I used a TW 200 to take the rider course and fell in love with it so when I passed and got my license I got one for my first motorcycle. I absolutely love it. It fits me perfectly and it goes anywhere. I’m just getting around to road riding. And your video helped me feel much better about keeping up in normal 40-45 mph traffic that we have right around our house. So thanks for the video!!!!!
I had one for years. Great for commuting in the mountains. Runs 55mph all day long with stock gearing. 70-75 if you really push it. They've been in production since 1987 for a reason. They are very good bikes.
You must have a very optimistic speedometer! Most of my motorcycles indicate about 5 mph more than actual speed, others indicate about 10% more so the faster you go the farther off they are actual speed. My TW200 when it's in tune and running well may reach 65 mph, never 75 mph. Perhaps you have different gearing?
@@PixelLife101 as legendary as the hype for the TW200 is they simply are not made for that. I remember watching a video of a kid that took his TW on a long trip to Las Vegas. His engine blew up as he was leaving and had to have his TW towed home.
When I had mine, changing the rear sprocket helped make the top highway speed safer and still provided enough power to move my 200+ pounds along the trails. These bikes are great every-day rides for suburban commuting, but they really shine on trails. Add a larger tank and it's the perfect mule for any of the BDRs and has carried many an adventurer over the TAT. There is also a thriving online community at the TW200Forum that can answer any question you might have, and provide real-world experience that might answer questions you didn't know you had. 😁
Trails? I decline to share my route with foot traffic, Prefer single and double-track vacated roadways usually built by the US Forest Service for industry usage. Systems built a half-mile apart if looking at them using Google Earth and how you do that connection is not my problem..................
The TDub is a fantastic bike. Engine is as bulletproof as you'll get and it's very easy to work on. If you absolutely/positively HAVE to push this bike to the limit, you'll have to do sprocket changes. Best advice - leave it stock and ride the bike in the comfort zone that it was designed for and it will never let you down.
Been wanting one of these bikes since I was 7. (I was 7 when this bike came to the US) It's a motorized mule, it can handle every terrain plus get you around town. It'll tow about 300 lbs without shifting problems. The thing is built rock solid, with regular maintenance they will go 200,000 miles before a rebuild... That's pretty good for a thumper 😂
Had mine ride from Canada until 2 hours south of San Francisco. Parking on river banks under RR trestles and beside canals under roadway bridges to sleep overnight without a tent. Farm tractor byways are helpful. Did also roll inside dry storm water culverts. Also vacated train tunnel found south of Los Gatos (now used for a private residence 50 feet wide and about a half-mile long). Return trip included a lava tube camp inside Modoc National Forest with underground parking. Bypassed I-5 where possible.
I changed my rear gear to 44 tooth and made a huge difference in top speed and lowered the RPMs. i still have a decent first gear crawling ability. can cruise at 55-65 no problem will top out at about 70. that doesnt seem good but for country roads its perfect.
There's an idle adjustment screw you can turn with your hand easily, you're going to feel silly dealing with that low idle problem after you see how easy it is to adjust! I wouldn't go below a 47t at the rear with stock sprocket up front if you still want to do off-road stuff, but 47t will make it a lot happier on the street and still capable off road but it's better off road with stock gearing. X-Ring chain smoothed out the vibes a lot on mine surprisingly, the whole bike is a lot smoother.
I've been a bit obsessed with this little Yamaha for years now! I'm almost to the point of having to have one just so I can move on to acquiring my next obsession, a "Victory" before they're all gone...
Don't get a Victory dude. I made that mistake this past April. They are great bikes and awesome to own....when they still made them. It took me 3 months to find a brake caliper for my Vegas and it cost more than 4 of them should cost. As soon as I fixed the caliper I couldn't sell it fast enough. The bad news is it was every bit a $5000+ bike....but I was super lucky to get $3000 out of it, they are worth nothing now.
Retired Boomer here: I had one of those 1970 Honda CT70’s. The mini bike was indestructible. You wipe out on dirt, you just bend the handlebars back in place and Go!
Another retired boomer - we had the CT70, and the little 50cc Honda with the fold down handlebars. They were brilliant fun. I honestly wish they’d do another run of them
My first bike. Over a decade later still have it. Two big Harleys a dr650 and the tdub sit in my driveway right now. I was 270ish when I bought it. Did fifty miles to work and back every day for years. Do 55 all day with my 270 on it. It would do 60 but it's happier at 55.
Just got home from meeting a buddy for dinner on my TW. About 40 miles round trip. I’ve ridden it about 120 miles in the last week. It is indeed a fantastic bike for putting back roads when you’re not in a hurry. I love mine and take it over my Harley all the time. Also, I filled it up this evening before I left. 104 miles and hadn’t hit reserve. Pumped 1.03 gallons and filled it to the brim. That’s 100 mpg, and that’s what I normally get on it. Anywhere from 95-100 on back roads.
I rode this exact same 2015 model from Tucson, Arizona to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally non-stop except to change the oil halfway in the middle. Then I hung out all summer long and tried to come home from Sturgis back to Arizona and I dropped a valve in Pueblo Colorado so cross country may be a stretch.
Like others have said. Try turning the idle up. Also on my 1993 it had a plug blocking the fuel/air screw. I got the plug out and found the screw all the way closed. I backed it out a 1/2 turn and it runs much better. Barely needs any choke to start it. I know the 2001 and newer had a different carburetor so I’m not sure if this applies. I’m at 1,000 ft altitude so your carb might need to be adjusted or cleaned.
