TW200: It’s an ATV With two less wheels.

"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo) 06/05/2020 at 02:02 • Filed to: None

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My brother in law picked up a TW200 yestday after searching for one for awhile.

I got to ride it and it’s perfect. It’s an un-intimidating small, easy to ride bike that really feels exactly like an old ATV with two less wheels, for better or worse. The Tdub and Van Van have been high on my list of motorcycles wants for quite awhile. Now I want one even more.

I’m actually glad now that I didn’t buy that Honda Helix I wanted to look at Monday, because buying that would put me that much farther from buying a TW.

Also I just found out today that that you only use 2 fingers for your clutch on a motorcycle. And I feel like that made a massive difference in my ability to use said clutch. 

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 02:41

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I love the TWs, they are all over Tokyo, I like the Ruckus scooters too.

Gerry197 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 03:06

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I’m been looking at my local Craiglist now for weeks to get a decent one and similar other similar trail, dirt and dual sport type bikes. Seems like prices have actually gone up on the used bike market, especially on the lower end.

I want a bike I can take on my local trail that is either street legal or can easily be plated, but anytime one pops up at a reasonable price, it’s gone within a few hours of posting.  

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 06/05/2020 at 03:06

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I could see it being a great city bike. Tough, small, quite, and cheap. Put on some smooth tires and it’s a nice commuter, that can also do 60mph if you want it too. 

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 03:31

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Are you going to be doing a lot of off-road? Because those bike are best mostly offroad (like an ATV). Most of the new adv riders here started off with a CRF250L (also due to licensing) and even they’re not quick in any sort of N orth A merican traffic despite FI DOHC 4v liquid cooled and a 6-speed .

Also, 2 finger clutch is sort of a preference thing . If the clutch adjustment grabs close to the bar the rider won’t be doing that . Get on a +600 with a cable clutch and chances are your hand won’t last archery around town constantly at the lights even with neutral rests . The brake on the proverbial other hand, yes.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 05:22

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Also I just found out today that that you only use 2 fingers for your clutch on a motorcycle. And I feel like that made a massive difference in my ability to use said clutch.

this isn’t a thing. This is just personal preference.

just remember 4 fingies for brakes means more fine control

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 07:00

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Fun fact, that’s the starter bike in the 2006 game Tourist Trophy, made by the Gran Turismo team and released as a companion game to GT4

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com 06/05/2020 at 08:20

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He bought primarily for off road/ hunting use. Part of the appeal for him was just how dang quite they are. The quite thumping of a single cylinder tends no to scare off grouse and other small game because they are so used to hearing it from a 4 wheeler. 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Gerry197 06/05/2020 at 08:25

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Oh bike prices have definitely gone up since April here. And you have to act fast. This bike was less than an hour away, and reasonably priced. It was listed for sale on Monday and he Contacted the seller Monday, and bought it Wednesday.

He paid 2600 for a remarkably clean. 2008 with only 7,000 miles. Apparently it was owned by the DNR And spent most of its life Sitting in the back of a pickup. The bars, and one side of the front wheel  are scratched up from being strapped down constantly but that’s the only cosmetic defect.

Discerning > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 08:26

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“Also I just found out today that that you only use 2 fingers for your clutch on a motorcycle. And I feel like that made a massive difference in my ability to use said clutch. “

I use all four. Sometimes less depending on the feel of the lever pull and engagement point. But I usually don’t see a noticeable difference if I use fewer fingers.

SpecsGTP > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 08:42

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So unds like you will much happy motoring! I will say that I miss my ‘93 Helix. It was a completely different type of ride than the rest of my fleet.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 08:52

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Silly question: isn’t an ATV with two fewer wheels called a Rokon?

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 06/05/2020 at 08:55

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No that’s a pack mule with two more wheels.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 09:36

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Is is possible that the TW200 having only one driven wheel is actually an ATV with three fewer wheels *and* one extra wheel?

Is the “mechanical mule” a pack mule with four extra wheels?

