KTM 950 LC8 Prototype
KTM 950 LC8 Prototype | |
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Photos[edit | edit source]
Overview[edit | edit source]
KTM LC8 Prototype
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 .
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
Hard Enduro, possibly using the 60-degree V-twin RSV900
engine
at that time developing for
. The
Italian company however refused to share it with their Austrian neighbours.
Another alternative for KTM was the Swedish
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 prototypes design was
complete by ,
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 to help,
engineers asked rally pilot
to assist.
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
.
Later that year Fabrizio Meoni wins
2001 following superior victory on the
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
External Links[edit | edit source]
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotax
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabrizio_Meoni
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakar_Rally
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KTM_950_Adventure#cite_note-2
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiska
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folan
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rallye_des_Pharaons
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aprilia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-twin