Penton & KTM

[iliketoride]

I have a question? what is the realationship
between PENTON&KTM?

 

[Larry Perkins]

My spin in synopsis: John Penton looks for someone to put together bikes that he specs for American market.  Young owner of KTM; a bicycle company, looks for a product to build and send to the thriving American market.  The two find each other and Penton motorcycles are born from a KTM framed, best of European components, motorcycle-The Six Days.  For every Penton produced there were two KTM labeled bikes being sold in Europe and points beyond.  This extra profit allows KTM to develop and build it's own motors thus eventually eliminating the pesky Sachs motor.  It also puts them more in the drivers seat as far as bike development and they are the natural to buy out Penton when Nixon's devaluation of the dollar and a sour economy bring the show to an end after a ten year run.

 

[Chris Brown]

This all takes place from 1966 to 1977. Then KTM buys out the Penton name from Penton Imports and continues to manufacture and sell their KTM motorcycles all over the world. I also understand there was another buyout or sellout of KTM at some later date. I can get some more details on KTM of late if there is interest here. There were some real "sham" deals in the bike business over the last 20 years, particularly with European marks and their imports dealers to the States.

For details on the Penton read the article posted at pog from the first edition of RACERX magazine about the history of John Penton.
Chris.

 

[bkinnon]

I would suggest reading the John Penton biography. It was excellent reading and very informative. This month's Trail Rider Magazine has a great article on KTM...good reading also.

'97 KTM Jackpiner 200LE
'80 KDX 250
'73 Jackpiner 175 (2)
'72 Jackpiner 175 original owner

[Paul Danik]

For more info on the Penton-KTM relationship, go to KTMUSA.COM  then click consumer news, then click exploring our roots. I think KTM is very proud of it's heritage and relationship with John Penton.
 Paul Danik

 

[Chris Brown]

As many times as I have visited the KTM site I had never found nor read their story and relationship with John Penton. Their "brief HISTORY" page makes virtually no mention of Penton. Thanks for pointing out this link Paul.
I bought a new Penton 6 Days in 1973 and rode trails, enduros, and a few MX races. In about 1980 I rode a Suzuki PE 175 until about 1984. After a snow-skiing injury and a couple of near misses on bikes I gave up motorcycling until 1999. Getting back into offroading found me on a 85 XR250 Honda. I met an avid KTM racer at that time and did a couple of rides with him. When I asked him about Penton and KTM he said he had never heard of Penton. My local dealer didn't seem to know anything about Pentons either.
Needless to say how excited I was finding the Penton Owners Group Site.
Just for fun I punched in a search in the Recycler (our local used merchanise paper now online, //www.recycler.com) for penton and found a 73 Jackpiner for sale. Out of some 5,000 listings it was the only Penton! It was a wreck and hadn't run for years, but it looked just like that bike I had 25 years ago! Fully restored now it's a lot of fun to take it out to the desert and wind it up.
This year I restored the 78 KTM 400 and have made it my regular ride. While I would love to have a new or almost new KTM or Husky, I don't have the big $$$ to get one. It sure is fun to get out with friends and family and do some riding.
Chris



Edited by - Chris Brown on 11/12/2000  7:58:37 PM