[UKJ]

Hi all, new on here.



I have just taken delivery of a low mileage TW225 (in the UK). They are a bit of a rarity over here (imported from Japan).



While 90% of the chassis parts are a direct swap for the TW125 the engine is obviously 100ccs bigger.



What I'm wondering is whether it is effectively a bored up 125 engine - in which case gearbox/bottom end/electrical spares could be taken from a TW125 or is it a TW200 or a Serow engine?



I can get some closeup pics if that helps. There is a TW125 forsale locally for a very good price and I'm tempted to buy it just as a spares bike incase the 225 ever needs any parts. BUT if the engine is a completely different lump then it's less useful.



Any help would be appreciated.



Thanks

J



PS. Notable features are that it is electric and kick start, 223cc (stamped on the cylinder) and 5 speed.

 

[sinophilia]

A TW225, good for you! I am pretty sure the engine has much more in common with the TW200 than the 125. Then in turn, the 125cc and 200cc engines have many parts in common, but I wouldn't buy a 125 for spare parts, especially since the 225 is probably newer, I doubt you would need to replace much in the near future. Parts are not so hard to find anyway.



Why don't you post a picture of your rarity?

 

[UKJ]

Ahh, I was hoping the 125 would be similar - purely because there are hundreds of them over here - the tw200 was never sold in the UK.



Sure - I'll post a few pics of mine and the engine tomorrow - see if I can match up the casings with any of the other yamaha range!



(In terms of it going wrong. It's being used for a fairly long trip through morocco/africa (Bike had to be sub-250cc and I figured the tw225 with a bit of tweaking would be an ideal mule)- but I need to carry some basic spares with me. While I have faith in the engine - Id like to take spare electrics/gaskets/piston/rings/filters etc and would feel much more compfortable knowing I had a full spare bike sitting at home if I needed a part posted out to me if the worst happened. )

 

[sinophilia]

I think the TW225 has basically a bored up TW200 engine with an XT225 head on it... something like that! We have an expert of this kind of engines on the French forum www.bigwheels.fr, he could tell you more, even if we don't see many TW225 around...



Africa sounds great. A guy did an African trip on his TW125 --> http://afrique.bigwheels.fr/tw_125_afrique.html (in French)

 

[UKJ]

Yep - I read through that trip a few weeks ago. The MPG/load lugging capability of these little bikes is impressive.



Here are some pics (not very good ones - bikes currently stored in a friends barn in the dark)



But enough detail to compare engines I guess.

 

[UKJ]

 

[uktw125]

The engine is sort of a cross between a Serow and TW. The top end (except the decompressor) and crank are the same as a Serow, the gearbox is TW but what ratios I don't know, 125cc and 200cc have different gear ratios and different primary reduction and clutch.

Any service parts should be easy to get here in the UK if you ask for Serow stuff. Also pistons,rings,cam and top end gaskets are Serow or TTR225,TTr230 parts, for bottom end gaskets TW125 will be fine.

Carb is totally different to a Serow, it looks like a post 2000 TW125 carb on the outside but I'm sure will be jetted differently.

Electrics i.e stator, charging, starter motor etc. should be the same as a TW125, CDI I don't know (mine runs with a 125 CDI though)



If you ever take the carb apart I would be interested to know what the standard jetting is on a 225cc engine as I have converted a 125 to 225 and although the bike runs OK I would like to know the standard jet sizes.

 

[UKJ]

Thanks for that info - thats a relief, all should be relatively easy to get hold of unless something major goes bang.



Sure - Ive got to do a bit of fiddling with the bike anyway so Ill get you some pics/details on the jets.



Thanks

 

[qwerty]

You might find a good source of info at http://www.tw-parts.com/ .

 

[TW225UK]

I am in the UK also and looking for a TW200. I am interested that you have just taken delivery of a TW225. Did you import this yourself? If so, then what did you do? If you bought it from an importer, then can you give me a link?



John

 

[UKJ]

I am in the UK also and looking for a TW200. I am interested that you have just taken delivery of a TW225. Did you import this yourself? If so, then what did you do? If you bought it from an importer, then can you give me a link?



John

Hi John, the tw225s are like hens teeth - this is the only one ive found, apprarently a dealer imported 10 or so tw225s back in 2003 sold them and never brought over anymore. I was lucky enough to get this one after it popped up in a local "adtrader". Id like to get my hands on another one to be honest, but cant find one anywhere.



Same with the tw200s, although there seem to be a few in France forsale - all approx 1500 pounds depending on mileage etc. (But probably another 500 quid to get one across here and fully road ready.



Its 7 years since mine was imported - I cant find any info on the original importer etc, so cant really help you.

 

[TW225UK]

Thanks for that. I thought it was all sounding a bit too good to be true!



A TW200 came up on eBay some months ago. A few years old, and few miles on the clock and very clean looking. I was a bit slow off the mark and it went elsewhere for for, I think it was, £1,400, which was a very good price.



I investigated buying a TW225 in Japan last summer, but a bit difficult from half a world away. In so far as I could interpret the Japanese websites, it is quite possible to buy a low mileage example, only a few years old. I think they stopped making them about 3 or 4 years ago. There also seem to be quite a number of TW225s that have ben customised - body work removed, side exhausts, shortened seats, lengthened swing arms!



