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 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.
Check out this great
selection of images below before moving on to
page 2....
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