@@holmes1956O The AT-1 and the DT125E are completely different bikes. I had a DT125E back in the 80's as well as two DT250MXs. The DT125E had electric start, which was pretty unusual for a bike back then.
Same here but mine came from a paper route and cutting lawns. Back then I could legally ride 100cc or less at 14 and at 16 got my first 125. Just hated the school bus so in winter put hex head sheet metal screws into knobby tires and rode through the snow to school. That was my freedom.
@@SkunkMonkey991 In Florida? Best vacation I ever had was in Cedar Key. Saw on the news they got a 7 foot surge. Everything old there is made of wood sticks and close to the water.
Back in the day, my best friend and I had DTs. I had the 360 and he had the 250. His 250 could go anywhere my 360 could and together we could go ANYwhere! We ran knobies on the street so we had to change rear tires often as we were even riding on Southern California Freeways. Like I said, they went anywhere we needed them to go!
I also have a 74 DT360 on the channel that I just got back together! Awaiting a plate so I can ride it on the road. Also, I wasn’t around then, but from what I’ve gathered the 1970s was the golden era for riding. There was SO MANY places to ride and people weren’t so uptight about dirt bikes unlike today. I’m lucky to have the spots I still have which have been around since the early 70s.
Had a stripped down 250. Definitely no dirt bike, but a good set of nobbies and I could go almost anywhere. Put an oversized back sprocket and almost made it a crawler. That was 40 years ago and should have kept it for my kids. Loved it
"definitely no dirtbike" ??? i was under the impression that a gazillion people have been riding them in the dirt for decades, as this guy here is. Yu must know something the rest of us don't.
Put an Expansion chamber on a late '60s - early '70s DT and you won't believe the difference it makes. I had '72 DT 360 back in the late '70s . Stock pipe = dog , Chamber = 1st-3rd, twist throttle, front wheel came right up easily. Man sure miss that Bike.
I had one these back in day.Everything you told about it is ture.These were some of the last good machines good to here it run again just a real good bike loved the 2 stroke wish there were a lot around thanks for the video brought back lot of memories.
Great year. The 75 was more capable then the early 70s and better looking then the late 70s / early 80s DTs. I have had a lot of bikes pass through my garage but there are two that will never be sold. It is my 75 DT250 and 73 RD350.
I just got my hands on a 1975 DT250, just like the one in the video. It's needing some work but I'm pretty confident that it'll be functioning before too long. It's surprising to me how many parts are still available, including brand new fuel tanks. There's a few enterprising souls making 3D printed parts for a lot of the plastics too.
This is the exact bike that I learned to ride on when I was 14. I spent many years in the woods with this bike and it was the best ever. Of course, that was yeah, back in 1982.
Ring-ding-ding! Wore out 4 DT's (3 360's and 1 175) and I never got tired of that sound. I loved spending the day crossing the Bitterroots going 25 mph on skid roads, then dropping off on the freeway for an 80 mph run home. Because of unleaded gas, I now have 2 4-strokes (tw200 and KLR650) which are more reliable, but not as fun. I have a lifetime of hilarious stories from the 100,000 miles of fun and misery on my Yamahas!
My first new bike was a 1973 Yamaha 360(dad cosigned my loans). My brother the 1972 360. We would strip tail light and signal lights off every weekend to ride the cutlines west of Calgary. So many great memories. Still riding. 07 KTM 950 Super Enduro and a 17 KTM 1090r. Thanks for posting and bringing the 250 back to life!
Got my bike license on my DT 250. The signal lights were so dim back then you had to hold your hands around the signal lights and shade the sun so you could see if they were flashing. It was a fun bike. I got it from a guy that had it in his shed for years. Crank bearings were shot. I installed new bearings and seals and rode that thing miles and miles back in the woods. The handle bars were really wide on the old bikes. Great old bike for fire roads too. Love 2 stroke bikes old or new.
The 6v systems seemed to never work all that good on all the bikes I’ve rehabilitated. These DTs are so much fun. I’m just about to start on a ‘76 Honda MT250 that needs a good bit of work to get going again. It will be cool to be able compare both mid 70s Yamaha and Honda enduro bikes back to back to see how they compare. Kinda like doing a shootout for Dirt Bike Magazine back in the day.
I had a '74 DT125, a '76 TS125, and a '75 TS185. They were all great bikes, and if you wanted, you could ride them a good ways on the road without your butt falling off. I find they are much more of an all around motorcycle than today's dual sport machines. I'm sure I am biased as all hell though, since I cut my teeth on these motorcycles.
That’s awesome! I just picked up a ‘75 TS125 that I’ll be working on at some point on this channel and just sold a ‘75 DT125 (which has a couple vids on the channel already). I really like the bikes from that era. Great looking and so easy to work on.
My dad brought home an almost new TS 125 from 1974, and I loved it! With a little exhaust work, porting and timing adjustment, that bike was wonderfully forgiving and fast enough to get you into trouble.
I too had the TS 185 and Loved it. All the DT’s from the mid ‘70’s were Great. I own a ‘21 T7 and it’s a great bike but I find the TS/DT/K/SL’s from the ‘70’s were far mor versatile Bikes.
I learned to ride on a 1974 Yamaha GT80 2 stroke "Enduro" as they called dual-sports at the time, and the DT250 was my dream bike when it came out, had the brochure and read it about twice a day. I couldn't afford it at the time, and ended up having to wait until 1978, and there wasn't one available at the local dealer, so I ended up with a 1978 Honda XL250S - the one with the 23 inch front tire. The funny thing is, I never got a chance to ride a DT250 or DT400. I'm in my 60's now, and have a TW200, which suits me well. Still, would jump at the chance to ride one of those. Always liked the 70's oil injected 2 -strokes. They had electric power bands, and were nothing like the motocross 2 strokes. Nice to see and hear your bike.
That’s awesome, thank you for sharing! You should keep an eye out for one of these…they seem to pop up fairly often. I have an XL350 and XL175 which are great bikes but there’s something about blasting down the road on an old 2-stroke that gets the blood pumping! Thanks for watching!
Great job on the restoration looks awesome!!! You were killing it on the trails , nice riding. Love the older bikes still so much fun, rather have an older one than new …
Thank you! Even though I have access to modern bikes, I still like riding these around too. They let you take your time and appreciate being in the woods more in a way.
Hey, nice bike. Years ago I owned the big sister of this bike: the Yamaha DT400; such nice memories...it's all coming back seeing you go through the woods... Two of my friends had Yamaha XT500's, and we always had that competition between the 4 strokers and my 2 stroker, such a fun we had. And above all...why o why did I sell my Yamaha DT400...? You do can bring the fork back to the right height and strength again, by getting Hyperpro progressive springs in your fork legs. Even the rear suspension can easily being upgraded by Hyperpro suspension, you wouldn't recognize your own bike anymore; so well this Hyperpro progressive will be. I have had many bikes over the years, and in the end I swapped all OEM suspension sets for Hyperpro progressive, because there really is nothing to be compared to these progressive set-ups: front and rear.
Thanks! I’d love to find a DT400 sometime. Would be cool to feel the difference. I have a DT360A that I’ve only ridden on the road a bit and I can tell they are torquey. Thanks for the info on the shocks and springs! I’ll keep it in mind.
I did a complete restoration on a 1971 dt1 250mx. Rebuild top end went through cleaned up bottom end. Fresh green paint on tank and side panels. Black on all the of the frame , bars pipe ect. Fresh chrome on everything. Let it go to start a new project. One of the few i kick my self in the butt for selling now. Got another person hooked on vintage mx though so id say its 8n good hands. Was a pretty wicked bike for what it was. Had all the old school gyt add on parts. Did really well on the sand as well surprisingly. Just can't run them to hard for to long in the loose heavy stuff or they get hot being air cooled. Damn reliable to if in good running order and good jetting. Always a 1-2 kick bike for me hot or cold, ran yesterday or last month.
I love watching the vintage motocross at Mid Ohio every July for Vintage Motorcycle Days. It’s great seeing those bikes running hard like they are made to do. Have you done any bikes that have run out there?
My first bike was a used 77 DT100D. Bought it with paper route money for $400. Your bike reminds me of that two stroke “run-nun-nun” sound. Great memories of those days.
