Picked up a DT250

alfredman22 · 01-17-2012, 09:14 AM

Just picked up this DT250, think its a 1978. Title, Original Keys, Original paperwork/service manual and even some Yamalube in some old pop-top oil cans (Older then me). Seems all original, 4,000 miles. New tires/brakes/Tires, just completly overhauled. Runs/Starts perfect only thing is the choke lever tab keeps popping off and got to pop it back to get the choke to stay and the backlight on the Tach is out. Looks better in person then pics. Little things fun to putz around on. Paid $300 mucho good deal or not?

MacNoob · 01-17-2012, 09:48 AM

Awesome deal, looks 78ish - I had a '78 DT125 and my uncle a DT400.

Just watch for the monoshock kick - sharp bumps can kick the rear tire into the air.

JWhitmore44 · 01-17-2012, 10:03 AM

I had a 75 DT250 when I was in high school. Couldn't kill that bike and it wasn't for trying. Would go out and climb hills, ride cow trails, wash her up and head to town to pickup girls :) Yours looks like it's in great shape wouldn't have thought twice for $300.

tommyg · 01-17-2012, 10:03 AM

awesome deal, I wish I could find one around here. A cl guy has been trying to sell a 74 360 for 5k good luck with that. Had a 78 175 more power would have been nice. Overseas they still sell it.

MightyChosen1 · 01-17-2012, 10:14 AM

Damn , You stole that for $300. I own the baby brother of that bike ,a 78 DT-175.

Looks be a nice untouched original bike. Not many that year still have the turn signals and mirrors intact.

georgej · 01-17-2012, 04:30 PM

You sure did steal it. Where did you find it?There has been one on Buffalo Craigslist for a a while now,a '77,looks as clean as yours. The price is $1000 !!!

alfredman22 · 01-19-2012, 05:37 AM

Long story........but the neighbor and I both have bikes and ride. He helped out a random stranger a few years ago with car problems. They get to talking says he has a bike that he bought brand new, rode for a year or two, then put into dry storage and has been sitting ever since. Funny thing is I met my neighbor by being stranded on the side of the road with bike problems also. Guy gives him a crazy deal on it because he helped him, neighbor rips entire bike apart and makes it beautiful. Lends it out to anybody who wants to "learn how to ride," including my wife. Fast forward a few years and he texts me its for sale. Now I am continuing the tradition. Alot of peoples first experience on two wheels stemmed from this bike and I want to continue that!

Kinda serendipitous huh?

Harvey Krumpet · 01-19-2012, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfredman22

Long story........but the neighbor and I both have bikes and ride. He helped out a random stranger a few years ago with car problems. They get to talking says he has a bike that he bought brand new, rode for a year or two, then put into dry storage and has been sitting ever since. Funny thing is I met my neighbor by being stranded on the side of the road with bike problems also. Guy gives him a crazy deal on it because he helped him, neighbor rips entire bike apart and makes it beautiful. Lends it out to anybody who wants to "learn how to ride," including my wife. Fast forward a few years and he texts me its for sale. Now I am continuing the tradition. Alot of peoples first experience on two wheels stemmed from this bike and I want to continue that!

Kinda serendipitous huh?

Yup, serendipitous indeed, that's why I bought a DT.

That bike is a steal!

alfredman22 · 01-19-2012, 05:39 AM

Quote:

The price is $1000 !!!

What???? Are these collectible or something? Figured it was worth more then I payed but not that much. What do these things go for?

mudgepondexpress · 01-19-2012, 07:33 AM

Great buy! My wife rides a silver 1978 but I believe they made blue ones also. In good shape they seem to run between $800 and $1000 do you did quite well. Ours cost $180 because it didn't run (points, condenser and a carb clean). A simple, easy to ride bike that can get decent mileage as a communter.

Looks like it is missing the factory chain tensioner that is bolted to the lower frame, other than that...looks great!

Kenny

alfredman22 · 01-19-2012, 01:07 PM

Well I suppose that would explain why the chain is always too loose or too tight then.

Shocktower · 01-22-2012, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfredman22

Well I suppose that would explain why the chain is always too loose or too tight then.

Ok I found the chain tensioner speed and sport inc has them just look them upthey have them

mudgepondexpress · 01-19-2012, 02:53 PM

Yup. There is a spring loaded tensioner under the swing arm, mounted between the frame rails (like the swingarm). Without it, you will have to run the chain quite loose to keep it only snug when the rear end compresses.

Kenny

beeper · 01-19-2012, 07:46 PM

That's a smokin deal for 300 bucks!

alfredman22 · 01-21-2012, 04:36 PM

OK kinda new to the whole vintage thing. Wheres might a fellow be able to grab a chain tensioner from? EBay comes up short and I'm guessing the yama dealer doesn't stock this stuff anymore do they?

