KTM is going bust - update

[@Jimmy-i1q]

It's mind boggling how major companies like KTM get run into the ground by idiots who make a monthly income more then I make in a year.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Save your money. This is not over.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

11:50 "Understand what your market is, and adjust your business to it." That is what happened. With the dwindling share due to regulation pushing up all bike and car prices,---somebody had to go out of business, (and have been). It is an adjustment to the dwindling market. My question is, will it create enough market share for the surviving companies so they can make a profit? Because when it comes to dirt bikes, I bet none of them are making a profit right now. A mixed economy does not work. We have the results today, in our faces.

[@robertratliff6030]

I owned 2 KTMs, both of them for strokes. I have always rode Hondas from ct 70 up to an xr400, and they all were very low maintenance. Luckily I kept my cr250r when I bought the KTM dual sport and sxf. After a year of valve shimming, hydraulic clutch issues and brake fluid boils, I sold them both during the pandemic for what I paid for them due to bike shortages. I went back to riding my two stroke cr250r. It starts first kick , the clutch is not hydraulic, and the brakes never boil and lock up on me. Those KTMs I had looked nice, rode nice, I just like the simplicity of maintaining my old 2001 cr250r

[@jmoto385]

I sold my 89' CR-250R, one of my worst decisions. I kept my 03' XR400R, it still rides great, good decision! Bought a new Kawasaki, so I don't wear out the old Honda too soon.

[@garydobbs5159]

I love my KTM and not ready to get rid of it because of all this. It’s a great bike and reliable

[@066motocross]

I just bought a 2024 150 sc w. It's an awesome bike. I'm 60 and have owned several different off road and mx bikes since 1973. This new KTM is better than any of them in my opinion

[@RobertRobert-d2r]

KTM should offload Husqvarna and Gas Gas, both of which they never should have bought in the first place. KTM deserves to fail for so many reasons but they shouldn't take Husqvarna and Gas Gas down with them.

[@MrKdr500]

gasgas & Husqvarna were already dead when KTM bought them....

[@RobertRobert-d2r]

@@MrKdr500 then why did KTM buy them?

[@Joshuadalewillis]

They dropped gas gas a few days ago, do you know you’re saying an idea they already did

[@Anatoli50]

@@andersd8041Not entirely accurate. Pierrier bought Husaberg to obtain their superior four stroke technology which they immediately incorporated into KTM’s 4T product line. Prior to the Husaberg acquisition KTM was primarily a 2 stroke company. Interestingly enough, the Husaberg engineers came from Husqvarna.

[@maxflight777]

KTM does not deserve to fail. Fuck you @RobertRobert-d2r

[@airgunsofalaska]

KTM is destined to become a Chinese/Indian owned company manufactured by CF Moto and Bagaji. I agree, here in Alaska the dealer that carried KTM forever also already carried GasGas and Husquvarna. They specialized in European bikes.

[@seepx]

@@airgunsofalaska such a depressing thought

[@airgunsofalaska]

@ It might make the big four more interested in the off-road enduro bike market again?

[@ronald8673]

Bajaj already owns 48% of the company . They have decided not to increase their stake in the company with additional investment. They may be waiting to get full ownership, at a discount from receivership.

[@thatalaskaguy]

@@ronald8673That makes the most sense. Better to wait and buy a well known and regarded brand for pennies on the dollar rather than do it now. It’ll be interesting to see how KTM fares in the future. I see them living off name alone similar to what has happened to so many storied bicycle brands since the 70’s. I suspect that future KTM’s will be viewed as a lower tiered garbage brand but will still do well at lower price points. Much like CF Moto does today.

[@Evo-t9b]

Allready have cf moto in china making their bikes,chocolate cams anyone 😂

[@neilmackinnon3371]

Brilliant update, thanks. The 'now you see it. Now you don't' software tells you everything that is wrong with the thinking within KTM. How did anyone inside KTM not realise that customers would think they had just been mugged when all the fancy features disappeared after 1000 km. What kind of management thought... aha! We can get these suckers for more money AFTER they have already paid for our product. Maybe a number of PCP buyers wouldn't mind adding another £20 a month to their payments, but any right thinking person is going to resent paying twice for something they already own.

[@rs8197-dms]

Very well said. I have been involved in turnarounds for the last 10 years, and you are absolutely right on every count. Let's see if Pierer is going to do something similar - or go bankrupt continuing to do something silly.

[@endurojugHandlebarTank]

I've moved on to Beta and that's that. Well priced and reliable. No hidden little things .

[@ramonbostic]

I never understood the point of buying a brand, just to sell the same bike you already have with different bodywork. I like your idea of separating the brands by displacement.

[@plwn6468]

??

[@wayneknodel3347]

You are right on the money. The hubris of KTM thinking their gamble in believing demand for their expensive TOYS would continue growing unabated after COVID and thus investing in other niche brands to meet perceived volume was foolish. Not to mention MV that has been bounced around the industry like a football, then cliff diving head first into money pit of Moto GP was idiocy in this economic climate. Seen this story repeated many times with similar results.

[@michaelwhite3615]

When KTM offshored its bike builds to China, it was the beginning of the end. CFMOTO steals their IP, build quality went south, and customer service became an issue.

[@pabloricardodetarragon2649]

CFMoto has stolen nothing. The transfer of technology was written in the joint-venture contract and CFMoto made the engines in the strict application of the KTM requisites.

