1975 KTM 250 MX - 1st Project Bike/Newbie

[KTMTOM]

So having been a HUGE KTM fan before KTM was cool within the main-stream, I decided it was time to really get into what KTM was all about. I've been riding KTM since 86 when I was 13 years old, and knew right away, there was something special about these bikes. Never really had much interest in the "history" of KTM, let alone knew who John Penton was. Well as time went by, and as KTM has grown to be what it is today, I felt the NEED to find an older bike and see what they were all about back in the day. Well, my curiosity has since turned into an obsession that will ultimatly settle to the point where I actually want to get out and ride rather than just tinker with my new project! Here's a couple of pix of what I started with, and where I am today. Started out just wanting to "freshin" things up. Yeah, that didn't work out so here I am cleaning every nut/bolt, and spoke on the thing! Don't get me wrong... LOVE it, and learning a ton, but clearly a labor of love, not a great way to make a buck if that's what your after! Ha!

[JCHubbard]

Congratulations KTMTOM!...The folks here at POG are without a doubt the most knowledgeable Penton/KTM onwers on earth. By just reading other posts and threads I've learned a great deal about these bikes, and if you have question answered, there's always someone here who will have answer for you. Make sure you post photos of your bike when your done.

John Hubbard

[KTMTOM]

Thanks, never thought I'd get so excited about something like an old bike. Now I want an late 60's Penton so bad.... Oh man... My wife's in for a long ride..... Will post pix when she's all done for sure. Just about have everything I need. Buddy of mine has a shop back in Michigan, SpeedDynamics, and found all the goods to rebuild the stock Marzocchi shocks so those are coming back to me next week. Took him some time, but found that the big boys in the suspension world were really excited about someone rebuilding an old bike and helped line him up with all the seals/bushings he needed to get-er done. Now if I can just find those reservoir stickers....

[tomale]

Tom, congrats on finding the best place on earth for vintage bikes, Be sure to check out the suppliers, there isn't anything that has been a problem that someone has not found a solution for.. how cool is that,  Every time I get to telling someone about my old bikes they always ask about availabilty of parts, the cool thing is that getting parts these days is alot easier than when I bought my first KTM 34 years ago, I started the bike up the other day, still runs great...Can't say the same thing with these modern 4 strokes...

Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)74'
250 hare scrambler (project bike)

[garrettccovington]

KTMTOM
Welcome to the group.  Pics are cool! learn the search engine, but without a doubt, these guys are the best if you get stumped.  If your located around the SoCal Area, bring the bike out to the ATX races.  Vintage friendly track and alot of Penton and KTM riders.

Again Welcome

G

72 six-day
79 KTM MC80 250

[rob w]

Hello Tom,
It's very good to have you join us.

I wondered if anyone was going to notice............?

Take another look at Tom's '75 Penton frame - see anything unusual ?







It's a rare non-high breather. Of all the Penton's I've run across, I've never found one. I've heard of two others, but how unusual is that. Pretty cool.

Bob

[KTMTOM]

I'm glad you commented on the frame number, one of the reasons I posted it as I hoped someone might have some thoughts on it. Took me awhile to decipher, but in comparing to other "known" frame numbers noted on this site, it looked like it was somewhat out of the norm in numerical order.

[SouthRider]

Very cool indeed!

Now I notice the lay down shock mounts, cable rings for the gas tank mounts, but still the low breather.

Was this perhaps a euro KTM?

[KTMTOM]

Forgive the ignorance, but what is it you all mean by the "low breather"? Newbie remember!

[SouthRider]

Your bike "breathes" from the airbox opening under the seat. This was the case on all Pentons until 1973 when they introduced the "frame breather" which changed the top tube of the frame above the ignition coil to a piece of square tubing with a series of holes in it. The airbox then connected to it & drew the air from under the tank - thence the "frame breather" as opposed to "low breather".

Thats why your bike is interesting - when Penton switched to the high breather or frame breather they stopped making bikes with a frame like yours. Early models did not have laid down shocks, and the gas tanks were held on by a leather strap, not the spring loaded cables.

Your bike has the later model shock mounts & gas tank mount - but steps back in time to the pre-1973 top tube.

The frame breather was introduced as an enduro feature to enable deep water crossings. So it would make sense that a later model mx bike wouldn't need that feature - I've just never seen one before. I thought that they all went to the high breather in 73, but apparently not so...... again maybe this was just on European models.

[Randy Kirkbride]

Tom,
Here's a pic of a hi-breather Penton frame. Notice the slots on the frame backbone?

[SouthRider]

Hey Randy - who paints your floor for you?

[Randy Kirkbride]

Clark,
I always try to keep the kitchen floor clean but sometimes it does get a little messy.

[gooddirt]

I have two of these non HB 250 frames looking to trade for a 1975 125 frame like Randy's pic above. LG

[KTMTOM]

GREAT information guys, thank you. Would be interested in getting more information on the history of how this bike got pieced together. Maybe they just had leftover frames and figured since the bikes were headed west where it's generally hot/dry, they could use up some old stock without much issue. Wouldn't be (or maybe it was in this case!) the first time KTM used previous years parts for a portion of a year before putting new stock on their bikes as was the case with many of my earlier RFS 4-stroke models I've had just as the new years models were released. One may never know....