pimp your bike contest 2009
At 6 a.m. every working day, the assembly lines at the KTM factory in Mattighofen are set in motion. The bikes manufactured here, from 50 cc minicrossers to enduros and supermotos through to the 1190cc superbikes, are sold all over the world via the KTM dealer network.
What happens to each of the KTMs once they are in the hands of our customers can vary tremendously. Some ride their bikes in the same condition they arrived in until the end of time. Others hoard special parts even before delivery of their bikes and make an immediate start on the modifications and conversions. Then there are those who don't find out what possibilities there are for optimisation until later on.
Whatever approach they may have taken, we introduced the 'Pimp your Bike' contest in issue 1 of Brennraum to give KTM customers the chance to show off their specially tailored machines. The response was overwhelming and far exceeded our expectations. Almost 1,000 entrants sent in 3,962 photos of their machines along with information about them. Over the course of the contest, the gallery at
http://pimpmy.ktm.com had a massive 50,000 visitors.
It's no wonder that our judging panel had their work cut out viewing and judging all the applications we received. However, we will happily admit that we had a great time doing so. Seeing the diversity and imagination with which KTM riders tackled the theme of 'modify and convert' with endless different versions was spectacular.
The judging panel selected 10 winners from each of the categories 'Street' and 'Offroad'. The top three in each category received a winner's certificate plus a PowerParts voucher worth 1,000, 750 or 500 euros from the KTM importer in their country. Giant posters were also created using pictures of the top ten in each category and can be obtained as a free giveaway from all official KTM dealers.
Finally, we spontaneously created a third category for particularly notable entries. Eight bikes were selected in this 'curious' category, all of which are characterised by being completely different and, even without judgement, deserve a little of the limelight and to be honourably mentioned.
Thanks to everyone who took part!1 / Theo Barsotti (FR), 85 SX
2 / Stefan Aschbacher (AT), 450 EXC
3 / Magnus Norberg (SE), 250 EXC
4 / Rene Buder (A), 380 SX
5 / Johann Schermann (A), 520 EXC
6 / Markus Grillhofer (A), 450 XC ATV
7 / Xavier Serriere (F), 300 EXC
8 / Sébastien Senez (F), 250 SX-F
9 / Jeremy Quirijnen (NL), 65 SX
10 / Gerben Boon (NL), 690 Enduro R
Pimp your Bike
Contest 2009
Winners
Impressive 85 SX design by Theo Barsotti from France. The ingredients: Haan wheels with wave brake discs, Door Performance suspension components, Diamons exhaust, Ozzo clutch cover, carbon ignition cover, GP seat, polished swing arm, SXS ignition box, VFORCE III EVO reed intake, modified VHM cylinder head, Mikuni carburettor, deco kit for plastic parts, Pro Taper handlebars, SXS hand lever, SXS brake and clutch cylinders. Carbon frame guard, mudguard stiffener and chain guide. Operated with aviation fuel.
1 / 85 SX by Theo Barsotti from France
Squeaky-clean EXC conversion by Stefan Aschbacher from Austria. In brief: factory graphics kit 09, chrome start numbers, Akrapovic end silencer, engine guard with cooling holes, Stealth sprocket, rim stickers, SXS tank ventilation and seat, knobs for adjusting the fork traction level, SXS oil pump cover, handlebar pad, Acerbis hand guards, Acerbis brake disc guard, fork protector, handlebar riser and grip donuts set.
2 / 450 EXC by Stefan Aschbacher from
Austria
Magnus Norberg from Sweden pimped his 250 EXC in a highly individual style. Ingredients: SXS triple clamps, SXS twin-chamber fork, SXS damper, SXS exhaust, SXS tank cap and ventilation, enduro engine guard, KTM hand protectors, cover for rear brake fluid reservoir, SXS seat, 220 mm brake disc, Stealth sprocket.
3 / 250 EXC by Magnus Norberg from
Sweden
Rene Buder from Austria wrote to us: "This is my 1999 KTM 380 SX! Frame, rims, hubs, brake callipers clutch and brake lever, foot brake lever and shock absorber spring are plastic-coated in orange, the spokes and outer tubes on the upside-down factory fork are coated in black. SXS factory engine and twin end silencers. Plastic and rear frame from 2006 model. Engine and all aluminium parts highly polished. Also, oversized handlebars, orange carburettor tubes and cable ties."
4 / 380 SX by Rene Buder from Austria
A fiendishly good quad. Barely a single part of the 450 XC ATV was left untweaked by Markus Grillhofer from Austria. We take out hat off to the pimpmeister!
