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

Showdown: 2022 Kawasaki Ninja 400 Vs KTM RC390 - At The Track

Does the updated KTM have what it takes to dethrone the class king? Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield; Video by: Sean Matic | Videos by Sean Matic It’s good to be the king. At least, that’s what it feels like to anyone racing a Kawasaki Ninja 400.

2022 KTM RC390 Review - First Ride

A more focused lightweight sportbike Credit: Photos by Casey Davis Since its debut in 2015, the KTM RC390 has represented the pointed end of the lightweight sportbike spectrum. Aggressive in its styling, and dedicated to its Ready to Race brand promise, the RC390 has always been pitched as a fun little track bike that also happens to be street-legal with enough comfort for daily duty. This has caused the little KTM to be lauded with praise at the track in our previous comparisons, but at the same time, that attitude has caused the Kawasaki Ninja 400 to come out on top as a better well-rounded motorcycle in our last two comparisons.

KTM 790 Duke Returns for 2022

The Scalpel is back In a surprising move, KTM is bringing back the 790 Duke, returning “the Scalpel” to its lineup in select markets after a very brief absence. The 790 Duke was introduced in 2017, but it was quickly supplanted by the 890 Duke R in 2019 as KTM’s top middleweight naked. The 790 was dropped completely for the 2021 model year, replaced by a new non-R 890 Duke.

KTM Super Duke EVO-Based 2022 Brabus 1300 R Leaks Ahead of Official Reveal

KTM is teasing a collaboration with German tuning house Brabus, with a new naked bike based on the 1290 Super Duke EVO. According to the teasers, 2022 Brabus 1300 R is due to be announced on Feb. 11, but the bike briefly popped up on KTM’s official website.

Pierer Mobility Confirms a KTM E-Duke is in Development

Electric Duke joins Husqvarna E-Pilen in E-Mobility plans Pierer Mobility confirmed it is working on an electric KTM streetbike as part of its push towards electro mobility. The news comes from a presentation of preliminary revenues and earnings for the 2021 business year, confirming that an E-Duke is in development. While this is the first official confirmation of an E-Duke, its development comes as no surprise, especially after KTM’s sister brand Husqvarna revealed an E-Pilen concept last April.

2024 KTM RC990 Sportbike Spied

890 Duke-based supersport spotted in Spain Credit: Photos by Bernhard Höhne/BMH-Images Last summer, KTM got us excited with a new RC 8C sportbike, but our interest waned when we realized it was a limited production track bike that was not street legal. Still, that didn’t stop interested customers from scooping up all 100 units less than five minutes after the pre-order window opened. Not that we were surprised about the strong demand, as it has been years since KTM produced a large-displacement sportbike.

KTM 390 Adventure: the updates for the 2022 season

The Austrians have slightly refreshed their small-capacity tourenduro for the next model year. No real changes have occurred, the "orange" only brought the design to the ideal. It is clear that the main change was bringing the engine to comply with Euro-5 environmental standards.

Battle Royale: 7-Way Heavyweight Naked Bike Shootout - Track

You think you know which bike is best on track? Think again. Credit: Photos by Dito Milan/GotBlueMilk, Evans Brasfield | Videos by Sean Matic, Jacob Canepa Twists.

2022 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT First Look

Euro 5 updates and new turn-by-turn navigation system for the GT Credit: Photos by Sebas Romero and KISKA GmbH KTM isn’t officially at EICMA, but that didn’t stop the Austrian manufacturer from getting in on the fun, announcing an updated 1290 Super Duke GT for 2022. The GT receives a number of updates first introduced on the current Super Duke R, including its Euro 5-rated 1301cc V-Twin engine that claims a peak output of 175 hp and 104 lb-ft. The Super Duke GT also gets the naked bike’s CAD-designed five-spoke wheels that KTM claims weigh 2.2 pounds lighter than the previous GT’s wheels.

Battle Royale: 7-Way Heavyweight Naked Bike Shootout - Street

The big boys in the naked bike category duke it out on the street. Credit: Photos by Evans Brasfield | Videos by Sean Matic, Paisley Kerr, Nico De Prato Welcome to Motorcycle.com’s 2021 Heavyweight Naked bike Shootout. If you haven’t noticed, 2021 has been the year of naked bike shootouts here at MO.