Awesome, I love that these videos I’m doing are jogging the memories of a lot of people that used to have them. I’ll be doing more with other classics too! Thanks for watching!
nothing beats these old pingers. I had a few 175 models and a few xr5000s and boy are they fun to work on and ride. This video got my blood pumping again to find a classic 2T and do her up
Glad to be able to stir up those good memories! I just picked up a 1973 CT175 the other day at Mid Ohio’s vintage motorcycle days. I’ll have a video on that at some point too! Thanks for watching!
I have a 75 DT 400 it was a monster when I was 19! Now at 68, it's still a power house! There's plenty of power, would love to up date the suspension. I carry 3 primary sprockets in my tool kit. You can use all of them without breaking the chain.
Thank you! I appreciate that…and yes they were and still are awesome machines. Who would have thought 50 years there would be enough around to still enjoy like this. Almost like muscle cars…just never go out of style.
I grew up with Dt and mx yamahas. Started out on 72 gt 80. Then onto 82 mx 100,175 there after. My most favorite of all would be my uncles 360. It was green with silver fenders. Love those old yamaha 2 smokers.
Nice! I wish I would have gotten into them earlier…my first bike was a 79 RM80 in ‘93 when I was 13. After that I jumped on XRs for woods riding. I actually have a DT360A that I just got back together and as soon as I put the turn signals on I’ll be able to ride it on the street. If you get a chance, check out the vids I have of that on my channel as well. Thanks for the comment! Really helps the channel out. ua-cam.com/play/PLiThBUYGGNylgpmFcZoxlEvJIvm4uOsDi.html
Early 80s I had the dt 50 m , 80 mx , 100 m , 125 lc & 175 mx . Lovely old stuff , your excellent video took me straight back there , especially the excellent sound quality
Had one back in the early 80s. Had a great time on it. Blew the rings out, rebuilt the top end and it runs to this day although I don't own it anymore.
If I answered the question honestly I'd have to say not so much. 2 Stokes are not super reliable in the woods. Fouled plugs..... And they don't stay cool enough therefore promoting excessive ring wear.
@@robertsmeal8193 that’s a fair opinion…I remember my friends back in the day with older 2stroke motocross bikes (like 80s and 90s bikes in the early 2000s) would foul plugs but I gotta say I have yet to foul one on this DT. Maybe it’s the oil injection that helps.
They must have been all over the place here in the USA too because I can still find parts pretty easily for them! Pretty sure they were THE enduros to have in the 70s. I don’t see nearly the amount of the other Japanese dual purpose bikes from this era as I do the Yamaha DTs.
I spent a lot of time back in the day riding on the tank or back seat of my dad's 70s two stroke dual sports. He loved those bikes. I don't remember a big aftermarket like we have today. My dads buddy owned a Harley shop with a race shop. Most of the mods were fabricated in the shop. Love that sound.
I just sold a 1975 DT125. Great little bike. Had an electric start on it which was pretty cool. I picked up a 71 AT1 (125cc) which will be on this channel at some point too.
In 1985 I bought a 75 DT250 from a police property auction dirt cheap. It was a bit of a wreck so I stripped off all of the street gear and replaced the tank, bars, and fenders. I simplified the electrical system to just the coil wires and kill switch. Bored the cylinder and fit a Weisco piston and Boysen reeds. Then I took that old thing short track racing. It was a joy sliding the turns on that little bike, and I even took a couple of trophies home.
There is weight that can be taken off these 70s enduros. I have a 74 Honda XL250 that I changed up a bit. I took all the factory body work off and put aftermarket plastics on it, and even changed the seat to 79 Yamaha YZ, for the looks and weight with a plastic base. Ended up taking 48 pounds off the bike and it still has drum brakes. I'm sure going disc would bring it down another 8lbs. Little bits add up. Longer length and travel shocks help too.
Cool to watch! Had the same bike... 12 yr old kid in 82 and mom bought one from a neighbor's yard sale for me. Kid in a small mountain So Cal town I rode that bike everywhere street and dirt and your ride reminded me of the exact stuff I tore up off road. Such great bikes and always on the look out for the right one for sale.
Thanks for watching! Man, I’d love to stumble on an old bike at someone’s yard sale! I always dream of seeing an old Z50 sitting there with a $100 price tag on it because the owner thinks it’s just a little toy lol.
It’s my pleasure. I really love riding these classic bikes along with the modern stuff. It gives me a better appreciation for the original dual purpose bikes and I know they can do more than most give them credit for. Thanks for watching! Stay tuned because I’ll have more classics along with a 2nd 1975 250B that will be revived on the channel.
@@Garage2Trail Awesome. I cannot stop watching this Vlog again and again. It takes me to my teen worry-free years when I had one just like this one. Mine was the same color scheme (I think they only came with this one color). I search Craigslist all the time to see if one comes in, regardless of how far it may be, LOL. I have modern liter bikes but this one is still #1 on my wish list.
Those were great trail bikes many of my friends had those and they were very capable off-roading. I had a 72 Suzuki TS 250 and it was indestructible. With some suspension work and cleaning up the ports it was an excellent off roader.
That's a great bike. Used to work on Yamaha all the time in the 70s. Fantastic motorcycle. ! Still have a 75 ts250 I ride all the time in northern Michigan. Great trail bikes. Go 2-strokes !!!
The best bike ever, I had many. even Rambo road it in First Blood. It was not maid for ride in the woods but it does it well. enduro was made for street and crappy old dirt roads . Add a small crash bar to protect the feet and shifter , My dad welded a pipe across the frame on my bike looked like an old horseshoe steak for throwing house shoes ,but it worked.
More reliable certainly but the suspension on old bikes is pretty awful in comparison to new bikes. Old bikes are much heavier and less powerful. However, the simplicity and reliability have earned these bikes mentioning 50 years later.
@@pauliewalnuts240 You are correct about wheel travel for sure, but: 1975 yamaha DT 250 specs: Wet weight 271 lbs w/24hp 2023 Honda CRF300L: Wet weight 313lbs w/27hp 2021 Yamaha WR250R: 29.5 hp, but weighed 295lbs. I am sure I would love the newer bikes. They are certainly much better for serious off road work. I grew up on the older ones and always envied the guys with motocross bikes, but they were not street legal. I bet the WR250R would give some of the older motocross bikes a run for their money. 🙂
In 1981 when I was 15 my parents moved us from the city out into the country on a 5 acre lot. There was no one else that lived out here back then (I currently own and live in the house they built in 1981). I was into dirt bikes but didn't have a whole lot of money for toys back in those days. I remember we sold my trumpet from school since I quit band and my Mom worked a Saturday of overtime and we had $300 to spend on a dirt bike. So I go look at a 1974 DT 250. It had been road hard and put up wet. It's was stripped down with the lights and speedo and all of the extras in a box. But it started right up so I bought it. When we first moved out here, the real estate agent told my Mom and Step Dad that the bus would come all the way down to our private road. School starts and nope. I had to get on and off up at the highway 2 miles away. So my DT250 became my transportation back and forth to the bus stop. There was a hedge row of trees up by the highway so I took a chain and padlock up there and would lock my bike to a tree. I always looked forward to going to school and then getting out and off the bus so I could fire that bike up and ride it like I stole. Since no one lived out here, I had miles of back roads (some of them still dirt back then) that I could cruise on and had a ton of fun on that bike.
The only thing that’s changed is the addition of “hard enduro” type riding and I dare not take this beauty on that stuff because the frame rails and I’m sure other parts would be bashed in pretty good. As for the normal trails though, it ate them up with ease.
Had the same bike in white when I was around 14 and I paid £20 off my mate… I still live in the same house as I bought it from my parents, 20 years later I was still finding part from it after I stripped it down as a teenager and then just got bored… criminal really! I remember it being a very capable bike and would wheelie very well.
@@Garage2Trail no, by the time I had it which was around 1988 the poor old bike had been used as a field bike.. I did find the front drum brake about 5 years or so and that’s it.. I’ve since rebuilt my garage so I don’t think I’ll be finding anymore parts now unfortunately!
The sound and smell goes hand in hand. The best is when you double back up the trail you just came down and you get a good whiff of that sweet smell while twisting the throttle.
It really does run awesome. The only thing I had to do aside from clean the carb was replace the small o-ring that sits down at the bottom of the bowl attached to the needle seat. It was deteriorated and running super rich above mid throttle. That cured it and it revs out super clean.
