KTM READY TO RACE - Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. KTM is the Austrian motorcycle brand that is largely known as an off-road motorcycle manufacturer in the world. Besides different kinds of off-road motorcycles the company KTM AG also produces street motorcycle and sports cars. This iconic Orange Breed operating worldwide with a larger and dedicated distribution. At the same time, it's pumping out millions of rider’s adrenaline revving their featured and category mastered motorcycles.

KTM READY TO RACE - Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen

What Is KTM?

KTM is an Austrian motorcycle brand that produces various types of motorcycles especially focusing on off-road and races. The brand KTM belongs a longer history of its foundation, establishment, and development. The latest formation of the company disciplined in 1992 splitting out into four different concerns from the mother company.

The core company KTM formed in 1953 in a joint-venture of Austrian engineer Johann (Hans) Trunkenpolz and the businessman Ernst Kronreif. This joint venture registered as Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen that is KTM.

KTM READY TO RACE - Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen

In the earlier time, in 1934 the Austrian engineer Johann Trunkenpolz established a motor-garage in Mattighofen town of upper Austria. He used to repair and fix the cars in that shop. From 1937 he started to sell DKW motorcycles and Opel cars from there.

That repair shop was unnamed and unregistered but called Kraftfahrzeug Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. That meant Trunkenpolz’s Motor-vehicle in Mattighofen. During the Second World War, the shop survived by repairing the diesel engines that took care of by Trunkenpolz’s wife.

Later, after the war, the repair business falls apart and Trunkenpolz gave the effort to produce their own designed motorcycle. The prototype model R100 came in the figure in 1951. All the components of R100 produced in that garage where only the Rotex engine picked from Fichtel & Sachs Company.

Also Read: Best KTM Bikes Under 4 Lakh

The industrial production of R100 started in 1953 where the businessman Ernst Kronreif joined with Trunkenpolz putting investment as a shareholder. Then, officially the Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen, therefore KTM Company had born with just 20 employees.

The company started its motorcycle production with the capacity of three motorcycles per day. And from there the orange history began. At present, KTM is one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in Europe. It is holding the Orange color as the official shade and the slogan, KTM READY TO RACE.

KTM AG (KTM Sportmotorcycle AG)

The former KTM continued its successful journey introducing various models of motorcycles, moped, and scooters. The company also involved in motor-sports from the beginning.  In 1960 the company also started producing bicycles. Later they also produced engines and radiators in the 1970s and 80s which used to sell to European car manufacturers.

Therefore, within the 80s the company developed with multiple product manufacturing concerns. In the meantime, in 1960 Ernst Kronreif died and Hans Trunkenpolz expired in 1962 by a heart attack. Then Erich Trunkenpolz, son of Hans Trunkenpolz took the control of the company management.

Later a rapid decrease of turnovers from the motorcycles division the production halted in 1988. Further, after the expiry of Erich Trunkenpolz in 1989 the company went under the control of the Austrian investment trust GIT Trust Holding. Later it associated with the creditor bank in 1991.

In 1992 the company reborn by splitting the concerns into four different parts. Therefore, KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH (motorcycles division), KTM Fahrrad GmbH (bicycles division), KTM Kühler GmbH (radiators division), and KTM Werkzeugbau GmbH (tooling division) got the individual entity.

At present, KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH is leading as KTM AG that is a public limited company. The company owned the KTM Werkzeugbau (tooling division) from the time of reforming. Later they took control of the KTM Kühler (radiators division).

Furthermore, KTM AG also owned the renowned Swedish company Husaberg in 1995 and another part named Husqvarna in 2013. In the same year in 1995, they also acquired the Dutch company White Power Suspension that is WP-Suspension.

Currently, the KTM AG owned by Pierer Mobility. AG (51.7%), Bajaj Auto Limited International Holdings BV (47.99%), and the Public Float (0.31%). The company covering its distribution worldwide managing a number of subsidiaries, involved in motorsports, and sponsorships. Above all, they are featuring iconic and featured motorcycles worldwide along with KTM Ready to Race motto, Husqvarna, and Gas Gas brands.

