KTM 950 Adventure
Encyclopedia
The KTM 950 Adventure is a Dual-sport motorcycle that was produced in Austria by KTM
. The bike is powered by a liquid cooled
, four-stroke, DOHC
942 cc 75° V-twin engine, producing around 102 bhp.
.
That was just a teaser, though - as was the second time around in 1996, when it was revealed that the Stuttgart-based design office Kraft Technik, had been commissioned by KTM to produce a design for a V-twin
Hard Enduro, possibly using the 60-degree V-twin RSV900 Rotax
engine at that time developing for Aprilia
. The Italian company however refused to share it with their Austrian neighbours. Another alternative for KTM was the Swedish Folan
60-degree V-twin motor which already existed, however it was also aborted once KTM had been successfully floated on the stock market.
In early 1998, as the company grew in strength and the need to expand its single-cylinder range with a twin-cylinder product line, new V-twin became a priority. Chief engineer Wolfgang Felber made preliminary studies of twin-cylinder engine formats and vehicle concepts.
By August 1998 the decision was made to go with a 75-degree V-twin design, but with special emphasis on light weight and, especially, compact build. To do so, KTM decided to assume the entire R&D process themselves in-house, and hired Claus Holweg as Project Manager from their Austrian rivals, Rotax.
The new engine called LC8 was complete and had its first dyno run on August 11, 1999 in exactly 12 months from the start.
After the successful engine development the time came to design the body of 950 Adventure.
Development and management departments of KTM put designers and model makers together to set a concept. The final prototype’s design was complete by Kiska
, the design partner of KTM, and presented at Munich Motorcycle show in 2000.
After the critical votes, KTM CEO Stefan Pierer decided to reject the first draft of the Adventure except few small details, chassis and engine.
KTM's designers were innovative in defining a never seen design, strained and broken lines with a very angular fairing. In order help, engineers asked rally pilot Fabrizio Meoni
to help.
In early 2001, engineers quickly built a frame house with ratings defined by Meoni and soon in February 2001, he begins Adventure testing under the real conditions in Tunisia
.
Later this year Fabrizio Meoni wins Rallye des Pharaons
2001 following superior victory on the Dakar
in 2002, confirming that 950 Adventure is ready.
The nearly final form of the 950 Adventure was formally presented in at the 2003 Intermot Motorcycle show. Mass production of the LC8 begins in February 2003
KTM
KTM Sportmotorcycle AG is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and moped manufacturer.The company was founded in 1934 by engineer Hans Trunkenpolz in Mattighofen. It started out as a metal working shop and was named Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen...
. The bike is powered by a liquid cooled
Engine cooling
Internal combustion engine cooling refers to the cooling of an internal combustion engine, typically using either air or a liquid.- Overview :...
, four-stroke, DOHC
Overhead camshaft
Overhead cam valvetrain configurations place the engine camshaft within the cylinder heads, above the combustion chambers, and drive the valves or lifters in a more direct manner compared to overhead valves and pushrods...
942 cc 75° V-twin engine, producing around 102 bhp.
History
The story of KTM 950 Adventure has started in 1992. That year, a one-off special called the Bepono, built for the German BoTT series by two engineering students by combining a pair of cylinders from a KTM LC4 single on a special crankcase, was displayed on the KTM stand at the IFMA Show in CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
.
That was just a teaser, though - as was the second time around in 1996, when it was revealed that the Stuttgart-based design office Kraft Technik, had been commissioned by KTM to produce a design for a V-twin
V-twin
A V-twin engine is a two-cylinder internal combustion engine where the cylinders are arranged in a V configuration.- Crankshaft configuration :Most V-twin engines have a single crankpin, which is shared by both connecting rods...
Hard Enduro, possibly using the 60-degree V-twin RSV900 Rotax
Rotax
BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG , commonly known simply as Rotax, is an Austrian engine manufacturer. It develops and produces four-stroke and advanced two-stroke engines for Bombardier Recreational Products products as well as for motorcycles, karts,...
engine at that time developing for Aprilia
Aprilia
Aprilia is an Italian motorcycle company, one of the seven marques owned by Piaggio, the world's fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer.Aprilia started as a scooter manufacturer, but has more recently come to be known for its race-winning sportbikes...
