[Guest]

In stock but good condition, how much can the bike take before fork seals blow out etc....



This is not very scientific but if you could give it your best.





Thanks

 

[RodneyReed]

If you're talking about aggressive off road riding, it will take alot more than it would appear to be able to. I've made a couple of fast woods runs on mine, and the main problem is bending the shift and brake levers. I'm thinking a better skid plate may alleviate some of that.

 

[xdac]

You'll brake other parts before anything like that happens.

 

[Rainman]

I have ridden my TW hard. I've gone through rock gardens, sand pits, dirt, mud, etc. and the TW still amazes me how well it stands up to the tortures of off-road riding. In my opinion, if you keep at least one tire on the ground, the TW will not let you down.

 

[Guest]

So if front forks or rear shocks get near fully compressed over and over they are designed not to blow out? i.e it will bottom out rather than blow out the seals.



I'm trying to find out which will happen first, seal leakage or jacked up riders spine/bent front forks during hard but not abusive riding.



Is the skid plate a real weak link or only if abused?

 

[Rainman]

I have bottomed out my forks many of times. No leaks so far. I have also bottomed out my rear suspension and all it does is rub the rear subframe. You'll hurt yourself before you hurt the bike. In my opinion, the stock skid plate sucks and a new one from Ricochet is a must. The skid plate has saved my bike numerous times. Its expensive but worth the money.

 

[Rainman]

The TW is not a Motocross bike and shouldn't be used as such. But when you find yourself riding in an area and you are bottoming out, don't worry too much about it.

 

[JS5owner]

Is the skid plate a real weak link or only if abused?

The stock skid plate IS a real weak link. I like to ride up the canyons / washes by my house and thanks to the Ricochet plate my engine has just "slid" over some big rocks. I would not hesitate to recommend the Ricochet bash plate.



-Jeff

 

[srs713]

I would not hesitate to recommend the Ricochet bash plate.



-Jeff

There we go... the original is a "skid" plate. good for skidding across rocks, the Ricochet is a "bash" plate...

 

[secretStash]

With the stock fender, you can forget about going through REAL mud. Especially if you get stuck - you wont be pushing the bike out, you'll be draggging it out. The sticky stuff will build up in there and lock things right up in no time. I bought an aftermarket made by UFO and used U-bolts (2) to bolt it onto the bottom of the triple-tree. Don't even let anyone tell you that the piece of sheet metal is a fork brace; it's a flimsy fender bracket and you don't need it. You'll know it when you take it off and it crumples in your hand.



-sS

 

[uktw125]

Have a look at Rainmans great story "so I entered a race" > http://tw200forum.com/index.php?/topic/1661-so-i-entered-a-race/

 

[Woofhound]

TW Fork seals have a life expectancy just as any other bike does. Generally it is age rather than abuse that makes them leak. If your fork tubes don't have rust pits or nicks in them and you keep them somewhat clean, I would think you should get somewhere between 8-10 years out of them. As for rough terrain i haven't found anything that the TW can't handle. If you're just out to destroy the bike, i would guess it will take as much abuse as any other dual sport bike. Just ride it, enjoy it and give it a little maintainance once in a while and it will go many miles

 

[demarko69]

TW Fork seals have a life expectancy just as any other bike does. Generally it is age rather than abuse that makes them leak. If your fork tubes don't have rust pits or nicks in them and you keep them somewhat clean, I would think you should get somewhere between 8-10 years out of them. As for rough terrain i haven't found anything that the TW can't handle. If you're just out to destroy the bike, i would guess it will take as much abuse as any other dual sport bike. Just ride it, enjoy it and give it a little maintainance once in a while and it will go many miles

X2

My friends and I ride some nasty stuff. rocks boulders rugged terrain and the only casualties have been after market add-ons.....

foot pegs, mirrors, storage.

 

[Bodi]

I think I ride some of the roughest terrain on my TW. The only modifications I strongly recommend is a HD skidplate and any sprocket changes that may be needed for low end power. I have also done Cycle Racks front and rear, foot pegs and a handle bar riser for stand up riding