To Sell or Not to Sell?!?!?! (WEE->TW200 dilemma)

I've had my 2009 wee for about a year now....and i just don't ride it nearly as much as i thought i would. It had 15 miles when i brought it home....it's still under 1,000. I LOVE when i get to ride, but it just doesn't happen as much as i thought it would.
I'm having my first baby....and all that goes with that....so i don't see the situation improving.
Anyway.....

The dilemma is, I'll always want to have SOMETHING to ride....in case i get the chance, etc. My logic is...I've always wanted a TW200....it's cheap....it's fun....and it's something that IF it DID end up sitting for a while, I wouldn't feel like i had this big nice motorcycle that i was neglecting. Just a neat, fun, scooter that I didn't get to ride all that much.

Does anybody see where i'm coming from?!?! is this making sense to anyone but me?!?!

Suggestions?

thanks,
Matt

ps. If i do sell the Wee, i'm considering riding it (last ride) to the buyer anywhere in the states. i'm a teacher so i'll have the summer off. good or bad idea?!?!

I understand where you are coming from. If i was in your situation and the money was ok i would keep the wee and use it to commute to work or daily errands (i.e, gas prices)

I feel like i'd be much more apt to ride the smaller TW to work. I teach in a school that's MAYBE a mile.....about 2-3 minutes drive from where i live. (out of the neighborhood, down 'main' street, turn into the parking lot. repeat to head home)

I think i had ideas of grandeur about month long summer road trips, etc.....and that's just not going to be a reality for me. pulling a family camper with a bike/scooter in the bed of the truck for when we get there is much more feasible.

and i've always got that ''Wish I always had one of my own'' feelings about the TW.

I may be coming off as one of those people that loves/needs constant affirmation that i'm making the right call......i assure you....this is normal.

Matt

It sounds like you have lost interest in the wee. When that happens to me I only have to rationalize my next move to myself. So do what makes you think you will be happy! Also All the teachers in our state are getting laid off...teaching bussiness is down I guess???

Hap

The TW is a fun little bike... I have one. Not much fun on the roadway though. Putting around in town is ok but the highway is pretty much out of the question at least for any distance.

That's another thing that concerns me...the highway.
We live right off i70 just east of KC, MO. There are plenty of back (read gravel) roads to get from point a to point b.....but the Wee did so well on the open road. But again, that's just the part of me thinking i'm going to be a world traveler.
Realistically, putting around town will probably be it for a while. And a campsite putt around during the summer.

Thanks for the replies guys.

keep any input or experiences coming.

matt

Best -- and trite -- answer I think is that you need to "define the mission or missions" If that mission includes things that the Wee can do, but the TW-200 can't, then getting rid of the Wee wouldn't make sense. If it's pretty much overlap, you've already made the investment in the Wee, so holding onto it is presumably a low cost resolution.

If there's things you want to do that the TW-200 can but the Wee supposely can't, I'd first look to see whether the problem can be solved either by some practice (ie, if it's around town, spend parking lot time getting more comfy with the Wee, as you don't have a lot of miles on it) or by farkles (ie, side cases if you need an ability to carry stuff).

From experience, I suggest you don't want to jump simply because right now the TW-200 seems like an attractive option, only to find a year out, after spending money, that it doesn't do well some things that you like doing with the Wee, and that in the future, you have to spend even more upgrading your bike to now do new things.

On the other hand, New Bike Day is fun!!!

I thought a TW would be good for around town and my 10 mile one way commute, but the thing was too slow for around here and I was just begging to get run over.:eek1

I can't afford to put gas in my truck and go moto-camping like I had wanted to...bye bye, TeeDub, had to pay taxes...

I own a DL650 Wee-Strom and my wife has an XT225 (very similar engine to a TW). I can start my FI bike and ride it within seconds and it runs perfect.... the wifes old school designed air cooled engine requires a good 5-10 minutes to warm up before it will even make it out of the driveway. I ride her bike on occasion, its fun. But most of the time, I could be at the store, get stuff and be back home before her bike is finished warming up. Do you want to make a 5minute trip 15minutes???

The other concern is theft :eek1. I can grab her bike and through it into the back of a truck (no ramps) in seconds.... the DL is almost 500lbs with fuel, it sits in the parking lot all day and I'm not worried.

