Turning The TW200 Into A Street Bike (Mostly)
in [Tech]
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From: Bill Miller. on 9 Aug 2008 06:19 I've shopped around, sat on several motorcycles, studied specs, talked with others, read reviews and have finally decided to go with the Yamaha TW200, mainly because it fits me the best and the 196cc SOHC 4- stroke single provides all of the power I need. I know some will question this since the TW200 seems to be some people's ugly unwanted "stepchild" so to speak but to each his own and the TW200 fits my bill and that's what really matters. 80% of the riding I do will be on pavement and I have no plans for any serious off-roading as that other 20% will just be on dirt and gravel roads and therein lies my project...how to change that bike from a say 50-50 dual sport to an 80-20. One person already related how he changed the front sprocket from a 14 tooth to a 15 tooth and the rear sprocket from a 50 tooth to a 45 tooth. This increased his mpg and quietness at highway speeds of 60 mph. Most of my street riding will be at speeds of 45-55 mph tops. Next would be to lose those tires that look like they came off of an ATV and replace them with either a straight highway tread or at least, as some manufacturers advertise, an 80% on-road---20% off-road tread. A slight problem there surfaces in the odd tire sizes of the TW200...130/80-18 on the front and 180/80-14 on the rear. Now some will say just forget trying to make a turnip into a rose and just buy yourself a street bike. Well, I've checked that angle out and have arrived at the conclusion, as I stated earlier, that the TW200 is the one for me, plain and simple. So there needs to be no discussion regarding any other machines I should buy because I'm simply not interested, just please offer any help you can in my "conversion" of the TW200 to primarily a street motorcycle. Any and all ideas regarding the sprockets and tires and any other modifications to achieve the goal will be appreciated. Thanx. Bill
From: The Older Gentleman on 9 Aug 2008 06:35 Bill Miller. <jay-smith-1935(a)excite.com> wrote: > 80% of the riding I do will be on pavement and I have no plans for any > serious off-roading as that other 20% will just be on dirt and gravel > roads and therein lies my project...how to change that bike from a say > 50-50 dual sport to an 80-20. > <snip> > Any and all ideas regarding the sprockets and tires and any other > modifications to achieve the goal will be appreciated. Thanx. Lace some sensibly-sized rims to the hubs to replace the utterly daft sizes fitted as standard. That'll increase your choice of tyres immensely. -- BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Yamaha XT600E Honda CB400F & SH50 GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 The bells, the bells.....
From: Bill Miller. on 9 Aug 2008 06:50 On Aug 9, 3:35 am, totallydeadmail...(a)yahoo.co.uk (The Older Gentleman) wrote: > Bill Miller. <jay-smith-1...(a)excite.com> wrote: Any and all ideas regarding the sprockets and tires and any other modifications to achieve the goal will be appreciated. Thanx. >> Lace some sensibly-sized rims to the hubs to replace the utterly daft sizes fitted as standard. That'll increase your choice of tyres immensely. That would make a lot of sense and I would like to have 14" wheels in both the front and rear. But how does changing that front wheel to a 14" to match the size of the rear one affect other things such as front disc brake, cables, balance etc.? Bill
From: Blattus Slafaly on 9 Aug 2008 08:10 Bill Miller. wrote: > I've shopped around, sat on several motorcycles, studied specs, talked > with others, read reviews and have finally decided to go with the > Yamaha TW200, mainly because it fits me the best and the 196cc SOHC 4- > stroke single provides all of the power I need. > > I know some will question this since the TW200 seems to be some > people's ugly unwanted "stepchild" so to speak but to each his own and > the TW200 fits my bill and that's what really matters. > > 80% of the riding I do will be on pavement and I have no plans for any > serious off-roading as that other 20% will just be on dirt and gravel > roads and therein lies my project...how to change that bike from a say > 50-50 dual sport to an 80-20. > > One person already related how he changed the front sprocket from a 14 > tooth to a 15 tooth and the rear sprocket from a 50 tooth to a 45 > tooth. This increased his mpg and quietness at highway speeds of 60 > mph. Most of my street riding will be at speeds of 45-55 mph tops. > > Next would be to lose those tires that look like they came off of an > ATV and replace them with either a straight highway tread or at least, > as some manufacturers advertise, an 80% on-road---20% off-road tread. > A slight problem there surfaces in the odd tire sizes of the > TW200...130/80-18 on the front and 180/80-14 on the rear. > > Now some will say just forget trying to make a turnip into a rose and > just buy yourself a street bike. Well, I've checked that angle out > and have arrived at the conclusion, as I stated earlier, that the > TW200 is the one for me, plain and simple. > > So there needs to be no discussion regarding any other machines I > should buy because I'm simply not interested, just please offer any > help you can in my "conversion" of the TW200 to primarily a street > motorcycle. > > Any and all ideas regarding the sprockets and tires and any other > modifications to achieve the goal will be appreciated. Thanx. > > Bill I like the big knobby tires and they wear quite slow. Also their replacement cost on the internet is comparable to standard tires. And on the occasion that I go off road, damn glad I have them. -- Blattus Slafaly ? 3 :) 7/8
From: . on 9 Aug 2008 09:30
On Aug 9, 3:19�am, "Bill Miller." <jay-smith-1...(a)excite.com> wrote: > Next would be to lose those tires that look like they came off of an > ATV and replace them with either a straight highway tread or at least, > as some manufacturers advertise, an 80% on-road---20% off-road tread. > A slight problem there surfaces in the odd tire sizes of the > TW200...130/80-18 on the front and 180/80-14 on the rear. If I wanted to put different-sized wheels and tires on a TW200, they would be 17-inch Excel rims on both ends because there is a far better selection of 17-inch tires than 18-inchers nowadays. However, such a conversion would NOT be cheap, Excel rims are expen $ive and the wider 17-inch rims may be hard to find. I suppose it would cost you at least $400 for the rims, re-lacing and tires, and spending $400 to save money on gasoline just doesn't seem cost effective to me. |