We run into that don't we?? I've finally got enough of them in the garage that the latest one went undetected for near a month. "Now where did that one come from?" "Oh, that old thing; it's been here......"
I didn't know there was such a following of this great little bike. I purchased one last year and have been loving it. I recently purchased a TTL125 for my daughter and we have been enjoying the N Michigan trail system. It's hard to believe such a simple small bike can be so much fun.
When I bought the TW in '06, I gave up a lot of horsepower but I gained a lot of BIKE!! Don't get me wrong, I still have the big bikes and they're still real, real fast but I love my TW! Fun little bike!!
I sold everything else... I decided I really never needed to be in such a hurry - And don't currently have any two-up requirements... So the TW is perfect!
Well I haven't but not because I need their speed. I'm certainly enjoying the TW enough that I could though.
Next Time you're heading up to the Octagon Barn, Give me a shout. We could form a pack of Tdub's, terrorize the locals and such. <a href="http://s458.photobucket.com/albums/qq308/DaveDyno/TW200/?action=view¤t=GEDC2859800x600.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/D/DaveDyno_TW200_GEDC2859800x600.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Started taking apart and seeing what's in my new 2006 wiht 1300 miles and looking new. There was a trace of fiberglass around the spark arrestor. I repacked and the pop pop exhaust sound went to mild nice snarl sound, now I suppose the intake is not so drowned out. It made it quieter.
I just took a motorcycle safety course over the weekend and we rode TW200s. What a blast! Of course, we were limited to parking lot riding, but I can see how this bike would be lots of fun. 1-How fast can these bikes safely and reliably go? 2-I know these bikes have been virtually unchanged for 20yrs, but is there any model year or generation that's better than another? Thanks. EDIT: OK, I just found the answer to my 1st question: it looks like 60mph is about as fast as it can go.
Actually, I'd say max is closer to 67- 70 mph depending on conditions, rider weight, and wind, and of course mods (carb jetting etc), but more importantly I think its safe to say the tw200 is engineered to go 65 mph and probably is safer at 55 or 60 mph. Its hardly a crotch rocket and the knobby tires and frame geometry are just not set up to become one even if you thrash the 200 cc engine to try for more. When necessary on the freeway, I open it up and run over 65 mph as possible, but thats not the desirable speed for the tires and other factors. I hope this helps you look at the TW for what it is - a great little bike meant to go a bit slower than a lot of other bikes, but with a bigger smile on the face of the rider. Cheers. Tom
my 2009 has 14/45 gearing, and has carb mods with an FMF pipe. it runs so much better now that i've done the carb mods and got it opened up. i can hit 75 pretty easy, but it's scary at that speed. 65 is nice and comfortable, but anything over 65 feels a little unstable.
I don't know how you guys do 65 MPH on stock gearing. I run 15/45 and the engine is screaming at 65 MPH. I can do 70-75 down the freeway, but it's like riding an angry bee. That said, the bike seems stable at the higher speeds to me. The only disadvantage to the higher speeds is the drum brakes on my '89. I could not lock up the front if a cow jumped out in front of me. It can take a long time to stop.
I run a 47 tooth in the rear. This makes 60-65 very comfortable and puts the TW in a very good area for power. You can run there all day long and not hurt this motor. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=575280 This also allows you to run at 50 in 4th gear and keeps it in a happy place - Which happens a lot if you are pulling hills or bucking headwinds... Here is an online calculator for the TW - And by the way the TW is fine in the 7K-8K range - That's where it develops it's best power/torque: http://www.it-ideas.net/bike/calc.htm
