1972 Penton Six Day 125

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[@fightzoid]

I learned how to ride on one of those. My dad and me would go out riding for hours. I was on my Penton and was on his Husky 360. This was back in 1976.

[@franksmith9692]

Cool. I had a Penton 125, my buddy had a Husky 360!

[@sonnyseabury4051]

Awesome. Great childhood memories.

[@montedyoung3247]

I had an 82’ CR 500 husky!

[@tommymaestro4099]

1972 I was 16 years old, I worked delivering newspapers at 2am to save enough to buy one in Feb 1972 for 1100.00 out the door at Orange County Cycles in SoCal.. Changed my racing career. I loved that bike. METTCO DID ALL THE WORK ON IT.

[@MrEtnorb]

Yet another dirt bike from the 70’s with the wonderful Sachs 125 engine. I had a DKW in the mid 70’s with that engine and they were also used in the English Dalesman and the Monarch 125.

[@AudiophileTubes]

Love those Sachs and Zundapp engines! I actually recognize that specific 2-stroke sound signature, since I stayed in many European cities back in the 70's and 80's. Lots of street bikes then had these 2 brands of motors in them! In Athens, you couldn't sleep well at night because all you heard were riders gunning their engines as they rode by at 3 in the morning!

[@stephenloflin9984]

The fins alone are a reason to love.

[@skip741x3]

Oh yeah! those fins look insane for a 125! even an open class bike would be envious! gorgeous bike

[@bsmith4u2]

It's half the sound of the engine. Makes it distinctive.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

@@skip741x3 that engine is capable of high RPM's. Thus, the reason for the big engine fins.

[@skip741x3]

pipe looks aftermarket and gorgeous

[@steveottavaino3804]

Had one new, purchased from Cape Ann Cycles in Beverly MA. It had the OEM motocross aluminum tank with a brown leather strap securing it. That is not the original pipe, and the OEM fenders were aluminum. Great power, routinely smoking TM125’s (ever present back then) but the gear box was somewhat less than desirable with false neutrals always on the menu. Truly thought I’d never be able to have children based on the amount of times I smashed the family jewels into the gas tank on missed down shifts entering corners, ass on fire. There were fixes but I never pursued them, instead I bought the 1st CR125 in MA (Naults Honda $700 bucks) and never looked back. All that said if I could go back in time and have but 1 motocross bike from the many I owned and raced it’d be that Penton, crap gearbox and all. Although not the best tool for the motocross job it was, and remains, very special. My nuts still ache when I think about it. Thanks for sharing senior. Cheers.

[@hvacray8279]

A cobra kit it was called to fix the miss shifting !!! I raced my 125 Penton and beat a lot of Honda cr 125’s ……

[@steveottavaino3804]

@@hvacray8279 I could have beat myself on the CR with the Penton under the right track conditions, better suspended stock and far more stable at speed, the weight, gearbox, brakes, and slower steering held it back. In muddy conditions it was a pure joy and almost unbeatable. The CR seemingly had better brakes, was far more nimble, considerably lighter, cheaper, and had a great gearbox and ergonomics. It also had a horrible tendency to load up, a little late on the clutch doing a hard berm shot and you’d sit on the side of the track trying to clear its throat for what seemed like minutes. Lost a number of races due to that issue, never fixed it as I made expert and moved onto the 250 class; truth told I preferred the tiddlers, so much fun and eminently more satisfying and competitive. Wish I could have all of my ‘70’s motocross bike’s back but as stated prior the Penton was the one that got away, always will be. Cheers.

[@richardclegg5853]

My dream bike as a kid growing up... someday maybe

[@yabbadabba1975]

My first Penton, followed by a 175 and 250 I motocrossed. The rear shocks are wrong. came with Girling's that were mounted perpendicular to the swingarm. Old school, The 1974 was the first year they moved to the angle. Major heat issues. Replaced them with Marzocci (spelling?) gas shocks. The 250 was the first one I owned without the tank strap Loved the bikes and the support I received from the dealer and the company. Nobody has EVER done it like Mr John Penton.

