Response to Paul from Penton vs KTM

[Chris Brown]

Hello Chris Brown

You received the following message from : Paul Danik ([email protected])

At: http://www.pentonusa.org/forum/

Chris,
     I realized how old I was getting when I would mention Penton
motorcycles and the guys would just have a blank look on their faces.  Did
you read the Roots section in the KTM sight?  I was lucky to meet John
Penton when I was fifteen, just when the Penton's were being introduced.
Amherst, Ohio is just under 3 hours away and I have always made the trip as
often as possible. Where are you from?  Have you read the book on John
Penton?  I have a 99  125EXC KTM that I love.  I tried a 250 EXC first and
just don't like the feel as compared to a 125.  If you ever get a chance to
try out a 125 KTM do it.  I always says it has the same light, comfortable
feel as the 125 Penton.  Good Luck, Paul Danik

Hey Paul, thanks for the personal e. Wow, you've been plugged into this
sport forever! I saw your photo on the pog site.

I really enjoyed the article on John in RACER X. Rick Doughty at Vintage
Iron told me about it while visiting his shop in Yorba Linda, California,
where I live. As we say, we live at Disneyland, because it's less than 5
miles away. I understand the article was the basis of the book although I
have not ordered it out yet. Guess I really need to do that. I was even
thinking of selling my restored Jackpiner because I want a sport bike
(street). Perhaps I need to hang on to it and just appreciate it. As I
mentioned, I had not seen much reference to John Penton from KTM until you
pointed the link out. Thanks.

I missed the VMD event out here early this year. I had family stuff going on
and couldn't make it. Ohio is an awfully long drive, and an airline flight
and time off is something else again. I would love to meet John Penton [and see all the bikes.] I did meet Roger Decoster at Vintage Iron. He was there before a big vintage event with an entourage from Suzuki. I watched a couple of guys in white
shirts and ties change a tire in about 3 minutes. Nice bunch of guys. Roger
is very interesting to listen to. And Rick has never left the sport and has
obviously gained a tremendous knowledge of the players and the bikes. He's
really big into Maico's and he was a big encouragement for me getting into
the old bike scene. He has some beautiful old race bikes on display at his
shop. It's almost like a museum. He really likes to see a variety of marks
out for the vintage races and always encouraged me to pursue my interest in
Penton and KTM. He sold me the KTM 400 for cost with the agreement that I
would buy all the restoration parts from him. It's really a great bike.

Yes, I'm aging too (43) although I can still go out riding for several hours
and really tear it up. I really enjoy the 400 as the power is electric. It
must be a "mid-life c..." thing, (can't even say it) and the need for speed
is more apparent than ever. As I mentioned, I want a Ninja or VFR for when I
can't go dirtbiking. It's about a hundred mile drive for decent riding out
here in southern California. And the greenies want it all shut down!

I grew up in the Northwest and we used to ride from home. We rode where
Boeing built the 747 Plant in Everett Washington, and we used to ride all
over the San Juan Islands. The Cascades offered stunning riding and great
trails. As Rick kidded me, "so you cut your teeth in the mud!"  Yes, it's
always rainy up there and we would come in completely mud brown form head to
toe; the bikes too. We prepped our bikes to run under water!

I've recently ridden a  KTM 380exc, a Husaberg 600, a yzf400, and the old
Honda XR250 I had for a while. I still like the 2 stroke powerband. The new
bikes' suspension is amazing. That's the reason why I would buy a newer
bike.  Out here the riding's generally fairly fast as there's lots of
desert. A dual sport makes a lot of sense for general riding, so I've had my
eye on the new husky 410 and 610. I still like the lighter bikes though,
always have. I still only weigh about 160lbs. I was about 135 when I was 18
when I did all my Penton riding.

I was restoring a 35 Chevy PU when I met Rick Doughty. I then sold the truck
before I finished it and have really gotten enthused with the bikes. It only
takes about 6 months to do a bike. I found a complete 6 days locally that's
in nice shape. Would make a nice restoration. Maybe there's an enthusiast
out there that would like it?

Drop a line back or let's pick [it] up in the forum....
Chris.

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Sent: Sunday, November 12, 2000 5:31 PM
Subject: Sent From Penton Owners Group by Paul Danik