You’re obviously a very high skilled rider. I couldn’t begin to even ride the bike with Handlebars like that the foot pegs with shorts on to boot, simply amazing 👍
My first new bike was a 74 DT250. No powerhouse, but got the job done. Only real weak point was the drum brakes. But I just sold a mint 2013 XT250. Great little bike too, but just seemed like it had no personality whatsoever.
There’s something about the classics that stand out for me…like you said maybe it’s their personality. It’s a whole different riding experience when on a classic.
I had a 74 DT250. Was just getting into hare scrambles in the late 70's when I won a trophy on that bike, not on the podium but close with a great trophy with 140 riders in the 250 B class. Then sold it for a IT250 for the suspension, then moved to open class on YZ465 and 490's. Wish I had kept the DT as well.
I want to add to your love of this bike. i had a DT1 360 1973. While you like the oil injection for the two stroke oll with the fuel. It took a couple thousand miles but my main bearings went bad because you dont know when the oil pump is not working. It would be better to mix your fuel and oil. Good Luck.
I actually always add a little premix into the tank every once and awhile because I’m a worry wart lol. I appreciate the input! It always comforts me when I see some smoke and smell that sweet two stroke smell.
Great to see the Dt offroading a bit , I was always the fourstroke off road bike user ,think it was my first ever bike the xl250s had me addicted to them ! Mate had the Suzuki PE 250 I never tried it !!! But I have to say I'm surprised the torque the two Strokes Dts have .😮 seems very capable on general trails there .👍👍 Great riding there nice and smooth .👍
I’ve always been a 4stroke guy too and I still love them. The XR tractors have gotten me through some tough trails over the years. I think because I was always exposed to the smaller motocross bikes…I learned on a ‘79 RM80 and always having to be in the power band and slipping the clutch to get it to do technical climbs and trails kinda turned me off but finally getting to ride proper enduro 2 strokes whether they be 50 years old or brand new has really got me to enjoy them much more. That being said I’ll never sell my XRs or XLs… but there is now a couple 2 strokes I won’t part with now either.
I had the exact same bike. Bought it for $400. Got rear ended on Black Canyon Freeway in Phx back in 1985. Going 55 mph Bent the rear metal fender into the tire. I managed to hang on. Sold it the very next day. Great bike though. Never left me stranded either.
Fantastic oil injection system for those who understand how it draws through the metering device which is adjustable but not as advanced as the Suzuki with pressure fed mains and piston squirters
Number 420 on the comment list all right!!! 👍 I had a 1975 DT 175, same paint scheme, but blue. My close friend Jerry had one too, but it was a 1974 175 bored over once. We would play tag on the streets of Palm Springs. And when the two harmonize it was like a RD on steroids!!! Miss the good old days!!! ✌️😎👍
Thanks! I know DTs aren’t produced in the US but in recent years I believe in Europe (I think) they were still making DTs. More modern than what’s in this video though but still air cooled.
@@Garage2Trail yes I loved that bike. Me and friends use to make crazy barn fires and we would take turns jumping through the fire on it lit out of our minds. I remember we would come out thevother side and leather jackets would just billow smoke lol . Ahhhhhhhhhhh the good Ole times
Brilliant, thankyou so much for sharing, I’ve got one myself, such a nice bike, looking forward to riding mine on some trails here in Melbourne Australia 👍🇦🇺
Man !!! I like your work😃You made a great Vid., . Your riding is excellent , so is the DT 250, My favorite bike of all times. It's always the skilled appreciative rider who makes a big difference, not how fast or how good a modem bike is. Cheers.... *****AAAAA*****
Thank you, I appreciate that! I really like this bike and still go cruise the trails with it after work as much as I can. Pretty crazy a 50 year old bike made to be ridden off road is still at it and as reliable as can be.
That's a very capable bike, I know it is because I had one. It's a do everything bike. with respectable performance , & yes very reliable even after 50 years .. Hope you fixed the gear sift lever and the foot peg. I miss my DT 250 very much. Will look forward for more Vids from you. Take care man... @@Garage2Trail
I’d sit in school all day thinking damn I can’t wait to jump on my bike and meet the guys at the spot. Cool thing was it was actually a Hilton hotel’s property and the police never showed up. Great days, we didn’t leave a mess or destroy anything.
My first bike 1969 DT 250 Bought it from a guy who rebuilt it, painted it, was awsome bike to go to high school and back. The Ninja 600 and 1000 first hit the streets. I could keep up off the green light with the 600, then by by (the 600) lol was a good ol bike dt250 First yr for the yama lube system I think also...
I purchased a (new) 1973, DT3, competition green, shortly after graduating high school on (nov. 01, 1973). It was a leftover. It was completely set up for off road by the dealer with different pegs, handle bars, fork brace, front fender, off rd. grips, HD knob tires, they removed the signals and added a shortened mirror arm. I just pulled out the original bill of sale, $835.00 plus, plus. With a hand shake, I put down $100.00 and we agreed I'd pay what ever I could on a weekly basis (15 to $20) with a promise to pay the balance in full taking delivery the first week of March 1974. I still have it. 2400+ miles. Back then we used to wrap the tanks in thin flexible styrofoam and then duct tape it to preserve the paint (it still shines). I road with a friend who had a Bultaco 360... Every time we road he went home and had to work on his biked.. I went home and parked mine ready for the next outing. I must admit I remember stating often "that 360 could climb a tree"!.
That is awesome! Pretty cool you still have it too. I love hearing the stories from when these bikes were new. Makes me appreciate them that much more. I hope to be the guy sharing stories from my then new 1998 XR400 which I still have with guys 20 years from now. I haven’t heard of the styrofoam and duct tape trick before! Thanks for sharing!
I miss my DT 175. I rode it everywhere. Including freeways - speed limit was 55 in those days. Kick start (ouch to my ankle bone) and the two stroke oil smell. Boy was it it fun. I don't think mine had a tachometer. The only thing on a negative was mine foul plugs. I actually own 2 DT 175. At different times. Same decals on a blue paint job. I think my 1st was a 1975 or 76 release.
Thanks for sharing! I’m trying to get this plated so it’s “legal” for the road but I can’t say that I’ve fouled any plugs with this thing yet! You’d think with the lower revs in the woods it might load the plug up but it hasn’t let me down. Maybe the oil injection is adjusted correctly and helps keep the plug clean. And I’ve had her kick back a couple times which doesn’t feel good on the shin! 😆
@Garage2Trail I own a e bike now and it has a half twist throttle. It brings me back to days riding the trails on the DT175. Thank you for the memories.
i had a red one DT250-1F was my first street learner bike was used more on farm pushing sheep general farm use then on road back them days were an excellent farm work bike. i put spacers in tops my forks to stiffen up springs & a power pipe on , it weighed a ton was no weight saving between pipes but hell it woke the bike up.
DT250/360 were very capable enduro bikes in there day with the Honda Elsinore , Suzuki TS , Kawa F8 then had more tempermentil/unreliable/long wait for parts Bultaco , SWM , KTM , Maico , BSA ,CZ , CCM , Husquvarna back them days
Back in 81, I had a 79 DT100 and added some 125 forks and rear shocks from an older Yamaha. I'd ride practically every day after school and on weekends in the pineapple & sugar cane fields on Oahu. It wasn't fast like my friends with their 125 YZ's & RM's but with auto lube, it was just gas and go all day for a few dollars.
This reminds me of my 1977 DT 400, the first year of the rear mono-shock. Bought it new for $1,000. Kept it 12 years, put an MX head on it ,67 degree full throttle, and magnesium front forks with 10 1/2 inch travel. I miss that bike, it took a lot of abuse and just kept on going.
I had a yellow 1979 DT250 when I was stationed at Nellis AFB in 1982. I'd push that thing off base and just head out into the desert. I had no idea where I was or where I was going. Maybe I had a canteen of water. I'm really lucky. I crashed it pretty hard once and almost broke my leg. I got the bike fired up and limped it back to base. That was a LONG day.
A buddy of mine was stationed at Nellis I believe in the early 2000s. He used to have a YZF426 and did a lot of desert racing and riding on that beast.
