KTM's Future Revealed

[Rincewind]

One naughty attendee of the KTM North American dealer meeting has snapped a photo of a classified slide showing all the KTM's for the next 3-years.  "The Future is Orange," reads the text.  




All the new KTMs for the next three years

Dealer meeting leak reveals everything...
Posted: 2 August 2011
by Visordown News

LEAKED on to a forum yesterday is this cameraphone shot from inside KTM's North American dealer meeting – revealing the firm's entire new model plan until 2014.

Just as revealing as the bikes the firm has got planned are those that are missing from the list. According to this there's no new RC8 variation planned before 2015 at the earliest, suggesting that KTM's foray into the world of superbikes isn't going quite as well as it hoped. Indeed, the majority of the new models are in the smaller-engined sectors, fitting perfectly with claims some time ago from KTM boss Stefan Pierer that he believed 'downsizing' was the future when it comes to engine capacity.

It looks like there isn't too much to get excited about in the immediate future; for 2012 there's just a face lift for the Enduro R690 on the list along with a handful of modifications for off road models.

2013 brings the electric Freeride in motocross (SX) and enduro (EXC) forms, plus a Freeride 350 – which seems strange, as the name suggests it has a petrol engine. More likely it's a code term for a higher-powered electric crosser, wither performance in the 350cc league as opposed to the 125-style speed of the initial Freeride models.

A Duke 350, with the joint KTM/Bajaj single-cylinder engine rounds off the smaller new bikes for the year.

In terms of twins, 2013 brings an Adventure R 1090 as a stop-gap model, plus a new Super Duke 1290 which is believed to have a totally new engine and a complete redesign in terms of appearance and its mechanical components.

Further away, in 2014, the Adventure gets the new 1290 engine and KTM promises two new 350cc bikes – an enduro and, intriguingly, a “Moto3”. That bike is likely to be KTM's next sports bike, taking the style of the firm's 250cc Moto3 racer and applying it to a 350cc single-cylinder road-going sports bike. The firm's boss, Stefen Pierer, has been championing the idea of 'downsizing' sports bikes ever since the financial crisis started decimating bike sales in 2008, and this looks like it's the culmination of that ambition; a relatively low-priced machine, with usable performance and handling that only a lightweight sports bike can offer. He'll be hoping it can catch imaginations like the two-stroke 250cc sports bikes of old.

While all this information looks rock solid, there is one notable omission that casts some doubt on whether the list is complete. Earlier this year a totally redesigned Duke 690, with the style of the firm's Stunt concept from a few years ago, was spotted on test several times – looking like it's basically production-ready. And yet there's no mention of the Duke 690, arguably KTM's most important street bike, anywhere on the new-model list. Maybe there's another slide that the canny photographer didn't get a picture of. Let's hope so, and hope it also mentioned some future versions of the RC8, too...

Read more: http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-new-bikes/all-the-new-ktms-for-the-next-three-years/18740.html#ixzz1TzDrIpXw

[Rincewind]

I'm pretty stoked that this means we will get the Duke 350!  Combine that with the new rumored 300cc Triumph Street Singles, and the "under 500cc" market is set to be reinvigorated in the next year or two.  

[falconati]

I'm pretty stoked that this means we will get the Duke 350!  Combine that with the new rumored 300cc Triumph Street Singles, and the "under 500cc" market is set to be reinvigorated in the next year or two.  

My thoughts exactly.  Considering KTM's other 350cc model, there's good reason to get excited.

[falcofred]

I own a 2007 Superduke, but won't purchase another KTM twin until they work on their dealer network. Great bikes, but too few dealers. Most KTM dealers only sell and work on the single cylinder bikes.

[Mastros2]

I'm pretty stoked that this means we will get the Duke 350!  Combine that with the new rumored 300cc Triumph Street Singles, and the "under 500cc" market is set to be reinvigorated in the next year or two.  

Cool beans Rince!  Thanks for the share.  Hopefully this comes to fruition and isn't some nasty internet hoax!

[jfurf]

I own a 2007 Superduke, but won't purchase another KTM twin until they work on their dealer network. Great bikes, but too few dealers. Most KTM dealers only sell and work on the single cylinder bikes.

