1974 KTM 250 cc MX Motorcross

[Moto]

KTM Fred,is the bloke who rode at heaven last year,had a 78 250(his young bloke was riding). A nice 400 77?,a 74 1/2 red 250,a 77/125 and rode the last vinduro on a 77 175gs. he also has a 73 yellow harescrambler (complete and half restored) He found it under a tarp in a back yard in Newcastle.

[oz555ktm]

KTM Fred,is the bloke who rode at heaven last year,had a 78 250(his young bloke was riding). A nice 400 77?,a 74 1/2 red 250,a 77/125 and rode the last vinduro on a 77 175gs. he also has a 73 yellow harescrambler (complete and half restored) He found it under a tarp in a back yard in Newcastle.

   Yes I know Fred           But No I Did not ........

[mike1948]

Interesting thread this.  I bought a yellow tank 1973 250 new through the Suzuki dealer I later worked for in Mackay - at the time the first in Qld.  I raced it in the Gold Coast International, caused quite a stir at scrutineering, no one believed it could be a 250 with a barrel that big!
Very fast bike, kept it until I got married in 75, then sold it to a young hoon in Mackay - wish I still had it.  Might be one listed.

[Slakewell]

Denis you know Brad Lewis has two yellow tankers one was bought at Raymond Terrace swap meet in the early 90s and the other one from Murry Hicks

[oz555ktm]

Denis you know Brad Lewis has two yellow tankers one was bought at Raymond Terrace swap meet in the early 90s and the other one from Murry Hicks

  so witch  one do i own

  I bet it was from the Raymond Terrace swap  ? ? ?

[Slakewell]

I thought they were both still in the shed? I knew he had enough parts to put a 3rd together at one stage. He may have sold you Murry Hicks one's as the Raymond Terrace bike was his first real VMX bike.

[oz555ktm]

I thought they were both still in the shed? I knew he had enough parts to put a 3rd together at one stage. He may have sold you Murry Hicks one's as the Raymond Terrace bike was his first real VMX bike.

   No I swaped a 1984 495cc for the 1973 250cc   

   the 495 was a goer But needed resto and 250 was in boxs . I thing it was a far swap for a Very Hard to get bike ...

    And I know that Brad wanted  the 1984 495cc   as it was  the mising bike in brads
     collection of big bore KTMs from 1973 to 1986
.

[ozktm151]

Bruce. My take is that it is definitely a 73 Harescrambler. As has been pointed out the rear frame has had the extra tube added to it to make it accept a lay down shock set up with the updated 74.5 swingarm. Original bike probably came with Girling shocks that have been replaced. I had Konis put on my bike when I bought it back in the day. I remember 1 yellow tanker that friend had where the pipe just had the stinger with no silencer. May have been how they came into the country as very early brochures show no muffler. Hope that you put the beauty back together. Cheers Bill

[Bruce_Baker]

Thanks Bill, yes the more I think of it the more I'm inclined to get it back together so it looks like I'll be shipping it home to Thailand.

[Slakewell]

Dennis I was with Brad on the weekend. He still has two banana 250. The one he traded with you was from Vic in a pile of stuff we picked up after the first ever EVO nats at Broadford.

[Oldmxnut]

Bruce..from your serial number I think it is a 73 manufactured in Oct..  the three numbers after the 54 is the year and month.  the  numbers after that are serial numbers which were sequential.  So it makes sense that if it was one of the original Australian Ktms it may not arrived in the country until early 74..  although per other comments from the experienced guys, the frame, tank colour etc give it away in any case.

Id be interest to know if the tyres are original and what brand?  Also are the levers mangara ?

If ever the original import papers come to light for the first lot of Ktms that arrived in the shipping container back in the day, it might confirm the actual original Australian versions which would be interesting.  I would assume it would also give those particular examples some "value"

I have some papers for my 77 model as it was a GS and the guy in townsville who I bought it off for some reason registered it at some point.

I share the view that they should be more valuable then the market is willing to pay, but perhaps like anything, its only worth what someone else is willing to pay you.