries with the same branding. However, KTM-Sportmotorcycle is most commonly associated with the KTM brand, because it still continues the flagship business of its parent company.

KTM is known for its two-stroke and four-stroke off-road motorcycles though in recent years it has expanded into street motorcycle production and developing sports cars - One of the rarer types of KTM sports cars is called the X-Bow with a max top speed of 217 km/h (134.9 mph).

History

KTM in 2012

Foundation

KTM 990 SuperDukes lined up at Circuit Carole, France

In 1934 an Austrian engineer Johann (Hans) Trunkenpolz^[1] set up a metal working and locksmith shop in Mattighofen. In 1937 he started selling DKW motorcycles and Opel cars the following year. His shop was known as Kraftfahrzeug Trunkenpolz Mattighofen but the name was unregistered. During the Second World War his wife took care of the business which grew mainly of diesel engine repairs.^[2]

After the war, demand for repair works fell sharply and Trunkenpolz started thinking about producing his own motorcycles. The prototype of first motorcycle R100 was produced in 1951.^[3] All of the components of the motorcycle were produced in house, except for the Rotax engines which were made by Fichtel & Sachs.

KTM Era

In 1953, businessman Ernst Kronreif became a sizable shareholder of the company which was then renamed and registered as Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. KTM started serial production of R100 in 1954. With just 20 employees, motorcycles were built at the rate of three per day.

The company’s first title was secured shortly thereafter with the 1954 Austrian 125 national championship. KTM first made an appearance at the International Six Days Trials (Enduro) in 1956 where Egon Dornauer secured a gold medal. Racing continued to be a testing ground for production technology, but next in line was its first scooter, the Mirabell. It started providing a factory team for the ISDE in ’64. As the company continued to expand, the workforce totaled 400 in 1971, and forty years after it was founded, KTM was offering 42 different models.

In 1955 Tourist 125cc model was developed. In 1957 KTM built the first sports motorcycle Trophy 125cc. KTM's first moped, called Mecky was launched in 1957, followed by Ponny I in 1960 and Ponny II in 1962. The 1960s saw the beginning of the bicycle production. Beside, KTM was also able to produce motorcycles for the racing industry.

Ernst Kronreif died in 1980. Two years later in 1982 Hans Trunkenpolz also died of a heart attack and his son Erich Trunkenpolz took charge of the company's management. Its name was changed back to Kraftfahrzeug Trunkenpolz Mattighofen.^[4] At that time, KTM had about 180 employees and a turnover of €3.5m.

In 1988, US subsidiary KTM North America Inc. was founded in Lorain, Ohio. International business then amounted to 72% of the company turnover. In 1990, it was renamed KTM Motorfahrzeugbau AG.

Scooter and moped turnover sank rapidly, and production had to be halted in 1982. Erich Trunkenpolz died in 1989 and in 1991 KTM applied for insolvency. Its management was taken up by banks who split the company into four new entities in 1992:

• KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH, motorcycles division
• KTM Fahrrad GmbH, bicycles division
• KTM Kühler GmbH, radiators division
• KTM Werkzeugbau GmbH, tooling division

KTM-Sportmotorcycle

KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH started operation in 1992 and later took over the sibling tooling division KTM Werkzeugbau. In 1994 KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH was renamed KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG.^[5] In the same year it started production of Duke series of road motorcycles.

In 1995 KTM acquired Swedish motorcycle maker Husaberg AB,^[6] and took control of the Dutch company White Power Suspension.^[7]

In 1997 LC4 Supermoto and LC4 Adventure motorcycles are introduced by KTM.

