Help me with my dilemma

So I will have my WRR for 3yrs. I am hoping that Yamaha introduces the T7 in 2018. I just bought a WR250F. I have both bikes setup perfect for trail riding. I will be getting a plate for the WRF. So here is my thought. I don't need 2 trail bikes, and the WRF is setup equally nice and weighs far less. I don't commute on the WRR as I have a great road bike for that. I ride with folks on the trail and mainly trailer to the trails. What are the groups thoughts on keeping the WRF (2008) selling the WRF (2015) and picking up a T7 or the like for a better longer distance ride. Lets here it.

With a plated WRF and a road bike in the stable, the only reason to keep the WRR would be for long-distance adventure riding. If not planning on this, then sell the WRR.

Agree with johnkol

I will keep the bike through most of the summer. I want to ride the COBDR. I figure it will be a good fit for that ride. but yes I do agree with you...no reason to keep the WRR. That is exactly the same way I am leaning.

Agree with the comments.

Unless you are planning a long DS ride then sell the WRR and keep the WRF.

If you ride the WRR at all for longer trips I wouldn't sell it until the T7s actually hit the market.

The industry has been hyping that bike and a few others for a while now and it's changed a few times. The T7 concept looks like it could be what "everyone" has been wanting but until it actually hits the dealer networks I would hold on to your WRR.

Besides, there's a whole other issue of getting one too. Have any of the dealers started taking deposits yet?

I almost sold my 990 Adventure to put a deposit down on a KTM 1190 when they were being hyped by the media, glad I didn't because the 1190 was all smoke and mirrors. Than again when the 1090 was being hyped, again smoke and mirrors.

The marketing around the Adventure bike market is so full of crap it's insane.

+1 johnkol. I have a WRF and a WRR and for trail riding there's no decision to make--the WRF is a blast. Sadly I can't get it plated and that limits where I can go. I got the WRR because I'm planning on longer trips, likely riding solo, so reliability beats all. For your case it sounds like WRR won't see much use.

Jerry S wrote:

If you ride the WRR at all for longer trips I wouldn't sell it until the T7s actually hit the market.

The industry has been hyping that bike and a few others for a while now and it's changed a few times. The T7 concept looks like it could be what "everyone" has been wanting but until it actually hits the dealer networks I would hold on to your WRR.

Besides, there's a whole other issue of getting one too. Have any of the dealers started taking deposits yet?

I almost sold my 990 Adventure to put a deposit down on a KTM 1190 when they were being hyped by the media, glad I didn't because the 1190 was all smoke and mirrors. Than again when the 1090 was being hyped, again smoke and mirrors.

The marketing around the Adventure bike market is so full of crap it's insane.

The T7 is based on the FZ07 motor right?

I test rode a T7 at my local dealer and while the power was nice the vibration was a deal killer for me.  By comparison my 2007 Ninja 650R is a silky smooth beast compared to the FZ07.  Both my DL650 and CB500X bikes were far smoother than the FZ07.  Not sure if I had ridden an odd ball bike of if that is just normal with the 270 degree crank.  I think engine on my old DR650 was smoother than the FZ07.

That being said I have been sort of interested in building a Gravel Runner bike using bits and pieces from a Versys and Ninja 650 along with a couple of DL1000 parts thrown in for good measure.  I have seen a couple that JDRocks over on ADVRider.com has built and they look and sound pretty awesome.

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/v649hp-kawasakis-new-gravel-runner.644390/

The press releases is saying that it looks like it's based on the FZ-07/MT-07, the 689/700cc CP2.

Jerry, I fully agree, I won't sell the WRR until KTM, Yamaha produce a concept....or now honda's little africa twin shows up. I'm not married to the T7 idea, I just like the idea of a more off road oriented 650ish sized bike. something that i can ride with some reasonable comfort and not be afraid of gravel. I do agree, I will not give up the bird in the hand for vaporware.

As for the comment about vibration issues and which bike has or doesn't it....I feel we are riding dirt oriented bikes / dirt bikes with knobbies. a little buzz or vibration isn't an issue for me. I had a KLR no big deal, actually found it comfortable, and good for gravel roads, just not single track. If I want a smooth ride I will ride the goldwing, if I want off road fun I take the WR's out.

