Messages

Matt Hilgenberg at Speed and Sport in CA.Top quality at good prices;)

I once ran a 36mm VM series Mikuni on my Hercules 250. I wasn't happy. I should have went up to a 38mm but the 36mm was free. I went back to the stock 36mm Bing and never looked back.

quote:Closest I have seen would be here, on this forum. The 1980 KTM 420, in photos anyhow, is the closest I've seen to a 10. And, in my opinion, a well thought out and well written ad. A good example of how to advertise a beautiful bike.

Thanks for the praise[:I] as that is my bike. Larry makes many valid points, as usual, and he hit on a lot of my pet peeves about sellers.
I would consider my 420 a 9.5 because there are a few things I had planned to do when purchasing the bike to increase performance. One such thing was I had planned to add a reed valve and the other I had planned to use an '84 42mm fork with DLS front brake. In the 10 years since I purchased the bike my priorities and my health (unfortunately) had changed .
The only place were I may take issue with Larry is on price. For me there are those who want to sell and those who need to sell. That will drive the price just as much as market conditions, IMHO. If my bike sells it will pay for a new hot tub to help relieve some of my ahces and pains from arthritis that I have both earned from years of riding and had passed down through heredity.

About 25 years ago I passed on buying two of these still in the crate along with a box of spares for $1000. I'm still kicking myself [xx(]

Now on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980-KTM-420-MC80-Race-show-ready-/130427674771?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item1e5e186093

Reasonable reserve price for the quality of this bike.

Sad

I have to admit I am one who let my subscription expire many years ago. It seems that with the advent of the internet there has been information overload. Now that I am older and hopefully wiser I am again reading print rather than digital magazines. It is easier on my tired eyes and easier to take to the "library"
I hope some one like Super Hunky will be able to aquire the information that didn't get printed and put it together for future readers.

Thanks [:I] The side panels are DC Plastics 1980 items that I carefully cut out the slots. That was one of the easier jobs. All of the plastic is from DC except for the NOS Hi-Point front fender. Yes, its a chrome chain that I thought would top it off. If I were going to race the bike I'd put on a Regina gold chain. With the 530 sprockets I can't use an o-ring chain as originally planned. The silencer is an NOS Richter that was reworked slightly to fit (the stinger ID was opened up .030" to fit the pipe) and then polished. The pegs are widened and nickel plated. The brake pedal pivots on dual roller bearings instead of the stock bushing. I hope to have more pictures posted to my Photobucket site by the weekend.

Thankfully my dealings with him were OK (except for his prices ) but no one held a gun to my head to buy from him. At the time he was the only know source and I knew I was "dealing with the devil" so to speak. I will not buy or sell with him in the future. Good luck with your situation, Larry. There's absolutely no reason anyone should resort to threats of violence over MC parts. Its just no worth it.

Paul, I remember very clearly the first VMD in Westerville, but I can't remember the exact year. It was in the early '90s, I believe. I also remember the first VMD at Powell Speedway. I regret not buying more bikes and parts back then
Looking back, one of my worst dealings was to sell a pickup truck load of Hodaka bikes and parts for $150, even though I tripled my money on the stash I found in a neighbor's barn [8D]
One of my best deals was purchasing 3 more or less complete but nonrunning KTM 420s for $200 back in 2001.

Hi Adrian, your package will be going out this Saturday.

Kip is right. Grease the tap up real good and most of the chips will either fall to the floor or stick to the tap. For an extra measure you could remove the carb and rotate the engine to TDC and then flush out the bottom end through the intake port with some gas. Just be sure not to use too much and flooding the case or you run the risk of contaminating the bearings with debris.

Adrian, I do have the gear you need and its in excellent shape. Drop me a line at [email protected]

Adrian, I might have what you need. I'll check tonight when I get home. I have a small box of gears from the primary drive side of a 1980 KTM 125. I'm pretty sure that the K/S intermediate gear is in that box.
Send me an email at [email protected]

Hi Al, I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I hope your book finds/has found a good home. I wish I could help but I have shot my wad on my 420 project which continues to nickel and dime me to death for small parts and shipping costs. I don't know if you remember, but I bought the old Hercules banner from you several years ago.

Andre Horvath at KTM Klassiker has the pistons (Wiseco). Since the cylinder was not originally sleeved, you may have to go through LA Sleeve and have a custom sleeve made. It's possible they have a sleeve on the shelf and maybe also a piston. Another option is to have the Nikasil coating in the cylinder redone.