01-17-2012, 09:14 AM	#1
alfredman22 ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2008 Location: rochester, ny Oddometer: 148	Picked up a DT250 Just picked up this DT250, think its a 1978. Title, Original Keys, Original paperwork/service manual and even some Yamalube in some old pop-top oil cans (Older then me). Seems all original, 4,000 miles. New tires/brakes/Tires, just completly overhauled. Runs/Starts perfect only thing is the choke lever tab keeps popping off and got to pop it back to get the choke to stay and the backlight on the Tach is out. Looks better in person then pics. Little things fun to putz around on. Paid $300 mucho good deal or not?

01-17-2012, 10:03 AM	#3
JWhitmore44 pistolero Joined: Aug 2006 Location: NW Kansas Oddometer: 1,181	I had a 75 DT250 when I was in high school. Couldn't kill that bike and it wasn't for trying. Would go out and climb hills, ride cow trails, wash her up and head to town to pickup girls :) Yours looks like it's in great shape wouldn't have thought twice for $300. __________________ 84 Honda Goldwing (GL1200) 03 XR650L

01-17-2012, 10:14 AM	#5
MightyChosen1 Flim-Flam Man Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Central,IL Oddometer: 1,050	Damn , You stole that for $300. I own the baby brother of that bike ,a 78 DT-175. Looks be a nice untouched original bike. Not many that year still have the turn signals and mirrors intact. __________________ Formally known as Furious D, I'm getting to old to be furious.

01-19-2012, 07:46 PM	#14
beeper Badger tickler Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Wisconsin Oddometer: 670	That's a smokin deal for 300 bucks! __________________ '12 F800GS '00 Bandit 1200 '74 Honda CL360

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01-17-2012, 09:48 AM	#2
MacNoob Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2010 Location: The mosquito-y Center of Canada Oddometer: 1,006	Awesome deal, looks 78ish - I had a '78 DT125 and my uncle a DT400. Just watch for the monoshock kick - sharp bumps can kick the rear tire into the air.

01-17-2012, 10:03 AM	#4
tommyg Beastly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2007 Location: petoskey,michigan Oddometer: 1,074	awesome deal, I wish I could find one around here. A cl guy has been trying to sell a 74 360 for 5k good luck with that. Had a 78 175 more power would have been nice. Overseas they still sell it.

01-17-2012, 04:30 PM	#6
georgej Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2008 Location: Upstate,N.Y. Oddometer: 155	You sure did steal it. Where did you find it?There has been one on Buffalo Craigslist for a a while now,a '77,looks as clean as yours. The price is $1000 !!!

01-19-2012, 05:37 AM	#7
alfredman22 ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2008 Location: rochester, ny Oddometer: 148	Long story........but the neighbor and I both have bikes and ride. He helped out a random stranger a few years ago with car problems. They get to talking says he has a bike that he bought brand new, rode for a year or two, then put into dry storage and has been sitting ever since. Funny thing is I met my neighbor by being stranded on the side of the road with bike problems also. Guy gives him a crazy deal on it because he helped him, neighbor rips entire bike apart and makes it beautiful. Lends it out to anybody who wants to "learn how to ride," including my wife. Fast forward a few years and he texts me its for sale. Now I am continuing the tradition. Alot of peoples first experience on two wheels stemmed from this bike and I want to continue that! Kinda serendipitous huh?

01-19-2012, 07:33 AM	#10
mudgepondexpress Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Spokane, WA Oddometer: 1,109	Great buy! My wife rides a silver 1978 but I believe they made blue ones also. In good shape they seem to run between $800 and $1000 do you did quite well. Ours cost $180 because it didn't run (points, condenser and a carb clean). A simple, easy to ride bike that can get decent mileage as a communter. Looks like it is missing the factory chain tensioner that is bolted to the lower frame, other than that...looks great! Kenny

01-19-2012, 01:07 PM	#11
alfredman22 ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2008 Location: rochester, ny Oddometer: 148	Well I suppose that would explain why the chain is always too loose or too tight then.

01-19-2012, 02:53 PM	#13
mudgepondexpress Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Spokane, WA Oddometer: 1,109	Yup. There is a spring loaded tensioner under the swing arm, mounted between the frame rails (like the swingarm). Without it, you will have to run the chain quite loose to keep it only snug when the rear end compresses. Kenny

01-21-2012, 04:36 PM	#15
alfredman22 ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2008 Location: rochester, ny Oddometer: 148	OK kinda new to the whole vintage thing. Wheres might a fellow be able to grab a chain tensioner from? EBay comes up short and I'm guessing the yama dealer doesn't stock this stuff anymore do they?