I have a soft spot for TWs. They're charming and fun. They tought me small bikes can be very enjoyable to ride. Just don't expect it to do things it wasn't made to do.
I used to work at a motorcycle shop, and we saw single cylinder dual sports in all the time with valve problems because people tried to ride them on the highway (in AZ the highway speed limit is 65 so most people drive 75-80) Yes, these bike can go fast enough for the highway, but the engines can't handle those speeds for extended periods of time without additional maintenance. I love the TWs, but I wouldn't ride them for long periods of time much above 50-55mph. My current commuter bike is 2009 Yamaha FZ1, which I'm making a special rear seat that holds a top case like a Givi so I can take it off and put it on quickly, since I'm not a fan of the rear rack options currently available for the FZ1
I had one. Also had an XT225 (awesome bike) and an XT250. The TW200 is probably the best of those for trail riding only in my opinion. But is it NOT really road-worthy unless you're not going to get out of a top speed limit of 45 mph. The XT250 would be a better all-around choice in my not-so-humble and personally-informed opinion. Don't get me wrong. The TW200 is not a bad bike. Just know what you're buying. Kinda like what you said. I have a couple of youtube videos on my channel of me wringing an TW200 out if anyone cares.
I really dig the TW200. It just is and looks like the type of vehicle you ride with a purpose. The fact that it has a carb kind of sucks but I guess being a 'farm bike' there is an expectation that it just works. So inconvenience as a tradeoff for that stone slab reliability is a good thing. I also really like a horizontal speedo.
@@howardhughes6212 How often do people need to repair something in the middle of nowhere? How often do bikes need to be started up? How often are you in the middle of nowhere and the fuel injector happens to be the thing that breaks? It isn't convenient by any stretch of the meaning. The only reason a carb makes sense is cost.
Very interested to see how a sprocket/tire setup change can affect street worthiness - increase in top end speed versus loss of low-end torque. The difference between 70 and 75 can be critical to staying with highway traffic.
They are just adequate at 55 - 60 mph. They were designed and originally built when these were the highway speed limits. Now speed limits are significantly higher. I wouldn’t ever be comfortable riding one of these at 65+ mph. Had several from when they were first new. Very little has changed. I switched to the KLR 650 for a work/irrigation bike. That bike is much more comfortable on the highway and at highway speeds, especially the last version from 2008. I haven’t ridden the newest version though. Yet
Heheh, that was Foothills Parkway in Boulder, with its 45mph limit, and you doing a speed run!!! Be damn careful; the cops are out there in that exact stretch regularly. Thanks for a great video!
I’m getting a modified serow with a tw 200 engine installed sent to me by a friend whom I am exchanging my XL 185cc Honda with and looking forward to getting a serow with this engine on it ! Now I’m happy I was reticent about it not being a serow 223 6 gear but after seeing this I’m glad I think I will be just fine with it. Tjanks❤
As you said Kase, the roads around there are ideal for that bike. lol Atrocious conditions. I would not highway ride that bike for any long distances on those specific tires. Like anything, if you got the right rubber on it, it would be ok for longer freeway rides, but it is still a light bike and would get pushed around by other traffic. I had a 1981 Honda CM200T (or Twinster) and on the freeway I was pushed all over the place and it was a proper street bike obviously. I think if you can get your hands on other dual sports of the era and or CC range, it would be nice to mash up how they run side by side. Or if Roman is willing to sell off another TFL vehicle to pay for a trip, take it to MOAB and run some of the terrain up there. (after the tune up, sprocket and chain maintenance)
I tried to do long-distance backroad touring on mine. It'll do 50 on stock gearing OK, 60 in a pinch. The problem is the foot pegs are too close to the seat for me and that makes for a weird squatted riding position. Other than that it's a really good starter bike, and super reliable. Tons of mods available as well. I have 6700 really hard miles and lots of trail usage on my 2006 and not a single issue, I haven't ever had to replace anything besides wear items.
Um, I'm over 6 feet tall and wore out a pair of size 11 Moose Racing boots using the Yamaha TW-200. Wearing a cowboy hat explains a mule riding bow-legged stature If too short for mule rides then claim you're on little Mexican donkeys frequently.
I bought my 2016 Tdub with 850 miles in 2018 for $3000. It now has 11,000 mi on the clock, mostly off road but with plenty of getting there pavement moments. The gearing is stock because of the type of off road I do & it works great. Personally on road I feel that it is happiest at 45-50mph which is fine for where I use it. If I were to use it as a commuter I would opt for taller gearing, but I have a Chinese 250 single (CSC SG250) which fits the bill better for street use. I certainly agree with your take on the TW but I can’t imagine it running over 60mph for very long distances.
I thinking about getting one but i worry i may be too tall for it. i'm 6ft. i like bikes this size because they are lightweight and that makes them easier to handle off road.
One of the crazy things about these bikes is the owners basically covet them if anyone selling it's not going to be sold cheap and that's the rare instance in which someone is actually selling I have a 2009 V-Strom 650 I have up for trade that's how hard it is to get a decent used one
While I love my TW 200, I would never punish it with high speed driving, especially with no tach. I don't exceed 50 mph which makes it too dangerous on faster roads. We carry it on our motor home for short travels when staying somewhere and for checking out forest service roads before committing to them with the motor home.
Just to be clear, ppl have been riding TDubs on the street for over 35 years. You should follow this up with similar videos, like "can you eat pizza for lunch?" and "are we allowed to wear our ballcaps backwards?"
