XT250 or TW200?

Hi, my name's Bill Miller (I'm using my Uncle Jay's computer) and I'm
looking for a motorcycle I can ride around town (25 - 45 mph) and also
go off-road.

I've looked at both the Yamaha TW200 and the XT250 and like some
things about both of them but thought I'd check with the techs to see
if there's anything "under the hood" so to speak that I should either
be aware of as a potential problem down the road or exceptional that
will give me a lengthy term of good service. Thanks in advance.

Bill

 

No idea about reliability or whatever (both should be fine) but the XT
is definitely more of an off-roader. The TW is just a street bike
dressed up, really. Witness the close-fitting front mudguard etc.

 

Personally, I'd try hard to find the discontinued XT225. Low seat
height, nimble, plus significantly less weight than TW200 or XT250.

Beryl, I checked the comparison between the 2009 XT250 and the
discontinued 2007 XT225 and couldn't find a lot of difference. Check
out this comparison link.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelspeccompare/9/1844/0/compare.aspx

It looks like the seat heights are the same and although this link
doesn't give the dry weight of the XT250, it's 239 lbs., only one
pound more than the XT225.

Another one I've looked at is the Suzuki DR200SE. Here's a comparison
between it and the Yamaha XT250.

http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/e...=87118&year2=2009&mfg2=4&vehicle2=88132&go=Go

Finally, if all the "off-roading" I was going to do is just some
gravel/dirt roads and some forest service/logging roads and most of
the use was around town, would the TW200 better fit the bill?

Here's a comparison between the TW200 and the XT250.

http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/e...=87118&year2=2009&mfg2=2&vehicle2=87119&go=Go

Bill

 

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Bill,
The XT250, as a "normal chassis & design" motorcycle, would be
better to ride both around town and in the woods (unless you are less
than 5'5" tall).
The TW is a "balloon tire" trail bike, that has street legal
equipment. It's chassis geometry lends to it being very easy to ride
slowly, and it's street legal equipment let's you take it (legally) on
the road.

The XT250's engine has a lot more usable "guts & grunt" than the TW
(and the DR200), and the newer models are both kick and electric
start. It is a pretty decent dual sport bike.

I hope that this helps.


Wudsracer/Jim Cook
Smackover Racing
'06 Gas Gas DE300
'82 Husqvarna XC250
Team LAGNAF

 

The TW200 would be better for loose sand, if you have that kind of
terrain where you ride.

 

Forget the 225, do a comparison between the '09 XT250 and the '08
XT250. The dry weight is... 271 lbs!

And here is that comparison. The specs are identical except the price
of the 2009 went up $150.

http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/e...=54001&year2=2009&mfg2=2&vehicle2=87118&go=Go

Bill

 

be better for loose sand, if you have that kind of terrain where you
ride.

A lot of the roads around here are dirt and gravel (fine gravel) so
would the TW200 be better for riding on those on the way to the
pavement and why.

Bill

 

The narrow tire on the XT250 is more precise in steering on harder
surfaces, but the TW200's wide tire will float over the softer
surfaces without digging in.

The TW200 would be better for sand washes and the beach, and the XT250
would be a better woods bike, assuming that the woods aren't at the
beach.

 

*****************************************

Sorry for the misinformation.
A friend's XT250 has both the electric and kick starters, but it isn't
a new model.

Wudsracer/Jim Cook
Smackover Racing
'06 Gas Gas DE300
'82 Husqvarna XC250
Team LAGNAF

 

"Bill Miller." <> wrote in message Finally, if all the "off-roading" I was
going to do is just some
gravel/dirt roads and some forest service/logging roads and most of
the use was around town, would the TW200 better fit the bill?


Don't know anything about the XT but the TW is perfect for the roads you
described. Sunday I spent a couple hours in first and second gear on my TW
riding the logging roads around here. Got about 40 miles in and had a great
time. I don't push it hard, just ride around enjoying the woods and scoping
out hunting areas. One thing it doesn't like is loose sand but maybe it's
me. I'm getting more used to handling it in that situation.
Sue
Minocqua, WI
Yamaha '00 VStar 650
'04 TW200 (mud = fun)
Kawasaki '95 Vulcan 1500 V#15937

The cage looks awful empty, don't it pa? Opie
Yea, but don't the trees look nice and full. Andy

 

On Aug 4, 2:53 pm, "Susan \(CobbersMom\)" <>
wrote:
Don't know anything about the XT but the TW is perfect for the roads
you
described.  Sunday I spent a couple hours in first and second gear on
my TW
riding the logging roads around here.  Got about 40 miles in and had a
great
time.  I don't push it hard, just ride around enjoying the woods and
scoping
out hunting areas.  One thing it doesn't like is loose sand but maybe
it's
me.  I'm getting more used to handling it in that situation.

