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."

[Wasp]

From my own experience , most sales are going to the 45-70 year old bikers . Many need to be lowered , to make them feel safer and when that does not work anymore , the last bike they buy is a Can Am or , Ural sidecar,or Harley Trike , before they hang up the boots or pass away. The clientele is definitely dwindling by the year. The younger ones are mostly busy servicing their mega mortgages and putting their offspring through school.Thats what I find anyway. The only increasing market is women, biking with their wife's.(mailny cruisers ) They have the dual income and fewer commitments. ......Pokey how do you see the future market in brands and type of bikes ?

[pokey]

I was surprised to see the BMW1800 airhead and Suzuki announcing a 2025 Hyabusa though blind freddie and his dog could see the Chinese pit bike plague being replaced with soon to be landfill battery things. Its going to get worse before it gets better.

A fickle time indeed and the motor industry in general is being pushed from all angles. Electric bikes are not being picked up as fast as interested parties would like, its as if they were not designed by a rider as we all know why we choose to ride and what we enjoy about it and a heavy battery and unsprung motor in hub isnt it, even if you like heavy everyone knows you buy a Harley for the potato potato sound. Europe is pushing back against the Euro regulations as they find the regulations unattainable and I agree. For any alternate power source to be successful it needs the golden square, infrastructure  range affordability versatility and electricity is nowhere even close.

Every market is different, the USA love their big cars big trucks and big cruisers. Asia and Europe are into scooters and small bore with the humble Honda Cub  the most sold bike in history, pity they are now made from poo. The rest of the world is eclectic and buy whatever . Simply visiting your local array of dealers reveals a distinct move away from fun bikes and trail, MX due i surmise from the removal of riding locations. Large Tourers are rare Sports Tourers are rare with the bulk of offerings being fashion statements like Bobbers and retro cool hideous creations but thats what new riders buy till they learn how awful they are and give up riding or buy a Sports bike. Sports bike demand is driven by MotoGP win on Sunday buy on Monday so when that changes is when the regional Rossi look for another thrill. Used Sports bikes change hands faster than a mobile phone in a middle eastern bazaar. The area with most growth is in Adventure varients in particular soft roaders as they provide capability comfort usability and a monecum of offroad ability. Moto Guzzi V100 and Stelvio Yamaha Tracer Suzuki V Strom Kawasaki Versys Triumph Tiger with the well heeled opting for BMW along with the obligatory branded helmet jacket and whatever else the logo fits on.

So where are we headed and which style and brands of bike do we get? My riding career is on the run home where I spend more time fettling and polishing than I do leisure riding though I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of the boom time and I wont be troubled by having to choose which letters of the Alphabet AC DC or HO and until then my 10 year old 1200 Italian tractor will provide when not vying for shed space with the queens. Harley wont survive another cash crisis and its barely getting by environmental laws, the v rod didnt make it. BSA wont last as it was late to the retro party. When India grows Enfield will be absorbed by Hero. Honda is still trading on its history and relies on yuppie sales, a risky strategy heading for a big loss. Suzuki are always reserved  with only a glimpse of brilliance and they will survive but need another GT750 or a katana or a Busa and not a RE5. Yamaha innovate and are good at diversifying so they will survive. Kawasaki i think will be swallowed unless it can open a new market on its own. Triumph had to own Moto2 so if that goes the board is off to the Caribbean for fruity cocktails. Piaggio will dump a few more brands like Aprilia and Moto Guzzi will have its swan song. Ducati like Triumph are reliant on the continuation of motorsport. The smaller and boutique brands will be pressured out and i doubt Ural will even know nor care what everyone else does.

 What i would like to see is a return to injected force fed 2 stroke ICE technology where great inroads have been made ,match that with alternate fuels and construction materials and its a winner. Im still at a loss at why engineers insist on wasting all the generated engine heat energy to the air when it could be recycled and used for electrical boosting similar to a KERS.   As for which bike we get I hope its not a Bobber..