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KTM
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Kronreif, Trunkenpolz, Mattighofen (KTM) is an Austrian motorcycle and track car manufacturer
History
The company was founded in 1934 by engineer Hans Trunkenpolz<ref name="ktm.com Company History"> {{#if: KTM: Company History
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}}|Template error: argument title is required.}}</ref> 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, then they turned fast....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.
New Directions
Beginning in 2006, KTM has began the development with a lightweight track car[1]. With an Audi engine and a Dallara sourced chassis, and a weight of less than 1400 lbs, it could be very fast.
X-Bow
- estimated start of production 2008
- weight: under 700 kg
- length: approximately 3,6 m
- engine: 1984 cm³, 220 hp, 300 NM (Audi 2.0 TFSI); Topversion 300 hp
- 6-speed gearbox or DSG
- price: about 40.000 Euro<ref>Kleine Zeitung (German)</ref> <ref>Der Standard (German)</ref>
