When did KTM become "cool"?

PressPassP
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PressPassP 10/5/2010 9:39am
10/5/2010 9:39am
They've been pretty cool for most of this decade in Europe , enduro in particular,they got the right pilots this year and it's paid of bigtime especially now in the US,they have some of the most respected guys in MX in charge now too,the only way is up from now
Utrider
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Utrider 10/5/2010 9:45am
10/5/2010 9:45am
I find it interesting, that the guys who spend A LOT of time in the saddle ie; off-road guys, desert, gncc etc. have been fans of KTM for years. Look at the start line of any of these events. The guys who are on the bike for 15 minutes at a time not so much? Interesting.....ponder.
zippy895
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zippy895 10/5/2010 9:54am
10/5/2010 9:54am Edited Date/Time 10/5/2010 10:05am
i dont know if ktm became cool. i feel the big 4 became a bit less desirable. i remember the days when the jap bikes were way cheaper to buy for one. and now ,the 5 are about even there.
also, the japs have just about dismissed the 2 stroke line. ktm is still keeping the 2stroke line alive.
cant say that ktm is picking up the pace w/ the rear linkage since they used to have a link then went non link then back again.but maybe the new generation looks at this subject differently.
maybe resale value is on par with the japs now.
tiddler
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tiddler 10/5/2010 11:06am
10/5/2010 11:06am
KTM became cool when they started making the f--in 144. The 200 was good, but he 144 kicks ass.

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Nutty C
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Nutty C 10/5/2010 11:13am
10/5/2010 11:13am
Ktm has allways made competative crossers but they were always more expensive than the Jap bikes and the parts were pricey. Also dealers were not as plentiful so you were at the mercy of the guy you bought it from.
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BobbyM 10/5/2010 11:31am
10/5/2010 11:31am Edited Date/Time 10/5/2010 11:40am
Sunhouse wrote:
It took them forever to win over the American consumers. They have given costumers excellent bikes with innovative paRts for years, yet people still hated them...
It took them forever to win over the American consumers.
They have given costumers excellent bikes with innovative paRts for years, yet people still hated them. No-link suspension ( innovative, lightweight And has still not been proven to perform as bad as keyboard mechanics claim to see (they never tried it, but they could see it on alessi's bike and a friend of a friend heard Taliban used WP shocks in their RPGs. Adding a link complicates disasembly hence no Kayaba or Showas used in Jihad.
They came stick with oversized bars, killer engines, Vforce reeds, hydraulic clutches and FMF pipes. Still people bought Japanese bikes And spent $1000 hopping them up to KTM standard. KTM won bike tests, but they were "full of biased Yamaha-action propaganda" (huh?)
Less than ONE year ago they were still doubted. "Reed to KTM" were as sarcastic as "Stewart to Husky" is today.
You mean they could have hired DeCoster years ago and been taken seriously instantly?
People think CP to KTM all of a sudden seems plausible, Yet one year ago it would have been a joke. My question is: what has happened the last 12 months to make the American consumers believe in KTM?
it hasn't...and win over shit. aren't you getting ahead of the trophy case just a tad?



stay off the spray paint my friend....

as for alessi he had no choice due to the pickle his ole man got him into, but ktm took a top 1 or 2 racer and made him a back marker. that is a fact...and roger d and ian and dungey are the best in the world but the future doesn't lie...the past more than makes sure of that.

