Despite KTM Group’s boss saying sales were up during the pandemic, the Austrian company has suffered a one-third sales slump as it offers two rare RC16 race bikes for sale.

In the first six months of 2020, sales of KTM Group motorcycles, which also includes Husqvarna and Gas Gas, were down 33% from 135,711 to 90,331.

This is despite several reports that CEO Stefan Pierer said they were not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and had hired more people.

Certainly sales are strong in Australia.

KTM off-road sales here were up 36.6% and road bike sales up 21.6% while Husky sales rocketed 59.8% for trail bikes and a whopping 134.9% for road bikes. Gas Gas sales are not available.

RC16 sale

Meanwhile, KTM Motorsports is selling two race-prepared KTM RC16 factory MotoGP bikes from last year’s season.

This is a very rare opportunity.

The only other time we can recall MotoGP bikes being sold was in 2012 when Ducati sold Casey Stoner’s 800cc Desmosedici for about $A455,000 and Valentino Rossi’s bike for $A444,000.

They were sold because the series moved from 800cc to 1 000ccc.

The unspecified 2019 KTM race bikes will come with a Pol Espargaro’s racing leathers and helmet, other merchandise and a VIP MotoGP hospitality weekend in 2021.

KTM is asking about $A475,000 each for the bikes.

If you’ve got that sort of money after raiding your superannuation, send an email to [email protected].

KTM will compile a list of buyers and make a final decision on the lucky buyers.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com