I was gonna say. The KTM Dealer Meeting. What is that, like three guys standing around drinking coffee?  

I'm always amazed that KTM is still in business. Whenever I've talked to someone who's owned a KTM road bike, they always say something like "It was a miserable experience. But somehow I loved that bike."

What an odd business story.

[Rincewind]

Also of note from that pic:

KTM electric bikes (the Freeride E) will be available in 2013.  See http://www.ktmfreeride.com/ .  Will KTM beat BMW, who is working on an E-Scooter, as the first major manufacturer to produce an E-Bike?  

A new 1290cc engine will debut in a SuperDuke.  The Adventure model will have a brief bump to 1090cc, but then will also adopt the 1290cc the following year.

Looks like KTM is going BIG with their twins!  This should coincide with the new Triumph 1200cc model debuts.

[crispiegee1]

Once again, Rince, you get the scoop!  


I really question the morality of the person who snuck these photos out, as violations of confidentiality can sink a company by giving away their plans. On the other hand, it could be some carefully orchestrated "buzz" generation by KTM's marketing department.

[nater]

My thoughts exactly.  Considering KTM's other 350cc model, there's good reason to get excited.

Don't get too excited.  I doubt that the 350 motocross engine will be used, as it would not be reliable enough for the street.  

[nater]

I'm always amazed that KTM is still in business.

That's because you are looking for them on the street.  Enduro races are a sea of KTM orange with a spot of red, green, yellow, and blue isolated in there.  

[R Doug]

My KTM experience has been very positive up until my move.  In "little ol' Morgantown WV" I had access to a few good KTM street dealers.  though they gave up the street line, they still had LC8 techs.

Now in North Carolina, I'm struggling to find someone who could do anything to my LC8.

As for the bikes, the Super Duke was in my ownership for 3 years and I piled on the miles with not one issue.  And, the bike was THE best bike I've owned in terms of build quality, suspension, power delivery, and giggle factor.

I have now owned the 990 Adventure for two years and 15k miles.  Other than an infrequent fueling surge around 4K, it's a great bike.  

I am left thinking that should I wish to replace my current Adventure with a newer in a few years, where in the hell do I go to get one?  If it's more than an hour, I'm out.  

[MK96xj]

My KTM experience has been very positive up until my move.  In "little ol' Morgantown WV" I had access to a few good KTM street dealers.  though they gave up the street line, they still had LC8 techs.

Now in North Carolina, I'm struggling to find someone who could do anything to my LC8.

As for the bikes, the Super Duke was in my ownership for 3 years and I piled on the miles with not one issue.  And, the bike was THE best bike I've owned in terms of build quality, suspension, power delivery, and giggle factor.

I have now owned the 990 Adventure for two years and 15k miles.  Other than an infrequent fueling surge around 4K, it's a great bike.  

I am left thinking that should I wish to replace my current Adventure with a newer in a few years, where in the hell do I go to get one?  If it's more than an hour, I'm out.  

Doug,

There is a KTM dealer about 40 minutes West of you on 40. I think it is exit 112. I can not remeber the town though.

[R Doug]

Doug,

There is a KTM dealer about 40 minutes West of you on 40. I think it is exit 112. I can not remeber the town though.

There's one just outside Hickory (is that the one?) and there's one in Mooresville.  It looks like the one in Hickory (off I-40) sells street bikes.  Thanks!

[XLR8]

My KTM experience has been very positive up until my move.  In "little ol' Morgantown WV" I had access to a few good KTM street dealers.  though they gave up the street line, they still had LC8 techs.

Now in North Carolina, I'm struggling to find someone who could do anything to my LC8.

As for the bikes, the Super Duke was in my ownership for 3 years and I piled on the miles with not one issue.  And, the bike was THE best bike I've owned in terms of build quality, suspension, power delivery, and giggle factor.

I have now owned the 990 Adventure for two years and 15k miles.  Other than an infrequent fueling surge around 4K, it's a great bike.  

I am left thinking that should I wish to replace my current Adventure with a newer in a few years, where in the hell do I go to get one?  If it's more than an hour, I'm out.  

The real KTM dealer lost his KTM dealership and KTM moved the inventory to different and much bigger local shop here called Carl's which I really dislike. When I asked them if they could work on my LC8 they didn't even know what I was talking about.  

