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Recent posts
#1
Wanted / For Sale / FOR SALE 74 PENTON KTM MX 250
Last post by Dave Szalkowski - Today at 03:40:01 PMI decided to sell my 74 250 built in 11/73 . I purchased this from the original owner back in 2016. It was sold in CA so it has KTM labels. It has been taken apart except for the engine and forks. I have purchased Fenders (KTM World), fiberglass and aluminum side panels,Aluminum chain guard,steering bearings, seat cover (Penton), red, green and silver PPG paints, NOS Pirelli 4.50-18 rear tire and other small parts. Original Wheels have no dings. This is an all original bike that has been parked a long time. Comes with original sales invoice and manuals. One issue it has a broken chain guard tab on the swing arm. Has original dent free pipe and a FMF pipe. I believe it has not been bored but never checked. Never finish this project due to wife's illness 5 years ago. Selling for less than I paid. $2,000 No shipping bike is located in Springfield, MO Dave, 417 7550345
#2
Wanted / For Sale / WTB Sachs 100 Full Fins 100 Cy...
Last post by williamlharper - July 20, 2026, 05:22:30 PMWant to buy a Sachs 100 aluminum cylinder with full fins, enough cylinder wall material for a couple over bores and few or no bent or broken fins. What have you and what's your price? Bill at (720)476-1170
#3
Penton Talk / Larry Maiers update.
Last post by Paul Danik - July 14, 2026, 08:49:00 PMI just got off the phone with one of the most interesting personalities who helped to make the Penton era, and the years that followed, so very, very memorable to most everyone who will be reading this, Larry Maiers. These summer days Larry is relaxing on the shores of Lake Erie and is enjoying some well-deserved off from the days when he must have been going 24 / 7.
I asked Larry what his favorite outdoor MX track was and without any hesitation he said Unadilla. He told of how the track was allowed to go " back to nature " for the year and when the big event returned the following year the riders would go out in practice and pretty much break the track in. Larry has surely seen them all and for him to pick Unadilla as his favorite surely carries some weight.
I mentioned to Larry how the Penton Owners Group, in conjunction with KTM, will be setting up a display at the August 12th Walkin' on Wednesday event in downtown Amherst, Ohio. Larry hopes to attend if possible and it sure would be great to have him on hand. The event runs from 4 - 7:30 for any of you fine folks who would like to attend, if you have a Penton that you would like to display be sure to bring it along.
It is hard to believe that Episode One of Larry Maier's groundbreaking TV show Motoworld aired in 1984. I have provided a link to that show that I thought some of you might enjoy seeing. After watching the show, you will surely be all fired up to get your Penton ready to display at the Walkin' On Wednesday event, who knows, maybe you can have Larry sign your tank or number plate that evening as well. Hope to see you there.
THANK YOU Larry Maiers for all that you have done over the years for our two wheeled sport !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1d9B6JUFwk See less
I asked Larry what his favorite outdoor MX track was and without any hesitation he said Unadilla. He told of how the track was allowed to go " back to nature " for the year and when the big event returned the following year the riders would go out in practice and pretty much break the track in. Larry has surely seen them all and for him to pick Unadilla as his favorite surely carries some weight.
I mentioned to Larry how the Penton Owners Group, in conjunction with KTM, will be setting up a display at the August 12th Walkin' on Wednesday event in downtown Amherst, Ohio. Larry hopes to attend if possible and it sure would be great to have him on hand. The event runs from 4 - 7:30 for any of you fine folks who would like to attend, if you have a Penton that you would like to display be sure to bring it along.
It is hard to believe that Episode One of Larry Maier's groundbreaking TV show Motoworld aired in 1984. I have provided a link to that show that I thought some of you might enjoy seeing. After watching the show, you will surely be all fired up to get your Penton ready to display at the Walkin' On Wednesday event, who knows, maybe you can have Larry sign your tank or number plate that evening as well. Hope to see you there.
THANK YOU Larry Maiers for all that you have done over the years for our two wheeled sport !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1d9B6JUFwk See less
#4
Penton Talk / Come join the ride !
Last post by Paul Danik - July 02, 2026, 06:05:43 AMThe Penton Owners Group, which started almost 30 years ago with a small group of dedicated individuals gathering at times outside because of a power outage, has a meeting tonight. The meeting will be held in the Jackpiner room of the KTM office building located just west of beautiful downtown Amherst, Ohio, commencing at 7 pm.
