1994. They are the fastest and best looking.

 

I am partial to the 1988 Black Widow and the 1991 Black Onyx color schemes but the 1994 & 1995 Rainbow warriors are pretty. I also like the 2006 and the 2014 Blues and so far am still undecided on the silver or black wheels. Some of us act like 17 year old girls with all this color matching garbage but under the dress they are all pretty much from the same genes. Which year is the fastest is a non issue because fast and TW should never be in the same sentence. I had one do 100 MPH once, it was behind my truck on a trailer but right around 70 MPH is where they all top out and only if you are going down hill with a tail wind and light load.

GaryL

 

87's The First and Fastest TW ever made.

 

The best year of TW is whatever one that you want and can afford to own !

 

Find a really cheap one with low miles and don't even consider the year.

 

The best year for a TW is the year you get one. If you are anything like so many of us here it could also be the worst year for you wallet when you start doing all the upgrades and farkles.

Some like the pre 2001 models that came with drum brakes and the kick start & electric. Others like the post 2000 ones that have front disc and no kick start. Those who own the 1987, first year models always say they are the fastest but I say they are FOS.
Some of the years in the mid 1990s had an inherent leaking base gasket which is pretty easy to see so do your inspection and if you find a leaker negotiate accordingly. It should not be that costly to get the new and redesigned base gasket professionally installed and can be done yourself with instructions found here. In all honesty any TW that has been well cared for, not abused or molested and has low miles while being kept out of the weather is a great choice. The ones parked for years out behind the barn are great candidates to avoid unless you can get them as parts only donors and at very low prices.

GaryL

 

As the owner of a 1999 and a 2012, I can say the brakes are only marginally better with a disc...and the 99 has kick and electric start so I like it better.

 

I forgot about the Black Widow colors.... Nice.

And of course, Gary is correct. None are appreciably faster than others.

And I agree about the disk brake not being better than the drum.



Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

Gee Gary... I can do almost 70 before shifting into 5th. And I only shut it down because I saw a new donut shop in town and had to pull over and try one of their fresh hot glazed.

 

YUP! Just remember LT, when you come across the border from Canada you better stop at the nearest service station and change the air in your tires to the PSI stuff.

GaryL

 

I mean, I don't think any of them are "fast," and any difference in speed by year is going to be minimal. Low miles and taken care of is all that really matters. I really liked the 2018/2019 designs (and my friend works at Yamaha with the design of those years graphics), so I went that direction. Just get one and have fun

 

My God! I never knew! Such speed!!!

 

Here is my '87 TW, aka T-1, 14/55 sprockets, 68mm Wiseco piston but otherwise all stock, 9360rpm and just over 65 mph.

Here is my other '87 TW, aka T-2, 14/50 sprockets, 70mm Wiseco piston, #110 high speed jet. 8820 on the tach and just a hair over 70 mph.

 

I would love to have seen a comparison of T-1 and T-2 doing the same speed test before you made the piston, jet and sprocket changes. Bone stock and running good I had one TW that did hit 70 MPH on the speedo but on the GPS that 70 was registering as 66 MPH over the ground. On my last leg coming home there is a long flat straight just before a nice down grade before my street. I could hit 65 on the flat and just touch 70 heading down the hill before my house before slowing down. I don't know how much further I could have wound it out but I do suspect with a little longer down hill I might have been able to hit an honest 70 MPH on the GPS which would probably be reading around 75 on the speedo.

GaryL

 

Here is T-2 at 9000 rpm with the speedo between 70 and 75. This was with a #112 jet. These speed runs are very slightly uphill -- I would call it flat except I am going against the flow of rain water.

I had to brighten the picture a lot to see the gauges.

 

Here is T-2 at 9000 rpm with the speedo between 70 and 75. This was with a #112 jet. These speed runs are very slightly uphill -- I would call it flat except I am going against the flow of rain water.

I had to brighten the picture a lot to see the gauges.
View attachment 193152

Nice elime, I guess those Wiseco pistons do add some pep once you get the carb and gearing set right. When you go to the 70MM piston how many additional CCs does this add to the engine and how much more compression? I would suspect you are close to a 225 at this point.

GaryL

 

The only time my TW's are "Fast"...

 

I've gotten my 2019 TW to about 73mph ... granted I am a smaller guy (5'5" @ 135lbs). It took a little while though, but I also feel like I could probably get it even higher under the right conditions.

 

Plus one on the '87 being the fastest TW ever built....even without the Wiseco piston upgrade.....but then, I'm FOS.

 

1987 is the BEST year!
The rest of ya is just copying the cat.

 

One more for the road. Maybe a hair over 75.

 

Nice elime. I think with a more pavement oriented front tire and more road friendly gearing 75 is not that difficult. I still have to wonder what the speedo offset is up in those ranges if compared with a real speed displayed from a GPS unit.
As for the high mile bikes I could agree with Ken but you really need to find one like that that was well cared for and meticulously maintained with regular oil changes and little to no abuse. I would not be turned away from a high mile bike that was adult owned, garage kept and a daily driver in a town or city setting. Bikes like that with that many miles would likely be found in a southern inland metro area where it could be used year around which is great for them and probably not ridden on freeways for extended runs or seen much off road use. My first 1991 TW was such a bike and only ever ridden by a 71 year old guy around his town and at his camp ground and always dealer serviced every 500 miles.

GaryL