Can someone tell me what is the great difference between the A & B motors. I found the Penton 125cc Mud Lark listed as the 3rd of "Ten Worst Dirt Bikes of All Time" :-( and attributed it to the B engine. Is/was there that much of a difference in performance/displacement?
(See: http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/feature/2003_06/worstbikes.html )
And, has anybody ever done business with Susanne Hammer in Germany?
(See: http://www.motorrad-klassiker-ersatzteile.de/html_eng/154.htm )
Peter Kane
V3442
[email protected]
The problems with the Mud lark's popularity had nothing to do with the B motors.
The B motors hit the shores with the Mid 72 model Berkshires and Six Days. The major difference between the two motors is that the A motor has a heavier crank which is also rebuildable. This gives the A motor better low end response due to the additional weight of the crank.
In my opinion, the A motor is the motor of choice for the woods, although the B motor is a nice power plant in it's own right for what it was built to do in the frames it came in. The A motor also came in both 5 speed and 6 speed, depending on what year the bike was.
The Hammers are good folks who will give you a fair deal. There is somewhat of a language barrier and the overseas shipping can be a pain due to the time it takes. I would not be afraid to order anything from them, and they have some hard to find parts if your looking in the U.S.
Tony
Just to add to what Tony said, the A motors with a cast iron barrel were even better for trials ,I believe, due to milder porting,which provided more torque.
Lew Mayer