Time to start slingin' wrenches... (WR250x-to-r transition) Now with updates

[servicerifle]

Well, let's see...

I gots me a WR250R front and rear wheel (and a front master cylinder/caliper set) with d606's, and also all on the way from different points all around are: an IMS 3 gallon tank, a Force radiator guard, a Flatland skidplate, front and rear disk guards (Flatland and Renazco), a Freedom case saver, a Seat Concepts seat, a Flatland rear rack, Scott's steering damper, and some Fastway pegs.  Bike already had G2 handguards.

All the gear and some idear.  My first three days back in the US will be spent wrenching and getting all this on.  I need to get a 47 tooth rear sprocket and get a chain on, everything else I can do myself.  Nobody'd better steal this one, that would certainly send me into orbit.

Somebody in Southern Appalachia needs to hook up with me so I'm not ridin' off like a damn fool alone.  



Can't wait, let's ride this bitch.

[servicerifle]

Wow guys, all the love for WR250r's around here and none for me?  

[sammyseaman]

We expect pics when you're done  

[KLRchickie]

  Have fun!

The schizophrenic WR really is a fun little bike.  Seriously, if you're halfway proficient with tools, all that shouldn't take you three days.  In an hour or less, the two of us can have two WRs switched between their X & R personas.  This includes chain adjustments, since we goofed ordering sprockets & don't have the same size on the two different rear wheels.  I also tend to take the opportunity to thoroughly clean front calipers while they're off.

[kurtw]

That sounds like it's going to a sweet setup. Nice choices.  It's an X now?

[R Doug]

 

[servicerifle]

KLRchickie,
I'm allowing extra time for two things...

1, my rear wheel currently doesn't have a d606, it has a DS tire on it, and since I need a new chain anyway, I'm riding the bike to my favorite shop to have them switch the tire, put rimlocks in both rims, and change the chain.  Kind of a snowball effect, but I'd like to get it all done, ya know?  (and though I may/likely will have the front tire off sometime trailside, I doubt it will be an opportune time to put in a rimlock, lol)

2, fitment of the larger gas tank is not 100%.  I'm hoping it just "slips in" but there's no way to know until I start doing it.

kurtw, yes, it's currently an x.


Sounds like Doug may get the honor of doing some post-mod test rides.  

Oh, and 3, how long it's going to take me to get that Seat Concepts seat on...I might take it to an upholstery shop, we'll see.

[R Doug]

Sounds like Doug may get the honor of doing some post-mod test rides.  

My moto gear is packed and headed to the "dash" today.  

[1moreroad]

I installed my tank last weekend.  It took all weekend if you include playing catch and video games with my son, honey-dos, errands, and family movie night.  You should be fine.

As far as chain, I just went with a clip link chain.  Easier to clean and it has to handle, what, 28 hp on a good day?

[servicerifle]

I went a different direction, I went with a 13/47 ratio for both wheels...hope it works out!

[KLRchickie]

KLRchickie,
I'm allowing extra time for two things...

Oh, a little extra time never hurts, but I do expect you'll be fine.  If you're taking it to a shop for tires & chain, that'll suck up some time for sure

The larger tank may take a bit of fussing.  Mine took longer than ZED's to install, but still only a couple/few hours.  The Scott's steering damper (if it is the under bar style) actually helps here.  That little tab that lifts the front of the tank a smidge makes a world of difference in getting the tank to sit nicely.

I uncovered/drilled foam/recovered both of our seats in an astoundingly short length of time.  I'd imagine a different seat cover might take a little more time.  A pneumatic stapler with short staples is very helpful for this task.

Your three day plan should make is a pretty unstressful exercise.  Hope you enjoy your schizophrenic bike

[servicerifle]

Are you saying the front of the tank rests on the damper tab (yes mine is underbar)?  That sounds like it'll wear through the tank in T-minus nothin'.

They all fit a little differently of course, my story will be about 3 degrees different than yours, and everyone else's.  

[KLRchickie]

Are you saying the front of the tank rests on the damper tab (yes mine is underbar)?  That sounds like it'll wear through the tank in T-minus nothin'.

Yep.  That area of the tank is really thick, so it doesn't even cross our minds as an issue.

They all fit a little differently of course, my story will be about 3 degrees different than yours, and everyone else's.  

 
Agreed!