Ownership

KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG is owned by KTM AG (formerly known as KTM Power Sports AG). In November 2007, Bajaj Auto Limited of India acquired 14.5% stake in KTM Power Sports AG and increased their shareholding to 47% by 2012.^[8]

At present KTM AG is 51% owned by CROSS KraftFahrZeug Holding GmbH, a subsidiary of CROSS Industries AG^[9] and 47% owned by Bajaj Auto. CROSS Industries is founded by KTM's current CEO Stefan Pierer.^[10]

Subsidiaries

In present KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG has the following subsidiaries:

• KTM-Racing AG
• KTM Events & Travel Service AG
• KTM Dealer & Financial Services GmbH
• Husaberg AB
• Husqvarna

Joint ventures

KTM started exporting their GS model to USA in 1968 through an American importer, John Penton under the Penton brand. This JV lasted until KTM established KTM America Inc. in Ohio in 1978.^[11]

In 2005, KTM-Sportmotocycle began a partnership with ATV manufacturer Polaris Industries with the goal of shared R&D, and more importantly shared distribution networks. This partnership was a two-year trial arrangement, at the end of which both parties had the option of merging the two companies into one. In 2006, KTM announced that the partnership with Polaris had been downgraded, and would instead only supply their 450cc and 510cc RFS engines to Polaris.^[7]

In January 2008, Bajaj announced that it would jointly develop two new 125cc and 200cc bikes for Europe and the Far East. The bikes would be badged KTM.^[12] In January 2012, Bajaj launched the Duke 200 model in India.^[13]

In 2015, KTM announced that it will invest US$5 million in a plant in the town of Campana (Buenos Aires), and begin production in Argentina, one of the models of their bikes, for which it will partner with SIMPA Group. Initially produce the KTM Duke 200, a motorcycle that the company plans to sell in the domestic market and the projection for 2015 it's produce six models in total.

Design

KTM Quad

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.

Racing sponsorship

Mika Kallio's 125 cc road race motorcycle

Samuli Aro's WEC E2 class bike

Tony Cairoli's 350 SX bike

KTM began in motorsports competing in motocross racing. KTM won its first championship in 1974 when Guennady Moisseev claimed the 250cc Motocross World Championship.^[14] In the last few years KTM has gained more success in motorsports by dominating rally-raid events such as the Paris-Dakar Rally and the Atlas-Rally. In 2003, KTM started sponsoring and supporting Road racing in various capacities, with the most successful results stemming from their Supermotard or Supermoto efforts. KTM's new road racing focus will soon grow to include Superbike competition with the help of their newly developed V-Twin engine dubbed the LC8 as employed in the 950 Adventure dual-sport motorcycle, and more specifically the 2005/2006 990 Super Duke followed by the superbike contender known as the 1190 RC8. The Super Duke will have a higher output, second generation version of the LC8 engine, geared for high rpm peak power as required in road racing and superstreet applications while the RC8 will sport a 1,190 cc version of the LC8 for more midrange.

In 2003, KTM made their Grand Prix motorcycle debut in the 125cc class, fielding two bikes for Roberto Locatelli and Arnaud Vincent, with Vincent being replaced by Mika Kallio mid-season. KTM won the 125cc constructor championship in 2005, with Mika Kallio just losing out to Thomas Luthi in the drivers championship. They also fielded bikes in the 250cc class between 2005-2008. In 2009, KTM announced their withdrawal from Grand Prix motorcycle racing in all classes, and did not return until 2012 in the Moto3 class. Despite an early domination by FTR Honda riders early in the season, KTM would won the constructor championship in 2012. The next season, KTM riders took wins in every race of the Moto3 class. KTM won a third consecutive manufacturers MotoGP title during the 2014 Moto3 season, before losing the constructor championship to Honda in 2015. They also supply the spec bike for the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. Starting in 2017, KTM will field bikes in both MotoGP and Moto2 classes as well; with the KTM MotoGP bike, the RC16, is scheduled to make a wildcard entry in the 2016 Valencia Grand Prix.

KTM offers a range of different engines for its larger motorcycles, all liquid-cooled.

KTM's official company/team colours are orange, black and silver. To create a strong brand identity, all competition-ready KTMs come from the factory with bright orange plastic with "KTM" emblazoned on the side of the radiator shrouds. All KTM bikes also come from the factory with a Motorex sticker on the outside of the motor. All first fills of oil come from Motorex as well. Some official KTM teams use different colors for their bikes, most noticeably in the Dakar Rally.

