Yamaha WR250R Mega Thread

[KaanDuro]

Originally Posted by bash3r

Enough of that orange porn.. how bout some blue!!! Man .... I'm ready for winter to be over already!

How about some orange AND some blue ?
Well, my bike is white but anyways

[indypup]

I don't see any orange or blue in that pic. ;)

[30Bones]

Originally Posted by mpatch

Any 300lb dual sport is not going to be fun above 65-70 for more than a few miles no matter if it has 10hp or 90hp. It's a weight, aerodynamics thing. Ever riden a light tall bike in a decent cross wind at highway speeds?

Valid point. I guess even in "spirited" riding around town or on gravel I was very bored with the DRZ's power. In my state we can't tag dirt bikes, if we could I would own a big bore and a barely legal machine. But alas I am looking for a true dual sport to take me on nice scenic trips of a week or to work on Monday morning. I just need to get over the fact that I have owned some high hp thumpers that I never really rode to their potential

[Crawdaddy]

Originally Posted by 30Bones

I am looking for a true dual sport to take me on nice scenic trips of a week or to work on Monday morning.

I think the WR is perfect for that mission.....the extra weight/beefy subframe/350 watts of juice works in your favor.......my gut feeling is that the KTM 350F-XC-W is better suited to 3-4 day "travel light/fast" dualsport loops where the majority of the riding is off road......and that suits my primary riding style/mission......picking the bike up this Friday......boxes of farkle "stuff" arriving at the doorstep

If my mission statement was multiweek trips that involve ~25%+ slab component and/or commuting .......I'd be shopping for a replacement WR....

[ThumperDRZ]

Originally Posted by 30Bones

...........I just need to get over the fact that I have owned some high hp thumpers that I never really rode to their potential

Originally Posted by Crawdaddy

I think the WR is perfect for that mission.........

How's that saying go...."It's better to ride a slow bike fast than ride a fast bike slow".....

[Crawdaddy]

Originally Posted by ThumperDRZ

How's that saying go...."It's better to ride a slow bike fast than ride a fast bike slow".....

That's why I'm getting the 350FXC-W instead of the 500FXC-W......."Less is More" (fun)

[Foot dragger]

Originally Posted by 30Bones

Valid point. I guess even in "spirited" riding around town or on gravel I was very bored with the DRZ's power. In my state we can't tag dirt bikes, if we could I would own a big bore and a barely legal machine. But alas I am looking for a true dual sport to take me on nice scenic trips of a week or to work on Monday morning. I just need to get over the fact that I have owned some high hp thumpers that I never really rode to their potential

If I rode my 530 up to it's potential very often,the tire wouldnt last a day.
Its more about having the smooth fun excess of power and enjoying the ride. For just a scenic cruise I would take my DR650 anyway.
Floating the occasional low rpm wheelie off a 4th gear corner is so much fun on a fast big bore that it becomes an addiction. The 530 excels at it.
The DRZe400 I had was too much like a sewing machine,no snap,truly odd handling and seating/standing position,revving the guts out of a bike and still going slow gets old.

[Foot dragger]

Originally Posted by Crawdaddy

That's why I'm getting the 350FXC-W instead of the 500FXC-W......."Less is More" (fun)

The trick with the 350 is........They dont have good hiway gearing to go with their great trail manners.
An EXCR 500 will cruise all day at 70+ with no strain,350 is spinning pretty hard at 65 or 60 depending on your trail gearing. If your only riding dirt then it matters less of course.
We sometimes encounter 80mph dirt roads out in Nevada and the bigger bore bikes shine there,and in sand climbs.

[30Bones]

Originally Posted by Crawdaddy

I think the WR is perfect for that mission.....the extra weight/beefy subframe/350 watts of juice works in your favor.......my gut feeling is that the KTM 350F-XC-W is better suited to 3-4 day "travel light/fast" dualsport loops where the majority of the riding is off road......and that suits my primary riding style/mission......picking the bike up this Friday......boxes of farkle "stuff" arriving at the doorstep

If my mission statement was multiweek trips that involve ~25%+ slab component and/or commuting .......I'd be shopping for a replacement WR....

Thanks, the maintenance, parts locally if needed and notably BigDogs build/miles make me really think I am pointed at the right bike for my current needs. Also looking at a Terra and realize they are not comparable, but price new/new is hard NOT to look at the Terra as it would still do what I asked. I don't do gnarly single track/jump anyway. Dealer network is not close as well as parts.

