Anticipation...NEW WR250R!

[Lawn Dart]

Well, I caved and went to the 13/48 combo with the Mich. AC10's.  GREAT setup - the bike pulls 70 comfortably on the freeway and can do 80 in the flats.  I saw a top of 87...downhill...on a really long stretch.  Very happy with the 13/48 combo.

Ran 150 miles today.  Averaged 44 mpg.    I had a bit of a headwind for 20 miles that sure didn't help.  Really gonna need to get that bigger gas tank I'm afraid.

[Lon]

IMS 3.1 tank swap takes about an hour; it's dead simple - the only thing I caution is that if you have a Corbin seat, it will take significantly longer, as you will have to grind at part of the seat pan.

Also, Tusk makes a great set of panniers available from Rocky Mountain for like $16 or something absurd.  Very nice little panniers, they are, and the left one has a water bottle holder.

[Lon]

Oh also -- There's a guy on eBay who sells racks for various dual-sports.

His rack for the XT225 will outlast humanity.    It's so beefy that after I crashed the R1100S, I fabbed a mounting bar for a Givi plate and bolted the plate to the XT... and stuck a blimpy E52 Maxia on the back.    It wobbles less on the XT with that rack than on the purpose-built Givi setup on the R1100S  

Unfortunately, his rack for the WR250R is weaker than I'd like due to the mounting points.    I just have a Cortech Super Mini strapped to it and a beefier rack on order.  The beefier racks require drilling out your fender, though.

At any rate, let me know if you want a light-duty tail rack at some point; once my beefier one comes in, I won't be needing it.

[KLRchickie]

IMS 3.1 tank swap takes about an hour; it's dead simple - the only thing I caution is that if you have a Corbin seat, it will take significantly longer, as you will have to grind at part of the seat pan.

I would say there is a bit of variability in the fitment of the IMS 3.1 USGal tanks.  Ours took a while & each needed different things "trimmed" on the bikes.  Mine needed a fair bit of the rubber "gasket" between the tank & the frame modified, & in the end both of our tanks are shimmed up just a smidge at the front to make everything sit right.

Worth it for the extra range though

[Lon]

I would say there is a bit of variability in the fitment of the IMS 3.1 USGal tanks.

I've heard.  To be fair, there's some variability with the Corbin seats, too.

Worth it for the extra range though

I agree.  

I put a 4.1 gallon on the XT225.  I don't know why, but I think it's funny that my tiniest bike ever has a 300+/- mile tank range.

[servicerifle]

Guys, fyi there's an ADV group buy of Scott's steering dampers for WR250r/x's going on right now.  I'm ordering one.

Here's the link:  http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=679446

[Lawn Dart]

Guys, fyi there's an ADV group buy of Scott's steering dampers for WR250r/x's going on right now.  I'm ordering one.

Here's the link:  http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=679446

I'd like to thank you for helping me spend my next paycheck.  

[servicerifle]

Anytime!  I went shopping on that site before I pulled the trigger, wound up with over $700 in stuff!  That was their plan, methinks!  

[hobie1dog]

what does the seat height measure?  looks like 35 or 37"

[919]

I've been thinking about getting in to dirt again, and this WR has given me a serious case of the wants......  

I grew up riding dirt but stopped in 2005 when I started riding street.  Now that I am more established I can see having multiple mounts in my garage.  Very seriously looking at this bike and then maybe stepping up to a larger adventure bike in the future.

Basically I was wondering if you could tell me how the bike is on the road, all my available (legal) dirt riding is a considerable distance (2 hours would be the closest I've found).  How does this bike do on extended pavement stretches?  Would I be better off buying a bigger bike or is this thing doable?  I sport tour on a 919 so I could care less about wind protection, the ergos on the WR are probably about the same just scaled a little smaller.  I'm mainly worried about the power on the road and the suspension on pavement.  

This bike is definitely on my short list.

[servicerifle]

I think if you have 2 hours one-way to your riding, that's 4 hours interstate both ways...and I think that sounds frustrating and painful on the WR.  At a minimum you'll be looking for a new seat, or a set of "Sweetcheeks" for the seat.

[sammyseaman]

I think if you have 2 hours one-way to your riding, that's 4 hours interstate both ways...and I think that sounds frustrating and painful on the WR.  At a minimum you'll be looking for a new seat, or a set of "Sweetcheeks" for the seat.

  Sounds brutal  

[919]

I think if you have 2 hours one-way to your riding, that's 4 hours interstate both ways...and I think that sounds frustrating and painful on the WR.  At a minimum you'll be looking for a new seat, or a set of "Sweetcheeks" for the seat.

No interstate, just back roads, and twisty ones at that.  I figured I would be asking too much of the bike to get me there but at the same time I don't want to go too big because it's been 8 years since I last rode on dirt.  I don't want to start off with a 650 or bigger; the type of technical riding I liked doing back then would be too difficult with a bigger machine.  

Maybe a 400 thumper would be a happy medium?  It's gotta be street legal because I don't want to buy a truck.  (I average 2k-3k miles per month for work)  

Sorry for the the thread-jack;  carry on

[Lawn Dart]

Just commenting on comfort and range - as noted, I did get an IMS 3.1 and the Scotts.  Of course, the moment I get them mounted work gets busy again and I haven't been out on the road since.

At least I was able to have a few friends over and we were able to reset the sag on the bike to something other than "dead soft".  Went from 4" of Sag to 3.5" and its made a HUGE difference on the street.  Tried playing with the compression & rebound - those settings were pretty much worthless.  WR shocks aren't known (at least per ADV) to have the best valving and that's certainly the case.

Regardless, a sag adjustment has made a huge difference.

Seat Height:  I'd say somewhere around 35" is about right.  It was around 33" before the sag adjustment.

As to freeway distances - I have no problems with a two hour dead straight freeway sprint on the bike.  True, it's not the Mayer saddle I have on the GS but I don't find the WR saddle bad at all.  I wouldn't want to do an SS1k on it, but for 300 mile days it's fine.  

Of all the mods on the bike I've thought about, the seat was actually the lowest priority.  For me, knee angle is far more important and the WR is nigh on perfect for me to spend a lot of time in the saddle.

I've installed the IMS tank - absolutely no problems with the setup.  Bolted right up with no issues.

I have a GS riders Memorial Day ride planned - about 150 miles with two 50 mile slab stretches.  Gonna be fun.  

[servicerifle]

IMHO not enough between a 400 and the WR250 to make much difference.  Since you say you'll be on twisty roads, you might be just fine.  

I didn't get the chance to ride my WR enough, but I've put many miles on the same sized bike.  I know I'm better off moving around (twisties) rather than sitting in one place like on a highway.

Steve

No interstate, just back roads, and twisty ones at that.  I figured I would be asking too much of the bike to get me there but at the same time I don't want to go too big because it's been 8 years since I last rode on dirt.  I don't want to start off with a 650 or bigger; the type of technical riding I liked doing back then would be too difficult with a bigger machine.  

Maybe a 400 thumper would be a happy medium?  It's gotta be street legal because I don't want to buy a truck.  (I average 2k-3k miles per month for work)  

Sorry for the the thread-jack;  carry on