Fun fact: In South Africa, we call this a TW but pronounce it "TeeWee" and sometimes it's pronounced "TierVeer". The latter because "W" becomes a "V" sound in Afrikaans.
That makes perfect sense to me. In Spanish w is pronounced double v, which is what it is. Not double u. And I think that two v's should make us stronger sound than one v. I worked with doctors from India thirty years ago. Many would pronounce a V with the soft w sound, and the W with the stronger v sound. It makes sense to me.
@@grooviefan Quite allot of money for what it is a very heavy entry level machine that will soon be outgrow for most new riders once they learn how to shift gears lol. They are also prone to speed wobble even when not going very speedy lol which makes it a bit of an unsafe machine to learn on to boot lol. This machine is worth no more than $3500 brand new now in days but here we are lol.
if you’re interested in how this bike handles off road, T Dubs Kid on youtube has pushed his bike to the limit and has lots of videos of him on colorado trails with his tw.
If it were just a bit faster, it'd seal the deal for me. In the greater Vancouver Area, the usually you hit the hwy from city to city, and you'd definitely be a slower vehicle even in right lane standards. Which is fine, but I don't wanna be going full throttle just to barely keep up.
i have had a Tdub for years now as a back up bike , everyone rides it enjoys it , great fun bike , i have done mods to it , we cant get get them here in Australia , mine is a 2005 , it will peak out around 145k ph . so yea great fun . i would buy another one if we could . Cheers Steve/Australia
lets see if the fmf power core 4 muffler makes any difference in power. plus les see if a 46 tooth sprocket if practice for the little tw or if it loses too much acceleration. lets also see of there is a carb swap that will ad power too. thus making the bike more usable as a dual sport on nd off road
Did you mention the top speed? You said it hit 60, did you check it against a GPS? I'll have to check it again, but I've never seen 65 mph on my TW200. My speedometer is spot on, checked by Google Maps. It's the only moto speedo I own that isn't about 10% optimistic. So IF you did hit an indicated 65 mph, it may only have been an actual 58.5 mph.
I am surprised that someone with a cycle video site does not wear proper safety footwear. Sneakers are a perfect way to break or severely injure your foot or ankle in the event of even a simple crash. Believe me, I learned that the hard way many years ago.
I made the mistake of buying a Suzuki VanVan 200 and it wasn’t safe to ride on the street because it couldn’t do 50 mph unless I was going downhill. I bought it because it was more retro-1970s looking than any bike out there. What I really miss is my 1972 Honda SL350. Over 50 years later it’s still the superior dual sport bike. I once got it up to 105mph, yet it was good on trails. Anyways I think I’m going to buy a TW200 and see if I can get it modified to give me a few more MPH.
I wouldn't ride either on these on major highways... I seriously enjoy my VV 200 as a mountain home bike and find it alot cooler than a TW. Easy 2 lane 45 mph roads to get to trails or into town for coffee. TW or VV are both comfortable at 45 mph. Honestly I think the VV is the better "street" of the two. They're both going to need gearing swaps for higher speeds, but I wouldn't bother with a TW thinking its somehow a big leap in street-ability over the VV.
I found a KZ 100 riding on the sea bottom at minus tide. She said the TW-200 wide tire would be better, if like her, I decreased tire pressure for the wet tidal area ride. She told me not to ford harmless-looking river delta outlets. If stuck between banking be advised Bullhead shark have attacked waders up to 9 miles upriver. Due to the tidal conditions that smiling lovely lady told me ...............
I took my Motorcycle road course class on this bike to get my license for my State. It was an all day event. And by the end of the day, I felt like someone folded me like a pretzel. I could barely walk back to my car. Cool bike and very trail worthy, but not something you want to spend all day on. Not unless you're built like a small child. This bike was made for farm use and trail rides. Not a daily commuter or cross country adventure tourer. For the same money or less you can get a much better bike for normal size people.
I don't ride the freeway or interstate with mine. Its just not do-able. But it is still worth every penny. It makes up for it offroad. These bikes are so much fun... If you want to ride freeways, don't get a TW.
In Spain on the motorway there's a speed minimum of 60mph. how do you think the TW200 would fare? I'm thinking about this bike as not only my first motorbike, but my first motor PERIOD! Thanks (also i have a lot of off road/dirt tracks, which is what I'm really hoping to use it for, but I'd like to be able to ride to local lakes and other trails)
Not with a minimum of 60 mph. It will go 60 but it won't like it. Everyone else will be flying past you like you're standing still... Not very safe or enjoyable. It's great on country roads and in town. Also a blast in the woods. If you can avoid the highway get one. If not no.
In 2009, I bought a like new 2004 TW200 with 800 miles for $1800 from an elderly man. Which I used as a commute bike to college. Then I sold it for $2500 after I graduated. Now I regret that I sold it! I will buy a new one this summer. Super cool bike!
The TW is a great "road bike" so long as those roads are backroads with speeds 55 and under, preferably 45 and under. Touring on it is a blast if you take the slow way around.... Two problems with the TW on the freeway 1) it does not have enough power to maintain freeway speeds. You are basically a traffic cone out there and there is 0 power left in reserve if you needed to get away from a situation. 2) The chassis is very unstable at those kinds of speeds. I once had my bike go into a full on tank slapper at 60mph when being passed by a big rig. The wind blast upset the chassis enough to send it into a full on slapper. I own two of TW's now and have owned two others, all of them were unstable at high speeds even with the far less agressive road tires that bridgestone makes for these. Bottom line, if freeway riding is the task pick the proper tool for the job. The TW is not a highway bike, never will be and i personally wish people would stop trying to make it into something its not. I used to commute on mine into Boston for years but i took the backroad way vs the turnpike.
chain driven motorcycles can always have the sprocket sizes changed to increase the torque at the wheels or the top speed. but increasing the top speed would also have a slower acceleration as well as a bit more clutch wear too.