Originally Posted by Foot dragger

If I rode my 530 up to it's potential very often,the tire wouldnt last a day.
Its more about having the smooth fun excess of power and enjoying the ride. For just a scenic cruise I would take my DR650 anyway.
Floating the occasional low rpm wheelie off a 4th gear corner is so much fun on a fast big bore that it becomes an addiction. The 530 excels at it.
The DRZe400 I had was too much like a sewing machine,no snap,truly odd handling and seating/standing position,revving the guts out of a bike and still going slow gets old.

I absolutely hated the DRZ after coming from an uncorked Husky 610.

I want to ride a WRR this spring and see if it speaks to me, if so I will begin a hunt for a lightly used and farkled unit.

[duanew1]

Originally Posted by 30Bones

But alas I am looking for a true dual sport to take me on nice scenic trips of a week or to work on Monday morning. I just need to get over the fact that I have owned some high hp thumpers that I never really rode to their potential

I just traded my street bike for a TE610 with an extra set of sumo wheels. I must say that time will tell which bike I will love the most between the WR250R and the TE610. The weight is not that much different, but the power is. It takes a little more discipline with the throttle hand. I know that the WR has plenty of power to get me anywhere off road except a quick loft of the front wheel to get over an obstacle (or maybe I have not figured it out yet). I have not really rode the TE that much yet because I have discovered some major subframe issues. I think I will slightly miss the "reliable as a rock" (except the chain slider issues) of the WR. Time will tell but the WR is not going to be sold anytime soon.

[jckid]

Originally Posted by 30Bones

I absolutely hated the DRZ after coming from an uncorked Husky 610.

I want to ride a WRR this spring and see if it speaks to me, if so I will begin a hunt for a lightly used and farkled unit.

I came from a 610 w/power up kit to the WR. I'm really enjoying the WR. The only thing I miss about the 610 is the power. The WR will never compare in that department, but for a 250 it has decent power, and I think it's a great bike.

Originally Posted by duanew1

I just traded my street bike for a TE610 with an extra set of sumo wheels. I must say that time will tell which bike I will love the most between the WR250R and the TE610. The weight is not that much different, but the power is. It takes a little more discipline with the throttle hand. I know that the WR has plenty of power to get me anywhere off road except a quick loft of the front wheel to get over an obstacle (or maybe I have not figured it out yet). I have not really rode the TE that much yet because I have discovered some major subframe issues. I think I will slightly miss the "reliable as a rock" (except the chain slider issues) of the WR. Time will tell but the WR is not going to be sold anytime soon.

While the weight of the two bikes isn't that much different on paper, my WR feels much lighter than my 610 did. I think the difference is around 50-60 lbs., but it feels like 100lbs. I'm enjoying the ligher weight, although the heavier 610 was definitely better in windy conditions.

[30Bones]

Originally Posted by duanew1

I just traded my street bike for a TE610 with an extra set of sumo wheels. I must say that time will tell which bike I will love the most between the WR250R and the TE610. The weight is not that much different, but the power is. It takes a little more discipline with the throttle hand. I know that the WR has plenty of power to get me anywhere off road except a quick loft of the front wheel to get over an obstacle (or maybe I have not figured it out yet). I have not really rode the TE that much yet because I have discovered some major subframe issues. I think I will slightly miss the "reliable as a rock" (except the chain slider issues) of the WR. Time will tell but the WR is not going to be sold anytime soon.

Loved my husky. Subframe and cam chain were the only things that seemed common issues. Mine was EFI and wow what a fun bike. I also had 17's and around here it's worthless with no twisties.

[UtahFox]

Originally Posted by bash3r

Enough of that orange porn.. how bout some blue!!! Man .... I'm ready for winter to be over already!

Wowser, that's the WR that I have in my head - now there's a picture :) Nice bike! I don't suppose you have a list of what you've done to it?

[UtahFox]

Originally Posted by Crawdaddy

If my mission statement was multiweek trips that involve ~25%+ slab component and/or commuting .......I'd be shopping for a replacement WR....

This is nice to hear. I've been checking out those 350EXCs because of your pic up above, they are pretty amazing. But I'm back on the WR now. Hopefully I'll get the Tiger sold soon and I can get to work :)

[UtahFox]

Originally Posted by duanew1

I know that the WR has plenty of power to get me anywhere off road except a quick loft of the front wheel to get over an obstacle (or maybe I have not figured it out yet).

I would want this capability in whatever new bike I choose to go with, anyone else have issues with the WR and obstacles?