[@pnblondon1087]

@@pabloricardodetarragon2649 Good points well made! So it was a self-harming joint-venture contract...

[@dank3823]

There is no way to make up 3 billion dollars of debt when you don't have a revenue to cover a 1/4 of it. Your insight on KTM is really wise.

[@JH-jo9wt]

$3B debt, $3b loan at 5% p.a is $150m a yr They posted a 53m euro profit for 2023...

[@christopherw4527]

Especially when they don't own many actual assets. Not much for a bank to recuperate. Way too risky.

[@dank3823]

@@JH-jo9wt ... and their stock dropped 70-80% and their sales revenue has gone off a cliff, like every other brand.

[@franknunez7204]

"I don't want to buy an orange bike, but I do like the colors of their other bikes". When you said this, I knew there was a high degree of candor in your delivery.

[@kai-uweoch1159]

What I find astonishing is that there absolutely no information about their current situation on either the KTM international webpage or their Facebook page. Not a SINGLE word! A very good analyses and interesting aspects of product diversification! I am sharing your hope that the company will survive and since I also own a 701, I am hoping this brand will too!

[@stangindude99]

They made a video and posted it to KZbin. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4GbpoeVbK96hK8si=fJdx5bo5soZxZVPD

[@davidmathers1141]

Thank you for taking the time to post your opinion and i hope your Caribbean holiday was enjoyable. I, too, would like to see them survive in a form which means i continue to get support for my Norden. My opinion of how this will play out. They will need to demonstrate to creditors (suppliers) and major lenders how the company can be run as a going concern. And as part of that show why it is in their interest to "support" them . By "support" i mean write off very substantial amounts in the hope that they benefit in the future. Basically, it is a gun to the head tactic. "Forget about what we owe you to date and we promise to pay you for all future supplies. Or we go bust and you lose all future revenues." Its going to get very nasty. The Chinese, however, are consumate businessmen. They will wait until the last second before stepping in to take control. Mr Pierer will be required to vacate his office and i see this as a big risk to the whole thing. Will his arrogance prefer to see his child killed than be adopted?

[@deepspoke2201]

I think you nailed the major root cause; I never understood why they would maintain three brands that made duplicate products for the same market niche without significant differentiation. As you suggest it makes sense to carve out a home for each of the brands Gas Gas is the two-stroke brand, Husky as the single cylinder dual sport/enduro, and have KTM be the adventure and road brand with dual cylinder bikes, and their one, 390 adventure bike and it’s new variations. Then top it off with canning all the executives who think financial jazz hands beat true customer service.

[@jeffdejaynes7231]

@@deepspoke2201 definitely agree they should have done something like that. Essentially with the current lineups, they have models competing against each other.

[@manresarods4947]

I have a KTM and a BMW motorcycle. I was interested in adding an older Husqvarna enduro and possibly a newer KTM 790/890 until the camshaft issue surfaced. The older Husqvarna are not supported by KTM. With my BMW, there were early reports about a cardan driveshaft issue. I got a letter from BMW recently, explaining that I get free 12,000 mile cardan shaft inspections and free cardan shaft replacement for life if they fail inspection. I like the customer support from BMW.

[@graantmnz]

yep - i have a 1200RS and it will get a new driveshaft for free when it gets to the mileage that BMW state they offer free replacement. I have had 7 BMWs and almost no problems with them ..the old air heads were so easy to do every thing on them yourself maintenance wise ( not clutch though)

[@zeuszoegutsy]

reminds me of the story where some-one wanting to make small talk at a party, asked the Rolex CEO "how's the watch business going?" and the latter replied "I don't know but the image business is going very well"

[@leanit5756]

COVID? For at least two years my local dealer was killing it with KTMs as the Japanese manufactures couldn't get bikes out. The choice was pretty much buy a KTM or don't buy a new bike. KTM kept inventory up through those times. Parts were slim, but new bikes kept hitting the floors.

[@human1513]

Through out history humans never learn and always repeat doing the same things over & over. The path KTM took has been taken by many, many companies over the years all with the same bad result.

[@THECONTROVERSIALCYCLIST]

Great video 👍👍KTM situation is purchasing products in a FOMO way to take the chance from other companies, over paying for them. The KTM 🤥 are also legendary.

[@patkennedy1]

I agree with your points regarding 'brand differentiation', and having a line-up of similar models with little more distinguishing them than colour and badging. But the financial issues must come back to PMG's apparent expectation of endless growth - a notion popular in western finance, and production. KTM continued to spend so much on these other brands, with lofty ambitions in all three categories of MotoGP (when they are primarily an off-road brand) and kept churning out the products, all the while underestimating the slide in their reputation, as engines became noisy, and warranty claims kept pouring in. They appear to have underestimated how much motorcyclists talk to each other. Where many of us meet up here (in country South Australia) there are many adventure bikes, and MANY KTMs. And a high degree of unhappiness about how KTM have been proceeding. The functions that come on your new bike, but which switch off after a period were really just the 'final nail in the coffin' to my view. Owners were already embarrassed that their bikes were noisy, and failing, and KTM appear to have done almost everything wrong in these matters. So yes - it is probably inevitable that KTM will finish up another 'badge brand' - an old European make, picked up by Asian manufacturers, who will make a Benelli, Moto Morini or BSA for you, but you the purchaser will understand it bears little connection to anything historically built by that original manufacturer.

