The best Yamaha 250 is the 1970 model by far, because it's red, a badge bike, and I have one. Also, no dim turn signals, a cleaner look IMO, this post is IMO also.

LETSJET wrote: The best Yamaha 250 is the 1970 model by far, because it's red, a badge bike, and I have one. Also, no dim turn signals, a cleaner look IMO, this post is IMO also.

First ride on I ever had on a motorcycle was on a brand new 1970 DT1...



One thing about Yamaha is they didn't rest on their laurels... the 72 was another iconic bike in my opinion. I love the clean look.

MarkT wrote:

LETSJET wrote: The best Yamaha 250 is the 1970 model by far, because it's red, a badge bike, and I have one. Also, no dim turn signals, a cleaner look IMO, this post is IMO also.

First ride on I ever had on a motorcycle was on a brand new 1970 DT1...



One thing about Yamaha is they didn't rest on their laurels... the 72 was another iconic bike in my opinion. I love the clean look.

Mark, was that photo taken on the same day as your avatar picture, and was that your stock riding gear back then?

Pete-RT1 wrote: Mark, was that photo taken on the same day as your avatar picture, and was that your stock riding gear back then?

Yes and yes. Picture was likely taken many months earlier than the developed date on the border. Photos were an expensive luxury when I was a kid. It was not uncommon for a roll of film to stay in the camera for a year... I remember after one birthday we went to Thrifty to pick up the developed photos and the roll had pictures of last year's birthday party too!

I do not recommend my riding gear choice. Especially the shorts. I burned the heck out of my leg on the exhaust that day.

Mark, I know exactly what you mean about photos on a film being taken over a long time period.
I remember my sister getting a camera for Christmas or birthday and it had the disposable flash bulbs in a row.

MarkT wrote:

Pete-RT1 wrote: Mark, was that photo taken on the same day as your avatar picture, and was that your stock riding gear back then?

Yes and yes. Picture was likely taken many months earlier than the developed date on the border. Photos were an expensive luxury when I was a kid. It was not uncommon for a roll of film to stay in the camera for a year... I remember after one birthday we went to Thrifty to pick up the developed photos and the roll had pictures of last year's birthday party too!

I do not recommend my riding gear choice. Especially the shorts. I burned the heck out of my leg on the exhaust that day.

That’s not the Thrifty on Charleston next to Skaggs in Las Vegas is it?

Midlife Motor wrote: That’s not the Thrifty on Charleston next to Skaggs in Las Vegas is it?

Nope. It was in So Cal. Store is long gone.

LETSJET wrote: The best Yamaha 250 is the 1970 model by far, because it's red, a badge bike, and I have one. Also, no dim turn signals, a cleaner look IMO, this post is IMO also.

I have to agree with you on this one Curt. The Brilliant Red 1970 DT1 is far prettier than any other 250cc model ever produced.. It also has a less restrictive exhaust than the 1968 DT1.

May I humbly remind folks this thread is meant to collect arguments and supporting evidence in favor of the DT2 being the greatest two wheeled machine to ever roll off the factory line?

I know I am the new guy around here, but if I say I am settling a wager with my wife I expect everyone's blind support. ASCO I knew you would be against me, but the others really sting.

The DT2 is a great bike but the other makes as well as Yamaha competed well against it.

I built a nice DT2 for my neighbor in either the late 80s or early 90s. I rebuilt the engine and had to replace the cylinder because the wrist pin clip came out and it and the wrist pin horribly marred the cylinder. once the engine was rebuilt and broken in, it had very good bottom end power and was a very fun and responsive bike, even doing wheelies was very easy to do.

later I got addicted to the big bores like the 360s and 400s and I have a couple of 1968 DT1s and a 1970 DT1. they are all great bikes

however if were not for the great success of the 1968 DT1, none of these dual purpose bikes including the DT2 would exist.