1978 Yamaha 125 DT Model E

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wtlf101 · #1 Unread post by **wtlf101** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 12:33 pm

Currently I'm talking to a guy through email about this model of bike. I'm just wondering if any of you know any types of technical problems or much information about the bike in general, like miles per gallon, how much it's worth, etc. Thanks.

BuzZz · #2 Unread post by **BuzZz** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 12:57 pm

It's not street legal. MPG will be pretty low compared to most bikes, it's a 2-stroke. It ain't worth much..... a grand in perfect condition, less and less the more tore up it is.

It would make a decent play/trail bike if that's what your after.

http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/yamaha ... e_1978.php

wtlf101 · #3 Unread post by **wtlf101** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:39 pm

It is a dual sport bike. It has a horn, brakes, all lights work. Is that not considered a legal street bike? Plus is 5500 miles too much for a bike like this?

#4 Unread post by **Jamers!** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:56 pm

wtlf101 wrote:It is a dual sport bike. It has a horn, brakes, all lights work. Is that not considered a legal street bike? Plus is 5500 miles too much for a bike like this?

those are mods then, 2 strokes arnt street legal.

JWF

BuzZz · #5 Unread post by **BuzZz** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:01 pm

The mileage is getting up there for a 125 2-stroke, but it's 28 years old. That's not in it's favor. Especially if it's never been rebuilt. Even if it has, crankseals will be hard and prone to failure, and that's death to 2-stroke.... total crank-up-rebuild time. And it's very, very possible that the mileage showing is less than actual. Speedo cables and odometers from that era are notorious for failure. If it even works now, it probably didn't work for some portion of it's life.

2-strokes were road legal when it was new, so it still would be, if it originally was. Does it have signal lights and switchgear? High/low beam switch? Brakelight switches on both front and rear brakes? A metal gas tank? If it does, then it could probably be registered. If has all that and is in very good condition, then you have a good shot at getting some more miles out of it on the road. The worse the condition, the worse your chances of trouble-free motoring for any length of time.

If your looking for a roadbike, your probably better off looking for something else, regardless. But if short trips to the store or something, and puttering around off-road are all you'll use it for... and it's really cheap.... and in good shape.... it would be OK.

wtlf101 · #6 Unread post by **wtlf101** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:58 am

It has brakelight switches for both the front and rear brakes. It has a metal gas tank. It has signal lights and switchgear (if by that you mean it has manual shifting transmission. All of the above are in working condition as well as it comes with a working battery. It already also has an Iowa title. I just want a bike to learn on and to drive around on roads in the rural areas and occasionally to drive to my friend's houses. So it's not like I'm looking for an elaborate bike to travel around several miles per day with.

#7 Unread post by **fireguzzi** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:08 am

JWF505 wrote:
wtlf101 wrote:It is a dual sport bike. It has a horn, brakes, all lights work. Is that not considered a legal street bike? Plus is 5500 miles too much for a bike like this?

those are mods then, 2 strokes arnt street legal.

JWF

A yamaha RD is a street legal 2 stroke.

And extremely fun too.

wtlf101 · #8 Unread post by **wtlf101** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 1:45 pm

Um...is that perhaps a suggestion at another bike to look at then?

#9 Unread post by **Kal** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:30 pm

The RD series were a hooligans weapons of choice when I was younger... Enough so that a 'Blade owning friend actually says he has more fun on his RD350LC

Henriettah on here run's an RD125 if I haven't gone completely senile.

And if memory serves Keyoke ran a late eighties DT125 trail bike for a couple of years before disappearing off to New Zealand.

Give you an idea of 125 mpg

I was getting 300 miles to approx 10 litres or 30 miles to the litre. US gallon is what 3.78 liters?

So that would give me 113 or so mpgUS (rest of the world has a slightly different gallon)

with a top end of 65-70mph.

That said I can't think of anyone I've spoken to Stateside who dosn't beleive that 125's are underpowered.

Most people over there recommend 250 - 500cc bikes to start with...

#10 Unread post by **Jamers!** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:38 pm

fireguzzi wrote:
JWF505 wrote:
wtlf101 wrote:It is a dual sport bike. It has a horn, brakes, all lights work. Is that not considered a legal street bike? Plus is 5500 miles too much for a bike like this?

those are mods then, 2 strokes arnt street legal.

JWF
A yamaha RD is a street legal 2 stroke.

And extremely fun too.

coulda sworn i read somewhere that they are illegal, interesting

JWF