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Title: Back in the early days ...... Post by: type one on February 22, 2013, 06,47:14 PM Hi All ..... Type One here from the UK.....
A couple of years ago I was looking for a classic project enduro and chanced across an old yamaha locally which ticked the boxes ..... and I managed to negotiate a reasonable deal and arrange delivery. (http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u14/bertie4fingers/CIMG5909.jpg) (http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u14/bertie4fingers/CIMG5910.jpg) Apart from being a late sixtes bike with some original paperwork and a box of parts I didn't know to much abot DT-1's and was just interested in doing an interesting resto ..... The paper work with it stated it was sold to Graham Clarke (GC)(British) in October 1968 from Milledge Bros in Melbourne..... (http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u14/bertie4fingers/fb9f7418-a771-4905-b039-4dc73d00ead7_zps2be68cdc.jpg) (http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u14/bertie4fingers/c3e05887-1f01-464f-86aa-5955d994d7b0_zps370e82ea.jpg) Along with the sales reciept I have the original registration documents, road tax plate and registration plates DU 212. Whilst restoring the bike I also started to research Milledge Bros and got hold of a copy of the book charting their history and contribution to the Australian motorcycle industry (very impressive read!) This is where I found the reference to AMTRA and the statement that the inaugural meeting of AMTRA had taken place at Milledge Bros in January 1969 following the development of trail/farm bikes and the DT-1 bursting on to the scene .... This got me thinking that maybe GC had joined those early members and put DU 212 through it's paces and to see if anyone had any memories or photos from those days when it was in it's infancy??? GC moved back to the UK in 1971 and brought the bike back with him ...... stored and unused until I bought it from a third party who had bought it to restore but never found the time .... Just a few photos of the bike finished...... (http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u14/bertie4fingers/CIMG6333_zpse0198ff0.jpg) (http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u14/bertie4fingers/006_zps46d0d049.jpg) Any early stories or info welcome!! Cheers T1 ;D Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: Serge C on February 22, 2013, 09,24:21 PM That's a stunning looking bike, T1. And to come with all that history is great. I've read similar stories, where a guy tracked down a bike that his father bought (new) in 1972. The bike came complete with the original sales docket made out to his father. The only problem I see with your bike, is that it should return to its ancestral home in Melbourne, where it can live out its days (in my care), and do the late circuit in Carlton, on warm, sunny days! :) Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: gms5 on February 22, 2013, 10,38:33 PM very kewl. thanks for posting ;D Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: type one on February 23, 2013, 10,41:55 AM That's a stunning looking bike, T1. And to come with all that history is great. I've read similar stories, where a guy tracked down a bike that his father bought (new) in 1972. The bike came complete with the original sales docket made out to his father. The only problem I see with your bike, is that it should return to its ancestral home in Melbourne, where it can live out its days (in my care), and do the late circuit in Carlton, on warm, sunny days! :) Thanks for the replies guys !! SC .... I think your right it would be the final chapter but as its a keeper I need to move for that to happen! I know in the replies to my first post on the info etc section a chap called Ken was mentioned ....... I'll try and send him a pm to see if he has any memories & also do a forum search for all things DT1!! If you're riding this weekend have a good one!! Cheers T1 Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: Tim Dykes on February 23, 2013, 11,11:36 AM That's a stunning looking bike, T1. And to come with all that history is great. I've read similar stories, where a guy tracked down a bike that his father bought (new) in 1972. The bike came complete with the original sales docket made out to his father. The only problem I see with your bike, is that it should return to its ancestral home in Melbourne, where it can live out its days (in my care), and do the late circuit in Carlton, on warm, sunny days! :) Thanks for the replies guys !! SC .... I think your right it would be the final chapter but as its a keeper I need to move for that to happen! I know in the replies to my first post on the info etc section a chap called Ken was mentioned ....... I'll try and send him a pm to see if he has any memories & also do a forum search for all things DT1!! If you're riding this weekend have a good one!! Cheers T1 Ken R is the bloke you'll want to send that PM to. He did have a DT1 back in the day... Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: type one on February 26, 2013, 02,17:35 PM Thanks Tim
I did try to pm Ken R but the access levels wouldn't let me !! Could anyone or a moderator please drop him a pm and refer Ken to this thread please ? Many thanks T1 Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: Serge C on February 26, 2013, 08,31:55 PM I'll see him tonight, and point him in this direction. Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: type one on February 26, 2013, 09,43:50 PM I'll see him tonight, and point him in this direction. Thank you SC Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: Ken R on February 27, 2013, 01,14:34 AM Ah Yes the fabulous DT1 Yamaha, one of two bikes that was love at first sight for me, the other was a Husqvarna AE430.
