So having been a HUGE KTM fan before KTM was cool within the main-stream, I decided it was time to really get into what KTM was all about. I've been riding KTM since 86 when I was 13 years old, and knew right away, there was something special about these bikes. Never really had much interest in the "history" of KTM, let alone knew who John Penton was. Well as time went by, and as KTM has grown to be what it is today, I felt the NEED to find an older bike and see what they were all about back in the day. Well, my curiosity has since turned into an obsession that will ultimatly settle to the point where I actually want to get out and ride rather than just tinker with my new project! Here's a couple of pix of what I started with, and where I am today. Started out just wanting to "freshin" things up. Yeah, that didn't work out so here I am cleaning every nut/bolt, and spoke on the thing! Don't get me wrong... LOVE it, and learning a ton, but clearly a labor of love, not a great way to make a buck if that's what your after! Ha!
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/KTM2.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/KTM1.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Frame1.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/IMG_4153.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/front1.jpg)
Congratulations KTMTOM!...The folks here at POG are without a doubt the most knowledgeable Penton/KTM onwers on earth. By just reading other posts and threads I've learned a great deal about these bikes, and if you have question answered, there's always someone here who will have answer for you. Make sure you post photos of your bike when your done.
John Hubbard
Thanks, never thought I'd get so excited about something like an old bike. Now I want an late 60's Penton so bad.... Oh man... My wife's in for a long ride..... Will post pix when she's all done for sure. Just about have everything I need. Buddy of mine has a shop back in Michigan, SpeedDynamics, and found all the goods to rebuild the stock Marzocchi shocks so those are coming back to me next week. Took him some time, but found that the big boys in the suspension world were really excited about someone rebuilding an old bike and helped line him up with all the seals/bushings he needed to get-er done. Now if I can just find those reservoir stickers.... ;)
Tom, congrats on finding the best place on earth for vintage bikes, Be sure to check out the suppliers, there isn't anything that has been a problem that someone has not found a solution for.. how cool is that, Every time I get to telling someone about my old bikes they always ask about availabilty of parts, the cool thing is that getting parts these days is alot easier than when I bought my first KTM 34 years ago, I started the bike up the other day, still runs great...Can't say the same thing with these modern 4 strokes...
Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)74'
250 hare scrambler (project bike)
KTMTOM
Welcome to the group. Pics are cool! learn the search engine, but without a doubt, these guys are the best if you get stumped. If your located around the SoCal Area, bring the bike out to the ATX races. Vintage friendly track and alot of Penton and KTM riders.
Again Welcome
G
72 six-day
79 KTM MC80 250
Hello Tom,
It's very good to have you join us.
I wondered if anyone was going to notice............?
Take another look at Tom's '75 Penton frame - see anything unusual ?
It's a rare non-high breather. Of all the Penton's I've run across, I've never found one. I've heard of two others, but how unusual is that. Pretty cool.
Bob
I'm glad you commented on the frame number, one of the reasons I posted it as I hoped someone might have some thoughts on it. Took me awhile to decipher, but in comparing to other "known" frame numbers noted on this site, it looked like it was somewhat out of the norm in numerical order.
Very cool indeed!
Now I notice the lay down shock mounts, cable rings for the gas tank mounts, but still the low breather.
Was this perhaps a euro KTM?
Forgive the ignorance, but what is it you all mean by the "low breather"? Newbie remember!
Your bike "breathes" from the airbox opening under the seat. This was the case on all Pentons until 1973 when they introduced the "frame breather" which changed the top tube of the frame above the ignition coil to a piece of square tubing with a series of holes in it. The airbox then connected to it & drew the air from under the tank - thence the "frame breather" as opposed to "low breather".
Thats why your bike is interesting - when Penton switched to the high breather or frame breather they stopped making bikes with a frame like yours. Early models did not have laid down shocks, and the gas tanks were held on by a leather strap, not the spring loaded cables.
Your bike has the later model shock mounts & gas tank mount - but steps back in time to the pre-1973 top tube.
