The History of KTM

During World War II, KTM experienced a boom in diesel engine repairs. At the end of World War II, engine repairs dwindled almost immediately, prompting Trunkenpolz to consider building and producing its own motorcycle. Unlike BMW, which was a major supplier to the Third Reich, KTM was not burdened by the same post-war production constraints. 1951 - Trunkenpolz created a prototype of its first motorcycle called the R100.

This motorcycle used non-standard internal components with the exception of Fitchel & Sachs' Rotax engines. Production of the R100 began in 1953, and the team consisted of only 20 employees (including Johann Trunkenpolz himself). They could produce three complete motorcycles a day. In the same year Trunkenpolz began a partnership with the businessman Ernst Kronreif. He became the main investor and shareholder of KTM. The company was then renamed Kronreif & amp; Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. Three new products were introduced in the next two years. The R125 Tourist in 1954 and the Grand Tourist and Mirabell scooters in 1955.

KTM officially debuted in racing in 1954 and won its first title in the Austrian 125 National Championship. In 1956, the company competed in the International Six-Day Test, the world's oldest off-road race sanctioned by the FIM. It won the gold medal with an outstanding result. In 1957, KTM built its first Trophy 125cc sportbike.

The name is undoubtedly associated with winning the Austrian National Championship in the 125cc class just three years earlier. KTM produced in turn the first moped, the Mecky, in 1957, the Ponny A in 1960, the Ponny II in 1962 and the Comet in 1963. The Mecky and Ponny I and II became reliable means of urban transportation, while the Kometa became a favorite of off-road drivers. KTM won its first FIM Motocross GP championship in 1974. At that time, Russian motocross racer Gennady Moiseyev won the 250cc class on a KTM 250 motorcycle. This victory was the first of more than 260 world championship titles that KTM won over the next 40 years.

The product range that KTM cultivated in the 1970s and 1980s was split into four separate divisions in 1992. Motorcycles were manufactured by KTM Fahrrad GmbH. Automotive radiators KTM Kühler GmbH, production was transferred to KTM Werkzeugbau GmbH. And the motorcycle division, which ensured KTM's first successes, was called KTM Sportmotorcycle Gmbh.

KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH got off to a slow start, but in the following KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH started slowly, but in the following years it successfully increased production and turnover. With the new owner KTM Motorradholding GmbH (a joint venture between Cross Holding and others), KTM Sportmotorcycle took over the position and was able to take over the tools division of KTM Werkzeugbau GmbH. KTM Sportmotorcycle invested more in production and completely new R&D centers. This led to new innovations and the creation of more products. The company once again returned to its interests related to sports.

KTM was a sponsor and participant in many officially sanctioned motorcycle races. The Duke sportbike was released in 1994 and became the company's most popular standard model. In 1996, KTM debuted its now iconic orange color scheme. And in 1997, liquid-cooled four-cylinder Supermoto and Adventure motorcycles debuted for the first time. In 1995, KTM acquired the Swedish company Husaberg AB. And in 2013 it acquired another Swedish competitor, Husqvarna. By 2015, KTM had become the largest motorcycle manufacturer in Europe. Revenue for the year was 1 billion euros ($1,128,149,000), and the company joined three of the four divisions that were introduced after the split in 1992. Do not forget to use KTM VIN decoder in order to avoid potential problems when buying a used car.