Why I Bought a Vintage Motorcycle in 2021 - 1972 Yamaha LT2 100 Enduro

[@jlrutube1312]

When I was 11 years old I got a paper route and started saving money to buy a motorcycle. At 13 years old in 1972 I had saved enough and so I bought a green 1972 LT2 100 Yamaha Enduro exactly like the one in this video. I had enormous fun on it for years. Later I upgraded to a 125 Enduro. It was a much better bike but I enjoyed them both. Those were the days!

[@800_k_7]

I also share your story. God bless you sir.

[@jakeperry7676]

My dad gave me his old rotting 74 dt125. Told me I could have it as long as I got it running. After a month of working on it, it’s finally running! This video gave me the inspiration I needed. Thanks!

[@kevincosta9228]

At 13, after riding mini bikes for years, I saved every penny to buy one these brand new in 1972, $475 IIRC. Crashed it into a tree on day one, trying to keep up with a crazy musclebound dude on an RM250 through gnarly New England trails. Put on a Preston Petty front fender and fork brace, and rode it hard for a few years, until trading up to a used CT3 175. I just love those old Yammies.

[@Itsisawnotiseen]

I love that sound. I had a 125 then a 250 Enduro in 1970-‘72. Best summers. Would love to go back. Time passes so quickly.

[@michaelweinzel2099]

I had a 125 1974 Enduro Yamaha. Enjoy every moment

[@speckitis]

I once cleaned a carb for a Sportster by "cooking" it on low in a crockpot filled with anti-freeze. Brought it back to new without having to tear it apart.

[@ronnie5165]

The motorcycle I ride now is one my father and mother used to ride all the time I ride it everyday just to remember her

[@KeepItSimpleSailor]

We must be of similar vintage - and we share that love of simple technologies. But one thing I don’t miss - those bloody cheese headed screws 😁

[@cjsciandra2623]

I’m with you !! I learned to ride with my first motorcycle. It was a 1971 CT Honda 70 in 1971 . I was 11 years old. Soon later I moved up to a Yamaha 1971 175 . In 1973 my father brought me A Honda XL 175 burnt orange or Halloween orange. I loved that bike . These days I ride a Road King .

[@jimswitcher4551]

You are so incredibly lucky to live the 2 smoke life! I’m 25 years old just getting into motor bikes. Sold my Honda pit bike and ended up purchasing a titled Yamaha dt125 from 1979 . Came with owners and service manuals, which helped me diagnose and guide for a top end rebuild . Learned the hard way by overheating it, running lean and blew a hole in my piston... Not long before that I found a neglected dt125 from 81 on marketplace and was able to tear it completely apart. Definitely helped to familiarize parts and use some to swap( like orange signal light faces). I actually ended up using the jug from the “81 parts bike for the rebuild because it fit the new wiseco piston (56mm) I bought to replace the blown one. My calipers you read 56.25 mm on the blown which made me realize the previous owner overbored it. Somehow the new piston has enough compression in the parts jug to run. Like you said these bikes are simple to repair compared to computers or electric. I don’t think most bikes come with tool kit inside lol.

[@ohgawd]

Mine did. 71 Yamaha Lt 100

[@ddrowdy7666]

Back in the 70's most if not all bikes came with a tool kit, all of mine did.

[@battler544]

I like the way you talk about your dad in your video, it shows how much you respected, and appreciated him. My dad gave me a Honda xl 185 when I was 16, and I had to fix it to keep it, I eventually sold it to buy a dr500, because I needed a bike that could go on the highway to college - I miss those days.

[@charmes6724]

this is the bike i learned to ride on. same color and everything. Great memories. I'm 56 now and haven't rode since I learned how. It's been probably 35 or 40 years now. I'm ready to find one and ride it before i'm to old.

[@dennisyoung4631]

Yes, recall the 1973 *F7 Kawasaki.* Such *Smoke* it made on cold, 1987 mornings!

