Yamaha TW 200 a rare breed?

I thought I would do this short blog about the fact that the T-dub seems to be a rare breed of bike.  In my travels this season I only spotted one other TW200 and that was on the lakeshore in Toronto.  The guy or gal was ahead of me and I tried to catch up but the street lights wouldn't cooperate.
I did scope out a bunch of them at the motorcycle safety course that I visited in Oakville.  Other than that the only other Tdubs I've seen is on the local Kijiji or online ads.  I did see one at the local power sports shop.
I guess that's one of the reasons I get a lot of looks when I'm out on the road with the Tdub.  At first I thought it was nothing. Then I got used to the looks, the questions from strangers asking about my bike etc.  It's funny considering it such a popular bike that it merits it's own online forum.
http://tw200forum.com/
Anyway thought I would share my observation.

Yamaha TW200 on the highway

Hello again.  Okay it's pretty much a well known fact that the Yamaha TW200 is not meant for high speeds. It's comfortable moving along at 80-90 kilometers / hour at the stock gearing.  It will move me along at 100 kilometers / hour and a tad more if I push her but I hate to do that for any long periods of time to the girl.  She was just not meant to do it. 
However I did take her out on one short run on a 400 series hwy by me just to satisfy my curiosity. Like I said she is not meant for highway speed riding.  She did well as far as I'm concerned.  But I would not want to do it on a busy highway
http://s11.beta.photobucket.com/user/losttourist/media/tw200/TWriding400series.mp4.html

Found a trail on my TW200

On one of my last rides of the season I happened along this side road.  I was out to catch the fall colors on a nicer day than my previous attempt.  This time at least it was dry.  At any rate I found this side road that really interested me.  I'm still a total noob specially at any kind of off roading with a bike but I just couldn't resist such a nice looking road to explore.  Below is the video of my little off road adventure.  I know I wasn't going fast but even when I go off roading with my 4x4 I take my time and enjoy the scenery. 

http://s11.beta.photobucket.com/user/losttourist/media/tw200/Offthebeatenpath_zps6cb99fd1.mp4.html

End of season rides on the Yamaha TW200

Okay getting back to this blog.  Near the end of this past season , I was out catching the fall colors.  As usual I documented my trip via video.  ( it's what I do)  On one ride when I thought I would catch the fall colors the weather was pretty bad.  It was very cold and I got caught out in the rain while riding.  Still for me it was an enjoyable experience.

The link below is the video hosted on photo bucket. 
http://s11.beta.photobucket.com/user/losttourist/media/tw200/SeasonsEnd.mp4.html

First Camping Trip

At some point after getting the TW200 I was itching to take a trip with her.  Specifically a camping trip, and not with the T-dub hauled on a trailer towed by my truck.  A trip with my motorcycle loaded down with all my gear.  So after some planning and a bit of research I set out for my first motorcycle trip.  The following video is the footage of the trip.  Funny thing that is not included in the video is what happened right after I had the bike all loaded and ready to leave.  Everything looked ok then I strapped on my small camel back pack and tried to get on the bike.  To my surprise I couldn't fit on with the pack! After dumping the pack and switching to a side pack I was on my way.  On to the video.

     Okay, so at the time that I decided I was going to start riding my next decision was the bike I would choose.  I don't recall how I found out about the Yamaha TW but I did.  Thus began my research again.
     I've always been an off road type of guy so I guess the look of the TW impressed me.  Remember that I am a total noob when it comes to motorcycling at this point.  So when I saw this bike described as a dual sport my interest was definitely peaked.  With it's sporty appearance and that big beefy rear tire I fell in love immediately. 

      I'm not a big guy so getting a bike that would be easy to handle was important to me.  Now I've read and heard that these bikes are used at a lot of the motorcycle classes and make a great choice for a new riders first ride. 
     Let me say that this bike is a fun ride for sure.  It has given me a chance to learn the joys of motorcycle riding this season.  Being only a 200 cc engine it won't break any speed barriers but that said will comfortably do the posted 80 km/h on a non 400 series hwy. 
    Tina, as I call her has taken me on some great riding adventures this past season.  Granted most of them were on paved roads but on occasion she and I have ventured off the beaten path.   Now when it comes to trail riding I have to say, it's a bit of a tougher go than on flat and even pavement.  The TW200 however performed well and did right by me at those times.  It was my own inexperience that brought the one mishap I had very early on. 

It took me and my very big friend about 35 minutes to get her out of this bog.  It was a very hot summer day and we did a lot of sweating getting her out.  But after a thorough cleaning and detailing the T-dub was just like new.  In fact after we got her out of this mess, it was a 45 minute ride back home on the pavement.  Thinking back it was a blast too.  There I was covered in mud, the TW 200 looked like she just came out of a swamp.  Mud was flying off the tires and myself as we drove home.  It was a sunny day and people couldn't help but stare. At each traffic light cars beside me would look us up and down in wonderment.
Probably trying to figure out which road it was that got us so muddy.   Yes when I recall that day, it was a good day after all. 

 

Decided to take up motorcycling

  


Lead a normal family life at one time I was pretty content with things.  Family life was pretty good too.  Had a house, a wife, beautiful daughter that I loved, and can't forget my loyal best friend chocolat lab!  Well after 10 years of family bliss it one day all came crashing down on me. Wife destroyed it all had an affair, and pretty much destroyed my life as I knew it.  Long story short, lost the house, family, dog and I only get to see my little girl every other weekend. Oh for the record...the system doesn't work!!! It's all for the women not the men!  So the past 3 years has pretty much sucked ass!   Living in a small basement apartment now living day to day.  I look forward to the weekends I get to see the love of my life my daughter....Geez sorry went off topic!!
Okay sorry folks, drinking and blogging sometimes lead to flying off to a different tangent!  Motorcycles! ya!
     Ok ok so at some point I stopped feeling sorry for myself momentarily one day and decide I needed some happiness in this pathetic existence I was now calling my life.  After all there is more to life than working Monday to Friday then waiting every other weekend to be with my daughter right?! Sure!  So I don't remember what it was , maybe memories of the Fonz or what but at some point motorcycling came into mind.
     So I decided I would ride.  Never having ridden anything on 2 wheels except for my mountain bike I knew I had to do some research.  So that's what I did. Thanks to the miracle of the information highway called the internet I studied all the info I could find on motorcycling.  Watched a ton of videos and  yes that's right I learned how to ride!! I got my riding basics off of you tube!!  Let me say for the record I had a working knowledge of clutch work from driving standard transmission cars.  But everything else I got from you tube!
     So I studied and studied and wrote my M1 test. That in itself was a feat  and a half.  It was a long 5 hour wait at the dmv in a very crowded building before I could actually write the damn test . In the end however I aced the written test woohooo!!
Here in Canada we have to wait 60 days after our written test to do the practical drive test.  HOLD THE PHONE!!! Just realized I was supposed to be writing about the Yamaha TW200!!!  
     Ok about that, again I apologize, it's a Friday night, the end of a long week. And I'm drinking to top it off as I write this blog....oh and I'm also on chatting on facebook!! OMG!
At this point in time I believe it's best if I call it a night as far as this blog.  Fear not as I will return at a better focal point to add videos and more pics of the outstanding Yamaha TW200!
Stay tuned!!
I bid u good night!