Here’s a relatively big cylinder motorcycle for you fans of on/off-road bikes who want or need something bigger than a 175. Yamaha made this nice-sized motorcycle for just over a decade, and this 1975 Yamaha DT250B is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Iron Ridge, Wisconsin. The seller is asking $1,600. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
This DT250B isn’t as nice as some others that we’ve seen, especially this gem that we saw here on Barn Finds back in 2018. But then again, it’s priced below Hagerty’s #4 fair-condition value of $2,000, so there’s that. Made from 1971 through 1982, the DT250 was one of a line of on/off-road bikes made by Yamaha in this era. You can see this one is wearing a replacement seat cover, and I’d want to get a nicer one, but that’s just me.
Yamaha’s DT-series was one of the first enduro or on/off-road motorcycle lines, beginning in 1967/68, at least in the modern era. Appearing to have led somewhat of a rough life, this example is missing its turn signals, unless they were just taken off at some point, maybe for more serious off-road use. The interesting routing of the exhaust system through the frame and under the seat and rear fender has been used by other companies as well.
Showing over 7,300 miles, this example is inexpensive enough to use as is, or the next owner can pick away at restoring it and easily double its value in no time. One thing, you’ll have to apply for a title, as the seller says there isn’t one. I’ve done that for motorcycles, and at least where I am, it isn’t that hard. Portuguese Orange and High Sparkle Blue were the colors this year.
The engine is Yamaha’s 246-cc two-stroke oil-injected single-cylinder with around 19 horsepower. It’s backed by a 5-speed manual, and the seller doesn’t give much info other than there’s no title, there have been three owners and it runs and rides. Let’s hear those 250 single-cylinder stories out there!
Cool bike, thx SG for the write up on Lothars find. Love enduros, great learning bikes, riding on the trails and dirt roads is so much fun. I went from DT175, to XL350, to DR650… covered 3 of the 4 manufacturer’s. Wish I had a Kawasaki KDX in there.
Most definitely a Yamaha icon of the time, SG-good score Lothar. If you couldn’t get a 360 this was your ticket, one that a lot of guys really wanted. Looks pretty good, kinda funny the seller felt he needed to say it’s a manual shift LOL.
No title, no problem in some places but might be a reason for the affordable price.
:),,,”The Bushwacker”, no doom and gloom here. When I had my TS400 in the 70s, the farm I spent a lot of time on( and eventually living there until moving here) in N.Wis. my friend that was his families farm, had a bike just like this. On the tank, he painted( or decal) “Bushwacker”. And whack the bushes we did. We would ride the snowmobile trails in summer, that were right out his back 40. One time, I drive up there, bike in pickup, from Milwaukee, the guy says, oh, before we go, we have to help pick up some hay that is “laying”, shouldn’t be too long,,,,by the time we were finished, it was almost dark, and too tired anyways. Made up for it next day, got up early, and rode, and rode, and rode. Back then, just about every tavern had a gas tank, we didn’t get back until after dark. Fun? Well, let’s just say, I’ve never been able to duplicate that, and probably never will. Great bikes, before I moved, the Bushwacker was still in the barn, and even started, but pretty sad shape. We had a lot of fun with that bike. And no, nobody got killed,,,
Most of us who were given the good fortune of learning to ride often have the best memories of good times when we were/are up on two wheels. Thank you for sharing yours here today Howard.
“ “They [motorcycles] eliminate the dangerous tendency to sit perfectly still, stare out the window from your air-conditioned house and contemplate the meaning of life. Which we now know to be meaningless without motorcycles.” Peter Egan
1 had a Yamaha dt3 250 back on the day paid un 900.00 new wow
Brings back memories.
My first bike in 1979, kick staring it was a thing of nightmares. The kick back nearly broke my ankle. Had a lot of fun riding it though
My friend, Don, had one of these for several years. He loved it and rode it everywhere. But he had trouble with head gaskets. He had them replaced and surfaces ground but the problem was never really resolved.
I bought a 1983 550XT new in 1986! Still have it with around 2000 miles. Great heavy bikes.
My friend got a 1974 DT250 for his birthday in ’76. That’s the bike I learned to ride on! I got my first bike later that year. I’m 65 now, and longest I went without a motorcycle was five years.
Had the same 250 endoro while I was stationed in Iwakuni Japan in 1977 .bought it from my friend Randy that was rotating back to state side . I use be able to strap 2 cases of Budweiser on the back and bring it up to the swimming hole up in the mountains where all my friends were waiting for me . It was called a beer run . Great memories on that bike .