Has 'Long Way Round' affected KTM?

[map]

Just following on from a chat with friends as we wandered around the NEC.

Basically wondered if 'The Long Way Round' had affected KTM, or at any rate your perception of KTM.
For example, discussion went something like,
"KTM, not bad bikes, maybe I should try one?"
"Err, Ok, but they won't get you round the world"
"End of the street but company chickened out of letting them go further"
"The Dakar is a short blast by comparison with full backup and they've been doing it years"

...you get the general idea.

So I know BMW are smiling at their increase in sales, what do you think about KTM (plus their LWR decisions)?


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[EuropeanNC30R...]

It definetly must have taken sales away from their 'adventure' series of bikes.

Maybe they did make the right decision though, if one of the bikes had a major breakdown they would have had worse publicity.

[Gazdaman]

Personally I think the whole genre has benefitted from the long way round.

People think, wow that was cool. But I don't really like BMW styling, and I'm not actually going to ride round the world. But I may well ride to the shops!!

KTM got some publicity in the book aswell, and they're the bikes the pair /wanted/ to ride. I'd also be surprised if suzuki hadn't sold more DZs or similar.

KTMs are just so much sexier than BMWs, all bar this one.

Gaz

[Sparks!]

I don't really understand why KTM backed out of the trip. Their bikes are more than up for it. I'm a KTM "fan" not because of image etc but because it works. I'm more than happy with my KTM, it's better than my yamaha WR and all the other bikes I've ridden. They have a reputation of "KT BOOM" but mostly by people who've never ridden one or know anything about them, just repeating what their mate "said" down the pub pretending they know it all.

Yes KTM's are high maintenance but so are Yamaha Yz', Suzuki RM/Z's etc..

Anyway, I don't think it's really going to have affected their sales too much, a world trip on a bike isn't really something most people would endeavour to actually do.. many think about it but I'm sure 90% won't. But 90% might consider off roading.. not on a BMW though.. so in that way I doubt it's affect KTM's sales of adventure bikes badly.. but it doesn't help advertise their manufacturer brand if you know what I mean.

It's more like no advertising rather than bad advertising...
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[map]

FWIW my thinking on the LWR is I'm disappointed they didn't take the risk.
I'm thinking that I take a risk every time I get on the bike, even if it's just down to the shops. Ok, I can minimise that risk but it's still there. Only by doing nothing is there no risk. I'd like to believe a company that makes bikes could understand that. IMO KTM didn't.

So what if they'd failed if they'd taken KTM bikes. It's the journey that's important. I'd like to believe a company that makes bikes could understand that. IMO KTM showed it doesn't.

[flat spot]

Perhaps they thought 'cos one of them was a multi-millionaire they should buy their own bloody bikes.

[Mr.Everready]

Wasn't the story at the time more about KTM thinking that Charlie and Ewan wouldn't make it round ?
They were scared that if they failed then it would make KTM look bad.
I also remember reading somewhere that the bmw's sales rose by a fair margin after the trip and are still high.
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[Sparks!]

Map, not forgetting though that BMW are a massive corporation selling bikes, cars and more.. compared to KTM who only sell off road bikes (and race sports)....

I don't know why KTM backed out, and I wish they hadn't as it'd have done a lot for their profile, but there must be reasoning behind why they did. Maybe they couldn't afford it.. it's not just giving away 2 bikes.. it's the advertising that goes with it, it all costs money.. I don't know if KTM could afford it or couldn't afford it.. But it's a possible explanation?

The KTM adventure is used for DAKAR rally etc so it's not like it's not capable or anything.. I just don't know why they didn't go with the LWR
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[feef]

KTM had no qualms about their bikes making it.. it was their faith in Ewan and Charlie that let them down...

as it is, I think it's brought exposure to both Offroad riding in general, as can be seen by more and more manufacturers offering similar styled bikes (even Buell are at it)..

more than that, The Long Way Round has also served to bring biking in general into the limelight, and "if nice guys like charlie and ewan are into it, it can't be all bad"

a
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[colin1]

i think ktm said no on the basis of one guy shown on the LWR who had done a stretch of their route. This guy thought he was great and so didnt think some novices could do it. KTM trusted this guys judgement when it was really his ego talking.

The main thing I remember was that for offroad you are better with a 250 commuter, as when the swiss camera man broke his bmw, he had to use a local bike which was a small light 250 commuter bike which didnt get bogged down in the ruts and was easier to ride over difficult ground.

An example where big is not better.
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[Zen Dog]

[Keen]

I really can't understand their decision.... even assuming that they thought the guys might not make it, surely they would realise that backing out makes them look really bad?

It has had a HUGE effect on their sales. There's been a boom in the adventure bike market mostly because of the Long Way Round series and now that BMW is one of the best selling bikes in the country. That could of been a KTM.

