KTM has now been around as a manufacturer for
fifty years but only in recent times has the company reached a position where
it can take on the Japanese in the sales race.
The name KTM is derived from the names of the company founders, Ernst Kronreif
and Hans Trunkenpolz, while the third letter represents the geographic
location of the KTM factory, Mattighofen in Austria.
After some troubled times during the 1980s, where the KTM name was damaged by
build quality problems, the company reinvented itself in 1992 and started a
long road to recovery.
A new high-tech production line was brought on line in 1999. This new facility
brought about superior levels of quality control and set the groundwork for
the sales success that KTM now enjoys.
KTM has also been recording an incredible level of racetrack success around
the world, including many recent world championship wins. In Australia Craig
Anderson piloted his KTM to a major trifecta this year by wrapping up the 2002
Australian Supercross, Motocross and ThumperNats Championships.
The 2003 KTM model range recently landed in Australia. Recently I was lucky
enough to sample the range-topping 525 EXC and took the opportunity to explore
the fantastic trails in the Blackwood River Valley surrounding the towns of
Balingup and Nannup.
As soon as I hopped aboard the KTM I was under no illusion that I was on a
race ready machine. High quality Magura bars are set in a high and aggressive
position, helping the rider to correctly weight the front wheel when entering
a turn. A long and slim black seat makes it easy for the rider to get forward,
or alternatively slide back to improve traction.
And traction is something that is easily broken when you let the 510.4cc
four-stroke single have it’s head. I couldn’t imagine needing more grunt than
the KTM provides. Massive bottom-end urge is available just off idle and
proves very tractable and secure when negotiating tricky terrain. The power
then gently builds in to a strong mid-range before coming on hard with an
addictive top-end hit. Even more impressive is the fact that the liquid-cooled
engine is quite smooth running for such a large capacity single.
A 39mm Keihin MX FCR carburettor delivers the fuel to the formidable engine
from a small 8.5 litre tank. Carburation is excellent with the KTM never
threatening a hiccup, smooth throttle response was available in any situation.
Something that is definitely required with the amount of urge available. The
throttle has quite a long travel, which also aids control; a quick action
throttle would not be welcome on the 525. The machine starts easily from cold
with the choke on and a quick press of the electric start button. The choke is
well hidden though and requires some contortion of the fingers to turn on or
off.
Shifting gears is no chore thanks to an incredibly smooth six-speed gearbox.
Not only are clutchless upshifts remarkably smooth, but the clutch can also be
negated on downshifts in certain situations. The more race focused SX model
makes do with only four gears.