KTM In Motorsports

KTM is one of the most respected names in World Motorsport, especially in motocross and supercross racing. KTM entered into motorsports just in the following year after the joint venture established in 1954. The company owned the first racing title in the 1954 Austrian 125cc national championship with its own developed R125 Tourist model.

Later in 1956 KTM debut at the International Six Days Trials race. There the KTM rider Egon Dornauer won the gold medal. From 1974 KTM started its golden era in the world's motorsports. That year KTM won 250cc FIM Motocross World Championship. And at the end of 2016, KTM earned more than 260 world championship titles.

KTM also has a successful and gorgeous presence in the MXGP, MX1, and MX2 races since 1974. They are participating in the Super Enduro World Titles since 1990.  Further, this Orange Icon also has victories in 2015, 2016, and 2017 AMA Supercross Championships.

In Dakar Rally KTM Factory Racing Team debut in 1994, wherein 1998 the KTM riders won the second to twelfth places. Further, the team won in Dakar for the consecutive 18 years from 2001 to 2019. Hence KTM now is the most stunning and dominating name in the Dakar Rally.

On the other side, KTM also has successes in the various Rally Raid races. Till now KTM Factory Racing Team has won 37 Cross Country Rally Title. They won FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship 15 times. Hence the KTM Factory Racing Team is one of the most delighted racing teams in the motorsport world.

KTM In MotoGP

In road racing events KTM has a stunning presence also. KTM is providing the sponsor and technical supports in road racing events since 2003. It has successful track records in the Supermoto events. In the MotoGP, the Factory Racing Team has the notable success in the 125cc and 250cc classes from 2003 to 2009.

In 2009 KTM announced to withdraw the contribution in MotoGP in all classes. Later in 2014, they announced again to debut in the 2017 MotoGP World Championship. At the same time, they started the project to develop their prototype Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle KTM RC16.

The newly developed KTM RC16 made its debut at the 2016 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix. The test rider Mika Kallio introduced the machine performance on the track. Afterward, KTM returned back to MotoGP again in 2017 in support of the sponsor and drinks manufacturer Red Bull.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team officially debut in MotoGP at the 2017 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix. They qualified to be 22nd and 23rd and finished with 16th and 17th score there. At the Second Grand Prix in Argentina, the team scored their first point in MotoGP finishing 14th and 15th.

In the same year, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team 2017 finished with 12th place in French Motorcycle Grand Prix Espargaró. In the Dutch TT, the team finished in 11th place. Again it qualified the 7th place at the 2017 German Motorcycle Grand Prix. Thus KTM is working hard to make its own position in the MotoGP events also.

KTM Product Line - Type of Motorcycle KTM Makes  

KTM is operating and continuing its distribution worldwide with a versatile product line. From the very beginning, this orange breed is solely focused on off-road machines. Accordingly, they have the world’s largest row of two-stroke and four-stroke motorcycles. Further, they also have the category mastered dedicated motorcycles in other segments.

KTM currently is showcasing eight categories of motorcycles in their product line. Currently, they are maintaining the products in the category of Motocross/Supercross, Enduro, Travel, Sports Tourer, Supermoto, Naked Bike, Supersport, and E-Ride. Each of the category motorcycles is dedicated to the KTM Ready To Race motto.

The MX and Enduro category is fully featured both with different capacities of two-stroke and four-stroke bikes. The Travel category of motorcycles are fully featured for off-road adventure and touring. Here Sports Tourers are featured for street adventure and long touring. Further Supermoto, Naked Bike, and Supersport models are featured to serve on the streets.

KTM also focused on eco-friendly features & technologies for their motorcycles. Hence They are developing electric bikes focusing the off-road events. Hence their E-Ride is categorized for their own developed electric bikes. In this segment, they are featuring the models both for Motocross and Enduro riders.

