The most successful Austrian manufacturers began with 98cc Rotax-powered machines and went on to produce mopeds, scooters and lightweights with Puch, Sachs, as well as Rotax engines, all two-strokes. KTM went through phases, concentrating solely on mopeds in 1960-65, and from 1967 began to develop motocross motorcycles which came to dominate its production.
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Won the 1977 250cc Motorcross Championship, and experience gained from the competition bikes trickled down to the production machines, resulting in water-cooling and rising-rate rear suspension. After near-bankruptcy in 1991, KTM made a rapid recovery, and now produces a large range of off-road machines, from a 125cc two-stroke trail bike bike to more serious Enduros. Some of these are road-legal and have electric start.
Another recent development has been a return of the pure road market with the LC4 Supermoto and the 625cc Duke, the magazine testers favourite for wheelies and stoppies. Although there were rumours of a merger and takeover in 1998 ( notably by Harley-Davidson ) KTM remains independant, is profitable, and is now developing new motorcycles.