Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1524446
August 2024 37 Those who feel the same are also feeling the squeeze by sellers looking for the stars and the moon for their old Penton parts. Just as I was rolling my new project into the Sprinter, the seller remembered there was a box of extra parts in their barn that could have belonged to this Steel Tanker. He was right and incredibly, included in the box was the original bowl-style headlight, steel numberplate, speedometer, and dash mount, and what was le of the original CEV taillight. To be honest, this box or parts alone was worth the purchase price of the bike. Thanks to the use of a friend's an que anvil, I was able to work the taillight bracket back into acceptable condi on and fit it with a nice used but correct CEV taillight assembly. Although the seat was a mess, it was the correct short-style seat used on the first genera on Steel Tankers. The steel base was solid, and a local up- holstery shop did a wonderful job of sewing up a new cover while also providing the foam. As expected, the original gas tank was in poor condi on. Having seen several coats of paint over its life me along with being out in the elements for so long, a replacement was in order. Another chance encounter with a fellow Penton enthusiast revealed a parts lot that I just couldn't resist. Included in this lot was an original paint gas tank with just the right amount of pa na not to look out of place on this build. Thankfully, it had been stored properly and was clean inside. With the basic bones now taking shape, it was me to address the controls. Incredibly, the original han- dlebars were in perfect shape, and even the chrome cleaned up well. This was huge as the original Steel Tanker bars have a unique rise and bend. A ermar- ket bars look so out of place on a steel tanker and easily kill the look. Since the bars cleaned up so nicely, I dressed them with a NOS set of Magura ISDT levers complete with the correct gray vinyl covers that I've been hanging onto for years. Details like correct controls including the original Magura "Trap Door" thro le, ISDT levers, and bars can be the icing on the cake for a project like this. The end result for now anyway is an original-looking survivor Steel Tank Penton that's fully func onal and goes down the trail quite well. The freshly rebuilt engine along with a nice ght chassis make for an enjoyable vintage ride. Having owned a handful of Steel Tankers over the years, every me I throw a leg over one, I'm amazed at how such an an quat- ed-looking machine can work so incredibly well. John Penton's original design was certainly well ahead of its me!