I have found a possible contact who might be able to import one for me. However there are still shipping costs, import duty and VAT (now at 20%) to pay for, not to mention obtaining single type approval in order to register same at Swansea! I'll get a quote and see how it works out. I'll let you know.



Your idea of buying a TW125 here might be a better option, in the sense that it will already be registered here. Then buying a TW225 engine and gearbox in Japan and shipping it over and doing the straight swop might be cheaper. No type approval and less import duties etc. What would a TW125 engine and gearbox sell for on eBay?



John

 

[sinophilia]

John, you seem to have even less chances to find a TW200 there in the UK than we have here in Italy, where about 60 TW200 have been sold between 1994 and 1998. I will have to stop complaining!



Putting a TW200/TW225 engine in a TW125 frame is tempting but how are you going to pass MOT tests? And what if the insurance company ever has to check the bike after an accident? You might be better off installing a 165cc kit, this way you keep the TW125 head and the change is not visible from outside.

 

[uktw125]

[/quote]



Your idea of buying a TW125 here might be a better option, in the sense that it will already be registered here. Then buying a TW225 engine and gearbox in Japan and shipping it over and doing the straight swop might be cheaper. No type approval and less import duties etc. What would a TW125 engine and gearbox sell for on eBay?



John

[/quote]



If you buy a TW125 you can build a 225 engine with the TW and a Serow engine. It's not that difficult if you have reasonably good mechanical skills. Both engines have to be stripped right down to their component parts and then rebuilt with a combination of the two engines. If I were you I would try to buy a TW125 with a knackered engine (but good gearbox) for a cheap price, then spend a bit more on a good condition, low mileage Serow engine.

If you go this route I will help if you need it as I have done 2 now.

 

[uktw125]

John, you seem to have even less chances to find a TW200 there in the UK than we have here in Italy, where about 60 TW200 have been sold between 1994 and 1998. I will have to stop complaining!



Putting a TW200/TW225 engine in a TW125 frame is tempting but how are you going to pass MOT tests? And what if the insurance company ever has to check the bike after an accident? You might be better off installing a 165cc kit, this way you keep the TW125 head and the change is not visible from outside.

Sinophilia, I had no problems getting an MOT test pass with my TW125 converted to 225cc. In fact I asked the MOT tester if they needed to confirm the engine capacity as part of the test, he said "no we don't need to check engine size or engine numbers, only the frame number (VIN) on the head stock".

Insurance was no trouble either, I told my insurance company under their "any modifications" clause that the engine size was increased to over 10% original, thats all they needed to know and the cost was the same as before the conversion. But I do have over 25 years continous riding experience though.

If John is a young or inexperienced rider insurance may be more difficult.

 

[christddel]

Hi all, new on here.



While 90% of the chassis parts are a direct swap for the TW125 the engine is obviously 100ccs bigger.



What I'm wondering is whether it is effectively a bored up 125 engine - in which case gearbox/bottom end/electrical spares could be taken from a TW125 or is it a TW200 or a Serow engine?



Any help would be appreciated.

Hello,

The ratio gearbox are different, the clutch is stronger (6 discs) ...

But it is feasible without problems ...

 

[christddel]

Hello,

The ratio gearbox are different, the clutch is stronger (6 discs) ...

But it is feasible without problems ...



The gearbox is the same on TW 200 TW225...

 

[sinophilia]

Sinophilia, I had no problems getting an MOT test pass with my TW125 converted to 225cc. In fact I asked the MOT tester if they needed to confirm the engine capacity as part of the test, he said "no we don't need to check engine size or engine numbers, only the frame number (VIN) on the head stock".

Insurance was no trouble either, I told my insurance company under their "any modifications" clause that the engine size was increased to over 10% original, thats all they needed to know and the cost was the same as before the conversion. But I do have over 25 years continous riding experience though.

If John is a young or inexperienced rider insurance may be more difficult.

Good, I doubt that would be feasible here, with the insurance companies all out to eat your bones...

 

[TW225UK]

Well, I am overwhelmed by the responses and suggestions. Thank you.



I have found an importer who says he can look into the costs of importing a TW225 from Japan. I have eMailed him. I have also asked about the feasibility of importing only an engine, gearbox and exhaust system. I am not sure if the TW125 exhaust sustem is a straight swop at the point of connection to the cylinder head - the rest must all just bolt into place.



Whilst I think I might have the mechanical skills to strip down, sort out and put back together an engine and gearbox, the reality is it just would not happen until I retire!



I am not too worried about an engine swop so far as insurance is concerned. Apart from anything, if you mis-declare to the insurance company, you then find yourself uninsured, and then of course the problems come with the numerous criminal offences for riding an uninsured bike!



So far as age goes, whilst I only passed my bike test 10 years ago, I am cruising down the far side of the hill!



Thanks again for all your thoughts and I will try and keep you posted.



John

 

[phelonius]

I read all of this talk of a TW225. What countries was it marketed in? How does one buy a Jappanese TW225 engine and get it shipped here?

Is it a straight swap with no modifications needed?



Phelonius