[1moreroad]

Are you saying the front of the tank rests on the damper tab (yes mine is underbar)?  That sounds like it'll wear through the tank in T-minus nothin'.

They all fit a little differently of course, my story will be about 3 degrees different than yours, and everyone else's.  

I put mine on about a week ago.  It dropped right on.  My gaps are smaller than what I see in the pictures.  Plastics are a little tighter, but the only gaps I have are for that black piece in front of the coolant bottle.  Everything else looks darn near factory.

[servicerifle]

Well, so far, so weird.  

Before getting to the WR I knew I'd need to do a valve check on the GS so that went without a hitch until the button-up, where I twisted off a valve cover bolt.  Ugh.  Yes, the torque wrench was set, it clicked at 7 ft/lbs on all the others, but this one snapped instead, I'll have to easy-out it, or something.

Moving to the WR, I got the disk guards, skid plate, and dirt wheels on.  I switched the sprocket to a 47 so I can use the 13 front and I'll have the 47 on both my r and x rear wheels.  I love the way it feels now.  Oh, got the Seat Concepts seat on, what a difference!  That's a great seat!  Also got the Fastway pegs on, that was pretty easy and fast.

Also didn't have to change the rear tire, though now I realize I probably should have anyway...I decided against it when I opened the box and found that the wheel really had a DOT knobby on it (turns out it is a TW302).  Now I realize that's the "death wing" so I feel a bit foolish for not changing it out when I could have.  Oh well, I hope it doesn't suck on dry dirt, that's what I'll be in with it anyway...sounds like most people don't like it for mud, which I rarely see.  I'll have the D606 on before my TAT trip.

Still to do:  gas tank, rad guard, steering damper, rear luggage rack.  That's not even a whole day's work.  I'm headed to the beach for the weekend and will knock the rest out Monday eve or Tues.  

Gotta get that valve cover bolt on the GS fixed...sigh...

[1moreroad]

Ah well.  You're messing up a perfectly good bike.  

I was just telling my wife last night while replacing a few bolts that had rattled off that I have modded this bike far more than any other.

Previous bike - new shock, new fork internals, GPS wiring, heated grips, heated vest.

WR - GPS wiring, heated grips, heated vest, rear rack, gas tank, skid plate, rad guard, sprocket (went back to stock), sprocket cover, knobbies, underbar mirrors, barkbusters, voltmeter (since removed), driving lights.

Going to go ride it with a bunch of cruiser buddies tomorrow.  That should be interesting....

[buls4evr]

 Before you do that TAT dirt do not use that deathwing. May I suggest a Pirelli Pro Scorpion DOT/FIM enduro tire instead of a D606. You will not like a 606 front though the rears are great. The pirelli lasts a long time and will bite pretty well on virtually any terrain. Also has a fair feel on asphalt too.

[servicerifle]

Egads is this deathwing really that bad, even for dry regular-old dirt?  I suppose I can add that to this week's list of chores...

[servicerifle]

Hmm, is it still an "x"?  Well, only sometimes, but not now.  

I got everything done (albeit with a few hiccups like a pinched tube, dang!) and then took off on the BMW Enduro Skills course (not on the WRR).

Afterward, DLRides and I went out with him on his KTM 300 XCW and I on the WRR.  The track we took was more difficult than I think I'll experience in most of my DS riding, but I'd like to keep working on the more difficult terrain, it will open new places for me in the future.

With some suspension adjustments I got on ThumperTalk I was able to get the suspension set up pretty darn well for me, no skipping, no crazy bouncing, and the bike settled from drops well.    Oh, and the 13/47 gearing works really well.  

Anyway, the bike did FAR better than I expected it to do, and better than I did, too, lol.  I did notice that the front doesn't lift well going over whoops so you get a lot of front end dive rather than being able to jump straight.  I tried to get on the gas at the top but it never seemed to be enough to keep the front up.  I resorted to chopping the throttle at the top and rolling down to the next one (albeit still at a decent pace).  Any tricks to this?


Anyway, here's the bike, all the doo-dads I added did great, to include that great skidplate.  Can't wait to get it dirty again!!!

[kurtw]

  Any tricks to this?

Looks great!

Re: whoops - It may depend on the whoops. I think the main thing is going to be keeping your weight back. Your butt should be hovering over the rear of the seat/fender, elbows up, stay on the gas. Whoops are where you will feel the relative weight of any bike and it can get fatiguing on a 300 pound DS/dirt bike.