. The Italian company however refused to share it with their Austrian neighbours. Another alternative for KTM was the Swedish Folan
Folan
Folan , is an Irish family name.- Overview :It is most numerous in County Galway, and adjoining areas in County Mayo, in Connacht, Ireland. This locality stretching from Galway City to Clifden is where the majority of Folans are still concentrated today...
60-degree V-twin motor which already existed, however it was also aborted once KTM had been successfully floated on the stock market.
In early 1998, as the company grew in strength and the need to expand its single-cylinder range with a twin-cylinder product line, new V-twin became a priority. Chief engineer Wolfgang Felber made preliminary studies of twin-cylinder engine formats and vehicle concepts.
By August 1998 the decision was made to go with a 75-degree V-twin design, but with special emphasis on light weight and, especially, compact build. To do so, KTM decided to assume the entire R&D process themselves in-house, and hired Claus Holweg as Project Manager from their Austrian rivals, Rotax.
The new engine called LC8 was complete and had its first dyno run on August 11, 1999 in exactly 12 months from the start.
After the successful engine development the time came to design the body of 950 Adventure.
Development and management departments of KTM put designers and model makers together to set a concept. The final prototype’s design was complete by Kiska
Kiska
Kiska is an island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska located at . It is about long and varies in width from - Discovery :...
, the design partner of KTM, and presented at Munich Motorcycle show in 2000.
After the critical votes, KTM CEO Stefan Pierer decided to reject the first draft of the Adventure except few small details, chassis and engine.
KTM's designers were innovative in defining a never seen design, strained and broken lines with a very angular fairing. In order help, engineers asked rally pilot Fabrizio Meoni
Fabrizio Meoni
Fabrizio Meoni was an Italian off road and Rallying motorcycle racer. He was a member of the KTM Factory Team.He won at the Dakar Rally in 2001 and 2002....
to help.
In early 2001, engineers quickly built a frame house with ratings defined by Meoni and soon in February 2001, he begins Adventure testing under the real conditions in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
.
Later this year Fabrizio Meoni wins Rallye des Pharaons
Rallye des Pharaons
The Rallye des Pharaons is an FIM-sanctioned rally raid event that takes place in Egypt, with Cairo being both the start and finishing point at the foot of the pyramids of Giza, and covers roughly around 3,100 km. It is similar in format to the Dakar Rally in that it takes place in desert...
2001 following superior victory on the Dakar
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid type of off-road automobile race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation...
in 2002, confirming that 950 Adventure is ready.
The nearly final form of the 950 Adventure was formally presented in at the 2003 Intermot Motorcycle show. Mass production of the LC8 begins in February 2003
Modifications
| Year | 950 Adventure | 950 Adventure S | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Grey-Black | Orange | N\A |
| 2004 | Grey-Black, Black, Orange | Blue-Orange colors of Rally Raid Gauloises Gauloises Gauloises is a brand of cigarette of French manufacture. It is produced by the company Imperial Tobacco following their acquisition of Altadis in January 2008.- Cigarette :... Team with 'GO !!!!!!!!!!!' slogan |
|
| 2005 | Black, Orange | Blue-Orange, but 'GO !!!!!!!!!!!' slogan removed |
|
See also
Other large dual-sport motorcycles :- BMW R1200GSBMW R1200GSThe BMW R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure are motorcycles manufactured in Berlin, Germany by BMW Motorrad, part of the BMW group. It is one of the BMW GS family of dual sport motorcycles. Both motorcycles feature a 1,170 cc, 2-cylinder boxer engine with 4-valves per cylinder...
- Yamaha XT1200Z Super TénéréYamaha XT1200Z Super TénéréThe Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré is a motorcycle produced by Yamaha Motor Corporation, that was launched in 2010.The XT1200Z is the latest in a series of dual-sport Yamaha motorcycles named after the Ténéré, a desert region in the south central Sahara...
- Ducati Multistrada 1200Ducati Multistrada 1200The Multistrada 1200 is a motorcycle manufactured by Ducati since 2010. The engine is a retuned version of the Testastretta from the 1198 superbike, now called the Testastretta 11° for its 11° valve overlap...