Hi am new to the forum and am looking for some advice from fellow riders on the yam wr 250/450. I have always fancied one from when they first came out, my question is realistically how reliable are they for general riding out and about road/ lanes exmoor etc. Moons ago i had an old dr350 elec start which i remember fondly as it was bomb proof, just general service and it went on an on, its just i have always had a itch for a wr its just i cant make up my mind, and to further mix myself up i want to chuck ktm400exc into the pie, how do they compare in terms with reliability and user friendly riding to and from trails? Look forward to hearing. cheers
As a fellow WR250F rider I can highly recommend it! I have a 2006 model, it's reliable, has never failed to start with the button and hasn't let me down. No high servicing costs and if you're half decent with a spanner - unlike me - you can do most of it yourself. Sutiable for novice and seasoned enduro rider alike Can't comment on the other bikes as never had them.
On the lanes the WR is great either slower speeds but is more than capable of going that bit faster if you're on private land that allows it
I only started green laning a year ago and i have a slightly older 2003 wr250 f. Again as stated has been very reliable a bit spluttery the last time i went out but only a fuel mixture issue. Otherwise i have had no dramas with it.
More power there than i need but i can handle it easily enough, i am only 5ft 9 so not the biggest bloke in the world.
The consumal parts i have replaced so far, chains sprocket wheel bearings have all been relativly cheap to replace.
I was toying with the idea of upgrading to a 450 or even a newer version of the 250 with the alloy frame but to be honest dont think there is any need at the moment as the 250 is adequate and i dont believe the newer models are that much lighter.
personnel choice at the end of the day but i would buy another one
I concur with the above. I've owned a WR250F for a while which my son bought off me and has used for laning and every day commuting (a year later he has had a hefty repair bill but to be honest these bikes are pretty hardy for enduro-built machines, and commuting to work every day etc isnt the best use for it, unless you plan plenty of extra maintenance). Certainly fine when I owned it for plenty of laning, a trip or 2 to Wales and a fair bit of road work between lanes etc. Since then I bought a WR450 steel frame which I owned for a fair while before trading in for an ally-framed WR450. Both have been excellent, low maintenance and super fun. They look awesome too.
My neighbor has a WR250F for sell (1600 quid I think he wants for it) which is a real bargain - especially as he has receipts for a recent rebuild. He doesnt live in plymouth any more and his dad wants it out of the garage. Let me know if you are interested.
I have a '05 KTM 400 EXC, I've owned it for a year now and, touchwood, it has been a fantastic bike. I find it a great all rounder, 80mph on the road (if you want too!) and equally happy in first gear with the throttle closed as I inch/wobble my way down a steep Devon lane. I am a "larger" chap and find it has more than enough power for my needs. I do regular oil (every other outing) and filter changes (every other oil change), plus the usual run of the mill lubricating and adjustments. No problems so far!! I am also a bit of a Yamaha fan though, and like the look of the WR's. Never ridden one, but used to ride a YZ250 2 stroke, a few years ago now. That was another cracking bike, and alot less maintenance than a 4 stroke. Its all down to what you like and your budget at the end of the day though!!
Chris.
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It would appear that I am quite grumpy today; strangely, I didnt notice this until I came into contact withidiots.
Thanks for all replies its always helpful to hear from others, i have not got my heart set on a wr250 as i am guessing the wr 450 will not be under the same engine strain as the 250 i am a light rider under 11 stone. my first thoughts were for ttr250, drz400 dr350, but that itch of the wr 250/450 i think might need scratching. My main concern is relibality for using as a duel purpose machine tarmac and lanes, i would not be using it for enduros, just a to b and lanning for some fun.)
May i add to the above either WRs will make exellent trail bikes hamstering on this forum has covered huge miles on his standard alloy framed 450 wr yam with nil probs the 250 is a little more agile and if you were to compete enduro / hare @ hound then the wr250f would be a better bet than say a steel framed 450wr ? The KTMs ? for road work have a sixth gear and the hydro clutch nice as you get a very light clutch witch does not fade after extened abuse ? but all in all the yams have been very reliable and the wr250/450 would suit alot of folk LOST
-- Edited by Lost on Friday 7th of January 2011 07:35:37 AM
I was in the same situation as you a year ago wondering what bike to get. Ktm, Drz, Wrf etc.
I gave up sports bike riding which I had done for over 15yrs and thought I'd give the 'Dirt bike' scene a go ---but what bike ??
I decided on a wr250f('56). Liked the fact that they were built as an all-rounder. Had the all important electric start and looked pretty nice too. I have used mine for the past twelve months on all types of conditions and the bike has not missed a beat. I regularly change the oil and do all the usual checks on the bikes condition after rides/events and sort/adjust accordingly, but like Paul I have had 2 x kill switches replaced. ( a small price to pay)