The Yamaha TW125 is one of the oddities of the motorcycling world. It’s short, rides high and defines the term underpowered. Where most world markets got the 196 cc TW200, the 125 cc TW125 was available primarily for the Japanese market, and despite its anemic 11.8 hp, the smaller T-dub provides the same fat-tire fun for the frugal-minded.
The TW125 fell off Yamaha’s roster around 2004, but its enduring air-cooled engine and bullet-proof standard components keep it relevant as a quirky custom donor. There’s no wilder and more carefree machine than one with fat tires, as these Yamaha TW125 custom builds from around the world prove.
Dumbador is a small workshop based in San Sebastián, the Spanish city that sits on the Atlantic coastline of the Basque Country. And like a lot of the most interesting work these days, it’s from a part-time shop run by hobbyists who work full-time elsewhere during the day. ‘Boo’ is a Yamaha TW, and we’re…
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Yamaha’s diminutive TW125 has become something of a cult classic in the world of custom motorcycles. It’s easy to see why: this humble farm bike exudes an honest charm that’s hard to ignore. Dimitri Chaussinand certainly gets it. Despite owning a perfectly good Triumph Speed Triple, Dimitri (AKA Dinamax) decided to buy and customize a…
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The Yamaha TW125 is one of the oddities of the motorcycling world. It’s short, high-ridin’ and underpowered. It doesn’t sound promising—but over the past 15 years, the TW125 has built up a strong fan base. And if you’ve ridden a fat-tired TW over the sand dunes, you’ll know how much fun it can be. Despite…
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Some motorcycles just scream fun. Before the Honda Grom there was the Yamaha TW125: A low-riding dual-sport bike that can’t decide if it belongs on the beach or the farm. With low gearing and big tires, it’s also at home on potholed city streets—as Maximilian Funk has found. The TW has been around since the…
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