[@tomwilliams4885]

It's great to see this gem. In '73' Pentons were the class of the Enduro and off road world. They also cost about double of what a similar sized Japanese bike would.

[@stephenloflin9984]

Some big-bores were out there from the Japanese. I'd take a Zuki TM 400 against this one. The ignition was fucked, but that's an easy change.

[@MaynardGKrebs-gv4vy]

@@stephenloflin9984 You would need a 400 Suzuki to catch my '71 Penton Six Day 125.

[@Bitterstone3849]

@@MaynardGKrebs-gv4vy You've obviously never rode a TM " WIDOW MAKER " 400. 😆

[@sergeantmasson3669]

@@Bitterstone3849 In the rough country, a 125 Penton would easily humiliate a TM 400. I've done it as has my eldest daughter during two 6 days enduro races in MA back in the '70's

[@idiot-983]

Play nice Boys.

[@johnnyem-grafix4024]

Kaplan is chillin on this Friday night !!!

[@snowfox22]

I love that you guys actually ride these bikes. Outstanding

[@samwalton4598]

Jay had some beautiful bikes! I remember seeing a few Peyton’s as a kid of 10, at a motorcycle park I rode my Suzuki 50cc Gaucho with a get kit. It sounded like an angry Bee Hive at fever pitch 👍. Penton’s were like hand made art. Exotica!! I thought the same about Bultaco’s and Ossa’s. just beautiful. Unobtainium as a kid. Of course every bike was cool when you’re addicted to motorcycles at a young age. Love your videos. I’m coming to New England, I have to visit the museum. So much awesome stuff.

[@joequillun7790]

Man, you guys have all the odd named bikes from my day. I keep getting tuned into your website. i definitely need to come see you guys. I'm in Windsor Locks. Just gutta find out your hrs.

[@jasoncarskadon6809]

Ken your the reason I know about these rare and vintage bikes. I have a great love for these beautiful vintage bike. Thanks for the education.

[@_Boregard_Rippy_]

I had one juss like that back in the day...Thanks....Kelly...!!

[@twinsmm1]

Cool! I grew up in Amherst, Oh. I used to ride my bicycle to Penton brother's dealership when I was a kid. I just went there to admire the Pentons, Hondas, they carried Triumph and BMW too as I recall. Always loved that fan head Sachs engine.

[@markkilburn112]

I had a 73 or 74. I got an old local hotshoes MX Penton/Sachs practice race bike with a Koba shift kit. I took it to Collins & Son's in ( I think Anaheim ) and they shimmed the transmission. I was laughing with you at what you said about the shifting. Proper shimming was required and honestly, when I held the to selector shafts side by side, ( factory vs Koba ) I could not see a difference. One of my fellow dirt bikers rode it and when he came back, he said " it shifts like a Honda"....Hahahahhaha Yep!

[@MaynardGKrebs-gv4vy]

I had a1971 Penton Six Day 125....ate Elsinores for breakfast. One fast bike...

[@joegibbs2508]

Hey Maynard are you from San Diego? I raced a 72 at Miramar and Carlsbad. Damn it was a trip down memory lane to here him goose the throttle. Love 2strokes!

[@MaynardGKrebs-gv4vy]

@@joegibbs2508 I lived in San Antonio when I owned mine. Got it from a young USAF officer who got sent to the Nam and needed to dump it fast. I'd give anything to have it back. I sold mine to a guy from The Bronx, brother of a friend, who left it outside one day and it disappeared. No way to trace them either....sad.

[@joegibbs2508]

@@MaynardGKrebs-gv4vy Wow that is sad. I bought mine new when I was 16 and working as a busboy. I sold it to a friend when I moved to Hawaii to chase the surf.

