Yamaha DT

Yamaha DT-1
	1968 Yamaha DT-1 in Yamaha Communication Plaza.
Manufacturer	Yamaha Motor Company
Also called	Yamaha Trail 250
Parent company	Yamaha Corporation
Production	1968—1985
Assembly	Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan
Successor	Yamaha DT250, DT360A, DT400B
Class	Trail bike
Engine	246 cm3 (15.0 cu in) 2-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled
Bore / stroke	70 mm × 64 mm (2.8 in × 2.5 in)
Power	18.5 PS (13.6 kW; 18.2 hp) at 6000 rpm
Ignition type	Magnet ignition
Transmission	Manual 5-speed
Frame type	Duplex cradle
Suspension	F: Telescopic, R: Swing arm
Brakes	F: Cable-operated drum; R: Rod-operated drum
Tires	F: 3.25-19, R: 4.00-18
Wheelbase	1,360 mm (54 in)
Dimensions	L: 2,060 mm (81 in); W: 890 mm (35 in); H: 1,130 mm (44 in)
Weight	123 kg (271 lb) (dry)
Fuel capacity	9.5 L (2.1 imp gal; 2.5 US gal)
Fuel consumption	40 km/L (110 mpg‑imp; 94 mpg‑US); at 40 km/h (25 mph)

The Yamaha DT is a series of motorcycles and mopeds produced by the Yamaha Motor Corporation. Models in the DT series feature an engine displacement of 50 to 400 cc (3.1 to 24.4 cu in). The first DT model, the DT-1, was released in 1968 and quickly sold through its initial 12,000 production run.

The DT series was created by Yamaha in the late 1960s when the United States motorcycle market was down. Market research by Yamaha indicated that, despite slow motorcycle sales, there was a largely untapped market for off-road motorcycles. At the time, only a few specialty European manufacturers such as Bultaco and Husqvarna made motorcycles specifically for off-road use. Instead, many owners purchased road motorcycles and modified them for off-road use, typically by raising the muffler, adding braced handlebars, and fitting a bash plate under the engine . Such modifications were commonly known as creating scramblers. The first DT model, the DT-1 trail bike, was released in 1968 and quickly sold out.

DT-1

With the introduction of the DT-1, Yamaha essentially defined a new market for motorcycles.
A Dual-sport motorcycle built for off-road riding, the light and slim DT-1 was equipped with block-pattern tires and had sufficient ground clearance. Its design put it at the cutting edge of off-road bikes at that time. It had a 250 cc, single-cylinder, 5-port engine based on a motocross design, and Ceriani-type front suspension.

The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (in Japanese), included the 1968 Yamaha Trail 250 (aka DT-1) as one of their 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology.

A monoshock rear suspension system was introduced starting in 1977 giving rise to the “MX” suffix on model numbers.