William, I recently bought an 01 model. I would describe the motor as fierce but with great bottom end. I think the extra snap is down to the aftermarket Doma pipe. It's very luggable and doesn't bog at low revs. You can almost stop the bike dead in first gear and pull away cleanly - good for woods stuff and hills with obstacles. The midrange and top are on a par with my 98 YZ125. The YZ never had the bottom end though. I had a go on a 99 exc125 and the power was a fair bit softer, but it was in stock form. Suspension on the WR is quality stuff but needs a bit of work to get it supple and responsive. (45 shiver zokes and Sachs shock) I haven't spent enough hours on mine to get it fully broken in yet. But I think I'm going to have to get some work done to get it right. Build quality is great and it's a very easy bike to work on. You can get the seat, tank/shrouds off in about 30 seconds (one bolt). Excel rims and great looking sandcast tubular Husky hubs, brembo brakes, grease nipples on the linkage... Plus points - engine , detailing and looks. Minus points - suspension (stock form), rubber mounted bar clamps, tall seat height.
Hope this helps