[@jonasbaine3538]

The embarrassment factor is real. I have a 14 1190adv and dread going to bike meets now only to have someone quiz me about KTM bankruptcy. It’s not my fault and I don’t want to be questioned about it by random people either. Now people will think of the company’s problems as the immediate talking point thereby putting on owners on defense. What a shite situation. 👎

[@patkennedy1]

@@jonasbaine3538 Yes, I am seeing a bit of this from the sidelines. I have had Ducatis since 1974 (750 Sport) and back then I copped a lot of flak from owners of (mainly Japanese) brands, about how Ducatis were sh1t etc, when they really weren't. At least Ducati 'believers' got the last laugh, as decades later some of the same knockers were considering Ducatis. Everyone wants a Ducati now, but the level of genuine passion has subsided. I only hope that KTM survive, as their owners are passionate, a little like Ducati people in the past. Not to mention my mate's son, a bit of a champion, who relocated to Europe to work at the KTM factory. But as you say - this is hardly the owners' fault. Just ride on, and ignore the noise. You know their bike won't do what yours does!

[@jamessymes1]

It's pretty obvious how KTM have earned themselves a pretty bad reputation. BMW bikes go wrong also but the big difference is they have a far superior after sales service.

[@quacker998]

Yeah, not really - I have horror stories of bmw warranty

[@jamessymes1]

@@quacker998 Very interested to hear about your experience. It's interesting how you see plenty of high mileage GS for sale but hardly any high mileage 1290s

[@quacker998]

@@jamessymes1 agreed that ktm quality is dubious, (rc8 shim retainers anyone?) but bmw final drive failures and gear box seal failures, bikes out of alignment, servo brake failures - I could go on - they may be better now but my own buying experience was absolutely never again - and this was dealing with bmw’s main dealer in Manhattan, makes me shudder to think about it. In 44 years of riding my (new) bmw was the only bike that broke down on me and had to be towed 1150RT

[@mixalis6168]

Yea, naaa

[@martyn_g]

I can certainly support the idea that BMW is superior when it comes to aftermarket service. With the KTM, the muppet didn’t put a new sump plug washer at the 1000km service. Had oil on the floor from something so basic. BMW were faultless in comparison.

[@quacker998]

The bicycle industry is in a parallel situation as the motorcycle manufacturers Ducati isn’t immune from VW woes - inflation and high interest rates stop purchases and the Pierer mobility group went wild borrowing and buying up all those other brands. Crazy! Anybody want MV for a $1, again?

[@LordOfGreatness]

New KTM video: "Here to stay!" kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHWwcqyegLWLfMUsi=RCVXLIk-fMBugeyh

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Wow. Here to stay! Go buy one. :)

[@LordOfGreatness]

@EarthSurferUSA I have one ;)

[@Bobby8451]

I've never owned any KTM's but they look pretty sweet.

[@powerserge2624]

Hi 👋 I enjoyed your video and understand your passionate stand regarding this situation KTM has put themselves in... but, as a keen observer in foreign markets and business related (not just motorcycle industry) strategies and also separating personal views from reality and mixing it with a little pinch of law and financial savior fair... I think KTM has done their most diligent work and have placed itself in a position where no one expected it to be thus causing a great big distraction so as to accomplish its master plan. industrial subterfuge. It's all within the law though, and is very interesting to see unfold. Don't worry old friend, KTM isn't going down, and those shares will sky-rocket again. Be patient, let it unfold.

[@marksteele4364]

I don't own a KTM but thought about it until the soft cam issues, but from my perspective I believe the reason that KTM is in this situation it's in comes down to 3 things: 1) the outsourcing production of important components to China, 2) the lack of quality control of the manufacturing processes and finally 3) the extremely poor handling of customer relations and their issues with their purchases. Punters will walk with their wallets and thats exactly whats happened. The motorcycle market is an extremely competitive one and there is plenty alternatives to chose from.

[@duffyrides]

Been riding Motocross for over 30 years now. Also owned many KTM and Huskys including the KTM 250XC TBI (as seen and reviewed on my channel). As you say, there was not enough product differentiation between the brands. They tried to make Gas Gas the "fun" brand, Husky the "top tier brand for Vets, and the KTM brand for "the serious racers". For example a GasGas 300 might be identical to the KTM but GasGas had different brakes, as well as Cast Triiple clamps and other minor downgrades compared to KTM which exclusively had Billet Clamps on all models, as well as Brembo brakes. But performance wise the average joe porbably couldn't tell a difference. I agree that they simply got over confident and spent money acquiring brands that they didn't need to, as well as building out a HUGE facility in California for the Supercross Race teams etc. yes, the post covid economic environment affected many others inlcuding a lot of the top Bicycle brands (the Pon group which owns Santa Cruz and many others), Trek downsized, many huge retailers went out of business all together. Then we have the downfall of the auto industry in Germany. I'll also add that the Austrians are also heavily invested in the German auto industry as well, and perhaps one major challenge that they ALL face is the high cost of labor in those countries. Great video and i'll likely be making my own version with some of these updates as well. Stay in touch!