[@shermantincher3417]

My first bike was a Suzuki TM 75, back in the early 70's. One of my riding buddies had a Yamaha 100 just like the one in this video except it was purple. In my early 60's now would love to find one of these to fix up and play around on.😎

[@duskintheforest584]

Sweet bikes worth preserving and riding. Us older teenagers learned on these and loved it.

[@ShaneZettelmier]

It is sad to think about these old bikes disappearing but the same time people are restoring them and preserving them. I love those 70s and 80s bikes, not a fan of two strokes but I would love to get a 75 Honda XL 350 and an 84 or 85 XL 350 and restore them to mint condition and just keep them forever, the 85 and 84 specifically was the bike I always wanted but never got. I’d love to get one, and 84 and restore it perfectly and just keep it as a collectors piece the same with the 75 and then get a second one and use it to ride and we’re out. They’re still out there but they’re getting pretty beat up and harder to fine but I do notice a lot of collectors and restoration places picking these up and fixing them up so I think as far as preserving the history that there will always be some out there but they probably be financially out of reach for most people And hard to get, if somebody has the means in the storage space they should probably go out and get a bunch now if they can, if I had a big garage and a bunch of money I probably have dozens of these and just try to get a few nice ones to keep for posterity sake and use the rest of the parts to get some running to drive around and use. The new bikes are cute but I do like them they’ve just made it a pain to work on them with ridiculously short service intervals and making it difficult to service and computers he can’t really do much with. This bike you’ll always be able to fix but it’s computers out on it then what? You’ve got to give Honda or whoever another three or $4000, you made a gasket because that’s doable but you can’t just fix a $3000 computer with some effort And mechanical ability and that takes all the fun out of it. Nobody ever had fun replacing a broken computer with a new one just like it used to get going again. Taking a carb apart and making your old bike run better is kind of fun and yeah the new bikes perform better and have better specs and technology but I find it doesn’t matter what you ride it’s just fun like you said that smiles still there and you can write a CT 90 or a $25,000 KTM adventure bike but you’re still gonna have fun on the CT 90 and be grinning ear to ear so I think there will always be a place for these old bikes and there’s no reason that bike shouldn’t be here and running in 100 years and if people love it I think there will always be some around. And on that note everybody remember, empty your carburetors and don’t store bikes with gas in them please. Actually I change my mind go ahead and store bikes with gas in them that way I can buy them for cheap😂

[@bradsonnicksen6907]

That's almost identical to my first bike - a 1972 Kawasaki G5 100. I was 13 years old. Man, I had a lot of fun with that thing!

[@jameskoschak6086]

I’m 17 and just bought one of those bike a couple of months back and all it needs is the clutch adjusted and the little oil sight glass replaced, but the bike still has the tires on it when it was first bought in 1972 and the original air filter

[@souhailshamaissem7564]

I am like you , I learnt to ride in 1974 in a 2 stroke Yamaha 80cc road bike we used to hire and I fell in love with bikes and more so the 2 stroke bikes I love the smell of the 2 stroke fuel..I am 69 now and I have 2 bikes..in total I owned 42 bikes so far and many more to own in the future.

[@terryrichards8645]

Thanks for the video. That was my very first motorcycle. I was 16 years old. And I got my drivers license and I was a happy camper then cause I rode that thing long hours in through the night! And many trail rides.

[@bcuzicancuellar5478]

OMG! Thanks for posting this vid. Takes me way back. My dad bought me this 100 after I outgrew my Yamaha mini-enduro 60! Had so much fun on this bike, and you’re so right about piddling around the bike. I would take the carb off, the head, I changed the seat to make it look like a flat-track bike. I tried making a high front fender out of fiberglass! Have a huge smile on my face remembering this bike, and childhood. Thanks again for making my day…Ride safe!

[@tna2me197]

WHOA! I had a TM75 at that same age. Used to ride in the gravel pits with my brother in law on his Yamaha DT250 (that I now own). Good memories.

