2025 Yamaha TW200 Preview

It’s decidedly retro, low to the ground, and low-powered, but even after more than 35 years of production, the low-fi TW200 still brings huge smiles to all who ride it. (Read and watch our last review during the 2023 Yamaha TW200 Review.) And so Yamaha is bringing the ol’ T-Dub back for the 2025 model year, and to no one’s surprise, it’s totally unchanged; even the price stays the same.

Credit the 196cc single-cylinder mill, an unbelievably low 31.1-inch seat and unabashedly ‘80s-era retro styling for its singular placement in the dual sport category; nothing else looks or feels like a Trail Way. Of course, a five-speed transmission, drum rear brake and carb-fed, air-cooled engine don’t exactly make for a high-performance vehicle, but for short stints on a fire road, around the campground, or down to the corner store, it’s ideal. In fact, the TW200 was again included as the Best Overall Dual Sport Motorcycles 2024 article.

Related: 2024 Yamaha TW200 First Look Preview

Yamaha really hasn’t changed all that much on this funky dual sport over the decades (2001 saw the addition of an electric start), and it soldiers on with a simple, air-cooled 196cc single-cylinder with a mild-mannered power delivery that won’t scare off any new riders, and still proves to be a hoot for returning riders; we were impressed by the T-Dub’s torque character when we rode it last year. A 1.8-gallon fuel tank doesn’t sound like much, but given the TW’s claimed 78 mpg rating and low 278-pound wet weight, you’ll be going a lot farther than you might expect. And the distinctive 18-inch front and 14-inch balloon rear tires are guaranteed to draw stares every time you ride by someone.

Just don’t expect top-shelf components; you’ll find a plain-Jane 33mm telescopic fork up front and a single shock out back, both nonadjustable, and attached to an oddly sized 18/14-inch aluminum wheel combo. The combination of a front tire with a tall sidewall and 6.3 inches of travel from the fork mean bumps are fairly well-absorbed, which goes double for the superfat 14-inch tire and 5.9 inches of travel out back. With a low center of gravity, light weight, and oversize tires, stability and reliability are the name of the game. The TW’s brake setup is even simpler still, with a single 220mm disc up front and a drum rear brake, and you won’t find a single LED light on the bike. And none of that diminishes the TW200′s charm.

For 2025, you can get the TW200 in any color, as long as its Gallant Gray. The bike is already in dealers and carries an MSRP of $4,999, which is the same as its 2024 price.