Orange Crush: KTM to bring entire line of streetbikes to U.S.
2010 KTM 690 Duke R - Click above for high-res image gallery
We'll be honest and say right off the bat that we have a soft spot for KTM. This particular blogger's first real two-wheeler was an old KTM 125 two-stroke that ate piston rings for breakfast, lunch and dinner... but boy was it fast! More recently, the traditionally off-road-focused Austrian marque has made a renewed plans to enter the U.S. market with an exciting line of streetbikes, and that's reportedly set to continue in full force for 2010.
According to the boys at Hell For Leather, KTM plans to bring its entire line of motorcycles Stateside, and that includes the 990 Adventure R, Super Duke R, SMT and SMR along with the RC8 R superbike (finally!) and the full line of single-cylinder 690s. Speaking of which, also new for 2010 is the 2010 690 Duke R that gets firmer suspenders, a bespoke paint scheme and carbon fiber fender and, most importantly, an enlarged engine with 70 horsepower and 51 lb-ft of torque. Hit the jump for a detailed PDF file that contains KTM's full line.
Gallery: 2010 KTM 690 Duke R
[Source: Hell For Leather]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
dukeisduke 10:21AM (11/12/2009)
Sadly, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) passed and signed into law last year has destroyed the youth motorcycle market, and hurt KTM (and other makers). The law was targeted at lead paint in toys, but has generated a lot of unintended consequences.
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Shamdiddly 10:26AM (11/12/2009)
Look into that - I believe it was changed to get rid of this exclusion.
jared 10:29AM (11/12/2009)
CPSIA is the nanny state at (or near) it worst.
KTM bringing more street bikes to the U.S. still brings a big smile to my face though.
dukeisduke 10:34AM (11/12/2009)
No, CPSIA hasn't been changed yet, and from all I've heard, it's near the bottom of Congress's priorities.
Shamdiddly 10:38AM (11/12/2009)
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/ballot/ballot09/youthatvstay_rca.pdf
bobepinette 1:39PM (11/12/2009)
Enough with the motorcycle news !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shamdiddly 10:40AM (11/12/2009)
A "Stay of Enforcement" has been issued to allow the manufacturers to make changes/provide evidence that "leaded" parts cannot harm the health of child users.
However, if your child gets lead poisoning by chewing on his ATV, you have far more important issues to address. : )
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CH 11:04AM (11/12/2009)
+1
Although I can imagine a sub 3 year old taking anything he sees into his mouth, but he shouldn't be around your ATV or motorcycle by himself anyway. Older childs just should know that an ATV or motorcycle is not edible.
I love my Duke, it is my first bike and I managed to drive 5000 km in 4 months, all of them with a big grin on my face. Next spring I will be adding a Duke II to my "car"-park.
Allen 10:55AM (11/12/2009)
I am a KTM owner and I couldn't be happier with my bike. This is great news, it's just too bad the relatively strong Euro is going to make these bikes come at a price premium.
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Dissident 11:58AM (11/12/2009)
Yeah, they're not going to be cheap, but they still seem expensive compared to other European brands (Husqvarna, Ducati, Aprilia...) And no mention of any of their smaller bikes. I would kill for one of their redbull 125 bikes for the track.. Too bad it'd probably cost more than a top of the line 600....
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Level 1:41PM (11/12/2009)
good move since Buell parted ways I think this gives KTM some customers to tap into....
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IOMTT 6:07PM (11/12/2009)
I would love a 690 Duke, but the price makes my eyes water. I will stick with my DRZ SM400 until one of the big four decides to make a 600cc plus Super Moto. These bikes are so much fun on roads you would never consider going fast on in a sports car or on a superbike.
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RLQ 2:20AM (11/13/2009)
KTM is starting to be my favorite European motorcycle company.
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Curt Kicklighter 1:49AM (11/13/2009)
With the powersports industry down about 50% from 07-08 I have a hard time believing that this is a good idea. Who are they going to get to buy them? Here is a better question- who are they going to get to sell them? Most of the big multi-line dealers are hanging on by a thread. One of the large (very large) Harley dealers here in Atlanta sold a total of 9 bikes in Oct. I know of a Honda/Suzuki/Triumph dealer that sold 11 units. That is, to use the new buzz word, "unsustainable". I really don't see any dealers signing up to put more bikes in inventory with the economy the way it is. With Harley shuttering Buell and then selling 1125's for 5000.00, Aprilia trying to unload leftover 07 Tuono's for 7400.00 and Honda begging people to buy 08 CBR1000's for 7000.00, KTM has got to be crazy.
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Allen 8:36AM (11/13/2009)
Just a couple of thoughts:
1. KTM already has a dealer network.
2. KTM is already building these bikes and selling them in Europe.
This is a pretty low risk move for KTM, I don't see why they didn't do it before.