Because the company was actually a metalworking shop and sales were pretty low, the owners decided to start manufacturing motorcycles. In the first year of existence, they had only 20 employees and they were producing approximately three bikes per day, including the 98cc R, a project which began in KTM first participated in motorsports events in in the 5th Gaisberg competition in which it won the first three places. One year later, KTM celebrated the delivery of their th motorcycle and, during the same year, it won the Austrian national championship.
In , the KTM engineer Ludwig Apfelbeck developed a new racing motorcycle which Erwin Lechner uses to win multiple offroad competitions. Although the things were going pretty good for the company, KTM starts manufacturing bicycles in The same year marks the winning of the Austrian national championship by Manfred Klerr using the new cc Motorcross bike. In , the revamped motorcycle division opened as KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH with a variety of new motorcycle designs.
Again, the company continued to win the competitions that had initially put it on the map, sealing it as a manufacturer that was the one to beat. Despite the bankruptcy, KTM has remained one of the most famous manufacturers when it comes to dirt bikes.
Nearly a century later, KTM is still at the front of the heap for a lightweight dirt bike that riders have come to rely on. As the manufacturer of many popular bike models, KTM has spread its wings in the world of motocross. Luckily, for those who are looking for a bit more ease with a small-model bike, the Duke series features 6 models that bear its name and a variety of different engine displacements.
While the and models share the base and have a different bore and stroke, the required a larger crankshaft and clutch.
While the Duke is available internationally, the smaller Duke series models are primarily available in Europe and India where they have proven to be popular. Though they differ in style from the standard KTM, the Duke series is very much a creation of the same team. For those who are looking for some trail riding adventure on the back of a KTM machine, the following models are a good place to begin.
This 4-stroke enduro off-road motorcycle weighs in at kilograms and features 6 gears, a wet clutch operated hydraulically and a chain drive. For those who want more power, the XC release in came equipped with more torque. While it may not be so comfortable for the long haul, for the trail rider who wants to tear it up, this machine maintains the compactness and flexibility that will let riders fly along the trail.
In addition to WP suspension forks and an off-road chassis, it also has three modes of throttle valve management. In addition to a liquid-cooled cc v-twin engine, it also features spoked wheels and knobby tires.
It also has ABS, cruise control and an adjustable windscreen so that it can do more than just off-road. Fortunately, your local KTM expert may also be able to point you to an online source that will have plenty to choose from in regards to what you need. It is important to ensure that you are dealing with a trusted distributor and really know what you want. When it comes to off-roading fun, few bike manufacturers have the reputation and the history of KTM. Fortunately, since KTM has been a force in the world of biking and time has only solidified their command of the market.
This is the part of the original brand that has developed into the KTM that delivers outstanding competition racing bikes throughout the world. It was a long and complicated path to arrive at this point in their development and expansion but they had arrived. Things got a little shaky though. There were ups and downs and financial issues. The management of the bank took over the KTM company in after it filed for insolvency in , but this would not be the end of them.
Not by a long shot. It even acquired the tooling division called KTM Werkzeugbau the same year. By they were back on their feet and they also acquired the Husaberg AB Swedish motorcycle maker as well as the White Power Suspension Dutch company. When Eric Trunkenpolz, company manager passed away, the company changed hands. This signaled a tie of significant changes for KTM.
They ended the manufacture of scooters in , moved to water cooled engines and it produced its first cc water-cooled motocross bike early in the decade. It became an industry leader with the new disc brakes in both front and rear in the id s and the KTM teams were amassing more and more wins.
Their innovation and advanced technology were not disputed as remarkable and it brought the brand into a world-class with recognition as a leader in sportsbike racing. After the dust had settled from the bankruptcy filing in , Trampas Parker took thee World MX cc title for America.
There was a flurry of new innovations in the s era with the introduction of the Duke series in Title after title rolled into the win categories while new innovations such as the electric start LC4 engine that powered the Adventure and Supermoto machines and the PDA linkless suspension that hit just prior to the turn of the century. It was common knowledge by that KTM was a powerfully dominating force in the dirt bike market. They took a slow and methodical approach to branch into the street bike market while enjoying the benefits of ruling in sports racing.
There as an untapped market awaiting them and they had the brilliant idea for making a dirt bike street-legal. It was a bit on the revolutionary side at the time and KTM set about producing their first dual purpose bike that could tear up the racetrack and then take the rider home via the freeway with no impunity.
This thrilled enduro riders. The brand not only became the first manufacturer to make a production bike that featured an electric powered off-road bike, but they also produced the famed KTM X-Bow ultralight racing car. This was two amazing firsts and it brought the brand a lot of well-deserved attention for their outstanding innovation and forward thinking.
Although both of these innovations were presented in , work on each began long beforehand. KTM started out as little more than a metal shop and locksmith operation in the s. It went from a business focused on auto, and motorcycle repairs to a manufacturing plant that struggled to maintain financial solvency.
Yet in the midst of all the difficulties and every curve that fate had thrown at them, they maintained a winning edge over the competition and pushed through every setback to keep the bikes running and winning races.
KTM has reached the pinnacle of success and is a leader in the motorcycle manufacturing and racing industry today. You can talk about KTM bikes in any country in the world and stir up interest.
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