Is a hot dog a pie?

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 10:20

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This is what I did the Ohio motorcycle class on. What a fun little bike.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 06/05/2020 at 10:56

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Well not all 4 wheelers, or ATVs are 4wd. Especially not back in 87 when the TW came out. 

OhCrikeyTheRozzers > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 10:59

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These things are great—back a long time ago when I taught MSF classes we had a few of these in the fleet. They were fun and easy bikes, and it was always entertaining when a student would occasionally lift a front tire when dropping the clutch (which the Nighthawks and GZ250s wouldn’t do).   I’d love to pick one up sometime to just mess around with off-road—they’ve pretty much been unchanged for 30 years so hopefully you won’t have much trouble finding a good one.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 11:19

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There is a single used one for sale on my local CL and it’s close enough in price to a new one that it probably would be better to just get a new one. I didn’t realize how cheap these are new though...it’s kind of tempting.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > SpecsGTP 06/05/2020 at 11:20

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Did you ride it naked?

I think with a bit of work you could make that a decent looking BIG big Ruckus. A banged up helix would be a lot cheaper than a Big Ruckus any day of the week. 

Brian, The Life of > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 11:27

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My first “real motorcycle-type thing” after minibikes was my Honda Trail 90 (soft road version of their Cub). As much as I couldn’t wait to “graduate” to my first motox bike, I’m most nostalgic for that old Trail 90 ... and these are even cooler. 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 06/05/2020 at 12:07

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Yeah the normal price for a 10- 20 year old one is about half their current MSRP. Anything less than 10 years old is like 3500 and up.

When I get one I might just finance a new one. 

HammerheadFistpunch > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 12:20

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I’ve looked at these before.  They seem really cool.

bob and john > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 13:20

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2 fingers? I always 4 finger the clutch.

you CAN use two if you want...the only think with using less then 4, is that you have to be wary of catching the fingers that you arent using under the lever. 

SpecsGTP > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 14:10

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I sure did. That’s exactly how I used to ride her. She was great and boy would I get all kinds of looks from people wondering what in the heck I was on.

With a little more off it would be pretty close to “ruck-lix” but I enjoyed the shit out of her without the body.

Tripper > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 15:21

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These are the ones that are common at race tracks right? Always loved em.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Tripper 06/05/2020 at 15:31

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Put bikes are usually smaller. 50-80cc 2 strokes or  125Cc 4s. Physically smaller too

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 06/05/2020 at 15:32

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Seems like a good bike for a class. I think anybody with 4 limbs and a brain  could hop On and go.  

CRider > bob and john 06/05/2020 at 16:01

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Who taught you that? Levers are bent outward for a reason. Two fingers on the lever, two keeping hold on the grips . And I know a lot of riders who swear by using only one finger. 

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 16:10

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Yeah, super easy to ride. I remember the clutch felt great and the shifter had great feedback.

bob and john > CRider 06/05/2020 at 16:10

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seeing as its you, I know its BS.

but even mine is when i use the clutch. (quickshifter FTW)

CRider > bob and john 06/05/2020 at 16:33

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I seriously don’t know anyone who 4-fingers the clutch . If you don’t trust me, trust Rossi.

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > bob and john 06/05/2020 at 17:41

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I love how his answer is: B ecause S treet Rossi.

Hilarious !

JasonStern911 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/05/2020 at 21:10

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As a kid, I h ad a BW200 - very similar mechanically, but off-road only and with fatter tires. Certainly had its limits - horrifically slow by 200cc standards, not even the slightest bit agile at speed. But it was a great bike with bulletproof reliability.

Almost bought a TW200 a few years back. Drove a good 45 minutes to check it out. But it had some rust issues, was in need of some TLC, and the owner was stubbornly convinced that if I didn’t pay over twice KBB trade-in value, “someone else is going to buy it and cruise with it and a surf board down the beaches of (either Santa Monica or Santa Cruz).” No joke. So I bought a more modern Yamaha XT250 instead.