Why every Motorcycle Enthusiast Should Own a Vintage Yamaha Enduro 

My parents bought me a new Orange w/White striper JT-1 back in 1971 when I was 11, changed my life. I went on to manage a 3 store motorcycle franchise and at 62 still ride my Honda CRF450R. That mini enduro did it for me.

My first bike was a 1969 CT-1 exactly like this one! I think I paid just $150 for it in 1976 because it was jumping out of 2nd. Mechanic Daryl Pangrel at Heyser Cycle in Cambridge, MN charged me$60 labor to repair the transmission. 4 years later I began a 25 year career in the motorcycle industry.

Great video and information. Man, the sound of that engine turned my heart into water ! I am 67 years old and the CT1 was the first bike I owned from 1973 until 1977. I was the fifth owner of it, and I certainly put the most mileage on it. I learnt to ride on a friend's Yamaha LS2 100cc and got my licence before buying the CT1. I honed my skills on it, starting at 17. This was Yamaha's first foray into trail/enduro/dirt bikes. There was the AT1 125cc, CT1 175cc, DT1 250cc released at the same time. Years later they would release the RT1 360cc, and also JT1 60cc & LT1 100cc. I cannot understand why Yamaha changed their model designation later, but in the 70s all enduro/trail/dirt models were identified as DT. So now it was DT100, DT125, DT250 etc. All the 1 model engines were piston-ported 5-port. When the AT2, CT2, DT2, RT2 were released, they had 7-port reed-valved engines. Yamaha dubbed this "Torque Induction". This type of engine was the birth of the popular RD series street bikes, that won so much acclaim worldwide for their excellent performance. I stand corrected, but I don't think the 1 series carried turn signals, although they were street legal here. The "Autolube" injection system is super reliable. Never had issues. I appreciate this video. Regards. Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies.

Great video. My first bike was a used 1970 Yamaha 175 Enduro. Bought in 1971 when I was 14. I worked all summer full time to buy it. At 16 my dad co-signed a loan so i could buy a new Yamaha 360 Enduro😊. I'm 66 and still riding. Currently run 2007 KTM 950 super Enduro and 2017 KTM 1090r. For putzing i have a mint 1985 Yamaha TY350 trials with only 285km. Thank you for posting and for the memories.

I was a Suzuki man (TS90, TS250) in the 60-70s but several of my friends rode Yamaha enduros. My favorite riding bud had a CT-1 just like the one in the video.. Now I lust for a MINT RT-2! I had an old beater DT-1 in the early eighties and even though it was past its prime in almost every way, it was still fun and always started 1st kick.

I bought a used 1975 DT175 in 1978, my first motorcycle too 😊

Hi. I had a ct3 when I was 15. Back in 1975 An amazing bike. Many fond memories of these bikes. I still have a Yamaha 175 ag bike. It’s a great bike. Enclosed chain ,dual side stands Gears are neutral at the bottom 5 gears all up. Easy to find neutral. Very reliable. Regards from Australia 🇦🇺

It's great to own a dirt bike that is street legal. That way we can ride to our favourite dirt trails. Also great for doing errands around town, riding to work, etc. And we can take shortcuts through the fields on the way to work. Even in winter. Cheers from Canada :-)

I had the 125 version for my second motorcycle, with my first being a lil Yamaha 60. Great memories growing up on the farm with those bikes. I wish I still had them both.

Started out on a Yamaha 125mx in 1972. Moved on to a dt or delirium tremor 250 in 76. Rode for miles in the Idaho and Nevada deserts where I grew up. Never had a break down or got stranded in the middle of nowhere. Great bikes even if they had poor suspension.

I had a 175 in college. It was beat-up, hand painted, and had 14,000 miles on it that I paid $100 for. It got me through the poor times. I sold it for $200 with 30,000 miles on it to a farmer who, once his daughter learned to ride on it, buried it in a field. If I had known, I would have never sold it.

