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

KTM to stop production due to coronavirus

Pierer Mobility has announced plans to temporarily stop assembling KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas brands from March 30 to April 10. We are talking about the plant in Mattighofen, where "orange" motorcycles and Husqvarna are produced, as well as a factory in Girona, Spain. The company is taking this step to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

New KTM 1290 Super Adventure Gets Active Cruise Control

The Austrians are testing a prototype of an upgraded large "nomad", which will receive an unprecedented electronic system. The design of the front of the modern Super Adventure a la “giant mutant insect” still raises questions from the faithful fans, and the closer it gets to the presentation of the new features the more concerns there will be - a huge slot will appear below between the headlights. This is not a design whim, but a technological necessity.

KTM is preparing a new two-cylinder engine

KTM is planning a line of motorcycles with an engine capacity of around 500cc which will be produced at the Bajaj plant in India and sold in emerging markets and it also intends to expand the palette of bikes on the LC8c platform (799 cc “double”).

KTM Unveils RC390R Combat Sportbike

The Austrian sportbike will be limited to 500 pieces. KTM knows a lot not only about tourenduro or supermoto - in its history there was an unforgettable sportbike 1190 RC8, and now there is a nimble “shorty” RC390. Each RC390R features a fully adjustable WP suspension, a different handlebar for a more racing fit, folding clutch and brake levers, and a modified engine intake tract.

KTM Unveils New 790 Duke And… Something Else

A fresh naked and tour enduro prototype debuted at EICMA. The KTM 790 Duke is equipped with a compact 799cc LC8c inline twin with up to 105 hp and 86 Nm. The engine is housed in the traditional KTM steel birdcage frame and is part of the power structure.

The Austrians block the choke hold

Recently, KTM has unveiled an updated flagship in the RC lineup. According to the new EU requirements, the motorcycle engine now meets the strict environmental requirements of Euro-4 and a couple of innovations were added to the design. The redesigned exhaust system will now end with a classic muffler facing the right side of the bike.

Just Another Duke in the KTM line-up

In one of KTM's branded parking lots in Europe, a disguised motorcycle was spotted with a new engine, the estimated volume of which is 800 cm3. It seems that the Austrians are working on a plan for a serious attack on the road segment in 2016. The motorcycle looks like the Duke series.

KTM tourist crossover spotted in Spain

A partially disguised touring bike that is based on a charged naked KTM 1290 Super Duke R has been accidentally discovered while testing in Spain. According to rumors, the novelty will be called 1290 Super Duke Gran Turismo. The bike is powered by the same 1301cc powerplant as the 1290 Super Duke R and 1290 Super Adventure.

KTM brings RC250 and Duke 250 to market

In addition to the already existing models 125, 200 and 390 created on almost the same platform, the Austrians have added a 248.8cc sportbike and naked bike. The power plant of motorcycles is based on the older Duke model and produces 31hp.

Webb Wins Salt Lake City EnduroCross

From an EnduroCross press release: Factory Beta and Stillwell Performance-backed Cody Webb took a decisive win tonight in Salt Lake City’s inaugural AMA GEICO EnduroCross event. The win was Webb’s second after taking the first round victory in Las Vegas and puts him and his Beta two-stroke 300 into the points lead. The race fans in attendance at the Energy Solutions Arena saw a night go almost perfectly for GEICO-supported Webb.