I like this channel, but was a bit concerned when he talked about the loose chain and didnt mention that he would just tighten it. I would hope and assume they know that. If they dont, they shouldnt be riding motorbikes, Ive had chains skip off sprockets twice in my life, thankfully both times i was only going about 20mph when the chain locked the rear wheel up instantly.
Not everyone needs a highway bike. I'd argue most people don't. Yesterday's 175-250cc bikes were an important class that got people started riding. And now they're mostly gone, however Honda does well with their 125's. I understand KTM has a 200 in the U.S. (Duke 200) and I've never seen any dealer even pretend to stock it. Hard to sell what's not offered. So now you have a gap where young riders begin on sport bikes, or dentists start on Harleys. Little wonder ridership is down.
It's a cool bike in its own unique way. But I'm trying to justify the cost in my mind vs much better spec'd bikes you can get for the same or a just a little bit more.
I commute to work with mine all the time! They are road worthy. I've turned my 2021 into a mini touring bike too! They're great!
me too i have a ton of storage. Its my end times zombie bike.
also if jeep ever made a motorcycle it would look just like a tw200. looks good on the back of my jeep.
@@akmankalash Well said!! 🤣
Would u take this bike on old country roads on a weekend trip. Dirt roads Etc? I'm 5'6 would this bike be too big for me to ride? Thanks
Ever in the snow?
I used a TW 200 to take the rider course and fell in love with it so when I passed and got my license I got one for my first motorcycle. I absolutely love it. It fits me perfectly and it goes anywhere. I’m just getting around to road riding. And your video helped me feel much better about keeping up in normal 40-45 mph traffic that we have right around our house. So thanks for the video!!!!!
I had one for years. Great for commuting in the mountains. Runs 55mph all day long with stock gearing. 70-75 if you really push it. They've been in production since 1987 for a reason. They are very good bikes.
You must have a very optimistic speedometer! Most of my motorcycles indicate about 5 mph more than actual speed, others indicate about 10% more so the faster you go the farther off they are actual speed. My TW200 when it's in tune and running well may reach 65 mph, never 75 mph. Perhaps you have different gearing?
@@papatorr3669might be when he's going down the mountain with some back wind 🤔
@@PixelLife101 as legendary as the hype for the TW200 is they simply are not made for that. I remember watching a video of a kid that took his TW on a long trip to Las Vegas. His engine blew up as he was leaving and had to have his TW towed home.
When I had mine, changing the rear sprocket helped make the top highway speed safer and still provided enough power to move my 200+ pounds along the trails. These bikes are great every-day rides for suburban commuting, but they really shine on trails. Add a larger tank and it's the perfect mule for any of the BDRs and has carried many an adventurer over the TAT. There is also a thriving online community at the TW200Forum that can answer any question you might have, and provide real-world experience that might answer questions you didn't know you had. 😁
Trails? I decline to share my route with foot traffic,
Prefer single and double-track vacated roadways
usually built by the US Forest Service for industry
usage. Systems built a half-mile apart if looking
at them using Google Earth and how you do that
connection is not my problem..................
The TDub is a fantastic bike. Engine is as bulletproof as you'll get and it's very easy to work on. If you absolutely/positively HAVE to push this bike to the limit, you'll have to do sprocket changes. Best advice - leave it stock and ride the bike in the comfort zone that it was designed for and it will never let you down.
stock is horrible for the road, 14T/50T is trail... road front 15T or a rear 47T is a no brainer... completely a different bike then.
_
Been wanting one of these bikes since I was 7.
(I was 7 when this bike came to the US)
It's a motorized mule, it can handle every terrain plus get you around town. It'll tow about 300 lbs without shifting problems. The thing is built rock solid, with regular maintenance they will go 200,000 miles before a rebuild... That's pretty good for a thumper 😂
Did you get it?
@@KafirIrani no, but I did get a Lifan X-Pect.
Had mine ride from Canada until 2 hours south of San Francisco.
Parking on river banks under RR trestles and beside canals under
roadway bridges to sleep overnight without a tent. Farm tractor
byways are helpful. Did also roll inside dry storm water culverts.
Also vacated train tunnel found south of Los Gatos (now used
for a private residence 50 feet wide and about a half-mile long).
Return trip included a lava tube camp inside Modoc National
Forest with underground parking. Bypassed I-5 where possible.
Amazing boss
I changed my rear gear to 44 tooth and made a huge difference in top speed and lowered the RPMs. i still have a decent first gear crawling ability. can cruise at 55-65 no problem will top out at about 70. that doesnt seem good but for country roads its perfect.
My tw is going 15 mph in third gear .I'm shifting into 5th at 25- 30. Thinking of changing the sprockets. Seems to have plenty of low end power
@Nunya Bis no need. its only off by a few mph. not anything thats gonna get me into trouble. i barely go over the speed limit in most situations.
Sounds perfect for my area as well Ohio/Michigan-most roads around here are dirt so it’s 🙌🏽
There's an idle adjustment screw you can turn with your hand easily, you're going to feel silly dealing with that low idle problem after you see how easy it is to adjust! I wouldn't go below a 47t at the rear with stock sprocket up front if you still want to do off-road stuff, but 47t will make it a lot happier on the street and still capable off road but it's better off road with stock gearing. X-Ring chain smoothed out the vibes a lot on mine surprisingly, the whole bike is a lot smoother.