[@mikaellundsrensen6108]

I agree with what you're saying, if they're going to keep husqvarna and gas gas they should divide the product as you are saying. But they should also consider that the customer for a long time now has got their eyes on the middle class which KTM have ignored for too long, CF Moto now has a 450cc there should have been a KTM (or husqvarna), the middle class should have been the bread and butter for KTM , the 390adv sadly was too little too late. Anyway my 2 cent from Denmark , keep up the good work 👍

[@elobiretv]

7:00 that just makes zero sense, being a 700cc bike doesn't make it a premium thing. The model they have now is pretty good and I have seen a lot of enduro riders buy the GasGas because they simply couldnt afford a KTM, so that's a customer they gained that they would previously have lost. As for "invested" in it, you've bought a damn bike you haven't invested in anything.

[@Evo-t9b]

My local offroad dealer no longer carries orange due to unreliability issues on brand new bikes,now primarily sells yamaha and beta,no more orange!

[@ck166666]

Brand separation has merit but also drawbacks - if there is no low entry point or a full range to upgrade to people may move to a brand where you can start small and grow all the way to the top. I think the decision to acquire too many brands without the cash to develop true differentiation is going to cause the breakup of the group

[@nobodyknows3364]

Totally agree with you. Great video. Pi'e'rer the E is silent.

[@iainwilliamson3721]

Such good observations, enjoyed that. It seems that this type of mismanagement is prevalent in large companies by CEOs. Ego takes over, and no one is listening to the people that know the product or industry. It seems there needs to be a return to the process of development from within, where the people running a company understand and come from the environment it operates in.

[@barracudachaser]

The KTM RC390 would have also been a good beginner bike for beginners. Why did they stop production of that?

[@bebeonhisbike]

Finally something about the problem, that make sense! Thank you. But what about the enormous GP expenses?

[@FrozenCrapholeDweller]

To blame COVID is a farce. At least in the US… people went out and bought more bikes than ever because there was disposable income and lots of free time. They are failing because they are pushing overpriced products that uninspiring and homogenized across a bunch of brands. I grew up on Husqvarna dirt bikes and KTM has managed to absolutely destroy the brand. It’s embarrassing! Your comments here, sir, are spot on!

[@kurtsunderbruch4711]

As someone who has done troubled company workout as well as merger integration, and who has watched a few of these vids about KTM, there are a couple of things that come up right away. The first is one I haven't seen anyone address; sources of cash and uses of cash. Most companies in this position have lost control of cash flow. What's KTM's situation? They won't emerge unless it's addressed. Second, I sincerely doubt that even in their most feverish of fever dreams that KTM management thought they were buying market share with Husky and GasGas. Rather, it has the hallmarks of anti-competitive purchases - they bought them to make it harder for anyone else to revive those brands. The brands themselves have value, so they were denying that value to any new or existing competitor. I both respect and criticize their bikes, but as for KTMUSA, my experiences with them have - shall we say - not been exactly positive.

[@samhill3496]

They have had serious quality control issues for sometime now. My best's 1190 ADV had a main oil pump shaft break at the main bottom of South America. Months and the bike was hauled to Santiago and repaired. Only the beginning. Then a trip to Mattighofen for a total rebuild.

[@williamrae9954]

Exactly,I'm not a fan of orange, i like the Gas Gas for that reason...I'm hoping the Swedes buy Husaberg back in the fire sale! Gas Gas doing only 2 strokes is a good idea,as they do trials bikes

[@pnblondon1087]

Good point about Husaberg...I'd forgotten all about them! IIRC, didn't KTM buy Husaberg at about the same time that BMW bought Husqvarna (before selling it on to KTM!)?. And I'm pretty sure that Husaberg was created by ex-Husqvarna Swedes who didn't want to move to Italy when Cagiva bought Husky! Also, a Husaberg was the first electric-start-fitted enduro bike I ever rode...beat the hell out of kick-starting the XR400 I was comparing it with...yet Honda fitted that self-same XR motor to quads, because they knew that no-one would ever buy a quad that didn't have a magic button!

[@williamrae9954]

@pnblondon1087 I own a Husaberg FE390 70 degree,2009 model,and it's all KTM,so it was before that! I was in Sweden at the Gylene Tider GT25 tour,the Swedish military were doing a display on 'Bergs, that was 2004,so it must have been still Swedish then? Been to the factory at Rofors back in the 1990's,they were exactly set up for factory visits,but the boss was great,he showed me round...think there was only 8 of them in total employed?

[@MagnumMuscle1000]

Kawasaki should buy KTM. The bikes would fill in gaps in their lineup. They could sell off Gas Gas and Husqvarna. Kawi would raise quality and lower prices. Kawasaki Heavy Industries is very financially secure.

[@pabloricardodetarragon2649]

Simply Kawasaki doesn't need KTM.

[@seepx]

I would have approached it differently. I would stick with KTM being the nutty “R” version. Essentially the bikes that people don’t mind dropping. Husky, the gentleman’s nice pretty graphics travel “S” version-the version you don’t want to drop. GAS GAS should go small electric ⚡️

[@stranobikes]

Thanks for watching. Tbh, there are a few ways to 'cut the cake' but at the moment they have a sherry trifle that has too much sherry in it! :)

[@seepx]

@ I agree with that. One thing is for sure, the fall of KTM will go down in business history books for extraordinarily poor management decisions. For a while it was surviving despite itself, and then that luck ran out. Everyone wants KTM to be resurrected but we just hope under completely new, less obnoxious, owners (preferably Western).

[@ansonlow7764]

Great analysis on your part as a owner.

