Why does this motorcycle have such fat tires?

Yamaha TW200

Because it's awesome?

Seriously, there's a lot of love out there for the TW200. It might be my favorite dual-purpose utility bike, assuming you don't need to go more than 60 mph or so.

I just came across it by accident. I like it. I just wasn't sure what it is geared towards as compared to other dual purpose bikes.

Trailway 200.

It's very stable on trails and you can ride sand with it.

People like to do this

And this

To them.

Suzuki also has a similar bike.

When the government decided 3-wheelers were too unsafe to be sold, the obvious solution for improving their safety was to remove one of the wheels.

They actually are extremely good trail bikes. Horrible on hard stuff and water. Tend to not want to turn and float repectively.

For hill climbs they are very good and in mud and sand even better.

Honda had a more extreme version call the Fat Cat. Not the most nimble but it would go straight up the side of a hill no problem.

Well if you go a little knobbier and gear it down a bit ....

In reply to 914Driver:

Love the double reduction and the chain linked front break!

The front brake is actually front wheel drive.

That's not a chain linked front brake. That's powering the front wheels. Rokons are 2wd.

TW's are fun, a friend had one for a year or so.

In reply to FlightService:

That chain on the front is for the front wheel drive. It is a Rokon. The wheels can be filled with extra fuel or water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55VWrsYgqXU

I have a '73 Suzuki RV90:

Fat tired bikes aren't much for competition or anything like that, but are good for fooling around in sand or mud.

Thats cool!! Must be electric I see no drive shaft.

drive shaft runs inside the upper frame rail to a sprag (original they used same sprag as 727 torque flight) this allows some slip. then thought then neck. Neat bikes loads of accessory were available like welders, water pumps, fire pumps etc. hunters love'm..

coolness

Apparently the performance set has an option too

You see a lot of TW200's on racks behind motorhomes.

mt bike version, the surly pugsley:

That surly idea isn't new, Heck, I had one of these (parents bought new),

1982 Schwinn Sidewinder with 2.25" tires

Looks like the tires are having an allergic reation to a bee sting.

stuart in mn wrote: I have a '73 Suzuki RV90: Fat tired bikes aren't much for competition or anything like that, but are good for fooling around in sand or mud.

I remember these back in the day. A friend had one. Could get those big tires bouncing, especially the front riding 2-up. Great in the loose stuff. His brother had a Honda Trial 90. This handled the beach sand better and was the only way it would beat my Suzuki TS185 Enduro I rode back then.

i <3 the Pugsley. It's on my pedal bucket list.

In reply to mndsm:

I'll take mine with a 7-speed internal Nexus hub please!

mndsm wrote: i <3 the Pugsley. It's on my pedal bucket list.

What's a pedal bucket?

The TW200 is practically the national bike of Japan. You see them all over the place here in Tokyo. People tend to strip the side covers off and stuff. They're skinny enough to lane split between the cars in Tokyo traffic.