who knows though....at least they are going large and not going home. just something bout those scooters...can't put my hand on it but. Smile
BobbyM
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BobbyM 10/5/2010 11:39am
10/5/2010 11:39am
Sunhouse wrote:
It took them forever to win over the American consumers. They have given costumers excellent bikes with innovative paRts for years, yet people still hated them...
It took them forever to win over the American consumers.
They have given costumers excellent bikes with innovative paRts for years, yet people still hated them. No-link suspension ( innovative, lightweight And has still not been proven to perform as bad as keyboard mechanics claim to see (they never tried it, but they could see it on alessi's bike and a friend of a friend heard Taliban used WP shocks in their RPGs. Adding a link complicates disasembly hence no Kayaba or Showas used in Jihad.
They came stick with oversized bars, killer engines, Vforce reeds, hydraulic clutches and FMF pipes. Still people bought Japanese bikes And spent $1000 hopping them up to KTM standard. KTM won bike tests, but they were "full of biased Yamaha-action propaganda" (huh?)
Less than ONE year ago they were still doubted. "Reed to KTM" were as sarcastic as "Stewart to Husky" is today.
You mean they could have hired DeCoster years ago and been taken seriously instantly?
People think CP to KTM all of a sudden seems plausible, Yet one year ago it would have been a joke. My question is: what has happened the last 12 months to make the American consumers believe in KTM?
big dan got small brain...Wink
rockcrawlerdude 10/5/2010 11:46am
10/5/2010 11:46am Edited Date/Time 10/5/2010 11:49am
ive always liked KTM as the 1st REAL mx bike i rode was a WHITE and BLUE KTM80 (the 1st year for the ktm80's) but i will say one thing about that 80 that left me to stick with jap brands is the bike was hyped as the best 80 around as they tested pre-production bikes vs the crop of 80's at the time then low and behold when the production models showed up they got there butts handed to them as the preproduction models were 81cc vs production went to 79cc? so initial tests were good then were bad when the production model came after that so that left me with a bad taste about how KTM did things. we have owned a ktm since then and loved it, no problems what so ever and i still would love to own one of those widow maker '03 250sx's with 55hp on tap stock! Devil but whenever i can afford a new bike i want to get a 250sx with the ktm 300cc kit....
prillernut
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prillernut 10/5/2010 12:39pm
10/5/2010 12:39pm Edited Date/Time 10/5/2010 1:54pm
BKiller wrote:
They have been cool in hare scramble and GNCC circles for a long time. The MX community is just now realizing what they have been missing.
I dropped by Wilkesboro, NC on Saturday and visited the registration for the SETRA Bootlegger race - my first experience with the woods crowd. I'd heard about how KTM rules offroad, but to see it was amazing. Far and away, KTM's are the bike of choice, with just a smattering of Hondas and Yamahas (half of which I saw were 2-strokes)...
ando
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ando 10/5/2010 12:57pm
10/5/2010 12:57pm
KTM has been "cool" in just about every offroad discipline and in most prominent dirtbiking nations for years, with the exception of US MX/SX.
bigdan1967
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bigdan1967 10/5/2010 1:11pm
10/5/2010 1:11pm
Sunhouse wrote:
It took them forever to win over the American consumers. They have given costumers excellent bikes with innovative paRts for years, yet people still hated them...
It took them forever to win over the American consumers.
They have given costumers excellent bikes with innovative paRts for years, yet people still hated them. No-link suspension ( innovative, lightweight And has still not been proven to perform as bad as keyboard mechanics claim to see (they never tried it, but they could see it on alessi's bike and a friend of a friend heard Taliban used WP shocks in their RPGs. Adding a link complicates disasembly hence no Kayaba or Showas used in Jihad.
They came stick with oversized bars, killer engines, Vforce reeds, hydraulic clutches and FMF pipes. Still people bought Japanese bikes And spent $1000 hopping them up to KTM standard. KTM won bike tests, but they were "full of biased Yamaha-action propaganda" (huh?)
Less than ONE year ago they were still doubted. "Reed to KTM" were as sarcastic as "Stewart to Husky" is today.
You mean they could have hired DeCoster years ago and been taken seriously instantly?
People think CP to KTM all of a sudden seems plausible, Yet one year ago it would have been a joke. My question is: what has happened the last 12 months to make the American consumers believe in KTM?
BobbyM wrote:
big dan got small brain...Wink
I do have a small brain or I would not have ever bought a KTM. And don't make fun of us retarded ex KTM owners that is not nice. Smile
lucero10x
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lucero10x 10/5/2010 2:03pm
10/5/2010 2:03pm
99 KTM 380 MXC. Haven't bought a different brand since. I thought they were cool back then.
Sunhouse
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Sunhouse 10/5/2010 2:30pm
10/5/2010 2:30pm
Utrider wrote:
I find it interesting, that the guys who spend A LOT of time in the saddle ie; off-road guys, desert, gncc etc. have been fans of...
I find it interesting, that the guys who spend A LOT of time in the saddle ie; off-road guys, desert, gncc etc. have been fans of KTM for years. Look at the start line of any of these events. The guys who are on the bike for 15 minutes at a time not so much? Interesting.....ponder.
mx´ers don´t know how to work on their bikes the same way. All we care about are hop ups and graphics. Dizzy
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Deetsmx 10/5/2010 2:37pm
10/5/2010 2:37pm
rockcrawlerdude wrote:
ive always liked KTM as the 1st REAL mx bike i rode was a WHITE and BLUE KTM80 (the 1st year for the ktm80's) but i...
ive always liked KTM as the 1st REAL mx bike i rode was a WHITE and BLUE KTM80 (the 1st year for the ktm80's) but i will say one thing about that 80 that left me to stick with jap brands is the bike was hyped as the best 80 around as they tested pre-production bikes vs the crop of 80's at the time then low and behold when the production models showed up they got there butts handed to them as the preproduction models were 81cc vs production went to 79cc? so initial tests were good then were bad when the production model came after that so that left me with a bad taste about how KTM did things. we have owned a ktm since then and loved it, no problems what so ever and i still would love to own one of those widow maker '03 250sx's with 55hp on tap stock! Devil but whenever i can afford a new bike i want to get a 250sx with the ktm 300cc kit....
I had one of those 03's, that thing was ridiculous. My brother had a yz250 and that bike would walk away from it down the straights. Fastest 250 I have ridden to this day, unfortunately it was also the worst handling one I've ridden to this day. I sold it after a few months and got an RM. I would love to shove that motor in the modern chassis and see what it could do.
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NP301 10/5/2010 2:44pm
10/5/2010 2:44pm
bigdan1967 wrote:
I would never buy another KTM, I bought a KTM in 1996 it was a 550 two stroke. I took the bike out on the first...
I would never buy another KTM, I bought a KTM in 1996 it was a 550 two stroke. I took the bike out on the first ride and could not get it to start, my brother and I worked for hours and then gave up and went home. The next day I took it back to the dealer and they told me "no warranty" I said but I never rode it because it wouldn't start. There answer was "everyone knows the carbs on these things are crap and you should buy a new one"
I sold it as used and bought a jap bike like a should have to start with.
There is a key to every bike, and its called gas :p
mxpitt23
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mxpitt23 10/5/2010 2:45pm
10/5/2010 2:45pm
KTM was suposed to be cool back when MC signed on..didnt work out...KTM was supposed to be cool when Langston won the 125 outdoor title on one...didnt work out...It was cool when ping snapped one in half at phoenix in 02 (?)
FreshTopEnd
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FreshTopEnd 10/5/2010 2:53pm
10/5/2010 2:53pm
This sort of thing helps



