I sold my '89 DTR125 in october 2004, because i'd passed my bike test, which i had to pass because
my CBT was about to run out for the second time. I did the "restricted to 33bhp for two years test", because i didn't want
to do it on a heavier 500cc bike when i'm used to riding my nice and light DTR125. After passing my test i thought i'd look
for something with a slightly larger engine, and decided to get a '94 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro (grey import). After using
this bike for a few weeks i noticed that it made a clunk when i turned it off. After researching on the net i found that
the TTR250 is proned to wearing out the "starter clutch" (strange method used to start the engine). I replaced the starter
clutch assembly only to realise that my bike was also burning oil (valve stem seals). I've now replaced these, but after
spending a lot of time messing around to get the bike working again i've realised that i miss my old DTR.
My DTR was simple
to work on (being a 2 stroke) and doesn't have an awkward alloy cast frame in the way of the engine like my old NSR125 i had
(which required removing the engine out of the frame just to take the cylinder barrel off). Plus my DTR never broke down on me.
Although i did realise one day when i got home from town (after hearing the engine clunk at 10mph in town) that a chunk had
broken off the rear of the piston and got broken up into little pieces, and there was also a crack up the rear of the piston.
I'd probably put this down to the piston being overdue for renewal! It was also a comfortable bike to ride and i did some
green laning on it (the suspension handles well off-road), and the headlight was loads better than my TTR which has got a crappy
35 watt bulb.
After thinking about all this I sold my TTR250 and got another DTR125, although this time
I bought
a newer one (2001-2003 model).
27/08/05: I bought another DTR125:
I happened to look at the website of my local motorcycle shop and luckily they had a DTR for sale. It's a 52-reg bike, had one
previous owner (50 year old used it for commuting), only had 6936 miles on the clock. When i looked around it in the shop it
seemed in pretty good condition, although the exhaust was fairly rusty for a 3 year-old bike (didn't matter as i was gonna change the exhaust anyway).
The frame has a few areas of rust that require lightly sanding and re-painting, and the chain and sprockets needed replacing. I got the bike
for £2000.
After riding the bike home i noticed that the front tyre will need changing when i get round to it, because
the tread on it has worn a bit feathered, and it feels like it doesn't want to lean too much round corners.
10/09/05: Since i got my DTR i've changed the chain and sprockets (they're now only £50 for a genuine Yamaha Chain
and Sprocket set). The rear wheel felt a little sticky when turning, so i've taken the rear brake caliper off and cleaned
the anti-rattle springs and the alloy housing that they sit in. This is because the alloy gets a bit
powedery after a while
and can make the brake pads stick on a little if not cleaned.
I've done the following mods so far:
I've pulled the reed switch out of the speedo and tucked it to one side, (and taped over the hole).
I've cut the square rubber bit off the reed valve block and champfered the edges down.
Was going to change reeds, but it's already got fibre reeds.
Fitted a DEP front pipe, and a "Big One" rear silencer.
09/04/07: I sold my 2002 DTR125 on Ebay to help pay for my
Yamaha XT600E.
My first DTR:
I Bought my fisrt DTR in October 2003, it was my fifth bike. My previous bikes were:
1982 Yamaha DT50MX, 1981 Honda CG125, 1991 Honda CG125, 1991 Honda NSR125-RK. I'd been wanting to get one ever
since I was 16. It was a 1989 (G-reg). When I bought it, it had got a DEP rear silencer on it, and needed a new
chain and sprokets. Somebody had removed the left-hand-side YPVS end cap and used a piece of metal (screwed to
the YPVS centre thread and to the cylinder barrel) to hold the valve open. I don't know why someone bothered doing
this, because a week after getting the bike I noticed that there was two pulley cables tucked up underneath
the fuel tank. I pulled them out and they were attached to a servo (which had been unplugged from its power plug).
RESULT!
The next day I went to my local motorcycle shop and ordered the pulley housing, the pulley and all the
other little bits to make the power-valve fully functional again. I had to ask for the pulley parts for a newer
model bike (1997) because according to their computer a 1989 bike doesn't have a functional power-valve. So, in
the past someone must have fitted it as an aftermarket add-on. All DTR's have got the plug for the servo underneath
the fuel tank and the screw holes in the frame to secure one.
Click
image above to see the leaflet about ACF-50 (in PDF format), you'll soon
see why every biker should have some. It'll also help your bike hold it's
value for when you sell it!
If you've got any DT125R original sales brochures (scanned), magazine reviews (scanned), wiring
diagrams (scanned)(that i haven't got), video clips, technical tips, styling tips, or any other
relevant information that you think
i could put on my website then please e-mail them to me at:
