My Favorite TW200 Mods | 8 mods for the perfect TW200 Setup

Hi Matt. I have a 2022 TW that I had to travel to Denver from South Eastern Idaho to get. I got the TW because, about 3 years ago I decided to purchase a used 1994 XT600. I had a 1986 XT600 for many years, and I loved it. But like a dummy, I sold it. I had to do a lot of work on the 1994, and I learned a lesson that was sad. My 1986 XT600 was a dirt bike that you could take on the road. My 1994 XT600 was a road bike that you can take in the dirt. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!!! None the less, I was riding it on a 2 track all alone, because that is just the way I like it. There was a tree over the road, but there was a go-around. I got off balance and just tipped over. It took me 25 minutes to figure out a way to lift up that high-geared, top-heavy monster. I am 76 years old, and sadly, I am just not as strong as I once was. I went back to the truck, and took it to my favorite Bike Shop and had him sell it. I had read all kinds of reports about the TW200, so I bought one. My first mod was the seat. I have a friend that owns an upholstery shop. He added a lot of padding to the seat. The next mod was the Ricochet skid plate. The stock skid plate is pitiful. Then I added the handlebar guards, and I also added Risers to get the bars up. I am 6'3". I actually stacked 2 on top of each other to lift the bars as far as I could. The Front brake hose was the limiting factor. I next installed the wider foot pegs. I also added brush-cables from the new folding shift lever to the skid plate to keep sage brush from shifting my gears for me or applying the rear brakes. I tried a larger rear sprocket, but it slowed my cruising speed down from 45 MPH to 35 MPH, so I put the stock one back on. I also replaced the chain with an O-Ring chain. I made a front over the headlight rack to hold my tool kit. I added the same rear rack that you have, and I love it too. I then added the Bradley rear disc brake conversion. I had to purchase 2 banjo-bolts with bleeders so that I could finely get the brakes bled. Until I bought them, I could not get the air out. I also replaced the brake pads with sintered brass pads. I now have awesome rear brakes. The engine and trans are bone-stock, and it has enough power and low enough gearing for anything, or anywhere I want to go.   I was riding up a nasty road with large rocks last summer, and was alone like usual, and I got out of shape and went over backwards. The bike was laying on my left leg, and I could not get into a position where I could lift it off of my leg. Thank goodness I was wearing my slip-on Carheart mini boots that day, and I was able to slide my foot out of my boot and get it my leg out. Even though I do ride my quad and bike alone 99% of the time, I always have my PLB (Personal Locater Beacon) with me. I just did not want to call out the troops just to lift my bike off of my leg. Other than that, I have 1700 miles on my little beast, and I do love it. I like your channel. You do things, and go places that I like to go. This is a long comment, but hopefully it was interesting to read.

One of my favorite (and pretty much free) mods, was taking one of the original foot pegs, that I removed when installing the upgraded bigger aftermarket footpegs, and welding one of them over (around the outside of) the original tiny brake pedal, make a bigger and awesome rear brake foot pedal.

I love mine, reminds me of a retired trials bike that put on a few pounds.:face-green-smiling::face-green-smiling::face-green-smiling:

Made the 2 hour trip north from Wyoming to billings MT and picked up my 2024 TW on Saturday, the grey rocks in person with the black trim. Spent Sunday installing tusk skid plate & rear rack & tusk pegs More mods to come 👍🏼

Another great video as usual. Love your enthusiasm. Anyway the fact that you have never felt the need to rejet at your altitude shows how lean they come from the factory.

Front tire upgrade also a good idea, I have been happiest with the Golden Boy for mix of pavement and trail riding.

Great setup Matt! I have done most of those and more. I recently bought a rear disc kit and fork adjusters, but havent had the time to put them on yet. Love the hat! Keep the vids coming!

Great video! We just acquired our first Tdub. A 1990. Going to be adding some of these items to it

Great Add-ons list Matt. I have almost the same on my Zukes. A++

I enjoy mine the way it came from the factory. Vintage bikes most in demand are the ones that were never modified

Couldn't agree more!! I've that Shinko 241 on my Triumph 400x too! the thinner one of course 19" tall but it's by far my favorite front tire for dual sport riding! keep it up bud! doin the lord's work out here schoolin the newbs 😆

Hi Matt ! Good vid on the best TW mods. I have 2 heavily modified my TWs. One is off the hook crazy and the other is more stock but has hidden mods. Truth be told, If I had to do it all over again, with a new TW, I would go with the basics. Skid plate, serious hand guards, Wide foot pegs. ProTaper ATV bars, Good Rear rack. Seat cushion or rebuilt seat. I like the Cycle Racs version(Easy to repair) Different front tire. I have a hidden feature and that's cartridge emulators on the front forks, & a kicker kit. But that's getting a bit complicated. I guess the point is to enjoy the simplicity and fun of the Lil Donkey, and not let it try to be something it is not. I love those TWs! I have on street TW with a 45 sprocket, & street tires. My TW230 has a 52 sprocket. Extended swing arm, monster tires(Bighorn)Cool but a pain to mount and fix(Not practical) I had to modify the shock to get it to work, all this was expensive, and after I did all this. I realized I enjoyed my more stock TW as much if not more than the the Frankenstein TW. It was fun modifying my franken TW but it gets into my wallet more often than the stock one. I'm just thinking out loud here and commenting. Great Picture of your beloved TW BTW! Ride Well ! Jimbo C.

Great rundown video! If i could add a #9 and #10 it would be Race Tech Gold Valves in the forks with a taller PVC shim and a stiffer rear spring. This new suspension along with a 55 tooth sprocket and airing down to 7 psi has allowed me to do some knarly riding with my TW. Im up in Ogden if you ever want to ride up North.

I cracked my Bradley Performance skid plate on my first single track ride but they replaced it no questions asked. I was thinking of getting the jns morimoto headlight but it's pricey. Will check out the Tach Industry light.

Throw on those smaller Tusk saddlebags (if they fit around your rack), and you have the perfect combo. They act as additional protection also. I love having a quick place to put small stuff like water bottles, first aid kit, or whatever. And they look great.

I just came across your channel recently and the TW200. I haven’t been on a bike in nearly a decade, the TW200 has definitely caught my attention and I’m looking further into getting one. My only bike was a 1984 Yamaha XJ750 “Maxim” that I learned to ride on and did a few cosmetic things to make it more into a bobber. Anyways I really enjoy the channel you got a new subscriber. Can you recommend or point me in a direction for riding protective gear? Thanks.

Have a 2019 Tdub myself.Same r. rack & handguards.Info. on gun racks please.

I got new chain and sprockets this week and since I only weigh 145lbs I went with 14/50.

Hi Matt, Did you ever think about getting a ATV , or a side x side ? I traded my KLR in for a Honda Rancher , but I haven't had much time to ride it yet . Need to find some trails near my house in Wisconsin. Happy trails.

Best mod, Bradley atv tire with sprocket and believe it or not Bradley drop back pegs! They do bottom out but the ride geometry is perfect! My least favorite mod by far it the Shinko 241, yep really