all there and as one who prefers to ride his
vintage bikes, plans were to disassemble,
clean, inspect and replace all consumables.
This would be no restoration. Wheels were
pulled and new wheel bearings installed
front and rear. Incredibly, the decades-old
Metzelers were still pliable and free of dry
rot. (I'm sure years in the dark shed helped
preserve). New tubes front and rear, along
with brake shoes. A new 428 chain and a
host of rubber bits and fuel petcocks were
provided by Penton parts guru Al Buehner
(pentonpartsusa.com). With a thorough
carb clean and new air filter installed, the
old Penton started on the third kick. It
was then I dialed Don's number. When he
answered, I held the phone to the exhaust
and gave it a few ring-a-dings. He got
quite a kick out of the fact that only three
days after pulling the bike from its en-
tombment of 42 years, it was now ready
for the woods once again.
Don has a summer home up here in
Maine less than 10 miles from Trail Rider
headquarters. He's got a standing invi-
tation to go for a rip anytime on his old
bike and we hope to make this happen
once the snow pack is gone!
Vintage dirt. The bikes are great, but it's
really the stories and people behind them
that gives this sport so much color!
-Kurt
April 2018 39