[@laming2006]

I enjoy your channel. I too, have a "thing" for vintage enduro motorcycles. (I call them "vinduro" bikes.) I've been a vinduro enthusiast since my discovery of that niche within motorcycling, which would have been back in about 1998. I currently have two vinduros running (a '71 Zundapp GS125 and a '72 DKW GS125) and third in process (a '73 CZ 175 Trail). In an uncanny coincidence, I also own an XT225 that I purchased as a lower/lighter trail bike to supplement my WR250R. Wild Child (my wife) also rides bikes, and she owned an AT3 for over a year. It was her favorite bike (she would ride the XT225 as well) until I finished her '21 KLX 140L Dual Sport bike this past January. She loves it so much she decided to sell her AT3. As for me, I've ridden off road since spring of '69 and love it as much as I ever did. Anyway... you have a fun channel. I am really enjoying getting caught up on your LT100 videos! Ride on!

[@jeffreyness9741]

My first motorcycle was a 1973 hodaka wombat 125. I might get another one but those were the days.

[@geraldscott4302]

I have a serious passion for both old motorcycles and old cars. I own several of both. There is not a single new motorcycle or car on the market that I want, or that I would even buy. I've simply had it with all the electronic garbage they are putting on new vehicles (actually I consider them appliances) these days. The days of real motorcycles and real cars is over. The big issue with these bikes and cars is finding parts for them. They are simple and easy to work on, and could be kept going forever, IF you could get parts. No matter how good you are at improvising, some parts just can't be home made. Modern technology like CNC machining and 3D printing do make it somewhat easier. I've said for a long time that the best use for new technology is using it to reproduce old technology.

[@jimmytmoto]

100%, Gerald. I'm so amazed that these old bikes and cars were designed on paper by draftsmen with a pencil - there simply weren't computers! I feel, like you do, that the resulting products had way more heart and soul from that approach. Let's keep them alive!

[@RWayne-nu2fi]

Great video. Nothing is more satisfying that bringing an old motorcycle back to life. And the sound and smell of a 2-stroke makes it twice as satisfying...... I don't think a more perfect form of machinery was ever created. Thanks for the video!

[@56Spookdog]

Excellent video, once the sound of the smaller cc Yamahas gets in your blood hearing evokes good youthful memories, even the sound of the kickstand coming down evoked did the same. I sure wish the new Yamahas had the hinged seats. I used to gently tap down on the part I needed to make an impression on the gasket material to cut it out when ever possible.

[@jimmytmoto]

All great memories... the great sounds...the simplicity. I can't believe how much I enjoy just flipping out the kickstarter. Thanks for the comments and the tip, Bill!

[@donnydangerbbmachinegunner2863]

My father in law gave me a '72 Yamaha 125 Enduro ☝️a '79 Yamaha 80 ☝️ and a '82 Honda CT 110. So I'm learning as much as I can about motorbikes especially 2strokes

[@deanmanly7622]

Your preaching to the converted, i had a Yamaha 100 LT2 as a child, im now in my mid 50s. I cant touch the ground on modern dirt bikes at 5ft KL250 was a good bike to.

[@bryco32]

Have this same bike My Dad bought my in 1988. He had the upper end rebuilt and I rode it for a decade. Has sat in my Basement for all those years. Put new brakes, tires, tubes and all sorts of other goodies onto it. I plan on getting it licensed here in the next year and used it to zip back and forth to work and around town.

[@frankpowell2178]

Yes , me to thx for keeping them alive

[@johnkrajovan5412]

Still got my 83 DT100K! Thanks for the leather hole punch trick on gasket.

[@tubeamp2872]

God I miss my daddy too. I kept everything he ever gave me.

[@firebladeclements]

Wow! Serious flashback right there. Pop had a gold 69 dt250 and got me a matching dt90 for my 9th birthday! There was a stream going by the house about 60 feet deep. Down the way was a culvert/tractor path going across it. First day on it, I stopped on the culvert, put my foot in a hole and went arse over tea kettle down the side, bike and all. Pop's wasn't too happy about hauling that 90 out with a rope! At least it was broke in!

[@burneswhitehead3020]

Thanks for sharing. Takes me back to times with my dad, granddad, friends and some with my boys although by the time I had kids they just were not that interested in the things we are 🤔 how things have changed it's kind of sad and I do miss those days

[@pappy451]

what i love about them is you can keep them running with a bread tie , bubble gum and spit . practically bullet proof .

