Go faster or have more low-end torque for your TW200.
Reving to the moon while transiting to the trails?
Maintaining enough low-end torque to keep trail riding fun!
All with gearing!
THE BASELINE – STOCK
First, let’s establish the base. The Yamaha TW200 is delivered to the showroom floor with a 14-tooth front countershaft sprocket and a 50-tooth rear sprocket. According to the gear ratio chart above, the 14/50 gearing nets us a gear ratio of 3.57. Maybe you bought your TW200 used, so count the teeth on your sprockets and see if it has ever been modified.
STOCK GEARING + BETTER THAN STOCK CHAIN:
14-Teeth 428 Chain Size Front Countershaft Sprocket Brand: Sunstar P/N: 20614
50-Teeth 428 Chain Size Rear Steel Sprocket Brand: Sunstar P/N:2-210350
DID 428 VX X-Ring Chain 428 x 122 for Yamaha TW200
Now that we have established the stock gearing of “14/50 = 3.57 ratio,” and say, for example, you want a little more top speed, you could change the rear sprocket to a 45-tooth (4.21 gear ratio), and that would increase your overall top-end speed. Think of your multi-speed bicycle, when you shift to a smaller sprocket on the rear, you go faster, but too, it is also harder to pedal. It’s all a sliding scale with trade-offs and sacrifices for every choice you make, thus you may change your gear ratio a few times in search of what is perfect for you. There is no one perfect combination for every TW200 rider. Why?
TOO MUCH GEAR VS NOT ENOUGH PONY
The TW200 has a mere 196cc engine, which does not equate to thunderous power! Its whopping 26 horsepower at 11.06 ft/lbs of torque that pulls the 278-pound fat-tired motorcycle with a choice of 5 gears in the gearbox. But the bike does not ride itself. You must also consider the bike’s overall payload, including you on the bike and fuel in the tank, plus anything extra you might carry, say camping gear! Don’t forget the “YOU” part, which includes a helmet, boots, riding gear, and a backpack! Finding the best-suited ratio that works for you and your riding terrain, whether high up in the mountains or flat city streets, is a balancing act or a sliding scale equation.
Am I saying the TW200 is underpowered? Let’s say it’s not a sports bike or a big thumper. It is what it is; you must find “yourself” “in” the bike. Is it capable? Why yes! Heck, even the Honda C90 is capable of BIG ADVENTURE, as Ed March of C90Adventures demonstrated with his many long-distance adventures! After you watch any of those videos, NO MORE EXCUSES – SO PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU HIT THAT LINK! NO MORE EXCUSES!!! The TW200 is VERY CAPABLE! So, it would be best to determine what you want to do on your TW200 and your riding style priorities.
CREEPY CRAWLER TDUB?
Maybe you want to creep like a Toyota 4X4 with a Marlin Crawl Box. So you could slap a 62-tooth rear sprocket on the rear. While this would be awesome for the most technical of trails, but as you make your way to those trails, your top speed would most likely be 30 mph while pinned in 5th gear! Also, that rear sprocket size would not be a good choice as it would be much closer to the ground, and rocks would love the opportunity to smash your chain! You must scrutinize the gear ratio chart for the best combination while considering all the factors!
I will say it again: It’s all a sliding scale with trade-offs and sacrifices for every choice you make. Thus, you may change your gear ratio a few times to find what is perfect for you. There is no one perfect combination for every TW200 rider. Read on!
GCRad1 Spec – 15/49
I weigh 180 lbs, so maybe 185 -190 pounds, fully loaded with all my riding gear. Camp gear should also be considered, as my bike will be considerably heavier with all the camping gear loaded on it. Check out the “How I packed for 3-Days of Moto Camping” post, which notes the weight of my items for this trip.
Now, you have to consider your local riding area as well. How far do you have to ride to get to the trails? Is your tarmac transit to trails on a sub 35mph road, or do you have some 55mph roads with locals driving 70+ on them? Are your trails flowing with gravel mountain roads or simi-flat but technical wooded singletrack? See where this is all going? You may own a few sprockets in the process of dialing in your perfect overall gear ratio.
We are discussing all this simply so we do not rev our TW200s to the moon while transiting to the trails, yet maintaining enough low-end torque to keep trail riding fun!
When I lived in Southern California, my transit to dirt was 28 miles on paved public roads. Everyone drives fast there, and the roads I used were mostly 50mph with one section that is 55mph, and I was getting passed like I was standing still!!! My then local trail turns to dirt at 1,562ft of elevation and rises to 4,127ft of elevation within 24 miles at the summit of Santiago Peak with an elevation of 5,689 feet. There is not a lot of elevation compared to our friends in the PNW or Colorado and other mountainous regions. Some of you may not even pull this much elevation, thus your gearing can be much faster, yet torquey enough for your tight wooded singletrack.