I'm thinking of switching to X-Rings when I need to replace my chain
@@dirtcopdualsport Less maintenance for sure.
I don't know how professional this channel is.... Lol
This is the best motorcycle ever. It's built for fun, and it has never changed. Riding a TW200 just might save your life. And your money too!
Agree with that!
Save your life?
@@OtterPup_probably meant like a cure for depression.
Absolutely agree
I've been a bit obsessed with this little Yamaha for years now! I'm almost to the point of having to have one just so I can move on to acquiring my next obsession, a "Victory" before they're all gone...
Don't get a Victory dude. I made that mistake this past April. They are great bikes and awesome to own....when they still made them. It took me 3 months to find a brake caliper for my Vegas and it cost more than 4 of them should cost. As soon as I fixed the caliper I couldn't sell it fast enough. The bad news is it was every bit a $5000+ bike....but I was super lucky to get $3000 out of it, they are worth nothing now.
Retired Boomer here:
I had one of those 1970 Honda CT70’s. The mini bike was indestructible. You wipe out on dirt, you just bend the handlebars back in place and Go!
Another retired boomer - we had the CT70, and the little 50cc Honda with the fold down handlebars. They were brilliant fun. I honestly wish they’d do another run of them
@@KeepItSimpleSailor
Me too, but make them street legal too.
Thank you for your reply.
I have a 2014 TW 200 with 24,000 miles on it I love it.
I saw the old guy on his TW again yesterday. I’ve sworn off two wheels but man it sure is tempting to have something to run around town on.
They're pretty safe as far as motorcycles go.
I am reminded of the Foghat song " Slow ride, take it easy...."
My first bike. Over a decade later still have it. Two big Harleys a dr650 and the tdub sit in my driveway right now. I was 270ish when I bought it. Did fifty miles to work and back every day for years. Do 55 all day with my 270 on it. It would do 60 but it's happier at 55.
I did my BRC on a tw200 and loved it! Super easy to push around the course for low speed maneuvering. And I love the fatty rear tire!
Just got home from meeting a buddy for dinner on my TW. About 40 miles round trip. I’ve ridden it about 120 miles in the last week. It is indeed a fantastic bike for putting back roads when you’re not in a hurry. I love mine and take it over my Harley all the time. Also, I filled it up this evening before I left. 104 miles and hadn’t hit reserve. Pumped 1.03 gallons and filled it to the brim. That’s 100 mpg, and that’s what I normally get on it. Anywhere from 95-100 on back roads.
I rode this exact same 2015 model from Tucson, Arizona to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally non-stop except to change the oil halfway in the middle. Then I hung out all summer long and tried to come home from Sturgis back to Arizona and I dropped a valve in Pueblo Colorado so cross country may be a stretch.
Did you have the stock sprockets? And what actual miles per hour were you running it?
Maybe it just needed a valve adjustment?
Like others have said. Try turning the idle up.
Also on my 1993 it had a plug blocking the fuel/air screw. I got the plug out and found the screw all the way closed. I backed it out a 1/2 turn and it runs much better. Barely needs any choke to start it.
I know the 2001 and newer had a different carburetor so I’m not sure if this applies. I’m at 1,000 ft altitude so your carb might need to be adjusted or cleaned.
I have a soft spot for TWs. They're charming and fun. They tought me small bikes can be very enjoyable to ride. Just don't expect it to do things it wasn't made to do.
I used to work at a motorcycle shop, and we saw single cylinder dual sports in all the time with valve problems because people tried to ride them on the highway (in AZ the highway speed limit is 65 so most people drive 75-80) Yes, these bike can go fast enough for the highway, but the engines can't handle those speeds for extended periods of time without additional maintenance. I love the TWs, but I wouldn't ride them for long periods of time much above 50-55mph. My current commuter bike is 2009 Yamaha FZ1, which I'm making a special rear seat that holds a top case like a Givi so I can take it off and put it on quickly, since I'm not a fan of the rear rack options currently available for the FZ1
I had one. Also had an XT225 (awesome bike) and an XT250. The TW200 is probably the best of those for trail riding only in my opinion. But is it NOT really road-worthy unless you're not going to get out of a top speed limit of 45 mph. The XT250 would be a better all-around choice in my not-so-humble and personally-informed opinion. Don't get me wrong. The TW200 is not a bad bike. Just know what you're buying. Kinda like what you said. I have a couple of youtube videos on my channel of me wringing an TW200 out if anyone cares.
Looks like something I wouldn't mind having at all for my first bike!
Tw200 Is Simply a fantastic bike
The great thing about this bike is how small and light it is but it fits most adults perfectly. No other bike has this size and feel. Love mine!
I really dig the TW200. It just is and looks like the type of vehicle you ride with a purpose. The fact that it has a carb kind of sucks but I guess being a 'farm bike' there is an expectation that it just works. So inconvenience as a tradeoff for that stone slab reliability is a good thing. I also really like a horizontal speedo.
can you fix a fuel injector in the middle of nowhere? the ability to repair something IS CONVENIENT.
@@howardhughes6212 How often do people need to repair something in the middle of nowhere? How often do bikes need to be started up? How often are you in the middle of nowhere and the fuel injector happens to be the thing that breaks?
It isn't convenient by any stretch of the meaning. The only reason a carb makes sense is cost.
