KTM Domination?

[weimedog]

Husqvarna = KTM with different plasic & decals. 

6 KTM/Husqvarna's in the top 10 this weekend. A trend. What happened to the days where the "Big Four" just owned US Motocross?

[KTMRider4Life]

1 minute ago, weimedog said:

Husqvarna = KTM with different plasic & decals. 

6 KTM/Husqvarna's in the top 10 this weekend. A trend. What happened to the days where the "Big Four" just owned US Motocross?

They're over. 

 

 

[SlowDinoDog]

I know...that DeCoster guy has been lucky his whole career.

[Budlite]

it's simple.....Decoster is no longer working for a Jap company...

 

[SlowDinoDog]

develop a great bike

get the best riders

provide a great training program

run a consistent bike test/production program

= wins

[Arctic Pride]

The big difference to this date is that KTM is still a power sports company and that's it. Every other manf makes everything including the kitchen sink. 

[KTMRider4Life]

4 minutes ago, Arctic Pride said:

The big difference to this date is that KTM is still a power sports company and that's it. Every other manf makes everything including the kitchen sink. 

And pretty much  just motorcycles, except for the x bow and some bicycles.  

[SlowDinoDog]

I think it comes down to the company staying focused on providing the best race teams...and they hired the best guy to manage that effort...the best riders...try to provide premium bikes...spotting the best talent to train, ride and test.

[Kevslatvin]

I've heard rumbling on the Pulpmx show that the some of the Japanese teams are inflexible. Like they have good riders but don't listen to them. Reed talked a little about it when talking about his last stint on factory Yamaha. And then talk about Kawi not listening about changes a rider wants because it worked just fine for RV. Maybe they think they know how to win championships but KTM/Husky is changing the game. Maybe they need to take a step back and say  what we used to do doesn't work anymore. What are they doing that we are not. I don't believe it's all the bike but in team management.  

 

[777654321]

2 hours ago, weimedog said:

Husqvarna = KTM with different plasic & decals. 

6 KTM/Husqvarna's in the top 10 this weekend. A trend. What happened to the days where the "Big Four" just owned US Motocross?

Engine package stock is different. Air box different. Overall rake different. Seat different. Feel different. Smells different. Takes gas different. Starts different. Doesnt break in half different. 

[777654321]

1 hour ago, KTMRider4Life said:

And pretty much  just motorcycles, except for the x bow and some bicycles.  

 

Edited April 7, 2019 by 777654321

[Kev_XR]

KTM has been very race oriented.   If you want to make money, sell scooters.

Just a reminder that KTM is still around due to a huge influx of money from Bajaj of India.

Honda is a motor company.  Sometimes they are indifferent to various types competition, sometimes they crack open the checkbook and dominate. 

Yamaha is represented by 3 tuning forks.

Kawasaki makes trains and ships.

Suzuki was put in survival mode.  They make great little diesel trucks that are not sold in the USA.

[mog]

KTM has been very race oriented.   If you want to make money, sell scooters.
Just a reminder that KTM is still around due to a huge influx of money from Bajaj of India.
Honda is a motor company.  Sometimes they are indifferent to various types competition, sometimes they crack open the checkbook and dominate. 
Yamaha is represented by 3 tuning forks.
Kawasaki makes trains and ships.
Suzuki was put in survival mode.  They make great little diesel trucks that are not sold in the USA.

Suzuki was recently shown to be a massive player in different parts of the world ,and doing really well

[phantom451]

3 minutes ago, mog said:

2 hours ago, Kev_XR said:

KTM has been very race oriented.   If you want to make money, sell scooters.
Just a reminder that KTM is still around due to a huge influx of money from Bajaj of India.
Honda is a motor company.  Sometimes they are indifferent to various types competition, sometimes they crack open the checkbook and dominate. 
Yamaha is represented by 3 tuning forks.
Kawasaki makes trains and ships.
Suzuki was put in survival mode.  They make great little diesel trucks that are not sold in the USA.

Read more  

Suzuki was recently shown to be a massive player in different parts of the world ,and doing really well

One thing I wished Suzy never gave up on was the engine deal they had with arctic cat. Suzy built some of the fastest 2 stroke twin efi engines in the early to late 00's  700cc intake and exhaust same side, lay down 2 stroke 140hp was a gem!  Rotax put them to an end also with Yamaha becoming the new arctic cat 4t engine supplier. Emissions was what they couldn't deal with or did not want to deal with. Also they built very reliable SUV engines for gm here in the USA. But they were and are a puzzle to take apart. I work on a few grand vitara and 4 or 6cyl is crazy to take apart for things to replace that you can stare at when opening the hood. Love Suzuki king quads! Biggest DOHC single 4t in the ATV industry and they are stone reliable. Suzy hold a place in my heart not as big as ktm does for you. But a tiny part.

[Russf7]

deportation?  tariffs?

[Tim Carpenter]

KTM actually listens to DeCoster.This equals success on the racetrack which trickles down to success in the sales floor.Honda was stupid to let him get away.Suzuki let him get away twice.Now,neither one can match KTM on the track or in sales.

Roger proved he can spot talent,Bailey,O'mara,Dungey ,pretty much revived Hannah's career.Johnson,Stanton,Carmichael..you see a pattern here?

What's Honda done since?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ah665]

Big 4 got complacent. KTM kept pushing their R&D and I think their terrible suspension masked over the good things that they had going on. At least in MX, no one really took them serious, even though they had the ball rolling on a great bike/team. Then once the suspension came around (basically the AER), that rounded out the whole bike as far as the showroom product. In the meantime, the race team pretty much became the best team to race for, which is why they have a lot of the top riders. There are always cycles, you have seen it over the years with almost all of the brands. Nothing will change unless someone else pushes, but that costs $, so I dunno when that will happen. The way the sport it, it might not makes sense, financially for any of the Japanese brands to invest like KTM has. 

Edited April 8, 2019 by ah665

[BBA]

3 hours ago, ah665 said:

Big 4 got complacent. KTM kept pushing their R&D and I think their terrible suspension masked over the good things that they had going on. At least in MX, no one really took them serious, even though they had the ball rolling on a great bike/team. Then once the suspension came around (basically the AER), that rounded out the whole bike as far as the showroom product. In the meantime, the race team pretty much became the best team to race for, which is why they have a lot of the top riders. There are always cycles, you have seen it over the years with almost all of the brands. Nothing with change unless someone else pushes, but that costs $, so I dunno when that will happen. The way the sport it, it might not makes sense, financially for any of the Japanese brands to invest like KTM has. 

KTM has not only pushed their own program but forced the Japs to rethink the same ole'-same ole' programs they have been pushing forever with things like hyd. clutch, e-start and real DS bikes. Long live the Orange/white mfg.

[deanevo]

KTM is a relative small but practical company with a clear racing philosophy, 100% focus and outstanding marketing. Their branding, their partnership with Red Bull, brilliant.

Japanese companies are mostly the opposite or do those things only partly.

Edited April 8, 2019 by deanevo

[ah665]

5 minutes ago, deanevo said:

KTM is a relative small but practical company with a clear racing philosophy, 100% focus and outstanding marketing. Their branding, their partnership with Red Bull, brilliant.

Japanese companies are mostly the opposite or do those things only partly.

Agree 100%

They basically did everything needed to take over. Starting with the bike and then everything else, like you said (team, marketing, riders etc etc). Even things as simple as getting the new bikes out early and offering the Factory Editions to built hype. Not to mention keeping the pedal floored on R&D and running through quick model cycles (about 3 years). It's making it hard for the Big 4 to keep up.