[Reverse]

That bike on the left might as well be the new BMW Adventure...  Seems like they all want to have the BMW-beak up front now

[D-Mac]

The news about the small displacement bikes is exciting. Besides being practical and fun, KTM could use these bikes to build marketshare and hook a bunch of people onto their products. A 350 would be a good "gateway drug" to a 690 or 950.

I hope KTM can find a way to stay in business. As long as they weren't heavy into the financing business I would think they should be ok. They do need more dealers though.

[Rincewind]

Spy shots of the new Adventure model are making their way around the net - see link.  It reveals a revised body style that looks related to the SMT.  It's expected to be 130hp and 1290cc.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/New-bikes/2012/January/jan2612-new-ktm-adventure-spy-pics/

[R Doug]

I spy a more typical single gas tank (compared to the 2 linked low hanging kind they use now), a separate rider and passenger seat (compared to the single seat format now), a single side exhaust (compared to the 2 under the seat now), and the continued use of tubed wire spoke wheels.  

I can't tell from the image whether or not KTM is sticking to the 21 front 18 rear wheel set up or a more traditional 19 front 17 rear.  The tires are not a give away on this because they're Conti Trail Attacks which come in a 21/18 size.  To my knowledge, those are the only street biased tires without a block type tread which come in that size.  

Based on fact I have a custom seat and custom tubless spoked wheels, I don't see any reason for me to upgrade (not that KTM cares ).  The Renazco seat I have now is the most comfortable seat I've owned and the tubeless wheels I have are worth their weight in gold (and cost nearly as much much too  ).  

This new Adventure appears to look more like the other large adventure-tourers with more competitive power, revised electronic riding aids (guessing), but it'll maintain that great off road ability via a superior suspension set up.  

[Smoker]

So does the SMT get the same motor?

[sagerat]

I'm always amazed that KTM is still in business. Whenever I've talked to someone who's owned a KTM road bike, they always say something like "It was a miserable experience. But somehow I loved that bike."

What an odd business story.

They stole it form Moto Guzzi.  

[Rincewind]

So does the SMT get the same motor?

There are leaked photos of a Superduke with the larger engine, but I have not seen anything on the SMT.  

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/New-bikes/2012/February/feb0312-new-ktm-super-duke-1290-spied/

[Rincewind]

New Adventure 1290 spy shots.  Looking good, KTM!

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/ktm-adventure-1290-spy-photos/

[Cablebandit]

They should have blurred out the muffler instead of the guys face.  

[garry]

The downpipe on an "adventure" model is a bit odd as it reduces ground clearance and makes fitting a proper skid plate harder. It would be nice if they offered a road-biased version with spoked, tubeless 17" and 19" wheels. That looks like a 21" front to me.

[expatbrit]

The downpipe on an "adventure" model is a bit odd as it reduces ground clearance and makes fitting a proper skid plate harder. It would be nice if they offered a road-biased version with spoked, tubeless 17" and 19" wheels. That looks like a 21" front to me.

The gossip I read is that that one is the 'more road biased one', and that there's supposed to be a more off-road focused 1090R Adventure.

(Now, a light 1090R SM....)

[Cablebandit]

With the Empulse just being released, even the major manufacturers are going to be playing catch-up to the boutiques in terms of bang for the buck, reliability, etc.

And then the economies of scale will kick in and the boutique will die, assuming electrics take off.  They'll only stick around if the big players decide not to pursue electrics.

[Rincewind]

With the Empulse just being released, even the major manufacturers are going to be playing catch-up to the boutiques in terms of bang for the buck, reliability, etc.

I don't know - the Empulse is cool, but it's not exactly easy to find any Brammos, and where am I to take it for warranty or servicing - the UPS store?  I suspect that when a major player such as KTM makes a move, there will be a very widespread acceptance and purchasing of electric bikes.  The major players have a lot more money to make e-bike offerings much more successful much quicker than any of the "boutique" manufacturers.  I don't think there will be much catching-up after the initial problems are solved.

[Rincewind]

If Brammo and Zero adopted something more like the Ducati or Harley style marketing - where it's more of a life style and life choice than just another type of vehicle - I think they could get entrenched.