[@dayleholmes]

Even if you have the same chassis and engine for all three brands, the mould costs must be astronomical for all of the custom plastics, bodywork and in some cases subframes (Husky). Let alone all of the staff involved in running these three separate brands. Mould cost amortisation across units sold are basically divided by three. And operational costs tripled. Does not make good business sense. In most cases a potential customer isn’t looking at other brands, in certain categories (like a 300 enduro bike), they are just choosing which colour KTM to buy.

[@oldmanonamotorbikeinbucks7604]

I don't do many miles nowadays, but love my Duke 125, when ever I've needed more expensive Parts, I've sourced them direct from India, imagine that the Brand will survive as an Indian Brand of some description whatever happens...

[@sebchilvers848]

You forget to mention the treatment of their dealer network that used to support these niche activities- The cheese cams is just ktm all over - arrogant not our problem. You pay customer Pricing a single cylinder costs the same a complex twin or inline four from any Japanese manufacturer MotoGP is ripping the guts out of the balance sheet & not performing and causing some terrible downstream decisions The management needs a clear out - they have failed in the most fantastic way Good to great bikes. Just a terrible management team

[@jeffdejaynes7231]

I looked at the KTM and GasGas bikes. I couldn’t believe how much they wanted for them. Not surprised they are going under. I can get a Japanese brand bike with excellent reliability, for way less money.

[@southpawsNfriends]

I believe they will be okay. Many manufacturers, motorcycle or otherwise have been through tough issues and made it. I think they will as well. I hope they do!

[@jimrhea5484]

Just bought a 701 sm. This is concerning. I'm hopeful the shop I got it from will honor the warranty. But I'm also hopeful the parent company survives. I'm floored this is even happening. This is a big deal.

[@vgstb]

How can a shop honor the warranty if there is no longer a manufacturer making the spare parts? KTM is going the way of so many other overvalued brands and if you look at where the products stand that comes from the far east (Thailand, Vietnam, but mainly China) then you will understand that the void that KTM leaves behind will not take years to be filled.

[@jimrhea5484]

@@vgstb I don't expect the parts to dry up for a couple years. Which is about as long as I was planning on keeping it anyways. I'm not worried about the bike. If they quit making them then it will retain it's value for at least a couple years just cause they are now unobtainium.

[@dilligafmofoker]

You should sell it quickly and buy something else. You will lose money. If you wait-you’ll lose even more.

[@jimrhea5484]

@@dilligafmofoker Not worried about it. Not in a hurry. Could care less if it loses value or not. I may just keep it forever.

[@robertbaggaley1788]

The sign of a good company is how you handle adversity. kTM have done alousy job on how they handled the cam issue

[@justinrice8509]

Also the starter motor issues. From 2009 to 2016 on the two-strokes. 😮 Plastic gears in some of the four strokes 😮. They bought gas gas, for the trails bikes. You go to a gas gas shop and there's no trials bikes 😲

[@johnneyland3334]

Owning the bikes is no big deal there will always be parts and service for them because that’s the only way to make any money moving forward. You’re right during Covid recreational sales of boats and motorcycles actually went up . Your right bad acquisition decisions thinking the volume will go up buying 3 brands and not killing off at least one of the brands . The dealers are going to be the ones who take it on the chin with too much inventory in the pipeline which is not going anywhere soon.

[@samhill3496]

We have bikes sitting in dealerships three years old The prices are killer high. Too many bikes, too many brands for the same consumer. All the same machines many built in China and now China sells the very similar bike for thousands less. In USA we have separate dealers for street and dirt bikes. Very few store sell both. Double the dealers for the same brand plus a different color of the same bike across the parking lot. From a business manager's point of view totally crazy. A business plan to fail. Also they have thousands of motors on hand and no machines to put them in. Laying off the workforce is coming any day with furloughs and permanent job loss. I too have a vested interest in the company several ways. A damn mess that throwing money at will not fix. Good report.

[@onthethrottle7104]

You must not be in the US. The US dealerships sell every KTM related bike before the next year of bikes are due in. You say you have bikes from three years prior sitting in your dealerships? Can you show us that? Also, you're nuts if you think the China bike is as good of a bike as the KTM bike across the lineup. I've looked good and hard at the China bikes and they are wimpy and cheap, period. The KTM enduro bikes are so much nicer and heavily engineered, very impressive bikes to say the least, the KTM lineup.

[@chriscleland7008]

@@onthethrottle7104 You must work for KTM because you sound just like someone from my local KTM dealer.

[@samhill3496]

@onthethrottle710 my local dealer and others have a very generous supply of bikes. China bikes and atv's are shit from what I seen. Lot of warranty repairs right out of the crate. No I don't think they are better than KTM's. Cut throst management will generally blame the workers. I know a few at the factory and believe that is norlt the case. They assemble parts that are in the boxes from where ever they are produced. I hooe for the best but I don't see it. I believe several brands will be cancelled others consolidated and a lot of oriduction moved to china. The Indian connection will keep their products they make. It will be a mess. MV Agusta will be on the block one more time.

[@chriscleland7008]

@@samhill3496 I was just in my local KTM dealer today. I can report there are plenty of 2024 KTM bikes for sale in the USA.

