Discontinued

I keep hearing rumors that the WR250R has been discontinued in the UK and the rest of Europe. They further indicate Australia may be next. Any truth to any of this. Though it doesn't do everything for everyone, it is a awesomely engineered light dual sport perfect for lightweight adventure riding.

The primary reason I posted this is that I have not seen updates on the yamaha site related to the 2012 model. I was hoping for different graphics and plastics for the simply purpose that I wouldn't have to replace everything.

Hey,
I've been wondering about this as I'm overseas and was planning to buy a WR250R when I get home to Australia however there seems to be no new 2011 or 2012 ones on the any classified websites, also I sent some emails to a couple of dealers as well asking what their prices were but they haven't replied to me yet so we will see. It would be a real shame if this is the case as I think that I finally found the bike which is perfect for my needs.

I do feel however that perhaps this bike is a little expensive on the Australian market so perhaps they're just not selling......

Perhaps Yamaha are planning on injecting the WR250F and feel that the market won't be there with 2 injected 250's in the lineup.

Captainpwnage, you may be better off buying "as new" anyway. I bought an R and an X both with less than 2000km and extra's, for less than the price of one of them brand new. A lot were bought under finance and if the owner isn't using it and just wants rid of the debt they'll often negotiate seriously if the bike's been for sale for a while. Even if they have to make up the extra to pay out the loan it can be better than having that debt hanging over their heads.

yay saw that the other day,did they drop it for 2012 ?

It is really hard to imagine the Yamaha would drop this bike. There isn't another bike made, that I know of, that I would rather have at any price.

Part of the problem, overseas anyways, is how easy it is to title and plate the true enduro models like the WRF's and the availability of the big XT's. At least thats how I interpreted it. For all the hubbubb over how much American's value displacement, Euro's and Aussie's are just as apt to want a 600+ to cross the continent and want to simply plate a true off-road bike for light dual sport use.

its because they are brining out the WR450X for 2013...............

skierd wrote:

Part of the problem, overseas anyways, is how easy it is to title and plate the true enduro models like the WRF's and the availability of the big XT's.

That's true skierd. I live in Germany and it's very easy to plate just about anything as long as it has the right equipment. You see two strokes and quads plated all the time here. Another problem is lack of legal riding areas. You cant legally ride on forest roads/trails in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, most of France, etc...

It's also very expensive over here for a WRR. In fact you can pay about the same for a KTM enduro. I'm guess import taxes are the culprit.

thumpjump wrote:

skierd wrote:

Part of the problem, overseas anyways, is how easy it is to title and plate the true enduro models like the WRF's and the availability of the big XT's.

That's true skierd. I live in Germany and it's very easy to plate just about anything as long as it has the right equipment. You see two strokes and quads plated all the time here.

It is easy to plate them, but it is not at all easy to avoid legal trouble when riding every day, every time and every road. Once they pull you out, you are into big trouble most likely. BTW happened to me previously. Remember, any sorts of sports enduro including latest BMW 450X are homologated with reduced performance. Even if it is possible to obtain full performance in the papers, this does not conform to homologation and will fail for compliance tests at the test centers.

On the other hand we do not need to talk about the Yamaha XT series. These won't compare to the WR250R/X at all. These are heavy and bulky, a real bad suspension and a heavy engine (51kg). Good for cruising, but no sports bike at all.

Quote :

Another problem is lack of legal riding areas. You cant legally ride on forest roads/trails in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, most of France, etc...

A true problem over here. Most likely the biggest problem for those lightweighted dualsports.

Quote :

It's also very expensive over here for a WRR. In fact you can pay about the same for a KTM enduro. I'm guess import taxes are the culprit.

Once you scan the market, you will find the WR250R as new or nearly new at little more than half the price of current KTM 4 stroke sports enduro bikes. In fact, the WR250R sells at probably 4000EUR-5000EUR in very good condition or even with 0km.

I will regret if they discontinue this bike, but I am sure, this will raise prices, because it is the best dual sport enduro around. Definitely.
Regards, Phil

little squirt wrote:

its because they are brining out the WR450X for 2013...............

Don't you have valves to check????

motokid wrote:

little squirt wrote:

its because they are brining out the WR450X for 2013...............

Don't you have valves to check????