[@mixermanbear.4002]

This is a really good video! Better than anything I’ve seen on tv in the last 40 years. It has an old nostalgic feel to it like evening magazine back in the 70’s

[@tap4154]

I really enjoyed that video. I had a '71 CT1 175 when I was in high school in the early 70s, and I'm currently restoring one to running condition. Your Dad's tip about using the leather punch to help make a new gasket... I'm going to remember that In fact I have one of those old leather punches that belonged to my grandfather.

[@SoddingaboutSi]

That's why i love working on this stuff. It awakes dorment memories.

[@nikolayR]

Amazing story. Considering buy dt100 or Suzuki ts 125 here , even though I wasn't ride it before, just like how it looks and smells.

[@NGC2392Eskimo]

Nice. I grew up with a LT3 in the 70s.

[@ronnie5165]

I'm right with you man I grew up with motorcycles all my life I'd rather ride they drive a car even in the rain when I was little kid I even kept one in my bedroom I still ride to stay everyday all the time everywhere rain or shine you make me cry

[@bradycraig9021]

I am 20 years old and I just bought a 1973 Indian SE74. It is non running and I have took on the challenge of getting it running again. It is my first bike, my dad is helping me along with it when needed but overall he’s been letting me tinker on my own and figure things out for my self. I couldn’t ask for a better dad and I’m cherishing these moments. I can’t wait for the day I get it running where we can both go ride it.

[@jerbrew701]

My dad had this bike. He had to install turn signals to make it legal. He did. It was blue. Had a kick start from what I recall.

[@ecbray7734]

Thank you for this. This was my very first motorcycle in 1975...same bike, same year, same color. Really takes me back. Chills when heard it rev up again.

[@RidersInBlack]

Jim such a great video. Currently looking for a vintage bike. Bit by the bug again despite a few setbacks with a 79 Yamaha a year ago. Wasn't in the mindset to understand that vintage bikes needs some tweaking, some care and a little bit of love and appreciation. I'm ready now, and I think that vintage bikes around the world need to be resurrected to take us back to a time when things were simpler, riding was different, and you became more vested in your own machine

[@jimmytmoto]

Thanks for sharing the story of your 79 Yamaha, Darrell. I love your assessment of what it takes to get a vintage bike going again. It's easy to get excited by an old bike purchase but I, like so many others, have also bit off more than I could chew or just made an assessment with my heart and not my head when it comes to locating one. Keep looking and good luck!

[@buxvan]

Great bikes the DT’s. I had a 175c and did 24,000 miles on it. Super reliable except when it rained, when it would cut out. Never found out why though. Enjoy it.

[@girlinagale]

A friend's just bought one, lovely 2 stroke.

[@800_k_7]

Quite frankly, I am so happy to have seen an old fashioned Americans describe the old fashioned way to repair your own motorcycle, it just bring so many happy memories when the bottom line was not entirely base on the price, but it was made with pride and good craftsmanship. I am 66 and I am convinced that this generation is under some type of High or influence by a wrong moral character. Responsibly continue to enjoy life through two wheel and don't let your guard down for all the safety reasons, one mistake and you put your life on the line. God have mercy 🙏

[@Jasonradiation999]

I had a 70s dt 100.! I road it everyday everywhere in the 90s. The rr trax could get me anywhere in nys! And the 2 stroke oil injection! Is awesome

[@hondahaney6404]

Had a 1973 DT 250 when I was 15. Great memories

[@eric62backstrom]

This is the very year ,model even COLOR motorcycle i first ever let the clutch out on. amazing! thanks for sharing! memories....i learned in 1997 though.

[@bcuzicancuellar5478]

I believe I was 14 yrs old when my dad bought me my 1972 Yamaha 100 Enduro. Tried to make it into a motocross bike, a flat tracker , and settled for what it was designed for-dual sport. Got my motorcycle endorsement on that bike, and then, it was on to my 1974 Honda CR125 Elsinore! Oh, how I loved that bike…

[@wjones6606]

That was a lovely sentimental little film. Thanks for sharing.