By giving them the bikes BMW basically said 'we're confident that our bike will get you there'. The marketing benefit is enormous.
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[spitfire]

There was a similar thing (cant remember the name) where a few bikers went around the world on DR350's on a limited budget, had the 1st episode free on DVD, that was impressive. So this Long way round is all show and no go in my opinion.

To be honest I expect if you had the balls you could go around the world on a C90

I saw the BMW (GS is it ?) at the NEC, f*cking hell it's really ugly and looks very very heavy, I wouldn't off road on it...no f*cking way, think it would be like driving a land rover with 2 wheels missing. Where as KTM's look the business and competent!

[Keen]

[spitfire]

[Bendy]

Ah, we're back to the 'they had loads of support so it wasn't much of an achievement' argument.

Yes, people do stuff like that all the time, with minimal support. They could be considered more hardcore.

But, the other night I watched the first episode of Nick Sanders 'round the world in 18 days on an R1' thing which *in theory* should be much more 'credible'. But I was bored witless after 10 minutes of crap camerawork, a terrible voiceover and a disjointed script.

A lot of the support LWR took was so they could film it all properly, and cos they filmed it properly, had it edited well and narrated it with some feeling, it stands up to multiple viewings and has been shown on 'proper' television, not just your Men & Motors type channels.

I'd like to see Mondo Enduro as it sounds like it falls somewhere between the two, filmed on a budget but with enough passion for the subject that the viewer doesn't really notice the lower production values.


Oh, and judging by the number of panniered-up BMWs I've seen this year, none anywhere even vaguely remote, KTM must be kicking themselves.

[cagiva gezzer]

If a bunch of bashed up dr350's can make it round the world (twice) without a van following them, then a brand new paris dakar bred bike can easily do it.

https://www.moto-hike.co.uk/Images%20for%20website/DR-350.jpg

Think KTM didn't like the route and said they'd never make it...... Which they didn't, they had to get trucks for days (just like mondo enduro guys got a train for days)

BTW, got a copy of mondo enduro that i'll be shifting soon once i work out how to make a back up copy.....
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[Kaben]

No KTM are kicking that Thomas Junkers bloke (German that rode 950-Adventure to siberia) who just shat on the whole idea. He was a film maker too, and i would bet money he didnt like the competition so that jaded his opinion of the challenge they were gonna face.
KTM put too much trust in the judgement of Junkers, and he fucked it up for them. The fact that they are a tiny company in comparison to BMW meant they had to think alot more carefully before agreeing to fund/supply such a trip, so Junkers strong negative opinion really affected their judgement.

A bit of a blind decision, and in hindsight a very terrible decision when they could have rocketed sales from LWR, but at the time they didnt have the means to jump in with both feet like BMW did.
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[satans_BIG_helper]

i would have a KTM any day over a boring old mans BMW no offence to BMW riders but the BMW bikes are so dull whereas any KTM turns me on at just the thought of sitting on it

[Lee_367]

[spitfire]

[Jack_Cheese]

I bet BMW's sales also increased thanks to a Mr Pitt, and a Ms Jolie riding round hollywood.
KTM and BMW are incomparable, BMW are a mature bike aimed at more mature riders, KTM are looney bikes seen on Moto X tracks and the X-Games flying through the air with the riders holding nothing but the seat. KTMs have personality - fun bikes, BMWs are, well... BMWs...

Jack
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[Gazdaman]

I mean, what would it have cost KTM?

40 grand max? And they can take a bashed up bike to every exhibit etc no doubt bringing in much more revenue.

I think they should have done it tbh. But I'm sure they've made a fair bit of cash out of it anyway. Which maybe was their plan? This way, they've increased sales but not given out anything. Win win, things could only go their way. Whereas if they lay out 40k and it fails and/or is rubbish, then they've lost money.

Maybe it was a very financially sound business decision...

Gaz

[foxbat]

It may have been KTM trying to keep a bit of credibility in taking that decision. From a pure business sense, in hindsight a bad one maybe, but then again, every man and his dog now has the BMW it seems. I've seen loads (all clean and shiny ) and rarely ever a KTM of any sort. In that sense, the Beemer is too common now, less special/desireable.

BMW are massive in comparison to KTM too so perhaps it's about exclusivity or reputation for KTM? - sometimes, this keeps a brand more customer loyal.

Should have said yes though - what were they afraid of??!
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[Keen]

To be honest the budget for the show ran into the millions, I don't see why they thought they needed to get the bikes for free. Besides all they'd have to do is cut back on a couple of other things, like the complete set of snap-on tools that barely got used.... they must of cost a hefty chunk

To look at it another way, they didn't even need big bikes like that. I guess the support crew were carrying all the spare fuel and other stuff, surely theres no reason why they couldn't of just took smaller off road bikes with enlarged tanks? I know it would ruin the idea of the show or the look or whatever, but thats why the support crew ruins the whole authenticity of it....

don't get me wrong though, it was still an awesome effort and an incredible achievement.
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