My first street legal bike, 82 DT100 for making hillclimbs and trails, etc, was one of the best bikes I've ever owned, and for a dollar I could ride over a hundred miles. Top speed was just 55, but that was the max speed limit anyways.
A lot of kids these days are really missing out. We would ride for hours in the early-mid 90s. All us kids that had bikes lived it up every day those summers doing the same thing. In my case it was a 1979 RM80.
Such a cool machine. The DT series, they got me into 2 stroke dirt bikes. It sounds like you're running lean, probably an air leak into the cylinder/ crankcase. That nin.. nin.. nin sound: it shouldn't do that.
She can probably use some new seals but the plug always check out perfectly and I figure with how great it runs I’ll worry about tearing into those later on. These DTs have become some of my favorite bikes.
I had one of these brand new in 1977. I started off in 1973 0n a Yamaha CT1 175cc. Most of my bikes were Yamahas, up to today. I am almost 68, and I ride an Indian-made-and-market FZ25 250cc. To me as a young man the performance of this engine was a disappointment. Everything else on the bike was great. Suspension, brakes, seat and posture, lights, handling and cornering etc. My friend had a Suzuki TS185 , a high-strung vibraty bike. But man, did it go ! He used to out-accelerate this DT250 all the time. This was the ONLY Yamaha I did not like. Couple years later, the dealer brought the DT400, which I felt would have been a better bike, though I never rode one. Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies.
Wow thanks for sharing! Interesting that the 185 out accelerated it. Maybe the gearing was the factor. I’d like to get my hands on a TS250 and put them side by side to compare. I do have a 1975 TS125 that will be on my channel at some point too.
I miss the sound of the 70's Yami Enduros. Many great memories. I rarely had good brakes on mine. Mostly used the kill switch as a brake. Bike usually started right back up after releasing it. I ride a WR250f nowadays
Modern knobbies front and rear tires on your bike surely made a huge diffrences wow!!! The classic 70’s tires on them bike made it slide down too much on side hills like you just did!!!
That was one nice bike when new. Just about anything that was New no matter what year was pretty good until they got old and beat up. I had a lot of dirt bikes in the 70s and they were like top of technology. I thought they were the best thing in the world at that time.
Thanks, yeah I couldn’t believe it. When I got this bike it looked to have been sitting outside for many years. I was expecting rusted cylinder, stuck rings and bad crank seals. All I had to do was clean the points and she fired right up. I had to clean the carb and stuff obviously but didn’t have to get into the motor at all.
I'm 59 years old and I still ride a 1979 Yamaha dt250f. Take it camping and fishing. It's my freedom machine. BRAAAP BRAAAP.
This bike is still my most reliable classic bike I can hop on anytime and it starts first kick almost every time and goes pretty much anywhere.
@@Garage2Trail it’s a Yamaha they usually start with just a look lol. Those and Hondas are the best.
The 70's DTs were just so cool, and ahead of their time. And they get cooler as the years go by...they are almost 50 years old!
I’ve come to realize that now after owning a couple of them. They are right up there with my other favorite bikes.
I had a Yamaha DT125E. I wish I would have kept it.
@@andrewstunich8173 the 125 was at-1 not dt. I had a 1968 model and loved it
Prefer the XTs. DT175mx was great though and later water cooled DTs.
@@holmes1956O The AT-1 and the DT125E are completely different bikes. I had a DT125E back in the 80's as well as two DT250MXs. The DT125E had electric start, which was pretty unusual for a bike back then.
ur bring back my child hood with these old bikes we brought them brand new for around 995.oo
They are time machines to me! I love seeing how you guys rode them back when they were new and cutting edge bikes 👍
When I was 15 I worked the summer at a farm to earn money to buy a brand new 1980 DT 125. Oh the freedom it gave me.
That’s awesome…15 year olds now are worried about smartphones instead.
Same here but mine came from a paper route and cutting lawns. Back then I could legally ride 100cc or less at 14 and at 16 got my first 125. Just hated the school bus so in winter put hex head sheet metal screws into knobby tires and rode through the snow to school. That was my freedom.
@dicksonfranssen Guess I was lucky in that aspect. No snow here, just hurricanes. Just went thru my 7th and I am over them lol.
@@SkunkMonkey991 In Florida? Best vacation I ever had was in Cedar Key. Saw on the news they got a 7 foot surge. Everything old there is made of wood sticks and close to the water.
I’m 15 years old rn bro can’t wait to get my turn 16 so I can get my motorcycle license cus I’m gonna work this summer and hopefully get one of these
I had the DT400, my son had the 100, back in the mid 1980s. Super dependable and capable, we had many miles of great fun together.
I’d love to get a DT400 at some point. What year was yours?
@@Garage2Trail pretty sure it was a 1976. Sold it many years ago, though. Lots of happy memories!
The 400cc was rt-1 the 250 was dt-1 the 175 was ct-1 and the 125 was at-1
@@holmes1956O up until 1974, then the entire line up was called dt with varying displacements. 68-73 though yes they were different letters.
I had a DT 100A also as a teenager. Great memories
Places to ride like you have is a real treasure now days looks great
Yessir…I’m extremely lucky to still them. Thankfully most of these trails are land locked so it’s unlikely they will ever be developed!
Man i loved mine and that sound brings back so many good memories! 63 and I still ride dirt bikes!
Back in the day, my best friend and I had DTs. I had the 360 and he had the 250. His 250 could go anywhere my 360 could and together we could go ANYwhere! We ran knobies on the street so we had to change rear tires often as we were even riding on Southern California Freeways. Like I said, they went anywhere we needed them to go!
I also have a 74 DT360 on the channel that I just got back together! Awaiting a plate so I can ride it on the road. Also, I wasn’t around then, but from what I’ve gathered the 1970s was the golden era for riding. There was SO MANY places to ride and people weren’t so uptight about dirt bikes unlike today. I’m lucky to have the spots I still have which have been around since the early 70s.
@@Garage2Trail Thanks for bringing some of us less-youug guys back to the days of wooden ships and iron men.
@@benkanobe7500 I always say these bikes are like time machines! Part of the reason I started this channel.
Had a stripped down 250. Definitely no dirt bike, but a good set of nobbies and I could go almost anywhere. Put an oversized back sprocket and almost made it a crawler. That was 40 years ago and should have kept it for my kids. Loved it
This one that I have may have a bit larger than stock sprocket because I can crawl at almost trials bike pace and it doesn’t stall.
"definitely no dirtbike" ??? i was under the impression that a gazillion people have been riding them in the dirt for decades, as this guy here is. Yu must know something the rest of us don't.
Put an Expansion chamber on a late '60s - early '70s DT and you won't believe the difference it makes. I had '72 DT 360 back in the late '70s . Stock pipe = dog , Chamber = 1st-3rd, twist throttle, front wheel came right up easily. Man sure miss that Bike.
That’s awesome! I’ll have to keep an eye out for one! Did you have to change the jetting?
I had one these back in day.Everything you told about it is ture.These were some of the last good machines good to here it run again just a real good bike loved the 2 stroke wish there were a lot around thanks for the video brought back lot of memories.
Awesome, thank you for sharing! Glad this video continues to stir up good memories!
Great year. The 75 was more capable then the early 70s and better looking then the late 70s / early 80s DTs. I have had a lot of bikes pass through my garage but there are two that will never be sold. It is my 75 DT250 and 73 RD350.
I agree the 75s just look amazing with the color scheme. I’d love to get my hands on an RD350 someday too. I love the orange ones!
I just got my hands on a 1975 DT250, just like the one in the video. It's needing some work but I'm pretty confident that it'll be functioning before too long. It's surprising to me how many parts are still available, including brand new fuel tanks. There's a few enterprising souls making 3D printed parts for a lot of the plastics too.
@fizzyridertoo nice! I love the colors on the ‘75s. KDI Reproductions are lifesavers!
RD350 and 400 were the shit. Bassani expansion chambers made them even more bad ass!!
Wow! Brings back memories. Running the power lines in south Jersey
This is the exact bike that I learned to ride on when I was 14. I spent many years in the woods with this bike and it was the best ever.
Of course, that was yeah, back in 1982.
This is my favorite classic to take into the woods still to this day.
