I was in the the market for a Yamaha WR250R. Due to lack of availability in my area I ended up buying a Yamaha WR250F and installing a street legal kit and converting it in the direction of a dual sport motorcycle. Excellent review! I subscribed.
I've talked to a few guys who went that direction because their riding meant the servicing wasn't really a major concern. For quite a while there, I could only see 1-2 WR-Rs in my whole state, all ridiculously expensive. You could pick a couple of WR250Fs for the same price in comparison, or grab one and have so much left in the bank for servicing. I'll check out your videos on it!
@@Rally_ADVentures unfortunately I don’t think so. You saw how Honda pivoted quickly on their very popular crf250l to make it euro 5, Kawasaki put very little effort into their klx250s, presumably because it’s been having its arse handed to it since 2013 when the crf came in? I think Yamaha’s been feeling the same effect. Problem is trail bike sales are getting hit really hard - globally less people live near trails each year, more local authorities restrict access each year and they have the super bike problem - 20+ year old bikes are perfectly fine for 90% of buyers and there’s a lot of them about. A few people have noted that the wr250r’s problem is its stand alone engine, Honda use a road engine, and I suspect they might be what they end up doing if they replace it - like the 700 tenere, an mt03 based tenere seems more more likely to replace it
@@Rally_ADVentures I know! I'm really hoping they do. There's rumours of a Tenere 300 as well, maybe based on the MT-03 engine, which could be interesting if they slot it into the WR-R package, but I have a feeling it would end up being a lot heavier and not getting the adjustable suspension.
Nice video. I was lucky enough to get one of the last new 2020 WRs in my area - brought it home last week. The dealer told me that 10 people called about the bike the day after I had put a deposit down on it. I was really lucky with the timing of the purchase. I don't plan to mod mine very much at all - not needed in my case. But I do have a Flatlands skid plate on the way as that's a necessity, and also Doubletake mirrors coming in as well. Enjoy your WR! Thanks for the review.
Wicked, congrats on getting one of the last ones! The skid plate is definitely a must, and the mirrors are great. Especially as I can fold them back in the garage, as well as being quality kit.
Thanks for sharing & congrats again! I’ve been meaning to get a light dual sport for so long, I’m really tempted! Just gotta weigh up the crf300l when it arrives (the klx300 looks like a lazy update to the klx250s). I nearly sold myself on a 390 adventure before realising I really just wanted a fire trail bike that can do some light adventuring. I suppose the go to should be the DRZ, but they just seem too expensive for what you get. I think for me it’ll really come down to suspension. Suspension and weight are the main reasons to get the WR, but I’m 95kg, which usually means I have to upgrade/replace all bike’s suspension lol. Congrats again! Can’t wait to see some more mini adventures!
That's exactly my thought process behind getting the WR250R, although I pulled the trigger just before the CRF300L/Rally announcement, so I didn't have a chance to weigh up the upgrades and differences. The Rally does have some nice inclusions that would save having to add some accessories and the 250s seemed pretty great value overall, but unsure if that would have tipped me over the line. I really considered the 390 ADV too, but came to the same conclusion.
I'm 95kgs and have done my static and race sag and the preload still has plenty of adjustment available. Have the clickers adjusted to my liking. Depending upon how fast and/or hard your ride you may not need to do anything to it. Ride your WR and enjoy it. I put a cbr300r engine into a crf250l years ago and added the Ohlins rear shock and WR2250r fork spring (stiffer than the crf's) and the suspension on the WR is good out of the box.
@@petewebb5149 I think being able to outride the stock suspension is a long way off (if ever), so I'll definitely have a go getting it adjusted within what's available stock. That would of been a cool project with the 300 engine, how did it go?
@@petewebb5149 thanks heaps! I haven’t had a chance to sit on the WR yet - I was playing around with this idea when I was shopping for a commuter scooter back in august/sept, but nobody had stock. I’ve had a test ride of a crf250l just on tarmac over a year ago, it it was very evident I would have to replace all the springs, so the WR was really the test - with the crf250l a fair bit cheaper, I could afford to upgrade the suspension on day 1, with the WR a bit harder to justify But yeah that’s very encouraging it’s fine for you at the same weight! Like I say, gonna have to wait to at least try the crf... probably the rally version I reckon as it has the bigger tank. It’s an extra 12kg’s, but those seem like logical KG’s added really Still leaning towards the WR though - lighter is always better, plus it’s that fact it’s gradually being discontinued. Sure in Australia it’s about as discontinued as the KLR thanks to our loose emissions laws, but presumably at some point it’ll disappear, and I suspect it’ll be replaced with more of a versys-x/390 adventure type bike personally.
