First, I don't own the bike. It is still owned by the Moon family (actual still titled under the dealership as it was never sold). I'm just helping her try and find a fair market value for the bike. If you know everything about these bikes, I know nothing about them. Could it be a restoration, maybe. But this bike was in their store or shop at home since new. But Jim had many bikes, they pulled out a JT1 today with a matching side car, the local Yamaha dealer bought it to put on display. If you are open to it, can I have the family contact you directly? They can give you the full history of the bike and answer all your questions. You can speak directly with them. Thank you for your help.

.
Yes, they are welcome to contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
As for me, I won't be contacting them . . . I have no questions, and don't particularly wish to hear the same story repeated

It's possible that "Jim" . . . made the MANY changes I see, without anyone else knowing . . . including his family !



.

..

Hi bmorreng

I'd like to see the photos of the documentation and the manuals as supplied with the bike in 1968 if at all possible??

Cheers

T1

Shared with the family your comments this morning, they said it may be hard to believe but the bike has never been restored and they have a mountain of proof to its authenticity. If you could see everything else they have with all the other bikes, documentation, OEM parts in original packaging from the 60's, 70's and 80's, dealer materials, tools, banners, etc. (just imagine the store room of a dealership inside your garage and out in the shop buildings at your house) you might have a different viewpoint. This isn't the only low mileage bike they have or rare item. Feel free to point out what parts you think are not original or what are.

The question is not if this is the real deal, the family knows that answer. The question is what might it be worth. Again appreciate your help, your email was given to the family. I don't know if they plan to reach out to you as the local Yamaha dealer is going to contact Yamaha directly about the bike.

I will ask Ron to for photo's of the manuals and post them on here when I get them. I have a picture of the title but won't share without his permission.

~

This might not be the best place, to get an answer to your main question.


c.winterwoods




(KNOWLEDGE is not Owned. Temporary Caretakers of Knowledge, are we)

Ok thanks....

It would be good to see a 68 title even if things like names & the vin is obscured etc ....



Cheers

T1

It might be the "real deal" to the family but as EN said that does not mean it's a 100% original parts 1968 DT1.

When I was a kid, the local Yamaha dealer would sometimes remove parts from a new bike to fix a customer's bike to keep the customer happy... especially if the needed part was on backorder from Yamaha. (The Yamaha replacement parts system was not that great in the early days... got better in the early 1970's when they went to the "IBM" numbering system.)

The Yamaha supplied replacement parts might be "functionally equivalent" yet different than the original parts... especially with the 1968 DT1 which saw many subtle changes during production.

That's just one way this bike could have ended up not being "completely original" (like the speedometer as has been mentioned).

A whole bunch of parts are unique to the "original" 1968... but many can be easily replaced with parts from later models (like the speedometer).

Maybe one of the DT1 experts can chime in about the ignition and front sprocket covers having what looks like different finishes? I remember the early bikes having painted covers (like the ignition cover) and later bikes having the "aluminum" look (like the sprocket cover). That's the first thing I noticed. I don't remember Yamaha ever using different cover finishes on the same bike?

It looks like a very nice 1968 DT1... even if it's not 100% original. The problem is that having all the original details intact is what really drives up the value to the true collector.

thanks for the pictures of the 1968 DT1! it looks like a very nice one and indeed like Mark T mentioned, I have heard of parts coming off a new one on the floor to satisfy a customer with the same model he or she bought from the same dealer in question when the part needed is not in stock.

Copy of title that had been edited.