Been occassionally lurking around this site for a long time. Finally got a reason to register.
I've got a '71 ISDT125 steel tanker that I have owned for the last 31yrs. It was sold new in '72 and the orginal owner had it for about a year and only put about 300 miles on it. I always had other bigger bikes, etc. so it didn't get ridden much at all. Raced it once about '75 in an enduro in the UP of Mi.
It has the full enduro kit and the VDO says 1700 miles or there abouts. Always sored inside and started and rode around the yard a few times every year. Only two Items on the bike are not original as sold new. A couple of decades ago, as I got older (ie: heavier) I gota piston kit from Fischer Cycle and put that in, making it around a 150cc from what I recall. I also at some time had taken the rear number panels off and eventually lost them. I have replaced them with round steel replica number panels. Like I said, everything else on the bike, from tires to grips to control lever covers to the tak bag are original.
We had been using it occassionally as a pit bike at our road races. Always gets a lot of attention!! Unfortunately. not long ago, it died. Hence, the reason for the post. Diagnosis revealed the coil has input, but no output. Anybody got a source for such an item??
One other thing it could use, but isn't mandatory, is an airfilter cover. Long long time ago, got carried away tightening it down and cracked it. Works fine, but would be nice to have an unblemished one.
The bike is currently not in my possesion. A friend became a KTM dealer not long ago and also relocated his shop. He asked if he could display my '71 in his shop along side his new KTMs. He has since told me I could "store" it their as long as I like, as it is a real attention getter. He finally had to put a sign on it, "Not for sale, for display only".
So if anybody has been in Cadillac michigan and have gone to the new Team Highland KTM/Kaw dealership any time this year, that old Penton 6-dayer on display is my bike.
ps, still have an old Penton Jersey, an unopend can of hipoint oil, and stil wear my Hi-point mx pants!!
Hello Charlie,
Glad you jumped in here, welcome to the Penton Owners Group. I have seen your bike, and still have undeveloped pictures of it in my camera. It is really a joy to find an old Penton on display at a KTM dealer, thanks for doing that.
You'll be able to find both of those items by inquiring amongst us here. I'm not 100% sure but I think Al Buehner (suppliers page) may have the plastic air filter covers, they were notorious for breaking, but it'll remain a show bike correct? Or you can opt for a used steel air filter cover which is more original to the stock bike. It's been over a month since I saw one on Ebay, but I'll keep an eye out for the next one to come along.
I may have a coil, I'll try to look for it this week and let you know.
Bob Wardlow
Grand Rapids
Hello Charlie and welcome to the group. I don't think you will find a greater "family" anywhere on this earth. These folks are the very best and I know that I am very proud to know many of the members.
If your pike is a points ignition system, I have a NOS coil for it. If it's a Motoplat, Sorry but I have none.
Donny Smith
You can get the Bosch coils new from the Dennis Kirk Snowmobile catalog along with points if you can't find them anywhere else!;)
OOPS, forgot to mention that Al B should have the plastic enduro air cleaner covers too. I had them repoped several years back and Al was stocking them. The air filter is a UNI NU3410 foam if needed (Harley Davidson # from UNI);) Have Fun!
Thanks for teh welcome!
Hey, Bob, if you get those pictures developed and could scan one for me, it would be greatly appreciated.
I have no intentions to ride the bike for the purpose it was originally built for. If you've seen it, you know why. If I were to dent or scratch that tank or rip that seat or something, I'd probably cry like a little school boy! I'd just like to have it back in running condition, just in case I ever wanted to ride it around the parking lot or some such safe venture. I don't want the motor to just sit and never get turned over or run. But, yes, for all practicle purposes, it is going to remain a "show bike".
Send me an e-mail on that coil you got, Donny. Yes, mine is a points model. my e-mail is
[email protected]I admit I'm a bit confused about this original steel airfilter cover. This thing only had about 300 miles on it when I got it in '73 and the plstic one appears to be the OEM cover?
Thanks for the tip on the air filter element, as the orginal dried out and turned to a fine powder adn fell apart if you touched it.