Yamaha WR250R Mega Thread

[Rider_WV]

Originally Posted by GSBS

Have you considered going to the larger 4.75-gallon IRC tank. I bet you could recoup much of the cost toward the larger tank by selling your 3.1.

I've had mine for a few months now and would never go back to carrying gas. It just seems silly to me now.

My low fuel light typically comes on between 175 and 200 miles and due to the different placement of the fuel pump/sensor, I've still got nearly 1.5 gallons when the light comes on with this tank. To simplify things I just plan on filling up every 225 miles and I have plenty of cushion.

The bike's handling is hardly compromised with the larger tank either. In fact, it's exactly the same size between your legs and only the wings stick out at the front.

To deal with the extra weight of the gas I just make sure I fill up at least a hundred miles before whatever trail I'm going to ride. Then the weight is about the same as with the stock tank filled up to 2 gallons.

Anyway, to me, carrying 1.5 or 2 gallons of fuel on one side using a rear rack is much more of a compromise in balance than the same amount of fuel in the fuel tank that is centered to the bike. And most of the additional fuel is carried low in the wings.

I couldn't be happier with the big IMS tank. It was the final missing piece of the puzzle to make this a great DS, do-anything, go-anywhere bike!

My 2¢

i agree 100%

yes there is some fuel slosh in tighter slow speed stuff with the 4.7gal, it is noticeable in certain situations. Its not a deal breaker for me, I enjoy riding and not worrying about gas.

If I am riding very technical WV/OH singletrack I leave the WR at home and take the YZ. Its more fun in really nasty stuff. Hell I wouldnt even take the WR on our good single track with the stock tank. too bulky, too heavy and too much work.

[IdahoRenegade]

With regard to the fuel sloshing issue in large tanks, has anyone tried the fuel tank foam? http://www.evomx.com/fuel-tank-foam-information/

I'd like the big IMS tank for some of our longer rides, gas stations are few and far between in parts of N. Idaho. I'm wondering if that stuff works w/o causing problems for the fuel pump or level sensor. I'd hate to have to take it back out of a tank once it was stuffed in.

[trav72]

Originally Posted by GSBS

The bike's handling is hardly compromised with the larger tank either. In fact, it's exactly the same size between your legs and only the wings stick out at the front.

Again, this is not accurate. I addressed the handling difference in a previous post. But also, the tank is noticeably wider than stock. In fact, if you are standing and riding in technical terrain, your knees will bounce off the tank constantly. Make sure you are wearing knee pads.

Originally Posted by GSBS

Then the weight is about the same as with the stock tank filled up to 2 gallons.

The weight may be close, but then you get lots of fuel sloshing from all the empty space.

Originally Posted by Rider_WV

If I am riding very technical WV/OH singletrack I leave the WR at home and take the YZ. Its more fun in really nasty stuff. Hell I wouldnt even take the WR on our good single track with the stock tank. too bulky, too heavy and too much work.

That's great if you have a YZ at home and are riding local. Not very practical if you're far away and/or only have a WRR.

I'm glad those that have the IMS 4.75 are happy with them. But these kind of statements are misleading to someone thinking about purchasing one. It may be great for long distance or wide open spaces, but for anything tight or technical, you're going to notice a difference. Whether that be handling or ergonomically. It just depends on the type of riding you plan on doing are worth the compromises with the big tank.

[trav72]

Originally Posted by IdahoRenegade

With regard to the fuel sloshing issue in large tanks, has anyone tried the fuel tank foam? http://www.evomx.com/fuel-tank-foam-information/

I'd like the big IMS tank for some of our longer rides, gas stations are few and far between in parts of N. Idaho. I'm wondering if that stuff works w/o causing problems for the fuel pump or level sensor. I'd hate to have to take it back out of a tank once it was stuffed in.

I was going to get some of that before I found someone to trade tanks with. I hear from some people that use it that it works great. Others say they would never put that in their tanks. But I suspect they've never tried it.

[skierd]

Unless you ride like a maniac when traveling, you're gonna average the same 55ish mpg you probably do now, if not better. I averaged closer to 65mpg on the tat for a variety of reasons, mainly taking a leisurely sightseeing pace.

I get not wanting fuel up high, so don't fill it up till you need it out west. Towns are only 90ish miles apart in the east and I managed fine on the stock tank through to salida never touching my extra gas. Keep the 3.1, buy a 1gal or a 2gal jerry can in Oklahoma just in case, and bungee it to the tailrack for the western portion.

Keep in mind too that the tat is more road than trail, its about distances and endurance not technical terrain. Stop worrying so much. ;) you're not going to find 1000s of miles of singletrack track and downed trees, hell I went most of a week without seeing a tree lol.