If you are reading this, John Penton has most certainly enriched your life in one way or another. It takes dedicated individuals with a passion for all things Penton to keep the Penton Owners Group going. If you think you have what it takes and would like to start on a journey of giving back, please consider joining with us tonight. Heading down the trail of involvement with the POG can be just as rewarding as heading down that favorite old trail through the woods on your Penton. Come join the ride!
Left to right. Ollie Martin, Doug Beam, Dale Barris, Bob Albrecht, Al Born, Dane Leimbach, John Penton, Alan Buehner and Jim Borer. I was taking the photo, and Jack Penton was there as well, somewhere....
If you are reading this, John Penton has most certainly enriched your life in one way or another. It takes dedicated individuals with a passion for all things Penton to keep the Penton Owners Group going. If you think you have what it takes and would like to start on a journey of giving back, please consider joining with us tonight. Heading down the trail of involvement with the POG can be just as rewarding as heading down that favorite old trail through the woods on your Penton. Come join the ride!
Left to right. Ollie Martin, Doug Beam, Dale Barris, Bob Albrecht, Al Born, Dane Leimbach, John Penton, Alan Buehner and Jim Borer. I was taking the photo, and Jack Penton was there as well, somewhere....
#5
Penton Talk / On the road........
Last post by Paul Danik - July 01, 2026, 05:25:32 PMAs the photo attests to, Penton Sportcycles have been ridden on the road pretty much since the beginning in one way or another. That being said, do any of you have your Pentons setup for street riding with insurance, licence plate and inspection if your state requires it ? If so please, please share with us some of your experiences and maybe a photo of your streetable Penton and any tips that you wish to share.
As fewer folks are looking to ride or race their older short travel suspension machines in off road events, possibly some backroad adventures on your Steel Tankers and CMF machines would be a great way to enjoy them.
"Back in the day" I used to put about a hundred miles of easy backroad miles on my new Pentons as a way to break them in and it was quite enjoyable. They were not exactly street legal, but our area was way more rural at the time. I am sure that is the same story for many of you as well.
In the photo, John Penton sure seems to be enjoying his ride as much as the bystanders are enjoying watching him go by ! I can just imagine John coming to a Wendy's drive thru and pulling up to the window on his Steel Tanker and ordering a cup of their chili that he loved so much !
A cup of chili and make it quick, just put it in a coffee cup and keep the spoon and napkin !
As fewer folks are looking to ride or race their older short travel suspension machines in off road events, possibly some backroad adventures on your Steel Tankers and CMF machines would be a great way to enjoy them.
"Back in the day" I used to put about a hundred miles of easy backroad miles on my new Pentons as a way to break them in and it was quite enjoyable. They were not exactly street legal, but our area was way more rural at the time. I am sure that is the same story for many of you as well.
In the photo, John Penton sure seems to be enjoying his ride as much as the bystanders are enjoying watching him go by ! I can just imagine John coming to a Wendy's drive thru and pulling up to the window on his Steel Tanker and ordering a cup of their chili that he loved so much !
A cup of chili and make it quick, just put it in a coffee cup and keep the spoon and napkin !
#6
Penton Talk / John Penton's priceless Campbe...
Last post by Paul Danik - June 29, 2026, 05:19:14 AMAt about the time we were getting the Penton Owners Group formed, I was visiting with John Penton at his home when he handed me a cardboard box that he had turned into a hanging file holder. Crazy as it may sound, John had taken a cardboard Campbell's soup box that was about 24 " X 18" and about 10 " deep and filled it with hanging files, beneath the hanging files was quite an assortment of items including an envelope of film negatives.
" Here, see if you find anything interesting in here", John stated as he handed me the box.
I could write a book about all of the items that John had found interesting enough to save over the years, but for now let's concentrate on the film negatives. I took the negatives to the local camera shop and had them make prints from them and what a priceless bunch of photos they were. The negatives were from the photo shoot of the proto model Penton that was done in the Penton Honda building with Jerry West taking the photos, possibly in late 1967. Anyhow, the two photos I have posted show just how Jerry and the gang had set up the photo shoot. Years later at a POG event we visited the old Penton Honda building and checked out that exact photo shoot location in the shop as that sink was still in existence.
Who would have ever thought that almost 6 decades later there would be so much interest in the Penton Sportcycles. Speaking of interest in the Penton Sportcycles, the Penton Owners Group will be having its July meeting on Thursday July 2nd in the Jackpiner room of the KTM office building, located just west of beautiful downtown Amherst, Ohio, beginning at 7 pm.
