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#11
Penton Talk / HOW TO START THE 250 PENTON......
Last post by Paul Danik - May 15, 2026, 03:21:57 AMThere were many point of sale pieces such as this created by Matt Weisman at Penton Imports. Most of these I have seen were in the packet of information that came with a new bike from the dealer. Possibly having one of these hanging from the handlebar of a new bike on display in a showroom would have scared a few potential customers away, but then again, there are those who would have instantly taken up the challenge !
#12
Penton Talk / Youngsters helping with Penton...
Last post by Paul Danik - May 14, 2026, 08:28:15 PM" HATS OFF " to Larry Decker for taking his Pentons and Hodaka to a local car show in his area. Nice signage Larry ! Check out the youngsters ! What a GREAT way to get young folks involved.
Entered the Super Rat and two of my Pentons in a local car show. Got way more questions about Hodaka than the other two. It was a crowd favorite. Unfortunately, it didn't win. My 1975 Penton Berkshire did though.
Entered the Super Rat and two of my Pentons in a local car show. Got way more questions about Hodaka than the other two. It was a crowd favorite. Unfortunately, it didn't win. My 1975 Penton Berkshire did though.
#13
Wanted / For Sale / WTB rear shocks
Last post by Carl Hill - May 14, 2026, 08:45:27 AMAnyone have any high quality 13.5 inch shocks for CMF???
The shafts on my Koni dampers are flat worn out.
The shafts on my Koni dampers are flat worn out.
#14
Penton Talk / POG display at Motorcycle Hall...
Last post by Paul Danik - May 13, 2026, 09:19:13 AMIt is hard to believe that over 20 years have passed since the Penton Owners Group, at the request of KTM American President Rod Bush, created a display of Penton Sportcycles and memorabilia at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum Campus for the Annual KTM Dealer gathering. POG members from far and wide sure outdid themselves for this display, if you are reading this, possibly you were one of many, many folks who contributed to this fine display that coincided with John Penton's 80th. birthday.
If you would like to revisit the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum Campus, or if you have not been there as of yet, this Saturday May 16th. might be a good time to plan your visit as the first Bike Night of 2026 will be taking place. The festivity is called Bike Night, but rest assured there are activities going on pretty much all day.
POG Treasurer Jim Reed is heading up a Penton display for the Bike Night festivities that takes place from 4 - 8 pm. There is a bike show as well if you wish to enter your Penton. Jim's Penton display is open to any and all Pentons and related cycles. Barn fresh to perfect restorations, and everything in between are welcome. There are some various forms of racing/ competition taking place on the AMA campus during the day as well and Jim with be there with the POG raffle bike. Head to the AMA Campus early and spend the day with Jim and help to represent the brand of cycles that John Penton created.
Just click on the link below to see the day's full schedule of event.
https://motorcyclemuseum.org/events-experiences/bike-night/
If you would like to revisit the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum Campus, or if you have not been there as of yet, this Saturday May 16th. might be a good time to plan your visit as the first Bike Night of 2026 will be taking place. The festivity is called Bike Night, but rest assured there are activities going on pretty much all day.
POG Treasurer Jim Reed is heading up a Penton display for the Bike Night festivities that takes place from 4 - 8 pm. There is a bike show as well if you wish to enter your Penton. Jim's Penton display is open to any and all Pentons and related cycles. Barn fresh to perfect restorations, and everything in between are welcome. There are some various forms of racing/ competition taking place on the AMA campus during the day as well and Jim with be there with the POG raffle bike. Head to the AMA Campus early and spend the day with Jim and help to represent the brand of cycles that John Penton created.
Just click on the link below to see the day's full schedule of event.
https://motorcyclemuseum.org/events-experiences/bike-night/
#15
Penton Talk / A few very special Moms !
Last post by Paul Danik - May 10, 2026, 09:32:57 AMIt is Mother's Day 2026, and as we all think of our own Mom, I would like to mention a few very special Moms that most of us Penton enthusiasts have in common.
The first lady and Mom of all things Penton is most certainly Mrs. John Penton. As one can image, with John often traveling far and wide Mrs. Penton most certainly had her hands full being Mom to all of those Penton children. I will never forget the time when John, Al Born and I traveled to California in 2000 for VMD west. On returning to John's place after the event, I was at the wheel and John was riding shotgun. I had barely stopped the truck when John opened his door and off he went up into the yard where a smiling Donna was standing and the two of them embraced like two newlyweds.
Numerous "Back in the day" Penton dealerships are referred to as Mom-and-Pop dealerships. Most of us only met the Pop of those Mom and Pop operations, but most certainly the Moms were the ones that kept the place running while Pop was doing his thing.
Today, the Penton Owners Group has its own very special Mom who takes time away from her own family to help keep the POG on the straight and narrow, and what a special gal Samatha is. Samatha, THANK YOU, for all that you do, and Happy Mother's day !
The first lady and Mom of all things Penton is most certainly Mrs. John Penton. As one can image, with John often traveling far and wide Mrs. Penton most certainly had her hands full being Mom to all of those Penton children. I will never forget the time when John, Al Born and I traveled to California in 2000 for VMD west. On returning to John's place after the event, I was at the wheel and John was riding shotgun. I had barely stopped the truck when John opened his door and off he went up into the yard where a smiling Donna was standing and the two of them embraced like two newlyweds.
Numerous "Back in the day" Penton dealerships are referred to as Mom-and-Pop dealerships. Most of us only met the Pop of those Mom and Pop operations, but most certainly the Moms were the ones that kept the place running while Pop was doing his thing.
Today, the Penton Owners Group has its own very special Mom who takes time away from her own family to help keep the POG on the straight and narrow, and what a special gal Samatha is. Samatha, THANK YOU, for all that you do, and Happy Mother's day !
