+ Click to Enlarge GETAWAY: The two-wheel drive KTM kicks up dust at both ends; you can clearly see the hydraulic hoses for the front-wheel drive running down the forks.

June 2, 2004
By Dave Abrahams

Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM has developed its own version of an hydraulic both-wheel motorcycle drive system after the extraordinary performance of French rider David Fretigne and his Yamaha 450 2-Trac in the 2004 Dakar rally,

The system has been tested on a prototype motocross machine and seems to be holding up to competition use so further development in motocross and enduro formats seems likely.

There is no official word from the company as to when the system will be available on a production bike but few will be surprised if there's a prototype at the 2005 Dakar.

Kurt Nicholl of KTM motorsport says the bike accelerates much harder out of corners with both wheels driven although it's more difficult to take the inside line around a turn because the bike has a tendency to straighten up and run wide when both wheels are powered.

You can also feel the extra pull, particularly in the upper body, arms and shoulders, as the handlebars take on a life of their own.

KTM says the two-wheel drive just keeps pulling at low speed on very rough ground when a normal bike's rear wheel would spin, allowing the rider to accelerate out of situations that would halt a normal bike.

Nicholl felt the system would benefit amateurs rather than top competition riders who have developed a good feel for traction and are used to riding with the back wheel spinning a lot of the time.

A "weekend warrior" with problems on steep climbs or bogging down would find two-wheel drive a vast improvement!

KTM's development riders have found that having power at both ends helps more on the wet than on dry surfaces – dirt or tar. (Yamaha also found this when they grafted a 2-Trac system on to an R1 – which must have been quite an experience to ride!)

Nicholl says two-wheel drive is still in its infancy; the major problem is weight. The system weighs about six kilograms, of which half is unsprung on the front hub.

A reduction to two kilograms, he said, would revolutionise motorcycling in the same way as did Audi's quattro drive with cars.

Project leader Wolfgang Felber explained: "What we’re testing is a mechanical/hydraulic system with torque distribution pre-set between the wheels.

"This system is already fairly well developed but can definitely be improved.

"KTM just wants to be one of the first companies on the ball and, using prototypes, to test the suitability of two-wheel drive under various conditions. Only after that can the decision be made to produce a limited batch."