YMMV

I don't see anything wrong with your thinking personally. If the Wee isn't doing it for you currently and is collecting dust, but a smaller, simpler bike will get more use, go for it. TWs are quite fun, I wouldn't mind having one and actually if I ever stumble into a decent deal on a used one would buy it in a heartbeat. For the fun factor alone, plus I have a junior rider looking to acquire her license (yes, I'm hunting for justifications where ever possible to stuff another bike in the shop...) I have a sweet little TLR200 that is similar in intent/purpose and I love bopping around on the little bugger, just too much fun. Plus it's exhaust is sooo quiet it's practically stealth. Being a kicker only not sure the kid will actually use it to commute though.

Good luck with your decision. Only you can make this choice........

Not to throw any more kinks in your plan, but my dad has an XT 250. (2009 I think, FI, and electric start). Sweet.... I feel too big at 6'2" but I rode it all around Moab last weekend and it's no problem to load into my Avalanche. So small, so light, awesome disc brakes (better rear then the Multi!!!), I think the TW has drums??, anyway, another option, it will run 65 mph and is smooth and scooter like yet has decent off road capability. Not a WR but still fun. My wife and I can load up (probably pushing 400 lbs in gear) and ride the La Sal loop at above the speed limit, I sure like the reliability of the air cooled motor.

Thanks for all of the replies and suggestions.

I guess i'm in the process of tracking down some of these bikes talked about and 'throwing a leg over them' to see what they feel like. With a 30 inch inseam, the WEE's high seat can be troublesome for garage movement at times, but we'll see how it compares to the others...as i find them at dealers.

i'm still leaning toward the tw200, or similar, as i feel i just don't utilize the capabilities often enough to justify 1. the cost (monthly payment) and 2. parking a nice, capable bike that somebody else could be rippin' and roarin' on.

i'll keep looking and trying to ride some of the smaller stuff mentioned, and i'll try to post back with what i find.

if you happen upon this thread, feel free to reply and leave some input.

thanks,
Matt

look at the WR250 R/X. reliable, FI, Liquid cooled, can do interstate, maintenance is fairly simple (probably more complicated than a TW though). If you get the X it is a HOOT to ride around town, puts a smile on my face every time I ride it even if it only a two mile ride. **Disclamer: Shameless plug for my BIL** I'm in tx but know of a well kitted out R for sale in COMO. PM me if you are interested and I will put you in touch.

D

Edit, I see you are shorter. The WR can be comfortably lowered quite a bit

If its that much trouble, why dont you do the misses a favour and rejet her bike, so it will run properly? Probably just a tad up in idle jet and/or adjust Co screw.

My ac cooled bike is about to turn 90.000km with unopened engine, and no oiluse, nothing bad about being simple.

When I had my first child, I did not have time to ride anymore. I stored one bike and kept the Kawasaki KE 100. I had three children so it stayed that way for many years.

In a few years just buy another one.

+1

did without a bike for a little while when #2 was born. didn't hurt at all to sell two bikes and have none. now they're raising cane running through the house, trampling flowers, tearing up things, and it's perfectly fine to have two bikes again.

it's not like all the bikes are going to disappear off the face of the earth if you don't have one a while. :) give it time

If I lived that close to work, I'd walk. There's no way I'd start up anything I valued and ride/drive it for a mile and shut it off twice a day. I live a mile from the light rail station and I walk it every day, regardless of the weather.

So, I'll give you $3k for the Wee, gas money to get it here and a Greyhound ticket home!

exactly.

Msollars....if the TW200 is pulling at you...do it!.You definetly wouldn't want to go on the Interstates with it,or anyother light weight bike...you'll get blown around....the TW200 engine could handle it,but,it's too light.Hopefully this helps out someone?.....most folks think they "need" a larger displacement bike if they are not touring...you won't.Different story if you live primarily/commute on interstates...go for a dedicated street bike then.Rejet the TW,shim the needle and 2.5 out approx. on the pilot screw...your good to go!.

If you are going to ride on the street at all definetely look at the WR250R and/or WR250X. If height is an issue the XT250 is the way to go.