[@samhill3496]

@onthethrottle7104 southeast USA

[@J.Harry.T]

I have been trying to understand this and i think it is something like so…..KTM, is part of the name of several parts of a complex structure of an interrelated group of companies, none of which necessarily have any financial obligation for the debts of any of the other parts. One part (KTM Ag) appears to be owned by a consortium of Pierer Mobility and Bajaj, called (unsurprisingly) Pierer Bajaj. KTM ag shares are not separately publicly traded. That part of Pierer Bajaj owned by Pierer Mobility is itself owned by another company called Pierer Leisure. Pierer Mobility also has a stake in M.V Agusta, Husqvarna, Gas Gas, and something called Husaberg. KTM Ag is responsible for the sales of KTM, MV and Gas-Gas. A separate KTM company is responsible for spare parts for all brands and yet a third part is a design bureau employed by all the other companies in the group. There is a bicycle company in there somewhere too. My expectation is that it will be difficult to work out who is actually liable for some of these debts and obligations and who controls the assets (if there are any). If i have got any of this wrong, I am sorry and will be obliged to anyone with deeper knowledge if they could put me straight. No abuse please. I have listened to all manner of theories about it all being down to a batch of duff camshafts etc and have tried to puzzle it out for myself. I do not claim to be an expert in company law (especially Austria). I am, however, genuinely interested to learn where all the money has gone, but, if true, the numbers are so huge and the trail so elaborate that I must say - I smell a rat.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I can assume KTM thought that buying failing bike companies would increase their market share, while saving big money by standardizing manufacturing. But the companies failed mostly because they had no market share. Because KTM does have market share, it will spread to the rest of the existing companies,----unless Honda buys KTM. :) Because of the industries dwindling market share, I agree with you that KTM will be totally gone soon. I don't see anybody making a profit from any pat of KTM. If somebody thinks they can take the best sellers to china to have made, then I guess we don't learn very quickly. I know this, Japan is having a good time right now.

[@MarkFries-o7n]

It is a shame that the management team has messed them up. KTM has been a innovator and has drug all of the other brands into where we are today with the dirt bikes. Upside down forks, disk brakes, fuel injection, electric start and fuel injection to name a few. They may not have invented it but they seem to be one of the first to mass produce them. Boot out the management team and get motorcycle people to run the company!!!

[@onthethrottle7104]

That was perfectly stated! You have to give it to KTM they have changed the game across the board in a very good way! Excellent post sir.

[@justkidding9751]

I'm sorry but for me any manufacturer that deliberately manufactures products with known faults and expects buys to put up with that and cause so much frustration to the buyer doesn't deserve resurrection. Regardless of street cred they need to be dissolved. This will make way for better companies with a better product to grow on a reliable customer base and prevent dodgy companies from continuing to sell absolute garbage. KTM did nothing to correct the issues that it developed through weights saving measures and cost cutting all in the name of increasing sales and profits for shareholders. Their time has gone and there are better manufacturers waiting to fill that gap. Time to move on.

[@tonyp2865]

Deliberate?

[@AidrianCollins]

I disliked the way they moved to big corporate dealerships, taking franchises away from smaller local dealers. I have stayed away from them due to the bigger dealerships being less approachable and helpful.

[@mar0zim]

Thanks for the video. I see two serious errors in your proposed group strategy. If you were to separate the three brands to motor/bike sizes, you would get far too little of the niche pie. All the successful small KTMs sells would never be replaced by GasGas. If, for example, the VW Group with Seat, Skoda and VW only varied in size, that would be their death in volume. The strategy and differentiation must be a bit more considered and clever. And. The engine size in ccm and 2 and 4-stroke technology is outdated for a strategy for today and the future. The important electrics division is missing in your picture.

[@graantmnz]

very few motorcyclists (as a %) want electric motorcycles ...scooters or around town putt putts maybe a market but not for any distance and certainly not off road.

[@MichiganMotoADV]

Don’t want electric motorcycles or motorcycles with automatic transmission. Don’t want or need all the high tech rider aides either. This is making a generation of riders that never really learn the fundamentals of riding and controlling their motorcycles. Instead they rely on computers to compensate for their lack of skill.

[@vgstb]

I agree, the analysis in the video is flawed.

[@pnblondon1087]

@@graantmnz You may not have noticed, but electric two-wheelers are booming, both with and without pedals, both legal and illegal - most of the electric motorcycles, such as Surrons, are not registered and used illegally both on and off road. More and more delivery scooters are electric. Between them, it's already a big market and growing exponentially with the help of government legislation (and lack of police enforcement!).

[@cubeover]

I don't get it why they did not diversify the business. No belt drives, no triple cylinders, no maxi-scooters with innovative and durable CVTs or automatics. So many brands but more or less the same - rough, unreliable, pay-to-unlock chain-driven high-stressed singles/twins of any caliber.

[@maxflight777]

It’s quite amazing how many you tubers could have run KTM !! So many people who think they know how it should have been done. Can I say this ? Owning and enjoying motorcycles does *not* mean you could run a group with a €2.8billion turnover. If you are standing in your “OSB garage” 2m by 4m you probably have not had massive financial success in your life. You may be a “good egg” . You may be happy and have a beautiful family… But you aren’t in a position where you can tell KTM where they went wrong !

