I wanted to take a moment of your time to say hello and introduce myself. My name is George and I am a 38 year old Penton fan. I bought my 1976 Penton MC5 400 from my uncle when I was 14. He in turn had bought it from B&B Yamaha in 1978ish. B&B raced the bike for the 1976 and 1977 and possibly 1978 seasons. I had stored the bike in the mid 90's to pursue an Engineering degree and a family. Recently the Penton bug re-surfaced and I decided to do a complete overhaul on her. At first I wanted to do a show bike restoration but the voice in my head said you can't make is so nice that it won't be ridden. With this in mind I changed direction and plan on making it as nice as possible but still able to run some vintage races. I love this group and am so happy to finally be able to comment and ask questions, because I have a ton of questions, and more each day I am wrenching on my baby. My wife does not approve of my new hobby because I spent hours in the garage and when I am not there I am on the computer searching ebay, craigslist, and the internet for parts and future project bikes. LIFE IS GOOD :-)
1976 Penton MC5 400
Welcome George. I know you hear it all the time when you join groups like this but you truly won't find a more passionate and helpful group. I have had multiple times when someone in this group has helped me with parts day's before a race or taking time at the track to help get my bike back in running order so I can go race!
74 250 Hare scramble
73 CMF 6day
68 6day V213
George,
Your "Hello" to the Group is greatly appreciated. At 38 years of age you represent the future of this Group, and from what you wrote you will represent us well as the years roll by. Don't take those comments as a weight to carry, but as a true token of our appreciation of your interest in the Penton motorcycle and its fascinating history. The fact that your Penton has a historical connection within your family is remarkable, but I do wonder if anyone had any misgivings about selling you at the age of 14 a 400cc Penton :)
If you don't mind telling us, what part of the country are you from, and what part of the country was B&B Yamaha located ? There is a B&B Cycle in the York, PA area, was wondering if by chance they were one and the same?
Welcome aboard George....
Paul
Paul comments such as yours has been what attracted me to vintage ridding long before it was "cool". When I was growing up I was ridding a 1981 KDX175 that someone raced to death... but it was older and all the "grownups" would comment when I was racing up the coal hills at Tower City PA. this was mid 80's and I destroyed the bike, I was a very tall kid so at 14 I was looking for a new ride and had no money. My father has always been "careful" with money and somehow talked my uncle whom had a near fatal wreck at the same Tower City in the very early 80's on my 400 to sell it to me for $400.00. Keep in mind I think the 91 KX 500's were sitting at Trans Am Cycle sales brand new and I loved them more than girls and that a lot to a teenage boy!!! Anyways not to bore you getting this 400 was the coolest thing ever. I remember when it roared to life and I rode it the first time up the street. Man did she FLY!!! I rode that maybe 3-4 years HARD. I blew the engine and Donny at B&B rebuilt the bike he said he saw his father race as a kid and thanked us for letting him be a part of it again. Funny thing I always wondered if any of this stuff was really true but during the tear down there is no doubt it was raced with some money. It has Simpson forks, upgraded Curnuck shocks (I am not sure the spelling lol) and a Lectron. Threre are other touches and "upgrades" that only a racer would have done. I have no doubt the bike was raced by B&B and my uncle has one less kidney to prove his ownership. He now begs me to sell him the bike back.. I told him he does not have enough money and trust me he does but I cant sell it. The bike actually talks to me I swear.
Oh and remember the KX 500 I spoke of so fondly... I now own a '93 KX 500 in almost unridden condition (well until I rode it :-)) Its the newest motorcycle I care for and my "daily" trail bike that I ride at the same Tower City. And your guess of B&B geography is close... they are in Lancaster PA. A gentleman named Lee started B&B (he is one of the B's) in the very early 70's and was the Penton Dealer for Lancaster PA. He is a active collector of Pentons in the Lititz area, my home town. I spoke with him once and would love to meet him again since now I actually have my project started. Crazy world... I'm full of stories lol... guns motorcycles toy trains... dont get me going lol. Peace
1976 Penton MC5 400 Frame # 1871
George,
Lee is an active and very valued member of the Penton Owners Group, and he frequents this message board, I am sure you and he will soon be getting together and swapping stories :)
There is an awesome swapmeet each January at the York County Fairgrounds, hopefully you will be able to make that event and we can all get together.
Thanks for your informative and interesting story.
Paul
Paul I have York already in my calandar and saving my pennies so I have some money to spend... :-)
1976 Penton MC5 400 Frame # 1871
George, welcome to the POG,
i know the B&B gang very well :-)))
great reputation thru the years !!
there is quite a few guys from the POG in your area,
my Daughter, Son in Law and Grandkids just recently moved to Lititz, beautiful area !!
try and make the NESCO, NJ Swapmeet and Bike Show Oct. 26 - 27,
i help put it together,
regards,
Mike Gallagher, NJ.
[email protected]
Thanks Mike... tell me more about the NESCO meet. It would be a pretty good haul for me so it would be nice to know what to expect
1976 Penton MC5 400 Frame # 1871
Hi George,
Welcome to the Penton owners group. Did you talk to me a few years ago at the Lititz car show when I had one of my Pentons on display there ? We will have to get together and get that 400 back in shape, so you can enjoy it again. Email me at
[email protected] , Lee
George,
email me at my address under my name with info to call you and i will give you all the details about the NESCO event :-))
Quotequote:Originally posted by George Swan
Thanks Mike... tell me more about the NESCO meet. It would be a pretty good haul for me so it would be nice to know what to expect
1976 Penton MC5 400 Frame # 1871
Mike Gallagher, NJ.
[email protected]
Lee, hi,
are you coming out to NESCO this year ?
if so, bring one of your choice Pentons for the show :-))
Quotequote:Originally posted by LeeBuff
Hi George,
Welcome to the Penton owners group. Did you talk to me a few years ago at the Lititz car show when I had one of my Pentons on display there ? We will have to get together and get that 400 back in shape, so you can enjoy it again. Email me at [email protected] , Lee
Mike Gallagher, NJ.
[email protected]