KTM also has a dedicated row in the four-wheelers. It badged as X-BOW. The X-BOW series is solely sport dedicated series where all the developed models are hi-tech racing cars. All the models here are holding a versatile and unique design and features. This series literally is representing the future of cars.

KTM Bikes In The World Market – Popular Motorcycle Series

In the world market, KTM bikes have a stunning position & reputation. Especially in the Motocross, Enduro, and Adventure rides, KTM bikes are the unbeatable performer and so popular. KTM has widely featured off-road-focused bikes ranging from different capacities and features. Hence anyone can get a KTM bike according to his/her riding taste and profile.

Hereafter the KTM Adventure series is a widely admired series to adventure riders worldwide. All of their adventure bikes are equally popular to the riders. The series is ranging from 250cc to 1290cc engine capacity including versatile features and profiles. Meanwhile, this is the most popular and successful series around the world side by side with the Motocross and Enduro bikes.

In the street category, the KTM Duke & RC series have different positions in the world market. The RC series is covering a niche class with a very limited range of bikes ranging from 125-390cc. But the Duke series is ranged larger with 125cc-1290cc capacity bikes. Those bikes are much popular in the market due to their unique design, profile, and most hi-tech features.

KTM Motorcycle in Bangladesh

KTM motorcycles have a larger coverage in the world motorcycle market. Their motorcycles are distributed worldwide through direct as well as cooperative distributions. Sequentially KTM branded motorcycles are also available in Bangladesh for the last few years.

In earlier times, there was no official distributor or KTM dealer in this market. Then the available motorcycles are unofficially imported through the individual grey-imports in the market. But at present, Runner Automobiles Limited has taken the official distribution of KTM motorcycle in Bangladesh.

Therefore, KTM motorcycles are now officially distributed in the Bangladeshi market. Henceforward after-sales service and spare parts also will be provided through the distributors' support. Thereby from now, the KTM customers will get dedicated support and facilities throughout the distributors' end.

Popular KTM Motorcycle Models in Bangladesh

KTM motorcycles are available in Bangladesh since not for a longer period. But this Orange Breed is well-known in this market. Hence within a few years of availability KTM motorcycles got quite a huge popularity. Thereby the KTM RC125, KTM 125 Duke (European Version), KTM 125 Duke (Indian Version), etc. are the most popular models in the market.

Whatsoever, this Orange Breed already has positioned in this market with its KTM READY TO RACE motto. Considering the current Engine-Capacity limitation for the civilians in Bangladesh binging bigger capacity and featured motorcycles the scope is narrowed to the limit. Hopefully, the Bangladeshi Government will relax the limitation up to a comfortable level. Then surely this market will get more featured KTM bikes.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is KTM?

Ans: KTM is an Austrian motorcycle brand that produces various types of motorcycles especially focusing on off-road and races that follow the motto KTM Ready To Race.

2. What KTM stands for?

Ans: KTM stands for Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. The company KTM formed in 1953 in a joint-venture of Austrian engineer Johann (Hans) Trunkenpolz and the businessman Ernst Kronreif.

3. Who is the official distributor of the KTM Motorcycle in Bangladesh?

Ans: Runner Automobiles Limited currently is the official distributor of KTM Motorcycle in Bangladesh.

4. From where KTM motorcycles are originated?

Ans: KTM motorcycle is an Austrian multinational motorcycle company under the ownership of KTM Industries AG (51.7%), Bajaj Auto International Holdings BV (47.99%). Hence, their products are produced in different factories in the world.

5. Which is the most popular KTM motorcycle series around the world?

Ans: The MX, Enduro, and the Adventure series are the most popular KTM motorcycle series around the world.

6. Which are the popular KTM motorcycles in Bangladesh?

Ans: All available three models KTM 125 Duke (Indian Version), 125 Duke (European Version), RC125 are much popular in Bangladesh.