Yamaha TW200 vs Kawasaki KLX250
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- Опубликовано: 26 авг 2024
- A comparative analysis of the 2013 Yamaha TW200 and the 2012 Kawasaki KLX250S conducted by a neophyte rider.
The short version is the TW is the handiest farm implement ever created and the KLX is the most fun 2-wheeled machine in all the land.
Wow, you did some EXCELLENT tests!! You're no rookie! The slow test is very telling because this is important in rocky, single-track trails! Thanks for including that!! Such an honest review!!
I appreciate the good vibes homie. If I was thinking, I would've taken both through a creek bed. That would probably have demonstrated the differences between the two much better.
Good job
I 've been riding forever ... from a Yamaha 250 Enduro in the wash in San Bernardino way back when... and before that at age 13, a Vespa in the French Quarter back in the 60 with a Mod outfit! ;-) A 2000 Harley FXR CVO... Even crossed Texas in one day on a Road King, Los Cruces NM 5:30am to Lake Charles La. 12:30am on the way home from the last "LOVE RIDE" out of Glendale Ca with Peter Fonda & Jay Leno ... Can't forget My 1989 Honda NT650 HAWK. and the list is too long! Today... My 2013 TW200 is my go to all around ride... and its a keeper! Lots of miles and Lots of smiles!!! Happy Trails!
It's been a few months since filming, but I can say... unless my circumstances radically change, I will never go without a TW. It just does everything.
Fun insights. I suspect you like the KLX because you enjoy riding a dirt bike over a farm bike. The TW will disappoint when you start wanting to flog it fast, be it turns, big bumps, or jumps. If you're OK with it's low (gear) and slow attitude it, as you say, will just go where you point it. I love mine but sometimes I want to bomb a trail or even go on rough fire road a bit faster and think maybe a KT250 or KLX250 would be a nice option to have.
Hey you were doing good on the slow speed stuff, a little tip for tight turns. You need to stay in the friction zone of the clutch, not all the way out just a bit past where it pulls and hold it there.
There’s just something about that TW-200. I have the KLX-300 and love it, but I still want a TW.
You're right. The KLX is a hugely capable machine; however, its kind of a "meh" flavor of vanilla. The TW is like taking a donkey to the KY Derby. You'll loose, but have fun doing it.
@@skridge HAHAHAHA best comment.
I had both, still have the Tdud. Best bike ever made !
I haven't warmed up to it yet, But there's way I'd ever sell it. It's too handy.
You were the first person I’ve ever heard have a negative review on a TW 200
Ha, you'd have to ride it to understand. Still have it. Still have no plans on selling it. I got rid of the klx a few years ago. Replaced it with a DR.
It’s the fat tyres on the tw that resists tipping into corners
Thanks so much for this video. I am about to learn to ride on a TW200 and I had no idea about how much u have to lean into the turns
Don't listen to him the bike handles excellent I've owned many dirtbikes, drz supermoto,gsxr600 etc the tw handles awesome. I just rode my dads yesterday. I was bombing corners feels very planted even compared to a freaking supermoto (im probably just going 10x slower haha)
Fun fact- my state funds a motorcycle training course program and use the tw and honda shadows.
Haha that was great. Specs are one thing, but how it rides, handles and just feels under different situations is much more important. Thx man!
Good video. I currently have an 09 TW200 and a '20 KLX300R in the garage. I get a kick out of your comments on being a short rider. I'm 5'7" with a 28" inseam. With my little legs, and age creeping up on me, the KLX is beginning to get too tiresome to enjoy. It's going up for sale, and I'll be keeping the T-Dub.
I don't think I'll ever sell the tw, simply because it's so easy off road. The klx is currently on the choping block. I've found when I take the klx, I'm mostly on pavement or easy gravel.
It’s still not too late to add a creek crossing to the comparisons. Nice video!
Thanks... unfortunately it is too late. I sold the KLX last week. Have a DR650 now.
I liked the tree root to cone measurement. Cool video, both bikes are great
Thanks homie. Improvise, adapt, and overcome.
Hockey mask with a kitchen knife. You’ve ridden that bike!
Hahahaha about broke my ankle the other day bouncing over a log. It has a mind of its own sometimes.
@@skridgeI love mine!
@@reggiepaulk same. I wish we didn't have to worry about price and availability, otherwise I'd ride it everywhere. I ride a dr for longer trips to keep the mileage low on the lil tw
Thank you. If you remove the Klx seat and use a kneeling pad to sit on you can get a 32” seat height.
