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#81
Penton Talk / Re: Need ID help
Last post by Admangia - February 08, 2025, 10:05:26 AMMybsincere apologies for positing this message in wrong area of forum.
#82
Penton Talk / Re: Need ID help
Last post by Admangia - February 07, 2025, 12:55:39 AMHello to all, I want to preface this with sincere condolensces for members loss of spouse. Very sad for sure and maybhis grief be replaced with fond, loving memories.
I am new to site and looking forward to April weather so I can get busy on my Penton 125. The bike has been in heated basement about 30 years and very good condition. I don't really know where to start with this. Is it likely I will need to empirically replace fork seals, carb gaskets, replace tires/ tubes before trying to run the bike. I have never dealt with bike that has been stored this long. The bike has tremendous sentimental value as it was my dear friend's who has since passed but intended to race it for him just once. Given the decent shape and completely original I'm not sure if I should just make it shiny and back into house?
Thoughts please and thank you. If I do decide to get it in thorough running condition I will certainly need some direction on where to find maintenance instructions, parts and manual.
Thank you for taking time to read this.
I am new to site and looking forward to April weather so I can get busy on my Penton 125. The bike has been in heated basement about 30 years and very good condition. I don't really know where to start with this. Is it likely I will need to empirically replace fork seals, carb gaskets, replace tires/ tubes before trying to run the bike. I have never dealt with bike that has been stored this long. The bike has tremendous sentimental value as it was my dear friend's who has since passed but intended to race it for him just once. Given the decent shape and completely original I'm not sure if I should just make it shiny and back into house?
Thoughts please and thank you. If I do decide to get it in thorough running condition I will certainly need some direction on where to find maintenance instructions, parts and manual.
Thank you for taking time to read this.
#83
Penton Talk / Re: Harriet Buffenmyer has pas...
Last post by Kip Kern - February 06, 2025, 06:39:16 PMVery sorry to hear, the Buffenmyer's are top shelf people. Nicest folks in the world. Lee, Y'all are in our prayers!
#84
Penton Talk / John Penton signature hats ava...
Last post by Paul Danik - February 05, 2025, 06:09:16 PMThe Penton Owners Group is pleased to announce that the newly created John Penton signature hats are now available online. Available in either green or grey, these hats are of the highest quality. Just click the link to The POG Shop to place your order. Your purchases help to fund the POG in its mission and are greatly appreciated. While ordering your hats, be sure to buy yourself some tickets for the POG raffle bike. Please feel free to repost / share this message on other Facebook pages, such as ISDT Reunion pages and / or other motorcycle pages that are appropriate. https://www.pentonusa.org/shop/
#85
Penton Talk / Re: Need ID help
Last post by slvrbrdfxr - February 04, 2025, 10:26:01 AMJohn,
Welcome to the group. That 111xxxxx serial number would make the bike you're looking at a CMF (chrome moly frame)Penton and it could be either a 100 or 125. The serial number starting with 111 equates to it being built in the eleventh month of 1971 and so it would be an early 72 model. Typically a red fiberglass gas tank would indicate its a 100 whereas a green fiberglass gas tank would be a 125. Since the Sachs 100/125 top ends and magneto covers (where the engine serial number tag is riveted on) are interchangeable, there is no way to be absolutely sure of the engine size without pulling the cylinder head to see if it's a 48 or 54mm piston. These early CMF Penton bikes built in 1971 marked the end of the Penton Steeltanker era which ran from 1968-1971 with approx 6900 of the Steeltank bikes produced. The CMF bike production started in approx June of 1971 with the earliest serial number in this site's registry being 106xxxxx. Most of the early CMF Penton bikes built in 71 came with 32mm Ceriani forks and Arces triple clamps and were approx 3/8" narrower than the CMF bikes built in 1973. The way to tell if it has the narrow forks is to check and see if the triple clamps say Arces on them and also they should only have 4 pinch bolts whereas the later wider forks were still 32mm Ceriani but will have triple clamps with 8 pinch bolts. I've added a picture of my early 125 CMF bike with serial 109xxxxx so you can see what the correct triple clamps should look like. Sounds like what you've found would make a nice project. There are lots of restoration parts available for these CMF bikes and so I wouldn't hesitate to buy if the price is reasonable. This site has wealth of knowledge and so feel free to ask more questions if needed. Good luck !