Ring-ding-ding! Wore out 4 DT's (3 360's and 1 175) and I never got tired of that sound. I loved spending the day crossing the Bitterroots going 25 mph on skid roads, then dropping off on the freeway for an 80 mph run home. Because of unleaded gas, I now have 2 4-strokes (tw200 and KLR650) which are more reliable, but not as fun. I have a lifetime of hilarious stories from the 100,000 miles of fun and misery on my Yamahas!
My brother has a TW200…I actually did a riding video on that too last year. Cool little bike!
360 sounds so good love that POP
My first new bike was a 1973 Yamaha 360(dad cosigned my loans). My brother the 1972 360. We would strip tail light and signal lights off every weekend to ride the cutlines west of Calgary. So many great memories. Still riding. 07 KTM 950 Super Enduro and a 17 KTM 1090r. Thanks for posting and bringing the 250 back to life!
I just got done with a ‘74 DT360 on my channel too. Trying to dial in the carb but it’s a torquey beast! It’ll be great for road riding.
Are those two KTMs what we would call adventure bikes???
@@michaelbuckalew7642 the 1090r is but the 950 is just a big Enduro. Both are a blast to ride😊
Got my bike license on my DT 250. The signal lights were so dim back then you had to hold your hands around the signal lights and shade the sun so you could see if they were flashing. It was a fun bike. I got it from a guy that had it in his shed for years. Crank bearings were shot. I installed new bearings and seals and rode that thing miles and miles back in the woods.
The handle bars were really wide on the old bikes. Great old bike for fire roads too.
Love 2 stroke bikes old or new.
The 6v systems seemed to never work all that good on all the bikes I’ve rehabilitated. These DTs are so much fun. I’m just about to start on a ‘76 Honda MT250 that needs a good bit of work to get going again. It will be cool to be able compare both mid 70s Yamaha and Honda enduro bikes back to back to see how they compare. Kinda like doing a shootout for Dirt Bike Magazine back in the day.
I had a '74 DT125, a '76 TS125, and a '75 TS185. They were all great bikes, and if you wanted, you could ride them a good ways on the road without your butt falling off. I find they are much more of an all around motorcycle than today's dual sport machines. I'm sure I am biased as all hell though, since I cut my teeth on these motorcycles.
That’s awesome! I just picked up a ‘75 TS125 that I’ll be working on at some point on this channel and just sold a ‘75 DT125 (which has a couple vids on the channel already). I really like the bikes from that era. Great looking and so easy to work on.
The TS185 was a high strung machine that out-accelerated this DT250. My pal always left me in the dust !
My dad brought home an almost new TS 125 from 1974, and I loved it! With a little exhaust work, porting and timing adjustment, that bike was wonderfully forgiving and fast enough to get you into trouble.
I too had the TS 185 and Loved it. All the DT’s from the mid ‘70’s were Great. I own a ‘21 T7 and it’s a great bike but I find the TS/DT/K/SL’s from the ‘70’s were far mor versatile Bikes.
@@cavscout62 Agreed !
I learned to ride on a 1974 Yamaha GT80 2 stroke "Enduro" as they called dual-sports at the time, and the DT250 was my dream bike when it came out, had the brochure and read it about twice a day. I couldn't afford it at the time, and ended up having to wait until 1978, and there wasn't one available at the local dealer, so I ended up with a 1978 Honda XL250S - the one with the 23 inch front tire. The funny thing is, I never got a chance to ride a DT250 or DT400. I'm in my 60's now, and have a TW200, which suits me well. Still, would jump at the chance to ride one of those. Always liked the 70's oil injected 2 -strokes. They had electric power bands, and were nothing like the motocross 2 strokes. Nice to see and hear your bike.
That’s awesome, thank you for sharing! You should keep an eye out for one of these…they seem to pop up fairly often. I have an XL350 and XL175 which are great bikes but there’s something about blasting down the road on an old 2-stroke that gets the blood pumping! Thanks for watching!
Great job on the restoration looks awesome!!! You were killing it on the trails , nice riding. Love the older bikes still so much fun, rather have an older one than new …
Thank you! Even though I have access to modern bikes, I still like riding these around too. They let you take your time and appreciate being in the woods more in a way.
@@Garage2Trailtotally
Hey, nice bike. Years ago I owned the big sister of this bike: the Yamaha DT400; such nice memories...it's all coming back seeing you go through the woods... Two of my friends had Yamaha XT500's, and we always had that competition between the 4 strokers and my 2 stroker, such a fun we had. And above all...why o why did I sell my Yamaha DT400...? You do can bring the fork back to the right height and strength again, by getting Hyperpro progressive springs in your fork legs. Even the rear suspension can easily being upgraded by Hyperpro suspension, you wouldn't recognize your own bike anymore; so well this Hyperpro progressive will be. I have had many bikes over the years, and in the end I swapped all OEM suspension sets for Hyperpro progressive, because there really is nothing to be compared to these progressive set-ups: front and rear.
Thanks! I’d love to find a DT400 sometime. Would be cool to feel the difference. I have a DT360A that I’ve only ridden on the road a bit and I can tell they are torquey. Thanks for the info on the shocks and springs! I’ll keep it in mind.
I did a complete restoration on a 1971 dt1 250mx. Rebuild top end went through cleaned up bottom end. Fresh green paint on tank and side panels. Black on all the of the frame , bars pipe ect. Fresh chrome on everything. Let it go to start a new project. One of the few i kick my self in the butt for selling now. Got another person hooked on vintage mx though so id say its 8n good hands. Was a pretty wicked bike for what it was. Had all the old school gyt add on parts. Did really well on the sand as well surprisingly. Just can't run them to hard for to long in the loose heavy stuff or they get hot being air cooled. Damn reliable to if in good running order and good jetting. Always a 1-2 kick bike for me hot or cold, ran yesterday or last month.
I love watching the vintage motocross at Mid Ohio every July for Vintage Motorcycle Days. It’s great seeing those bikes running hard like they are made to do. Have you done any bikes that have run out there?
My first bike was a used 77 DT100D. Bought it with paper route money for $400. Your bike reminds me of that two stroke “run-nun-nun” sound. Great memories of those days.
Awesome, I love that these videos I’m doing are jogging the memories of a lot of people that used to have them. I’ll be doing more with other classics too! Thanks for watching!
nothing beats these old pingers. I had a few 175 models and a few xr5000s and boy are they fun to work on and ride. This video got my blood pumping again to find a classic 2T and do her up
Glad to be able to stir up those good memories! I just picked up a 1973 CT175 the other day at Mid Ohio’s vintage motorcycle days. I’ll have a video on that at some point too! Thanks for watching!
I have a 75 DT 400 it was a monster when I was 19! Now at 68, it's still a power house! There's plenty of power, would love to up date the suspension. I carry 3 primary sprockets in my tool kit. You can use all of them without breaking the chain.
That’s awesome you still have it! I bought my ‘98 XR400 when I was 19 and I still have that bike at 43 years old. Won’t ever sell it!
I have a vintage BMW for the street and the DT for the dirt. Still trying to figure out how they will bury me with them!
The best thing you can do for these DTs is upgrade to 12V ignition.
Thanks for the memories , just goes to show how important the rider is , they were such great bikes , great job Man.....
Thank you! I appreciate that…and yes they were and still are awesome machines. Who would have thought 50 years there would be enough around to still enjoy like this. Almost like muscle cars…just never go out of style.
I grew up with Dt and mx yamahas. Started out on 72 gt 80. Then onto 82 mx 100,175 there after.
My most favorite of all would be my uncles 360. It was green with silver fenders.
Love those old yamaha 2 smokers.
Nice! I wish I would have gotten into them earlier…my first bike was a 79 RM80 in ‘93 when I was 13. After that I jumped on XRs for woods riding. I actually have a DT360A that I just got back together and as soon as I put the turn signals on I’ll be able to ride it on the street. If you get a chance, check out the vids I have of that on my channel as well. Thanks for the comment! Really helps the channel out.
ua-cam.com/play/PLiThBUYGGNylgpmFcZoxlEvJIvm4uOsDi.html
Had a 75 DT for four years, it was my go everywhere bike for bar hopping, work, play, it was my only ride.
I can understand that…this bike is super reliable for me. For a near 50yr old motorcycle, it starts easier than a lot of new kick start bikes!
Early 80s I had the dt 50 m , 80 mx , 100 m , 125 lc & 175 mx .
