[bradbeer]

Hello all

I want to sell my bike and get something fun to ride to work and around town. From all of the disscussions and things I read online, people just absolutely love tw200's. I am a little worried about speed/power, but that is partly why I want to get this anyways. A lot of people talk about changing the sprocket thingie (sorry not the handiest of guys) to get more top end. I may (rarely) want to get on a highway for a few miles (certainly not a road trip or anything). My question is does changing this size make the get-up-and-go a lot less/lose some of the low end torque?



I am 6'6" 250 lbs. Am I too big?



For some reason as I get older and now have 3 kids I never really feel like going fast on the road or wheelies or anything, I lost my nerve I guess, so I just want something fun and want to hit the dirt every-so-once-in-a-while.



I know they said it is rock solid bike and that has mainly not changed over the years, but is there any suggestions on a year or year range I should consider? I want it up and running, road and off-road ready.



Thanks for any feedback.

 

[jbfla]

... I lost my nerve I guess,..

No, you have come to your senses and become wiser.



Look for a low mileage 2001 or newer.



jb

 

[dhoenisch]

If it helps, I am 6'2" and about 230lbs last time I checked (though my pants are getting tight again). I did do a couple of upgrades. The first one was to add some mirror risers/extenders that I got off of eBay. With the mirrors in their stock position, all I could see were my arms, so that took care of that issue. Than, another member on this board sent me his unneeded 1" handlebar risers, which completed it up front for me. Then I added a Stearns ATV seat pad. It widened the seat, so it made it more comfortable for me. I've had the bike up to 55mph with stock gearing, but I also purchased a 47-tooth sprocket to add once the weather breaks.



Also, I'm going from a 500cc Honda cruiser to this bike. I love it. It's the first motorcycle I had ridden when I took the motorcycle safety course, and I just had to have my own.



Well, hope this helps.

Dan

 

[qwerty]

The stock sprockets are good for 74mph at redline. Really doesn't matter what sprockets you run, the engine won't pull 74mph unless downhill with a tailwind, so for any other conditions a sprocket change for more top end is pissing in the wind. Replace the stock chain and call it good as far as top end goes, unless you often ride long, fairly steep downhills on roads straight enough to run over 74mph.



A real reason to change sprockets is to increase the functionality of 1st gear--a lower ratio will increase low speed torque multiplication offroad while a higher ratio will increase the speed in each of the lower gears before necessary to shift on the street. Either one tooth added to the countershaft sprocket or 3 or 5 teeth off the rear wheel sprocket--not both, and any more than that will cause problems with the wide gap between 4th and 5th and increase clutch wear rate.





Another reason to change sprockets is to reduce vibration, but as tall as you are you'll want taller bars, anyway, so get a aluminum bars and a pair of gel grips to tame the vibration.



People complain they can't stand to hear the TW engine scream along, but it doesn't bother the engine. That's a problem with the people, not with the TW. What hurts a TW engine is chugging along at the same rpm as a 650.

 

[bradbeer]

Need opinion please



Found a 2004 tw200 only about an hour from me. I have not seen it but looks great condition and he says runs great and looks perfect (like new), only used camping and a little on the road (he did have it plated and registered). He is asking $2,300 obo which seems a little high for 7 years old but it only has 350 miles on it.



I guess my fear is after 1 summer if I put on 2,000 miles then it is back to average bike for its age and worth $1,000, maybe that doesnt matter im not really looking for an investment but I like to buy and sell stuff and get decent deals.



Or is a 7 year old bike that has been sitting still age the same or maybe worse anyways so the value still should fall?



Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Mhurchu]

Hi

dhoenisch, I'm 5'7 and 120lb's and I can only see my shoulders thru the mirrors.

 

[qwerty]

Need opinion please



Found a 2004 tw200 only about an hour from me. I have not seen it but looks great condition and he says runs great and looks perfect (like new), only used camping and a little on the road (he did have it plated and registered). He is asking $2,300 obo which seems a little high for 7 years old but it only has 350 miles on it.



I guess my fear is after 1 summer if I put on 2,000 miles then it is back to average bike for its age and worth $1,000, maybe that doesnt matter im not really looking for an investment but I like to buy and sell stuff and get decent deals.



Or is a 7 year old bike that has been sitting still age the same or maybe worse anyways so the value still should fall?



Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

A motorcycle is not an investment. A motorcycle you actually want to ride only makes financial sense if you have to have transportation and choose a motorcycle instead of a car or truck. Other than that, either buy because you want to ride or don't waste your money.

 

[dhoenisch]

Hi

dhoenisch, I'm 5'7 and 120lb's and I can only see my shoulders thru the mirrors.

Huh, I stand corrected. Makes me wonder why they never corrected that. Oh well, at least there's a cheap and easy fix out there,



Dan

 

[jeffreyloxley]

Need opinion please



Found a 2004 tw200 only about an hour from me. I have not seen it but looks great condition and he says runs great and looks perfect (like new), only used camping and a little on the road (he did have it plated and registered). He is asking $2,300 obo which seems a little high for 7 years old but it only has 350 miles on it.



I guess my fear is after 1 summer if I put on 2,000 miles then it is back to average bike for its age and worth $1,000, maybe that doesnt matter im not really looking for an investment but I like to buy and sell stuff and get decent deals.



Or is a 7 year old bike that has been sitting still age the same or maybe worse anyways so the value still should fall?



Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

I've only owned my TW200 for a month and this is the first one, but personally, I don't believe 2300 is bad for a TW with only has 350 miles on it, no matter how old it is. Where I live, a brand new one costs 4000. He did say OBO, so haggle with him a little and see what you get.



Good luck, Jeff

 

[Matojo]

I also sold my bike to get something fun to ride around town, to ride to work , trash the woods around here and I got no regrets of any kind, this bike is so much fun. My coworkers with big bikes think Im crazy but all of them like my bike and wish they can have one to. At 5.8 and 155bls this little machine suit me just fine and the only mods done to it so far are:a MSR skid plate and IMS folding shifter, I have big feets so a set of wide pegs are nex.

I think the price is right and you may get it low with cash in hand.

 

[MrDNA]

I've only owned my TW200 for a month and this is the first one, but personally, I don't believe 2300 is bad for a TW with only has 350 miles on it, no matter how old it is. Where I live, a brand new one costs 4000. He did say OBO, so haggle with him a little and see what you get.



Good luck, Jeff

I'll second that. I just picked up an 05 with <800 miles on it for near that same price. I'm completely satisfied with the deal. I already have 400 miles on our new 2010 TW, but with all the fees they throw in, that was over $4K here in So Cal. From my perspective, the used low mile TW's are a deal if they check out. Not everybody is an enthusiast, so just don't be too enthusiastic when talking to sellers and you can probably get your price lowered a bit. IMHO



Good luck to you with your decision.



Rory