1997.5 KTM 200LE Jackpiner questions

[motograndpa]

Hi POG Team,

I recently 'rescued' a low hour 1997.5 KTM 200 LE Jackpiner here in the Pacific Northwest. I had purchased a new one in 1997, sold it, and then found this one. It came with the original dealer paperwork, but did not come with the KTM certification paperwork or swag. I have it all back together now and it's all original except for the tires and pipe. It has the original blue plastic in excellent condition. These truly are beautiful bikes.

I have a couple of questions....

Is there a rule of thumb for current value for these based upon condition? When they were new I think they sold for about $6800. I have no interest in selling this one but does anyone know what are they drawing today?

Is there someone somewhere that can help me ascertain which number of the original 133 mine is? I have a VIN number but no way to correlate the VIN to the number assigned to the bike.

Thank you in advance,

Dan

[Mike Rosso]

Hello Dan/motograndpa, if you send me an email I'll see what I can find out about your KTM 200LE. I worked for KTM for over 33 years and worked on the 30th Anniversary John Penton 200LE (and 125LE). A little "Trivia" about the retail price of the 200LE. Because there were less than 150 models of the 200LE planed for production (of course the reason for "LE" or Limited Edition) and to hopefully be produced, Rod Bush knew there was going to be a bigger demand from most of the 500 KTM dealers than could be fulfilled. So Rod decided to limit them to one per dealer and set a high dealer price and a high retail price. It was a first come first serve situation with the orders. He struggled with the retail price for quite sometime and then I heard Rod yell in his office "I got it!". He then shouted for me and said he came up with the retail price of $6797 partly to maintain serious demand and because there were so few planed.  He waited for me to say something while showing me the written retail price plan on a piece of paper. $6797 then it hit me, Rod had always felt that Mr. Penton got the Penton/KTM motorcycle (idea) started in 1967 and that is why he felt he had to rush the LE models into production for a 1997 release. It had to be a 1997 model although it was really a 1998 PDS platform to be the 30th Anniversary Edition. That's when it hit me about the $6797 retail price he was showing me.......19$67(19)97.00 , yep 1967 to 1997 or '67 '97;). One magazine not too long ago featured the 200LE in a look back history of it and pointed out it was, at the time of release, the first dirt bike to have a retail price of over $6000 and was amazed at that fact.............if they only knew why it had that price

Mike

[motograndpa]

Hi Mike,

Thank you very much for responding, and for the information about the pricing. That is an amazing story that I'm sure few people know.

I'll follow up by sending you an email with the VIN number. It looks to me like the bike was originally sold by Bronson Polaris in LaGrande, OR (which was a dba for Union Lumber Co.). I have the MSO with Rod Bush's signature. The bike was sold new in December of 1999. That I can tell the dealer is no longer in existence. When I found it it was being 'stored' in an old railroad barn in rural Oregon and I ended up buying it from the second owner.

Years ago there was a new 125LE for sale at a dealer in Albany, OR. If I remember correctly I connected the dealer with someone on the east coast that bought it and had it shipped there. The only other one I have ever seen was at KTM headquarters in Ohio. They are beautiful bikes as well.

Thank you again for all of your help.

Dan

[Bob Gilman]

Hi Dan,I was the one you told about the 125LE,It was sitting on the floor of G&G cycle,run by Gary Forster brand new.The bike was won by a gentleman named Howard Jones from the KTM raffle.He wanted a bike for his son but did not want to destroy this one because it was so rare.Gary said Howard would trade for another new KTM 125 for his son to ride.I sent the money for the 125 and he shipped me the 125LE. If you go to search at the top of the page where the log In is and type in  American Motorcyclist features the 1997 Jackpiner  there will be a picture of that 125LE,it has been sitting in my living room since I got it.Take care,Bob

[motograndpa]

Yes, Bob, I remember now. I'm trying to remember when that was, and I'm trying to remember where you are at. I haven't seen Gary for some time, but I do remember that beautiful 125LE.

Thanks for refreshing my memory on this.

Dan

[rob brown]

Guys, I will be glad to do a spreadsheet (registry?) to share if owners wish to let me know their LE info. I have #102/133 via Jon Mclean in Portland. I used to have #10...(?) from jdsenduro (can't recall his name though) in NE, then the recession hit hard. I sold it to Geno Medina with Sonic in OK. I will have to look that one up. I had the bags and certificates for each, but not the mug. Wish I had one of those!

I don't think the value is as high as it should be, for some reason. Doesn't matter to me, as I will enjoy that beauty as long as I can. It looks good with my 75 Six Days and 77 MC5 175 via Bob G. Maybe someday a runner Steel Tanker. One can wi$h...

Jason, do you still have your bike?

[motograndpa]

Rob, I sent an email reply to you. It looks like (according to Mike) I may have #133.

-Dan

[motograndpa]

Today was a bonus day. The AMA sent me a copy of the April 2017 American Motorcyclist magazine and it has the Jackpiner write-up in it and highlights the bike at the museum. I also looked around the attic and found the original 1997 issue of the KTM Underground and there was an article on the 200LE Jackpiner in it. They'll both go in the Penton satchel that came with the bike.

Dan

[Daniel P. McEntee]

I had one of these that I "rescued" also after seeing an add on Craig's List for a "dirt bike." It's a long story but I had to sell it to pay for my daughter's wedding and some other bills, but it went to a friend of mine so I still have access to it. I did not get all of the goodies that came with the bike when new and failed in the attempt to find out just what that was but did get a title with the bike. I'll find out the frame number and add it to any possible registry.
 
   The bike is currently in need of some fork seals. Those fork legs look like telephone poles on the front end! My nephew has been doing some work on the bike taking care of some issues from sitting idle but has not taken the old seals out yet. All he knows is that they are 54mm but has not been able to find replacements. Can anyone tell me the complete specs for the seals, that is ID, OD, and thickness? Or a good source for replacement seals?

    HAPPY HOLIDAYS Everyone!
    Dan McEntee

[Mike Rosso]

The fork seals should still be available from any KTM dealer or on the internet under part number: 7528197. The size is 45x58x11

[Daniel P. McEntee]

Hi Mike;
  Are not the '97 Jackpiner Limited Edition forks 54mm? Some of the parts listings I found just list the forks from 1998 on. Maybe this is part of the problem?
   HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
   Dan McEntee

[motograndpa]

I just had mine rebuilt and you can buy the kit here:  http://www.pentonpartsusa.com/

Send Alan a note and he'll be able to help.

Dan

[Mike Rosso]

quote:Are not the '97 Jackpiner Limited Edition forks 54mm? Some of the parts listings I found just list the forks from 1998

Dan, from what I know most forks were always referenced by the diameter of the chrome tubes. The Marzocchi conventional forks that were spec'd for the LE's were the 45 mm (chrome tube) forks that are listed as '98 model year forks for the PDS models. https://www.ktm-parts.com/OEMFINDER.html#/KTM/200_Jackpinner_Chassis_-_1997/Fork_Legs/cc5ac738-3dab-4d86-bc39-66f63c6336f7/200_Jackpinner_Chassis_-_1997_Fork_Legs

[motograndpa]

Mike,

I believe the 1997.5 KTM 200LE Jackpiner has the 50MM Marzocchis. This is the kit I bought for mine and it fit.
 
#99-MAR850/31 -          $98 kit

They are available from Al Buehner at http://www.pentonpartsusa.com

Dan