STOCK: 14/50 VS GCRad1’s 15/49
The Yamaha TW200 stock gear ratio is 14/50 = 3.57 ratio (blue circle).
My gear ratio was changed from the stock to a 15/49 -3.27 ratio (red circle).
As you can see, the ratio I chose raised my top-end speed. It was not a dramatic speed increase, but I did not want to lose all my low-end capability.
COMPARISON
In real-world comparison to my buddy Jason’s TDUB, he pulls me on the big grades, like when we go up the tarmac to Big Bear, and I will downshift before he does. It’s the same as Nick of TillDeathDualUsSport on the long climbs; I have to downshift before them to maintain the same climbing speed.
But, I feel that overall, and I can hear with my ears that my engine is not revving as hard as theirs on 75-85% of other parts of the ride. That was a part of my goal, not to rev out as much overall to preserve my engine for as long as possible. This lends to the engine’s longevity for my long-travel, long-ride use of the TW200. I feel this ratio is best for me.
ROLL WITH MY 15/49 SPROCKET CHOICE
Make your ratio decision or roll with my sprocket choices:
• Sunstar 21315 15-Teeth 428 Chain Size Front Countershaft Sprocket
• JT Sprockets JTR1842.49 49T Steel Rear Sprocket
ALL THOSE THEETH, LETS TALK CHAIN LINKS!
How can you tell if your stock chain is worn out? Is it falling off when you ride? DANGER! Is it slapping the swingarm? DANGER! When you do not have any more snail adjustment – DANGER! When you remove your chain, lay it down on the floor and curve it like the image above, and if it curves like an unhappy emoji as much as the chain on the bottom, it is worn out! The top chain is brand new and curved as far as possible.
I’m currently running what is considered the best chain possible: the DID Chain VX-428. This chain is available in “Natural Steel” and “Gold” colors. But you are looking for the proper chain size of 428 and the length or number of links. The number of links is the variable in this whole matter.
With my 2016 TW200, the stock gearing (14/50) and chain had 124 links. There seems to be some variable from 120 links to 122 links, but I did by my TDUB used, so the chain could have been swapped. But with only less than 400 miles on the odometer, I doubt the chain had been swapped.
PAY CLOSE ATTENTION WHEN PURCHASING A NEW CHAIN to both the size and LINKS!!! The absolute best way to determine how many links your chain has is to put a dot on a link of your chain and start counting the links! If you come up short, you will be super bummed! If your chain is longer than needed, you can cut it to the proper size!
If you are replacing your chain, don’t mess it up. Buy the proper “428” size, but only with 120 links because it is cheaper – IT WILL BE TOO SHORT! If you change to “street” gearing and run a 45-tooth rear sprocket, you can get away with the 120-link chain.
15/49 = 124 LINKS
Give one / take one. Each link covers two teeth, so if you go from the 14-tooth to 15-tooth sprocket upfront, your chain will need an additional link. But if you also drop the rear from the 50-tooth to the 49-tooth, you can drop the “additional” link and use the stock 124-link chain. Thus, the 15/49 sprocket setup will use a 124-link chain. But D.I.D. does NOT make a 124-link chain.
D.I.D. VX428 Chain Variables
100 LINK VX428 “Natural Steel SKU: 428VXX100FB” OR “Gold SKU: 428VXG100FB“
110 LINK VX428 “Natural Steel SKU: 428VXX110FB” OR “Gold SKU: 428VXG110FB“
120 LINK VX428 “Natural Steel SKU: 428VXX120FB” OR “Gold SKU: 428VXG120FB“
122 LINK VX428 “Natural Steel SKU: 428VXX122FB” OR “Gold SKU: 428VXG122FB“
126 LINK VX428 “Natural Steel SKU: 428VXX126FB” OR “Gold SKU: 428VXG126FB“
130 LINK VX428 “Natural Steel SKU: 428VXX130FB” OR “Gold SKU: 428VXG130FB“
If you choose the 15/49 sprocket combo, you will need the 126-link chain and break a link to remove the excess chain (as most motorcycle shops will do if you do not know how to).
How To | Cut and Install a Chain | TransWorld Motocross
FRONT SPROCKET REMOVAL REQUIRES SIDECASE REMOVAL
Don’t be scared! This is actually a good project to get comfortable working on your TW200. You will have to remove the side case cover to access the front countershaft sprocket. But there is a gasket involved, and you will never know if you need a new gasket until you remove the side case. The newer the bike, the better the chances, but having a gasket on hand means you do not lose additional days not riding. Or this is the perfect job over the winter months.
Here is the part you will need to purchase:
Yamaha TW200 GASKET, CRANKCASE COVER #1 3AW-15451-03-00. I am a Genuine Yamaha factory parts kind of guy, so when it comes to parts like these, the above link is to Google, so choose accordingly.
ORDER YOUR TW200 TDUB CLUB PATCH OR STICKER SET:
https://www.tdubclub.com/shop/
Yamaha TDUB Club Social:
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