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

Red Bull Glen Helen National Media Day Thursday, May 22

With the Supercross season over, and Motocross season now beginning, Thursday, May 22, will be a media day leading up to the Red Bull Glen Helen National. This event is open to all journalists — no credential necessary.  The day kicks off at 1pm, with a press conference featuring former 450 Class Champions: Ryan Dungey, James Stewart and Chad Reed. The floor will be open for media Q&A.

2014 AMA Supercross Season Wrap-Up

With the AMA Supercross season now over, the American Motorcyclist Association congratulates the three riders who claimed AMA No. 1 plates during the 2014 AMA Supercross season — Ryan Villopoto, 450SX champion; Justin Bogle, 250SX East champion; and Jason Anderson, 250SX West champion. Ryan Villopoto, from Seattle, Wash., locked up his fourth straight AMA Supercross premier class title in the series’ penultimate round, clinching at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

2014 AMA Supercross – Las Vegas Results

Ryan Villopoto capped off his fourth-consecutive AMA Supercross championship with an impressive victory at the season finale at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider clinched the title at last week’s New Jersey round so he didn’t have to prove anything in Vegas. But he did, leading all 20 laps and winning by nearly 14 seconds.

2014 AMA Supercross – New Jersey Results

A crowd of 62,217 fans in East Rutherford, N.J. witnessed the coronation of Ryan Villopoto as the 2014 AMA Supercross Champion. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider took the holeshot and led very lap in a decisive victory to clinch the championship, his fourth in a row.

“PENTON: The John Penton Story” Trailer + Video

Fans of off-road racing will be happy to hear that after nearly six years, the public can see a sneak peak of the film “PENTON: The John Penton Story” with the newly released trailer featuring John Penton, his hall of fame family and a few of the motorcycle industry legends that were interviewed for the film. The nearly four-minute trailer teases the entire film and specific stories the audience will get to see in the final film when it opens in theaters on June 20th. Scored by the film’s composer and music editor Chris Brady, the trailer features: John Penton along with his sons Jack, Jeff and Tom.

KTM Reports Q1 2014 Sales Results

KTM reported a record year in 2013, but the Austrian company does not appear to be slowing down in 2014. KTM claims sales of 32,994 motorcycles over the first three months of the year, an impressive 26.8% increase over the same period in 2013. Considering KTM sold a record 123,859 all of last year, the impressive start bodes well for another attempt at a sales record in 2014.

2014 AMA Supercross – Seattle Results

Ryan Villopoto won his fifth race of the season while James Stewart took second place to just barely remain in contention for the 2014 AMA Supercross title. Meanwhile it was a bitter-sweet podium for third-place finisher KTM‘s Ryan Dungey who was officially mathematically eliminated from title contention. Racing in his home town of Seattle, Wash., Villopoto led every lap en route to an easy win, his fifth of the season.

2014 AMA Supercross – Houston Results

Ryan Villopoto ran mostly unchallenged for his fourth win of the 2014 AMA Supercross season, taking advantage of an early spill by Ryan Dungey. The win strengthens Villopoto’s hold on the points lead as the Kawasaki rider seeks his fourth-consecutive championship. Villopoto took the holeshot in the Houston main event and never looked back, leading all 20 laps for the win.

2014 GEICO EnduroCross Series Kicks Off May 2

Fans of EnduroCross will be excited to know the 2014 season is set to get underway on May 2. Entering its 11th season of competition, two new venues will be joining the calendar, allowing more people to witness this exciting indoor off-road racing action. If you’re not familiar with it, EnduroCross tracks incorporate various elements of extreme off road racing into a Supercross-style setting, including rocks, boulders, logs, sand, mud, a water-hole…and even a few special obstacles like giant tires thrown in!  Known as the “toughest racing on two wheels,” this indoor off road racing is sometimes described as carnage on two wheels, and will certainly keep you on your feet.

2014 AMA Supercross – St. Louis Results

Don’t look now, but James Stewart is the hottest rider in the AMA Supercross Championship. The Yoshimura Suzuki rider won his third consecutive race and series-leading fifth victory of the season. But with Kawasaki‘s Ryan Villopoto holding a comfortable lead with four rounds remaining, Stewart’s hot streak may be too little too late.