Lovely old stuff , your excellent video took me straight back there , especially the excellent sound quality
Thats awesome! Thank you for the feedback too. Brings me joy that this video is doing it’s job and making people happy.
Just watch the video, Brilliant!!.
Took me back 40+yrs when I had a yamaha DT250. I loved that bike, only wish I still had it.😊
That’s awesome! I always say these bikes are time machines. Glad you enjoyed it. I’ll have more this spring and summer.
Smooth and torquey .I kind of Want one again.
Keep an eye on marketplace and jump on a decent one quick that’s priced right. They don’t last very long on there!
Had one back in the early 80s. Had a great time on it. Blew the rings out, rebuilt the top end and it runs to this day although I don't own it anymore.
That’s awesome! Glad to hear it still lives!
If I answered the question honestly I'd have to say not so much. 2 Stokes are not super reliable in the woods. Fouled plugs..... And they don't stay cool enough therefore promoting excessive ring wear.
Still a great little ripper in its day.
@@robertsmeal8193 that’s a fair opinion…I remember my friends back in the day with older 2stroke motocross bikes (like 80s and 90s bikes in the early 2000s) would foul plugs but I gotta say I have yet to foul one on this DT. Maybe it’s the oil injection that helps.
Grew up in South America and these were EVERYWHERE! This year too. All with the same pain scheme. Different colors for different CCs.
They must have been all over the place here in the USA too because I can still find parts pretty easily for them! Pretty sure they were THE enduros to have in the 70s. I don’t see nearly the amount of the other Japanese dual purpose bikes from this era as I do the Yamaha DTs.
I used to have one exactly like that, same color, year, everything. I sure do miss it.
We had a DT125 back in the seventies, love that two stroke braap of that mellow engine, plenty of power when you need it but not too loud.
Yamaha 7 port design is genius with torque right off idle with short shift capability and over rev
It’s pretty crazy what they were able to do back in the 70s. Truly the bike boom era and would have been awesome to live through!
I spent a lot of time back in the day riding on the tank or back seat of my dad's 70s two stroke dual sports. He loved those bikes. I don't remember a big aftermarket like we have today. My dads buddy owned a Harley shop with a race shop. Most of the mods were fabricated in the shop. Love that sound.
The golden age. I really wish I’m could have experienced the bike boom of the 70s.
I had one back in the day, a 125cc, it was unstoppable, loved it, wish i'd kept it
I just sold a 1975 DT125. Great little bike. Had an electric start on it which was pretty cool. I picked up a 71 AT1 (125cc) which will be on this channel at some point too.
I have a 1974 DT400, did some vintage motocross in the 1980's to 90's. Still have it in the garage.
That’s awesome you still have it. I’d love to get my hands on a DT400 someday!
In 1985 I bought a 75 DT250 from a police property auction dirt cheap. It was a bit of a wreck so I stripped off all of the street gear and replaced the tank, bars, and fenders. I simplified the electrical system to just the coil wires and kill switch. Bored the cylinder and fit a Weisco piston and Boysen reeds. Then I took that old thing short track racing. It was a joy sliding the turns on that little bike, and I even took a couple of trophies home.
That’s awesome! Such versatile motorcycles. Thanks for sharing 👍
There is weight that can be taken off these 70s enduros. I have a 74 Honda XL250 that I changed up a bit. I took all the factory body work off and put aftermarket plastics on it, and even changed the seat to 79 Yamaha YZ, for the looks and weight with a plastic base. Ended up taking 48 pounds off the bike and it still has drum brakes. I'm sure going disc would bring it down another 8lbs. Little bits add up. Longer length and travel shocks help too.
Cool to watch!
Had the same bike... 12 yr old kid in 82 and mom bought one from a neighbor's yard sale for me. Kid in a small mountain So Cal town I rode that bike everywhere street and dirt and your ride reminded me of the exact stuff I tore up off road. Such great bikes and always on the look out for the right one for sale.
Thanks for watching! Man, I’d love to stumble on an old bike at someone’s yard sale! I always dream of seeing an old Z50 sitting there with a $100 price tag on it because the owner thinks it’s just a little toy lol.
Fun. And one of the best sounding bikes of all time.
It’s a blast…the sound is part of the experience!
I like the looks of these older bikes.
Me too. They have the best lines and colors in my opinion.
Sir thank you for sharing. Growing up this was my first bike. If you ever decided to sell it, I will be first in line.
It’s my pleasure. I really love riding these classic bikes along with the modern stuff. It gives me a better appreciation for the original dual purpose bikes and I know they can do more than most give them credit for. Thanks for watching! Stay tuned because I’ll have more classics along with a 2nd 1975 250B that will be revived on the channel.
@@Garage2Trail Awesome. I cannot stop watching this Vlog again and again. It takes me to my teen worry-free years when I had one just like this one. Mine was the same color scheme (I think they only came with this one color). I search Craigslist all the time to see if one comes in, regardless of how far it may be, LOL. I have modern liter bikes but this one is still #1 on my wish list.
Those were great trail bikes many of my friends had those and they were very capable off-roading. I had a 72 Suzuki TS 250 and it was indestructible. With some suspension work and cleaning up the ports it was an excellent off roader.
I have a 75 TS125 that I’ll be working on eventually on here. I’d like to find a 250 too at some point. Always like the looks of those.
That's a great bike. Used to work on Yamaha all the time in the 70s. Fantastic motorcycle. !
Still have a 75 ts250 I ride all the time in northern Michigan. Great trail bikes. Go 2-strokes !!!
I used to have one, same color, same year. What a great bike that was. I traded it for another great bike, a XS650.
The best bike ever, I had many. even Rambo road it in First Blood. It was not maid for ride in the woods but it does it well. enduro was made for street and crappy old dirt roads . Add a small crash bar to protect the feet and shifter , My dad welded a pipe across the frame on my bike looked like an old horseshoe steak for throwing house shoes ,but it worked.
Wasn't the bike Rambo was riding an XT 250 not a DT 250
Great video showing the bikes capabilities! Thanks for posting.
Thanks for watching!
I predict the video will say it is in many ways better than today's dual sport machines. I know I believe that. Now . . . Off to the video! 🙂
You are pretty close! Lol
More reliable certainly but the suspension on old bikes is pretty awful in comparison to new bikes. Old bikes are much heavier and less powerful. However, the simplicity and reliability have earned these bikes mentioning 50 years later.
@@pauliewalnuts240 You are correct about wheel travel for sure, but:
1975 yamaha DT 250 specs: Wet weight 271 lbs w/24hp
2023 Honda CRF300L: Wet weight 313lbs w/27hp
2021 Yamaha WR250R: 29.5 hp, but weighed 295lbs.
I am sure I would love the newer bikes. They are certainly much better for serious off road work. I grew up on the older ones and always envied the guys with motocross bikes, but they were not street legal. I bet the WR250R would give some of the older motocross bikes a run for their money. 🙂
Man, I wanted one of those so bad when I was in school. I am an old Yamaha lover.
In 1981 when I was 15 my parents moved us from the city out into the country on a 5 acre lot. There was no one else that lived out here back then (I currently own and live in the house they built in 1981). I was into dirt bikes but didn't have a whole lot of money for toys back in those days. I remember we sold my trumpet from school since I quit band and my Mom worked a Saturday of overtime and we had $300 to spend on a dirt bike. So I go look at a 1974 DT 250. It had been road hard and put up wet. It's was stripped down with the lights and speedo and all of the extras in a box. But it started right up so I bought it. When we first moved out here, the real estate agent told my Mom and Step Dad that the bus would come all the way down to our private road. School starts and nope. I had to get on and off up at the highway 2 miles away. So my DT250 became my transportation back and forth to the bus stop. There was a hedge row of trees up by the highway so I took a chain and padlock up there and would lock my bike to a tree. I always looked forward to going to school and then getting out and off the bus so I could fire that bike up and ride it like I stole. Since no one lived out here, I had miles of back roads (some of them still dirt back then) that I could cruise on and had a ton of fun on that bike.
That’s awesome Joe, thanks for sharing that!
