Vote on my next bike project

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After what shall forever be called "The Fazer Fiasco" I've not learnt my lesson The Rebel doesn't need anything other than fuel, some occasional chain lube and maybe ACF50 before winter...

...for the next 3 years

I have a mate that still wants to clear his shed and he has a late '70s DT175 twin-shock. Good points: frame has been treated and painted, engine turns over, most of the parts are there. Bad points: spokes have rusted to the point a couple have snapped (so full wheel restore) original tank would need a fair bit of work (if it's even salvageable, there's a smaller tank from something like a DT50 jammed on at the moment) most likely needs new tyres.

Or maybe I should stay away from the 2-stroke voodoo and just get something that runs

I think Tef has a good point in that 250s are now the red-headed stepchild of motorcycles and consequently quite cheap for what they are. It doesn't need to be ULEZ compliant or anything so any age is fine. I'm weighing up whether the "classic" status of the aforementioned DT175 is a blessing or curse: no MoT, no tax, even cheaper insurance versus less parts availability. It doesn't actually have to be a 250, anything that needs a licence rather than a just a CBT just because... urm... I say so! But probably less than 500cc as my Rebel might get grumpy

What am I going to do with it? Make whatever it is roadworthy and putter about on a Sunday afternoon. And the other 6 days can be fettling/restoring/modding/whatever. Something in between the non-work of maintaining the Rebel and the self-flagellation of an old Royal Enfield Bullet While the dismal failure of the Fazer hangs heavy on my heart I really enjoyed restoring the Superlight and Turd Scooter - 2 outta 3 ain't bad, as the song goes

If you are kind enough to vote and you pick Option 2 then I'd love to hear your suggestions of makes/models to be on the lookout for
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Ste]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352350109094

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[Ste]

£120 for a pair... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303074156865

Dunno, if the rims are good then it might be better to rebuild the existing wheels rather than replacing them.

Have you had a chance to look the bike over for yourself?

The big question is how much does he want for the bike?

[Bhud]

A Yamaha DT175 would be a real blast, especially if you can scope out some nice offroad trails.

[Easy-X]

[redeem ouzzer]

Sorry you don’t have the skills for this project. Leave it to us 2T experts.
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Be a REAL MAN!

[Ste]

You could sell the frame for more than that.

For £100 I'd be expecting it to be a complete project that needs everything doing. The clutch cable, headlight and gear lever will be the least of your worries. After spending lots of time and too much money on it you'll probably end up selling it as an unfinished project.

The 'project' wheels could be sold to an eBay idiot.

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[Teflon-Mike]

The 'DT' 175 twin-shock WASN'T actually a DT. That was an engine code given to the seven port engines co-incident with the 250 & 400 getting the cantilever mono-shock of the YZ scrambler, and hence the 'DT' badging; The badge was retro applied to the mono-shock 175, 'Enduro' about a year after launch due to the cantilever back end and the fact that the bigger 250 & 400 'Enduro havong that badging.

A twin shock 175 should have the five port 'CT' engine and should have left the show-room with a simple 'exhaust heat grill... shouild have never have worn a 'DT' badge....

Howeblert, I would 'do' the Yammie ha-ha... see profile, it wouldn't be my first, AND worries about parts availability on the T-Shock 1`75 Enduro would be small... greater worry would be the rusty wheels... I have had a spoke let go on me on section, inconveniently half way up a rather steep climb... results weren't pretty!!

Starting with the hubs, I would cut the spokes and chuck them and the rims away, and then worry about the state of the hub... and if in any doubt I would source better 2nd hand hubs from a TY250 trials bike.... and get them rebuilt at Central-Wheel-house... probably about £150-180 a wheel now with new rim and spokes and bearings BUT.. dang site less painful than a flange snapping!!! Especially on tar-top!!

That would be my top concern on an old spoke rim dirt donk.. the rest? Well, next worry would be the state of the fork stanchions; re-chroming IS possible but its hard chrome not show chrome, there aren't many specialists that will do it, and if they will... usually cheaper to get new or at least New-Old-Stock IF available.

Bits for the Old Yammies is pretty good, and not necessarily over exorbitant; many bits were Common to many models' points and condenser for example are the same as for the XS500/650 twins amongst others, fork seals I believe shared with the RSX100.... get a bit familiar with the micro-fish and MOST bits can be bought next day over the counter... or just crack out the credit card and call Yambits!!!