Originally Posted by SR1

Skierd, as far as putting it on "where everyone else does" (I already have a plate on the rear fender I could attach it to), I really don't want to have 1-2 gallons that high up. the side mount moves it lower, and yes, the "understandable" reason is THE reason I'm not keen on adding the Woflman rack. More money thrown.

I may just switch to the 4.7 gallon tank and call it good. (prepping for TAT next year, don't want to run dry)

General concerns are:
-I plan to upgrade the exhaust prior to the TAT trip and won't have empirical data on fuel economy with my gearing (13/47),
-Basically I have to step off an airplane, spin the wrenches to finalize my WR for the trip, and get started in 3-7 days (its already close)
-I don't want the bike to become topheavy because I put a 1 or 2 gallon jug at the top rear of the bike on a plate
---Benefit to this is it makes lifting the front wheel over trees slightly easier.
-I don't want to pay for the Wolfman racks, I don't see a big need for that expense.

On the other hand, if I add the 4.7 gallon tank (essentially just for the TAT, then resell it), ability to lift the front wheel may be compromised some, but it does lower and center the additional weight...

Hmmm...

[GSBS]

Originally Posted by trav72

Again, this is not accurate. I addressed the handling difference in a previous post. But also, the tank is noticeably wider than stock. In fact, if you are standing and riding in technical terrain, your knees will bounce off the tank constantly. Make sure you are wearing knee pads.



The weight may be close, but then you get lots of fuel sloshing from all the empty space.



That's great if you have a YZ at home and are riding local. Not very practical if you're far away and/or only have a WRR.

I'm glad those that have the IMS 4.75 are happy with them. But these kind of statements are misleading to someone thinking about purchasing one. It may be great for long distance or wide open spaces, but for anything tight or technical, you're going to notice a difference. Whether that be handling or ergonomically. It just depends on the type of riding you plan on doing are worth the compromises with the big tank.

So are you really saying that you think hanging a Rotopax, plus the weight of a rack to hold it, with a couple of gallons of gas on the left side is going to improve handing over the larger IMS tank?

I never said the IMS tank makes the WR into the ideal woods weapon for single track or full-out racing. If I wanted a race bike, I doubt I'd buy a DS bike like the WR.

But for a DS bike you can take into places you wouldn't want to take a larger DS bike, plus still have the range and versatility and reliability of the WR, the IMS completed the package for me.

[skierd]

Ps the first long stretch without gas is boise city Oklahoma to Trinidad. 155 miles, made it on the stock tank... its also the first real technical portion with the climb out of phantom canyon but if the weights really bugging you it should be far enough in to dump most of the spare fuel in the tank. Ymmv and all that

[trav72]

Originally Posted by GSBS

So are you really saying that you think hanging a Rotopax, plus the weight of a rack to hold it, with a couple of gallons of gas on the left side is going to improve handing over the larger IMS tank?
.

No, what I was "really saying" were the statements stating that the 4.75 is "exactly the same size between your legs and only the wings stick out at the front" or that it doesn't affect handling are just not accurate for someone thinking about purchasing it. That's all.

[The Breeze]

My $0.02,

Just got back from a mini TAT (Utah and Colorado) and a full CDR trip. My intake/exhaust, etc. is bone stock. Twice I filled up the tank up, at the end of the day, and put in 3.7 gallons of gas (3.69 and 3.72 to be exact!). Ya, the 3.7 gallon Safari would have brought me in on fumes.....but I would have been stressing the entire day. Was really glad I had the 4.7 gallon IMS........worked like a champ Nothing against Safari tanks....I have the 9 gallon fuel tanker on my DR650 . It's not a matter of brand, it's a matter of capacity.

For what it's worth, I'd either get the 4.7 gallon IMS....and never worry about fuel, or stick with your current setup and get a 2 gallon bladder from Justgastanks and rokstrap it to the back of your bike (full on the longer stretches and rolled/stowed on the shorter stretches).

Regarding weight... if the Rotopax is full (+ the weight of the Wolfman rack), it's probably going to weigh as much, if not more, than the 4.7 IMS when full... If it's not full, it seems like a lot of stuff to be lugging around without any purpose. If I was dead set on a Rotopax, I'd mount it to the tailrack (I know it sits higher....but it saves you from adding the bulk/weight of a Wolfman rack). Just my opinion.

FWIW, the toughest single/double track/no track!, I experienced on the trip, was in Black Dragon Wash....didn't even notice that the 4.7 gallon tank/fuel was there.

I think that this whole tank size/weight issue is a matter of perspective....If you're coming from a 650cc dual sport bike (which I was) or bigger, the WR with a 4.7 gallon tank seems really lightweight, small, and nimble..... If you're coming from a 250cc, full on dirt bike, and ride primarily single track, then the WR with a 4.7 gallon tank seems big, bulky, and heavy.

For me, I hate worrying about fuel....