6 / 450 XC ATV by Markus Grillhofer from Austria
For Johann Schermann from Austria it had to be a motocross outfit. The sidecar and swing arms are self-built. Frame, 520 cc engine, wheels, triple clamps, tank and plastic parts from KTM. Respect is due!
5 / 520 EXC by Johann Schermann
from Austria
Frenchman Sébastien Senez has tastefully pimped his 2009 KTM 250 SX-F. His list of modifications: Renthal handlebars, black rims with orange anodised hubs, SXS fork, SXS damper, adjustable KTM seat, aluminium tank cap, orange aluminium PowerParts, KTM hand lever.
8 / 250 SX-F by Sébastien Senez from France
Xavier Serriere has conjured up a modern EXC with a retro look. Ingredients: special 'vintage edition' deco kit, Renthal TwinWall 997 handlebars, Acerbis hand protectors, SXS kit, Six Days 2009 seat, SX 2009 exhaust, clutch and radiator guard from KTM PowerParts, suspension components prepared by Shaft-Racing.
7 / 300 EXC by Xavier Serriere from France
Ready to rally: Gerben Boon from Holland built many of the parts himself to upgrade his 690 Enduro R. Rally housing with original headlight and Xenon. Road book and trip meter (ICO and original). Scott steering damper, engine guard, tank cap and exhaust cover all carbon. Combination of graphics from KTM and regional KTM dealer JTXracing.nl
10 / 690 Enduro R by Gerben Boon from Holland
Jeremy Quirijnen from Holland has done a great job of his 65 SX. Blue rims, orange hubs, gold brake and clutch levers and handlebar mount, sticker set aligned with the bike design, special fluid reservoir for the rear wheel brake etc.
9 / 65 SX by Jeremy Quirijnen from Holland
1 / Alves Luis Pereira (ES), 1190 RC8
2 / Carlo Pizzitola (ITA), 990 Super Duke
3 / Chris De Wilde (BE), 640 Duke
4 / Steve Whiting (CAN), 990 Super Duke
5 / Antoine Colignon (F), 990 Super Duke
6 / Frank Sanau (D), 690 SMC
7 / Lux Tamàs (HUN), 690 SMC
8 / Pierre Rave (F), 990 Super Duke
9 / Jan Mortelmans (B), 1190 RC8
10 / Andreas Lang (AT), 950 Adventure
Pimp your Bike
Contest 2009
Winners
Simply the best: attractive and elegant. This is how Alves Luis Pereira from Spain describes his pimped RC8. Yellow custom paintwork with stripes, Akrapovic exhaust, saddlebag on seat back, numerous aluminium and carbon parts plus further specialities from the PowerParts range.
1 / 1190 RC8 by Alves Luis Pereira from Spain
The 990 Super Duke by Carlo Pizzitola from Italy. Many stunning parts from Rapid Bike, Lavizzari, Rizoma, Lightech, Datatool, KTM PowerParts and GPT. Designed with love and tastefully painted in blue and black. Bravo!
2 / 990 Super Duke by Carlo Pizzitola from Italy
True to the credo 'Less is more', Belgian Chris De Wilde turned his 2002 Duke 2 into a truly individual machine. Machined cylinder head, larger exhaust valves, modified camshaft, Mikuni TM 42 flat slide carburettor, modified airbox and Akrapovic titanium exhaust system. PowerParts clutch cover. Self-built adjustable gearshift. The chassis glimmers with carbon front mudguard, Braking brake discs with self-built adapters, Magura fitting for the hydraulic clutch, Brembo radial brake pump, Goodridge steel brake lines, Mod 7 speedo, Hawker battery, self-built side parts, Michelin slicks and aluminium and titanium bolts.
The custom paint job is his own work.
3 / Duke 2 by Chris De Wilde from Belgium
Steve Whiting from Canada customised this black beauty. The 990 Super Duke glimmers with carbon side parts and wheels. The oil tank contains an oil cooler. Also, Akrapovic exhaust and PowerParts footrest system.
4 / 990 Super Duke by Steve Whiting from Canada
Frank Sanau, who was inspired by the KTM concept bike 'Stunt', baptised his pimped 690 SMC with the name 'KTM 58', a hint at his own year of manufacture. The German modified everything that would increase performance, reduce weight, improve braking and be fun: EXC, SMR and Enduro R PP-plastic parts, crash pads, Akrapovic exhaust, low handlebars, digital display and shift light, front indicating mirror, smaller battery, many parts anodised or plastic-coated, Brembo PR16 radial brake pump. Also, modified engine management (open interface to computer), self-built aluminium rear, chassis shortened by four centimetres with stiffer settings. Finally, Frank also told us: "For me, KTM stands for Kompact, Tuned and Modified".
