KTM Motorcycle History

Posted by Muhtar Ali on 11:03 PM

KTM Motorcycle History - KTM Sportmotorcycles has a deeply rooted motorsport tradition, building race-ready motorcycles for competitive and recreational riding.
More than 130 world championship titles, victories at Dakar and countless national championships are proof of the company’s great technical expertise. Recently, the company has entered into the streetbike category with a variety of sporting and adventure-touring road-going machines.
  • 1934 : Austrian engineer Hans Trunkenpolz opens a metal-working shop in Mattighofen, Austria. The name of the business is Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen
  • 1951 : The company’s first motorcycle is developed – the R100.
  • 1953 : The company becomes officially known as ‘Kronreif, Trunkenpolz, Mattighofen’ (KTM). A team of 20 employees is producing three motorcycles per day.
  • 1954 : The 100th KTM motorcycle is delivered.
  • 1955 : A businessman, Ernst Kronreif becomes a sizeable shareholder of the company, which is renamed Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. KTM Tourist (125cc) model is developed.
  • 1957 : KTM builds first sports motorcycle – the Trophy 125cc.
  • 1959 : Motorcycle production ceases. First KTM Pony scooter and moped are introduced.
  • 1963 : The Comet moped is introduced.
  • 1966 : The 10,000th Comet rolls off the line.
  • 1968 : The cross-country Penton Six Days dirt bike is produced and exported to the United States.
  • 1970 : KTM begins producing its own engines. (Previously, many of the dirt bikes had been equipped with Sachs motors.) New 250cc motocross bike is developed.
  • 1973 : KTM begins production of the 250 Cross and Enduro bike.
  • 1974 : Production of the KTM Hobby III begins.
  • 1975 : KTM introduces the road model Comet Grand Prix 125 RS.
  • 1976 : KTM produces its own 125cc engine.
  • 1978 : KTM America Inc. established in Lorain, Ohio. 50cc product range extended.
  • 1981 : Production of first water-cooled 125cc motocross bikes.
  • 1982 : Motocross models outfitted with new Pro Lever rear suspension. Company develops its first 4-stroke engine with water cooling.
  • 1986 : KTM becomes the first manufacturer to offer front and rear disc brakes on an off-road machine.
  • 1987 : Production begins on the KTM 4-stroke engine – single cylinder, 560cc, overhead camshaft.
  • 1988 : KTM stops production of scooters.
  • 1989 : Hans Trunkenpolz, founder, dies.
  • 1991 : KTM files for bankruptcy. The company is split into four independent arms – radiators, motorcycles, bicycles and tooling.
  • 1992 : Newly formed motorcycle division opens – KTM Sportsmotorcycle GmbH.
  • 1994 : KTM Sportsmotorcycle GmbH renamed KTM-Sportsmotorcycle AG. Production of Duke series of road models begins.
  • 1995 : Company acquires Husaberg AB and takes over White Power Suspension (NL).
  • 1996 : Production begins for KTM LC4 engine with electric starter.
  • 1997 : LC4 Supermoto road model is introduced. Also, KTM’s first adventure bike – the LC4 Adventure – is introduced.
  • 1998 : PDS Linkless suspension system is developed for 2-stroke models. Also, new 125 and 200cc engines and new Z design are introduced.
  • 1999 : Production begins on new 4-stroke engine – RACING 400/520. Also, the first KTM engines with separate lubrication (125 and 200cc) are introduced.
  • 2001 : Fabrizio Meoni wins the Dakar rally on an LC4 660R. KTM completely dominates the motorcycle class for the future of the event, which runs for the last time in 2007.
  • 2003 : Company introduces 950 Adventure and presents 990 Duke. Backed by Red Bull, the company enters the 125cc World Championship. After a couple of challenging years developing the machine, Mika Kallio will finish second overall in ’05 & ’06.
  • 2004 : KTM launches the 990 Super Duke and introduces the 990 RC8 Venom and the 950 Supermoto at the Intermot in Munich. After earlier agreeing in principle to supply motorcycles to two out-of-work actors, so they can make a documentary about a trip across Eurasia and North America, KTM abruptly drops the project. Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman get BMWs instead, and make “The Long Way Round.”
  • 2005 : KTM launches the 950 Supermoto and introduces the 990 Adventure and the 950 Super Enduro R. The company announces a strategic partnership with Polaris, with the goal of shared R&D, and more importantly shared distribution networks. The plan is to try this relationship out for two years and, if it proves fruitful, to merge the two companies.
  • 2006 : The partnership with Polaris is dramatically downgraded. KTM announces that from now on, the company will simply supply Polaris with a few motors for ATVs.
  • 2007 : The company supplies all the 125cc motorcycles for the Red Bull Rookies Cup.