John Penton has spent his life redefining off-road motorcycling. Here Ed Youngblood presents an exhaustive review of the man and his machine, explaining how major political and economic events affected the creation of the off-road motorcycle in the 1960s, the decline of the market during the 1970s, and the rebound that found KTM motorcycles competing successfully against powerful Japanese manufacturers in the 1990s.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"...a full-scale book that is wonderful to read." -- Racer X Illustrated
"...an incredibly well-written and thoroughly researched account of an heroic life, a significant piece of history..." -- The Chronicle-Telegram
"John Penton and the Off-Road Motorcycle Revolution is a well-researched and informative mini-slice of our moto-history. Mandatory Reading." -- Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly
"Just got done reading our copy of John Penton and the Off-Road Motorcycle Revolution, and can heartily recommend it." -- Trail Rider
"...an incredibly well-written and thoroughly researched account of an heroic life, a significant piece of history..." -- The Chronicle-Telegram
"John Penton and the Off-Road Motorcycle Revolution is a well-researched and informative mini-slice of our moto-history. Mandatory Reading." -- Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly
"Just got done reading our copy of John Penton and the Off-Road Motorcycle Revolution, and can heartily recommend it." -- Trail Rider
From the Inside Flap
Consumed by a passion to build better motorcycles and a deep, patriotic desire to lead America to victory at the International Six Days Trial, John Penton has spent his life redefining off-road motorcycling. Along the way he helped change the face of American motorcycle competition, the politics of racing, and what Americans expect from their off-road motorcycles. One of the most visionary, driven, complex, dynamic, and influential personalities in motorcycling, John Penton stands out in what may have been the most exciting and revolutionary quarter-century in the history of the American motorcycle sport.
Author Ed Youngblood draws upon his 30-year personal acquaintance with John Penton, an exhaustive review of the literature of the period, and more than 50 interviews with Penton, his family, friends, employees, dealers, customers, business associates, and competitors to tell this captivating tale of the creation of the high-performance, light-weight, purpose-built off-road motorcycle. Yet John Penton and the Off-Road Motorcycle Revolution goes beyond the story of a man and his machine, it ties motorcycling in America into a larger cultural movement, explaining how major political and economic events affected the creation of the off-road motorcycle in the 1960s, the precipitous decline of the market during the 1970s, and the rebound that found KTM motorcycles--successor to the Penton--competing successfully against the powerful Japanese manufacturers in the 1990s.
Several reviewers who read the pre-publication manuscript of John Penton and the Off-Road Motorcycle Revolution said they simply could not put it down, reading from beginning to end in one sitting. Within this authoritative and fascinating history are:
--how personal tragedy reshaped and strengthened the Penton family.
--how John Pentons determination and seemingly inhuman tolerance to physical pain helped him overcome long odds to build one of the most innovative companies in motorcycling.
--how the Penton family became the center of the greatest international motorcycle endurance teams that America has ever known.
--how inflation, the falling dollar, a historic decision by Richard Nixon, and the greed of silver barons drove the Penton marque out of the market just as it was achieving its greatest commercial success.
--how behind-the-scenes battles between John Penton and his Austrian partner helped position KTM for world-wide success and recognition.
--how a cult of personality has begun to form around John Penton as Penton motorcycles take on new value as desirable collectibles.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
In-depth history of both man and machine,
By Jeffrey DeBell (Kansas City) - See all my reviews
This review is from: John Penton and the Off-Road Motorcycle Revolution (Paperback)
Ed Youngblood, long-time director of the American Motorcyclist Association, has put to ink the life story of John Penton, one of America's premier off-road racers, and his quest to build the perfect off-road motorcycle. This biography traces the roots of the Penton clan from their modest, rural-Ohio farmstead, through personal triumph and tragedy, and explores the man behind the famed Penton motorcycles that were so victorious in the late 60's through the late 70's in America and overseas. Any vintage off-road afficionado will appreciate this behind-the-scenes look at the Penton racing dynasty. John Penton was a man driven to succeed, driven to reach for his dreams, driven to prove to the world that the impossible could be realized. The off-road motorcycling world today owes so much to this man of vision. Youngblood's biography shows us what this man is made of.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Captivating Story For Any Off-Road Enthusiast,
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This review is from: John Penton and the Off-Road Motorcycle Revolution (Paperback)
I didn't know too much about Pentons before reading this book, but was always interested in the history and lore behind the name. This book tells the life story of John Penton, and how his involvement, passion, and vision helped revolutionize the US off-road motorcycle market. It is an inspiring story for any off-road enthusiast.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tells it like it was..,
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This review is from: John Penton and the Off-Road Motorcycle Revolution (Paperback)
A great story about a great man, a great bike, and a great era. Really brings back the memories about old enduros and six-days and actually explains why Penton, Bultaco, Ossa, Husky, etc., no longer exist.
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