Dave McCullough
Welcome to the group. That 111xxxxx serial number would make the bike you're looking at a CMF (chrome moly frame)Penton and it could be either a 100 or 125. The serial number starting with 111 equates to it being built in the eleventh month of 1971 and so it would be an early 72 model. Typically a red fiberglass gas tank would indicate its a 100 whereas a green fiberglass gas tank would be a 125. Since the Sachs 100/125 top ends and magneto covers (where the engine serial number tag is riveted on) are interchangeable, there is no way to be absolutely sure of the engine size without pulling the cylinder head to see if it's a 48 or 54mm piston. These early CMF Penton bikes built in 1971 marked the end of the Penton Steeltanker era which ran from 1968-1971 with approx 6900 of the Steeltank bikes produced. The CMF bike production started in approx June of 1971 with the earliest serial number in this site's registry being 106xxxxx. Most of the early CMF Penton bikes built in 71 came with 32mm Ceriani forks and Arces triple clamps and were approx 3/8" narrower than the CMF bikes built in 1973. The way to tell if it has the narrow forks is to check and see if the triple clamps say Arces on them and also they should only have 4 pinch bolts whereas the later wider forks were still 32mm Ceriani but will have triple clamps with 8 pinch bolts. I've added a picture of my early 125 CMF bike with serial 109xxxxx so you can see what the correct triple clamps should look like. Sounds like what you've found would make a nice project. There are lots of restoration parts available for these CMF bikes and so I wouldn't hesitate to buy if the price is reasonable. This site has wealth of knowledge and so feel free to ask more questions if needed. Good luck !
Dave McCullough
#86
Penton Talk / Need ID help
Last post by John Aloi - February 04, 2025, 08:01:10 AMHello, I'm a newbie to Pentons. I ran across a bike I might possibly purchase. I would like whatever info I can get. The frame number is 11152xxx engine number is 6820xxx. Thanks in advance
#87
Penton Talk / POG Newsletter
Last post by vohnbusby - February 03, 2025, 03:56:06 PMHello from the Carolinas
Though certainly not new to Penton Motorcycles, I am new to POG membership. Thank you for allowing me to join! I just finished reading the latest POG newsletter, and its nicely organized, informative, and it was a relative fun read. I am glad to receive it. However, I did notice the club spent $2 dollars of postage mailing it to me. I am wondering.....with such a real quality website and obvious server space...why isn't the newsletter embedded to the webpage? I understand the need for printed newsletters, locally, but wouldn't it be more economic for a digital format for distance members?
I attended York 25 and entered my 1972 6-Day to the show. The bike just finished a very slow restoration, and I might be biased.....but the bike is show quality. Going up to York.....I wondered how many bikes would be in the show and if mine was worthy of a trophy. What I saw was bikes of enormous quality! I think the brand is in great shape and will reach far into the future. BTW, I am going to attempt to permanently loan the 6-Day to Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, NC where it will tell the Penton history to the Carolinas.
Best Vohn
Though certainly not new to Penton Motorcycles, I am new to POG membership. Thank you for allowing me to join! I just finished reading the latest POG newsletter, and its nicely organized, informative, and it was a relative fun read. I am glad to receive it. However, I did notice the club spent $2 dollars of postage mailing it to me. I am wondering.....with such a real quality website and obvious server space...why isn't the newsletter embedded to the webpage? I understand the need for printed newsletters, locally, but wouldn't it be more economic for a digital format for distance members?
I attended York 25 and entered my 1972 6-Day to the show. The bike just finished a very slow restoration, and I might be biased.....but the bike is show quality. Going up to York.....I wondered how many bikes would be in the show and if mine was worthy of a trophy. What I saw was bikes of enormous quality! I think the brand is in great shape and will reach far into the future. BTW, I am going to attempt to permanently loan the 6-Day to Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, NC where it will tell the Penton history to the Carolinas.
Best Vohn
#88
Penton Talk / Re: Boxing with JP, well, sort...
Last post by Daniel P. McEntee - January 31, 2025, 01:33:21 PM I'm glad to know that I'm not the only "box saver" on the planet!! I can always appreciate a "nice box" that can be reused to ship something or to store something in. In this day and age of Amazon, there are more boxes to chose from, but the quality certainly isn't there any more!! Boxes are made to certain specs to hold a specific amount of weight that is called it's "burst strength" I believe, and is usually stamped on the bottom of the box. A box with a 200 pound burst strength is pretty stout and good for many re-uses. The boxes that Amazon uses are about half of that and are much thinner. Some boxes come from China or other over seas sources and are made from rice paper, and most recyclers won't accept them of they will throw then in the trash. You can't mix those with typical brown paper boxes.