KTM announced plans to launch a UK-based UCI Continental cycling team.^[15] The team, known as KTM Cycling Team – Road and Trail.com, made its debut in 2014, albeit without UCI Continental status.^[16] Subsequently, in November 2014, it was announced that they would supply bikes to Team La Pomme Marseille 13 from 2015, with the team becoming Team Marseille 13 KTM.^[17]

Off-road motorcycles

KTM 450 EXC Enduro Motorcycle

KTM manufactures multiple variations of off-road motorcycles.

Motocross – The current Motocross line designated by SX includes 65, 85, 105, 125, 150 and 250 cc two-stroke models, and 250, 350, 450 four-stroke models. In 2005 KTM released the new 250SX-F to the general public. For the 2007 model-year, all of KTM's four-stroke SX motors were re-designed similarly to the 250 SX-F, in a dual-overhead cam 4-valve line dubbed the "RC4". The SX-F's are KTM's new racing motocross range introduced in 2007.

KTM now produce a 150SX (144 cc), which was developed to take advantage of AMA rule changes in the amateur classes.

Cross-Country – The current line designated by XC includes a 250 XC and 300 XC two-strokes models, and the 250 XC-F, 350 XC-F, 450 XC-F, and 500 XC-F four-stroke models. They have a close-ratio gearbox, stiffer linkage suspensions, and the four-strokes have a shorter-stroke motor design, mirroring their SX counterparts. The XC line updates and replaces their old MXC bikes.

Enduro – KTM began manufacturing competition Enduro motorcycles in the 1960s and started competing in 1964. By 1968 their 125cc GS model was imported into the US market as the Penton Six Day. In 1973 they began production of their first 250cc two-stroke Enduro bike^[7] and in 1974 Italian rider Imerio Testori won KTM their first European Championship title. In 1981 they produced their first liquid cooled motor and soon thereafter applied the technology to four-strokes culminating in the 1987 LC4 (liquid-cooled four-stroke) motor and two more championships. 1997 marked the beginning of KTMs domination of the off-road/Enduro market with the introduction of the LC4 based, electric-starting, 400 EGS-E. The electric-starting bike became the RFS (Racing Four Stroke) 400 EXC in 1999 and dominated the World Enduro Championship.

The EXC line has been a long-time favourite for Enduro market, and outsell other brands. The RFS motor available in 250 cc, 400 cc, 450 cc and 510 cc models between 2000 and 2007 was replaced with the XC4 motor beginning with the 2008 model year. Despite the popularity of the four-stroke KTMs the company also leads the market in two-stroke enduro bike development, adding electric-starting to the 250 and 300 EXC two-strokes in 2008, and to the 200 EXC in 2013.^[7][11][18]

The EXC Enduro versions of their cross-country bikes are supplied with plusher non-linkage suspension, a wider-ratio gear box and lights. The XC-W replaced their old EXC two-strokes, a move the company made in order to comply with EPA restrictions in the United States. The international versions are still designated EXC. The current line consists of 250, 350, 450, 500 (actually 510 cc) four-strokes, and 125, 150 (actually 143.99 cc), 250 and 300 cc two-strokes. Beginning in 2007 some of the four-stroke enduros were reintroduced to the US market with the designation EXC and are plated street-legal enduro bikes.^[11] One enduro race where KTM plays a competitive role is the, every man for himself never before seen in off-road racing, The Last Man Standing Enduro Event held annually in Bulcher, Texas, US.

Free Ride – A KTM original class of off-road motorcycle. They are a cross between enduro and trials bikes. Models include the two-stroke Freeride 250R, the four-stroke Freeride 350 and the all electric Freeride E-SX and Freeride E-XC. Other manufacturers with similar offerings include the Beta Xtrainer, Ossa Explorer 250 and the Sherco X-Ride 125 and 290.

