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 690 Duke Replaces Kawasaki Ninja 250R for WSBK’s 2012 European Junior Cup

The World Superbike Championship‘s European Junior Cup youth racing series will switch to race-prepped KTM 690 Duke motorcycles for 2012 from the Kawasaki Ninja 250R racebikes used in its inaugural 2011 season. The rebranded KTM European Junior Cup will be open to riders 14-19 and will be held at eight WSBK rounds in 2012. The series was conceived as an entry point for young racers, providing them opportunities to develop their skills before moving up to higher classes such as the World Superstock Championship and beyond.

AMA Supercross: 2012 Phoenix Results

Ryan Dungey gave KTM its first ever AMA Supercross win, taking the holeshot and leading every lap in Phoenix, Ariz. With an audience of 49,236 watching at Chase Field, it was the field that had to chase Dungey during the main event. Dungey jumped out in front at the first corner followed by JGRMX Yamaha‘s Davi Millsaps and defending AMA Supercross Champion Ryan Villopoto of Kawasaki.

Dakar Rally 2012 Results – Despres Wins Fourth Dakar

Cyril Despres beat his teammate Marc Coma to win his fourth Dakar Rally, while KTM captured its 11th consecutive win in the 33rd running of the off-road race. Despres won three stages and finished the 5,214-mile race in South America in a total time of 43 hours, 28 minutes and 11 seconds. Despres crossed the finish in Lima, Peru, with a lead of 53 minutes and 20 seconds ahead of his fellow Red Bull KTM rider Coma.

AMA Supercross: 2012 Anaheim I Results

Ryan Villopoto picked up where he left off while Ryan Dungey gave KTM its first ever AMA Supercross podium as the season kicked off in Anaheim, Calif. Reigning champion and Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Villopoto took the holeshot and led all 20 laps to win the Anaheim I season opener by over 12 seconds ahead of Chad Reed‘s TwoTwo Motorsports Honda. “Villopoto made us look silly out here tonight,” says Reed.

2012 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition – Ryan Dungey Replica Announced

Days before the start of the 2012 AMA Supercross season and Ryan Dungey’s debut on the 450 SX-F, KTM has unveiled the production version of the motocrosser featuring a new engine and chassis. The 2012 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition is equipped with a fuel-injected 449cc four-stroke engine paired with a five-speed transmission. The new engine has a 95mm bore and a 63.4mm stroke, compared to the previous version’s 97mm x 60.8mm engine.

Stuck for a gift? Solution No1: KTM merchandise

Once upon a time motorcycle manufacturers made and sold one thing: motorcycles. But that's long since changed and these days you can find motorcycle-related versions of virtually any product you can imagine. So if you're struggling for Christmas gift ideas, we're going to dig out some of the weirdest bike-related gadgets on the market.

Ohlins Chooses KTM 250 SX-F for 2012 AMA Supercross and Motocross Championships

Öhlins USA announced its AMA Supercross and Motocross team will use the KTM 250 SX-F for the 2012 season. Team Öhlins will enter three riders in the 250 class for both the indoor Supercross and outdoor Motocross championships. Öhlins has already announced 21-year-old Les Smith of York, S.C., as one of its riders (pictured above on the KTM.

KTM Announces Three-Rider Moto3 Factory Team

KTM will enter the three-rider lineup of Sandro Cortese, Arthur Sissis and Danny Kent in the 2012 Moto3 class in the manufacturer’s return to Grand Prix road racing. The Austrian manufacturer last competed in the World Championship in 2009, racing in the 125cc Grand Prix class. KTM’s return comes as the 125cc class is being replaced with the new 250cc Moto3 class.

The future. But we can't have it

It's no secret that we motorcyclists are getting older. We're ageing because less people are passing their bike test each year (roughly 30,000 last year compared to 50,000 for the 10 years before the new two-part test) and so not only is the pool not growing it's not even being replenished and so the average age isn't being diluted down by yoof. When the going gets tough in any situation, you really get to see who's got their shit-sorted and who's light enough on their feet to adapt to change.

EICMA 2011: KTM 690 Duke Unveiled

First, the good news: KTM has taken the covers off the 690 Duke at the EICMA show in Milan this morning. The machine is almost entirely all-new from the ground up and, KTM says, brings the company back to its street bike beginnings. KTM’s venerable 690cc LC4 single-cylinder engine is the obvious choice for power, only now it puts out a claimed 70hp and 51 lbs.-ft.