Yamaha Tw200 Review

Used Buyer Review

The TW200 is one of those bikes that sounds underwhelming on paper and then quietly wins you over. That 196cc air-cooled single makes somewhere around 16 horsepower, and no, that's not a typo. What Yamaha figured out is that with those massive balloon tires — 4.00-18 rear, 130/80-18 front — you can float over terrain that would swallow a proper dual-sport. It's genuinely capable on forest tracks, sand, and soft dirt in a way that defies logic. Used examples are everywhere because Yamaha barely changed this thing since 1987. That's actually good news — parts are cheap, mechanics know them, and a neglected one is usually just a carb clean away from running perfectly. Check the air filter (often trashed), look for fork seal weeps, and make sure the fat tires aren't cracked from sitting. Avoid anything with dodgy electrics or a bent subframe from abuse. Just accept the 45mph top speed and you'll love every mile of it.