First bike was a Brand New Yanaha 80, Xmass of 73! So began the Addiction! $300 Brand New! Best decade Ever! God Bless 😊😊

I have a 1975 Suzuki TS 185 with the oil system still working well. Sounds just like yours! I ride it mostly in the Catskills in New York. I’ll tell you I am 225lbs and the Suzuki pulls me up the old logging roads with no problem,and I mean none, with trials tires. It is a blast to ride and every time I hit the trails I’m 15 again. Nice example you have. Thanks

I had to say that the fact that it still has that front fender shows it was lovingly taken care of! 😄

I had that exact bike, my Dad bought it new for me in I believe '72 when i was 15. I had ridden mini bikes for many years and won a couple local races and then learned to go fast in the woods on of all things, a Vespa 150cc scooter we had. But the 175 Enduro was really the bike that I honed my dirt bike skills on. I ran a number of enduro races (hound and hound and hare) around central Florida and even placed well in the Trials events i entered. I was faster than guys who had motocross bikes and were racing so My Dad bought me a YZ-100 that I beat 7 time world champion Jeff Ward the only time we met in a motocross race and then I moved up to a YZ-125 as a 17 year old and earned my AMA Experts license for 125cc motocross.

My dad bought a '72 DT250 brand new, when I was born, sold it when I was 5. Those sounds bring me back. The neighbor had a DT360. Good times.

I started on one of these after getting my motorcycle license a few years back. After sweating at the thought of financing a new bike my friend found a 1973 ct3 for sale and convinced me to buy it. After restoring it to running condition we spend the summer riding through the woods and exploring fire roads with me on the ct3 and him on his tw200. I’ve since got more bikes and some more modern but there’s nothing quite like waking up the neighborhood riding through back streets on a street legal two stroke.

I agree with you! I've loved the Yamaha Enduro line since I saw my first white 125cc AT1 when I was riding my Honda Mini-Trail 50 around our hills in elementary school. I knew a number of people who owned them, from the Enduro 60 up to the 360. They have a classic and very functional look about them.

I had the same bike and I loved it The bike was indestructible.

Had the exact same motorcycle (but red) in 1977. Gorgeous machine in looks and performance - wot adventures we had together 😘. My current steed - CB 500X - although nowhere near as nimble - allows me to go far further afield.

I had a DT 175. I was about 13, so that would probably be a 1977. I used to fly through the air with that thing. We'd set up long metal ramp and jump over oil drums. A dozen was my max. The back tire would just touch the last barrel.

I have a green 69 CT175 and a 70 DT250 the 250 belonged to my friend who bought it new and in 94 his dad gave it to me ; it’s a blast to drive

I had a '69 175 that was orange, generally exactly like that. Got it at 15 for $300😊 in 1973. It was my primary transportation and weekend entertainment. Had to sell it in 1980, for $400. Regretted it ever since. Thanks for the memories!

Senior year in high school we rode a 1970 dt-175 to the Warren dunes in Mi from Chicago suburb, 110 miles one way , with my friend on the back, full throttle both ways,what a ride!

Wow. When I was 14 my dad brought home a 69 Yamaha 175 enduro just like this one only it was green. What a blast to drive. A few years later my uncle brought over a 360 enduro. That thing was crazy fast.

This exact bike gets me right in the feels. Huge part of my youth was riding off-road from 1967 on. Even though it was my best friends he let me ride just as much as I wanted. Only his was juiced up with an expansion chamber exhaust and a dual spark cylinder head. I was the faster rider, so when any challenger come sniffing around I was assigned as pilot to take them down. 😎

Great video and beautiful place. These are classic bikes. I had a 1970 yellow 125 which was new at that time. I still miss it 😢

Besides your great bike, I bet many would give their left testi to be able to freely ride in those beautiful surroundings, especially the single track stuff amongst the trees. My ideal retirement job would be to teach/accompany big-city folk to ride small dirt bikes in that enviroment 😊

I had this color in 100cc. when it was new. my dad had the white-tanked DT1 250 when they first came out. He raced it in motocross and desert racing. They will get you around but they didn't have much suspension travel.

The memories....I had a `71 CT3 identical to yours🎉🎉 got my motorcycle license on it and rode it all over the place. Awesome bike!!

Love it, I had a yellow '73 CT175 much like yours in the 80s, wish I.kept it! I am restoring an '82 XT200 right now. Everybody needs one!