@@MotoJournoKris I actually came away from the KTM feeling something I really didn’t expect. I should say it took over 6 months to get a test ride because every dealer was just completely back ordered (even adding $1000 to the ride away). I knew it was a road bike that could do some light off-roading, but before I even left the dealer I knew I would never take that bike more off road than an unsealed road. It can do it - I’ve seen reviews of people climbing and jumping things - but I wouldn’t, it just didn’t feel tough enough to take any risks an hour or more away from help. It was also heavier than I expected, although that could just be because so many reviews say it’s light weight when it really isn’t; it’s distinctly average on the scales for its size. But yeah, as soon as I knew I’d only take it on unsealed roads, I found myself thinking that actually if that was the goal - ride into the alps and just get a bit dusty- I’d probably just buy a versys 650 and change the tyres. Maybe a versys 300... but unless you get a great deal it just feels like you’re always waiting for Kawasaki to do the inevitable and upgrade that bike to a 400 lol
Good stuff! How tall are you if you don't mind me asking? I am on the market for one of these because I think the CRF is too small if you are over 6'5"
I am 6’3”. Put 1.25” bar risers and the Seat Concepts Tall seat on it. Fits awesome! Highly recommend the taller seat! Comfortable too. Have done 7 hr day rides with it in comfort.
@@gregorbabic7664 That Seat Concepts tall seat makes an enormous difference, I took mine off for the video so I could show the standard seat height, but for long rides it's a bum-saver. I need to check out adding some height to the bars!
@@MotoJournoKris I think the ones I put on are only some 30mm or something. Cheap Amazon ones. Work well and help with the standing without causing any line extension issues. One thing people should know about the WR is that it has a nice generous peg to seat distance for us long legged guys. Especially with the tall seat, I find the transitions from sitting to standing less tiring than my KTM200EXC. In fact I am selling the KTM as I rode my WR on the single track a lot last year and found it more capable than I expected. Truly a great bike that I won’t sell unless they come out with a 300 that weighs the same.
@@gregorbabic7664 Yep a 300 would be the dream! I do find the seat to peg ratio ideal for me too, I think I need to spend more time on the bike to get a better idea of the 'bars. I did notice I was crouching a bit though, but not sure if that's my lack of fitness coming into play!
-Keep the rear brake lever adjusted to the same height as the peg. Its meant to be used standing when riding offroad. Its not supposed to be easy to apply while street riding. You should be lifting your foot. -your foot shouldn't be flexible. My .02c, buy mx boots. Better to be a bit uncomfortable and not break your ankle. -get rid of those deathwing tires a.s.a.p. -13/47 gearing wakes it up offroad, and is still manageable on road. Or go 14/50 for the same ratio to avoid the dreaded chain guide wear through to the swingarm. -rear shock is a pogo-stick. Crank the rebound to max, but eventually you'll want to have it revalved. -stock bars are made of cheese... steel bars bend easily. (Oops, just saw you talked about that).
I have a feeling the brake lever was still a little higher than the peg, even standing up I had to lift my foot quite a bit. I think the new peg was a little beefier too, which probably helped a little, but still need to try and get it perfect. About the same would be ideal. I tried to avoid making it too low but not sure how well I did haha. I'm happy with the Sidi Adventure 2 boots so far, they get a good wrap and while they don't offer full MX boot protection they seem a good compromise. I often need to walk off the bike for extended periods so took that into consideration. But hopefully at some point I can add a good set of MX boots to the gear rack as well, without cheaping out. Definitely high on the priority list, not a fan of those tyres lol! You wouldn't happen to know if either of those chain ratios will work on the standard chain? Or do I need to grab the sprocket and chain set. Still kind of hoping to get the bike back, but otherwise I'll have to get another and was thinking doing sprockets first if I can retain the stock chain it would save me a little money. Not a huge cost, but also have to replace all the other mods if that comes to pass. I definitely want to get the suspension does professionally, I figured I'd put that a little later on the to-do list. Hopefully that'll mean I'll appreciate the improvement more too once I get to see where the performance drops off. Tell me about it, I learnt how true that was the hard way! I was thinking to myself, "this must be advice for the really pro fast guys" but nope even a noob like me bent them.
@@MotoJournoKris pretty sure stock chain length is 108. For 13/47, a 112 link chain is suggested. I'm running 14/50 on my r wheels right now. Pretty sure I'm running a longer chain than 112. I'd go out and check, but its -11c... and 9pm here in Ontario Canada. I hate the cold... time to pack up the family and move to Australia!... or I can just watch bike videos to pass the time for another month+. You going for a safari or IMS tank? D606 rear and mt21 front tire? Remove the ais and disable the exup valve?
I was in the the market for a Yamaha WR250R. Due to lack of availability in my area I ended up buying a Yamaha WR250F and installing a street legal kit and converting it in the direction of a dual sport motorcycle. Excellent review! I subscribed.