I'm with you, after riding a 990 for while I love having a WR250R!

Between the two bikes, I manage to ride all the over the place. Back when I got my 990 what I wanted was a 640 Adventure but I do a ton of rides 2 up so I went with a little bit more motor. The thought being a second person and extra gear could be a drag on a 640cc.

Jerry

My thoughts on your WR250R (a 2015 model?), your 2008 WR250F, and the supposed Yamaha T7:

WR250R:
I owned a 2008 model from about summertime of 2009 and rode it for about a year-and-a-half.
Bought it used with about 100 miles on it, actually.
The WR250R is excellent at being ridden on the street a lot, mainly because the engine is glass smooth and the overall gearing is tall, making the bike feel relatively relaxed out on the open road.
It works off-road in a similar fashion to Japanese dual-purpose bikes over the decades, that being pretty good but not as good as a dirt-only model due to cost-cutting in suspension, extra weight of all the required street-legal parts, and dual-purpose tires.
Overall, a good choice if you want a dirt bike (one I'd actually not shy away from riding real trails through the woods) capable of piling on all the road miles you can stand.
A modern version of a 1981 Honda XL250S or Yamaha XT250.
In fact, if I wanted to buy a new dual-purpose bike today, it would be another WR250R.
For a dirt bike that actually feels comfortable at being ridden on the street A LOT and to actually run with modern auto traffic with ease, I can't think of a better choice.

2008 WR250F:
I owned a 2009 WR250F (same bike as your 2008 model) from November of 2009, and rode it until early 2012.
I owned my 2008 WR250R at the same time for a short while, and comparing those two bikes back-to-back showed that the WR250R was a far better street bike and the 2009 (or your 2008 model) WR250F was a far better dirt bike.
Reason?
The suspension, chassis, and overall feel of surefootedness on the WR250F was so much better than the WR250R off-road, it wasn't funny.
Really.
Major difference, and the WR250F is the obvious winner for dirt riding.
However, the 2008 WR250F is a 5-speed, geared much lower overall, and feels as if it would be happier cruising on pavement at about 40-45-ish mph.
Actual top speed of that WR250F is somewhere around 65-ish mph, but the cruising speed that seems comfortable on that bike is low compared to the WR250R.
Side note:
I now own a 2016 WR250F, and it has a 6-speed transmission.
Cruising speed on the road is now up to an honest 55 mph.
Major improvement for road use, and the suspension is even better with the KYB SSS fork.
Excellent, really.

Yamaha T7 concept bike:
I personally believe that if you think any T7 released for sale would look like the concept bike that's been shown, well, pleasant dreams.
I believe it would look much more like an FZ-07 with slightly longer suspension and Paris-to-Dakar styling and not like a YZ motocross bike with lights and an FZ-07 engine stuffed in the frame and a custom Akrapovic exhaust system.
I saw a few spy photos of a bike being tested in Europe, and the caption said it was probably the real production version of this T7.
It looked much more plain and average than the YZ-looking concept.
Just Google images for "Yamaha T7 spy photos" and you will see a bike being ridden with a tarp draped over the bodywork.
That looks far more like reality for the price most will be willing to pay, and with a seat height lowered to reality for most riders.

Help me decide which of my bikes to get rid of...

Keep them all, and buy more. I've heard people say they wish they never sold their bike more than they had too many.

If I had a commuter, wrr, and wrf, I'd probably try to replace the wrf with a 450. I'd get rid of the wrr for a better dual sport, but that doesn't really exist at the moment. If I trailered it to the trail, I might not care as much about having a good dual sport either.

Just curious, what's the range of the WRF?

Jerry S wrote:

Just curious, what's the range of the WRF?

I'm 6' 1", 220 w/o gear. The range can vary quite a bit based on style of riding in my experience. On a high desert to mountain loop I do with lots of hills and bits of rocky technical terrain I get around 50 - 55 miles. On flowing desert trails it's closer to 70. I've read guys who say they get around 40 at the track. And there are posts of other riders with mileage that seem ludicrous, but maybe they're small. Obviously my size affects my results quite a bit.

Jerry S wrote:

Just curious, what's the range of the WRF?

You can always get a bigger tank if you need longer range. For the 2015 model you can get a 3 gallon tank.