WR250 - Is it a good "multipurpose" bike?

[palazzi]

I am in the process of selecting a new bike, :yeehaw: which has not been an easy task. After talking to few local dealers, and reading through this forum and many magazines, I have reduced my options to the following bikes: WR250, XR250 or XR400. (the KTMs are very nice, but they are very expensive here in Chile).

I don’t pretend to be a professional rider. I just want a good bike to ride mostly trails but also would like to play around on MX tracks, and perhaps to participate in few enduro races.

Since I can’t expect to find a perfect bike for all applications, I have set my priorities as follows:

1.) low weight (easy ride, not so demanding on physical shape)
2.) reliability
3.) performance
4.) low maintenance

Based on this criteria, I am leaned towards the WR250. But I still have doubts about its reliability. I don’t want to expend half a day trying to start it, or adjusting the jetting, etc. The XR’s reputation is clearly better than the Yamahas’ on this aspect. What kind of “extra” maintenance would the WR250 require, compared with a XR400?

Also, it seems that the WR250 lacks of power at the bottom end. Are there any modifications that might help to improve this (i.e. a different sprocket sizes, a new pipe, etc).

Thanks for you advice.

Luis.

 

[INEEDSPEED]

Palazzi, you and I are in the same boat. I am strongly leaning toward a XR250R. I saw both bikes(xr, wr) yesterday. The WR is liquid cooled, the Honda is not. That is my only real concern right now. But with the bullet proof Honda motor, its hard to look at anything else. Being in the middle of the woods, I want a bike I KNOW will run. I don't know, choices, choices...

 

[cmott]

I don’t want to expend half a day trying to start it

The 2003 WR's have electric start

 

[palazzi]

Thanks for your advice.

Regarding to the “starting” issue, it still could be a problem. I want to take advantage of the big discounts that the local Yamaha dealers are making on their 2002 models, which doesn’t have the magic button.

With this discount, the WR250 is at the same price of a XR400 (4300 USD), which is not so much higher that the price for the XR250. In fact, this is one of the reasons of having the WR250 on the top of my list.

Another point in favor of the WR250, is that I would like to play in a MX track with my son. I will not race MX, but being able to ride on a track from time to time is a “nice to have”.

However, I am still concern about the “realiability” issue . Here is were I have my big doubts on the WR250. For those of you who have a WR250, how much maintenance should I expect, comparing the WR with the XR. Besides oil changes, air filter cleaning, greasing and break checks, what else you usually do to your WR?

Thanks again.

 

[beer_stud_76]

palazzi -

nothing compares to a good ol' air cooled XR for reliability. also, i don't suppose that it would be much of a chore to make the XR400 a lot faster than the WR250.

however, there is no reason to doubt the reliability of the WR. there is no reason to think that it is any less reliable than any of the modern design liquid cooled 4 strokes out there.

if reliability is paramount, go with the XR.


jeremiah

 

[tigerowner]

I have heard of no reliability issues with the WR. The WR250 would not have a world enduro championship 2 years in a row if it was not reliable. I have a 16 year old yamaha four stroke in my garage that has never had a major failure of any sort. The WR is hands down the fastest 250 enduro bike once unrestricted. Also if you take the time to get the jetting right starting should not be a problem. The XR is a great playbike but is not competetive.

 

[LawManNv]

Hi guys,

Do a search on this forum and you will find a ton of info on the WR. I have owned an XR250, XR400, and now ride a '01 WR250F. My bike did take a little tweaking to make it run right but it's all free. For the ultimate in low maintenance and reliabilty the XR's are hard to beat. You have to try and break those things. But, my WR has been very reliable for the last year and a half and it is not hard to start. Maintenance is not much different than any other bike. As for performance, the WR will smoke the XR250 or XR400. Unless you you are a rock crawler, the WR is faster, lighter, and the suspension is light years ahead of the XR. The WR does not have the grunt of the XR400 but get out of first gear and the race is over. I weigh 180lbs and my WR has taken me through some nasty, first gear stuff that bigger bikes had problems with. If you want a simple, torquey, trail bike, get the Honda. If you want something you can race or ride race speeds, the WR is the winner.

Good luck,
Steve