Couldn’t agree more with your sentiments towards the Yamaha and the other simple reliable ‘70s and ‘80s Japanese 2-stroke trail bikes. I am lucky to have many collected bikes over the years from a Vstrom down to a couple of Vespa’s but my go to bikes for a couple of hours on country lanes are my Suzuki TS185M (1976 original) and TS125X (1988 original). Wished one of the big four introduced such a product today. And you just have a great place to ride compared to available trails here in Southern England!

Back when I was in high school I had a 1971 Honda CL175 which reportedly made 20 hp (pretty good for the time) . But a fellow trail rider had a Yamaha 125 that looked just like yours. I always admired the look and sound of that bike.

My first new bike was a 72 Yamaha 360 for 950 bucks, I was 16. Still have a few enduro s in the barn with a few it models as well. Thanks for your great video.

I started out with a 1970 Yamaha 90 MX. IN 1972 bought a Yamaha 250 MX. what a great time to grow up with these great bikes. Anyone remember having a compression release on there 2stroke? How about going to see “On any Sunday” in 1971 at the movies and Malcom Smith was your hero, boy I do

Only ride I ever owned was a Yamaha 250 Enduro. I really had fun on this motorcycle. Got mine in spring of '71.

Longtime CT175 owner here, I agree, these little 175's are the best of the early Yamaha enduros! They have a broader torque range than other 2 strokes, and their auro lube injection system, which they invented in 1965, works flawlessly, just as you would expect from a piano manufacturer!

Had a 75 DT125 back in the 80s, but my first one was a 73 MX80B back in 76. It's how I learned to ride.

A '72 CT175 was my very first motorcycle my mother purchased for $300 as a Christmas present in 1993 for me. Wish I still had it too!

Thanks for the flashback to an old friend. I bought a new 1974 DT100 in 74, yea old fart., And it was my first street legal wheels at age 15. .I had a 90cc MX before and rode the wheels off them. Never forget the sound or Vibration of the Yamaha.

My second bike was a CT2 your review really took me back enjoyed both bike and review.

A good friend of my dad had one of these, and my dad had the 90 Enduro - same vintage (1971, I believe), which is what I learned to ride on.

Had the mini enduro 60 as my first bike. great bike plenty of power and was bullet proof..Loved it..

I had a Dt175c in 1987. Paid £140 English pounds for it with 4,500 miles. Bloody excellent bike. Sold it at 24,000 miles still on the original piston & clutch plates. The English winter salt on the roads used to rust the exhaust system, the mechanical advance etard unit wore out & had to be replaced, the indicators were rubbish, rear wheel crush drive hub to sprocket carrier wore & had play in so I used a strip of shimming to fix it. You are correct about the top speed, About 72mph but better at 65 for longer periods. One of my favorite bikes ever. Ride 77 XT & 79 SR 500'S now.

I bought a 1971 Yamaha RT1 360 new. I still own this bike and I am restoring it at the moment. I am sixty-nine years old now and still ride motorcycles. I live in New Zealand

It’s beautiful. I remember riding a couple of bikes like that when I was a teenager. My neighbor had a Suzuki GT85, pretty sure that’s what it was. Looked very much like your Yamaha. I remember him chasing me down his driveway while I was riding my Schwinn Mag Scrambler and going a** over tea kettle as my other friend’s peddle got stuck in my front wheel. Thanks for sharing. Later in life I owned a KZ 400 that had a similar paint scheme to your bike. Loved it but old bikes can be challenging to own. You have to be a decent mechanic to keep them running mint. Glad you are having good luck with yours.

Grew up with my dad always riding a 75 DT400. I wanted one, and we ended up getting me the 75 DT250. Had it since I was 15 years old. I’ve got 4 motorcycles at the moment, and still have the DT. Currently doing a full engine rebuild/restore on it.

Grandpa, Mom, and Dad each had a green one. Grandma had a purple one. I had a miniature red 50 cc in the same style. Never saw a Gold / Orange colored Yamaha. What a beautiful bike, and I'm partial to the green. Dad's bike had the seat extension that attached to the package tray, and I remember the spark arrestor on the exhaust was required for use on National Forest Service Fire Roads at the time.

