Yamaha TT-R230 Questions & Answers

Ours was purchased 2017, and it was an option, i.e. you could buy it with or without the headlight. Is yours the road registerable model (blinkers, brake lights etc) or the newer models? The new headlight is LED and to be honest isn't much chop. I had to make two brackets so i could adjust the angle so it didn't point in the sky .

See Ricky's question below. Check kill switch.

Spray the starter solenoid with WD40.

They help keep abrasive mud and grit out of the seals and bearing surfaces of the forks. The forks will leak oil and wear out sooner if you ride with them off.
Some parts of bikes look dumb but do an important job.
You can't see them when you ride so why worry?
Leave them on IMO.

You have to diagnose what is causing the problem. Think logically. Could be that one circuit in the switch is faulty. Spray inside the switch with WD40 or similar stuff and turn the switch off and on a few times. Wiggle and bump the switch to see if it is the problem, most times the wires never stuff up as they are just wires nothing to go wrong really. Very, very common for motorcycle switches to get corroded due to the water they are exposed to, they have a hard life. (eg: A cars switches are inside, where it's nice and dry and clean.) If not a Yamaha shop should find the problem easily, there might be common problem with TTRs.

Luckily I also have a 2016 TTR. So I started trading out electric parts until my 2008 TTR would start. Turns out it was my CDI Unit Assy, which is the Capacitor. After finding out which part it was, I just blew out the connectors and plugged the old one in again and it seems to have fixed the problem. I'm so glad the part works after cleaning the connectors, because a new Capacitor is 300.00.

I'm pretty sure that NO TTR230s have a kickstart.
My electric start has been 100% reliable.
I'd much rather have a simple magneto bike with a kick start, but sometimes you have to go with the flow.
Keep the battery charged and buy them from somewhere with a good turnover.

You can get a kick start for the 230 however personally have never once needed it electric wa solidly built no water leaks or anything and trust me I have sunk the bike numerous times

Yes there is.
A TTR250 is a more modern design, it is more powerful and is a physically bigger, taller bike than a TTR230.
A TTR250 would be faster on the road.
A TTR230 is great for vertically challenged people, if you're taller buy either.

That is really strange. I have been on and off mine for a while now, it hasn't missed a beat. If it is new, take it back and get them to check it. Could be something simple like dirty fuel, but i would also check to see there is oil, the battery is charged etc. Will it start with the choke on?

Read your owners manual to check the start procedure. You may have a switch around the wrong way. Do you have petrol in the tank?
If all else fails contact the dealer.

My old XT500 did this when the carb slide was worn. It was OK when hot so I never worried about it. If there's no air leaks ( sounds like an air leak but if it runs OK when warm then I think it's the carb worn) just make sure the air filter has no holes in it and is oiled. Also be sure that whoever drilled the jet knew what they were doing and didn't stuff something up with carb/rubber assembly. Also seal the rim of the filter with a coat of grease so there's no air (and dust) bypass. It all depends on whether the bike has had a lot of use/abuse from previous owners. I find these bikes kinda temperamental when starting, also see the other question below.

Thanks for the input! Turns out the diaphragm on the left side of the carb had the metal cap pinching the rubber diaphragm and probably causing an air leak. Fixed that. Then the rubber o-ring between the head and the intake seemed like it wasn't sealing very well, so I put a very light coat of sealant in that connection. That could have been an air leak as well. Lastly, the carb to intake manifold has a notch to align, I think this might have been off a bit so I fixed that also. The bike has very few hours so I figured it had to be something other than heavy wear, like on the slide. At any rate it now runs like a new bike again! Thanks again! Steve

Symptoms like this can occur if the pilot jet is blocked. Especially common if the bike has sat around unused for a few weeks/months.
I always turn off the fuel and run the engine until it stops. Using a fuel stabiliser helps too.
My TTR is pretty susceptible to this even after these precautions. May be design of the carb or small diameter of the jet orifice.
Try draining the carb of old fuel and then running it for a couple of minutes. Don't run it too long like that or you can damage the engine.
If it doesn't clear then you will need to see someone who is qualified to clean out the pilot jet. Avoid tossers. Shouldn't be expensive if the bike has no other issues.

If you mean break in your new bike it takes about a week if you ride it enough

Depends what you want to use it for, for a race bike about 10 mins, if you want it to last probably a day or more. I ran in ours for a week, then used full synthetic oil, had no problems.
There's a theory that run in engines are slower because the bore wear ridge limits revs to the run in revs.

Go to a Yamaha dealer or ask an owner if you can sit on their bike, I'm sure they won't mind.
Remember wearing boots you will be taller, and if you are growing (and a good rider) you may get away with a bike being a bit too high.
Many people can't touch the ground with two feet on modern dirtbikes, but manage OK.

IN Australia some TTRs came with lights and compliance and can be registered no probs. Lights can be fitted to most bikes but registration laws for your area need to be checked.

Pretty sure the current model doesn't have a compliance plate, but the earlier ones did.

Mine didn't either you have to buy all of these separately

It's cheaper if you are not going to be paying for lights you don't need.

Two models, one with headlight (no other lights), the cheaper model doesn't have the light.

Depends on how long each ride is, id give it 5-10 hours.

It has 6 gears, 1down and 5 up.

After having my TTR230 for a couple of years I do not recommend buying this bike, go buy a Honda crf230 or even 150... DO NOT BUY A YAMAHA. My bike is broke because of the the way it is designed with the chain and sprockets and the Pistons.......... BUY A HONDA. Trust me just buy a Honda

Great simple little bike. We have had ours for 8 years and no problems other than a broken indicator. Like another guy says, do a few exhaust and airbox mods and Bob's your uncle.