I had a DT175 back in the day and it had more than enough power and suspension for trail riding and I didn't need a ladder to get on it
That really is one of my favorite features to the classic bikes…low seat height. Extremely comfortable too.
one thing that hasn't changed since 1975, the woods---of course it is capable
The only thing that’s changed is the addition of “hard enduro” type riding and I dare not take this beauty on that stuff because the frame rails and I’m sure other parts would be bashed in pretty good. As for the normal trails though, it ate them up with ease.
I just did a frame-off restoration of my buddy's 73 Kawasaki 100 dual sport. You can still get fork and shock rebuild kits for these old bikes
I’m amazed at what you can still find myself! I’ve seen some guys have boxes of NOS stuff from bulk buys when old dealers were closing up.
Bought a 75 new back in the day along with a ty 175 , my favorites, low seat height was a bonus even tho suspension lacked.
I almost picked up a TY a couple years ago. Wish I would have grabbed it. Such cool trials bikes.
Had the same bike in white when I was around 14 and I paid £20 off my mate… I still live in the same house as I bought it from my parents, 20 years later I was still finding part from it after I stripped it down as a teenager and then just got bored… criminal really!
I remember it being a very capable bike and would wheelie very well.
Happen to find any turn signals you’d sell? 😁
@@Garage2Trail no, by the time I had it which was around 1988 the poor old bike had been used as a field bike.. I did find the front drum brake about 5 years or so and that’s it.. I’ve since rebuilt my garage so I don’t think I’ll be finding anymore parts now unfortunately!
@@PillSharks ahh gotcha! It’s always the turn signals that are first to come off and hardest to find.
aah the sound of these bikes...bring back memories..wish I was there to smell it too ;)
The sound and smell goes hand in hand. The best is when you double back up the trail you just came down and you get a good whiff of that sweet smell while twisting the throttle.
My first dirt bike was a '74 DT250. Basically same as the '75. Then went to a DT360, then an SC50O, YZ400, YZ465, HondaCR480, and HondaCR500.
I just got done getting a ‘74 DT360A going again! Really like that bike too
Nice video,
Great job on the restoration of the bike too.
Thank you! I appreciate it
Awesome man I'm getting my 72 Dt250 fixed pretty soon and wanting to go trail riding as well. I felt like I was on my bike watching your video
Awesome! Thanks for watching. I also have a 72 DT250 (DT2) that I got running last year on my channel as well. I really like that bike too.
Thanks for the memories! I had this exact bike in the early 80's. Great trail bike and road it on the street some, even the freeway a couple times.
Awesome, thanks for tuning in! I have a bunch of classics on my channel with more to come.
On the off road bit the carburation sounds perfect, nothing wrong with a simple carb setup.
It really does run awesome. The only thing I had to do aside from clean the carb was replace the small o-ring that sits down at the bottom of the bowl attached to the needle seat. It was deteriorated and running super rich above mid throttle. That cured it and it revs out super clean.
The 175 and 250 were great bikes.
I’d like to get my hands on a 175 soon. That’s the only DT I haven’t had yet…well the 400 too I guess.
You’re obviously a very high skilled rider. I couldn’t begin to even ride the bike with Handlebars like that the foot pegs with shorts on to boot, simply amazing 👍
Thank you!
Great trail riding video, I really enjoy old school riding.
My first new bike was a 74 DT250. No powerhouse, but got the job done. Only real weak point was the drum brakes. But I just sold a mint 2013 XT250. Great little bike too, but just seemed like it had no personality whatsoever.
There’s something about the classics that stand out for me…like you said maybe it’s their personality. It’s a whole different riding experience when on a classic.
I had a 74 DT250. Was just getting into hare scrambles in the late 70's when I won a trophy on that bike, not on the podium but close with a great trophy with 140 riders in the 250 B class. Then sold it for a IT250 for the suspension, then moved to open class on YZ465 and 490's. Wish I had kept the DT as well.
Very cool. What a wide range of bikes you’ve been able to enjoy!
I want to add to your love of this bike. i had a DT1 360 1973. While you like the oil injection for the two stroke oll with the fuel. It took a couple thousand miles but my main bearings went bad because you dont know when the oil pump is not working. It would be better to mix your fuel and oil. Good Luck.
I actually always add a little premix into the tank every once and awhile because I’m a worry wart lol. I appreciate the input! It always comforts me when I see some smoke and smell that sweet two stroke smell.
Great to see the Dt offroading a bit , I was always the fourstroke off road bike user ,think it was my first ever bike the xl250s had me addicted to them ! Mate had the Suzuki PE 250 I never tried it !!! But I have to say I'm surprised the torque the two Strokes Dts have .😮 seems very capable on general trails there .👍👍 Great riding there nice and smooth .👍
I’ve always been a 4stroke guy too and I still love them. The XR tractors have gotten me through some tough trails over the years. I think because I was always exposed to the smaller motocross bikes…I learned on a ‘79 RM80 and always having to be in the power band and slipping the clutch to get it to do technical climbs and trails kinda turned me off but finally getting to ride proper enduro 2 strokes whether they be 50 years old or brand new has really got me to enjoy them much more. That being said I’ll never sell my XRs or XLs… but there is now a couple 2 strokes I won’t part with now either.
I had the exact same bike. Bought it for $400.
Got rear ended on Black Canyon Freeway in Phx back in 1985. Going 55 mph
Bent the rear metal fender into the tire. I managed to hang on.
Sold it the very next day.
Great bike though. Never left me stranded either.
Man that’s scary…especially thinking of getting hit at that speed! Good to hear you escaped injury!
It was an old 72 Nova.
I had my guardian angel ridding behind me for sure. Everything was made of steel. Not all plastic like now.
Fantastic oil injection system for those who understand how it draws through the metering device which is adjustable but not as advanced as the Suzuki with pressure fed mains and piston squirters
It always has been reliable. I hear a lot of guys rave at the Yamaha auto injections rarely ever stopped working.
great job you done on it. back in 1978 i had the exact same bike only mine was a 125 .
Thank you Gary!
Number 420 on the comment list all right!!! 👍 I had a 1975 DT 175, same paint scheme, but blue. My close friend Jerry had one too, but it was a 1974 175 bored over once.
We would play tag on the streets of Palm Springs. And when the two harmonize it was like a RD on steroids!!!
Miss the good old days!!! ✌️😎👍
That’s awesome, thank you for sharing. Love hearing all the stories people are remembering related to these bikes. 👍
@@Garage2Trail
They're part of us.!!!
✌️😎👍
I’m looking at buying one of these this weekend ! It doesn’t have spark but we all know what the problem is.
Could be something super simple…usually is. The main thing is to check if the engine is free and smooth with some compression.
Beautiful bike! I don't know if they produce it these days, but I remember it was very popular in the 1970s.
Thanks! I know DTs aren’t produced in the US but in recent years I believe in Europe (I think) they were still making DTs. More modern than what’s in this video though but still air cooled.
The DT was a great machine . I can remember the good Ole days on a 76 DT175
I still need to get my hands on a DT175. Sounds like excellent woods bikes….lightweight with good power.
@@Garage2Trail yes I loved that bike. Me and friends use to make crazy barn fires and we would take turns jumping through the fire on it lit out of our minds. I remember we would come out thevother side and leather jackets would just billow smoke lol . Ahhhhhhhhhhh the good Ole times
@Scott-ow3tz that is awesome 😆. We used to have bon fires in the woods. Gonna have to start doing that again.
Brilliant, thankyou so much for sharing, I’ve got one myself, such a nice bike, looking forward to riding mine on some trails here in Melbourne Australia 👍🇦🇺
Nice, thank you for tuning in! How long have you had yours?
Man !!! I like your work😃You made a great Vid., . Your riding is excellent , so is the DT 250, My favorite bike of all times. It's always the skilled appreciative rider who makes a big difference, not how fast or how good a modem bike is. Cheers.... *****AAAAA*****
Thank you, I appreciate that! I really like this bike and still go cruise the trails with it after work as much as I can. Pretty crazy a 50 year old bike made to be ridden off road is still at it and as reliable as can be.
That's a very capable bike, I know it is because I had one. It's a do everything bike. with respectable performance , & yes very reliable even after 50 years .. Hope you fixed the gear sift lever and the foot peg. I miss my DT 250 very much.
