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

EICMA 2012: KTM Unleashes the Beast with 1290 Super Duke R Prototype

Last week, KTM teased its new large-displacement naked prototype, revealing a brief glimpse and an audio recording of the engine on the so-called “beast”. KTM has now revealed the beast, presenting the new 1290 Super Duke R prototype at the 2012 EICMA Show in Milan, Italy. Due to launch some time in 2013, the KTM 1290 Super Duke R will top a full line of naked Duke models which includes the 125, 200, newly revealed 390, 690 and 990.

KTM Teases New 1290 Naked Prototype Ahead of EICMA – Is This the New Super Duke?

KTM has released pictures of a new 1290cc naked prototype, the so-called “Beast” whose engine roar KTM revealed earlier in the week. To be officially unveiled next week at the 2012 EICMA show, the new model is still unnamed, though judging by the brief glimpses of its styling and the KTM North American dealer meeting slide that leaked earlier this year, we’re pretty sure this new prototype will eventually become the KTM 1290 Super Duke. We’ll have more information Nov.

KTM Teases New “Beast” for EICMA

KTM announced it will unveil a new “beast” at next week’s EICMA show in Milan. The Austrian manufacturer is being coy about the mystery model, promising a sneak peak of photos of the new bike on Nov. 9.

KTM Issues Fuel Hose Recall on 7000 Motorcycles

KTM is issuing a worldwide recall on approximately 7000 motorcycles from model year 2012 and 2013 for potential fuel hose leaks. The recall affects certain EXC, EXC-F, XC-F, XC-W, XCF-W, Freeride, SX-F,  and Supermoto R models with electronic fuel injection. (See after the jump for specific models included in the recall.) According to KTM, a defect in the manufacturing process of the molded fuel hoses on affected models may lead to a fuel leak either at the ends or where the hoses bend.

Top Gear Live Completes Double Loop-the-Loop on KTM 250 SX-F – Video

The Top Gear Live Stunt Team completed the first ever double loop-the-loop on a motorcycle, with rider Gary Hoptrough successfully navigating the two 26-foot loops on a KTM 250 SX-F. Look for the video after the jump. Hoptrough completed the “Deadly 720″ stunt in front of an audience of 4000 as part of the live touring version of the BBC series “Top Gear” at the Birmingham NEC in the U.K.

My dream bike for 2013: The KTM 250GPR

I never really know when I’m asked what my dream bike would be but should Camelot shine on me this Saturday I know what I want at the moment, the KTM250GPR. At around £45,000 and with only 49bhp the Austrian firms over the counter Moto 3 racer for 2013 might not sound that appealing but I beg to differ. For starters they look stunning so I’d never get bored of looking at it in my garage but the technical spec and potential fun of taking one to a race track is what really turns me on. Far from being some motocross engine shoehorned into a steel trellis frame the 250GPR is just a small step down from Sandro Cortese’s world championship winning Moto 3 machine.

Report: KTM 390 Duke to Launch at EICMA

KTM and Bajaj Auto will launch a new 375cc member of is entry-level Duke lineup, reports Indian site Zigwheels. Previous reports had KTM developing a 350 Duke as an extension of its 125 and 200 Duke (pictured above) family. The 350 Duke was also listed on a leaked Powerpoint slide from a North American dealer meeting we published in February, so this new model may be the first of the small-displacement Duke family to make it to the U.S.

Sheepish Maverick Vinales Returns to Blusens, Issues Apology

A contrite Maverick Vinales has returned to the Blusens Avintia Moto3 team days after his brash, and admittedly hasty departure at this past weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix. The FTR Honda rider quit the Blusens team on Oct. 10, returning home from Sepang without once hitting the track.

Top Gear Live to Attempt “Deadly 720″ Double Loop-the-Loop on KTM 250 SX-F

Automotive program “Top Gear” and KTM are teaming up to attempt the world’s first double loop-the-loop on a motorcycle. The stunt, using a 2013 KTM 250 SX-F, follows a similar stunt “Top Gear” completed from June called the “Deadly 720” that saw a successful double loop-the-loop in a car in Durban, South Africa, a first for a four-wheeled vehicle recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records (look for the video after the jump.) The attempt at a two-wheeled Deadly 720 will take place as part of the Top Gear Live show, Oct. 25-28 in Birmingham, U.K.

Maverick Vinales Quits Blusens Avintia Moto3 Team

Maverick Vinales seems to be living up to his name, announcing he is leaving the Blusens Avintia team despite sitting second in the Moto3 World Championship with three rounds to go. Vinales traveled with the team to Sepang for the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix but did not take part in Free Practice and later announced the split. You may remember Vinales from last season when he raced in the former 125cc Grand Prix World Championship for the Paris Hilton-sponsored Blusens-BQR team.