mxgeoff
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mxgeoff 10/5/2010 2:55pm
10/5/2010 2:55pm
Sunhouse wrote:
It took them forever to win over the American consumers. They have given costumers excellent bikes with innovative paRts for years, yet people still hated them...
It took them forever to win over the American consumers.
They have given costumers excellent bikes with innovative paRts for years, yet people still hated them. No-link suspension ( innovative, lightweight And has still not been proven to perform as bad as keyboard mechanics claim to see (they never tried it, but they could see it on alessi's bike and a friend of a friend heard Taliban used WP shocks in their RPGs. Adding a link complicates disasembly hence no Kayaba or Showas used in Jihad.
They came stick with oversized bars, killer engines, Vforce reeds, hydraulic clutches and FMF pipes. Still people bought Japanese bikes And spent $1000 hopping them up to KTM standard. KTM won bike tests, but they were "full of biased Yamaha-action propaganda" (huh?)
Less than ONE year ago they were still doubted. "Reed to KTM" were as sarcastic as "Stewart to Husky" is today.
You mean they could have hired DeCoster years ago and been taken seriously instantly?
People think CP to KTM all of a sudden seems plausible, Yet one year ago it would have been a joke. My question is: what has happened the last 12 months to make the American consumers believe in KTM?
When they signed Stefan Everts.

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mxgeoff
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mxgeoff 10/5/2010 2:57pm
10/5/2010 2:57pm
Sunhouse wrote:
It took them forever to win over the American consumers. They have given costumers excellent bikes with innovative paRts for years, yet people still hated them...
It took them forever to win over the American consumers.
They have given costumers excellent bikes with innovative paRts for years, yet people still hated them. No-link suspension ( innovative, lightweight And has still not been proven to perform as bad as keyboard mechanics claim to see (they never tried it, but they could see it on alessi's bike and a friend of a friend heard Taliban used WP shocks in their RPGs. Adding a link complicates disasembly hence no Kayaba or Showas used in Jihad.
They came stick with oversized bars, killer engines, Vforce reeds, hydraulic clutches and FMF pipes. Still people bought Japanese bikes And spent $1000 hopping them up to KTM standard. KTM won bike tests, but they were "full of biased Yamaha-action propaganda" (huh?)
Less than ONE year ago they were still doubted. "Reed to KTM" were as sarcastic as "Stewart to Husky" is today.
You mean they could have hired DeCoster years ago and been taken seriously instantly?
People think CP to KTM all of a sudden seems plausible, Yet one year ago it would have been a joke. My question is: what has happened the last 12 months to make the American consumers believe in KTM?
BobbyM wrote:
it hasn't...and win over shit. aren't you getting ahead of the trophy case just a tad?stay off the spray paint my friend....as for alessi he had...
it hasn't...and win over shit. aren't you getting ahead of the trophy case just a tad?



stay off the spray paint my friend....

as for alessi he had no choice due to the pickle his ole man got him into, but ktm took a top 1 or 2 racer and made him a back marker. that is a fact...and roger d and ian and dungey are the best in the world but the future doesn't lie...the past more than makes sure of that.

who knows though....at least they are going large and not going home. just something bout those scooters...can't put my hand on it but. Smile
KTM with the biggest sale of off-road bikes in the World feel pretty cool.
Mstock
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Mstock 10/5/2010 2:58pm
10/5/2010 2:58pm
It was the stock black rims that made them cool. Now they are silver. Big mistake.
KAWboy14
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KAWboy14 10/5/2010 5:01pm
10/5/2010 5:01pm
i dont know when they became cool but everyone i meet in in texas wants one!
Antipodean 10/5/2010 6:05pm
10/5/2010 6:05pm
When did KTM become "cool"?

