Late 90's KTM 250, what to expect?

[SoCalDave]

So since I started work at my current employer in 2015 there has been a late 90's KTM 250 covered in the warehouse. Never paid much attention to it as I had my eye on the 85 Howard that was there as well. Fast forward to last week and I asked a family member who's bike it was as it's sat there for 8 years now. She told me it was her brother's, my previous boss that has since retired. I sent him a text last week inquiring if he would be interested in selling it to me and he replied "Dave if you want the bike you can have it" and he would send me the pink slip. Thing is in excellent condition other than tires are a bit dry rotted. No sure when it wasn't started but I've rebuilt a few 2 smokes in my time so not worried about mechanical stuff.
What may concern me is he never registered it with the state of California as it shipped from Hawaii. Not street legal but not sure if there would be any penalties for off road registration for 24 years. What say the RDP brain trust on this one?
I do know these things were the ticket for their time period.

 

[Xring01]

If its out of the Ca system… then I think there are no back fees, if you have the title.

Post some pics of it..
My son just completed a Frame Up rebuild of a 1991 KTM 300.

 

[SoCalDave]

I'll get some pics when back at the shop.

 

[MK1MOD0]

Dirt bike magazine did a 90’s top 10 dirt bike write up. They picked the KTM (250/300/380 EXC ) as the number two spot. They are great bikes and parts are still available. My buddy rides a 380 and they are just very well sorted bikes. Ya wont be disappointed when ya get her on the trail. Make sure to put new crank seals in. They tend to dry out and will cause ya grief if not replaced.

 

[SoCalDave]

Dirt bike magazine did a 90’s top 10 dirt bike write up. They picked the KTM (250/300/380 EXC ) as the number two spot. They are great bikes and parts are still available. My buddy rides a 380 and they are just very well sorted bikes. Ya wont be disappointed when ya get her on the trail. Make sure to put new crank seals in. They tend to dry out and will cause ya grief if not replaced.

Yeah well aware of crank seal issues on older 2 smokes that have been sitting for extended years. Had many of Yamaha RD 350's, 400's from the 70's and beyond and even a 1985 RD500 that I refurbished in 2007. This will be a project bike that I'll take to the desert with my 8 year old grandson that got a 80cc bike for a starter one this past Chrstmas.
My last project, 85 RD500.

 

[81eliminator]

You will have to take it to the DMV for a vin check when you get the pink. Just did a 1974 OSSA that wasn’t registered since 1995. No problem

 

[MK1MOD0]

AAA can now do vin verification as well.

 

[Boatymcboatface]

The frames and suspension are the only real issue with the older KTMs. The frames flex a lot! If you aren’t that fast and just a cruising you won’t even care. Super fun trial bikes!

 

[SoCalDave]

The frames and suspension are the only real issue with the older KTMs. The frames flex a lot! If you aren’t that fast and just a cruising you won’t even care. Super fun trial bikes!

Yeah pushing 65 I'll be cruising along with him.
Really looking more for the project aspect with him than ripping things up. Had a Penton 250 in 75 that was a beast in that time period.

 

[Boatymcboatface]

Yeah pushing 65 I'll be cruising along with him.
Really looking more for the project aspect with him than ripping things up. Had a Penton 250 in 75 that was a beast in that time period.

I still prefer the old school 80s seat frame set up over my current bike 2013. I can’t ever feel like I’m in the right spot on the seat vs the old style you knew right away where your were it was like a saddle!

 

[endobear]

I don't remember the exact year it was (90s) but I had a KTM 506exc that i grabbed at a garage sale for dirt cheap. It was in mint condition.
Fell in love with the 2 stroke big bore power. Thing was a beast. Sold it to get into a 2000 cr500 in 01.
Something about that ktm would allow me to put down way faster lap times on the track and was way more fun on the trail than my cr500.
The left side kick start was a struggle at 1st.

 

[mjc]

Yeah pushing 65 I'll be cruising along with him.
Really looking more for the project aspect with him than ripping things up. Had a Penton 250 in 75 that was a beast in that time period.

I had the same 250 in the 70's, my friends was a Penton mine was a KTM. Loved that bike. It was a replacement for an original 3250 Elsinore.

 

[SoCalDave]

I had the same 250 in the 70's, my friends was a Penton mine was a KTM. Loved that bike. It was a replacement for an original 3250 Elsinore.

We're Penton/KTM not the same at some point.

 

[rmarion]

Dave

I had a 92 KTM 300 EXC... Great Bike..

SX - Race MX bike
EXC - Enduro model (headlight)

Win, Win.. get the bike

 

[mjc]

We're Penton/KTM not the same at some point.

They were. Penton was green I believe and mine was orange frame white fiberglass tank. Only difference was the colors.

 

[wishiknew]

So since I started work at my current employer in 2015 there has been a late 90's KTM 250 covered in the warehouse. Never paid much attention to it as I had my eye on the 85 Howard that was there as well. Fast forward to last week and I asked a family member who's bike it was as it's sat there for 8 years now. She told me it was her brother's, my previous boss that has since retired. I sent him a text last week inquiring if he would be interested in selling it to me and he replied "Dave if you want the bike you can have it" and he would send me the pink slip. Thing is in excellent condition other than tires are a bit dry rotted. No sure when it wasn't started but I've rebuilt a few 2 smokes in my time so not worried about mechanical stuff.
What may concern me is he never registered it with the state of California as it shipped from Hawaii. Not street legal but not sure if there would be any penalties for off road registration for 24 years. What say the RDP brain trust on this one?
I do know these things were the ticket for their time period.

SCORE and it went to someone that will restore it congrats

 

[caribbean20]

They were. Penton was green I believe and mine was orange frame white fiberglass tank. Only difference was the colors.

I had a Penton too. Early 70s. Early Pentons had KTM or Sachs motors. Mine was a 250 KTM “frame breather” red fiberglass tank.

Owned a KTM 300 MX too, 1995. Fine bike, never any problems, same bike as the poster is asking about, just 50 more cc’s. Have a 2019 KTM 250 SX now. Nothing but 2 strokes for me.

 

[81eliminator]

AAA can now do vin verification as well.

I tried that, they are not allowed to re enter the motorcycle into the DMV computer so you end up going to DMV for it.

 

[dribble]

We're Penton/KTM not the same at some point.

Pentons were manufactured by KTM in a deal with Enduro Champion John Penton. They were built to his specifications. The US distributorship was sold to KTM by Penton around 1976 and the name changed then.

I’ve ridden KTM’s since 1986 starting with a 500 MXC. Great bike and much more predictable than the CR500 of the day. Had an 89 250 (also a great bike) then a 96 360, which I shattered my leg on. I never liked that bike. I wasn’t able to ride over a year then started riding again. I traded that bike off for the 450 that I ride now. I’d like to get a new 350 or 300 but at 68 years old I’m only getting out 5-6 times a year.

1990 Virginia City Grand Prix on the 500. and a more recent shot of me trying to act like not I'm a senior citizen with a fucked up leg.

 

[caribbean20]

We're Penton/KTM not the same at some point.

You are correct. The first two Pentons were the Berkshire 100 and the Six Day 125. They both used Sachs motors. Later, John Penton partnered with KTM and the rest is history.

I’m another old MXer. Nothing but Pentons and KTMs in my stable, except for an RM250 sandwiched in.