[@kevinhale4836]

Thanks for sharing! I have 72 LT in “parts” and an identical one I purchased in 2004.

[@36CatsHeavenRescue]

Started riding at age 10 in 1969 by the time I was 13 I was building my own bikes from the frame up. Father was blind but he told me what to do

[@worldsnextsupercar4362]

That was my first bike , other than the pull start tecumseh mini. The LT 100 goes 72 mph ! I had it on the freeway when I was about 10 years old many times at 72 mph. ! No helmet , Just blast

[@SSV-i-c-e]

This is the bike i learnt to ride on and fix so I didn’t have to push it home .still love simple two strokes great to see one on youtube.hi from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@joeskirvin4545]

Great video Jim. Brings back great memories. The sounds put me right on my old dt125.

[@madjack_757]

Super awesome video! I'm currently 21 but I started riding with my father about 10 years ago. I quickly got pretty good at it and the vintage motorcycle scene really caught my eye. Since my teen years, I've been rebuilding old hondas and yamahas and racing them across VMX circuits with my dad. He no longer races but those are some great years to look back on for me! I have a feeling all these bikes will end up in my garage someday..

[@jebediahnightlinger6357]

First bike I bought was a 78 Suzuki DS 100, rode the crap out of that bike! Wound up owning 2 of them actually. Friends rode KX and YZ's and they'd leave me in the dust pretty quick. Got pretty sick of the bikes and walked away.. Im 45 now and bought a Yamaha WR250F, helluva bike!! But as much as I like this new bike, it's cool to watch video about those old 2 stroke beaters and remember being 11 years old again!

[@VE6KEE]

Great video, even better story to go with. What would we do without our Dad's who showed us how to wrench?! I am also fond of the old bikes. I have 2, '77 DT400 and '68 DT250 the 400 runs and the 50 is apart. They will be there for my kids when the time comes.

[@mateosabo]

I'm restoring a 79 mx100 right now. A very similar off-road only version of that bike. I look forward to seeing how your project goes! I wouldn't clean your clutch plates. Once you are that far in it's definitely worth finding replacement clutch and friction plates online.

[@rainbowboa100]

these are great bikes, i had a '71. a couple things to make it better. a 350 knobby and a good expansion chamber!

[@ronstanek2851]

Very nice video, I had 2 1972 dt 250s a 74 dt360, and a 74 dt175, and a 72 ct1 125, these were the best bikes from my collection. Had around 35-40 bikes from Hondas to Harley’s. I’m looking again for another vintage Yamaha , my choice of bikes👍

[@CrickysCamp]

Dude, your vid is absolutely wonderful!!! Big ups!!! such fond days for me as I grew up on them

[@snakelakeestates8666]

had one of those greenies too...........fun!!!

[@crippleguy415]

Kids nowadays can't even change a flat tire . Sad . I had a 72 YAMAHA DT 125 new as my first motorcycle . Good memories .

[@mattkhachadoorian9261]

Love this video. Can’t stop crying. Great stuff!

[@davidbarringham7992]

You summed up perfectly what it’s all about; learning skills, making friends and developing relationships, and above all, making fond memories to think back on. Many thanks!

[@fredboat]

Thanks Enjoyed , I bought my first street legal Yamaha DT100 new in 1974 while in school. I will never forget the 2 stroke sound and Vibration. Rode the wheels off it. later from Texas.

[@chopperenduro6590]

I bought a new leftover 74 DT100A also in 76 as a 14 yr old kid with my paper route money , learned on it then traded it in 77 for a new 77 DT125 , the green monoshock , just got a driver lic so l wore that thing out . Today l still have 2 old Yamaha DT 250's a 75 w/6000 mile & 76 w/700 mile plus a 75 DT 100B w/700 mile . All 3 mint cond , love the old Yamaha's . Jimmy we have a 2007 XT225 also & love it , me & my jack russell terrier dualsport it all over lndiana .