Will look forward for more Vids from you. Take care man... @@Garage2Trail
@SebSar-ef4zj yup got that shifter and peg bent back. Can’t even tell it was hit! Thanks again for the feedback! There will be more to come…
@@Garage2Trail
✌@@Garage2Trail
I’d sit in school all day thinking damn I can’t wait to jump on my bike and meet the guys at the spot. Cool thing was it was actually a Hilton hotel’s property and the police never showed up. Great days, we didn’t leave a mess or destroy anything.
My first bike 1969 DT 250 Bought it from a guy who rebuilt it, painted it, was awsome bike to go to high school and back. The Ninja 600 and 1000 first hit the streets. I could keep up off the green light with the 600, then by by (the 600) lol was a good ol bike dt250 First yr for the yama lube system I think also...
I purchased a (new) 1973, DT3, competition green, shortly after graduating high school on (nov. 01, 1973). It was a leftover. It was completely set up for off road by the dealer with different pegs, handle bars, fork brace, front fender, off rd. grips, HD knob tires, they removed the signals and added a shortened mirror arm. I just pulled out the original bill of sale, $835.00 plus, plus. With a hand shake, I put down $100.00 and we agreed I'd pay what ever I could on a weekly basis (15 to $20) with a promise to pay the balance in full taking delivery the first week of March 1974. I still have it. 2400+ miles. Back then we used to wrap the tanks in thin flexible styrofoam and then duct tape it to preserve the paint (it still shines). I road with a friend who had a Bultaco 360... Every time we road he went home and had to work on his biked.. I went home and parked mine ready for the next outing. I must admit I remember stating often "that 360 could climb a tree"!.
That is awesome! Pretty cool you still have it too. I love hearing the stories from when these bikes were new. Makes me appreciate them that much more. I hope to be the guy sharing stories from my then new 1998 XR400 which I still have with guys 20 years from now. I haven’t heard of the styrofoam and duct tape trick before! Thanks for sharing!
Had a 360 loved it it would pull any heel with ease so much torque
I miss my DT 175. I rode it everywhere. Including freeways - speed limit was 55 in those days.
Kick start (ouch to my ankle bone) and the two stroke oil smell. Boy was it it fun. I don't think mine had a tachometer.
The only thing on a negative was mine foul plugs.
I actually own 2 DT 175. At different times.
Same decals on a blue paint job.
I think my 1st was a 1975 or 76 release.
Thanks for sharing! I’m trying to get this plated so it’s “legal” for the road but I can’t say that I’ve fouled any plugs with this thing yet! You’d think with the lower revs in the woods it might load the plug up but it hasn’t let me down. Maybe the oil injection is adjusted correctly and helps keep the plug clean. And I’ve had her kick back a couple times which doesn’t feel good on the shin! 😆
@Garage2Trail I own a e bike now and it has a half twist throttle. It brings me back to days riding the trails on the DT175.
Thank you for the memories.
i had a red one DT250-1F was my first street learner bike was used more on farm pushing sheep general farm use then on road back them days were an excellent farm work bike.
i put spacers in tops my forks to stiffen up springs & a power pipe on , it weighed a ton was no weight saving between pipes but hell it woke the bike up.
Seems like the 250 is the sweet spot for the DTs…got enough for the road and keep up with traffic while not being overwhelming in the woods.
DT250/360 were very capable enduro bikes in there day with the Honda Elsinore , Suzuki TS , Kawa F8 then had more tempermentil/unreliable/long wait for parts Bultaco , SWM , KTM , Maico , BSA ,CZ , CCM , Husquvarna back them days
I also have a 74 Honda MT250 that I’m working on now for an upcoming video. Real excited to get that one going too.
I had the dt 100.2nd.bike 1st.was xr75.i loved the Yamaha.rode that things all day every day.😊
Back in 81, I had a 79 DT100 and added some 125 forks and rear shocks from an older Yamaha. I'd ride practically every day after school and on weekends in the pineapple & sugar cane fields on Oahu. It wasn't fast like my friends with their 125 YZ's & RM's but with auto lube, it was just gas and go all day for a few dollars.
I’ve been getting so many great stories from people all over after watching this video. Thank you for sharing yours as well!
Great bike and video. Hope to find a DT175 for a reasonable price , love these old air cooled bikes
Thank you! That’s one I haven’t had yet is there 175. Always keeping my eyes peeled for one locally.
This reminds me of my 1977 DT 400, the first year of the rear mono-shock. Bought it new for $1,000. Kept it 12 years, put an MX head on it ,67 degree full throttle, and magnesium front forks with 10 1/2 inch travel. I miss that bike, it took a lot of abuse and just kept on going.
I don’t see many of the late 70s DTs for sale it seems. Would like to get my hands on one of the mono shock models…especially a 400!
I had a yellow 1979 DT250 when I was stationed at Nellis AFB in 1982. I'd push that thing off base and just head out into the desert. I had no idea where I was or where I was going. Maybe I had a canteen of water. I'm really lucky. I crashed it pretty hard once and almost broke my leg. I got the bike fired up and limped it back to base. That was a LONG day.
A buddy of mine was stationed at Nellis I believe in the early 2000s. He used to have a YZF426 and did a lot of desert racing and riding on that beast.
My first street legal bike, 82 DT100 for making hillclimbs and trails, etc, was one of the best bikes I've ever owned, and for a dollar I could ride over a hundred miles. Top speed was just 55, but that was the max speed limit anyways.
A lot of kids these days are really missing out. We would ride for hours in the early-mid 90s. All us kids that had bikes lived it up every day those summers doing the same thing. In my case it was a 1979 RM80.
Great video, Looks like Michigan trail riding at its' best. Were is this location? thanks for posting.
Thank you! I know some guys that go out to Michigan somewhere to ride some epic trails from what they say. These are in western Pennsylvania.
Such a cool machine. The DT series, they got me into 2 stroke dirt bikes. It sounds like you're running lean, probably an air leak into the cylinder/ crankcase. That nin.. nin.. nin sound: it shouldn't do that.
She can probably use some new seals but the plug always check out perfectly and I figure with how great it runs I’ll worry about tearing into those later on. These DTs have become some of my favorite bikes.
I had one of these brand new in 1977. I started off in 1973 0n a Yamaha CT1 175cc. Most of my bikes were Yamahas, up to today. I am almost 68, and I ride an Indian-made-and-market FZ25 250cc.
To me as a young man the performance of this engine was a disappointment. Everything else on the bike was great. Suspension, brakes, seat and posture, lights, handling and cornering etc.
My friend had a Suzuki TS185 , a high-strung vibraty bike. But man, did it go ! He used to out-accelerate this DT250 all the time. This was the ONLY Yamaha I did not like.
Couple years later, the dealer brought the DT400, which I felt would have been a better bike, though I never rode one.
Trinidad & Tobago.
West Indies.
Wow thanks for sharing! Interesting that the 185 out accelerated it. Maybe the gearing was the factor. I’d like to get my hands on a TS250 and put them side by side to compare. I do have a 1975 TS125 that will be on my channel at some point too.
I miss the sound of the 70's Yami Enduros. Many great memories. I rarely had good brakes on mine. Mostly used the kill switch as a brake. Bike usually started right back up after releasing it. I ride a WR250f nowadays
Wow, downhills would had to have been sketchy! 😆 these bikes don’t have much compression braking to slow you down too. Thanks for sharing!
Modern knobbies front and rear tires on your bike surely made a huge diffrences wow!!! The classic 70’s tires on them bike made it slide down too much on side hills like you just did!!!
Yeah if I had the stock trials like tires it would have been a different outcome. Knobbies are a must!
These beasties were the bee's knees . Where I rode you needed a trials bike most of the time closely followed by one of these .
The more technical the trail, the more fun I say!
That was one nice bike when new. Just about anything that was New no matter what year was pretty good until they got old and beat up. I had a lot of dirt bikes in the 70s and they were like top of technology. I thought they were the best thing in the world at that time.
The 70s bike boom would have been great to live through. So much innovation coming from all the Japanese manufacturers
That bike sounds really good, like the engine is still pretty tight.
Thanks, yeah I couldn’t believe it. When I got this bike it looked to have been sitting outside for many years. I was expecting rusted cylinder, stuck rings and bad crank seals. All I had to do was clean the points and she fired right up. I had to clean the carb and stuff obviously but didn’t have to get into the motor at all.
1974 DT250, I remember you well!