Yamaha TW200
The first 1987 TW200, Japan code 2JL, paired a slim trail-bike body with unusually wide 18-inch front and 14-inch rear tyres, creating Yamaha's distinctive adventure-trail formula.
Yamaha TW200 family; year and market unverified · Justin Rocha · CC BY-SA 2.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Yamaha's later histories identify 1987 as the TW200's debut. The exact Japanese type is 2JL; the detailed factory scan located here covers related export 2JY/2JX models, so its dimensions and running gear remain explicitly qualified. A modified TW200 reached the North Pole in April 1987, an impressive period demonstration but not a stock production specification.
Look a little closer.
Yamaha calls it an adventure trail; the polar-expedition machine was real but modified, so its feat belongs in the story rather than the stock specification table.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
What the giant tyres change
A wide tyre spreads load and can float better on soft ground at trail speeds. The 14-inch rear rim leaves a tall sidewall that can flex around obstacles. It is not magic traction: pressure, tread and surface still matter, and rotating mass can slow steering response.
Source: Yamaha TW200T/TC factory service manual ↗Three different TW200 stories
The target showroom machine is Japan's 2JL. The detailed manual is for related export 2JY/2JX. The North Pole motorcycle was modified for an expedition. Keeping these layers separate preserves the useful engineering data and the remarkable story without claiming they describe one identical stock bike.
Source: Yamaha North Pole expedition archive ↗Where these facts come from
- Yamaha 2000 TW200 model-change release
- Yamaha 2001 Tokyo Motor Show TW200/225 release
- Yamaha TW200T/TW200TC factory service manual
- Webike 1987 TW200 model record
- Yamaha Shinji Kazama North Pole expedition
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 3, 2026.