6 / 690 SMC by Frank Sanau from Germany
True gourmet designs are at home in France. Antoine Collignon's superb Super Duke leaves no doubt about this: rear section of an R6 Yamaha, custom-made seat, short (modified) exhaust from Two Brothers Racing, custom headlight fairing, rounded off with a Motoscope Mini cockpit instrument panel.
5 / 990 Super Duke by Antoine Collignon from France
White frame, rims and bodywork; black swing arm. Pierre Rave from France has given his 990 Super Duke a rousing appearance. Even the fittings can hold their own. Titanium Akrapovic Evolution exhaust, all-over carbon seat cover, Yves Moillo seat, Braking wave brake discs, special upper triple clamp, Rizoma handlebars and indicators, aluminium cover and plastic crash pads.
8 / 990 Super Duke by Pierre Rave from France
That's what my Supermoto needs to look like, thought Hungarian Lux Tamàs Magura. And he started work: his own Red Bull design on a black background, Magura radial brake pump, secondary drive with Stealth sprocket, sports air filter, Akrapovic pot with special injection mapping, carbon protectors, diverse bolts and cover from the PowerParts range. The result is impressive.
7 / 690 SMC by Lux Tamàs from Hungary
Andreas Lang from Austria wanted to ride in deserts. His 950 Adventure has 2-in-1 exhaust system, S-chassis, rally housing (self-built) with LC4-headlights, rally cockpit, higher and shorter seat, aluminium radiator grille and DID front rim.
10 / 950 Adventure by Andreas Lang from Austria
Tastefully modified RC8 by Jan Mortelmans from Belgium: RC8 with Akrapovic exhaust, metallic orange paint job, dark screen, modified number plate mount.
9 / 1190 RC8 by Jan Mortelmans from Belgium
Bikes in the special 'Curiosities' category
- 525 EXC with side-car by Bob Barten (NL)
- LC4 Dirt Tracker by Stefan Gatzenmaier (A)
- Gürtelbauer Rotax 500 (A)
- Dirt Tracker by L. Jansen (NL)
- Hillclimber 660 Peterson-Team
- 1190 RC8 Dragster by Aku Lantto (FIN)
- 640 Concept Bike by Sebastian Sandstrom (FIN)
- LC4-Streetfighter, seen in Austria
A 500cc bike with a difference. "Well", Thomas Gürtelbauer from Austria commented, "if you don't have any money to buy motorcycle parts then you go into the garage and pick up all sorts of things, look at what will fit on a 500cc Cross Country and only fit what's necessary - and it works well."
KTM GS 500 by Thomas Gürtelbauer from Austria
Extremely extravagant and eye-catching – a Supermoto with a sidecar. "The photos should say it all", creator Bob Barten from Holland said about his truly unique combination. The connection and subframe for the sidecar are self-built. The tiny details are also notable, such as the starter button on the handlebars for his three-year-old son, the music system and the dual exhaust on the sidecar. Even the custom paintwork deserves admiration.
525 EXC with sidecar by Bob Barten from Holland
A KTM dirt track bike plus a ton of imagination. Details: 19-inch wheels, Maxxis DTR tyres, shaved road race fork, adjustable triple clamps, Vortex handlebars, no front wheel brake, shortened swing arm, modified damper, big-bore kit, numerous customised engine parts, special exhaust, custom paintwork.
Dirt Tracker 450 SX by L. Jansen from Holland
This extraordinary flat track bike started out as a 600cc LC4. This creation was entered in the flat track cup. Information about the cup can be found at
www.flattrack.de 600 LC4 flat tracker by Stefan Gatzenmeier from Germany
Ready to race indeed: a spectacular pro street class RC8 dragster by Aku Lantto from Finland. With turbocharger, a self-built injection system, extended swing arm and numerous engine modifications, and 250 hp delivered to the rear wheel!
1190 RC8 dragster by Aku Lantto from Finland
A fan sent us these photos with the comment: "This is not my bike but I wish it was. I just wanted to show you this great KTM machine that has been created by the Peterson team – a nitromethane-powered 660cc hillclimber."
Peterson hillclimber
This noteworthy machine caught the eye of Michael Scholz from Austria, so he sent us the photos. We were astounded: a bandit light cover, Street Fighter rear, self-built exhaust and very individual rear wheel cover, presumably made from metal sheeting.
LC4 Street Fighter, seen by Michael Scholz from Austria
From Supermoto to Street Fighter: the concept creation by Sebastian Sandstrom from Finland was named KTM 640 Rage. All the plastic parts were replaced by handmade glass-fibre reinforced plastic parts. The tank and seat are all in one with the instruments located between the stub handlebars. Extremely short underseat exhaust. All modifications can be simply undone.
640 LC4 concept by Sebastian Sandstrom
from Finland
