After a lot of work restoring the DT that was mported into the UK from Ohio I took it out for it's first shakedown run this morning, ended up doing about 10 miles.

When you sit on it you realise how physically small it is for a 400 - not too small though unlike an old MZ TS 250 I used to have, it's about the right size for me, it also feels amazingy light.

Fired up second kick as it usually does, and does not like comming off the choke too quickly.

Once warmed up off I went. When warm you have to show it who is boss when starting it, nothing like as bad a some road testers claim, just be firm and it will not bite you.

For the first 1/4 of a mile or so it was 4 stroking a bit / leaving a blue haze behind it, probably because I had only previousley fired it up to make sure it ran OK.

Once warmed up, there was a little hesitancy just around 1/4 throttle, but once you were through that it ran fine, tickover was also a bit high.

I tweaked tha carb to lower the tickover and took the air screw out a 1/4 of a turn - that seemed to cure the hesitancy.

The ride was fine got up to 60 with remarkable ease, but it was not as quick as I expected it to be, but then again I never bought it with that expectation. I was very pleased that there was no "bucking" / surging on the overrun, something that MZs are well known for, and some people say the DTs do, never hapenned in my short run this morning, so I am optimistic it is not going to be a problem.

Vibration is acceptable - nothing like as smooth as my old MZ TS 250, but pretty good for a 400 single.

The carb has a small weep that needs to be fixed, in fact I need to give the carb a strip / clean, as that is something I have not yet done as the bike was a runner when I bought it, my thinking was if it aint broke......

Generally happy with it - the seat feels pretty comfortable, suspension des a good job.

I hope that the brakes will improve once they bed in as I fitted new shoes at both ends.

All in all pretty pleased with it.

Great news!! Enjoy your ride today!!!

Nice report! 

On the carb weep, let it be for a while if it's the float bowl gasket.  If it's the original Mikuni/Yamaha gasket they don't always seal perfectly right away.  After gasket gets wet with fuel, it will seal itself up in a day or two max. 

I was going to see if the gasket would seal itself, but seeing as I have not taken the carb apart, I have decided to just make sure that it has the right jets etc fitted and blow the airways through with an air line while I have it apart. Also wanted to check that the floats were not sticking, and that the float valve was seating OK.

I also need to replace the fuel lines which have become hardened.

The old gasket was pretty hard so just as well fit a new one while I am in there.

I'll give another run once I put it back together.

As long as original gasket is not broken, I don't change them.  They always seal for me.  They are made of some kind of miracle material I think. 

Replacement gaskets...  especially aftermarket...  don't always seal so well for me. 

You are right there is a lot of aftermarket stuff out there that is of doubtful quality.

I will be getting my new gasket from a supplier here in the UK that supplies genuine Mikuni spares, so hopefully will be OK.

An update

The bike now has 70 miles under it's wheels under my ownership, apart from the small oil leak which I am pretty sure is comming from the clutch shaft I am now very happy with the bike. Even the brakes are pretty good after bedding in the new linings by doing repeated stops from 50 down to a standstill about 10 times front and rear leaving a few minutes in between for the brakes to cool

The carb is very sensitive to the air screw position, either side of 1.5 turns out and it hessitates, 1.5 turns is bang on the money, the only other change to carburation is lowering the needle 1 notch from the settings in the manual, in the stock position it tends to be a bit lumpy.

The only change from stock is the 1 tooth larger gearbox sprocket which makes cruising a little bit more relaxed.

The rear shocks could do with being a little softer - even on the softest setting they are a bit harsh.

Think I am going to enjoy riding this bike, I'll see if I can post up a video of it in action sometime.