WP Suspension GmbH is a manufacturer of components for

motorcycle suspension A motorcycle's suspension serves a dual purpose: contributing to the vehicle's handling and braking, and providing safety and comfort by keeping the vehicle's passengers comfortably isolated from road noise, bumps and vibrations. The typical moto ...

systems based in Austria. The company was founded in 1977 as ''White Power Suspension B.V.'' in Malden, Netherlands, by Wim Peters, and is amongst the largest manufacturers of suspension components for

motorcycles A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising, ...

. It is today a

wholly owned subsidiary A subsidiary, subsidiary company or daughter company is a company (law), company owned or controlled by another company, which is called the parent company or holding company. Two or more subsidiaries that either belong to the same parent company ...

of KTM AG.

Company history

Dutch motocross rider Wim Peters had a serious crash in a race in 1975, needing over a year for recovery from injuries. The trained mechanical engineer used this downtime to improve the suspension elements of his motocross machine. Though the parts were originally intended only for his own use, Peters' success with his components was noticed by other racers, and he founded the company in 1977 to deal with demand. A visual characteristic of the brand are the white coil springs on the coilover suspension struts, which also led to the original brand name, ''White Power''. The white

coating A coating is a covering that is applied to the surface of an object, usually referred to as the Substrate (materials science), substrate. The purpose of applying the coating may be decorative, functional, or both. Coatings may be applied as liquid ...

of the springs was originally due to the chosen supplier being a

hospital bed A hospital bed or hospital cot is a bed specially designed for hospitalized patients or others in need of some form of health care. These beds have special features both for the comfort and well-being of the patient and for the convenience of he ...

manufacturer, and white was the only colour they had available. Racing success at the end of the 1970s and into the 1980s established the brand's reputation. In the 1980s, the company developed from an aftermarket producer to an

original equipment manufacturer An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is generally perceived as a company that produces non-aftermarket parts and equipment that may be marketed by another manufacturer. It is a common industry term recognized and used by many professional or ...

for

KTM KTM AG (Kraftfahrzeug Trunkenpolz Mattighofen, formerly KTM Sportmotorcycle AG) is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and sports car manufacturer owned by Pierer Mobility AG and the Indian manufacturer Bajaj Auto. It was formed in 1992 but traces ...

in 1983, and later for

Husaberg Husaberg was a manufacturer of enduro motorcycles with four and two-stroke engines, the displacements ranging from 125 cc to 650 cc. Originally based in Sweden, its motorcycles were later manufactured in Austria by parent company KTM until the lin ...

and

BMW Motorrad BMW Motorrad is the motorcycle brand of BMW, part of its Corporate and Brand Development division. It has produced motorcycles since 1923, and achieved record sales for the fifth year in succession in 2015. With a total of 136,963 vehicles sold i ...

. In 1983, WP was the first manufacturer to introduce an upside-down fork (USD) into mass production. The USD fork has since become the standard equipment in on-road and off-road performance motorcycles. In 1984, WP supplied suspension components to KTM's first

Motocross World Championship FIM Motocross World Championship is the premier championship of motocross racing, organized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), divided into two distinct classes: MXGP and MX2. Race duration is 30 minutes plus two laps per ...

victory in the 250cc class with Heinz Kinigadner. After bankruptcy in 1991 and the subsequent refounding, the brand name ''WP Suspension'' replaced the name ''White Power''. In 1994, WP supplied suspension components to the B194 car by Benetton which propelled

Michael Schumacher Michael Schumacher (; ; born 3 January 1969) is a German former racing driver who competed in Formula One for Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari, and Mercedes. Schumacher has a joint-record seven World Drivers' Championship titles (tied with Lewis ...

to his first

Formula 1 Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...

world championship title.

KTM subsidiary

From 1997, KTM Power Sports gradually took over the company. Wim Peters remained connected with WP, initially as managing director and later as consultant until his departure in 2004. Beginning in 2009, production was moved to Munderfing, Austria, and suspension components are no longer produced in the former main factory in Malden, Netherlands. In the 2010s, WP expanded their manufacturing portfolio to include frames, exhaust systems, and oil and water coolers for motorcycles and was briefly renamed ''WP Performance Systems GmbH''. As of 2020, the non-suspension activities have been sold off or transferred to other divisions within the parent company, with WP again concentrating solely on the development and manufacture of motorcycle suspension systems.

References

{{Reflist Companies of Austria Motorcycle parts manufacturers Shock absorber manufacturers Manufacturing companies of Austria Automotive motorsports and performance companies Vehicle manufacturers of Austria Austrian companies established in 1977 Manufacturing companies established in 1977

External links

Image of WP coil over suspension units
in the

Benetton B194 The Benetton B194 is a Formula One racing car designed by Rory Byrne for the 1994 Formula One season. Design The car was closely based on its predecessors, the B192 and B193, and powered by a Ford Zetec-R V8 engine (produced by Cosworth but ...

front suspension
Image of WP coil over suspension units
in the

rear suspension

Company history

KTM subsidiary

See also

References

External links