The frame breather was introduced as an enduro feature to enable deep water crossings. So it would make sense that a later model mx bike wouldn't need that feature - I've just never seen one before. I thought that they all went to the high breather in 73, but apparently not so...... again maybe this was just on European models.
Tom,
Here's a pic of a hi-breather Penton frame. Notice the slots on the frame backbone?
(http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad130/eyemanrandy/1975hibreatherframe.jpg)
Hey Randy - who paints your floor for you?
Clark,
I always try to keep the kitchen floor clean but sometimes it does get a little messy.
I have two of these non HB 250 frames looking to trade for a 1975 125 frame like Randy's pic above. LG
GREAT information guys, thank you. Would be interested in getting more information on the history of how this bike got pieced together. Maybe they just had leftover frames and figured since the bikes were headed west where it's generally hot/dry, they could use up some old stock without much issue. Wouldn't be (or maybe it was in this case!) the first time KTM used previous years parts for a portion of a year before putting new stock on their bikes as was the case with many of my earlier RFS 4-stroke models I've had just as the new years models were released. One may never know....
Thought I'd post a few updated pix from my current build. Thanks to Paul Hudy over at Speedynamics for taking the time to find all the parts and do a complete overhaul on my shocks to get them current and allowing me to keep the originals in lieu of something aftermarket. Turned out AWESOME! Bought an old side stand on E-Bay and had a buddy fab one up for me using some stronger steel which also turned out great! It's good to have friends who are handy!
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Shock3.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Shock2.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Shock1.jpg)
It seems like the West-Coast "KTM" badged machines that went the new distributor route starting in '75 followed more closely with the Euro-styled KTMs of the day. The '76-'77 MC-5s with "KTM" on the tank out west were red tanks unlike the orange "Penton" badged MC5s, while the '77 GS-6 out west was Blue and the Turtle-back style frame instead of Penton Orange.
May simply have been that the KTM factory had a Penton-style bike coming off one line and a KTM-style bike for Europe off another, and when the West Coast change took place, they just sent Euro-style "KTM" badged bike that direction. Don't believe they sold a lot out west, no where near as many as went through Lorain OH during the '75-'80 period. I was on the west coast the whole time and never saw a KTM of this era anywhere but in magazines until the vintage mx revival kicked in....still very very few out this way being raced and run.
Jon McLean
Lake Grove, OR
Great little bit of history and information, thank you! Keep it comin!
Really great looking resto as far. Clean looking engine. Looks just like mine. Have you done anything to the engines internals?
No, I didn't do anything to the motor. The gentalman I got it from had made some updated mods to the clutch, and from what I can see through the ports, the piston looks good. Not to mention, it runs great! Grant it, I'm sure it could use a ring job, but I don't forsee putting many, if any real time on the bike. It's going to be more for my show that for my go! Very good chance I won't even put gas in it when I get the tank all done. Still up in the air on that one. Like to keep it, but we'll see what happens when she's all done and I'm itchin for another project. Hope to have it rolling by the end of the weekend. Just waiting on my tank & side panels to get back from the painter, and my pipe to come back from my buddy's place. Had to put an end cap on the muffler. What was on there was a joke someone cobbled together. It won't be OEM, but it'll look pretty close to what was of that time frame. Outside of the silencer, the pipes in fantastic shape. Seemed like a shame to not try to fix it up.
I just have the shocks temp. mounted up in these pix, but decided to put the nut on the inside, along with a shorter bolt for the top mount. Anyone know how they came? Nut on the inside of the wheel well or on the outside as would be the case in the pix I posted?
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Every old original "barn" bike I've seen had the nuts on the inside of swingarm and frame.
An unexplained shock mounting trend I've noticed: The US bikes of this era all seemed to have their Marzocchi piggy-backs mounted with the reservoir on top, while the Euro bikes seems to be set up with the reservoirs on the bottom...or upside-down in my view.