Good insight. I have since sold it for a dr650. Similar seat hight. WAY more power!
You did a great job in this comparison video. Thumb up, subbed and shared. I saved this to my TW200 Content playlist on my channel.
I appreciate that!
Like the way the tw sounds
I’m sure others have probably already corrected you on the gearing, but by going from a 48 to a 46 rear sprocket, would actually give you more top end.
42 to 46 tooth.
I am 63, and started riding off road at age 8 on a Bultaco Lobito 100. You cannot compare these two bikes. Aside from the huge difference in wheel and tire sizes, the TW200 is air cooled, and virtually bulletproof, while the KLX is liquid cooled. The liquid cooling system on my KLR650 sprung a leak and left me stranded. I now ride a Suzuki DR650. I also have a Yamaha XT225. I found out the hard way to never ride a liquid cooled bike any place where you can't call your road service plan. If you think the TW200 can't do absolutely everything off road, just check out TDubsKid's channel. There is nothing the TW200 cannot do. The KLX tries to imitate an MX bike, and works better on smooth dirt trails and even MX tracks, though I wouldn't try to race it. The TW200 is a 2 wheeled ATV, and doesn't need any trails. The wide tires and low seat basically means it would take a reinforced concrete wall to stop it. Someday I will own a TW200.
The TW is my go to if I'm doing any serious off road riding. It's just so easy...which makes up for my lack of talent
If liquid cooling were a concern the auto industry and most of the motorcycle industry would still be air cooled. The TW is still cold war era because they put their R&D into better selling bikes. They're both low displacement trail bikes, so I find them easily comparable. Obviously there will be differences like the lack of rear tire options on the tw, having to deal with a carb if you have major temp and elevation changes, being down 8 horsepower with just a 5 speed, etc. I think it often comes down to height, though. My inseam is over 34" and I find the crf & klx comfortable with a good commanding view. I liked the tw200 in the MSF course, but I was glad there were bigger options that wouldn't send me to the grave or cost a fortune.
@@Largetalons I had the liquid cooling system fail on my KLR650 some time ago, and leave me stranded out in the middle of the AZ desert. I probably wouldn't have survived if sone ATV riders hadn't come along. I was out of cell phone range.
As for the carburetor, I would never own a bike without one. I have ridden dozens of carbureted bikes from below sea level to over 12,000 feet with no problem at all. Yes, the air/fuel mixture does get a little richer at high altitudes, but not enough to cause a problem. And carburetors are 10 times simpler than EFI, 10 times easier to work on, and 10 times cheaper to get parts for. I have only had a couple of failures in 46 years.
Get a Tdub today 👍😎
@@Largetalons The only (the ONLY) reason bikes are going with water cooling is to meet emissions that keep getting tougher and tougher. The new Euro 5 even forced Moto Guzzi to go water cooled. Even Harleys are water cooled now, as is Triumph. If most of your air-cooled bikes are sold in the US and other countries with few restrictions, then the manufacturer keeps making them. When they run out of market for a particular bike, they either drop making the bike or add water cooling and FI to bring it up to world standards for emissions. I assume the TW and XT250 along with a handful of other bikes have their biggest sales in countries like Mexico and south America and North America so they can still sell carb and air-cooled (the XT did go with FI, though), but those are going to go away in a few years.
Excellent video comparison of the two bikes.
Thank you, Dave! 🤙🤙
😂😂 I'd have to agree with everything just stated I'll never get rid of my TW200 😎 farm use ,outlaw ridge riding in the forest , going upstreams it's just a damn goat 🐐
I'll never sell mine either.... out of stubbornness though hahaha. I looked for over 2 years, saved, had deals fall through, and eventually had to drive 4 hours to overpay for one....
But I'm about to take it to bike night in a few mins. Hopefully piss off a few harley riders. Fingers crossed lol.
Me too, will never sell my TDub, but I also like to have a few options in the garage. “Yes dear, I’m buying another motorcycle”
actual PERFORMANCE comparison reviews are rare. Yes, they are not scientific, but they provide prospective buyers more useful information that a pile of statistics. As a T-Dub owner, it's nice to know how the T-Dub stacks up against a similar bike. Oh, and GET THAT DEATHWING OFF ASAP. Washing out the front end at high speed on wet pavement is not a picnic. The T-Dub is for off-road and OFF TRAIL. You plod overland with it. It's a farm bike. Finding a used T-Dub is hard because people hang on to them, because of there are no small bikes that do what they do the same way.