[Pantah]

Originally Posted by trav72

I was going to get some of that before I found someone to trade tanks with. I hear from some people that use it that it works great. Others say they would never put that in their tanks. But I suspect they've never tried it.

Is there really that much sloshing going on in those winged tanks? I have a Safari and the wings are pretty thin. The only place there seems to be enough volume for sloshing is the top where the stock fuel cell would sit.

Seems a bigger concern than an actual problem.

[Cycle Sector]

Not sure if you guys saw my GPR Group Buy thread but through this week we have mega savings on GPR dampers for the WR250R'X's. Please shoot me a message if you are interested in one!

[ironbrewer]

Originally Posted by The Breeze

I think that this whole tank size/weight issue is a matter of perspective....If you're coming from a 650cc dual sport bike (which I was) or bigger, the WR with a 4.7 gallon tank seems really lightweight, small, and nimble..... If you're coming from a 250cc, full on dirt bike, and ride primarily single track, then the WR with a 4.7 gallon tank seems big, bulky, and heavy.

For me, I hate worrying about fuel....

I have to agree. In August I rode my KLR650 fully loaded with camping gear etc about 1200 miles around Colorado. It did great, but was a heavy pig. I picked up my new to me WR250r in Sacramento, and rode it home. It already had the IMS 4.7 gallon tank. I put on Wolfman racks and drybag panniers, plus a dry bag on top. I road Highway, slickrock(with the gear off), La Sal, Engineer, and Imogene passes. It was a great way to get used to a new bike. The WR250r, geared up with a 4.7 gallon tank felt way lighter than my KLR650 did without gear.

[DougZ73]

Originally Posted by Pantah

Is there really that much sloshing going on in those winged tanks? I have a Safari and the wings are pretty thin. The only place there seems to be enough volume for sloshing is the top where the stock fuel cell would sit.

Seems a bigger concern than an actual problem.

In terms of the tank and the sloshing, I can attest to the effect, being one of the guys that rides with Trav most weekends. When he goes form one weekend with the smaller tank and me trying my best to keep up with him, to the following weekend with his bigger tank and more fuel, and me actually being ahead of him in the trail..it is having an obvious affect on his riding.

What people have to understand, whether it be the fuel sloshing issue, stock tires or stock rear shock..what is fine for 95% of people that ride the bike, is not fine for the other 5% of us that push the bike and the riding to the limits. Are we expecting too much from our dual sport bikes....probably..but that does not change the fact that these are the bikes we have and what we ride, whether its a weekend of tight technical whooped out sand riding, or a leasurely 200 mile loop of dirt roads we could easily do in car.

The truth is, if we could have small light easy to ride MX/2 stroke bikes to ride in the stuff we do....we would..and we'd save the WR for the easier riding dual sport trips. But, we need the bikes to be legal, do it all bikes, and take care of us on the trial, but then do just as well when we have to jump on the highway and have the same bike get us the 50 miles home.

[trav72]

Originally Posted by The Breeze

I think that this whole tank size/weight issue is a matter of perspective....If you're coming from a 650cc dual sport bike (which I was) or bigger, the WR with a 4.7 gallon tank seems really lightweight, small, and nimble..... If you're coming from a 250cc, full on dirt bike, and ride primarily single track, then the WR with a 4.7 gallon tank seems big, bulky, and heavy.

Sure, everything is subjective. But I came off a DRZ400s and an XR650L with a 5 gallon tank.

Originally Posted by Pantah

Is there really that much sloshing going on in those winged tanks? I have a Safari and the wings are pretty thin. The only place there seems to be enough volume for sloshing is the top where the stock fuel cell would sit.

Seems a bigger concern than an actual problem.

Yes! The IMS wings are huge and the fuel sloshes really bad. Enough that you are trying to get the bike to go one direction and it wants to go another. The Safari tank does not slosh nearly as bad as the IMS. The first ride I had with it, I was noticeable faster with less work and was more in control the entire ride. And I wasn't last.

Here's a side by side comparison I did a while back of the two tanks to give everyone an idea. Not like most of you don't already know.

[Pantah]

Picture is worth a lot of words...

Still doesn't seem like much volume for sloshing, but I can see now why I don't notice on my Safari. Plus that fact that I'm clearly in the 95% group. It wasn't always that way...

Thanks for pics.

Originally Posted by trav72

Sure, everything is subjective. But I came off a DRZ400s and an XR650L with a 5 gallon tank.



Yes! The IMS wings are huge and the fuel sloshes really bad. Enough that you are trying to get the bike to go one direction and it wants to go another. The Safari tank does not slosh nearly as bad as the IMS. The first ride I had with it, I was noticeable faster with less work and was more in control the entire ride. And I wasn't last.

Here's a side by side comparison I did a while back of the two tanks to give everyone an idea. Not like most of you don't already know.