Just remove the bolt you circled and the rear of the tank will swing out just far enough to remove the cap and pour oil in. 

I am not seeing the fuseholder and main fuse in that pic.  It usually connects between the battery red and the loom red, right where the connection near the strap is.


Looks like a fairly tidy machine.  One other thing to be wary of from your pics is the fact that it may be a Europe market DT250.  Most parts are the same, but lights, jetting ect may be different.  I see yours has a fender extender on the front fender.  As far as I am aware, US and UK DTs - certainly the 125/175 models did not have this fitted as standard, but the German market did.



Fuse holder.

Thank you Tinkicker,

I hadn't even noticed the fuse connection.  So that's one thing I also need to attend to.  I have only had this bike for a few weeks.  I've insured it and also had to buy a new crash helmet!  The last time I rode was my Fazer FZ-1 between 2005 and 2009. 

I had two Arai crash helmets. neither of which fit me now.  I never knew a head grew as we age.  I tried a few but ended up with an Arai Quantic.

Today was the FIRST TIME that I rode the bike around where I live.  To be honest I wasn't really comfortable on it. It was a little noisier that I'd like (but it is a 1980s 2-stroke!) and it fel a little "skittish", but that was probably me tensing up on the bike.  I have to say it was hard work.

Also, I recently had a full hip replacement.  So I get nervous when I have to kick start it.  I was actually happy to get it back to the garage at my house.

Hmmm.. decisions. What to do?

Re starting it, if you're not too short, then use your left leg with the bike on side stand.

A 70s/80s two stroke with drum brakes and knobblies will never feel as planted as a noughties 4 stroke with road tyres and discs all round (which, in turn, will probably feel like an antique compared to modern bikes!).

Just take it easy and maybe try and find a quiet byway to pootle around on, just to get your confidence back.

To be honest I was surprised at how uncomfortable I felt on it.  I think it was mainly the wide handlebars and the tyres. It was very different to what I had imagined.  I'd hoped that it would be a "gentle" re-introduction to biking.  There are some great hills and tracks near me.  Sadly though, I really did not like the feel of it.  I couldn't wait to get back home. I also felt self-concious about the noise it makes.

So, maybe the wrong investment.  It is really sad for me.

I was a long time competitor in trials and motocross.  I have also been a on road,and off road instructor ( two wheelers and quadbikes) as well as a workshop manger/ senior technician at a large motorcycle project, test riding repaired motorcycles daily as part of the job of keeping joe public safe on our bikes.

To cut a long story short, after 12 years, I was burned out as far as bikes were concerned, sold off my bikes and took up boating.  Turned my back on bikes completely.

10 years later I felt a little more interested in bikes and reaquainted myself with the best bike I ever owned.  1997 VFR750 bought brand new.
Bought another and rebuilt it from the ground up.

I still remember the first few rides.  Gone was the sublime, smoothly efficient machine I remembered.  In its place was what felt like a plank of wood with a wheel either end that I was perched atop of.
  I was shocked at how alien riding bikes had become to me.  No fluidity or effortless control.  I felt I was a danger to myself.

My skills and confidence returned quite quickly with a little stubborness to not let it beat me and keep trying.

While 60 year old me will never have close to even 50% of the effortless riding skills I had at 30, I am safe now.  I have turned from riding at the very ragged edge, relying on skill and a certain amount of luck to keep me out of trouble; to riding sensibly and well.  Defensive riding and very rarely break any speed limits or even overtake traffic.  Content to just watch and relax.
The missus is far happier too.  Gone are the days of her watching the VFR speedo showing 145mph and welcomes the relaxed pace of riding these days.

You will be exactly the same.  A bit of perseverance will see your confidence and comfort return, just need to be very honest with yourself that you can never be the rider you once were and ride accordingly.
​​​
Fear and trepidation is your brain telling you that you are expecting too much of it in too short a timescale.  Ride in a manner that allows it to relax and it will soon start to remember the muscle memory skills it once had.

Thank you for your generous reply Tinkicker. It was so nice to read your account of returning to biking. The part about being shocked to find that smooth, effortless riding had disappeared really resonated with me.  That's exactly how I felt. 

I rode the DT about half a mile, down a small village lane with no traffic.  I was tense at first because the bike felt like it wanted to do its own thing. I tried to relax and it felt better and I briefly started to enjoy it.  It was a sunny day in England.  It was nice for a while.  Then I stopped at the end of the lane, struggled to find neutral and the bike stalled.

I felt like a complete novice. Again I had to kick start it (being worried about my hip) to start to return home.  I felt like I was riding a bouncy observation post. I decided to give it a little longer then return home.

When I got home I had mixed feelings.  A sense of relief that I was home and sadness about how unpleasant I found the whole experience.

As "Gr8uncleal" pointed out in his post, a 1980s MX bike with knobbly tyres is never going to be as "planted" as a more  modern road bike. I thought about my Fazer FZ-1.

I remember a friend on his R1 and myself on the Fazer, travelling from England, through France, to the south of Spain.  Riding through mountain roads at large speeds, sweeping through smooth French roads and highways and down through Spain, in baking hot conditions. I will never forget that two-day journey.  The return journey I did alone - that felt spiritual!  As you yourself know, you don't even notice yourself riding and barely move - just using fingertips, toes and being in total harmony with the bike, your pulse rate slowing as you get "dialled in". Wonderful.

Your VFR750 would have been a much better choice. Or even my old Fazer again.  I'm certain that if I had bought a Fazer and climbed aboard it, it would have felt much more familiar.  I think a Motocross ("dual purpose") DT was the wrong decision. I've never owned one in the past.  Even in the '70's it was RD250, RD400 then later years Suzuki Bandit followed by the wonderful Fazer - the best bike I have ever ridden.

I think I might have to think about selling it.  As I sit here today, on a sunny Sunday in England.  Living just a few miles from the famous (in the UK at least) "Rykas" at Box Hill.  I could jump on the bike and join the many hundreds of bikers who meet there to socialise and look at a range of machinery, ancient to modern.  I'm literally a 10 minute car drive from that location.  And yet I really don't feel like getting on the bike to become "part of it".

Thank you again for your message.  I really appreciated it!
- Daren