Check out the KTM-badged early '74 Euro bikes at http://web.tiscali.it/ktm70pages/
I'm not sure of the validity of it, but upon arriving at Mid-Ohio this past year with a 76 MC5 250 on my trailer for sale, I was approached by someone that purposed to know that if the reservoirs were not positioned at the top, which it clearly shows in the MC5 chassis manual, the shock vavling would not work correctly. I have seen them both ways on other models, an even pictured the opposite way in the GS-6 chassis manuals, so I am not sure that this information is correct. Mike
Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
I have a 77 sales brochure that shows the GS6 with the reservoir on the bottom and the MC5 with the reservoir on top....Go figure. Maybe Tom or Dane can comment.
Steve Minor
Wilmington, NC
Having rebuilt them I can tell you it makes no difference which way they are installed, they will function the same. That is the purpose of having a bladder separating the gas/air from the fluid just like modern single shocks, it allows you to mount the shock in any position you want.
Brian
The person who approached me said there are shims in the valving that gravity has an effect on and that they would not work correctly upside down and claimed that he was a reputable rebuilder with a lot of experience in this design. So his story goes...Mike
Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
Well I wasn't sure if they were suppose to be mounted up top or down below, but the "majority" of the bikes I see pix of have them mounted on the bottom. I've heard all kinds of reasons for mounting the reservoirs up top from guys not wanting to dry out the seals to the "gravity" shim comment. Personally, I like the look of them being on the bottom, as it's just "different". I've seen pix from the way back when with them mounted on the bottom so I tend to believe that's the way they came from Austria. Good info though guys, appreciate all the feedback. Got the wheels on today and hope to have the rear fender and a few other misc items on by days end tomorrow. Got wind my tank/side panels are in primer, so should be seeing them in a couple weeks. Can't wait! Discovered I don't have the right rubber boot for the OEM Magura throttle, so contemplating putting a side pull throttle on. I'll sleep on it, but wondered if they were available back in 1975, or did they come later in life? Trying to keep it as close to period correct as possible.
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/Wheels.jpg)
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Have you tried to fit your airbox in there? I always reassembled with box going in before engine, or at least before carb and intake. Recall it was super tight to get box back in, sort of like getting pipe out...a KTM design thing.
Airbox is still at the painters, but shouldn't be an issue in terms of the motor being in. For sure though, I'll hold off on mounting up the pipe/carb until it's in, but the air box is pretty well out of the way of the motor on this one.
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Your bike is looking great. Thank you for posting your progress.
Insofar as direction of shock mounting, Dane Leimbach (see the link below) has previously provided an explanation that appears to be highly sensible -- USD position will act to reduce unsprung weight on the swingarm. Not being a scientist or a particularly knowledgeable rider, the weight differential would appear to be negligible but perhaps the effective weight differential increases dramatically under working loads (sort of like how they tell mothers that it is impossible to hold their 30 pound baby in their arms in the event of a crash because it now weighs 150 pounds or whatever). Like Brian, Dane dispels the notion of gravity-induced problems but adds a mud consideration. Both of my bikes with Marzocchis are mounted in the way you have mounted yours and I like them that way too.
Good luck! John
http://pentonusa.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6152&SearchTerms=shocks,down,sprung,weight
Mars Attacks!
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c36/80fj40/marsattacks.jpg)
Great info John, thank you! It's settled for me. Res. down as the Euros would have it! Anyone have some pix they could share on how the clutch & throttle cables were originally routed on this bike with the number plate installed? Decided afterall to go with the stock Magura throttle with the front pull/trap door.
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Keep in mind that shock install was done by the dealer - not the factory. They were shipped with shocks (and fork springs) in a box to collapse the bike & keep the container size small. That said - there were pictures of bikes on brochures from the factory, and they probably changed over time. Each dealer installed them as they saw fit.
Originally all shocks were installed heavy side down, and then as Dane reminds us they were flipped by racers to reduce the unsprung weight. Over time dealers began installing them in the "up" position.
If you want the period correct look of a "racer" then the shocks should be mounted with the reservoirs "up".