When Australia's Factory KTM program decided to set up a team in America for the 2011 SX/MX season, and beyond. Or maybe they're doing it because KTM is now cool?

Whatever, it's just a relief to see more teams in the paddock.
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Tiki 10/5/2010 9:30pm
10/5/2010 9:30pm
88sdad wrote:
Ever since I rode my friends brand new 81KTM 495, I've always liked them. [img]http://www.motodacross.com/ktm/mx500/1981.jpg[/img]
Ever since I rode my friends brand new 81KTM 495, I've always liked them.


I had a few from the late 70's and 80's. In the 90's I went to Japan and now Im ready to head back to Austria. That 495 was a BEAST!
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Tiki 10/5/2010 9:36pm
10/5/2010 9:36pm Edited Date/Time 10/5/2010 9:37pm
Antipodean wrote:
[b][i]When did KTM become "cool"?[/i][/b] When Australia's Factory KTM program decided to set up a team in America for the 2011 SX/MX season, and beyond. Or...
When did KTM become "cool"?

When Australia's Factory KTM program decided to set up a team in America for the 2011 SX/MX season, and beyond. Or maybe they're doing it because KTM is now cool?

Whatever, it's just a relief to see more teams in the paddock.
They have always been cool. Bowties too.
rockcrawlerdude 10/5/2010 9:54pm
10/5/2010 9:54pm
rockcrawlerdude wrote:
ive always liked KTM as the 1st REAL mx bike i rode was a WHITE and BLUE KTM80 (the 1st year for the ktm80's) but i...
ive always liked KTM as the 1st REAL mx bike i rode was a WHITE and BLUE KTM80 (the 1st year for the ktm80's) but i will say one thing about that 80 that left me to stick with jap brands is the bike was hyped as the best 80 around as they tested pre-production bikes vs the crop of 80's at the time then low and behold when the production models showed up they got there butts handed to them as the preproduction models were 81cc vs production went to 79cc? so initial tests were good then were bad when the production model came after that so that left me with a bad taste about how KTM did things. we have owned a ktm since then and loved it, no problems what so ever and i still would love to own one of those widow maker '03 250sx's with 55hp on tap stock! Devil but whenever i can afford a new bike i want to get a 250sx with the ktm 300cc kit....
Deetsmx wrote:
I had one of those 03's, that thing was ridiculous. My brother had a yz250 and that bike would walk away from it down the straights...
I had one of those 03's, that thing was ridiculous. My brother had a yz250 and that bike would walk away from it down the straights. Fastest 250 I have ridden to this day, unfortunately it was also the worst handling one I've ridden to this day. I sold it after a few months and got an RM. I would love to shove that motor in the modern chassis and see what it could do.
wonder if some offset triple clamps would help?
KGAspeed
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KGAspeed 10/5/2010 10:46pm
10/5/2010 10:46pm Edited Date/Time 10/5/2010 10:49pm
bigdan1967 wrote:
I would never buy another KTM, I bought a KTM in 1996 it was a 550 two stroke. I took the bike out on the first...
I would never buy another KTM, I bought a KTM in 1996 it was a 550 two stroke. I took the bike out on the first ride and could not get it to start, my brother and I worked for hours and then gave up and went home. The next day I took it back to the dealer and they told me "no warranty" I said but I never rode it because it wouldn't start. There answer was "everyone knows the carbs on these things are crap and you should buy a new one"
I sold it as used and bought a jap bike like a should have to start with.
You are seriously going to form your opinion on a brand of motorcycle, based on a bike from 1996?



Wow.




I've had a couple 200s (most fun bike ever), a 250 and a 300. All excellent. Next up is a 2011 250XC.
Adam43
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Adam43 10/5/2010 10:54pm
10/5/2010 10:54pm
I believe it has just been a steady progression from 2007 when they did the major revamp on all their models. Targeting light weight, focusing on big power and using premium components such as hydraulic clutches and electric starting on some models.... it all adds up, and people take awhile to migrate.

I don't think they are all the way there yet - I'm sure they'd argue the same.
Antipodean 10/5/2010 11:26pm
10/5/2010 11:26pm
Even Santa's getting on board.

robkinuk
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robkinuk 10/5/2010 11:40pm
10/5/2010 11:40pm


Big Jaak van Velthoven's GP warhorse from the 80's

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