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Considering a TW

1880 Views 10 Replies 9 Participants Last post by mattmus4357, Jan 8, 2013

keithert

Discussion Starter · Jan 7, 2013

I'm considering getting a TW200. In the past I was a motorcycle safety instructor in Illinois. One of the types of bikes we used was the TW200. They are great bikes in this usage because they handle very well. The figure 8 test can easily be done on a TW200.

I also own a Jeep Wrangler and a Honda 4x4 ATV. I'm interested in a lightweight dual sport motorcycle to supplement my Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 for commuting duties and also to use for recreational offroad riding. I'm thinking that when my wife comes with my son and I on an offroad ride I'll ride a dual sport while she rides my ATV and my son rides his ATV. The type of trail riding we do is pretty tame.

My main concern is how comfortable the TW200 will be for a 45 minute commute. I find many motorcycles to have seats that are uncomfortable to me. The problem is with me rather than the bikes seats. I just have a hard time staying comfortable on a bike for long periods. My street bikes have had Corbin seats and they have been much better than stock but still not totally comfortable to me. My ATV actually has a pretty comfortable seat in that my body is upright and my weight gets spread onto my thighs as opposed to my cruisers where the weight is on the rear. If the TW has an upright seating position with a decently padded seat I think it should be okay. I'm 6 foot and weigh 225. How is the TW for a taller rider? I understand that Seat Concepts makes a wider seat for a low price.

I'm also considering bikes like the XT225/250. What do you guys like better about the TW than other dual sport bikes in its size class?

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keithert

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 7, 2013

Thanks for the replies. My commute is 30 miles of surface streets in the northwest Chicago suburbs. The traffic is not too bad and there is only one 4 mile stretch with a speed limit of 50 mph.

In the past I've had some lightweight bikes (although not this light) and I miss the feeling of riding a lightweight bike that turns on a dime.

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keithert

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 8, 2013

DonBenito, you have some very good points. A previous bike was a Suzuki Savage 650. I loved the feel of the bike but the comfort was just not what I needed. So I've had an underpowered bike before. But I'm sure a 650 single makes quite a bit more power than a 200 single. For some reason I've been drawn to a small bike lately. The other MSF bike I'd like to own is the Honda Nighthawk 250. There is a regular contributor to Rider magazine that has ridden his 250 all over the southeast. The Nighthawk of course wouldn't be usable offroad. In the MSF the most we got the bikes up to was 25 mph. So I've never ridden either at 40 mph. I'll have to get a test ride on a TW200. I'd like to pay around $2000 for a TW and get an early 2000s model. There was an 06 for sale locally for $2000 recently but I won't be ready to buy until March.

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