Penton

Fantastic Penton / KTM "Oldie" Jack Pine Special Supermoto.

Double post from the two-stroke page.

I get some good traffic over here from the PentonUSA.org folks so every now and then I like to go over and see what they’re up to.  Great bunch of folks and if you’re even remotely interested in old Penton or KTM motorcycles (or any old dirtbike from that era) then go pay em a vist.  Great Stuff!

Anyway while I was snooping around over there I stumbled across this beauty.  I love this sort of treatment.   I was very tempted to buy a similarly built bike a while back that was based on an XT500.  It’s one of the styles of bikes that really shine when “modernized”.  Power should NOT be a problem and I imagine she handles brilliantly.

Mr JC Hubbard had the breakdown in his post as follows:
 ’77 Penton 175 Engine with Lectron Carb

’77 Penton MC5 Frame & Tank
’80 KTM 175 Swingarm
’89 KTM GS 125 Forks, Wheels, Brakes
’78 KTM Torque Pipe
Trail Tech Cannondale Odo/Speedo
Magura Hymec Hydraulic Clutch
Magura 167 Front Brake Master
Kenda Tires
“Not mine, but a Very Unique project that I’ve helped my neighbor with. BTW,,,It’s STREET LEGAL and is rode almost everyday, in nice weather!!”
Saw this on ktmtalk.com…In the “Oldie” Section Can’t believe it — but it’s real…

Thanks Gents!

Regular Contributor Ted Guthrie just back from the International Six Day Reunion Ride with some outstanding shots!

Ted Writes:

Hi, Steve. I’m just back from participating in the International Six Day Trial Reunion Ride. What’s that, you ask? Well, it’s a 2-day version of the oldest motorcycle competition event in the world – the International Six-Day Trial (now International Six-Day Enduro). Routinely referred to as the Olympics of Motorcycling, the ISDT(E) pits teams of riders from different countries in six consecutive days of off-road competition. Held each year in a different country, the ISDT(E) is one of the toughest and most prestigious motorcycle competition events in the world.

The Reunion Ride is a much milder version, primarily geared for old(er) riders, on vintage bikes. Numerous ISDT vets show up and participate, as well as AHRMA regulars and many other vintage motorcycle enthusiasts.

Here are a few pics of some of the more interesting machines I spotted.. Note, one exception is the phantom Rockford flattracker, which vintage resto specialist Gary Roach brought along for display. Also shown are a neat, little Benelli enduro bike, a genuine Jawa ISDT bike (similar to those piloted by the many-time ISDT champion East German team, back in the 60’s & 70’s), a couple of Rokons, and Bruce Williams’ ISDT-replica BMW. There were lots of other cool bikes, especially Pentons, Huskys, and Hodakas. I included a nice example of one of the Pentons (also owned by Gary Roach), as well as a trick, 70’s Honda XL350-based sidecar rig. Hope you find them all interesting. Oh yeah – I did compete, on my ’75 Can-Am 175 TNT. Bike ran great, but with all those ISDT vets and AHRMA regulars present, I got my ass handed to me. Sure had fun, though!

Ted Guthrie

I bet it was a hell of a good time! Thanks as always for sharing these great pics!








We interrupt our regularly scheduled blogging!

I know I was going to go modern for a while but I just received this outstanding reader ride from Ted Guthrie. A beautifully restored Penton 125 Six-Day. While I’ve never considered myself a true “restorer” of motorcycles (I prefer the term resto-mod) I have struggled with enough old bikes to really appreciate the level of effort that goes into a bike like this. The really great part is that it’s really done out of love of the bikes. You’d be hard pressed to ever make a good living (much less become wealthy) doing this kind of work. But I’m constantly amazed at the work that I see out there and that people send me. Keep sending them in. It’s MUCH appreciated!

Ted Writes:

Hey, great site you’ve got. Some of the best pics, of terrific variety of bikes, I’ve ever seen. Attached are some photos of my recently completed 1973 Penton 125 Six-Day. Bike started out as a total junker, which had sat outside for years. It now starts first-kick, and runs perfectly. Incidently, the Steel Tanker you have the pic of, which was taken at the AMA museum, belongs to the original owner – Al Born – and the bike is serial # 003. Yep, it is the third Penton ever built. Al is among the original group of riders, who were hand-picked by John Penton to receive (and race and win and promote) the first ten Penton motorcycles produced.
Ted Guthrie
Historian
Penton Owners Group