And yes - a few ounces added all the way to the end of a swingarm does increase the "leverage" of adding that weight. Imagine adding 10 pounds weight to the swingarm at the rear axle nut & trying to lift the wheel - then move the 10 pounds to the other end of the swingarm by the countershaft & try lifting from the wheel again.
Every time the wheel raises or lowers the shock has to carry that little bit of extra leveraged weight when they are in the down position.
Unsprung weight is a huge issue - it refers to the weight that is not carried by the suspension or the "dead weight". It is always preferable to minimize unsprung weight as much as possible. Factory race bikes go to elaborate lengths to reduce fractions of grams of unsprung weight. It is also the reason that modern bikes have upside down forks today......
Oh - and the reason to put the nuts on the inside is to minimize damage caused by "impacts" (trees, rocks, bikes) to the nuts. The bolt heads are less vulnerable to damage than the nuts are.
Clark
1979 SERA Louisiana State Champ
GREAT information! That's great stuff, thank you! Hope not to offend anyone here, but I located a gentelman on KTMTALK in the vintage classifieds who reproduces stickers and agreed to reproduce the OEM stickers that go on the bottom of the reservoirs. So... If nothing else, I'm leaving them on the bottom just to show the stickers off! He's also reproducing the "WELTMEISTER" sticker I was questioning in another post. Seems like he can do just about anything so look him up for all your sticker needs!! Screen name "Hwy"... I'll post some pix when I get them put on this week.
Current progress. Far as I care to go without the air-box in place which I hear got "color" today!
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/Side1.jpg)
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Great thread. The bike is looking fantastic. I've bought a few decals from Hwy, he does very nice work for short money. FWIW, I've never been able to remove or install a CMF Penton pipe with the air box in place. I'll be surprised if you can get the pipe in place (and without scratching it up) with the airbox mounted.
Here's a pic of my old '75 Penton. All original, 700 street miles. Never in the mud.
(http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz91/klflashroadrunner/DCP02768.jpg)
Wow, that's beautiful! I put 700 miles on my 2009 in the last 3 months, can't imagine holding onto a bike for 30 some years and only having that many miles on it! Good tip on the pipe/air box install. I THOUGHT I took the pipe out before removing the airbox, but just don't recall so that's good info. Goes in real easy with a few twists & turns without it in place. I was just can't recall how the box went in. Does it slide in from the side, or from the top down? Guess I'll figure it out, but for sure, trying not to scratch everything up is the key! Thanks again!
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Mine went in from the side.
It's the little things, but I got the stickers for the Zokes today. LOVE the detail! It's a little thing as I say, but sure ads a lot to the overall look of the project. Now it's onto finding Bing carb replacement parts. Called and talked to Bing today and learned they don't make the slides in mass quantity for my 54 anymore so the small custom run of them that they do have puts the price up close to $150. Ouch. Sure, for a few more dollars I could put something else on, but I'm really goin for more the OEM feel. Has anyone ever heard of turning down a slide just enough to take out any scuffs/scratches and chrome plating it? Not sure what thicnkness coating a slide would ad, but it seems by adding a bit extra and turning it back down to match the bore of the carb body would do the trick? Maybe??? Wishful thinking?!
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Sticker2.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Sticker1.jpg)
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Great thread. The bike is looking fantastic. I've bought a few decals from Hwy, he does very nice work for short money. FWIW, I've never been able to remove or install a CMF Penton pipe with the air box in place. I'll be surprised if you can get the pipe in place (and without scratching it up) with the airbox mounted.
Here's a pic of my old '75 Penton. All original, 700 street miles. Never in the mud.
(http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz91/klflashroadrunner/DCP02768.jpg)
Wow, that's beautiful! I put 700 miles on my 2009 in the last 3 months, can't imagine holding onto a bike for 30 some years and only having that many miles on it! Good tip on the pipe/air box install. I THOUGHT I took the pipe out before removing the airbox, but just don't recall so that's good info. Goes in real easy with a few twists & turns without it in place. I was just can't recall how the box went in. Does it slide in from the side, or from the top down? Guess I'll figure it out, but for sure, trying not to scratch everything up is the key! Thanks again!