[@johnernst8718]

I agree with the brand separation, but I disagree on how you did it. I feel Gas Gas should be their racing bring. And I think there was some ego that felt KTM should be their racing brand. I think KTM should be their affordable brand and Husqvarna should be their luxury brand. That's not to say that KTM and Husky shouldn't race but distribute your racing money more conservatively. KTM, or should I say Pierer Mobility Group, should have leaned on their partners Bajaj and CF Moto for affordable scooters and small capacity and medium capacity commuter bikes. The idea being, if you save money not buying a car, you can get two bikes. Then work your way up the size and brand levels.

[@garethkelsey-evans7418]

Husqvarna could be their retro brand. The extended warranty is a great idea too.

[@sn00pgreen]

yep, I'm sitting looking at an 890 on pcp, looking at it depreciating like mad, and worried about putting miles on it..the perfect storm really..it's a shame, it's a great bike

[@stranobikes]

Thanks for watching. I agree, the brand and it's products had so much potential and a loyal customer base and they p!ssed it up the wall with terrible management driven by ego instead of economics.

[@tonyp2865]

I have an 890, it's the best KTM I have owned and I've owned a lot of them.

[@mikeconnor2102]

The common shares are worthless sell them if you can. Short sellers want to take profits and that is the only demand for the common shares.

[@josech]

Jim Collin’s How the mighty fall stage 3 to stage 4. I also want KTM to succeed, and also own their products, but this has been corporate arrogance at its best.

[@onthethrottle7104]

Dean Dickinson from the US invented the TBI system, and it's produced by Kehien in Japan...KTM only fitted it on their bikes, they did not develop it as you mentioned. Carburetor bikes are still better, let's face it but due to emissions KTM had to migrate to something and wanted something better than TPI. Also, KTM sold four times the amount motorcycles during COVID era than non-COVID era and after the COVD era revenue dropped is when they started to spend money like the COVID revenue wave would continue forever. As we know, prior to that they also purchased GasGas and Husky for way too much money and never recovered those investments. The last nail in the coffin was building too many different variant bikes which confused buyers. And obviously they never reigned in spending. They will spin off in about 10 different directions from different companies and will never look the same because you can't make up $3B to $4B with what they have to offer. It's too bad, and I'm not happy as a consumer as well.

[@housemovershane8810]

This all started when they bought Husaberg then once they bought Husqvarna over name recognition closed Husaberg down. Husaberg had to figure out the fuel injection systems for Ktm in return allowed Husaberg to innovate in their own way. Once Ktm realized Husaberg was catching on they rebranded Husaberg bikes to be basically the same as Ktm with linkage suspension. Then bought Husqvarna and gas gas and did the same thing. Ktm doesn’t listen to its customers I’ve said the Ktm 690 enduro r needed a wide ratio transmission to Ktm for at least 14 years or more. It’s a known issue with that platform to either gear up for road riding or gear down for offroad. They brand their products as the best and most innovative Hell Harley Davidson has innovated more lately than Ktm in their product line true to their product for their buyer base. I was extremely dissatisfied with Ktm for what they did with Husaberg and now probably Husqvarna and Gas Gas. I would love to own a fe501 enduro but not a chance right now. Just bought my son a new Yz65 for Christmas. This massive mishandled mess of Ktm kept me from buying a husqvarna instead. Thanks Ktm for not listening to your customer base and your warranties are a novel unto itself.., I could go on for hrs on this. The Husaberg 570 enduro was a dream bike for me. If only they were able to inovate a better gas tank and subframe design what that platform would have become….

[@wilsonpe]

IMO KTM is the brand most recognized for hard enduro, would make more sense to have it stay hard enduro if you are breaking up by cc. Sell Husqvarna and Gas Gas to GPX so they can build basically the same bike for half the price. I could see GPX swooping in to buy KTM once they completely implode, no one will buy the debt though.

[@williamhudson3208]

Their management was arrogant and dismissive, so are the dealerships. Serves them right. Happy Christmas.

[@jonasbaine3538]

Unhappy Christmas for the KTM employees who won’t get paid. Terrible.

[@chief8269]

Husqvarna is the premium brand in the line not KTM. Husky-KTM-GasGas.

[@johnmacdonald1878]

Fortunately you own a couple of bikes, you have not invested in the company. You are a fan not an investor. Unless your pension plan owns part of it. The short version of your comments they were competing with their own bikes. Not helpful. KTM a premium brand with premium price. Nice ride until it lets you down. Glad I didn't by one. I nearly did. I didn't know about the problems. Fortunately I chose a BMW. I hope KTM survives. I sure as heck wouldn't take the risk of buying a KTM any time soon. I doubt KTM will disappear. The Chinese will by the whole thing lock stock and barrel. For cheep.

[@andrewreebel6418]

I believe well see KTM go bust as well. At the very least they'll operate with the same name but be a shadow of their former self. In the next few years well start to see other Euro brands and Chinese brands license there technology and motors. The only asset they have at this point is their R&D

[@ridingdirty2412]

KTM should def put you on as a consultant. Few notes as a repeat owner - No warranty on bikes - Brought several dirt machines anyway Dealer network on AU are monkeys - Brought several dirt machines anyway Software locked road bikes - Deal breaker! Hello Ducati / BMW

[@peterbennett4948]

GasGas made four strokes before KTM took them over. And the one that I had (450 FSE) was excellent.👍

[@stranobikes]

@@peterbennett4948 Thanks for watching and the clarification.

[@joemann3536]

CFMoto should save them because KTM has worked with them and been a R&D tool for them.

