2009 Yamaha TT-R230 Review

Introduction

Created to be ridded by both father and son, today’s interest bike relies on its 223cc air-cooled SOHC 4-stroke, 2 valves engine to provide sufficient power for all the tough situations that might be encountered out on the trails and still be enough docile for teenagers to “make their hands” on.

With 11.6 inches of ground clearance and long travel suspension, TT-R230’s chassis is truly able of backing the engine up when needed, making it one-of-a-kind in that concern. Also, the push button electric starter makes life easier on it without worrying engineers that much about weight as this is not a competition bike.

History

2001 Yamaha TT-R225

First introduced in 2005, the Yamaha TT-R230 was there to substitute the old TT-R225, a bike that had long craved for improvement. It was practically a renewed TT-R225, but Yamaha decided that the change to the name would individualize the new machine and start a new chapter in trail riding.

What set it off was the reinvented chassis that made it compact, easier and implicit more user-friendly. It was Yamaha’s new idea for this market section and results soon came as there have also been design changes such as the flat seat/tank junction which allowed the rider to sit closer to the tank and so be more in control.

The engine was and still is an electrically-started 223cc air-cooled, SOHC, 4-stroke perfectly tuned for delivering great power and torque all across the powerband. Mated to a 6-speed gearbox, there was nothing bad to be said about the new TT-R and we found ourselves in the same situation today.

Yamaha hasn’t planned significant improvements for the TT-R230 apart from decal changes inspired on YZ racing models.
 

Competition

2009 Honda CRF230F

THE best and only alternative for the Blue and White thumper features Red instead of Blue and it is damn threatening. Introducing the 2009 Honda CRF230F!

These two are like twins. With a 223cc air-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke, SOHC; two-valve engine and six-speed tranny, the Honda has similar performance and expectations to the Yamaha. Also electrically started, compact and featuring long-travel suspension to cover up the 11.7 inches ground clearance there are all the chances for you to get into a dilemma related to these two. My advice is to buy with your heart as no choice is best or worse. Looking at the prices won’t do any good as the Honda comes with the same base MSRP as the Yamaha.

Exterior

2009 Yamaha TT-R230

Motorcycle manufacturers have the talent of making a bike look great even though initially it isn’t expected to be a trend setter. This is also the case as our bike as it isn’t destined to the track, but it still manages to look aggressive and get its share of admirers. How does it achieve that? It takes its bigger racing siblings example and looks sleek and angry as much as its chassis allows it. Remember that it had to have a low seat and that implies design sacrifices.

It so comes with competition-style flat seat/tank junction and aggressive plastics, making it not only ergonomically great, but also visually attractive. You can’t get any better than that unless you add the Team Yamaha Blue/White coloring.

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