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#31
Penton Talk / Off to Texas we went !!!
Last post by Paul Danik - May 01, 2026, 05:16:48 PMIt took all of maybe 3 minutes to commit to a one week, 3,000 plus mile road trip to the Hill Country of Texas once I saw the pictures of Laurie Shelton's 100cc Penton Berkshire and spoke with her about the bike. Laurie described her Berkie as an " absolutely ripping little bike that handled really, really well ". She said it was the last of her Pentons, and her favorite one as well ! Laurie's barn is equally divided between her two passions, half of it is devoted to the one on two wheels while the other half is devoted to the one on four hoofs, and I soon learned that she is very highly respected in both worlds !
As the miles clicked by, I became more and more intrigued not only about the bike, but also about Laurie and her story. Once Judy and I arrived at Laurie and Denman's ranch it only took a few minutes to feel comfortable enough to ask her about her story. She said that her father was a mechanic and that she learned her mechanical skills from him. A little Honda was her first bike and soon enough a Hodaka came up for sale, and she entered the world of Hodakas, in due time she attended several Hodaka Days and raced mainly at Diamond Don's and Reo Bravo. Laurie went on to say that she was intrigued by the heritage of the Penton brand as well as few others such as CZ which over the years she acquired and raced. The Berkie had started out as a 125cc Six-Day, but she liked running in the 100cc class, fellow Hill Country resident and Penton expert Ron Carbaugh had a 100cc top end that Laurie acquired and installed. If you want to see just how good of a mechanic Laurie is click on the video link below.
Laurie last raced the Berkie some years back and stated that it may need a going through, which will be a pleasure. I am excited to get the Berkie fired up and throw some dirt with it as well, and hope to display it in some of the upcoming 60th. anniversary of the Penton events. Laurie mentioned that at one of the Texas events that she raced in Lyle Lovett came up and told her how much he liked her Berkie and took some photos of it. I am sure that John Penton himself would have been in awe at what Laurie has done with one of his Penton Sportcycles, especially given that she personally did the work with the skills that her father passed along to her.
[Hodaka Ace 90 Build](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYosjCkczPU)
As the miles clicked by, I became more and more intrigued not only about the bike, but also about Laurie and her story. Once Judy and I arrived at Laurie and Denman's ranch it only took a few minutes to feel comfortable enough to ask her about her story. She said that her father was a mechanic and that she learned her mechanical skills from him. A little Honda was her first bike and soon enough a Hodaka came up for sale, and she entered the world of Hodakas, in due time she attended several Hodaka Days and raced mainly at Diamond Don's and Reo Bravo. Laurie went on to say that she was intrigued by the heritage of the Penton brand as well as few others such as CZ which over the years she acquired and raced. The Berkie had started out as a 125cc Six-Day, but she liked running in the 100cc class, fellow Hill Country resident and Penton expert Ron Carbaugh had a 100cc top end that Laurie acquired and installed. If you want to see just how good of a mechanic Laurie is click on the video link below.
Laurie last raced the Berkie some years back and stated that it may need a going through, which will be a pleasure. I am excited to get the Berkie fired up and throw some dirt with it as well, and hope to display it in some of the upcoming 60th. anniversary of the Penton events. Laurie mentioned that at one of the Texas events that she raced in Lyle Lovett came up and told her how much he liked her Berkie and took some photos of it. I am sure that John Penton himself would have been in awe at what Laurie has done with one of his Penton Sportcycles, especially given that she personally did the work with the skills that her father passed along to her.
[Hodaka Ace 90 Build](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYosjCkczPU)
#32
Penton Talk / Re: '75 250 Enduro Head/Tail L...
Last post by ALB - April 29, 2026, 02:59:36 PMHaving experienced riding my Jackpiner at night with the motoplat ignition, back in the day, I would highly recommend getting the Preston Petty headlight with the battery. The Motoplat only supplies enough power to light up the headlight at high rpms. Thus if you are riding at night and let up on the throttle to slow down, you will only get a dim light at low rpms. Gets exciting when you are riding on a county dirt road in the middle of the night and have to slow down for a sharp turn.
#33
Wanted / For Sale / Re: Rod kit 400
Last post by Daveswelding - April 27, 2026, 10:24:53 PMHi Gary, this is a long shot but you might try RTRMOTO.COM. Phone number 303-873-8924. Good Luck.
#34
Wanted / For Sale / Rod kit 400
Last post by G Ellis - April 27, 2026, 07:00:39 PMWanted Penton 400 rod kits, 69mm pin length.
#35
Penton Talk / Re: '75 250 Enduro Head/Tail L...
Last post by KJDonovan - April 27, 2026, 04:57:00 PMSteve,
The original Motoplat puts out 6V. So if you already have the Preston Petty front plate 6V bulbs would be the way to go. That stated, if you don't already have the plate, check out the battery powered ones with the LED headlamp offered by Preston Petty. Way brighter, and not a lot more coin than the standard one.
Thanks,
Kevin
The original Motoplat puts out 6V. So if you already have the Preston Petty front plate 6V bulbs would be the way to go. That stated, if you don't already have the plate, check out the battery powered ones with the LED headlamp offered by Preston Petty. Way brighter, and not a lot more coin than the standard one.
Thanks,
Kevin
#36
Penton Talk / '75 250 Enduro Head/Tail Light...
Last post by StephenRead - April 26, 2026, 06:42:47 PMI have a 1975 250 Enduro with lights and Motoplat Ignition. The bike is currently not running as I am restoring it. I'd like to run a Preston Petty front number plate headlight and the original round tail-brake light. My original Penton Manual says the ignition is a 35 watt output. Should I be running 6 or 12 volt bulbs ? Thanks for any insight.
#37
Penton Talk / Re: Transmission oil
Last post by KJDonovan - April 26, 2026, 07:30:30 AMJerome,
Either BelRay 80W Gear Saver or Type F ATF. 1.5 quarts.
Thanks,
Kevin
Either BelRay 80W Gear Saver or Type F ATF. 1.5 quarts.
Thanks,
Kevin
#38
Penton Talk / Transmission oil
Last post by Jerome - April 25, 2026, 08:34:50 PMHello I'm a new member I have a 1974 ktm penton 400 what type of oil should I use in the transmission and how much
#39
Penton Talk / Re: Motoplat timing
Last post by Jerome - April 24, 2026, 04:57:20 PMQuote from: ccmnova on July 07, 2019, 12:39:39 PMlooking for some procedure and tips to set the timing on a 74 6-days. I searched but could not fimd anything.
#40
Penton Talk / Re: ignition timing
Last post by Carl Hill - April 22, 2026, 06:34:05 PMIt says 2.5mm BTDC. I've never built a 400 but on the smaller ones I've done I generally end up retarding the timing a bit. Seems to help with low rpm response. As they say in the commercials " your actual results may vary". If you have the external rotor version there is a small hole in the flywheel that will line up with another one in the stator. Use a long pin to slide through both to move the stator to the desired timing. Internal rotor version just has two marks to line up.