Undercover reporters spoke to dealers in Austria and several other European countries for the investigation carried out by 10 media outlets, including France's Le Monde, and ORF and Der Standard in Austria over the span of a year.

"KTM dealers across Europe sell modified off-road motorcycles that customers take home in an illegal condition, including registration documents that are then incorrect," broadcaster ORF reported.

"KTM delivers restricted motorcycles to its dealers but includes the parts needed for the conversion in the same crate. The dealers convert the bike and make adjustments to the KTM software," it added.

The investigation was coordinated by the whistleblower protection organisation Climate Whistleblowers.

"A large share of the thousands of KTM enduro motorcycles that are registered is likely not roadworthy and yet is being ridden on public roads," ORF added.

They exceed the emission limits applicable for road approval and are "many times" louder than permitted, according to ORF.

KTM believes the responsibility lies with the buyers, who are taking "a major financial and legal risk", ORF noted.

KTM could not immediately be reached for comment.

ORF quoted KTM as saying that the conversions are carried out "at the explicit request of the customer," and that the "subsequent modifications to the vehicles" are "for use in competition".

Austria's state economic crime and corruption prosecutor (WkSta) has not received any complaints on the issue to date and so has not launched any investigation, a spokesman told AFP.

Germany's KBA transport regulator has already launched a probe, saying "if deviations from regulations are identified during the investigation, the KBA will initiate measures against the economic operators involved", according to ORF.

KTM has struggled financially, coming under insolvency proceedings in the past.

Based in Upper Austria province, it is now under the Bajaj Mobility Group, which describes itself as a leading European motorcycle manufacturer.

Its parent is India's Bajaj Auto Limited.

In 2015, German automaker Volkswagen admitted to fitting millions of vehicles with software to make engines appear less polluting in regulatory tests than in real driving conditions.

The dieselgate scandal caused waves in the global car industry, ensnaring several other top carmakers and leading to legal action in multiple countries including France, South Korea and the United States.

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