I absolutely love the old enduros. Nothing like them is made today. They are just as capable of out there hitting the mud n dirt or running around on pavement. I am in love with the I think '78 XT500.

Man that took me back! Great video!! I had a DT-175 just like this. Mine was red. Quite the step up from a Honda SL-70! Loved that bike, wish I still had it.

First bike I had was a CT-1 175 Yamaha enduro. Loved that bike and the experiences I had on it.

Those Yamaha DT-1 s were everywhere when I was a teen

My dad and two uncles went to the Yamaha dealership and rode out on three dt 250s in 1969.

Thoroughly enjoyed your video, the dt175 is so perfectly balanced a machine well worthy of ownership.

First bike was a DT 250. Second was a TT 500. Great bikes.

I have a 1970 175 Enduro (CT1) - Green Tank. Bought it brand new from Don Vesco Yamaha in El Cajon, CA. Hasn't run in 30+ years, always garaged. Would like to get it running again someday. Loved that bike.

I used to sneak my dad's '69 out of the garage when I got home from school so mom wouldn't hear me and drive it on the dirt trails near our house until dad got home...I was eleven years old! Dad was the manager of two cycle dealerships in the 60's. I'll never forget the sound of this bike. Thanks for the memories. 🙏♥️😁

What a memories, my father bought two, one red 175 for my brother and a violet 100 for me, I was 15, I loved that motorcycle...

Amazing experience.. thanx for sharing..👍

These are the bikes that started it all . I’ve had about ten of them. The 125 had an electric start. It had electrical problems. I’d like to try a 250.

DT 250 was my first bike back in '72. Had a pre reed valve, and a reed valve version. Still great styling..

First bike. New 60 mini Enduro 1971. Im now 63 years old many years and motorcycles later mostly yamahas. Currently a Husqvarna te300 and loving every moment on my dirt bike. Don't let anyone tell you that you're too old to ride. Tell them you're too old not to.

My very first motorcycle a 1971 Yamaha 175 Enduro CT1 C Cost brand new back then $639 Loved that bike ! Thank You for this video !

One of my first bikes was a new 1977 yami dt 100 Enduro, 2 stroke. What memories!

So cool to see this...my first bike was exactly this one, Yamaha 175 enduro in the same bronze color even. I bought it used in 1974, can’t remember the year it was made. I rode it like crazy all over Southen New Mexico before replacing it with a Yamaha MX400C (the first monoshock and with a big Metzeler on the back for digging trenches!). Great memories!!

So right! You are very fortunate to have a place to ride like that!

I’ve got a 75 and a 76 . I’m 64 and I love to restore and ride Yamahas 😎

Nice bike! Used to have a couple of them Yamaha RT 360s when I was 14 or 15 yrs old. About broke my leg kick starting them...but boy would they rip! I miss those bikes now. Still have a Yamaha TY175 trials bike and I still ride it once in a while... great bike!

This is a downright beautiful video. The bike, the hills, everything. I saw one for sale about 2 years ago.

I owned a few of these awesome bikes. 1969 250 1970 175 1971 360 1972 360 1974 360 1975 400 And yes they all were great. I got into more serious woods riding and enduros so got into the IT,s after that. Worked at a dealer putting bikes together out of the crate in the evenings so I could trade them in and get new almost every year. I would love to own one again. Great bikes

I have a 74 Kawasaki F7 (175cc 2-stroke enduro). I have 7 other bikes, but if I could keep only one, it would be that one! Also super reliable, starts first kick, and am still using the reliable oil injection. Wish I had some sweet hills like you have!

My first bike was a Yamaha 175 Enduro, orange of course. I Loved it.

OH MY GOD…… THE SOUND ALONE brings backs so many memories of weekends riding with my dad. Me on the 100 and dad on the 175

What a great bike! OH, that Kickstart sound! I would like to get an Enduro / dual sport, but if I had one I'd like to use it on trails. I would feel absolutely horrible if I dumped the Classic Bike like this!

Wonderful video, gorgeous bike and scenery, fantastic backstory. 5/5 kickstarts, would Enduro again

We still have dad's 175 induro I had a 250 two brothers had a 360 . Oldest brother had a Kawasaki 350 bighorn which would run off an leave the 360 in the dust . Good bikes

My dad had a white 175 in Yakima, Wa in the mid 70’s that he would ride along with me while I was on a Honda 50.

