LEARNING MORE ABOUT MC5 TANKS THEN I EVER WANTED!

[Jeff Moore]

I am learning in the past weeks more about 1976-1977 MC5 Gas Tanks then I ever wanted to know!!

My 1977 MC5 400 was apparently delivered with the large "DESERT TANK" in Blue with a White/Black "L" decal. This is considered a "West Coast" bike.  Maybe even a KTM as opposed to a PENTON?

During the past weeks after speaking to numerous Penton experts and buying three different gas tanks, I am beginning to learn what was PROBABLY original for a 1977 Penton MC5?

First thing I learned was that there were four (4) different colors available in 1976-1977.  There were orange, red , white and blue tanks and side covers available in different areas.

I have been told by some that there was never a blue tank MC5 tank with matching blue and yellow side covers.  This was not true... How do I know this?  Yesterday I received a BRAND NEW (NOS) MC5 side cover with perfect original paint in Blue and Yellow.  The NOS MC5 cover was Autographed in 2009 by some guy named JOHN A. PENTON... Who ever that guy is?

The point being is that if an original blue MC5 side cover was produced, then obviously it was intended to match a Blue MC5 gas tank.  

Then I learned from Gary Ellis that even though the MC5 large "Desert Tank" gas tank looks almost exactly like the GS6 tank and has the same "L" decal... It is NOT the same!  This was proven that Gary was right!  When today a GS6 tank was delivered and it does not fit my MC5 frame!

The MC5 tanks are flat at the back under the seat whereas the GS6 is radioused and is slightly wider. So it hits the side covers on my MC5!

Now what I DO NOT understand is why a small 1976-1977 MC5 gas tank that I bought, with very nice original orange gelcoat, would have evidence of once having a leather strap???  You can see the color difference and the distinct faint outline of a strap down the middle going around the cap...   The same evidence can be seen on the orange GS6 tank that I just got.

When and on what bikes did they use the leather straps???  Should an MC5 ever have had  a leather strap???

Experts....

[454MRW]

I'm not sure on what exact years the leather strap have been used, but none were originally used on MC5's. MC5 tanks have a square protrusion on the back edge of the tank which is held in place by a large rubber extruded I-beam shaped oval ring. All MC5 tanks should have that protrusion. The front of the tank is held in place by the metal hook that is welded to the top frame tube and accept 2 rubber bumpers on the earlier models and a rubber horseshoe-shaped bumper on the later 77-78 ones

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Penton
1976 MC5 400
1978 KTM 78 GS6 250
L78-79 MX6 175-250 KTM's
1976-78 125-400 RM's
2007 CR125R Honda
1977 MC250 Maico
2017 KTM Freeride 250R

[Jeff Moore]

I agree that should be the case.  And my 1977 MC5 has exactly as you describe...

But the two tanks that I just recently received from two totally different sources including one for an MC5 had been using Tank Straps.

When I search the internet there are lots of photos of very late bikes, including a few MC5s but mostly GS6s that clearly have leather Tank Straps.

Did the GS6 use a tank Strap into 1979??

[skiracer]

I think your blue color side panels are from the Europe KTM's. Here in the States, the east coast 250 bikes were Orange with the Penton logo, and the West coast bikes were Red and with the KTM logo. The White color was used for the 400's.

1976 250 MC5 Original Owner
1976 Penton 175 XC

[Jeff Moore]

When I did an extended search on this site into the archives going back 5-10 years.  I have been finding posts from guys who back in 1976-77, bought new MC5s that were "Blue"  on the West Coast and in Canada...

This POG Member post was from 2012:
"Bill Tarling rode for KTM West (along with Tom Kelly and Bob Balentine) in 76-78 SCORE Desert races and D37.  His bikes were BLUE with yellow with the bigger toaster like tanks,then the white/orange frames later on. I remember prerunning the pavement section coming out of Ensenada with Billy the morning of the Baja 1000 in 77 and his bike was definitely Blue that year."