XT250, DR200SE or TW200?

 

Hi, my name's Bill Miller (I'm using my Uncle Jay's computer) and I'm
in the market for a dual purpose motorcycle.  Most of the riding will
be on gravel and dirt roads with some paved secondary roads and town
riding in traffic  I expect the street riding to be no faster than
45-55 mph and I don't plan to do any really rough off-roading.

I've looked at the Yamaha TW200 and XT250 and also the Suzuki DR200SE
and they all look like they'd do the job but thought I'd ask the
experts what they thought.  I already posted the same question on
Motorcycles.Tech.

Here are the links that provide the specs and comparisons.


++Yamaha TW200 vs. Suzuki DR200SE++

http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/enthusiasts/new_vehicle_compare.asp?vehicle1 ‡119&year2 09&mfg2=4&vehicle2ˆ132&go=Go



++Suzuki DR200SE vs. Yamaha XT250++

http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/enthusiasts/new_vehicle_compare.asp?vehicle2 ˆ132&year1 09&mfg1=2&vehicle1‡118&go2=Go



I've narrowed my choices down to these three bikes so maybe you could
rank them 1,2, 3 according to the uses I described earlier.
Thanks in advance.  Bill

 

Where are you located Bill? I have a very nice 2001 Suzuki DR200 for
sale, north central Illinois. Email me for full details if interested.

 

In article


You'll have fun with any of these, but I'd rank them in this order:
XT250, DR200SE, TW200.

The XT's extra 50 cc's will be useful, it's been around forever, parts
and reliability are good, and the styling is much more to my taste
than the DR.

I've never quite understood the TW...

--
Charles
'99 YZ250

 



http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/enthusiasts/new_vehicle_compare.asp?vehicle1

http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/enthusiasts/new_vehicle_compare.asp?vehicle2

Ch Charles,

The XT250 replaced the XT225 only a few years ago, but there are some very
old model XT250's from the early 80's still running.  Not the same.

Unfortunately, the XT250 replacement doesn't come with a kick start, skid
plate and only has 5 gears.  The XT225 has 6 and it has been around for a
long time, also known as the Serow.

I sat on the XT250 at the showroom and they had the rear suspension all the
way out and I bottomed the suspension just sitting on it.  It might need
alot of suspension work for a bigger rider.

I also sat on the WR250 model for dirt and it seemed better prepared.  The
new KLX250 sagged alot.

Never took any of them on the street.

I don't understand the TW200 except maybe its fat tires might be better for
old codgers put putting on the beach.

Joe

XL600R

 

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


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


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

>On Sat, 2 Aug 2008 04:34:23 -0700 (PDT), "Bill Miller."

>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

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

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). Some of the older models are both kick and electric
start, but it has been called to my attention that the new models have
no kickstarter.
 It is a pretty decent all around dual sport bike.

I hope that this helps.


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

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