I agree; however, that level of marketing requires a ton of money.  I already see Brammo developing a "passion" with their Brammo Girls.  As well I think the passion is growing as the e-bike makers race on the Isle of Man.  For Hollywood endorsements, Fabio has pimped for Zero - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0scHiHq27o8 .  It's only a matter of time till the culture will become attuned to the idea, and at that point I think the major players will see the Green (as in, the money, not the eco-ethics).

[expatbrit]

True... They probably will not (easily) survive the mass onslaught once the big MFGs get involved.

My only thinking here is that Brammo and Zero and a few others... this is what they do... ALL they do. I'm sure they're quite a bit ahead in optimization of the various systems. While the big boys have more money to throw at it - well, some do - Zero and Brammo have had backers on this pretty consistently for years now. Zero, especially, has had several huge infusions of cash and resources over the last 2 years especially.

If this was the IT industry, or even the car industry, I'd say 'HI SETTING UP FOR ACQUISITION MUCH'. That's my bet on these guys, with their technology -- someone who wants in to that market as it expands will acquire for the technology and roll it up and in. That depends how much they've genuinely managed to optimize their systems, and how much IP they have, of course.

As to snobs; my local Triumph/Ducati dealer just picked up Zero as their fourth brand (they have Husky, too). One day when I have time, I'm going to wander down there and snag a test ride on something, just to try it out. At the current price (and as a telecommuter) I don't see actually owning one yet, but they're interesting as hell to me as a concept.

[DogBoy]

Agree with expatbrit. I don't think the Zero, BRD or Brammo are trying to become full fledged moto manufacturers they are just using motorcycles because its a million times cheaper (figuratively and maybe literally) to develop technology on a motorcycle than a car. The motorcycle industry has almost no regulation compared to the auto industry with (crash tests, etc.).

These companies aren't boutiques, they are research firms developing technology just as in the IT industry where innovators are often bought by the big guys.

[Rincewind]

They should have blurred out the muffler instead of the guys face.  

They have since blurred out the entire bike in the linked article, so I guess you got your wish.  

Full unblurred pics are still up at http://www.infomotori.com/moto/2012/04/23/ktm-adventure-1200-foto-spia-della-futura-turistic/

[R Doug]

Ok, I spy...

differences to current Adventure:  A bigger motor, new plastics, new windscreen, side exhaust, and new swingarm.

similarities to current Adventure:  side gas tank(s?), 21" front / 18" rear wheels with use of tubes, similar Dakar bike inspired front end w/ no "beak"

[Rincewind]

This is the new 150bhp 1290cc KTM Super Duke that was recently spied testing on the roads near the KTM factory in Mattighofen, Austria.

The Super Duke will be getting a more powerful version of the 1290cc motor which KTM has been working on for the past three years. The bikes will be seen in finished form in the Autumn of 2012 to go on sale in early 2013.

The latest spy shots come after a prototype machine was pictured strapped to a trailer in Tenerife in January, along with the new 1290cc KTM Adventure.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/New-bikes/2012/May/may1712-new-ktm-super-duke-spies/



Nice to see a SSSA on this new model.  Is that a first for a KTM?  

[R Doug]

Yea, I believe this would be the first SSSA used by KTM.  Nice touch.

[falcofred]

Love the SSSA, but why block it with the exhaust? They should retain the underseat exhaust of the earlier SuperDuke

[falconati]

With emission standards, exhausts run waaaaaaay hot these days - moving them away from under the seat is a necessity.

That said, does it really have to be that big?  It's huge!

[Rincewind]

I like how the new 1190 Adventure looks - especially the LED running lights in front.  

[Kootenanny]

I own a 2007 Superduke, but won't purchase another KTM twin until they work on their dealer network. Great bikes, but too few dealers. Most KTM dealers only sell and work on the single cylinder bikes.

Hah!  There isn't any Harley dealer in my area, and the one that used to sell Victory burned down...but the local Honda dealer is also a serious KTM dealer, with most of the models in stock (including the big V-twins, not that I want one of those).  Indeed, the brands locally available to me are: Honda, KTM, and Yamaha.  That's it...(of course, I own a Buell ).

[black hills]

My local KTM dealer won't work on a LC8    I do all my own maint. so it isn't a big issue.