KTM® Motorcycles: A History Of Dedication
KTM has a history that spans almost a century, but for the past ten years they’ve been one of the best-selling European brands of motorcycles. For power, reliability, and versatility, you can’t go wrong with a KTM® bike. We here at Langston Motorsports want you to have the best of the best, so we’ve put together some background information on KTM. To learn more, or to see the KTM motorcycles we have for sale, contact our store in Perris, California, today!
History
KTM’s history is as varied as its modern catalogue.
Founding
The company has its roots in 1930s Austria, and it’s initials stood for “Kraftfahrzeug Trunkenpolz Mattighofen.” The word “kraftfahrzeug” loosely translates to “motor vehicle” in German, denoting the company’s purpose. The other two words were the names of the company founder, Hans Trunkenpolz, and of the town the company started in, Mattighofen, Austria. The company started life as a vehicle repair shop, but at the end of World War II, the demand for vehicle repairs dipped.
Original Machines
To combat the dip in the demand for their services, KTM shifted focus to developing their own brand of motorcycles. They built their first prototype in 1951, which was called the R100. Soon after, an investor named Ernst Kronreif became a valued sharehold, and the “K” in the company’s name was altered so it referred to his last name rather than the German word for motor vehicle.
Changes
Both Ernst Kronreif and Hans Trunkenpolz passed away in the early 1960s, and Hans’ son Erich was given control of the company. He was instrumental in expanding the company’s reach across Europe and, in 1978, into the United States.
When Erich died in 1989, the company was reorganized into four separate organizations and that process finalized in 1992. However, by 2015, three of the four entities reunited into the modern KTM.
Modern Innovations
Today, KTM is best-known for their off-road motorcycles, also called dirt bikes. These bikes have a number of popular lines, including the Motocross, Cross-Country, Enduro, and Freeride models. KTM bikes have even earned a number of titles and awards thanks to their stunning performance.
In fact, since the first KTM bike won a world championship in 1974, their motorcycles have helped win over 260 world championship titles. The classic black, orange, and silver company colors make every single finish recognizable and stylish.
Ready to see what you can do with a KTM® motorcycle? Contact us at Langston Motorsports for more information, or to see the KTM bikes we have in stock. We proudly serve the people of Temecula and Orange County, California—let us serve you today!