Fun story… rode today, front end washes out on dirt and gravel. Probably changing to a Shinko this winter. The lil t dub is starting to grow on me.
@@skridge It SURE WILL. Fun bike!
Awesome video! Thank you! I have been considering both of these bikes (TW200 vs the new KLX300) and been having a tough time deciding between the two. If it wasn't for my short inseam, roughly 27 to 28 inches (sucks being 5'3"), I would probably go with the KLX. There just seems to be a lot of positives for me on the TW that seem to draw me to it. The low seat height, the simplicity on fixing issues because of it being carb'd, plenty of after market parts, and the fact its just plain reliable. I guess I have get to a dealership and actually get my ass on a KLX to make the final decision.
I'll add this... I saw a 300 for sale with low miles. The owner said he was used to his TW and it was just to tall. If I had to do it over again, I'd just get an XT250.
@@skridge Yeah the XT250 seems like a great compromise with the low seat height, fuel injection and and 50 more cc's. But there is something about the TW200 that keeps drawing to me to it lol! So damn hard to explain it. I think its the simplicity of it. The fact that its had minimal changes since 87 and its carb'd which can be much easier/cheaper to fix. Especially, if you are in the middle of no where.
@@samsoncosta83 hahaha and that is why I have the tw instead of an xt
A used xt225 is another option. Same power as the xt250, Carbed, 6 speed transmission, and low seat height. The xt225 also has "normal tires" which might be positive or negative depending if you like tw tires.
Ok so what years are the bikes and how many miles on them? I have KLX250S 2009 and every time I drop it on the left I have to buy a new antifreeze reservoir. Hell the last time I did it all I did was put the stand down and I thought it would hold Me lol. I have 10 acres that I ride 40 mph is as fast I go. I'll tell you what it can chug without stalling. I am going to do the TAT with My brother next year and was thinking of a T-Dub. I am 56 years old. I have got My bike up to 78 mph on the road and scared. So low and slow for Me great video Thank you.
Geez that's a bummer about the reservoir. The tw is a '13 with about 3100mi and the KLX is a '12 with about about 5600 mi. I'd hate risking a bad time on the TAT because of a busted reservoir. I drop mine pretty much every time I get into something nasty.
Great video
Thank you!
If you could put a 350cc bigbore on the TW it would be a tougher decision.
How tall are you ? Will tw be to small for some one 5”10
I'm 5'7" and it fits me well. Honestly, I think it's a matter of was preference. I've seen some tall guys on groms and short guys on a 38" bike. They all seem to make it work.
Tw all day long design not changed in years BULLIT proof change tres , adjust rear shock and front springs ,
The more I ride it, the more I like it. The suspension isn't really adjustable...minus deflating the tires. I really need to change the front tire. Scary as hell.
Good Stuff man!
Thanks homie. Literally bought the first klx after we talked. Awesome bike!
Farm bike it is!
I've packed out 3 deer with it so far wish I could post a photo of a doe strapped to the back. Hauled corn and chainsaws. Then went to town on a beer run with it. I'll never not have a tw. Had it a few years, 5,000 miles. No issues at all... so far.
Mine has 3 whole miles on it, but major upgrades being done Thursday. Suspension, carb jetting, gearing, a few things for protection. I will be carrying a chain saw too, but not sure how yet. Too old and fat to put to much in a rear basket, can't get leg up and over like I Used to! My wife is sure I'm gonna kill myself with this thing. Death by TW...@@skridge
@@anonw3829 buy rok straps!
Thank you. Gonna try a front rack as well.@@skridge
I went to my local bike shop they had a klx can't get leg up high enough up to get on it just old man shit
Dang. I watched a guy mount a klr once by literally climbing on the thing like it was a boulder. Not sure how me managed to take off, but regardless, I was awkwardly impressed.
I lowered my klx with lowering links ,cheap and easy. Of course the kickstand was then too long but made it adjustable and that was very cheap and easy.
I thought about it, but I got used to the seat height pretty quick
Yeah im 5'8'' with a 30inch inseam just got the bike and havent had any issues with the height. @@skridge
The klx for me. Yamaha has not improved the tw for decades.😅
Intentionally
Do the big loop
One of these days for sure
Vine Hill Angels
Wanna start a scooter gang?
That chain on the KLX looks super loose
It's on the tight end of spec
Super entertaining. 🤣
Thanks. My favorite part was the seat height comparison.