[@Mr.Plaidman]

Great video - content and production value. I have a bunch of my Dad's old tools that I love using - always helps keep that connection and spark old memories. Excellent job...your videos are really enjoyable on so many levels. Kelly

[@jimmytmoto]

I really appreciate it, Kelly, that means a lot! I could make tool videos forever...hmmm, maybe I need to do another one. Congrats on hanging on to your Dad's tools, too!

[@MOUNTAINOUS]

I had this exact bike as a kid

[@pappy451]

sweet old bike . excellent find .

[@sirajhussain791]

Very nice memories about bikes, i have same passion too.

[@thecrazedlagger]

Just bought my first motorcycle a month ago, and this is the one. Awesome to see a fresh video on it!

[@christodd9280]

I have on just like it ! the clutch is starting to slip but i have the parts and just haven't taken the time. Taught my kids to ride on it. Enjoyed the video. I think spring she is getting that new clutch.

[@clifffoltz651]

Love the video and older bikes 2stroke and 4 strokes have had a few of both and alot of great times ! For those that aren't attached the bug of riding they just don't understand e freedom of riding does to a person! Ride on to you and all the readers !😊😊😊

[@davidmelunderscore]

I love this video!!! Thank you for making it. Keep it coming Sir 🫡

[@herrfinke1]

Spectacular!

[@vladkalina69]

Loved the video and the other on your review of the 225 year after. What I liked was your thinking behind both. I am 75 years old and have not ridden since I was younger. I want to ride the back roads and trails but no sure if my knees will stand up to the task of riding and living alone no back ups for making me a cuppa. However I am pulled to filling my dream of ridding some back woods trail and not on a big adventure bike. I will watch for more of your vides. Yes to simplicity and being able to do it yourself vs the digital world.

[@dominocweber9763]

So cool man👍 that bike is a beauty! I have a 2023 gas gas ec300 but I still long for an older bike. I may be picking up a 78 dt400 soon

[@jimo8119]

Great video Jim, I enjoyed that and thanks for sharing your old photos. Love seeing those photos from the old days.

[@jimmytmoto]

Thanks a bunch, Jim O, I appreciate it!

[@SleepyBoBos]

great vid. bikes are something that connect me and my dad too

[@ezaanatif9441]

Good one. Greetings from Pakistan. We recently acquired a 1982 Yamaha Enduro 100 too.

[@PlayingWithFireOutdoors]

My memories are similar, my first real bike YZ125A. Now I've got a Honda Ruckus, Z50(74) , Coleman BT200X, and money down on a TW200.

[@jimmytmoto]

Yep, both our memories and current likes sound very similar! I'd love to hear what you think of the Coleman BT200X. Oh wait, I just subbed to your channel and will be checking out the vids!

[@PlayingWithFireOutdoors]

@@jimmytmoto It's a good basic bike. Wished it had rear suspension but for just tooling around they are pretty good.

[@michaelmarcus509]

I loved this video really spoke to me.

[@A-Cat-in-Dogtown]

I did everything Unholy to this bike and it still ran.

[@donaldpate1863]

Your dad looked just like mine!

[@ancientheart2532]

Just moving the jet needle a notch or two could make a huge difference.

[@The9meister]

Good video, I too enjoy restoring old motorcycles, their is a book ' Zen, and the art of motorcycle maintenance '.

[@raulportillo2822]

Thanks for your information it s a nice show I do want to see more your experience

[@megastick9324]

I had the same bike, kind of. It was the MX version. Same color but they had an expansion chamber exhaust, knobbiest and no lights. Otherwise pretty much the same back then.

[@wuttmodel3232]

The legend so cool sir

[@sueharding111]

a well made video , brought back many nostalgic memories, tvm Jim .

[@scottvantassel2212]

i just picked up 2 1973 lt3 yamaha 100s. i plan to restore one and make a running beater woods bike with the other,

[@jaime7890]

what an awesome video.

[@gary8411]

Great Video. CHEERS!

[@Jimmyzb36]

Love the video. Well done! I have one waiting for that Kind of love. I also have the 74 TS185. I totally Understand your interest.

[@skipdippity]

That was a great video…just subscribed. Keep making them please…