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I recently found out that I'm going to be a father in the summer of 2011. Needless to say I am extremely excited. I do however have to liquidate some of my toys.
I'm planning on selling my truck, so off-road only bikes aren't going to be a viable option for me anymore (still kicking around the idea of buying a small trailer for my wife's car).
I also need to get rid of my CRF450X, the payments are just too much to handle for a $7000 machine to sit in the garage. Once the baby comes I'm not going to have nearly as much time to ride anyways.
I have always liked the Yamaha TW200, it just looks like so much fun to go anywhere and everywhere, just slower. I am considering the TW200 because it's street legal so I don't need a trailer to get to the trails. I can get one brand new for relatively cheap. Super low maintenance which would be great compared to my 450X that always needs something fixed/cleaned and money thrown at it.
I am a bigger guy 6'4" and ~220lbs, I found that the max weight is 397lbs on the TW, so no problem there. I already look too big even on my 450X so whatever I'll look goofy on the TW's small frame, who cares.
I had a DR650 a couple years ago and the 650's are just too big for hard trail riding.
I plan to ride the TW 70% dirt 30% road, our trails are very tight, and very rocky. I am curious to know how this little bike handles tight hard trails? I test drove one a couple years ago on a mini track, what a blast these machines are.
I know it will need some aftermarket attention. When I test drove the one a couple years ago the levers and bars felt cheap but that's all easily replaced.
If I bought a TW here's what I would want to do to it:
FMF full exhaust
No Toil air cleaner
Jet kit
Protaper bars
Ricochet aluminum skid plate
Acerbis full hand guards
The problem is I'm having a hard time finding aftermarket support for the TW in the States. Do you guys have any suggestions? And what do you think about this being my only machine given my situation.
The suspension is short, something like 6" front and back, but everything I read says it's deceiving because the big tires soak up a lot.
Also one of my main concerns is tire options? I know people have put ATV tires on these bikes, but do they just fit or is there modding involved? What are the tire options that you can just buy without mods?
I looked into a lot of ~250cc bikes from all brands. I like the TW for it's mega tires, and it's unique look, and super low maintenance.
I have a CRF230F and I actually prefer to to ride it over my 450X on our trails. The 450 is just too high strung to enjoy, you spend all your energy holding it back rather than having a fun trail day. If I lived in a more open area the 450 would be fantastic. Also I absolutely hate the maintenance involved with the 450.
I am trying to consolidate vehicles so we don't have so much money that has to go out each month. So the upgrades on the TW would happen over time as I had the money instead of having a high payment that must go out each month.
I have ridden bikes my whole life and I have always enjoyed the small bore bikes better for some reason. I got the 450X because I wanted a good enduro bike with MX features after having my DR650, but in hind site it was a bad idea.
Please let me know what you think, I am trying t o get my finances in order before winter. Your insight would be appreciated.
I'm planning on selling my truck, so off-road only bikes aren't going to be a viable option for me anymore (still kicking around the idea of buying a small trailer for my wife's car).
I also need to get rid of my CRF450X, the payments are just too much to handle for a $7000 machine to sit in the garage. Once the baby comes I'm not going to have nearly as much time to ride anyways.
I have always liked the Yamaha TW200, it just looks like so much fun to go anywhere and everywhere, just slower. I am considering the TW200 because it's street legal so I don't need a trailer to get to the trails. I can get one brand new for relatively cheap. Super low maintenance which would be great compared to my 450X that always needs something fixed/cleaned and money thrown at it.
I am a bigger guy 6'4" and ~220lbs, I found that the max weight is 397lbs on the TW, so no problem there. I already look too big even on my 450X so whatever I'll look goofy on the TW's small frame, who cares.
I had a DR650 a couple years ago and the 650's are just too big for hard trail riding.
I plan to ride the TW 70% dirt 30% road, our trails are very tight, and very rocky. I am curious to know how this little bike handles tight hard trails? I test drove one a couple years ago on a mini track, what a blast these machines are.
I know it will need some aftermarket attention. When I test drove the one a couple years ago the levers and bars felt cheap but that's all easily replaced.
If I bought a TW here's what I would want to do to it:
FMF full exhaust
No Toil air cleaner
Jet kit
Protaper bars
Ricochet aluminum skid plate
Acerbis full hand guards
The problem is I'm having a hard time finding aftermarket support for the TW in the States. Do you guys have any suggestions? And what do you think about this being my only machine given my situation.
The suspension is short, something like 6" front and back, but everything I read says it's deceiving because the big tires soak up a lot.
Also one of my main concerns is tire options? I know people have put ATV tires on these bikes, but do they just fit or is there modding involved? What are the tire options that you can just buy without mods?
I looked into a lot of ~250cc bikes from all brands. I like the TW for it's mega tires, and it's unique look, and super low maintenance.
I have a CRF230F and I actually prefer to to ride it over my 450X on our trails. The 450 is just too high strung to enjoy, you spend all your energy holding it back rather than having a fun trail day. If I lived in a more open area the 450 would be fantastic. Also I absolutely hate the maintenance involved with the 450.
I am trying to consolidate vehicles so we don't have so much money that has to go out each month. So the upgrades on the TW would happen over time as I had the money instead of having a high payment that must go out each month.
I have ridden bikes my whole life and I have always enjoyed the small bore bikes better for some reason. I got the 450X because I wanted a good enduro bike with MX features after having my DR650, but in hind site it was a bad idea.
Please let me know what you think, I am trying t o get my finances in order before winter. Your insight would be appreciated.