Everything KTM thread

Hostile takeover complete.

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Noobie

Thread 'Everything KTM thread'

One of the two ranges that are often held as comparissons to Ducati's, Particularly in regards to adventure style bikes is KTM. Given we have a thread for all things GS 🤮, It seems only fair we have an all things KTM as well. Feel free to KTM chat away
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So they halved the number of bikes they sold wholesale - ie bikes they pushed onto dealers. I wonder if that reduction correlates to the number of dealers they've driven out of business through over-supply? And will they have learned their lesson or will they continue to send dealerships to the wall by pushing bikes on them that they can't shift?

Trouble is, with a depleted dealer network they risk a backlog of orders and service work which puts new buyers off.

By the sound of it, their concentrating on off-readers and small capacity bikes might indicate the price of Bajaj's bailout wad to demand a shift of focus to the Asian market. I wonder whether they'll still be making V twins in five years time. On the KTM forums loyalists are questioning whether it's worth the risk of buying new large capacity KTMs in case the spares and servicing backup isn't there in years to come. I certainly wouldn't buy one until I knew what Bajaj's business plan was going to be.
 
Gimlet said:
So they halved the number of bikes they sold wholesale - ie bikes they pushed onto dealers. I wonder if that reduction correlates to the number of dealers they've driven out of business through over-supply? And will they have learned their lesson or will they continue to send dealerships to the wall by pushing bikes on them that they can't shift?

Trouble is, with a depleted dealer network they risk a backlog of orders and service work which puts new buyers off.

By the sound of it, their concentrating on off-readers and small capacity bikes might indicate the price of Bajaj's bailout wad to demand a shift of focus to the Asian market. I wonder whether they'll still be making V twins in five years time. On the KTM forums loyalists are questioning whether it's worth the risk of buying new large capacity KTMs in case the spares and servicing backup isn't there in years to come. I certainly wouldn't buy one until I knew what Bajaj's business plan was going to be.
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I mentioned before they always shifted to mx and enduro bikes the second half of the year if I bought a new enduro bike in July 12 that was a 2013 bike its always been that way .. utter fucking bizarre but I can't remember it ever being any other way
 
The skitz said:
I mentioned before they always shifted to mx and enduro bikes the second half of the year if I bought a new enduro bike in July 12 that was a 2013 bike its always been that way .. utter fucking bizarre but I can't remember it ever being any other way
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I had a gearbox failure on my brand new 1290 Superduke (one-off human error in the factory which cost someone their job. Nothing to do with the design or basic engineering). I asked either for a new engine or a new bike. THe dealer said that it would have to be a new bike because the Austrian factory at the time did single model production runs until they'd built all the engines they'd allocated for the coming year's projected sales of that particular model, and then they retooled and built the full quota of engines for tyhe next model and so on. In other words, they don't make spare engines. Every one made is already allocated to a chassis and once they've built all they need, that's it until next year. So that kind of confirms what you say about time-limited batch manufacturing.
 
The skitz said:
I mentioned before they always shifted to mx and enduro bikes the second half of the year if I bought a new enduro bike in July 12 that was a 2013 bike its always been that way .. utter fucking bizarre but I can't remember it ever being any other way
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Like I've said before, the business model worked fine for years with the original three partners, even when Pierer mobility bought in, the model was good, then all of a sudden they do deals with the Chinese with the parallel twins and the Indians with the single cylinders, the fucking money men get involved, bikes are deliberately stockpiled, factory ceases production and staff layoffs, two of the original partners are fucked off out the door, propaganda sent to the media stating financial difficulties, unnecessary panic, the Indians and Chinese short the stock, pushing share prices down, KTM undervalued, Bajaj step up saying we've secured a 600m bailout, that was negotiated in China. Hostile takeover and unadulterated capitalism 101, the stockpiled machines released from prison, factory power turned back on when the new regime gave them the key back and the workforce back under different terms and conditions.
Yey and within weeks its all hunky dory and turning a profit.
 
BobTheBounder said:
Like I've said before, the business model worked fine for years with the original three partners, even when Pierer mobility bought in, the model was good, then all of a sudden they do deals with the Chinese with the parallel twins and the Indians with the single cylinders, the fucking money men get involved, bikes are deliberately stockpiled, factory ceases production and staff layoffs, two of the original partners are fucked off out the door, propaganda sent to the media stating financial difficulties, unnecessary panic, the Indians and Chinese short the stock, pushing share prices down, KTM undervalued, Bajaj step up saying we've secured a 600m bailout, that was negotiated in China. Hostile takeover and unadulterated capitalism 101, the stockpiled machines released from prison, factory power turned back on when the new regime gave them the key back and the workforce back under different terms and conditions.
Yey and within weeks its all hunky dory and turning a profit.
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And the bosses who ‘fucked it up’ sail into the horizon with their mega pay off.
Anyone remember a motor company called Rover? 👀
 
990Glen said:
Last new one for me then. Hopefully the two I have will cover the next 5 yrs anyway.
Choices for me are few and far between now. Can see me ending up with a GS if it carries on like this 🤣
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Aye Glen, Big Sonja will serve me well, our kid is on GSA number 7, great bike does everything well, but lacks soul, I had a very quick test ride on a Voge 900, very interesting, I like it, especially the price point, just over £9k with full ally luggage
 
BobTheBounder said:
Aye Glen, Big Sonja will serve me well, our kid is on GSA number 7, great bike does everything well, but lacks soul, I had a very quick test ride on a Voge 900, very interesting, I like it, especially the price point, just over £9k with full ally luggage
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Just spent ten days on mine ,fantastic bike in every way but they are soulless.... that's what a ktm was for ... hard to know what way things will go ?
 
The skitz said:
Just spent ten days on mine ,fantastic bike in every way but they are soulless.... that's what a ktm was for ... hard to know what way things will go ?
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Have you had a go on a V4 multi? I did have a GS 1250 for a day a few years back and I agree , very good but boring, just like the new African Twin I had for one summer when they first came out👍
 
Fight the streets Fmd said:
Have you had a go on a V4 multi? I did have a GS 1250 for a day a few years back and I agree , very good but boring, just like the new African Twin I had for one summer when they first came out👍
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For touring I'd stay gs as I have plenty of lary bikes to ride ... im also a short arse so the gs has ever conceivable trick for me to get both feet planted firmly... 👀
 
Fight the streets Fmd said:
Have you had a go on a V4 multi? I did have a GS 1250 for a day a few years back and I agree , very good but boring, just like the new African Twin I had for one summer when they first came out👍
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I wanted a V4 multi, way too much wonga then, have ridden a mates now and although a wonderful bike, I'm glad I chose the KTM, The 1100 Africa twin I rode had DCT box, was strange at first but soon became useful, as a mile muncher at sane speeds or off road, a good all rounder, but the super adventure R is a fucking nutter.
 
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