John Penton's Campbell's Soup box was filled with an incredible array of items that he knew were of historic value. What I thought would take a day or so to go through ended up taking the better part of a snowy winter week. As I sat by the wood burner reading and looking over most every item that John Penton had found interesting enough to save over the years, I was sure glad that he had done so.
THANKS JOHN, and yes, I did find EVERYTHING quite interesting, and still do !
" Here, see if you find anything interesting in here", John stated as he handed me the box.
I could write a book about all of the items that John had found interesting enough to save over the years, but for now let's concentrate on the film negatives. I took the negatives to the local camera shop and had them make prints from them and what a priceless bunch of photos they were. The negatives were from the photo shoot of the proto model Penton that was done in the Penton Honda building with Jerry West taking the photos, possibly in late 1967. Anyhow, the two photos I have posted show just how Jerry and the gang had set up the photo shoot. Years later at a POG event we visited the old Penton Honda building and checked out that exact photo shoot location in the shop as that sink was still in existence.
Who would have ever thought that almost 6 decades later there would be so much interest in the Penton Sportcycles. Speaking of interest in the Penton Sportcycles, the Penton Owners Group will be having its July meeting on Thursday July 2nd in the Jackpiner room of the KTM office building, located just west of beautiful downtown Amherst, Ohio, beginning at 7 pm.
John Penton's Campbell's Soup box was filled with an incredible array of items that he knew were of historic value. What I thought would take a day or so to go through ended up taking the better part of a snowy winter week. As I sat by the wood burner reading and looking over most every item that John Penton had found interesting enough to save over the years, I was sure glad that he had done so.
THANKS JOHN, and yes, I did find EVERYTHING quite interesting, and still do !
#7
Wanted / For Sale / WTB decent CMF pipe
Last post by Don Roth - June 28, 2026, 08:31:50 AMLooking for a decent pipe for 1973 six day project, need not be perfect, have some pieces and access to a great welder. Proxy friend is attending VMD.
Thanks in advance,
-don
Thanks in advance,
-don
#8
Penton Talk / Calling all Pentons !!!
Last post by Paul Danik - June 28, 2026, 04:38:52 AMCALLING ALL PENTONS !
On Wednesday August 12th the Penton Owners Group, in conjunction with KTM, will be setting up a display at the Walkin' on Wednesday event in downtown Amherst, Ohio. The event takes place from 4 - 7:30.
At this event last year, we were celebrating John Penton's upcoming 100th birthday and the turnout of Penton enthusiasts and Penton machinery was overwhelming, as the photos attest to. KTM will once again be setting up one of their big rigs in downtown Amherst for us to use as a centerpiece of our display.
With your help, we can honor John Penton's memory and create a display that John would be proud of in his beloved hometown, Amherst, Ohio.
On Wednesday August 12th the Penton Owners Group, in conjunction with KTM, will be setting up a display at the Walkin' on Wednesday event in downtown Amherst, Ohio. The event takes place from 4 - 7:30.
At this event last year, we were celebrating John Penton's upcoming 100th birthday and the turnout of Penton enthusiasts and Penton machinery was overwhelming, as the photos attest to. KTM will once again be setting up one of their big rigs in downtown Amherst for us to use as a centerpiece of our display.
With your help, we can honor John Penton's memory and create a display that John would be proud of in his beloved hometown, Amherst, Ohio.
#9
Penton Talk / Re: Out of the barn after 50 y...
Last post by slvrbrdfxr - June 23, 2026, 08:40:29 AMHere's a picture of the serial number of the bike I saw at VMD back in 2021.
Dave McC
Dave McC
#10
Penton Talk / Re: Out of the barn after 50 y...
Last post by slvrbrdfxr - June 23, 2026, 08:36:48 AMYes, those early CMF bikes are very cool. They have some subtle differences from the later builds like the narrow front forks with the Arces triple clamps. I restored CMF number 109 51060 several years ago that was purchased out of New Mexico. The earliest CMF bike I've ever personally seen was a 125 serial number 106 50181 which was at VMD Mid Ohio back in July of 2021. That bike was for sale but was in very poor condition. I made an offer to buy it but could never comes to terms with the seller. Good luck with your restore Dean !
Dave McCullough
Dave McCullough