[@Snoozzzzzze]

Why? CF moto have had all the R&D for free, they can make it themselves and sell for more when KTM goes pop. KTM and other brands were bloody stupid giving all their technology to Chinese companies for free. BMW and Voge are another perfect example, BMW have given up their brand in that capacity, why would anyone pay for a BMW versus a Voge from the same factory when the Voge is half the price and has more features.

[@MJBOGAN]

Even simpler. Gas gas kids and 2 stroke only. Husky 4 stroke only, big bores and tourers., ktm could be the all out race brand also with premium editions of top selling gas gas and husky models with their own identity.

[@darrenbutler9261]

Cant see KTM recovering from this as now the word is out whose gonna risk buying one.

[@Thomo65t]

Mate I think you are spot on

[@bikenavbm1229]

The KTM youtube pitstop vid, zero humility from Mr and Mrs KTM not a mention of the cam issue, or customer support weakness, they even tried to quote reliability in a positive frame, just shows how far they are from the popular view at this time. They need to go, at the same time get the customer support personnel take them all down to the shop floor and put them in the tyre fitting department and turn off the compressor let em fit em the old way. Simplify their range and bikes aka tenere but continue the performance direction thats in their blood, all the buttons and switches is not KTM good reliable bhp and a raw ride, leave the buttons and electronics to BMW. As a owner yourself and some knowledge of business whats the worst case scenario as a owner in 12 months time, No KTM as we know it....anyone can change a clutch or a wheel bearing but ecu/ electronics backup etc, warranty? Lets hope the mess can be fixed to some degree at least. the biking world will be less without KTM's sometimes ill-focused energy. ta very much.

[@NightStalkers-hx3dq]

And understand people don't want to have to mortgage the house to buy a motorcycle.

[@jfro5867]

Motorcycle market, just like the car market is tanking. Many bike dealers have closed in the UK and likely more will follow, KTM are unlikely to survive (IMHO). Don’t see how two strokes have a future because of ever stringent emissions.

[@teamflanneloutdoors5631]

When I read an interview with Pierer about the acquisition of the Husqvarna name I thought it was a fruitless undertaking. MotoGP is a bottomless money pit IMO. The real winner in this colossal catastrophe is the hardcore Enduro enthusiast, Rieju has upgraded and refined the legacy Gas Gas platform to unprecedented levels. I disagree on the tbi bikes, although I haven't ridden one I've heard nothing positive and my buddies all went back to carburerated bikes. Just my .02

[@GaryWilson-qk7kp]

Over 10k for a moto x bike is crazy. Who can afford that in today's world.

[@garydobbs5159]

Who made this talking corpse a expert

[@shanebrooks9247]

I doubt Stefan Pierer has ever ridden a dirt bike or even has any genuine love of motorcycles.

[@Aiken47]

I love my very reliable 2020 1290R SuperDuke

[@steve2me414]

7.45 just a note most riders go for what they like, brand.

[@tougeattack123]

a greedy company getting humbled. i wish people understood their buying power and teach more companies a lesson

[@bryansuperduke1290r]

Everybody keeps saying it’s KTM, it’s not it’s Pierer Mobility Group that is the parent company and makes the discussions.

[@charliepyle1626]

My experience with KTM is that they are unreliable and parts are hard or impossible to get. My 1999 300exc ignition died after only 25 years, something Yamaha,s do not do. Then they sacked Jack, at that point i went out and bought a Suzuki

[@MikeKisil]

good solid info and I thought about yes up in front of the line to be there and stay there you got to be a biker that rides ones own product good and hard for good measure ride others to buy others to get in front line you are right it better be way good or way diffrent good .

[@PigParts-s2l]

It all boils down to greed

[@steves5382]

All part of the big plan, no mistake these companies are closing. Just look at Vauxhall, back in the late 90s the council wouldn't let them expand, how ever now the council is in with Luton airport!, Expansion maybe?.KTM going , not sure if they will maybe just to reduce combustion engines and manufacture Ev bikes.

[@ToKa.Cyprus]

No.... I don't agree on your idea about branding regarding size. In my mind the best would be that Husqvarna will be sold to some Swedish investor group that would bring the brand back to Sweden alongside the other Husqvarna products, Husqvarna as a brand has value beside motorcycles. GasGas is a bigger problem a sole brand without other connections is a harder sale, but maybe it should be a brand focusing only on eclectic offroad bikes in the future, like it or not but electric is coming, stark varg is growing. But better now to cut some limbs, even if it would be painful and restructure for one main brand with focus on the customer satisfaction with quality products and strong dealer network that wont have a problem of carrying 3-brands of similar products. But let's see and wait what Santa brings from Austria 🎅 PS: Johnson/Evinrude is wiped out and at the graveyard of brands... BRP (Bombardier) gave up and killed the beast.

[@Motoinc]

Their BIGGEST problem is OWNING MV AGUSTA

[@Bruce-l9k]

Oh my ,maybe the should have put some more undependable electronics on them and then not stand behind them 🤔

[@greyfisher3897]

Not sure buying any bike would be called an "investment". I get what you are saying I suppose but we all know that buying a car, bike, boat what ever is far from being an "investment"...We lose money, spend money, and wear it out by its very nature. Stating the obvious. It is unsettling when industries start buying each other and become multi brand. I will stick with Yamaha, for these reasons. I like their pianos too. Good luck...