The Dirt Bike that changed everything

The Yamaha DT-1 is one of the most important offroad motorcycle ever produced. This motorcycle was made by Yamaha to fill in the gap for small but sophisticated on and offroad riding, and it spearheaded the Japanese takeover of offroad motorcycle production

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[Ecmodaaz]

I had a couple of DTs, the 400 just out of high school, and later on the 250. Out of all the bikes I owned, I traveled more back country on that 250 than any of the others. It was light, simple, and fast enough. I covered the Big Bear mtns, Silverwood, Johnson Valley, out to Barstow, etc. It was like it was built for this country. Thanks for sharing, I really enjoyed it.

[tnwilliamson]

My college roommate showed up with a brand new DT1 back in 1969, we had more fun on that bike than was legal to have.
Wish I could reproduce those great years.

[DandLMartinFarms]

Had a red 1970 DT1 I got after I got out of the service. I rode it everywhere and it was the only vehicle I owned. Rode it rain or shine, to work, for play, and back and forth to collage. Dated my now wife on it and we have great memories of on and off road rides. Changed the front sproket to 19 teeth and could cruise on flat ground at 70. Put a 13 tooth front sproket on it for serious dirt riding. I put over 32, 000 miles on it and never replaced the piston or rings. Most reliable bike I ever owned, next to my 72 CB750 and my 1978 BMW R100S. Ended up selling the DT1 when my kids were young because I needed the money for them. Sure miss that bike!

[max.fleming]

I never made it to the DT 1 as my first real bike was a second hand DT 175 which I loved. Later on I bought a Honda CL 350 scrambler off a mate to go further faster on the road. I then sold both those bikes to buy a brand new Yamaha XT 500. That was a beast in it's day and by far my favourite bike I've ever owned. I think the XT 500 is worth a video in its own right. It was truly a legend in its own time, wining the first two Paris to Dekar rally's in 1979 & 80. From the XT 500 was born the XT 600 Tenere which I believe was the very first rally bike available to the masses and the bike that started the now so popular adventure bike category.

[giggiddy]

Owned and rode several Yamaha Enduro's in the mid 70s and 80s. They never gave out and never had a major mechanical malfunction even though lubricants and maintenance were not what they are today. Dad finally bought me a new 1978 Yamaha IT 175. Most probably never heard of it. I still have it and will be restoring it on my upcoming channel so I can relive it with everyone who has those memories. Cheers 😊

[raysouza]

I had a 1979 DT 175 and had more fun on that bike than any other bike I've ever owned.

[RideOp]

Beautifully done video. I grew up riding those great Yamaha Enduros and it was a great time to be alive.

[Patriot]

My first motorcycle I could ride on the highway I got in high school. It was 1970 Yamaha 360 two stroke enduro. I dropped a tooth on the countershaft, added a Basini expansion chamber, rejetted the carb. I then went hunting Kawasaki 500 MACH III's on the main street of our city. The launch was critical. If I kept the front on the ground through 1st & 2nd the Kaw didn't stand a chance from stop light to stop light (1/8 mi.). The 750 Hondas were a cake walk. My local bike shop got word of my fun and donated a 34mm MX carb, and a milled MX head.

[johngalt]

The old DT's are just fun to ride, trail, or street, too.

[shep]

1979 DT 250 Enduro was my very first vehicle back in the mid 80s. Loud and obnoxious and a top speed of about 50mph. And it started my life long love affair with bikes. Tooling around in the Black Hills and riding back and forth to school and work. Did both equally well.

[fjp]

Great bike. I had a brand new 1973 Yamaha 360 Enduro. What a blast, and it could do 90 mph on the highway.

[billybike]

I remember when in my little Wyoming small town when the motorcycle was debuted. The gold 250 and the red 175 was out of the world. Thanks for the background on this part of motorcycle history!

[TheHemiphil]

The first motorcycle I had in my life was a yamaha yz 80 my dad bought me when I was 11 years old and I rode that little bike into the ground, it's was absolutely bullet proof.

[whalesong]

Nice coverage. I was hard into enduros in the mid '60s, rode Bultacos which we also sold next to Honda models. I was properly miffed that the DT 1 was showing up as a challenge, and they were good. Many years later, I had the opportunity to scrap a clapped-out DT1 engine for recycling and was very impressed with how substantial it was, very ruggedly built.

[daveallen]

I got a RT-1 360 justd back from Vietnam and that thing was bulletproof! Had so much fun on it; it led me on to over 50 years of dirt riding. Stone reliable.

[phillipbatho]

I have to point out that the YZ bikes replaced the DT on the track, and other forms if racing, but the DT continued as dual sport bikes. They were replaced by the four stroke XT series that continues to this day with the XT250 in the US market, but is essentially the same type of motorcycle. The two stroke continued in other markets for quite a while longer while 2 stroke engines could still pass emissions requirements in those countries. I have a WR200R from the early 90s that is a strictly off road enduro race bike, but it was also sold in other markets as a DT200 as a very off road capable dual sport bike with just the addition of lights, horn, mirrors, and an auto lube pump and oil tank.

[bigmurr]

Great video Bart, I worked at a Suzuki dealer in Orange Ca. Very close to Saddleback Park . The Suzuki TS 250 was the best in my Opinion but there far more Yamaha's around . I dont think it will ever be the same . A; There no more two strokes in the states. B; The ultra modern styling is just Horrible ! If only Yamaha could go back to that old styling that would help, less plastic and more simple styling .

[robertlee]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane... I'm the old guy who had a DT1C in red... like in the video... It was my first real dirt bike and I won my first enduro trophy with it. They went way faster than the suspension could handle though and at 76 I can still remember that bike from the notch in my leg from the kickstand as I went off a jump and went waltzing Matilda. Woke up in a cactus patch and got out of the hospital in a couple of days... I healed way quicker then..

[Sertao]

My dad got me a 1971 JT1 60cc when I was 11 years old . I road that bike every day no matter what was going out side weather wise, for the next 5 years till my body reached 6 foot and I got my drivers license and a girl friend . That bike gave me the best childhood a boy could have living in the mountains of Southeastern Ky . I made trails with a machete strapped to the front of the bike that went for miles and miles and are now being used my atv's and dirt bikes . Back then a kid could pack his lunch and stay gone all day but home before dark . Our little motor cycle group would camp out on the top of the strip mines and ride till it was to dark to ride build fire put up our tents every change we had . Today they call it motocamping . That bike was bullet proof .

[pdm]

After returning from shipping out as a 20 yr old merchant seaman in 1970 I decided to buy a motorcycle with my pay. I had no idea what kind of bike to get but a buddy who knew about bikes told me about the DT1. It was one of the best investments I ever made. I practically lived on the candy apple red fun machine from morning to night. Loved it!