#16
Penton Talk / Texas Vintage Motorcycle Museu...
Last post by Paul Danik - May 09, 2026, 11:12:47 AM" Y'all need to visit the Texas Vintage Motorcycle Museum in Johnson City while you are here, it is really an awesome place." Having taken Laurie's advice, Judy and I headed to Johnson City the next morning and were pleasantly surprised to see that the Museum occupied a corner of the main intersection of Johnson City, Texas. The building was very impressive from the outside, which ended up being an indication as to what was inside.
Museum owner Gordon Massie greeted us and gave us a history lesson of not only the Museum, but also of the building itself, which was all quite interesting. I had some Penton Sportcycle memorabilia and posters and 1973 ISDT items with me and gave them to Gordon, which led to Gordon asking quite a few questions about John Penton and his motorcycles. Soon there were others milling around the Museum entry and Gordon set us off on our self-guided tour of the Museum.
To say that Gordon's Museum is impressive is quite an understatement, as my photos and the linked video attest to. The Museum has well over 100 motorcycles from the 50s, 60s and 70s on display, but there was not a Penton amongst them. In due time I made my way back to the front counter and found Gordon already hard at work framing up some of the Penton posters. " If I had a Penton here, I would do a Penton display with these items", I replied to Gordon that if I didn't live 1,500 miles away, I would have one here in a heartbeat.
So, the invitation is open to any of you fine folks who might like to lend Gordon a Penton, or maybe even a couple for his Museum. A Steel Tanker, and maybe one of the later versions would really help to tell the Penton story. Gordon Massie is a really great person with an awesome Museum, if you can help him out that would be great and very much appreciated, and if you are ever in the area be sure to stop by and spend an hour or two at the Texas Vintage Motorcycle Museum.
https://www.texasvintagemotorcyclemuseum.com/
MUST WATCH VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emIaz7sIRaA
Museum owner Gordon Massie greeted us and gave us a history lesson of not only the Museum, but also of the building itself, which was all quite interesting. I had some Penton Sportcycle memorabilia and posters and 1973 ISDT items with me and gave them to Gordon, which led to Gordon asking quite a few questions about John Penton and his motorcycles. Soon there were others milling around the Museum entry and Gordon set us off on our self-guided tour of the Museum.
To say that Gordon's Museum is impressive is quite an understatement, as my photos and the linked video attest to. The Museum has well over 100 motorcycles from the 50s, 60s and 70s on display, but there was not a Penton amongst them. In due time I made my way back to the front counter and found Gordon already hard at work framing up some of the Penton posters. " If I had a Penton here, I would do a Penton display with these items", I replied to Gordon that if I didn't live 1,500 miles away, I would have one here in a heartbeat.
So, the invitation is open to any of you fine folks who might like to lend Gordon a Penton, or maybe even a couple for his Museum. A Steel Tanker, and maybe one of the later versions would really help to tell the Penton story. Gordon Massie is a really great person with an awesome Museum, if you can help him out that would be great and very much appreciated, and if you are ever in the area be sure to stop by and spend an hour or two at the Texas Vintage Motorcycle Museum.
https://www.texasvintagemotorcyclemuseum.com/
MUST WATCH VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emIaz7sIRaA
#17
Penton Talk / Re: Ktm won't start
Last post by Daniel P. McEntee - May 08, 2026, 08:54:33 AM I rebuilt a Hodaka Wombat once, and when I went to start it it popped a bit, but would not do anything after that. I checked, double checked, set and reset EVERYTHING and still nothing. I was commenting about it on the old Yahoo Hodaka Group, and Ed Chestnut, the Hodaka guru of all gurus and factory servicer manager, suggested that I try towing it. He related that he built up an engine from all new old stock parts and had the same issue, then he had someone tow him for a bump start and after a few feet it fired off, and was a one or two kick starter after that. I tried the same thing and VIOLA!! Instant noise!! And mine was a one or two kick starter after that. He couldn't explain it, other than after a rebuilt with new everything, nothing is really seated, and the few RPM from the bump start started that process. It's worth a try if you are sure timing and such is correct, and the ignition system itself is healthy.
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee
#18
Penton Talk / Re: Ktm won't start
Last post by Jerome - May 08, 2026, 06:57:34 AMQuote from: Jerome on May 06, 2026, 05:29:22 PMQuote from: Jerome on May 06, 2026, 10:10:16 AMHello I have a 1974 ktm penton 400 will not start . It has the Motoplat ignition with the bing carb. I've seen better spark but I think it should work.I can't even get a pop out of it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'm going to recheck the timing 2.5mm btdc would you know what the compression should be. New sparkplug,cap and I made the exhaust.It has a used motoplate stator.Spark is there not as strong as I would like.
#19
Penton Talk / Re: Ktm won't start
Last post by Jerome - May 06, 2026, 05:29:22 PMQuote from: Jerome on May 06, 2026, 10:10:16 AMHello I have a 1974 ktm penton 400 will not start . It has the Motoplat ignition with the bing carb. I've seen better spark but I think it should work.I can't even get a pop out of it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'm going to recheck the timing 2.5mm btdc would you know what the compression should be. New sparkplug,cap and I made the exhaust.It has a used motoplate stator.Spark is there not as strong as I would like.
#20
Penton Talk / Re: Ktm won't start
Last post by KJDonovan - May 06, 2026, 02:38:45 PMJerome,
In addition to the items Dave mentions, make sure your kill switch is working as it should or disconnect it.
Thanks,
Kevin
In addition to the items Dave mentions, make sure your kill switch is working as it should or disconnect it.
Thanks,
Kevin