Sold the WRR today

Sold my 2014 WRR today. I really liked the bike and I think it has great potential as a single track/dual sport machine.  
I figured by the time and money I would spend on a full exhaust system, and a revalve of the rear shock, I would be in the price range of a slightly used KTM/Husky. (I would give up reliability and the low maintenance) After riding for many years on Japanese D/S and off road bikes, I decided to give the Europeans a try. I am looking for one.
I also have a low Seat Concept for sale.
https://wr250rforum.forumotion.com/t12738-for-saleseat-concept-low-seat-for-wr250r-x

I'll wave to you when you break down on the side of the trail.

Funny, i've just done the opposite...

Started R1200GS... Moved to F800GS, then KTM 690R, then 450EXC and now finally WR250R.

It really ain't so great up there I think. The KTM 690 is the only other bike i'd consider but unless you plan to keep a real broad warranty and breakdown service I wouldn't trust it too far from home. The BMW's are horrible beasts and the 450EXC was great fun but more tempermetal than a pregnant teenager.

In saying that, when the 690 was up and running, it was a sublime machine... pity Yamaha screwed up the 660 so bad.

So Super Sonic Rocketship, this is for you. Why did you eventually go to a smaller 250cc bike? Anything about the bigger bikes you do miss? Anything about the smaller bike you regret?

I own a bigger 650 dual sport bike which I take in the trails. I love the added low end power, I never feel wanting. I love the the size of my gas tank, can do about 300 miles between fill-ups. Though I there are better bikes for the road, mine does well, fairly comfortable for a dual sport, and the ego of getting some respect by other bikers since it looks a lot meaner, bigger, and dual sport worthy then most people I ride by. Still it's an amazing extremely heavy bike and more then I can handle in bringing it back to its wheels when it tips and I am out in the sticks and on the trails all alone. This alone has cause me to start looking at smaller, lighter, and more agile bikes that I can handle and get back up when riding alone on the trails.

Ezra4no1 wrote:

So Super Sonic Rocketship, this is for you. Why did you eventually go to a smaller 250cc bike? Anything about the bigger bikes you do miss? Anything about the smaller bike you regret?

I own a bigger 650 dual sport bike which I take in the trails. I love the added low end power,  I never feel wanting. I love the the size of my gas tank, can do about 300 miles between fill-ups. Though I there are better bikes for the road, mine does well, fairly comfortable for a dual sport, and the ego of getting some respect by other bikers since it looks a lot meaner, bigger, and dual sport worthy then most people I ride by. Still it's an amazing extremely heavy bike and more then I can handle in bringing it back to its wheels when it tips and I am out in the sticks and on the trails all alone. This alone has cause me to start looking at smaller, lighter, and more agile bikes that I can handle and get back up when riding alone on the trails.

Well what you have there my friend is a list of reasons that exactly reflect why I made the downsize. First the 1200 was too heavy, so I dropped 46kg to the 800. I sure felt the difference, but it soon became apparent that 210kg wet was still too much for trails in real life scenarios. So I downsized another 60kg to the 690 and found myself in right ballpark. The maintenence schedule was agreeable and I loved the torque of the 690. However it simply wasn't reliable enough to take far from home without worrying. Warning light after warning light. I was told that the 450 EXC might be a better option, and lighter still. It was an incredible trail machine, but the service intervals were far too short to make for a good lightweight adventure bike.

After a bit of searching around you will find there is a huge gap in the market between the KTM690 all the way down to the KLX/CRF/WRR's of this world. Aside from the CCM450 there is no medium bore single adventure bikes out there.

So my attention was drawn to the 250's. At first I was skeptical of the power, especially after coming from European level power. But I can tell you now, that even the stock WRR is more than enough to trail ride, tackle off road section and take on long trips.

The best bit is of course the weight. OK, so compared to 250 race bikes and enduros, sure it's a bit porky, but up against the bigger road going bikes out there it is as light as a feather. Once you strip a few parts out of it that you dont need you havea bike that is close to 25kg lighter than the 690, and just as fun.

I don't regret it in the slightest.

After doing a 320 mile dual sport ride in 2 days (MN 300) and test riding various friends motorcycles  including a modified WR250R and a KTM EXC 525 I have decided to  buy the WR250R again. I found a low mileage completely stock 2013 one for a reasonable price and bought it.
I did not have a chance to  ride an 350EXC-F, but I can’t imagine it being as comfortable for long distance dual sport rides as a WR250R.  I really liked the engine response from the FMF power module/Q4 I rode though I didn’t like it being so loud. is that supposed to  be the quiet version?  Regarding suspension, the new  bike is already at http://checkpointoff-road.com/  for suspension work at half the price as Go-Race. I believe the bike can be made a great single track woods weapon with maintaining the comfort of a dual sport bike.

It seems silly to sell a bike and then buy the same one a month later.  But to each their own.  I think the WR250R is a great all around bike.  There is a video out there on YouTube from Australia and they rent dual sport bikes.  He said the most popular one is a properly prepped WR250R at the 3:06 mark he talks about people on bigger bikes wanting to rent the WR250R to ride across the Outback.

You might be right, but I don’t think I lost much in doing so.
After reevaluating my needs, I think the WR is the better bike for me.

European bikes always seem to be good.  However in the US Japanese bikes are also very good as well and yet cheaper with a much larger aftermarket/easier maintenance. There is not a European bike that matches the dual purpose effectiveness of the WRR that I'm aware of, they are much more off road focused. Good luck in your endeavors.  Can't go wrong with Yamaha.

Carlos Thomas wrote:

It seems silly to sell a bike and then buy the same one a month later.  But to each their own.  I think the WR250R is a great all around bike.  There is a video out there on YouTube from Australia and they rent dual sport bikes.  He said the most popular one is a properly prepped WR250R at the 3:06 mark he talks about people on bigger bikes wanting to rent the WR250R to ride across the Outback.

Well Said Carlos. The name of the game is "Dual Sport". Not sure where the translation is lost.

Hello fellow dual sporters. Just brought home my new wr250r yesterday. 4km on the odometer when I picked it up. 130km on it a now and first oil change done. Been riding 2 stroke 250 for about 20 years and decided it was time for something street legal and bullet proof. I LOVE THIS BIKE! Do I miss the wacky tou in the face 2 stroke power? Yes. Is it worth giving up to be able to ride the street legally? ABSOLUTELY

Hello fellow dual sporters. Just brought home my new wr250r yesterday. 4km on the odometer when I picked it up. 130km on it a now and first oil change done. Been riding 2 stroke 250 for about 20 years and decided it was time for something street legal and bullet proof. I LOVE THIS BIKE! Do I miss the smack you in the face 2 stroke power? Yes. Is it worth giving up to be able to ride the street legally? ABSOLUTELY

cnpdualsport wrote:

Hello fellow dual sporters.  Just brought home my new wr250r yesterday.  4km on the odometer when I picked it up.  130km on it a now and first oil change done.   Been riding 2 stroke 250 for about 20 years and decided it was time for something street legal and bullet proof.  I LOVE THIS BIKE!   Do I miss the smack you in the face 2 stroke power?  Yes.  Is it worth giving up to  be able to ride the street legally? ABSOLUTELY

I believe the first oil change isn't due until 600 miles or 6 months? Congrats on the purchase!