I will be bringing my dad's 75' DT250 back home in a couple of weeks. He sold it nearly 30 years ago to the current owner, but it has never been more than a few miles away all those years. I'm not sure if dad bought it new in 75', but I know it was around in 1980 when I was old enough to know. The picture below was taken 2 years ago. At that time it had just had kreme coat put in the gas tank, a carburetor rebuild, new points, got the lights to all working again and a new seat cover.

From what I've been told, now 2 years later, it stopped running one day while being ridden around the yard, the lights don't work, and the carburetor leaks gas. The owner parked it and hasn't touched it since it quit running. I believe the bike has around 4k miles on it, but will have to verify when I get it home. The title is still in my dad's name and the current owner didn't ride it very much in those 30 years. I was just a passenger on the bike when dad had it. I hope with a little help I can get it running again and make a few new memories.

What a great story with a likely happy ending.

Great story. Congrats!

Every vintage enduro deserves a story like yours.
My 250 and my 400 were both purchased from sons who selling their dad's bikes.
Both of which were the original owners, so at least I know the history on those two bikes.

Great story, thanks for sharing. Nice that you got it back and amazing it's still in your Dad's name!

It was a cream puff when dad sold it. I’m anxious to get it and see how the past 30 years have treated it. I don’t suspect much has changed cosmetically since the picture above 2 years ago.

Can someone tell me what the chrome loop bar(s) are for between the exhaust and engine?

They would be aftermarket crash bars . Not original equipment .

Gotcha. They’ve been on there since I was a kid. I always tried to stick my feet in them.

Great you got it back. Leaky carb probably stuck float from dirty carb, bad gas. My Mom sold my 1978 YZ125 while I was in college... and its gone forever.

Well, here it is - home. Not much more worse for wear than when last seen two years ago in my original post. I drained the old gas out and refilled, checked for spark - good to go. Kicked it about a dozen times and it was running! Definitely needs a carburetor cleaning. It will run / idle when choked, but starts coughing and spitting when choke is off and gas dumps out the overflow tube intermittently. I haven't rode it yet, but happy it at least it runs.

I'd like to find a good carburetor kit for gaskets etc. and give it a good soak.