Kids Bikes

50 SX Mini 50 SX

65 SX 85 SX

85 SX 17/14 105 SX

125 SX 150 SX

KTM Off-road Bikes by Type

two-stroke Motocross	four-stroke Motocross	two-stroke Enduro/ XCountry	four-stroke Enduro/ XCountry	Plated	FreeRide
125 SX		125 EXC			E-SX
150 SX		150 XC-W, 200 EXC, 200 XC-W			E-XC
250 SX	250 SXF	250 EXC, 250 XC, 250 XC-W	250 EXC-F, 250 XC-F, 250 XCF-W		250R
		300 DMX, 300 MXC 300 EXC, 300 XC, 300 XC-W
360 MXC	350 SXF	350 GS, 360 EXC, 380 EXC	350 EXC-F, 350 XC-F, 350 XCF-W	350 EXC-F	350
400/440 MX	450 SXF		400 EXC, 450 EXC, 450 XC, 450 XC-W	450 EXC
500 MX, 540/550 MX		500 GS, 540 DXC	520 EXC, 525 EXC, 530 EXC, 500 EXC, 500 XC-W	530 EXC-R, 500 EXC

Two-stroke development

Since the major rule changes in Motocross to make 4-stroke bikes more competitive in motocross and being given a 125 cc 2-stroke to 250 cc 4-stroke advantage the cheaper, simpler 2-stroke bikes have been dying out.

Since other manufacturers have decided to discontinue their 2-stroke models, KTM has continued with creating and improving their 2-stroke models and taking up a very high proportion of the 2-stroke bike market.

KTM has also created a new 2-stroke MX bike with 144 cc to comply with the 2008 AMA motocross class changes. This change has been made to bring back the 2-stroke bikes to encourage more entry to the market as the 2-stroke bikes are cheaper to maintain and repair than the expensive 4-stroke bikes.

Environmental agencies have tried to remove 2-stroke machines because they produce more pollution than 4-strokes. However, with newer advances in technology 2-strokes have begun to burn cleaner and pass stricter green standards.

In recent interviews KTM has revealed that they will continue to produce and improve 2-stroke bikes and have already begun looking at Direct Fuel Injection (DFI).^[19] A DFI fuel induction system injects fuel at high pressure, over 100 bars (1,500 psi) into the combustion chamber, after the exhaust port has been fully closed. This eliminates almost any unburnt fuel escaping the combustion process and entering the atmosphere.

In 2011 KTM changed the look of their two-strokes, also in 2012 they re-introduced linkage suspension on the SX and XC models. KTM had dropped linkage suspension in favor of their PDS system in 1998.

Street bikes

KTM Duke 620 – KTM's first stock supermoto bike^[20][21]

Supermoto KTM produces several supermoto race bikes with displacements ranging from 450 (a supermoto version of the 450sx-f) to 690 cc. They also make four non race-oriented models in 625, 654, 950 and 990 cc displacements. KTM was the first manufacturer to offer a competition-ready Supermoto bike to the public, and their sponsored racers currently sit atop the US Supermoto racing circuit. The new LC8 SuperMoto 950 has received rave reviews from all the bike magazines and newspapers in the United Kingdom.

Dual-sport Adventure bikes offered with both the LC4 Engine (Adventure 640, 640R, 660, and 690) and the LC8 Engine (Adventure 950, 950S, 990). The 640R is the base of the Rally 660 which has won many Dakar Rallies.

KTM Sport Bikes include the Duke, the RC and the Super Duke.^[22]

KTM Sport / Super Moto / Adventure Street Bikes

Sport Bikes	Super Moto Bikes	Super Enduro/ Adventure Bikes	Other Bikes
Duke 125, RC 125	625 SMC	690 Enduro, 690 Enduro R KTM 690 Enduro	450 SX ATV
200 Duke, RC 200	640 SMC	950 Super-Enduro R	450 XC ATV
Duke 250, RC 250	660 SMC KTM 660 SMC	620/625	505 SX ATV
390 Duke, RC 390	690 SMC, 690 SMC R	640 ADV KTM 640 Adventures with rally fairings	525 XC ATV
640-690 Duke 2014 KTM 690 Duke	A KTM Supermoto with an aftermarket Akrapovic exhaust	950 Adventure KTM 950 Adventure trail riding	FREERIDE E-SM
990 Super Duke R	990 SMR, 990 SMT	990 Adventure
1190 RC8 sportbike		1190 Adventure
1290 Super Duke R[22]		1290 Super Adventure