The road-going 175 and 250 'Enduro' models were essentially the basis of the compers, the TY175/250 trials bikes, the IT175& 250 genuine enduro bikes, and shared morre than a little commonality with the YZ 'scramble' models.

For example, if needed hubs to get built into rims, I would probably hunt out some TY trials bike hubs, because they are a lot more common, and also are lighter magnesium, I believe... the drum brake centres certainly are.....

So there is more than just good parts availability for resto, but plenty of parts around to incorporate some considered and useful upgrades if you wanted.....

Otherwise, the DT175 was the thinking mans choice, going whey back; the 175 was L-Plateable in the 250 era yet garnered less tax or insurance for the privilege, whilst, thanks to a perky little motor and the lack of weight created by simplicity, it was practically as quick... the mono-shock in particular was considered a bit of a giant killer even in club enduro, cos of its light weight and nimbleness... but the T-Shock was still pretty useful...

My biggest worry would be knobly tyres and scroats.... it would have to be tied down pretty well when done or it WILL go, (see blog in profile!)

Otherwise ole Yamie dirt donks make great teeth cutting projects; bits as said are plentiful and not always overly expensive, scope for messing enormous (Mine got converted to 12v and got an HID Headlampo!) and they are at the end, very useful bikes you can get a lot of fun from using... and WHEELYING.... they like that... so check you have suspension and BRAKES before faffing with motor... see blog for how I did NOT follow my own advocve on that one and wheelied straight into my back wall!

Old Yamie dirt bikes, is what they have always been; some-what irreverent hooligans machines, and lots and lots of fun for the money.... just don't expect the finished bike to be worth more than you spent doing it!!!! (Or for it to be where you parked it unless you have BIG locks!)
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Teflon-Mike]

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[MarJay]

Have we not learned that voting like this ends in tears?
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Sister Sledge]

Tef is spot on. My first alarm bell was theft - you've had something similar recently and will be known as owning 'nice' things.
Chrome forks could be an issue unless forks from something else fits - even modern forks. Upside downs sounds interesting!
Those rims. Age, dissimilar metals, previous use and corrosion. I reckon you're definitely looking at two wheel rebuilds for starters.

The engines are fun. The later mono shock could be jacked up to be even higher by the use of simple spacers and two sections turned on a lathe.
I know someone who would enter actual motorcross events and would end somewhere in the middle of the results.
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CCM 404 DS

[Easy-X]

[Teflon-Mike]

[om15]

I had a Yam CT175 in 1973, stationed in Cyprus it was an ideal light weight commuter/off road bike, I did over 10,000 miles with no snags, took the head off a couple of times to chip the crud off, changed the oil now and again, that was about it.
I would like to have another, if you can get the parts it would be a great project with a nice useable bike at the end of it.
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Alcohol doesn't solve problems, but neither does milk

[Teflon-Mike]

[Ste]

There are loads of parts for them on eBay, both used and new but they're not cheap.

[om15]

Just out of interest I looked around for CT 175 for sale, I found a perfect condition one in an auction house for $7,000, I think that I paid about three hundred quid or something like that for mine, yes, I did notice plenty of parts on ebay. Perhaps all the bits except the one that you need!
Couple of "runners" going for a couple of grand, definitely a project that could pay for its self.
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Alcohol doesn't solve problems, but neither does milk

[Ste]

[redeem ouzzer]

No bike runs AC lighting. If they did the bulbs would last seconds. Cut it out Teffers.
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Be a REAL MAN!

[Easy-X]

Should be getting the DT on Friday. I'll post up some photos in Show & Tell. Let me know if there's any particular close ups you would like...
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Ste]

Close ups of everything interesting please.

[stevo as b4]

Hopefully it's as complete as possible chassis and bodywork/trim wise. If not sourcing good used or restorable bits will be the hardest job assuming your going to try and make it fairly original, instead of a cobbled together bitsa?

The engine is a simple Reed valve lump that only requires a flywheel puller and clutch basket holding tool to fully strip. It'd be nice to convert it to a decent electronic ignition for a TY/DT as moisture getting into the flywheel generator was the biggest problem on my old TY.

Lastly the single post important thing is that Ste is asking you for close up detail images of things, and not the other way around which is a position that you never ever want to be in!