HONDA XR150L vs. YAMAHA TW200: Side by Side Comparison & Dirt Road Test

***Cogent Dynamics***
www.motocd.com

Check them out for your suspension needs!

A big thank you goes out to Rick for letting me borrow his TW200 for the weekend.
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****CORRECTIONS:

1) The TW200 does NOT have ABS.

2) Yamaha did not add an electric start in 2001. The TW has always had an electric start. They actually removed the kickstart and made it electric start only in 2001.

I apologize for the mistakes. ****


The TW200 and XR150L occupy the same funny space of the small displacement dual sport market.

Both are under 200cc’s, both are disc front and drum rear, and neither has anything fancy to write home about.

Simplicity is not always regarded as a good thing, but for the TW it’s part of its legacy. Having been sold in the USA since the late 1980s, the TW has the same cult following as the KLR650. Tractor-like engines seem to propel these bikes through the hills and into the mountains and they are known for being reliable and tough as nails.

The XR150L is the new kid in school. It doesn’t have the same “built in Japan” reputation as the TW, but it’s been a proven workhorse of the South American and Asian markets for the last 15 years. At $2,000 cheaper, it’s a fantastic competitor to the TW.

In this video I run through the specs of each motorcycle and compare them. Then I run them out onto some pavement that gets moderate traffic before riding up the Blue Ridge Parkway towards Mount Pisgah. Then I backtrack to the access to Bent Creek Gap where I first ride down Wash Creek Road before coming back up to Bent Creek Gap Road.

On dirt the TW200 is a champ. The large volume tires just absorb anything you throw their way. The aftermarket suspension felt perfect for my 185lb frame and it was comfortable and predictable through the bumpiest of obstacles. One of the things I noticed with the TW was that I couldn't get it to slide. Not when braking, not when cornering. It was just planted. The other thing I noticed is that it was definitely superior for standing and riding. The way the footpegs toe in makes it the perfect position to stand and retain control of the motorcycle.

The XR150 was fantastic. It doesn't have the power up the steep stuff that the TW has, but it's smooth. Much smoother than the TW, in fact. Its suspension is soft and forgiving and its saddle is much more padded and comfy. With better tires it would be a more off-road worthy rig, and mine will get some Shinko 244's in the future.

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