What Is KTM? Where Is KTM Based? What Does KTM Sell? We're Answering FAQs
January 29 2021, Centennial Auto-Sport And Tire
On Monday, January 18th, 2021, Centennial Auto-Sport And Tire received PEI's first shipment of brand new KTM motorcycles.
It's official. The paperwork is signed. Centennial Auto-Sport And Tire is now the home of KTM in Prince Edward Island. The bikes are here. The showrooms are stuffed. (You can watch our live stream from last Saturday night here.)
Motorcycle aficionados, dirt bike enthusiasts, and life-long fans of two-wheeled riding are very familiar with KTM, the Austrian roots of which can be traced back all the way to 1934. Yet from a modern perspective, KTM basically began to power into the global motorcycle industry in 1992. As of 2020, nearly 1 out of every 10 motorcycle/dirt bike sold in Canada was a KTM.
Outside of the tight-knit motorcycle community, however, KTM isn't as well-known as Centennial's other two-wheel brands: Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki. So we're going to answer some of the most common questions we've been hearing about KTM.
Where Is KTM From?
KTM is based in Mattighofen, Austria.
What Does KTM Stand For?
You've already guessed the M in KTM: It's Mattighofen. K stands for Kronreif – Ernst Kronreif became the head honcho at KTM in 1953. (Prior to that, the K stood for Kraftfahrzeug, which is German for motor vehicle.) The T in KTM alludes to Trunkenpolz – an engineer named Johann Trunkenpolz started a car repair business in 1934. Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. KTM.
What Kind Of Bikes Does KTM Sell?
KTM's product lineup is expansive. For 2021, the motocross category includes five 4-stroke bikes, nine 2-stroke bikes, and the futuristic SX-E 5 electric bike. Next up is KTM's enduro line, which includes eight 4-stroke EXC (dual sport) and XC (off-road only cross country models) plus seven XC 2-stroke bikes. Joining the SX-E 5 is the electric Freeride E-XC. KTM's travel lineup includes five adventure bikes in 690, 890, and 1290 sizes. Finally, KTM sells two different supermotos, five different naked Duke bikes, and the track-ready RC.
Who Owns KTM?
The majority owner of KTM is Pierer Mobility, which also owns motorcycle manufacturers Husqvarna and GasGas, plus WP Suspension. KTM's minority shareholder is Bajaj Auto Limited.
What Else Does KTM Sell?
At times, KTM has also played in the ATV game. KTM has also marketed the X-Bow since 2008, a revolutionary ultra-lightweight sports car.
Why Is KTM's Slogan Ready To Race?
Competition is at the heart of everything KTM does. Ready To Race isn't just a catchphrase – with KTM, you can quite literally buy a race-ready machine right off the showroom floor. KTM has won more than 270 world championships in different types of motorcycle racing, including 16 consecutive victories in the 9,500-kilometre Dakar Rally, the most challenging motorcycle race in the world.
Are KTMs Expensive?
KTM packs a ton of value into high-performance bikes. Just look at the spectacular screen and adjustable levers on the very affordable Duke 390; the Akrapovic exhaust, holeshot device, composite skid plate, and Hinson clutch cover on the 450 SX-F Factory Edition; the gigantic fuel tanks on the Adventure models; or the endless list of extras on the race-ready 50 SX Factory Edition. Pound for pound, KTMs are very competitively priced.
Can Centennial Service KTMs?
As always, Centennial Auto-Sport And Tire is an all makes/all models service centre with quick access to parts suppliers and highly trained technicians.
Can I Trade In My Motorcycle For A KTM?
We're always excited to appraise the value of your current motorcycle, whether it's a KTM or any other brand. There are significant benefits if you choose to trade in as opposed to selling yourself.
Imagine you can get $10,000 for your current bike on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji. You sell your bike for $10,000, come into the store, and purchase a $12,000 motorcycle. $12,000 plus 15% HST ($1,800) is $13,800. On the other hand, imagine we appraise your motorcycle at, say, $9,500. (We'll be inspecting and reconditioning the bike, handling all of the registration processes with Access PEI, and marketing the bike.)
So, do you think you're down by $500? Not at all! Now you're going to pay tax only on the difference between the new bike ($12,000) and the old bike ($9,500.) That'll be only $375 in HST, so your total cost on a new bike is $12,375, a huge $1,425 in savings.
What Makes KTM So Special?
There's more to it than orange bodywork. KTM builds lightweight bikes, often equipped with fast-revving 2-stroke engines that many manufacturers don't even make these days. There are all kinds of unusual features on KTMs, but outright performance continues to be the brand's calling card.