Reason For Being
Last month—August 19, 2025, to be exact—John Penton celebrated his 100th birthday. Born and raised in Amherst, Ohio, Penton was a motorcycling enthusiast who turned his love of riding and racing into a successful business that changed the landscape of the entire industry. Few men have had as great an influence on the sport as John Penton, which is why the small city of Amherst held a giant birthday celebration for the man that attracted friends and fans from all over the world.
When the Swedes passed on Penton’s idea, he went to Mattighofen in Austria to visit a bicycle and moped brand known as KTM. He put up $6,000 of his own money to get them to build a lightweight off-road motorcycle to his specifications.
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