Yamaha DT's are good bikes. I traded one of my older motocrossers for a 250 . One cold and snowy day my car wouldn't start so grabbed my Moto 3 helmet ..put on a good coat , boots and gloves and took off for work . I had a ball ..powerslides , doughnuts and laughed at all the stuck cars along the way . I could have gotten my car going but it was a great excuse to play in the snow . One cop did turn on his lights when I came sliding around a corner but I acted like I didn't see him and his car just sat there spinning ..so I just kept on going ! The ride home was even more fun ...good times..good times . PK
Damm! This brings me back... To my first ever real motorcycle... When I was young (13yrs old or so.. I asked my parents to help me get my first dirt bike/motorcycle..all I thought about and wanted so badly..I built and been riding a minibike in the trails by mt house with a Briggs 5hp for year or so prior.. I would go to public library and take out books on dirt bikes etc. Then would sit in the family living room alone for hours in the lazy boy recliner holding a broom stick across my lap grabbing it like handlebars and practicing using a imaraginary clutch and throttle as well as shifting up And down with my left foot. Wanting a dirt bike so bad.. then the day came my dad surprised me going to his co workers house on a weekend and bought me the 1978 Yamaha dt100 the coworker was selling... I was estatactic... It was the beginning for me.. and still going strong today.. seeing this vid brought back some deep emotions and memories.. thanks brother 👊💪 .
I had one of these in Mt Isa Australia when I was 14 years old. A red 1977 model. Still have scars on my right elbow and right knee from the old girl. She was a beast.
No matter how gd or bad a day is, I just catch up with you all and the smiles just push through. That bike is insanely cool. Ken has done well and pushes not just his family and friends but ordinary folks to open their eyes to prosper and is an inspiration. I thank you.
Beautiful Thing for you to do Ken, for your longtime friend. I thank Gunther for his selfless, courageous and patriotic service. What Gunther did allows People like myself, you, your family and everybody else that live in the Beautiful USA, to have the Many Freedoms and Opportunities that we have. Many 3rd world socialist countries, along with their residents aren't so lucky. I support the Military, Cops, Firefighters, Paramedics, and all the other selfless and courageous people, that are grossly underpaid for what they do. Enjoy your weekend, brother.
Thank you all for the good wishes. I was active duty in the early eighties and was deployed to Grenada and Beirut twice with 2/8. I spent many hours in adverse conditions and it was the dream of riding free in the future that got me through.... Thank you again to Ken and his crew for such a thoughtful and beautiful rebuild. Ride on everyone!
I love it. He is a marine for life. I’m proud to say o love it & even thou you’ve known him you respect his service. My sons a marine aviator ! It’s a title you earn. No joke ! 🇺🇸SFMF.
My grandfather was VMB-413 Shamrock. Tail gunner in a 1J, over the South Pacific, til the end of WW2. Semper Fi Marine! That bike could use the full adventure complement. You need a place for all your other gear, right? The tent, cook gear, beer. 😄 had to edit it again. Not "D" but "J"
In 1988 I had broken the engine in my XR5OORE. My brother-in-law offered to lend me his yellow DT4OO if I could get it running. Had been in a couple different shops for low / no power. Even got a rebore. He turned up with it on a trailer, and I gave it a few kicks, ran down to my Dad's shed and returned with a screwdriver and spanner. Off came the muffler in two minutes. Chucked the muffler onto the grass, jumped on the DT kicked immediately into full life and I wheelied it off the trailer and up the hill. Priceless look on old mates head. Kept it for about 6 months. Went everywhere.
Dirtbikes really bring us special group of people together this almost made me shed a tear. I met my childhood best friend through dirtbikes 10+ years later we are still closer than ever. Without Bikes I wouldn’t have had such awesome opportunities growing up. And that bike looks awesome. Thanks for your service and enjoy.
Great sentiment ken, your friend is proud as punch and rightly so. Hope everyone at the isle of man TT is safe today, god bless. And great work Kaplan America.
I had one of these and was a dailey driver had to rebiuld it twice, cops would always stare me down thinking it was a dirt bike and not street legal. When I first got it it wasn't street legal, I put the signals and got it registered and had it 4 years fun street bike..
I bought a ‘78 DT 400 new for $1250. I heard the DT stood for de-tuned, which made sense to me because I always felt that it was pretty underpowered for a thumper of that displacement. Even so, I loved it and finally sold it in 2006 for $1000. I’m riding a built 2007 Harley Deuce 103 ci. now, probably ‘til the day I die.
Just picked up the same model in Vancouver BC. All original 8,000km runs mint. Love the old 2 strokes, it will be my recreational property cabin bike, starts literally like 1st if not second kick, yamaha 👍
I had a 250 same year and I always wished it was a 400 like this one. Only downside is 6v electric but mine ran without a battery and still had headlight, good trail bike. Heavy but low seat height makes it easy
My Dad sold his DT400 mint condition literally identical, minus marine badges. If you bought that from JEFF DRAPER out in Idaho, I wouldn't be surprised.
Loved it when Gunther pulled up on the xr250 and so excited of how awsome Kens track is and Ken telling all the ladies look out for this guy on the old xr hes mad as hell😂😂😂
Beautiful bike!!!! God Dammit guys I think I bent a shift fork on my Yellow 250F. Soooo pissed. My buddy will hook it up for me no pun intended but $$$. Missed a shift and I just know it's not the detent pusher. That would be toooo easy. I prefer the 250 for the revs stock for stock and I'm only 180 riding weight. I have my pegs too in the box!!! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vz7naEpg1Mc.html Also I like the looser gaiters on the 400 though compared to the 250 with the narrow gaps.
Kaplan got your ears on ? You may want to look in Kenny Jr. Email I just sent today of some stocks that are about to pop . Maybe a 1000% ...like $3 dollar stocks of a chip company and solid state batteries for EV's ...with guestimating what you can gamble might just pay for everything you want to finish everything and more for the Musium , motorcycle school GasGas franchise dealership setup overstocked with everything more than they got in parts service and all the new GasGas models x 5:...And all the Maico's they can send ..I wanta see a.j. Wagner built CR500R's for Moto , stretched swingarm for competition Hill climb, and street legal ..of all three brands ...Maico, GasGas, and Elsinore ....you already have a line on all three .. now the finishing touches...I heard what you said on dyno day about the Maico's ...look at juniors email from me ...it's just seems like it all fits in now ..go for it
