77 or 78 175 pipe needed

[chicagojerry]

hi folks.all around good guy and extremely fast yamaha rider, tim shepard calld me to see if i can help locate a pipe for him. he needs a 175 pipe for a 77 or 78. i asked him for the frame # so we can narrow it down a little more but he thinks its a mc5. any help would be deeply appreciated. even if anyone knows of an aftermarket pipe .
chi jer

[tooclose racing]

Well - now you've got me curious. Was there a 175 MC5 model?  And if yes - would it have basically been the 250 frame with 175 engine?

Reason why I ask is that after a year of racing my 74.5 Jackpiner, I am head over heels in love with that Katoom 175 motor. The only guy that beat me in vintage XC racing this year (Intermediate mind you...)was a Canadian at Unadilla who signed up for the wrong class. [}:)]

Which got me to thinking about PV XC, where I normally have raced my 76 250 MC5.  But if I'm honest - I'd have to tell you it has been a bit of handful when the racing is tight/technical.  GNCC courses like Unadilla are fun on the bigger bike, but  - at least here in the NE, most courses are pretty technical/tight as a rule.

So..WAS there a 175 MC5?  And if yes, what museum would I have to steal it from?[]

[454MRW]

Under completed listings on eBay there is a KTM mc5 Ad brochure that lists all 4 available 1978 motocross models, 125 175 250 and 400. I think they were pretty rare, as most 78 175's were GS-6 models. The chassis manual does not list a 175 but that doesn't really mean they didn't produce any. I have seen a few of the late 78-early 79 MX-6 175's though, which use the 855- serial # 78 MC-5 chassis . I have seen 78 175 side panels listed a few times. Mike



Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
1975 Can Am 175 TNT & 77 250 Black Widow
1979 Husqvarna OR390
1976-78 RM & 77-79 PE Suzuki's
1974 CR250M 07 CR125R 79 CR250R

[tooclose racing]

Thanks Mike!  

Frame-wise (not suspension), is the 78 MC5 frame the same as the 76-77? I know the forks got bigger and maybe shocks are longer, but was curious about frame and swing arm.

[454MRW]

I believe the swing arm is slightly longer and shock mounts may be repositioned. To my knowledge only the 250 & 400 had the larger 38mm forks, smaller bikes had 35mm Zokes. Even my 78 GS-6 250 has 35mm Zokes. The frame has a slightly different design. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
1975 Can Am 175 TNT & 77 250 Black Widow
1979 Husqvarna OR390
1976-78 RM & 77-79 PE Suzuki's
1974 CR250M 07 CR125R 79 CR250R

[rd400pi]

I have a 1976 175 MC5 so, I know they exist!  Cheers.

  Mike H.

[454MRW]

Are you sure its not an early 77 with the small finned engine? I think they didn't make the small fin engine until 77, and a large fin engine won't clear the pipe without grinding some fins at the very least. 77 175 MC-5's are fairly common. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
1975 Can Am 175 TNT & 77 250 Black Widow
1979 Husqvarna OR390
1976-78 RM & 77-79 PE Suzuki's
1974 CR250M 07 CR125R 79 CR250R

[xracer]

yes they made them i had a 78 175 mc5 that i bought from piasaki in toledo and won state champ harescrables back then dave when in doubt gas it

[tooclose racing]

Well - now you've got me curious. Was there a 175 MC5 model?  And if yes - would it have basically been the 250 frame with 175 engine?

Reason why I ask is that after a year of racing my 74.5 Jackpiner, I am head over heels in love with that Katoom 175 motor. The only guy that beat me in vintage XC racing this year (Intermediate mind you...)was a Canadian at Unadilla who signed up for the wrong class. [}:)]

Which got me to thinking about PV XC, where I normally have raced my 76 250 MC5.  But if I'm honest - I'd have to tell you it has been a bit of handful when the racing is tight/technical.  GNCC courses like Unadilla are fun on the bigger bike, but  - at least here in the NE, most courses are pretty technical/tight as a rule.

So..WAS there a 175 MC5?  And if yes, what museum would I have to steal it from?[]

[454MRW]

Under completed listings on eBay there is a KTM mc5 Ad brochure that lists all 4 available 1978 motocross models, 125 175 250 and 400. I think they were pretty rare, as most 78 175's were GS-6 models. The chassis manual does not list a 175 but that doesn't really mean they didn't produce any. I have seen a few of the late 78-early 79 MX-6 175's though, which use the 855- serial # 78 MC-5 chassis . I have seen 78 175 side panels listed a few times. Mike



Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
1975 Can Am 175 TNT & 77 250 Black Widow
1979 Husqvarna OR390
1976-78 RM & 77-79 PE Suzuki's
1974 CR250M 07 CR125R 79 CR250R

[tooclose racing]

Thanks Mike!  

Frame-wise (not suspension), is the 78 MC5 frame the same as the 76-77? I know the forks got bigger and maybe shocks are longer, but was curious about frame and swing arm.

[454MRW]

I believe the swing arm is slightly longer and shock mounts may be repositioned. To my knowledge only the 250 & 400 had the larger 38mm forks, smaller bikes had 35mm Zokes. Even my 78 GS-6 250 has 35mm Zokes. The frame has a slightly different design. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
1975 Can Am 175 TNT & 77 250 Black Widow
1979 Husqvarna OR390
1976-78 RM & 77-79 PE Suzuki's
1974 CR250M 07 CR125R 79 CR250R

[rd400pi]

I have a 1976 175 MC5 so, I know they exist!  Cheers.

  Mike H.

[454MRW]

Are you sure its not an early 77 with the small finned engine? I think they didn't make the small fin engine until 77, and a large fin engine won't clear the pipe without grinding some fins at the very least. 77 175 MC-5's are fairly common. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
1975 Can Am 175 TNT & 77 250 Black Widow
1979 Husqvarna OR390
1976-78 RM & 77-79 PE Suzuki's
1974 CR250M 07 CR125R 79 CR250R

[xracer]

yes they made them i had a 78 175 mc5 that i bought from piasaki in toledo and won state champ harescrables back then dave when in doubt gas it