what sprocket combination do you use? the picture with the atv climbing up an old road looks pretty steep and I know those old mining roads in the mountains can get pretty gnarly. it's nice to have the torque to easily ascend them.
nice pics, the whole lot of them!
Hi,
I'm just running 14/55 which seems to be a nice compromise for "dual purpose". However, I do have a 13T front sprocket in my toolshed and it would have helped on that rougher earlier motorcycle trail ride. The 55T is great for most atv/jeep roads but on really tough stuff 13/55 would be desirable or the equivalent (14/60). However, since the bike is primarily for 2-up (my wife and I), she would never go with me on a 13/55 trail so I'll probably stick with the 14/55. But, I'll hang onto the 13T as you never know - I do not like the way you have to get to the front sprocket - don't understand why that part is not split. I'm now running 9-lbs/9-lbs in the tires which is much better than the 10/12. 9 is about it in the front as lower than that and the steering gets hard. However, I may try 7 in the back tire. I have the nuts on the valve stems backed off to the cap and have been watching for tire slippage on the rim - none so far. I think that even at 7/9 you would have to make a big mistake to bend the rims and the ride and traction on the rough stuff is much better at 9/9 than 10/12. That back tire is so big that 7 should not be a problem even 2-up on the dirt but would require low speeds on the pavement.
I have noticed the somewhat squirley feel of the front tire on gravel roads and at some point will replace it with a Kenda 510x18 like what I have on the back of my old trials bike and really like - however a real pain to seat the tire properly on the rim. Or, I may try siping the knobs on the front stock tire to see if that helps. The 1st gear on the TW is great so it will pull a lot of hill with the 14/55 but in the very rough and steep a lower gear would allow you to pick your way easier. My 87 trials bike is geared considerably lower than my TW at some sacrifice of top end speed even though it has a 6 speed transmission. A lower gear ratio would allow me to pick my way through the rough stuff easier without beating up the bike - but, none the less, I'm impressed with the TWs 1st gear - even stock and that back tire has great traction at low air pressure. Overall, the bike has an agile feel off road - I like it and the exhaust note is nice - snappy with good torque for a 200. I'm really happy with the trade of my 94 XR650L for it although that was a really wonderful motor too on the 650 - just too much bike for the really rough stuff and if you messed up it was a long way to the ground. The only way 650 could be ridden was on the pegs as there was no using your feet with a 5'10" frame but it did have wonderfully soft long travel suspension and seemingly unlimited power. I have always owned Honda's and the TW is the first Yamaha I've ever owned - I'm impressed.
http://www.rockcrawler-mrt.com/TIRE SIPING SIPER TOOL.html
Dan
