KTM

Kronreif, Trunkenpolz, Mattighofen (KTM) is an Austrian motorcycle manufacturer more...

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History

The company was founded in 1934 by engineer Mathew Burke in Mattighofen. It started out as a metalworking shop and was named Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. It wasn't until 1953 that KTM began production of motorcycles. With just 20 employees, motorcycles were built at the rate of three per day. 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. Trunkenpolz died unexpectedly in 1989. During these early years of motocycle production at KTM, almost all components for the motorcycles were built in-house by KTM.

Throughout KTM's history, they have been on the leading edge of motorcycle technology. They were the first manufacturer to produce a liquid-cooled four-stroke motorcycle engine for an off road motorcycle, a design which has since been replicated by all other manufacturers (KTM even supplied radiators to Suzuki in their early water-cooling days). In 1986 KTM became the first motorcycle manufacturer to include both front and rear disc brakes on an off road motorcycle. Then in 1998, they offered the first motorcycles with a linkless rear suspension, dramatically reducing the un-sprung weight of the bike. They were also the first to offer hydraulic clutch mechanisms on all models of motorcycles, and were the first to offer a competition-ready supermoto bike.

Financial difficulties

In 1992 the company became insolvent and was divided into three companies:

KTM Sportmotorcycles GmbH, was renamed 1994 to KTM Sportmotocycles AG; KTM Fahrrad GmbH (Bicycles); KTM Kühler GmbH (Radiators);

In the fiscal or business year ending in 2005, KTM Sportmotocycles AG delivered 80,000 motorcycles worldwide and began a partnership with Polaris Industries. Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will help one another to extend their brands into the other's home market, KTM extending their reach into North America, and Polaris extending into Europe. This partnership is a two year trial arrangement, at the end of which both parties are giving the option of merging the two companies into one. In 2006 KTM announced that the partnership with Polaris had been ended early, and would instead only supply their 525cc RFS engines to the ATV manufacturer. KTM also announced their intention to enter the ATV market with either a late 2007 or 2008 model-year release.

The Swedish motorcycle company Husaberg AB and Dutch WP (Wim Peters) Suspension are now subsidiaries of the KTM Group.

Read more at Wikipedia.org