KTM’s roots go back to 1934, when a small shop in Mattighofen, Austria, began repairing trucks for the locals. In 1951, the brand’s first motorcycle, the KTM R 100, was created, and two short years later, three bikes per day were rolling off a crude but advanced production line. KTM are the initials for Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. (for this article, we are going to stick with their initials)
KTM purists demand absolute adherence to their technological traditions and robust styling. The brand began aggressively crafting, improving, and expanding on the R 100 from its headquarters in Mattighofen. Today, KTM is one of the most influential builders of high-performance motorcycles in the world, producing nearly 290,000 motorcycles in 2023. From its first in-house bike to its current portfolio of Motocross, Enduro, SX, and Rally Champions, KTM has stayed true to its technological and style influences.
The Penton Six Days dirt bike was KTM's first motorcycle imported into the United States; however, they did not follow the VIN mandates set by the NHTSA until around 1986. The Penton's made-in-Austria VIN was eight digits, with a seven-digit engine code.
KTM VIN Decoder
A quality VIN decoder application can provide a wealth of basic information on a KTM Motorcycle. A VIN decoder gives a cursory look at the history of a vehicle. Other information included in the report is the make, model, and year of the vehicle. To use the GoodCar VIN Decoder, enter the KTM’s 17-digit code into the decoder tool, and the information is instantly provided.
On the right side of the KTM steering head, a user will find the VIN code, which can begin with a VBK, meaning the bike was built in Austria.
Deciphering an KTM VIN
Beginning in 1990, KTM has provided a complex VIN scheme for its motorcycles. For example, a single position can describe several motorcycle types and well over 40 different model configurations. KTM has a lot of freedom when using positions four through eight, and the manufacturer will sometimes combine three or four positions at a time.
- 1
- F
- T
- 8
- W
- 3
- D
- T
- 8
- 5
- 5
- c
- 3
- 8
- 8
- 9
- 9
- SX: Two-stroke SX models come in 125cc, 150cc, and 250cc.
- SX-F: Four-stroke SX-F models come in 250cc, 350cc, and 450cc.
- XC/XC-F: XC/XC-F models are designed for cross-country riding, including Hare Scrambles and faster open trails.
- XC-W/XCF-W: XC-W/XCF-W models are built for wood riding, including hill climbs, rocky surfaces, and extreme enduro.
- EXC-F: EXC-F models are street-legal four strokes.
Locating a KTM VIN Location
There is one Federally mandated location for imported motorcycles set down by the Code of Federal Regulations.
- The VIN should be permanently affixed to a label that cannot be removed without destroying it. The code stipulates: that a label for motorcycles shall be affixed to a permanent member of the vehicle as close as is practicable to the intersection of the steering post with the handlebars in a location such that it is easily readable without moving any part of the vehicle except the steering system.
- Most modern bikes have ID numbers and VINs on both the frame and engine. VIN locations can include stamped on the right crankcase and the right side of the headstock.
Popular KTM Models
KTM 390 Duke
The KTM 390 Duke has shown month-over-month increased sales of nearly thirteen percent and Year-over-year numbers exceeding fifteen percent. The model first debuted in 2012 at the EICMA show in Milan and has been a hit ever since. KTM has introduced two new configurations that are beyond unbelievable the 1390 Super Duke R EVO and the 990 model. The 1390 has a base price of $21,499 with a host of new advancements, such as Active Suspension Technologies. Everything on this beast is adjustable, with color combinations that take the bike back thirty years to when it was created. The Super Duke features an LC8-V-Twin engine that is torque hungry with massive power. New cam shift technology delivers a near 1:1 power-to-weight ratio. The KTM 1390 Super Duke R EVO is a dominant machine.
KTM X-Bow
An obscure creation by KTM in 2008 is an onslaught on the automotive senses. The KTM X-Bow is a supercar with 493hp and a stunning weight of less than 2500 pounds. (The average weight of an American car is nearly 3800 pounds.) The carbon skin of the X-Bow weighs 196 pounds, less than an average man. As expected, the X-Bow is fast, very fast, with a 0 to 60 in under three seconds. A base model X-Bow has a top speed of 149 mph, and the race-ready X-Bow GT-XR tops 174 mph. There are no doors or a top, only a cockpit the driver and passenger slide into. Current pricing for the X-Bow is $289,000 for the base and upwards of a million or more for the X-Bow GT-XR. KTM promises only 100 X-Bow are made per year. A deep-pocketed investor may be able to find the supercar as a used model. However, the 2024 and 2025 model years are already sold out!
The KTM VIN
By all accounts, from long-term forum creators, KTM riders, and experts on the model, the brand keeps its VIN scheme close to the vest. They do follow the 17-digit code all other motorcycles and automakers use; however, only when it suits them. By way of the VIN, the information they provide is extensive.
KTM VIN Lookup
Using a quality VIN Lookup tool such as GoodCars, KTM users can find a wealth of valuable information about a specific bike. A VIN lookup can help owners and prospective buyers determine a complete timeline of safety warnings, or recalls, ownership histories, and accident events.
The GoodCar VIN Check allows users to access these histories by inputting the 17-digit alphanumeric code into the application.
GoodCar KTM VIN Checks
Title brands and their status are vital for current and future owners. The first step buyers should know is if the motorcycle was ever wrecked or stolen. A KTM bike with a salvage title means the bike was in a severe accident, and the insurance company deemed the motorcycle to be of no value. There are over 60 different title brands for a bike, and GoodCar digs for each one.
Recalls and technical service bulletins are vital parts of the GoodCar tool. When KTM, NHTSA, or the CPSC post a recall, GoodCar instantly picks it up and posts it to their site. The GoodCar tool provides the recall issue at hand and actions the owner should take immediately.
Technical Service Bulletins
Press Release on 09/2022, Recall of the 2022 KTM 300 EXC Six Days and the 450 XC-F for a faulty clutch slave assembly. As reported, Deviations on our supplier's assembly line may have caused damage to the seal of the clutch slave cylinder. This may impair its function. Consequently, the clutch slave cylinders on all affected vehicles must be checked and replaced if necessary. The inspection/replacement of the clutch slave cylinder can be carried out by authorized KTM dealers only.
Recalls
Press Release 11/03/2022: A recall for the 2022 KTM 125 and 150 SX EU and 125 XC, US models for replacement of the CDI control unit. To ensure the durability of the cranktrain, KTM is ordering a replacement for the CDI control unit for the vehicles mentioned above. This recall and replacement applies only to the MY 2022. Replacement of the CDI control unit can be carried out by authorized KTM dealers only.
NHTSA Recall No. 22V588 for several KTM Super Duke models and others through the years 2019 to 2023. NHTSA and KTM have decided that certain 2019-2023 motorcycles equipped with Continental Tire the Americas, LLC (“CTA”)’s TKC 80 tires, fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 119, "New pneumatic tires - other than passenger cars." CTA has determined that groove cracks in the tread rubber developed during internal testing. Groove cracking may appear during the tire service life and can lead to tread separation, increasing the risk of a crash. Procedure to follow if you have affected tires currently mounted on your motorcycle and will visit a KTM Dealer: Customers that still have originally equipped TKC 80 tires mounted on their motorcycle are eligible to have the recall tire replacement performed by an authorized KTM dealer.