| |
|
| All-New
KTM Sport ATV
525XC & 450XC |
Providence, RI (10/10/2007) -
ATV off-road racing has just received a major
shot in the arm in the form of the new 450XC and
525XC racing quads from KTM. The passionate Austrian
company has built its name by producing purpose-built
off-road racing engine cycles for the devoted
enthusiast, and in the midst of the company’s
record growth they have unleashed the most race
ready XC ATV ever. Utilizing the vast experience
of seasoned KTM engineers, as well as direct development
input from ATV racing icon Tim Farr, the new machines
are the most race-oriented quads currently being
mass produced. The impact of KTM’s plunge
into the sport quad market is very significant
for many reasons.
KTM’s engine cycles have been the most
popular XC dirt bikes for years, and have won
every major series all over the world. Even
the most hardcore ATV racers know that Mike
Lafferty, Shane Watts, Juha Salminen and David
Knight have used KTM’s to win titles in
GNCC, National Hare Scrambles, World Enduro,
Endurocross, Last Man Standing- the list goes
on and on. Anyone who has attended a GNCC event
has seen the unparalleled level of commitment
KTM has put into winning races and championships,
with a semi full of factory riders and various
satellite teams campaigning the orange machines.
KTM’s dedication to the sport starts at
the very heart of the company, as the president
of KTM North America is none other than the
son of 7-time national enduro champion Dick
Burleson. Just imagine if Bill Ballance’s
son grew up to be the president of Yamaha’s
ATV division and you get the picture.
 |
 |
KTM's
Tim Farr has claimed 3 National Titles
on the KTM ATV in its first year of production
by wrapping up the ATVA Extreme Dirt Track
Pro Am Unlimited Title, AMA SuperMoto
Championship, and more recently the AMA
Maxxis Endurocross Sport ATV Championship,
and he did it on nearly stock machines
|
KTM has used their “ready to race”
philosophy to offer the first production ATV
specifically designed to race cross country
and off-road events with little to no modifications
necessary. It has been common for racers to
buy a sport quad on Saturday and race it on
Sunday, but not with the performance level of
the KTM XC’s. From major components such
as chromoly adjustable a-arms and Ohlins long
travel shocks to minor details like a kill switch,
every component on the XC’s has been carefully
chosen to offer race ready performance.
What may appear as a standard ATV at first
look is in actuality a clever mix of proven
designs and innovative ideas. KTM’s long
history of utilizing cutting edge technology
and outside-the-box thinking is very apparent
in the XC’s air box and intake system,
4-piston front brake calipers, 4-way adjustable
aluminum steering stem, and integrated Ohlins
steering dampener mounts, just to name a few.
Much more of a pure race quad than any of the
Big Four 450’s, and even more pinpointed
towards off-road racing than the new CanAm DS450,
the KTM XC450 and 525 are pushing the bar higher
for all manufacturers. This ultimately provides
the racer with a better performing, less expensive
to modify machine that is inching ever closer
to the real time technology that up until now
has only been incorporated into two wheeled
production machines.