Great job on the restoration T1, and to have all the original paperwork has to be Gold. I remember riding my white DT1 to Milledge Brothers for that first meeting of off road riders where the new club was proposed and the name AMTRA decided on. How many of us then would have dared to look forward 44 years and still see AMTRA alive and well and DT1 Yamahas still looking good and running. Mine gave great service for the two years I had it, (followed by an RT1) the only glitch being a bit of sealant missing at a join on the bottom of the pressed tin air box that caused the engine to get dusted. Milledge came up with a Hodaka for me to ride for a week while a rebore was carried out. The Hodaka was 100cc from memory and the week included an AMTRA trail ride, suffice to say the Hodaka went back a little weary after being ridden thru the Black Spur to the trails and home, buts that's another story. My DT1 was ridden to work, on the trails, road raced and entered in a trial at Craigieburn. For the trial I took off all that was not needed and fitted the smallest front and biggest rear sprockets available and thought I was ready. I have never done so much damage to a bike in one day, bouncing off rocks, falling off ledges and ending up upside down still on the bike in a creek. I certainly provided lots of laughs on the day and retired from trials immediately. My DT1 also featured in my first and only case of real road rage and that was in 1969, can you believe it. I was cruising down Nepean Hwy when a car full of hoons came alongside and forced me off into the dirt. I stopped and was feeling very angry so picked up a half house brick and tucked it under my coat front. I caught the offenders who were still laughing and pointing at me. Timing it well I launched the brick into the side of the car and peeled off right down a side street and disappeared. My guess is they left bikes alone after that. I will dig out my old photos and see if DU212 is featured, I probably would have ridden with Graham but with sometimes 40 or more riders attending the rides I cannot put a face to that name. Enjoy the ride T1, I know that I did. Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: chippy on February 27, 2013, 11,01:12 AM Hi all, This is my little Yamaha YZ125. The story with it is I was doing some renovation work for a farmer back in 1997 and during lunch one day I had a bit of a look around, as you do, well in the old dairy is this old bike in one of the bails, I had a quick squiz and noticed it was an old moto x bike, covered with bags and old hay I walked out not thinking to much about it. Some time later my son said, dad lets do up pa's old ag bike, well as old ag bikes get I thought it was beyond it . The next day I said to Cal I know where there is an old mxer , I'll give the bloke a ring. So the next thing sitting in my shed is this old yamy, $100 and unrecegnisable as to what it should look like. With some great help from a good friend and a new kitchen in his mobile home, we were able to transform this ugly duckling into a beatifull swan, albeit the plastics are painted and engine is on last oversize. But still happy with the result. Cheers Chippy. (http://Hi all, This is my little Yamaha YZ125. The story with it is I was doing some renovation work for a farmer back in 1997 and during lunch one day I had a bit of a look around, as you do, well in the old dairy is this old bike in one of the bails, I had a quick squiz and noticed it was an old moto x bike, covered with bags and old hay I walked out not thinking to much about it. Some time later my son said, dad lets do up pa's old ag bike, well as old ag bikes get I thought it was beyond it . The next day I said to Cal I know where there is an old mxer , I'll give the bloke a ring. So the next thing sitting in my shed is this old yamy, $100 and unrecegnisable as to what it should look like. With some great help from a good friend and a new kitchen in his mobile home, we were able to transform this ugly duckling into a beatifull swan, albeit the plastics are painted and engine is on last oversize. But still happy with the result. Cheers Chippy.)