Appreciate the TW200 content.
That low first gear seems like another reason a beginner would enjoy this bike, hard to stall.
It is a great beginner bike! Riding Schools all over the country use them as trainers.
my 12 year old can drive it with ease
@@akmankalash mine are as well! That means I gotta buy a couple more! 😁
That's why they call it a farm bike. A go-anywhere solution.
@@thenexthobby And, it'll work well on the farm as well. I've used it to herd some cattle and my buddy uses his to take hay bales around the farm.
Very interested to see how a sprocket/tire setup change can affect street worthiness - increase in top end speed versus loss of low-end torque. The difference between 70 and 75 can be critical to staying with highway traffic.
They are just adequate at 55 - 60 mph. They were designed and originally built when these were the highway speed limits. Now speed limits are significantly higher. I wouldn’t ever be comfortable riding one of these at 65+ mph. Had several from when they were first new. Very little has changed. I switched to the KLR 650 for a work/irrigation bike. That bike is much more comfortable on the highway and at highway speeds, especially the last version from 2008. I haven’t ridden the newest version though. Yet
I commute to work 25 miles, it cruises fine for me with a 44tooth rear
I wouldn’t want to ride this bike above 70 anyways
I work at the Boulderado and I want a low cc bike to commute to work but hit some trails after. You demo in roads I'm on all the time so it's perfect
Heheh, that was Foothills Parkway in Boulder, with its 45mph limit, and you doing a speed run!!! Be damn careful; the cops are out there in that exact stretch regularly. Thanks for a great video!
It’s an internet fact that no TW has ever been pulled over for speeding!
I’m getting a modified serow with a tw 200 engine installed sent to me by a friend whom I am exchanging my XL 185cc Honda with and looking forward to getting a serow with this engine on it ! Now I’m happy I was reticent about it not being a serow 223 6 gear but after seeing this I’m glad I think I will be just fine with it. Tjanks❤
As you said Kase, the roads around there are ideal for that bike. lol Atrocious conditions. I would not highway ride that bike for any long distances on those specific tires. Like anything, if you got the right rubber on it, it would be ok for longer freeway rides, but it is still a light bike and would get pushed around by other traffic. I had a 1981 Honda CM200T (or Twinster) and on the freeway I was pushed all over the place and it was a proper street bike obviously. I think if you can get your hands on other dual sports of the era and or CC range, it would be nice to mash up how they run side by side. Or if Roman is willing to sell off another TFL vehicle to pay for a trip, take it to MOAB and run some of the terrain up there. (after the tune up, sprocket and chain maintenance)
I tried to do long-distance backroad touring on mine. It'll do 50 on stock gearing OK, 60 in a pinch.
The problem is the foot pegs are too close to the seat for me and that makes for a weird squatted riding position.
Other than that it's a really good starter bike, and super reliable. Tons of mods available as well.
I have 6700 really hard miles and lots of trail usage on my 2006 and not a single issue, I haven't ever had to replace anything besides wear items.
Um, I'm over 6 feet tall and wore out a pair
of size 11 Moose Racing boots using the
Yamaha TW-200. Wearing a cowboy hat
explains a mule riding bow-legged stature
If too short for mule rides then claim you're
on little Mexican donkeys frequently.
@@jcee2259 tell me more 🙏, I'm 6ft2 and thinking about a tw200 thank you
I would like to see you compare it to the Suzuki Van Van. This would be a great bike to get a motorcycle license on.
Just wish Suzuki still sold the VanVan in the US
@@luvnotvideos I just saw a used one in Spokane I think. Was very tempting.
I love this channel because I just moved to boulder and I’m like look I drive there lol
I bought my 2016 Tdub with 850 miles in 2018 for $3000. It now has 11,000 mi on the clock, mostly off road but with plenty of getting there pavement moments. The gearing is stock because of the type of off road I do & it works great. Personally on road I feel that it is happiest at 45-50mph which is fine for where I use it. If I were to use it as a commuter I would opt for taller gearing, but I have a Chinese 250 single (CSC SG250) which fits the bill better for street use. I certainly agree with your take on the TW but I can’t imagine it running over 60mph for very long distances.
with a 15/49 sprocket set, mine will do 70mph easy... love mine
yes it is fine on the highway.
Road mine from East Tx to Dell City, then up the NMBDR and then back to East Tx.
Would you say that you feel that the 'fat' tires are WAY better on both dry AND slippy/wet mud trails?
I thinking about getting one but i worry i may be too tall for it. i'm 6ft. i like bikes this size because they are lightweight and that makes them easier to handle off road.
One of the crazy things about these bikes is the owners basically covet them if anyone selling it's not going to be sold cheap and that's the rare instance in which someone is actually selling I have a 2009 V-Strom 650 I have up for trade that's how hard it is to get a decent used one
They went up a bit... can't find one anywhere.... definitely a fun machine
While I love my TW 200, I would never punish it with high speed driving, especially with no tach. I don't exceed 50 mph which makes it too dangerous on faster roads. We carry it on our motor home for short travels when staying somewhere and for checking out forest service roads before committing to them with the motor home.
As long as you don't take it too seriously, the TW will serve you well and put a smile on your face. Don't think I'll ever get rid of my 18.
Just to be clear, ppl have been riding TDubs on the street for over 35 years.
You should follow this up with similar videos, like "can you eat pizza for lunch?" and "are we allowed to wear our ballcaps backwards?"
I mean….are we?
@@TrumpetPlayer68 i am. (you're not.)