I’m 63 now…. I had a 175 Yamaha Enduro in the early 70’s. My bike was a 1973 model. And like @racerxyz8833, it changed my life as well. But I grew up with Harley’s in our family. I’m still riding…. Just sold my 2008 Road Glide and looking for my new Road Glide for this next year. The memories on that bike are over the top. I wish my sons could have had the freedom we did back in the day

Only older yammie I rode and would still like to own was the old blue IT175 my brother in law had when I was a young teen, like that bike, and maybe an original FZ600R air cooled model light and handled like it was on rails, bump some power into it it would have been hands down best 600 sport bike in the mid to late 80s

Great footage 🎥🎬🎞️👍‼️ I owned a 500 Yamaha dirt bike, when I lived in Florida, Used to take Croom cycle track in central Florida, Great memories ‼️

My dad had a 76 yz250 with a dt1 250 engine. Miss it 40 yrs later

Great video. I got 1983 suzuki ts 185 2 stoke, I bought it in 1995/96. Lot of fun and still got it. Been in Dad's shed for years. I am now 45 and working on it to get it back on the road. Have a great day from QLD Australia

That was my first bike, a brand new 71 Yamaha 250 Enduro!

My first bike was a late 60's Yamaha 90cc enduro in the gold. Loved it

Just found that video really cool bike. Reminds me of my old mofa(Kreidler flory 2) Keep it up man

Had the Same 175 and color bought it new and agree with you totally about the bike lots of Low end torque really enjoyed the memories of riding ….

I have a 1970 Yamaha AT1 that I’ve been fixing up for a bit. Great starter bike!

I had the same bike when it was green color. Rode it for years, stripped it down did engine work and expansion chamber. Changed to 21” front wheel. Milled head down, converted to oil gas mix. Raced it in enduro, MX, hare scrambles and it never stopped once and won me a few trophies. Fun bike.

Love the sound and smell of two strokes!

Dad had the 250 back in the early, early 70s. I rode hundreds of miles on that bike as a toddler. Maybe thousands. Love that you ride it often. That's what they're meant for!

I have a JT2 60, an LT2 100, 2 LT3 100's, an AT1 125, a DT2 250, a 75 DT 250, and an RT1 360. I started with Yamaha Enduros in 1972 and still love them!

That was my first bike. Had plenty of fun and drove many miles on it. I bought it when i was 13 for $75 in 1982 lol. Mine was a 1973 ct175

My dad had one just like that,he got me the 125,we rode them in the woods& on trails the best years of my life, those were the days

My first “real “ bike was a 1975 DT125, loved that bike.

In 1979 I went with a friend to buy a Suzuki TS125ER, she found she wasn’t confident enough to ride it on the road and left it in her shed for about ten years then sold it to me, I rode it to work for a while then parked it in my shed then yesterday I got club permit registration and rode it again after 25 years. Such a weird experience after so long especially as my regular ride is a ST1100 and a GL1500.

Inexpensive, easy to work on, fun to ride and very reliable - it always amazes me at how few of these great bikes from the seventies are still in use. My daily riders are a 67 305 Dream and a 70 Triumph 500 (both purchased for cheap in non-running condition).

That was the first bike I rode, I learned to ride off road with it until I moved up to a husky 390. I road a honda civic 750 for awhile and gave it up when I had a family. Now after 35 years I'm back riding a harley davidson road glide. I'm having the time of my life.

You could always go with an sc500 . My brother and a few of his cohorts made the mistake of telling me if you can start it yourself you can ride it. Little did they know whilst they were napping I mixed up fresh fuel 31 to 2 with fresh 100 . Later fools , and yes that thing spit oil while doing 80 + . Only thing lacking was a stabilizer but I fixed it with a pair of vice grips

Mine was a 1974 Yamaha Dt175 i agree 💯 i grew up in the 90's as well my uncle's both hàd 87 Cr 250 and Kx250 my dt175 gave a dam good run if I knew what I know now id still have it hands down best Bike I've had mine is still going around

Absolutely the best sounds and smells to come out of a bike