KTM announce 81.4 million euro loss

Yeah well , when somebody "Calls" me out on something you are not gonna expect me to sit there and take it ? I never bought a second hand KTM which does not put much money into KTM`s coffers , I bought a brand new one which puts a little bit more in but I bet KTM make more money on spares and accessories for these bikes due to their nature . My beef with this thread was KTM making a huge mistake by not offering the deal that BMW did , thus giving higher profile to Charley and Ewan and giving BMW a higher profile . It then degenerates into BMW`s not being used for their purpose and being parked outside of Starbucks .... that doesn`t matter .... they still got sold and earnt BMW a profit , doesn`t matter that they never travel to Morrocco or Siberia or Wollamagoo or whatnot . The thread then goes further into "Well he`s bought one ... have you ?" ........ yeah , a long bloody time ago . It was a 125 Supermoto , I never went around the world on it , it was transport to me , yes I eventually bought an Arai Tour X just to look the part ..... and soon got rid of it once I heard that Ewan and Charley were gonna wear them as I knew the exact same response I would get . I then bought a Simpson RX8 and had to get rid of that cos of somebody called "The Stig" because I got the same response with that lid as well . As far as I am concerned KTM overtstretched themselves and should have stuck to what they do best .

On a side note I have 3 colleagues that have GS`s , they don`t ride around the world on them , they commute to work and have Touratech boxes and all the gear as well . And you know what , I actually envy them . They don`t have to bugger about with chains , they carry way more fuel than I do , the screen keeps most of the rubbish off them . One lad even went to Germany with his Mrs on the back and fully loaded with no worries whatsoever . If I could afford a KTM or BMW now I would buy one , I may only take it on a holiday once every few years , I may park it outside Starbucks or whatever but I know it would get 1000 miles a month on it just commuting and if that means I get to work comfortable , with no sore back and the weather deflected a bit better , then so be it .

Oh and if I did get a KTM again it would have to be second hand , probably a 990 Supermoto or Superduke and I still won`t be saving KTM`s bank balance from a bit of a hammering because any accessories I would want for it would be scoured and devoured off eBay . It`s a sign of the times and they are all tightening their belts

Calm down, its just a forum.

That was a calm and reasonable response , if it wasn`t I would have said I was well and truly hacked off with it and would have made it known , now read my post again but imagine it is in a calm and reasonable tone of voice and it will come across as different .... I`m not here to get a rise out of people or fall out with people , the exact opposite in fact .......... but if you corner a Badger , don`t expect it to curl up and wait for stuff to just go away , it`s gonna have a nip once in a while

I actually didn't read it as a rant, but then you didn't need to explain that you would buy a second hand KTM rather than give them money etc.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and views though.

Originally Posted by speedplay

I actually didn't read it as a rant, but then you didn't need to explain that you would buy a second hand KTM rather than give them money etc.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and views though.

It`s not a case of giving them money , more a simple fact of the matter that the second hand bike market is about all I could afford , those 2 KTM`s I mentioned are gonna be around the 5 Grand mark second hand and I would have to work some serious Overtime for a year and trade my bike in to get one . Not many people have the dosh to buy from new nowadays , look at the rise in prices for second hand 90`s superbikes like the original Blade ....... second hand prices have gone up nicely because people have realised you can get a lot of bang for your buck with stuff like that and it still cuts the Mustard .

Originally Posted by xXBADGERXx

It`s not a case of giving them money , more a simple fact of the matter that the second hand bike market is about all I could afford , those 2 KTM`s I mentioned are gonna be around the 5 Grand mark second hand and I would have to work some serious Overtime for a year and trade my bike in to get one . Not many people have the dosh to buy from new nowadays , look at the rise in prices for second hand 90`s superbikes like the original Blade ....... second hand prices have gone up nicely because people have realised you can get a lot of bang for your buck with stuff like that and it still cuts the Mustard .

Mr VT and I went over to our local KTM premier dealer in the summer so that I could look into buying a new 300 2 stroke and Tris could dribble over the RC8.

I was talking to the salesman there as theres usually a few chopped in bikes outside but not when we were there.

He told us that a lot of the second hand bikes are being bought and taken over to europe as there is a shortage of them over there equally causing a problem over here

I saw sense and didnt buy brand new in the end, as I got a great deal on another one but still got a KTM. but I would buy another one brand new though.
Their after sales were great on the last one and service was fantastic.
Its not just KTM. I'm sure if I went into any shop with a wad of cash I would get great service, but I felt that KTM had put more thought into their bikes and it does show when riding one.

Oh without a shadow of a doubt , you get a lot of bike for the money and well thought out too . The "Sting" that I had , 43mm USD White Power Forks , shame the rear was a Sachs unit , but it was quality through and through . You go into Colwyn Bay motorcycles and the 2nd hand KTM section is all but empty . I have been on the hunt for nice 640LC for ages .... the cupboard is bare .

Originally Posted by xXBADGERXx

I have been on the hunt for nice 640LC for ages .... the cupboard is bare .

Not many about, maybe look at the bigger bikes in the EXC range?

Was at the bike show today, and KTM still have, in my opinion the most attractive bikes. I'm not saying any are particularly practical (save for the adventure, or SMT) but theyre amazing in an ugly way. If only they could produce something a little less mad than the 950 SM and a little bit more grunt than the 690 SM I'd be in for one.

[Mej]

Originally Posted by robchester

Was at the bike show today, and KTM still have, in my opinion the most attractive bikes. I'm not saying any are particularly practical (save for the adventure, or SMT) but theyre amazing in an ugly way. If only they could produce something a little less mad than the 950 SM and a little bit more grunt than the 690 SM I'd be in for one.

i went yesterday as well.

yeah i do love the 950 smr, so i had a sit on it, but they are big bikes compared to some of the other ktms, still want one though.