I've talked to a few guys who went that direction because their riding meant the servicing wasn't really a major concern. For quite a while there, I could only see 1-2 WR-Rs in my whole state, all ridiculously expensive. You could pick a couple of WR250Fs for the same price in comparison, or grab one and have so much left in the bank for servicing. I'll check out your videos on it!
@@MotoJournoKris It's a shame Yamaha discontinued them.... I wonder if they possibly have a WR300R in the works??
@@Rally_ADVentures unfortunately I don’t think so. You saw how Honda pivoted quickly on their very popular crf250l to make it euro 5, Kawasaki put very little effort into their klx250s, presumably because it’s been having its arse handed to it since 2013 when the crf came in? I think Yamaha’s been feeling the same effect. Problem is trail bike sales are getting hit really hard - globally less people live near trails each year, more local authorities restrict access each year and they have the super bike problem - 20+ year old bikes are perfectly fine for 90% of buyers and there’s a lot of them about.
A few people have noted that the wr250r’s problem is its stand alone engine, Honda use a road engine, and I suspect they might be what they end up doing if they replace it - like the 700 tenere, an mt03 based tenere seems more more likely to replace it
@@Rally_ADVentures I know! I'm really hoping they do. There's rumours of a Tenere 300 as well, maybe based on the MT-03 engine, which could be interesting if they slot it into the WR-R package, but I have a feeling it would end up being a lot heavier and not getting the adjustable suspension.
@@MotoJournoKris Tenere 300 would be cool and would be more in line with the Honda CRF 250 Rally
Nice video. I was lucky enough to get one of the last new 2020 WRs in my area - brought it home last week. The dealer told me that 10 people called about the bike the day after I had put a deposit down on it. I was really lucky with the timing of the purchase. I don't plan to mod mine very much at all - not needed in my case. But I do have a Flatlands skid plate on the way as that's a necessity, and also Doubletake mirrors coming in as well. Enjoy your WR! Thanks for the review.
Wicked, congrats on getting one of the last ones! The skid plate is definitely a must, and the mirrors are great. Especially as I can fold them back in the garage, as well as being quality kit.
Thanks for sharing & congrats again!
I’ve been meaning to get a light dual sport for so long, I’m really tempted! Just gotta weigh up the crf300l when it arrives (the klx300 looks like a lazy update to the klx250s). I nearly sold myself on a 390 adventure before realising I really just wanted a fire trail bike that can do some light adventuring. I suppose the go to should be the DRZ, but they just seem too expensive for what you get.
I think for me it’ll really come down to suspension. Suspension and weight are the main reasons to get the WR, but I’m 95kg, which usually means I have to upgrade/replace all bike’s suspension lol.
Congrats again! Can’t wait to see some more mini adventures!
That's exactly my thought process behind getting the WR250R, although I pulled the trigger just before the CRF300L/Rally announcement, so I didn't have a chance to weigh up the upgrades and differences. The Rally does have some nice inclusions that would save having to add some accessories and the 250s seemed pretty great value overall, but unsure if that would have tipped me over the line. I really considered the 390 ADV too, but came to the same conclusion.
I'm 95kgs and have done my static and race sag and the preload still has plenty of adjustment available. Have the clickers adjusted to my liking. Depending upon how fast and/or hard your ride you may not need to do anything to it. Ride your WR and enjoy it. I put a cbr300r engine into a crf250l years ago and added the Ohlins rear shock and WR2250r fork spring (stiffer than the crf's) and the suspension on the WR is good out of the box.
@@petewebb5149 I think being able to outride the stock suspension is a long way off (if ever), so I'll definitely have a go getting it adjusted within what's available stock. That would of been a cool project with the 300 engine, how did it go?
@@petewebb5149 thanks heaps! I haven’t had a chance to sit on the WR yet - I was playing around with this idea when I was shopping for a commuter scooter back in august/sept, but nobody had stock. I’ve had a test ride of a crf250l just on tarmac over a year ago, it it was very evident I would have to replace all the springs, so the WR was really the test - with the crf250l a fair bit cheaper, I could afford to upgrade the suspension on day 1, with the WR a bit harder to justify
But yeah that’s very encouraging it’s fine for you at the same weight! Like I say, gonna have to wait to at least try the crf... probably the rally version I reckon as it has the bigger tank. It’s an extra 12kg’s, but those seem like logical KG’s added really
Still leaning towards the WR though - lighter is always better, plus it’s that fact it’s gradually being discontinued. Sure in Australia it’s about as discontinued as the KLR thanks to our loose emissions laws, but presumably at some point it’ll disappear, and I suspect it’ll be replaced with more of a versys-x/390 adventure type bike personally.
