So I've begun restoring my Dad's 1972 DT2. The bike has had quite a life, and it’s about get a new beginning.
In 1973 my father and his friend (Dennis) both bought leftover identical 72 DT 250’s. They rode for a few years, then my Dad sold his bike. Dennis enlisted in the Navy and sold his bike to my Dad around 1976. When I entered the world in 1978, my Dad was still riding it (see pics below). He eventually sold it to a friend (Dan) around 1984, and Dan learned to ride on it and used it on the trails only. My father would often do electrical work at Dan's house and I would almost always accompany my Dad as his helper. The DT was always kicking around Dan’s yard somewhere, but eventually it quit on him and came to rest in the woods behind his house. Any time we visited Dan, I would visit the DT. Brush the leaves off and pretend I was riding. Somewhere around 1989, I got my first dirt bike (1970 SL70), and rode the wheels off it. Now when we visited Dan, I was more into bikes than ever and Dan offered the DT back to us. My Dad didn't need any extra projects to deal with at the time, but one day we loaded it up a brought it home! I vividly remember the day it came back to life, filling the shed with smoke and evicting the mice and spiders. The culprit, a bad ignition switch. I’m thankful the switch failed because it’s probably the reason we got the DT back.
It’s safe to say at this point my two-wheeled obsession was secured at about 10 years old. I constantly worked on the SL and DT, even commencing somewhat of a restoration on the DT. Several things always held me back, a rusty gas tank, rotten seat, and the fact that the non-essential electrical parts were stripped off (and No Ebay yet). In 1994 I started working at a local motorcycle shop and was living the dream (at least the dream of 15 year old). I worked there through high school and college, and even went back full time after college before beginning a career as an engineer. I lived to ride, and all of the money I earned at the shop went back to the shop for parts. I owned, rode and raced dozens of bikes since then (almost all Yamahas for some reason). My love of riding motorcycles and working on them gave me the foundation for surviving the academics of a Mechanical Engineering Degree. I have continued to work part time on and off at various shops, and started my own CNC machining business a few years ago.
I am finally at a point if life where I have the time and resources to get the DT back in action. My biggest break came a year ago when I stumbled across a freshly restored tank, oil tank, headlight bucket and ears for sale on Ebay. The color match isn’t perfect, but close enough for me. With a thorough carb clean, new points and condenser she came back to life last weekend. I don’t plan on doing a factory perfect restore, but it will be nice! I’ll update periodically! This site has already been a tremendous help for me.



That's my Dad and I circa 1979 on his 1972 DT2.



Me and the DT circa 1980.



Me and my son during a family photo shoot in 2013. We wheeled the DT out from behind the shed as a photo prop.



The bike where she currently sits, resurrection underway!



The new tank, pretty close color match, not perfect. I may restore the original tank someday and try again at the color match.

Great looking project.....
Keep the updates flowing. Pic's are great.
My 1st BIKE was a 72 DT250, GREAT RIDE!!

Great to see the photos and the close attachment you have with your Dad and now your son. Looking forward to hearing and seeing how the bike evolves. Greg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bikes with personal history are so cool. Don't ever let this one get away again. There is no substitute.
Thanks for sharing the pic's and your story.
Keep us updated.

Relic

to the site! Glad we have been of some limited help to your project. The site is a work in progress, so keep your eyes open as we continue to expand.

Would you be OK if we put the above photo on our Facebook Page ? It really shows to me a lot of what my son and I share about the bikes.

wOW... tHAT IS the most EPIC thing I have seen in quite some time!
3 Generations climbing all over it and Still it LIVES!You owe it to yourself to treasure that ride for what it is...
A family Heirloom!

that is really cool! the DT2 was a great bike and it is so cool about the family history.

Sure that would be fine!

Another question: If I want to continue to share the status of the project should I continue posting on this topic? Or move to restorations?

Great story and well written.
I had a 72 just like that in about 1977-79 in Georgetown, Texas.
Good luck with the re-build,
Scott

I can move this thread to the restoration section if you would like. That would keep all the info together. It is a great story!