We wanted to improve our support for a long time favorite in the dual sport market,the Yamaha TW200, so we started a project bike! The TW200 is a motorcycle that first saw light back in 1987 and has undergone minimal changes through the years. You can still pick one up brand new at your local Yamaha dealership. We picked up our 2021 TW200 pre-loved from a ProCycle customer here in Oregon. We bought it in great shape, with the only modification being a different front tire. We will start from scratch and create a video series on building out the bike with different stages of modification. We will show the build process and provide installation tips, as well as give a review of the bike at each stage. We teamed up with several of our suppliers to bring brand new parts that were not previously available for the TW200. Stay tuned – we have a lot planned!
Stock Bike Review
I don’t doubt that almost everyone has seen a Yamaha TW200, often known simply as a T-Dub. It’s such an iconic and recognizable motorcycle, sporting fat tires, low seat height, and a bullet-proof engine. With an easy-to-handle power curve, the T-Dub is approachable to novice and expert riders alike.
Tom and Bryan of Team ProCycle took our TW200 project bike out for a spin. It was completely stock, except for the Shinko SR241 front tire. We wanted to get an idea of what the hype around this motorcycle was all about!
The first segment of our ride was on the streets and highways that lead to one of our favorite riding areas, Shotgun Creek, near Springfield, Oregon. We both noticed that 1st gear is really short and not needed for very long on the pavement. The big wide tire in the rear gives it great traction and stability. This motorcycle is not geared for the highway, but it will get you to your trail. Any speed above 55 mph is a lot for the TW200 (the speedometer even marks speeds over 55 as a “red zone”). Going around corners, you will find the TW comfortably leaning underneath you with its wide tires, allowing you to keep your body upright.
Once we got to the dirt roads and trails, the T-Dub really started to shine. The low gearing allows this bike to comfortably tractor around anywhere you want to go, as long as you are not in a big hurry. In stock form, it could use more throttle response over technical terrain. The suspension is soft for anyone over 180lbs, but as long as you stick to the T-Dubs limits, you won’t be bottoming out all the time. The aftermarket Shinko SR241 front tire on our TW200 is probably the best replacement tire you can find for the stock front wheel size: wherever you point it, it will go.
All of these qualities add up to a great little motorcycle that is super versatile, especially for beginners. It is easy to ride, making it a great commuter that will get you 60-80 MPG. It’s also a very stable platform when you leave the pavement, making it a great machine to develop your off-road skills on. The stock foot pegs and seat are things that could be improved, and taller riders will feel hunched over with the low handlebars. Overall, the Yamaha TW200 has a cult following for good reason, but we will be working hard to improve the aftermarket support for this long-time favorite so that you can make yours even better!