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Mine went in from the side.
It's the little things, but I got the stickers for the Zokes today. LOVE the detail! It's a little thing as I say, but sure ads a lot to the overall look of the project. Now it's onto finding Bing carb replacement parts. Called and talked to Bing today and learned they don't make the slides in mass quantity for my 54 anymore so the small custom run of them that they do have puts the price up close to $150. Ouch. Sure, for a few more dollars I could put something else on, but I'm really goin for more the OEM feel. Has anyone ever heard of turning down a slide just enough to take out any scuffs/scratches and chrome plating it? Not sure what thicnkness coating a slide would ad, but it seems by adding a bit extra and turning it back down to match the bore of the carb body would do the trick? Maybe??? Wishful thinking?!
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Sticker2.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Sticker1.jpg)
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! So my tank and side panels have been "delayed".... Sent them back to my buddy in Indiana to get repainted and expected them this week. They were just in his buddies paint booth letting the clear dry for a few days before putting the stickers on and shipping them off. Friday night, according to a nosey neighbor, 3 guys in a panel van broke into the shop and stole EVERYTHING in the shop, including my tank & side panels!! WHY DIDN'T THE NEIGBOR CALL THE COPS?!!!! They took off with well over $150k in tools and car parts being worked on. Long story short... Just got the call from my buddy who was telling me this story, just now for the first time, that he was with the state police in a barn not far from there and they had located some of his parts, and my tank/side panels, all be it they had be spray painted black to hide the new paint job!! Feel bad for the guy. He was SICK about it to say the least. No kidding!! So I'm thinking to myself... How flipping lucky and I, but man... Both my buddy and his buddy are getting totally hosed on the deal. If it wasn't bolted down and they don't have receipts, insurance is pretty much giving them the finger.... Terrible situation, but the good news out if it all is, I still get my tank and side panels back! Can't imagine what it would have cost to try to find a replacement tank in as good a shape as the one I have... Oh my.... The project lives on!
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Quotequote:Originally posted by KTMTOM
AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! So my tank and side panels have been "delayed".... Sent them back to my buddy in Indiana to get repainted and expected them this week. They were just in his buddies paint booth letting the clear dry for a few days before putting the stickers on and shipping them off. Friday night, according to a nosey neighbor, 3 guys in a panel van broke into the shop and stole EVERYTHING in the shop, including my tank & side panels!! WHY DIDN'T THE NEIGBOR CALL THE COPS?!!!! They took off with well over $150k in tools and car parts being worked on. Long story short... Just got the call from my buddy who was telling me this story, just now for the first time, that he was with the state police in a barn not far from there and they had located some of his parts, and my tank/side panels, all be it they had be spray painted black to hide the new paint job!! Feel bad for the guy. He was SICK about it to say the least. No kidding!! So I'm thinking to myself... How flipping lucky and I, but man... Both my buddy and his buddy are getting totally hosed on the deal. If it wasn't bolted down and they don't have receipts, insurance is pretty much giving them the finger.... Terrible situation, but the good news out if it all is, I still get my tank and side panels back! Can't imagine what it would have cost to try to find a replacement tank in as good a shape as the one I have... Oh my.... The project lives on!
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Hello Tom.
For a SHOW bike,the mounting does no matter.For competition you would absolutely mount the shocks with the reservoirs UP.
About carb for your PENTON KTM.
Penton offered the bikes with a stock BING,or the far better LECTRON carb.
Has anybody ever told you where the name BING came from????
Good stuff, thanks. NO Idea where the name Bing came from, but I hear rumor it may be from the sound it makes when it hit's the trash can!
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Oh Speedy you are so correct in that statement about the Bing and the Lectron carbs!! Just ask 400GS6, he just put one on his 400 that ran lousier than lousy.
Nice 250 KTM TOM. I got a Canadian built KTM frame with a fork lock on it.
The pictures are actually helping me in my direction building a 74 Penton 250. an almost mirror image... So your getting advice on this site as well as us seasoned POG vets.
