Dark clouds hanging over Mattighofen

[Wasp]

https://www.20min.ch/story/oesterreich-toeffhersteller-ktm-steht-vor-der-insolvenz-103228108   

[skypig]

Can’t read that, due only English education.

But the story has been doing the rounds.

I heard “Gas Gas” has gone, and they are trying to sell Husky?
Is this correct?

Not looking great. In hindsight expanding too fast?
And “quality issues” associated with Indian production of some parts.

I have five KTMs, two of them branded “Husqvarna”.

[Wasp]

Endless growth together with reckless immigration is now all nearing the end. KTM want go under, they will just regroup, ditch useless projects like GP racing (60Mio per year) , electro bikes and “luxury cars” . A reliable simple bike to commute and sell to everyday users would be a strong backbone for the future. Globally most roads going down in speed limits and exotic high-powered bikes can only be used for track days. But with all the dark clouds looming (hyperinflation, environmental issues, military conflicts etc) most people will have other things to worry about, than burning money on expensive race bikes. There is also the factor, that this upcoming generation will look at using fuels in a different way. 

[pokey]

Whats a Cagiva?

Has happened to a lot of bike companies and luckily for Polaris the Snow machine people, they did a quick back peddle and canned their great Victory brand when they bought out the ailing Indian brand name. The last 20 years seen a rise in the cruiser market and with every glut comes a fall and all the Japanese brands had a cruiser brand, not so many now.

The many British marques squandered their market and discounted the Japanese rise all to late. the Spanish guys lasted a bit longer though many great Euro marques like DKW dissolved. Diversifying your portfolio is a double edged sword as all the firearms come motorcycle brands CZ Husqvarna and BSA reflect.

KTM had a massive growth spurt and for a brief moment were on top of the world though with brittle bones a collapse was inevitable. Rather than concentrate all your products on the one genre "sport" a long term strategy over many styles is a proven formula. Piaggio bought most of the Italian brands and stopped feeding what it couldnt sell to the Chinese.

 Japan is no longer the home for many brands as even with a diversified range and a solid foundation that is not advertised and glorified in scooters and commuters that sell 5 :1 against large bores they know that off shore assembly in China and Thailand was the only way to stay afloat. Harley are riding the razor blade distancing the brand just enough from the newly created electric brand as they arnt confident, the failed Indian made small bore street models and the ignorance of the traditional  core market which kept them breathing through the AMF years. Without  government back up they world be history.

The next to have a nap I feel will be the resurrected Triumph brand as its core is heritage models and its ever changing but still the same sports models. The release of the TF MX bikes was giving the market what it didnt need, a bike that Yamaha and KTM already had. Its like spreading your legs and saying "Kick me , kick me good."