@@MotoJournoKris I actually came away from the KTM feeling something I really didn’t expect. I should say it took over 6 months to get a test ride because every dealer was just completely back ordered (even adding $1000 to the ride away). I knew it was a road bike that could do some light off-roading, but before I even left the dealer I knew I would never take that bike more off road than an unsealed road. It can do it - I’ve seen reviews of people climbing and jumping things - but I wouldn’t, it just didn’t feel tough enough to take any risks an hour or more away from help. It was also heavier than I expected, although that could just be because so many reviews say it’s light weight when it really isn’t; it’s distinctly average on the scales for its size.
But yeah, as soon as I knew I’d only take it on unsealed roads, I found myself thinking that actually if that was the goal - ride into the alps and just get a bit dusty- I’d probably just buy a versys 650 and change the tyres. Maybe a versys 300... but unless you get a great deal it just feels like you’re always waiting for Kawasaki to do the inevitable and upgrade that bike to a 400 lol
Good stuff! How tall are you if you don't mind me asking? I am on the market for one of these because I think the CRF is too small if you are over 6'5"
I'm 180 cm which I think is 5'11". The seat height is a pretty decent increase over the CRF-L, which should help with that.
I am 6’3”. Put 1.25” bar risers and the Seat Concepts Tall seat on it. Fits awesome! Highly recommend the taller seat! Comfortable too. Have done 7 hr day rides with it in comfort.
@@gregorbabic7664 That Seat Concepts tall seat makes an enormous difference, I took mine off for the video so I could show the standard seat height, but for long rides it's a bum-saver. I need to check out adding some height to the bars!
@@MotoJournoKris I think the ones I put on are only some 30mm or something. Cheap Amazon ones. Work well and help with the standing without causing any line extension issues. One thing people should know about the WR is that it has a nice generous peg to seat distance for us long legged guys. Especially with the tall seat, I find the transitions from sitting to standing less tiring than my KTM200EXC. In fact I am selling the KTM as I rode my WR on the single track a lot last year and found it more capable than I expected. Truly a great bike that I won’t sell unless they come out with a 300 that weighs the same.
@@gregorbabic7664 Yep a 300 would be the dream! I do find the seat to peg ratio ideal for me too, I think I need to spend more time on the bike to get a better idea of the 'bars. I did notice I was crouching a bit though, but not sure if that's my lack of fitness coming into play!
-Keep the rear brake lever adjusted to the same height as the peg. Its meant to be used standing when riding offroad. Its not supposed to be easy to apply while street riding. You should be lifting your foot.
-your foot shouldn't be flexible. My .02c, buy mx boots. Better to be a bit uncomfortable and not break your ankle.
-get rid of those deathwing tires a.s.a.p.
-13/47 gearing wakes it up offroad, and is still manageable on road. Or go 14/50 for the same ratio to avoid the dreaded chain guide wear through to the swingarm.
-rear shock is a pogo-stick. Crank the rebound to max, but eventually you'll want to have it revalved.
-stock bars are made of cheese... steel bars bend easily. (Oops, just saw you talked about that).
I have a feeling the brake lever was still a little higher than the peg, even standing up I had to lift my foot quite a bit. I think the new peg was a little beefier too, which probably helped a little, but still need to try and get it perfect. About the same would be ideal. I tried to avoid making it too low but not sure how well I did haha.
I'm happy with the Sidi Adventure 2 boots so far, they get a good wrap and while they don't offer full MX boot protection they seem a good compromise. I often need to walk off the bike for extended periods so took that into consideration. But hopefully at some point I can add a good set of MX boots to the gear rack as well, without cheaping out.
Definitely high on the priority list, not a fan of those tyres lol!
You wouldn't happen to know if either of those chain ratios will work on the standard chain? Or do I need to grab the sprocket and chain set. Still kind of hoping to get the bike back, but otherwise I'll have to get another and was thinking doing sprockets first if I can retain the stock chain it would save me a little money. Not a huge cost, but also have to replace all the other mods if that comes to pass.
I definitely want to get the suspension does professionally, I figured I'd put that a little later on the to-do list. Hopefully that'll mean I'll appreciate the improvement more too once I get to see where the performance drops off.
Tell me about it, I learnt how true that was the hard way! I was thinking to myself, "this must be advice for the really pro fast guys" but nope even a noob like me bent them.
@@MotoJournoKris pretty sure stock chain length is 108. For 13/47, a 112 link chain is suggested. I'm running 14/50 on my r wheels right now. Pretty sure I'm running a longer chain than 112. I'd go out and check, but its -11c... and 9pm here in Ontario Canada. I hate the cold... time to pack up the family and move to Australia!... or I can just watch bike videos to pass the time for another month+.
You going for a safari or IMS tank? D606 rear and mt21 front tire?
Remove the ais and disable the exup valve?
Hey mate, did you add bar raisers?
Not yet, I wanted to do more miles before I added them to see how I felt.