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj586/finewinerob/dadsbi (http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj586/finewinerob/dadsbikes018.jpg) (http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj586/finewinerob/dadsbikes017.jpg) (http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj586/finewinerob/dadsbikes016.jpg) (http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj586/finewinerob/dadsbikes015.jpg) (http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj586/finewinerob/dadsbikes014.jpg) (http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj586/finewinerob/dadsbikes019.jpg) Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: type one on February 27, 2013, 08,16:48 PM Ah Yes the fabulous DT1 Yamaha, one of two bikes that was love at first sight for me, the other was a Husqvarna AE430. Great job on the restoration T1, and to have all the original paperwork has to be Gold. I remember riding my white DT1 to Milledge Brothers for that first meeting of off road riders where the new club was proposed and the name AMTRA decided on. How many of us then would have dared to look forward 44 years and still see AMTRA alive and well and DT1 Yamahas still looking good and running. Mine gave great service for the two years I had it, (followed by an RT1) the only glitch being a bit of sealant missing at a join on the bottom of the pressed tin air box that caused the engine to get dusted. Milledge came up with a Hodaka for me to ride for a week while a rebore was carried out. The Hodaka was 100cc from memory and the week included an AMTRA trail ride, suffice to say the Hodaka went back a little weary after being ridden thru the Black Spur to the trails and home, buts that's another story. My DT1 was ridden to work, on the trails, road raced and entered in a trial at Craigieburn. For the trial I took off all that was not needed and fitted the smallest front and biggest rear sprockets available and thought I was ready. I have never done so much damage to a bike in one day, bouncing off rocks, falling off ledges and ending up upside down still on the bike in a creek. I certainly provided lots of laughs on the day and retired from trials immediately. My DT1 also featured in my first and only case of real road rage and that was in 1969, can you believe it. I was cruising down Nepean Hwy when a car full of hoons came alongside and forced me off into the dirt. I stopped and was feeling very angry so picked up a half house brick and tucked it under my coat front. I caught the offenders who were still laughing and pointing at me. Timing it well I launched the brick into the side of the car and peeled off right down a side street and disappeared. My guess is they left bikes alone after that. I will dig out my old photos and see if DU212 is featured, I probably would have ridden with Graham but with sometimes 40 or more riders attending the rides I cannot put a face to that name. Enjoy the ride T1, I know that I did. Thanks Ken ......... Fantastic to hear how it all started and your memories of getting out there on your DT1 ....... Would love to see some photos at some point !! Thank you again T1 Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: type one on February 27, 2013, 08,20:10 PM Hey Chippy .... Thanks for posting the yz looks sweet ...... Loving the air cans to the top of the forks ...... Amazing how far Yamaha developed their MX range in the 6-8 years following the debut of the DT1 .....
Cheers T1 Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: type one on March 09, 2013, 03,01:19 PM Hi guys ..... Thought I'd post a couple of extracts from the Milledge book .........
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u14/bertie4fingers/CIMG6465.jpg) (http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u14/bertie4fingers/CIMG6471.jpg) (http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u14/bertie4fingers/CIMG6472.jpg) If anyone see's Ken R please give a gentle nudge to have a look for his old photos !! Cheers T1 Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: type one on October 12, 2013, 05,59:38 PM Hi Guys
Hope you've all enjoyed the last few months on your bikes! We have had a decent summer over here in the UK and I've managed to add to the DT-1 stable ; (http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u14/bertie4fingers/image_zps0f1944fc.jpg) (http://s164.photobucket.com/user/bertie4fingers/media/image_zps0f1944fc.jpg.html) (http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u14/bertie4fingers/17421b6e-1b9e-4609-abdd-c1e05f51a041_zps7dfbb3fc.jpg) (http://s164.photobucket.com/user/bertie4fingers/media/17421b6e-1b9e-4609-abdd-c1e05f51a041_zps7dfbb3fc.jpg.html) This one is a 1969! from the US .....salt lake city UTAH .... Gonna be a useable bike and not a shiny show bike!! Hoping Ken R may have found a few photos from back in '68 by now????? Chees T1 Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: Ken R on October 14, 2013, 04,23:58 AM G-Day T1, what with being away in Qld for 4 months to get away from Melbourns winter and getting some work done on the RZ350 it's been a bit busy.
No more excuses apart from totally forgetting to look. Thanks for the memory jog, when I get back from the MotoGP at the Island i'll stick my head in a few boxes. Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: Wade E on October 14, 2013, 10,53:00 AM Hey Kenny be careful when sticking your head in those boxes ;D
Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: type one on October 14, 2013, 07,17:24 PM Cheers Ken .... No rush ....... All good things are worth waiting for .....
T1 ;D Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: Ken R on October 15, 2013, 10,09:44 AM Hey Wade, I've always been attracted to boxes but learnt over the years to treat them with the respect they deserve, because heaven knows, how often do we get the chance.
But once past the musty aroma, silverfish, spiders and ants there lurks many a fond memory to make it all worth while. Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: boots on October 15, 2013, 10,39:38 AM You old farts crack me up..... ::)
Title: Re: Back in the early days ...... Post by: type one on February 17, 2014, 05,29:28 PM Hey Ken R ....... Hope all is well .....have you had chance to have a look through those boxes yet??
Cheers T1 |