Measures

Hi all, I've got a little bit of a project on my hands. I've been given a DT175 by a friend of ours - originally for a go-kart but I've decided 2 wheels are far more fun. Anyway when he dropped it off on first inspection everything looked a lot better than he had originally described. The engine was purring away really nicely for something that had been sat for 12 years or so! As a type the frame, swing arm, tank, handlebars and a few other bits are getting sandblasted ready for a re-spray, carb is off having been cleaned and awaiting a new gasket before it is reunited with the engine. I'm playing the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' card on the engine, and leaving it in one piece for the time being. As Paul has said in my introduction thread (sorry if that post came across a little bit rude) the front forks and possibly wheel aren't original, neither is the front brake. As Paul has also spotted (is this man a God?! He's found out more about this bike in 5 minutes that I have in 5 weeks!) it's jacked right up. This is because the owner who had it before our friend was about 6 foot something! It's like riding a penny farthing. Anyway I hadn't noticed the back was sitting higher that it should but the good (or bad, whichever way you look at it) news is that the frame hasn't been drilled. It looks like someone got hungry at some point and decided to tuck into a nice helping of seat - I can't seem to find any replacements so is there any way to fix it myself? I guess I'll be needing a sewing machine (and an ambulance)... And a pic of the lump before I really got busy - Those eagle eyed of you will have spotted the front brake assembly (save the disk!)is missing. I'm only 16 so I'm not looking to get the bike road worthy (yet?), just usable! Unfortunately the V5 form has been lost in the mist of time (20 odd years of time... a lot of mist). Comments welcome, advice more so! I'll keep the thread updated with my progress (or lack of) and hopefully I'll have a semi-useable bike by the end of it! Thanks, Harry.

Thanks for the advice! It would seem I got a little carried away with the introduction! I'll pop over to the dirt bikes section then. Thanks

Hello, A strange story brings me here... So I'll start from the beginning! I've been shooting with a family friend who owns a farm for around a year now, and as a summer holiday project I was planning to design and build my own go-kart. Anyway I dropped this in conversation with him, and he said he had an old DT175 sat in one of the old farm buildings not doing anything. He told me everything apart from the engine was knackered, and that he was planning to scrap it so if I wanted it for the go-kart, it was mine! Anyway when he dropped it off on first inspection everything looked a lot better that originally described. The engine was purring away really nicely for something that had been sat for 12 years or so! Anyway after a lot of thinking I decided to keep the bike as a bike, and fix it up. As a type the frame, swing arm, tank and a few other bits are getting sandblasted ready for a re-spray, carb is off having been cleaned and awaiting a new gasket before it is reunited with the engine. I'm playing the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' card on the engine, and leaving it in one piece for the time being. Stripping the bike and it's 30 years of rust was an experience! I've got a list of things that need to be replaced, and it totals about £200 which I don't think is that bad. Obviously if you think I'm mad spending that amount just tell me! Also if any of you lovely people know where I could find a new seat, or get the old one re-finished that would be lovely as I don't fancy importing one of evilbay! Also the rear shock absorber seems really stiff - almost seized. I can't seem to find a replacement one anywhere?! And a pic of the lump before I really got busy - Those eagle eyed of you will have spotted the front brake assembly (save the disk!)is missing. Thanks, Harry.