Fair Winds... John Penton

[Ventucky Red]

For the motorcyclist here that have spent some time cleaning the mud a twigs from your bike and sometimes your teeth, bandaging you knuckles and various other parts of your body, and bragging about how fast you went on the downhill and forgot to tell everyone you had your eyes closed hoping for the best... on Monday you probably know the name.. and the legacy...

Talk about Iron Man, the ISDE.... it will kick your butt

In Gedenken an John Penton - KTM Motohall

Wir nehmen Abschied von John Penton, der am 7. September 2025 im Alter von 100 Jahren verstorben ist. Der US-amerikanische Enduro-Pionier prägte nicht nur den Offroad-Sport, sondern legte auch einen der Grundsteine für den internationalen Erfolg von KTM. In der KTM Motohall erinnert nicht nur...

ktm-motohall.com

Thank you Mr. Penton... you were a part of my formative years..

 

[robin ardoin]

As a youngster, one of the adults in our trail riding/enduro/hair scramble club rode a Penton (my dad was a Bultaco fan .) On one ride the fuel line on the Penton was dislodged from the carb but some brush. The spilling fuel caught fire and amazingly quickly the magnesium case ignited. I was quite impressed with the light and heat it put out. After about 20min it melted off the frame and we were able to push it into a hole in the sand and cover it. There was no extinguishing that thing. Another fellow rode an Ossa. Definitely a multinational club. LOL

 

[Ventucky Red]

As a youngster, one of the adults in our trail riding/enduro/hair scramble club rode a Penton (my dad was a Bultaco fan .) On one ride the fuel line on the Penton was dislodged from the carb but some brush. The spilling fuel caught fire and amazingly quickly the magnesium case ignited. I was quite impressed with the light and heat it put out. After about 20min it melted off the frame and we were able to push it into a hole in the sand and cover it. There was no extinguishing that thing. Another fellow rode an Ossa. Definitely a multinational club. LOL

Hi Robin... yes, we all have some tales for days of yore... and and I know I have the scars to prove it... I seem to recall that on the original Pentons, the Sachs 125cc two-stroke engine cases were generally made from cast aluminum alloy. I only remember this because we were told to change the oil when the engine was cold, due to them being prone stripping with the steel with the magnet drain bolt, and the hot aluminum cases. This must of been when they went to KTM for the engines.. or when KTM took them over. I have seen a few bikes, and Volkswagens, burn baby burn...

 

[bonefishpete]

As a motocross rider trials bikes in the south were rare. We did see a few Penton enduro bikes though. We did have all the European bikes Bultaco , Husqvarna, CZ, Maco. I rode a Montesa 250 for awhile until going back to Japanese bikes.

 

[robin ardoin]

As a motocross rider trials bikes in the south were rare. We did see a few Penton enduro bikes though. We did have all the European bikes Bultaco , Husqvarna, CZ, Maco. I rode a Montesa 250 for awhile until going back to Japanese bikes.

My father’s first Bultaco was a trials bike, the second was a Bul 360 enduro. He bought my mother a trials bike because of ease of mounting but she never warmed up to riding bikes. Hers was a Honda TL 125. That bike got beat up like a readheaded step child by my brother and I.

 

[Southpaw]

I had a Harley 165 2 cycle , does that count ? (was 60 some years ago )