1976 KTM 125 on Ebay

[skiracer]

Hi guys.  There is a 1976 125 KTM on ebay, and I have a question about it.  I own a 76 250MC and it has forward lead forks, and the laid down shocks, but the 125 has the older style suspension, along with the different side panels than mine.  Is that bike an early 1976 model?  Just wondering.

Thanks,

James

[Dennis Jones]

76 was the first year for a KTM engined 125 and they were made up of a hodge podge of left over parts. A friend of my brother bought one new and still has it and it looks just like that one. Not a very pretty bike IMHO due to using old parts to make a new model, but with 26 bids up to $2800 others must think different

Dennis Jones

[454MRW]

Those were the Enduro version, or the Cross Country GS, as referred to in the chassis parts manual. I have a 250 and a 175 of the same 1976 model. The 250 has the ribbed Ceriani forks with the longer travel. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S

[Dennis Jones]

Hi Mike,
Check out the frame on that bike. They used an early 74 model with the round tubes instead of the wide flat ones with shock mounts like a 74 1/2 and later used.

Dennis Jones

[mau10]

James,
this bike is an early 1976 gs 125 model:





and this is my bike (december 1975):





Maurizio

Penton six days 125 1970

[454MRW]

Dennis,
That is very interesting. It appears that the 76 Cross Country GS 125 model only has the single upper shock position and uses a swingarm like the early 73-74 HS. I wonder if they used it to save weight on the 125, because both my 175 and 250 have the wider frame tubes with the alternate position laid down shock mounts, and multi position swing arm. They are both dated 601, (54 601 88195) on the 250, and 54 601 88232 on the 175. The odd thing about my 250, is the swingarm does not have provisions for a chain guard and has only the forward brake anchor rod mount requiring the longer MC5 type anchor rod with chain guide block. That is not what is listed in the frame manual as used on the GS, so I am assuming they were short on parts and used the MC5 pieces and left the brackets off of the swingarm for the chain guard mount, as it appears unmodified. mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S

[Dennis Jones]

The only reason I saw that on the ebay bike is because I have looked over the one here in town pretty close and it is that way.
My guess as to why is that KTM had a bunch of early 74 frames left over. It's like they were not very committed to the 125 and just used up a bunch of leftover parts.

Maurizio, Your bike looks very nice, I should have chosen my words better.[B)] It just seems like KTM took a step backwards in enginering that model. Another in the long line of KTM mysteries  [8]

Dennis Jones

[jj]

Dennis & Mike

I have an original '76 125 GS just like the one on ebay with serial date of 511. One difference with mine is that has a swingarm just like Mike describes on his 250. The only other diffrence is that mine has a PP front number plate/headlight, I'm not quite sure about that headlight on the ebay bike.

I'm not so sure they were using left over '74's, I believe they were trying to make a lighter GS model for the 125. I conclude this after looking at the the first 125 KTM MX models (Pre MC5 with the CMF frames). Those frames are really cool. Non-high breather top tube, single top shock mount with round frame tubes in the back, '74 type swingarm without the oil access bolts, unique airbox with a unique air scoop on top and a down sized pipe that looks 1/2 CMF and 1/2 MC5.

John J Slivka

[454MRW]

I always thought my 1976 Cross Country 250 should have the large silver/gray metal headlight until Ron Carbaugh showed me some origninal file photo ads with the later GS-6 style plastic headlight number plate units that I thought were introduced around 1977 and used from 1977-81 most commonly. After seeing this low mileage bike, it seems that they might have used either style as well as the Preston Petty units, which might have been dealer installed. Kent Knudson also sent me some scans from original file photos for the Cross Country as well, and in them the bikes were all set up as MX bikes without lights, which might explain dealer installed Preston Petty headlights. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S

[tofriedel]

I have a 1977 (Jan) 250 GS which is totally original as delivered to Motor Sport Center in Baltimore.  I believe you could request the PP number/headlight when ordering the bike, along with a few other options (carb, forks, etc.).

Tony