[@MaynardGKrebs-gv4vy]

@@joegibbs2508 Whoa....I lived on Oahu from 68 to 72, graduated from Leilehua High in Wahiawa. Used to surf the North Shore and pal around with the crowd (some wicked parties with Clyde and Eddie Aikau) When were you there?

[@codjh9]

I got to ride a distant-relative's Penton 175 MX for a few minutes when I was 14-15, and I loved it. Great suspension, and the power delivery was super-smooth.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

When new, these bikes were badass. My eldest daughter, and I, won several Enduro races with ours.

[@michaelferik8060]

I can remember seeing these new on the showroom floor back in the early 70s. Seemed as though the 125 and 175cc versions shared the same frame? My first real dirt bike was a new 1977 Yamaha IT175 though.

[@jeh3692]

Having one delivered soon, can't wait,haven't ridden a six-day since 1976!

[@sonnyseabury4051]

That's one beautiful, vintage, and fast running motocross bike, that sounds like she runs perfect. Wizard Tuned!

[@waynepatrick17]

That is sweet Kenny first thought here's a rickman.but what a beauty she is..

[@terrancefields4414]

I wanted one of these new back in 1971. Sachs engine was a monster. I still want want want one today.

[@nowimps06]

My best friends dad owned a factory that 3 of us work during high school and he got us new bikes my friend picked the penton, I got a husky and my other friend got a YZ ,I ate rocks following that penton sach engine nice bike

[@ricklombardo5769]

The exhaust is without question an aftermarket pipe, perhaps even custom. The original had a removable internal silencer accessed by three springs. However, it is absolutely beautiful and I have never seen one like it before. Also, and most interestingly, it sounds just like my Penton with the little internal baffle removed, and the sound is glorious!

[@joegibbs2508]

Yep she put a smile on my face.

[@natm3145]

That’s stock dude duh

[@Coolhand-Export-Services]

Love the color green!!

[@DStabs720]

That bike is art!

[@briangarrison4257]

I had a bike just like that,1980 I bought it for 175 dollars, loudest bike I ever had. It was my first bike to. Green and white too, I almost forgot it until I watched the video. Thanks guys great job on the videos to, I can understand what's being said. God Bless and take care, be looking for more videos! ✌

[@rolfkaufmann5267]

Oh yes ...My Sachs KTM was the loudest Bike in Zürich in the late Seventies ...hahahaa

[@briangarrison4257]

@@rolfkaufmann5267 it was loud ,but hell of a bike. Climb a mountain if you could hold on... Good ole days, I miss them,thanks for the comment! ✌

[@joebednar9420]

Love that sound!!!

[@mikestowe6136]

amazes me how you can still get parts for these old bikes

[@robertmowery9596]

I bought a brand new 1971 125 Penton, I wish I had kept it. The only problem it had was the Motoplat ignition had to be replaced a couple of times. I would love to find one for sale. Such a great machine for its time!!!!

[@danielmenaugh161]

Definitely an aftermarket pipe

[@rolfkaufmann5267]

In 77 i had My First Motorbike Ktm 125 with Sachs 6 gears and 20 HP.....in green ,.. from 75 ....was a lot of Fun in The Swiss mountain roads....but dursty ...after 100 km it was empty ....

[@stevieh2501]

Sounds crisp!

[@dennisyoung4631]

I recall hearing about these in junior High….

[@Herefornow-571]

My childhood dream bike. I wanted this bike so bad. I wound up with a rm 250.

[@randypeterson8798]

Awesome bike sounds great

[@dennisconrad6124]

I had one of those in my younger days. Mine sure didn’t look like that one. Nice bike!

[@jaysweet8126]

I love the golden old's

[@kevinparker461]

I was about to get a Dalesman that had that same wonderful Sachs engine in, from Competition Developments in the UK. But had a tumble off my Hodaka that i had also got of Competition Developments, so that put paid to that! Never did get one.

[@patrickkillilea5225]

SWEET!