Now whats the answer Speedy?? why do they call it a Bing. Something to do with aircraft I bet?
Raymond
Down East Pentons
you did a Fantastic job on that bike
hard to imagine that your a newbie imagine
what you will be doing a year from now when your
on your 3rd or 4th
Larry
GREAT JOB
KTMTOM
Great Looking bike. Sorry to here about the shop loss. Living out here in Barstow, the creatures of the night are something else. I do not like tweekers.
Anyways, I just went thru the same trouble with my bing. Larry P, Brian K, John,, The list goes on and on who recomended replacing the Jet needle and Needle Jet. I also changed out the Idle jet and main jet. and the bike runs perfect. Could not be happier. I posted my final results under Bing 54-2 posting last week. Ended up the bike had MC400 jets with a MC125 slide. Kept the slide, but jetted closer to the 250 specs.
I can not believe how much it brough the bike alive. Starts 1st kick, Idles perfect, Blah Blah, If you can't get the 250 slide try the 125 one. I have all final results on my posting.
G
72 six-day
79 KTM MC80 250
So I finally go the exhaust sorted out and put back on the bike today. If you note the before picture earlier in the post you'll see how cobbled up the muffler was on the exhaust, but the balance of the pipe is in excellent condition, hardly beat up at all. My stuggle has been, what do I do to get a muffler that's somewhat period correct without spending a TON of money. I've seen SO many variations of what could have or should have been on the bike, I just kind of free lanced it. Wondering what kind of feedback I'm going to get from you long timers who've seen it all! Good or bad, I'm interested to hear what your thoughts are. Thanks!
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Ex1.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Ex2.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Ex4.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Ex6.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Ex3.jpg)
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
IT IS FINISHED!!!
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Done6.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Done2.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Done4.jpg)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/1975%20KTM%20250%20MX/Done3.jpg)
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Absolutely Beautiful!!!!! Great job! I'm sure you are proud of this machine and you should be.
Hank Rinehart
I will bet that it runs as well as it looks. Joe
Thanks for the Kudos guys. I don't expect it will ever see gas again, as long as I own it anyway! It ran like a champ before I started this project, and expect it runs even better now that the carb has been given new life from top to bottom! Goal was to keep the bike as close to original as possible, all be it there was a lot of temptation to "improve" in some areas. Tried to keep with the original colors, stickers, and overall feel of the bike as best I could with what resources I had to work with. Intent was for guys to look at it and say, yeah... I had one JUST like that! :)
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Great job. I have been called all sorts of things when I have made it clear that I intend to torture and finally wreck my restorations. I can see your point but, for me, it's the pleasure of taking it out for a ride that is the goal.
Anyway, great job. Excellent result and thanks for sharing..
Fantastic job.
Nice Work Tom !! (You do need to ride it though)......
Clark
Well, I hear ya'll, I do, and I may decide to part with it to let someone else ful-fill it's ultimate destiny and get ridden till it's wrecked, but that's still not my pleasure. Least not with this one. I'll leave that to someone else if they so choose. Next project will be a rider though. A rider for ME!
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Wow its already on ebay.:D
And already lookin for my next project! :)
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)
Hope the bike stays in sight somehow. Think it's a fair price and a really good looking bike. Would like to see it hit the dirt though.
Thanks, I sure won't get rich if she sells. I'm hoping a TRUE KTM/Penton enthusiast will contact me and we can come to terms so she goes to a good home. Not just letting it go to the first guy to low ball me. Those guys can go find an old Honda or Yamaha! (Not that there's anything wrong with that...) Funny, I keep hearing that about riding it though! I'd like to think she'll see the trail again someday as well, but I know it'll give someone else a whole lot more pleasure that it would me in doing so, least for this bike. Having put my heart/soul into it, I don't want to get her dirty! Call me crazy....
1975 KTM 250 MX
2009 KTM 250 XC-W (e)
(http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/af317/tomandbeckyjo/KTMsmall.jpg)