Shocked, but not really. it's FAR cheaper and they geared the test towards shorter, less experienced riders. Honda is an obvious win.
...here's an interesting little bit of info from Kalahni Prince. Check your skidplate bolts... I know I will... :eek1 <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/T8iUtEt2i9w" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>
Yea.. that's funny... Rider Magazine just did the review too (as I posted earlier) and they obviously are a better source than this CycleNews..
I'm taking a group out to the CO. river to go riding this weekend......one of them has a brand new CRF250L......I'll hop on board his bike and take it for a spin/report back.......I tried to steer him into a used WRR when he was on the hunt for a new set of wheels.......but he wanted to buy new, he's vertically challenged at ~5'7", and he bleeds red (coming over to dualsport from a XR400)...........couldn't sway him......he also wanted to spend the new cost difference on personal gear/bike farkles.......which is probably fairly common..... So I'll see what kind of dog the CRF250L really is......and briefly spoil him with my 350XCF-W
Would mind seeing what they had to say about the Honda and the Kawaski in that same article. Although the author loses some credibility by calling these bikes Midweight Entry Level Dual Sports made for Girls. Just goes to show that lots of folks still don't "Get" these bikes.
A coworker of mine is hot for a Beta 350 and is selling his WRR. Details: a 2012 with less than 900 miles. Some sort of fatbars with the OE Yamaha mounts, Cycra Probends w/ guards. The Zeta small taillight conversion kit. I think it has some more dirt worthy tires on it, but they are still DOT approved. Bike has been mostly a commuter & just ridden off-road a couple of times. He wants $5K. We are a Yamaha dealer so I'm sure we can help with financing.
They said the same thing about the XR250R's in the '80s. A couple months later they call it a "great woods bike" and do a "How to build a Woods Weapon" article. Next they post their race results proudly. All this on the same bike they started out calling a girls bike.... They are like politicians in many ways too. They get nice SWAG from companys and such. You can't believe what they print... You need to read between the lines...
I think they should rate the bikes without considering price as a factor, show their strengths and weaknesses, and just show the prices of all three side by side. The consumer will decide. Also does FI add much weight? I know carbs can be responsive and fun, maybe just not the way the klx is?
I have been very pleased with my WR-R in the three years and 22K miles I've had it. But I also have to agree with the article's argument about price point for the majority of riders who're in the market for this kind of bike. Comparing MSRP, the Honda is roughly 2/3 the price with capable features, including EFI. Any way you slice it that's a good deal, IMO. That's almost $2,200 to put into the farkles that any bike is going to need. I paid $5,770 out the door for my WR-R new in 2010 and thought that was high at the time. The one factor that went into my buying decision which wasn't addressed in the "shootout" article was the low maintenance and durability of the WR-R. Honda has the reputation of being bulletproof and low maintenance as well, but that hasn't been proved with this model as yet. Were I buying today, I'd definitely give the Honda a serious look. Having competition can't help but improve the quality and price point for all the 250 DS bikes, IMO.
Has anybody really paid $6690 OTD for a WR250R? Mine was $5700 OTD back in 2008. Maybe these magazine guys need to find a new dealership for price quotes...
Last summer I cheked with about a dozen dealers in SoCal on a new 2012 WRR. The best quote I got was at $7K OTD. I really wanted an X, and couldn't find a new one (only R's), so when I found an X with 800 miles from a local guy, I went that route.
'zactly...really, you have to go take a well informed physical look at both bikes. I'd have been real interested in the Honda too if I knew not. But I've seen one and it looks right, has all the right consumer points including pricepoint. But it isn't what the Yamaha is in reality. It just isn't. It's a toy in comparison, but hopefully a typical Honda-reliable toy. One mo' time jus sayiin'.,, Smart money buys a clean low-mileage used WR as a base to build on over a new Honda whatchacallit.
OK heres something for those of you who know this forum.... what is the best hand gaurds out there and what thread would i see them on ??? '12 250r thanks .......
You're doing the internet wrong. Because it's not the bike you have and it competes with the bike you own you are supposed to talk shit about it.