I wish they sold these here in Australia. It's such an appealing little package.
Fun fact: In South Africa, we call this a TW but pronounce it "TeeWee" and sometimes it's pronounced "TierVeer".
The latter because "W" becomes a "V" sound in Afrikaans.
That makes perfect sense to me. In Spanish w is pronounced double v, which is what it is. Not double u. And I think that two v's should make us stronger sound than one v. I worked with doctors from India thirty years ago. Many would pronounce a V with the soft w sound, and the W with the stronger v sound. It makes sense to me.
I love mine, and the prices are crazy right now for these. I saw someone bought one new in a TW group recently for over 8000$ which is madness.
That's insane! I got my 2017 last year for 4500 (only had 800 miles)
They are $4900 brand new 2023 model from Yamaha.
I’m picking up my 2023 tw in 2 weeks. $5050 🤷🏻♂️
@@leanlifter1depends on the state and the greed of the dealer. Average price OTD in calif is 6200 to 6400.
@@grooviefan Quite allot of money for what it is a very heavy entry level machine that will soon be outgrow for most new riders once they learn how to shift gears lol. They are also prone to speed wobble even when not going very speedy lol which makes it a bit of an unsafe machine to learn on to boot lol. This machine is worth no more than $3500 brand new now in days but here we are lol.
if you’re interested in how this bike handles off road, T Dubs Kid on youtube has pushed his bike to the limit and has lots of videos of him on colorado trails with his tw.
Shinko Golden Boy 244 pon the front smooths it out a tad
Note.
They come with very low gearing and extra lean.
Get a pipe and a pro to rejet the carb.
20hp
Geared for street it’s inadequate for dirt. To see a 350 with injection and discs front and rear would more than make my day.
It would be awesome to see Yamaha doing same retro style modernizing for this bike as Honda did to Monkey, Trail and Dax.. Only if they cared..
I'd like to ge tmy hands on one of those little Hondas right now.
the tw already looks good i hope they don't modernize it and make it worse like honda did with the cub.
@@dieselgeezer18 I hope they keep true to its roots too. although I do like the cub and trail upgrades.
@@dirtcopdualsport the trail looks good. The cub is terrible imo
@@dieselgeezer18 what makes it terrible?
If it were just a bit faster, it'd seal the deal for me. In the greater Vancouver Area, the usually you hit the hwy from city to city, and you'd definitely be a slower vehicle even in right lane standards. Which is fine, but I don't wanna be going full throttle just to barely keep up.
i have had a Tdub for years now as a back up bike , everyone rides it enjoys it , great fun bike , i have done mods to it , we cant get get them here in Australia , mine is a 2005 , it will peak out around 145k ph . so yea great fun . i would buy another one if we could . Cheers Steve/Australia
That crank case will be cooking hot. Air cooled. In Florida…it gets crazy hot.
ahhh man, My TW is halfway across the state right now and it's killing me. Gotta get back ASAP. This video made me wanna go ride!
i take mine to work everyday, its not a far ride but where i live the bike is perfect for small trips
Was looking into a DRZ but just discovered this and it looks like its great if your short
Not too bad for tall guys either
Luv muh Dub!!! Thinking about 47 tooth sprocket to lower the rpms
If you do, let me know how it goes!!
Maybe save some cruising gas mileage too.
lets see if the fmf power core 4 muffler makes any difference in power. plus les see if a 46 tooth sprocket if practice for the little tw or if it loses too much acceleration. lets also see of there is a carb swap that will ad power too. thus making the bike more usable as a dual sport on nd off road
Did you mention the top speed? You said it hit 60, did you check it against a GPS? I'll have to check it again, but I've never seen 65 mph on my TW200. My speedometer is spot on, checked by Google Maps. It's the only moto speedo I own that isn't about 10% optimistic. So IF you did hit an indicated 65 mph, it may only have been an actual 58.5 mph.
I am surprised that someone with a cycle video site does not wear proper safety footwear. Sneakers are a perfect way to break or severely injure your foot or ankle in the event of even a simple crash. Believe me, I learned that the hard way many years ago.
I made the mistake of buying a Suzuki VanVan 200 and it wasn’t safe to ride on the street because it couldn’t do 50 mph unless I was going downhill. I bought it because it was more retro-1970s looking than any bike out there. What I really miss is my 1972 Honda SL350. Over 50 years later it’s still the superior dual sport bike. I once got it up to 105mph, yet it was good on trails. Anyways I think I’m going to buy a TW200 and see if I can get it modified to give me a few more MPH.
I wouldn't ride either on these on major highways... I seriously enjoy my VV 200 as a mountain home bike and find it alot cooler than a TW. Easy 2 lane 45 mph roads to get to trails or into town for coffee. TW or VV are both comfortable at 45 mph. Honestly I think the VV is the better "street" of the two. They're both going to need gearing swaps for higher speeds, but I wouldn't bother with a TW thinking its somehow a big leap in street-ability over the VV.
I love my TW. You can full throttle and it won't kill you.
Always a plus!
Could you Do a compression to a 1986 Honda toe 200 also cal the reflex it would be fun as they both dual sports
You can thank that back tire for the smooth ride
I had a KZ 100 on road/off road bike. I’d ride it on state highways but never interstate. It would top out around 50mph.
I found a KZ 100 riding on the sea bottom at minus tide.
She said the TW-200 wide tire would be better, if like her,
I decreased tire pressure for the wet tidal area ride. She
told me not to ford harmless-looking river delta outlets.