Sue, that's sorta what I have in mind for my "off-roading" too.
Logging roads, jeep trails leading to landings, gravel forest service
roads...just to check out the countryside, look for good hunting areas
and enjoy the views. And to get there? About 10-15 miles on
secondary paved and gravel roads at a leisurely pace of 40-55 mph.
Maybe the XT250, while a great bike, is perhaps a little bit of
overkill for my particular situation.

Bill

 

"Bill Miller." <> wrote in message Sue, that's sorta what I have in mind for
my "off-roading" too.Logging roads, jeep trails leading to landings, gravel
forest serviceroads...just to check out the countryside, look for good
hunting areasand enjoy the views. And to get there? About 10-15 miles
onsecondary paved and gravel roads at a leisurely pace of 40-55 mph.
Maybe the XT250, while a great bike, is perhaps a little bit ofoverkill for
my particular situation.


Sometimes I need to ride on the highways to get to the logging/forest roads
and you're right, 40-55 is leisurely. If someone doesn't like my speed, I
slow and let them pass. Fortunately, I can access MILES of trails only 4
miles from my house and right up the road. I'm 5'5" and 53 yrs. old and
find the bike easy to handle. Sunday while riding, I came across about a
half dozen down trees blocking the trail. (Those snowmo clubs don't clear
until fall) One tree had a diameter of about 18 inches so I managed to find
a way around it. The next biggest was about 8-10 inches. I got off the
bike, kept the engine on and let the bike power itself over the log while
managing the clutch. Logs less than 5" I'll stay on the bike but stand.
I wanted some storage for a gas can and things. I removed the rear fender
?plate; the area used for strapping something down. Cut about 12" off a 2 x
10 and drilled holes to match the plate thing. Got bigger screws to fit and
bungied a milk crate down. Works great and carries a gallon of gas when I'm
perusing the forest north of Copper Harbor, Michigan.
The more I ride the bike, the more comfortable I get with its handling.
Whatever you decide, sounds like you're going to have a great time, wish I
could ride with you.
Sue
Minocqua, WI
Yamaha '00 VStar 650
'04 TW200 (mud = fun)
Kawasaki '95 Vulcan 1500 V#15937

The cage looks awful empty, don't it pa? Opie
Yea, but don't the trees look nice and full. Andy

 

On Aug 5, 9:45 am, Blattus Slafaly <>
wrote: I have a TW200 and love it. Nice fat tires for sand and swamps.
I change the chain sprockets for better highway speeds. I get 100 to
120 miles per gallon if that interests you. It does NOT have a kick
starter.
Blattus Slafaly

++A couple of questions about the sprocket change.

++What is the size/part number of the stock sprocket and what is the
size/part number of the one you put on your TW200?

++Did the sprocket change affect acceleration from a dead stop much?

++Did it increase your top speed?

++At what speed do you usually ride to get the great MPG figure?

++Sorry to sound dumb but I'm new at this and if I go the TW200 route,
most of the use will be on-road and the sprocket change sounds like a
good move.

++Finally, can a person get both the 130/80-18 front tire and the
180/80-14 rear tire in a straight highway tread when replacing the
knobbies?

*Bill

 

These are really, really rare tyre sizes and your choice of replacements
will be extremely limited.

 

will be extremely limited.


Not that rare maybe if either of these, touted as rear tires but the
same size (130/80-18) as the front tire of the TW200, could be used on
the front. Wouldn't a more conventional highway tread on the front
tire also provide more precise steering control on pavement?

http://www.bikebandit.com/product/3349 (could use for front tire?)

http://www.bikebandit.com/product/3342 (could use for front tire?)


-Bill

 

Well, yes, but to be honest I was thinking more of the 14" size. I
should have made that clear.

That BT45 130/80-18 you show ought to fit, but the idea of using a rear
tyre designed for a large touring bike on the front of a tiny little
semi-trail commuter seems like overkill. I suppose it would at least
wear slowly...

You would probably have a problem in that it would be unlikely ever to
get up to working temperature. And it would need a tube inside it, as
well, as I don't think the TW has tubeless rims.

Yes, but only if matched with a similar road tyre on the rear. Using a
road tyre on one wheel and a trail tyre on another is insanity, and a
ticket for a quick trip to casualty.

 

Here's a nice looking pair from Bridgestone with similar matching "on-
road" treads
and voila, introducing the Yamaha TW200 "street bike." <G>


FRONT

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co...=80003&zmam=88421133&zmas=1&zmac=2&zmap=14780

REAR

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co...ne-TW204-Trail-Wing-Dual-Sport-Rear-Tire.aspx

 

<snip>

Not really pure road tread at all, and not advertised as such....

 

Not advertsied as "pure" road tread but as 80% on-road and 20 % off-
road which is a whiole lot better than the stock tires. And they both
look a lot more like a street tread than a strictly off-road tread
thus the quotation marks I put around the words "on-road" and "street
bike" in the previous post. In that usage, the marks basically take
the place of the words "so-called."

 

And no matter how you cut it, those two tires on the TW200, instead of
the two stock tires, would no doubt offer better street performance
and handling. True or false?
-Bill