[@chriskoerner418]

Had the same bike back in the day and really enjoyed this vid. Just curious what it went for at auction.

[@yabbadabba1975]

IDK, but the retail in 1973 was $1200. I paid $900 for a new 100 a year later, and 1400 for the 250 the year after that.

[@bsmith4u2]

Shifts well if you replace the shift key regularly. I only used the clutch in corners

[@johnbranson7253]

I had a ‘73 125 Six Days, bought new in ‘73. The pipe and silencer on mine were a lot different....

[@jaysweet8126]

God bless 2strokes

[@garymachen7354]

Where is this where you can ride a dirt bike up and down the street without upsetting anyone. I want to live there 😜

[@jaysweet8126]

Fun freedom and friends

[@russrandall7980]

Where’s the tank strap ?

[@lukegrant3672]

Sounds so familiar

[@fraue.arnold72]

🤩

[@sergeantmasson3669]

These 125 Pentons could handle up to 30" in water. They breathe through the frame's steering stem.

[@elitistseeker1258]

125s are Grammy bikes

[@sternk13]

That Sach's tranny was notorious for false neutrals. Kolbenschmitt made a tranny kit to address the stocker's shortcomings. I wonder if this one has the mods. I still have an unrestored Six Days sitting in my storage unit.

[@fordhuguley8699]

How rare is a blue model of these? My sister in law just moved into a house and a penton is in the shed, it’s blue and I believe a 125. Can’t see it too we’ll it’s covered in other stuff. But hopefully I’ll end up with it.

[@jeffrandolf5673]

I sold a rolling frame with motor in box on Ebay close to 20 years ago. I didn't get $1200!

[@mikestowe6136]

cool old bike makes ya wonder how hard parts are to get for it since its hard to get parts for honda suzuki yamaha kawasaki on older bikes dam i don't know why ya don't keep the restored rare bikes n get rid of others i know ya got bills to pay but some of those you need to keep nobody wants to see new bikes in there

[@yabbadabba1975]

Dealers, aftermarket and eBay

[@ZSharkPH]

It has a deep sound for a 125.. sounds like a big bore.

[@NTRGFX]

Z Shark that’s the way old two strokes sound! My 1979 CR125 sounds the same, it has no muffler which probably helps.

[@buraksartas2962]

ı wonder are you Turkish ? because Kaplan means tiger in Turkish

[@KaplanCycles]

Russian Polish, Irish ,English, all 4 great grandparents were immigrants

[@buraksartas2962]

@@KaplanCycles wow ı see

[@robplazzman6049]

KAPLAN AMERICA What a bloody mixture ! I’m polish-Italian born in England.

[@jeromiedillon1760]

Can you help me find that motorcycle grave yard in Washington state. Oregon state areas they closed bent bikes salvage about 2 years ago

[@dirtydavehurley]

Jeromie did you find it ?

[@ansoncritchlow1770]

Love you and the guys ken and the show....... But youve got a really odd riding position for an ex mx rider...... Very uprite and head back?? Did you injure your back like the rest of us back in the day!!

[@KaplanCycles]

Yup more than once, last bad one cased a triple crushed three disks in 2017 had surgery but I'm still stiff

[@KaplanCycles]

I ride much different racing or on a track, I usually am leaning back to hear the motor on these old bike tests

[@MitzvosGolem1]

sounds 250ish

[@MaynardGKrebs-gv4vy]

Ran 250ish. Had a '71...used to eat Elsinores and everything 125 for breakfast.

[@joegibbs2508]

@@MaynardGKrebs-gv4vy Just had to run it high on the RPM's. This guy never opened it up but that's understandable.

[@MaynardGKrebs-gv4vy]

@@joegibbs2508 I agree.....I wish I had kept mine. They're getting $8000 for them now.

[@yabbadabba1975]

@@MaynardGKrebs-gv4vy As of this writing Honda's latest 250 is $10K. The original 125 sold for 700