If stuck between banking be advised Bullhead shark have
attacked waders up to 9 miles upriver. Due to the tidal
conditions that smiling lovely lady told me ...............
A TW350 would of been awesome!
I took my Motorcycle road course class on this bike to get my license for my State. It was an all day event. And by the end of the day, I felt like someone folded me like a pretzel. I could barely walk back to my car. Cool bike and very trail worthy, but not something you want to spend all day on. Not unless you're built like a small child. This bike was made for farm use and trail rides. Not a daily commuter or cross country adventure tourer. For the same money or less you can get a much better bike for normal size people.
I enjoy my 2013 TW200 very much. I ride mostly street and I have no problem.
My grandma owned a Honda trail 70 lol
How tall are you ? Is it comfortable for your height ?
I don't ride the freeway or interstate with mine. Its just not do-able.
But it is still worth every penny. It makes up for it offroad. These bikes are so much fun...
If you want to ride freeways, don't get a TW.
If you could find one…. A comparison with the Suzuki Van Van 200 would be awesome!
I need one
You think this better then a honda navi or honda ruckus thanks
In Spain on the motorway there's a speed minimum of 60mph. how do you think the TW200 would fare? I'm thinking about this bike as not only my first motorbike, but my first motor PERIOD! Thanks (also i have a lot of off road/dirt tracks, which is what I'm really hoping to use it for, but I'd like to be able to ride to local lakes and other trails)
*60kmph I think you meant. I have one and I go on the highway all the time. It can get to 100-110kmph but it's most comfortable at 80-90 kmph
Not with a minimum of 60 mph. It will go 60 but it won't like it. Everyone else will be flying past you like you're standing still... Not very safe or enjoyable. It's great on country roads and in town. Also a blast in the woods. If you can avoid the highway get one. If not no.
@@likebutton3136 thanks for the reply! i went with a DRZ400 and i'm very happy :)
@@pitchwife7573 another outstanding choice.
I found one of these for about the same price as a Chinese 250 would it be better to get the Yamaha or Chinese 250
In 2009, I bought a like new 2004 TW200 with 800 miles for $1800 from an elderly man. Which I used as a commute bike to college. Then I sold it for $2500 after I graduated. Now I regret that I sold it! I will buy a new one this summer. Super cool bike!
The TW is a great "road bike" so long as those roads are backroads with speeds 55 and under, preferably 45 and under. Touring on it is a blast if you take the slow way around....
Two problems with the TW on the freeway
1) it does not have enough power to maintain freeway speeds. You are basically a traffic cone out there and there is 0 power left in reserve if you needed to get away from a situation.
2) The chassis is very unstable at those kinds of speeds. I once had my bike go into a full on tank slapper at 60mph when being passed by a big rig. The wind blast upset the chassis enough to send it into a full on slapper. I own two of TW's now and have owned two others, all of them were unstable at high speeds even with the far less agressive road tires that bridgestone makes for these.
Bottom line, if freeway riding is the task pick the proper tool for the job. The TW is not a highway bike, never will be and i personally wish people would stop trying to make it into something its not.
I used to commute on mine into Boston for years but i took the backroad way vs the turnpike.
TW200: The bike to get when a Grom isn't hooligan enough for you.
Will it get me to pound town
I lusted after the Trail 70 as a kid.
chain driven motorcycles can always have the sprocket sizes changed to increase the torque at the wheels or the top speed. but increasing the top speed would also have a slower acceleration as well as a bit more clutch wear too.
You bring it up to highway speed with a chain as loose as that? Suppose it jumps sprocket and locks up the rear wheel on you?
I like this channel, but was a bit concerned when he talked about the loose chain and didnt mention that he would just tighten it. I would hope and assume they know that. If they dont, they shouldnt be riding motorbikes, Ive had chains skip off sprockets twice in my life, thankfully both times i was only going about 20mph when the chain locked the rear wheel up instantly.
Time for an awesome skid like when you were a kid with a new back tire.
Needed chain and sprockets at $3400 miles?
That didn't sound too rapped out, not stock gearing?
My tw makes 150 t0 160kmh on the highway.
That's enough for me.
Does extremely great on the street.
Not everyone needs a highway bike. I'd argue most people don't.
Yesterday's 175-250cc bikes were an important class that got people started riding. And now they're mostly gone, however Honda does well with their 125's. I understand KTM has a 200 in the U.S. (Duke 200) and I've never seen any dealer even pretend to stock it. Hard to sell what's not offered.
So now you have a gap where young riders begin on sport bikes, or dentists start on Harleys. Little wonder ridership is down.
What a timeless beauty 🌹
I'm Sri Lankan 🇱🇰 And I want to say in my country most of the T Dub riders use their TW as a road bike even I'm. 😂😂😂
What is the max weight limit for that bike
Easily but you got to have real world expectations from that machine too
Is this too short for someone 6'0? I'm looking at it as my first bike for work commute (no highway) and camping
I’m 6 2 trying to figure that out too
since its carb'd, how miserably does it run at 8-10k elevation?
it would be fine. I run my carbed dirt bike from sea level to 6500 feet in an hour and no issues.
It's a cool bike in its own unique way. But I'm trying to justify the cost in my mind vs much better spec'd bikes you can get for the same or a just a little bit more.
Wore out chain and sprockets, in only 3400 miles?
Riding conditions and chain maintenance play a huge factor. I’m in a lot of sand, if I didn’t clean my chain regularly I’d wear it out in no time.
What gloves are these?
Love to know that as well ✨