Moto3 results

Pos	QAT	AME	ARG	ESP	POR	FRA	ITA	CAT	NED	GER	AUT	IND	CZE	GBR	RSM	ARA	JPN	AUS	MAL	VAL	Pts	Position
2012	3	-	-	3	1	5	2	3	2	1	-	3	2	3	1	2	1	1	1	1	346	1st
2013	1	1	-	1	-	1	1	1	1	1	-	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	425	1st
2014	1	1	1	1	-	1	1	2	5	1	-	2	2	3	3	1	5	1	2	1	384	1st
2015	10	5	4	2	-	1	1	5	1	4	-	3	3	2	2	1	2	1	1	1	341	2nd
2016	2	1	3	1	-	1	1	2	3	2	1	-	7	1	1	2	2	1	3	1	382	1st

X-Bow

KTM X-Bow front

KTM has a lightweight street legal (Europe) car known as the X-Bow.^[23] It uses an Audi engine and a Dallara sourced chassis. This car seats two people.

• weight: 790 kg
• length: approximately 3.6 m
• engine: 1,998 cc, 237 hp (240 PS, 176 kW), 310 NM (229 ft-lbs) (Audi 2.0 TFSI); Topversion 300 hp
• 6-speed gearbox
• price: about 45,000 Euro^[24][25]

References

1. "Hans Trunkenpolz". Retrieved 2013-06-23.
2. "KTM-Motorfahrzeugbau KG, Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen". Retrieved 2013-06-23.
3. "A Short Background of KTM Bicycles". Retrieved 2013-06-23.
4. Kariya, Mark (July 2002). "From rags to riches: How KTM emerged from near-death to become a powerhouse in the sport". Dirt Rider: 89.
5. Wheeler, Adam, #inthisyear1994: KTM is renamed KTM Sportmotorcycle AG, KTM
6. "Everything about Husaberg". autoevolution.com. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
7. Gardiner, Mark. "KTM Motorcycle History". motorcycle.com. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
8. "Bajaj hikes stake in KTM to 47 pc".
9. "CROSS Industries AG Organizational Chart". Retrieved 2013-06-23.
10. "KTM Management". Retrieved 2013-06-23.
11. "KTM Motorcycle History". Motorcycle USA. February 23, 2008. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
12. "Bajaj & Ktm To Jointly Develop New Bikes". Biker Voodoo. 2007-06-20. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
13. Business & Industry (2011-10-20). "Bajaj launches Duke 200 in India, specifications". Gujaratglobal.com. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
14. "1974 250cc motocross world championship results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
15. Clarke, Stuart (11 October 2013). "KTM to launch a new team in the UK". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
16. "KTM Cycling Team – Road and Trail.com 2014". Cycling Archives. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
17. Clarke, Stuart (19 November 2014). "La Pomme Marseille team up with KTM". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
18. Scott Rousseau (19 June 2015). "2015 KTM Dual-Sport and Cross-Country Dirt Bikes". Off-Road.com. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
19. Steve Anderson (13 August 2012). "Two-stroke Resurrection". Cycle World.com. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
20. "Off-the-Shelf Racers; KTM's Supermoto three-pack", American Motorcyclist, American Motorcyclist Association, vol. 58 no. 4, p. 20, April 2004, ISSN 0277-9358, retrieved 2011-05-04
21. Duke, Olly (August 1994), "KTM Duke: supermotard styling strikes again", Cycle World, pp. 62 (2)
22. http://www.ktm.com/in/naked-bike.html
23. Rated X: KTM unveils X-Bow sketches – Autoblog
24. Kleine Zeitung (German)
25. Der Standard (German)

External links

• KTM International website
• KTM Bicycles website
• KTM Car Company