Great story Paul!!
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee
Great story Paul!!
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee
#89
Penton Talk / Re: Boxing with JP, well, sort...
Last post by ALB - January 31, 2025, 12:12:16 PMPaul thank you for sharing that story with everyone. I have heard you share it at POG meetings many times and I always enjoy the way that you tell it.
Thanks also for sharing the photo of the inside of the Cycleliner. That photos shows how you guys were able to get "all the clowns inside". I have seen many photos of the outside of the Cycleliner - never any of the inside.
Thanks also for sharing the photo of the inside of the Cycleliner. That photos shows how you guys were able to get "all the clowns inside". I have seen many photos of the outside of the Cycleliner - never any of the inside.
#90
Penton Talk / Boxing with JP, well, sort of ...
Last post by Paul Danik - January 31, 2025, 11:31:38 AMBoxing with JP, well, sort of !
It would sometimes take a day or so to load the Cycleliner for a trip out west to run the ISDT Qualifiers. The Pentons and the Leimbachs always made sure that when I was in town helping to get ready for a trip, that I had a nice place to stay, and some good home cooked meals. One evening over dinner at John's home, John stated that after dinner he was going to go to the Penton Honda retail dealership to collect boxes that were needed the next morning at Penton Imports, to pack and ship Penton parts orders in. I offered to go along and help, and John quickly accepted my offer, possibly this had been his plan !
Soon enough, John was backing his pickup to the rear door of the Penton Honda shop, and as he opened up the door there sat a nice pile of boxes. We started to pack the boxes together and carry them out to his truck. Pretty soon, there was just one lone box remaining, and as I started to pick it up John said to let it sit. "That is bait", he said, "if we take that one, the next time I come for boxes they will be thrown all over the back of this place, if we leave that one, they will aim for it and a nice pile will develop!"
Pretty soon, we had the boxes delivered to Penton Imports where Elmer Townie and his crew of parts pickers would find them in the morning. In due time, those boxes would be delivering Penton parts to Penton and Hi-Point dealers all over the country. As for me, in a couple of hours I would be at Tommy's pool hall in downtown Amherst with Jack and the boys having a cool one and shooting pool.
So, here we are about 50 years later, and pretty much every time I see a pile of cardboard boxes, I think back to the lesson that John Penton taught me that evening. As for learning lessons from JP, pretty much all through the years when John and I would get together, he would soon enough be leaning over and telling me of some sort of adventure he got into and how it all worked out. Thank you, John Penton, for all of the life's lessons well learned !
It would sometimes take a day or so to load the Cycleliner for a trip out west to run the ISDT Qualifiers. The Pentons and the Leimbachs always made sure that when I was in town helping to get ready for a trip, that I had a nice place to stay, and some good home cooked meals. One evening over dinner at John's home, John stated that after dinner he was going to go to the Penton Honda retail dealership to collect boxes that were needed the next morning at Penton Imports, to pack and ship Penton parts orders in. I offered to go along and help, and John quickly accepted my offer, possibly this had been his plan !
Soon enough, John was backing his pickup to the rear door of the Penton Honda shop, and as he opened up the door there sat a nice pile of boxes. We started to pack the boxes together and carry them out to his truck. Pretty soon, there was just one lone box remaining, and as I started to pick it up John said to let it sit. "That is bait", he said, "if we take that one, the next time I come for boxes they will be thrown all over the back of this place, if we leave that one, they will aim for it and a nice pile will develop!"
Pretty soon, we had the boxes delivered to Penton Imports where Elmer Townie and his crew of parts pickers would find them in the morning. In due time, those boxes would be delivering Penton parts to Penton and Hi-Point dealers all over the country. As for me, in a couple of hours I would be at Tommy's pool hall in downtown Amherst with Jack and the boys having a cool one and shooting pool.
So, here we are about 50 years later, and pretty much every time I see a pile of cardboard boxes, I think back to the lesson that John Penton taught me that evening. As for learning lessons from JP, pretty much all through the years when John and I would get together, he would soon enough be leaning over and telling me of some sort of adventure he got into and how it all worked out. Thank you, John Penton, for all of the life's lessons well learned !