KTM vs Kawasaki marketing wise

What I find interesting and the purpose of this post is the totally different philsophical approaches between KTM and Kawasaki

KTM is an Austrian outfit that specialised in Offroad bikes until they got some loans on very easy terms, so they expanded rapidly with all sorts of new models (some better than others)
They were the in-thing, brash, raw, uncompromising, and out to win. Much like a racehorse, they are typically fast, but fragile, moody, and highly strung.
Their marketing follows the old adage. Race wins on Sunday = sales on Monday.

They are now in dire financial straights because those easy loans dried up, and some of there newer models have expensive reliability issues which have come back to haunt them.

Despite this, KTM people still tend to be fanatic’s, and fanatic’s riding racebikes tend to win, because they will go that much harder to prove a point. (The same used to be said about Ducati by the way).

That fanaticism can lead you down an expensive road if your new shiny KTM has problems, especially if KTM doesn’t want to know. (It took them 5 years to acknowledge camshaft problems with some models)

Kawasaki were originally a Japanese shipbuilding company that was founded in 1897. It’s a massive company that got into motorcycles to raise their public profile.

They have nothing to prove these days, so they tend to build well designed reliable bikes, much like the other Japanese manufacturers.

At a recent superbike race meeting, they didnt even have a display stand, even thou there is a dedicated race class for them (Ninja 400).

Like a clydesdale, it’s a reliable workhorse, and will make a brilliant all weather bike.

What more can I say?. it goes flawlessly, everything works, it doesn’t have you sitting in a contorted position like the KTM did.

It’s comfortable to ride, and it’s a very well thought out bike.

I don’t have to hug the fuel tank with my legs to take the weight off my wrists, like I did with the KTM.

On paper, it’s faster.
The clock even keeps time

Some other differences illustrate the flashy KTM image vs the conservative Kawasaki image…

The KTM manual, complete with a pen, glossy colorful pamplets, and a folder to keep it in.

The Kawasaki manual in black and white, complete with it’s original packaging.. (a plastic bag)