And apart from that, a WR450R/X would be discontinued same way than WR250R and similar small motorcycles. Reason: equal target people. Even the 690 can not be called extremely successful although it offers plenty of performance even for road riding and also is capable of offroad riding (a bit pricey, ok). That kind of lightweighted dualsport motorcycles are sort of dead, for whatever reason. It is sick. However, there will always be a small amount of people requesting these bikes, but that is not enough to maintain distribution for those ignorant countries.

Be lucky there are offroad riding capabilities at your side. For us it seems there won't be a choice when reaching out for street legal dualsport "enduro" bikes, apart from Multistradas, BMW GS, Triumph 800 and whatever inacceptable overweighted paved road enduros. Name them all, there are plenty of.

Although I hate buying things I do not need, I will consider getting one of the final WR250R bikes as soon as it becomes clear they will definitely be stopped. Just to keep it in a box somewhere for a quick replacement in case my WR would fail (well, I do not really think it would). However, I am still believing in forthcoming electric enduro bikes and as soon as those will be providing a reasonable reach, I would see those as a possible realistic replacement for the WR. At least, the KTM Freeride is said to be available 2012 _streetlegal_, but only 1hour of riding, also there is a pretty nice Brammo Supermoto. Within some more years, these rides will be an alternative for daily dual sport riding, which unfortunately is not yet an option due to very limited range in reach and travel speed.

motokid wrote:

little squirt wrote:

its because they are brining out the WR450X for 2013...............

Don't you have valves to check????

i checked em on monday, cary on...

little squirt wrote:

motokid wrote:

little squirt wrote:

its because they are brining out the WR450X for 2013...............

Don't you have valves to check????

i checked em on monday, cary on...

Monday eh??? So what you're saying is that it's about time to check them again I guess?

I can confirm with 100% safety that the wr250 is discontinued in italy. I mamanged to grab the last one sitting on the floor just a couple weeks ago. Main reason is the price and market preference as far as dealer tells me.

Over here the 250 will cost about 6200 euro. with that money you can eaily buy yourself a 600cc or more. So what do people do when they get to the shops? buy a 600+cc bike of course. sad but that's how it is.

It's a shame when the 250 is such a great bike! I've been getting looks everywhere I park it. And it pleople always mistake it for a 600

Yamaha officially states the WR250R/X will not be stopped in all European countries. One of our wr250r.de forum users did ask for information. Here is Yamahas response (in German language):
http://wr250r.de/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=704&p=2209#p2208

Lucky!!!

Damn, I honestly feel that this is a big step backwards for the light-weight dual sport world as now the manufacturers will have their doubts about investing in new technologies. Perhaps it would have sold better as a 350, or at least with a lesser price tag. Perhaps the USA will keep it afloat?

The really sad part of all this is hearing how impossible it is to ride off road in Europe.

And I though California was tough on off roading, and yet we have thousands of miles of off roading, and the surrounding states many, many more.

I guess that's why we have to fight SO hard to keep what is open now, so we DON'T wind up like Europe...

By the way I'm first generation American, and speak fluent German, so it really bugs me to hear about my (other) homeland...

GusinCA wrote:

By the way I'm first generation American, and speak fluent German, so it really bugs me to hear about my (other) homeland...

You need lots of preparation to find free and interesting offroad routes here without taking too much risk of punishment. We do not have any dedicated areas and usually people tend to be hostile if you meet them on the track. And this is getting worse at all countries here. At some countries they introduced horrible rates for riding offroad, even if it is a thin populated area, and they might even confiscate your bike. No fun. This is hysteric and it may be a consequence of previous abuse, I do not know.

It means you need to become track member somewhere, or pay for riding (around 20 Eur a day, depends), which is ok. But then, there are not many tracks, so this means you will have to get there somehow. Perfect for a WR250R (up to 90km one way to reach my local tracks for a track riding day). But this takes lots of time, so there is no quick riding around my village.

However, for me the WR is a perfect motorcycle for everyday and every purpose riding, since I am doing small and twisty roads with some gravel roads (which I will not classify "offroad") most of the time. Even without great offroad riding areas I would regret if we could no longer buy bikes like the WR250R model. I am not at all interested in our typical motorway and highway enduro bikes, and I have spent lots of time working on sports enduro bikes, so there is no more time and money left for it.