2008 Yamaha WR250X

[falconati]

What should I know about this?  Considering buying one today (don't worry, MV is still safe).

Does anybody know about maintenance costs, specifically valve intervals for these guys?

[Cablebandit]

26,000 mile valve adjustments.  Pretty much dead nuts reliable.  Put gas in it and ride.

[1moreroad]

Don't buy it expecting a fast bike.  Fun to ride.  It's got a peanut for a gas tank.  Stock suspension isn't terrible.  It does nothing very well but does everything adequately.  Lots of fun especially in corners on bumpy roads.

[falconati]

Used, it was cheap but is sold.  I can't find any decent ones now, so I guess it's back to the waiting game.  After my MV, I can't afford much bike :/  I'm looking for nice BMW tourers (late 90s/early 2000s) and little motards to round things out..but i'd be fine with just the beemer if I found a decent one.

[Jeff]

Sure... you're looking for one now!

For a little around town runabout, I speak highly about it. It was a fun bike in it's element. It's element is anywhere it's NOT boring straight road. I only rode mine on the interstate twice, and that was two times too many. It really is awful there. In town, tight backroads, that sort of thing, and it completely shines. The stock fuel injection sucks... it's light-switch twitchy. Tiny gas tank, but 70mpg will get you far enough.

I like my Sprint, but I kind of miss the WR-X I had.

Any particular questions about them, fire away.

Jeff

[falconati]

Thanks Jeff - I thought about that too!    Sorry!

At any rate, the one I was looking at had sold....so I bought a Honda instead.  I also bought an Aprilia, so threads on those once I have the bikes in my possession  

[KLRchickie]

For a little around town runabout, I speak highly about it. It was a fun bike in it's element. It's element is anywhere it's NOT boring straight road.

 
I just put 110km on mine on the local Kart Track this evening.  What a blast!  It is hard to wipe the grin off after one of our Test & Tune nights

[DogBoy]

Bikes like this are great if you live close to  a) kart tracks that allow supermotos, b) several extremely tight and bumpy roads (paved or not), c) hate walking up and down long staircases at office parks on Sundays or d) have a long driveway and yard you don't care about.

[expatbrit]

Thanks Jeff - I thought about that too!    Sorry!

At any rate, the one I was looking at had sold....so I bought a Honda instead.  I also bought an Aprilia, so threads on those once I have the bikes in my possession  

Good grief! Stop the madness!

I have to admit, I'd like one of these as well. Our local track has really short straights, and it'd be a hoot up there. FI, massive valve intervals, and hammering around town. The '08 and later just seem to sell for a premium and I'm not in the financial mood to acquire another expensive bike yet!

[Jeff]

Good grief! Stop the madness!

I have to admit, I'd like one of these as well. Our local track has really short straights, and it'd be a hoot up there. FI, massive valve intervals, and hammering around town. The '08 and later just seem to sell for a premium and I'm not in the financial mood to acquire another expensive bike yet!

Just so you know, the 08 and later WR250X and WR250R are totally different bikes than the WR250F. The F is a dirt bike, while the X and R are road legal, with different frames, engine, well, everything. They sell for a premium because they're a higher spec than the F, or the other Japanese motards.

[expatbrit]

Just so you know, the 08 and later WR250X and WR250R are totally different bikes than the WR250F. The F is a dirt bike, while the X and R are road legal, with different frames, engine, well, everything. They sell for a premium because they're a higher spec than the F, or the other Japanese motards.

Yeah. I know. I want the R or the X as a dual sport, capable of converting between the two. I even understand the price; I just don't want to pay it!

[1moreroad]

Always someone selling on wr250rforum.forumotion.com.  Good price seems to be around $3k - $4k.

[servicerifle]

I like mine, a lot.  But... (as Jeff said)


So, I got an X (Jeff's) and just converted it to an R.  I doubt I'll use the X wheels often, really.  My riding is becoming more dirt-oriented, but also because using a 250 "supermoto" is difficult unless you are IN the twisties to start with.  I can get the bike from where I keep it to the twisties in about 30 minutes, but even that is kind of a drag.

The bike is kind of like riding a motorized bicycle.  Whatever you'd do with a bicycle, will essentially be fun with this bike.  Outside of that, a different tool might be better.  That's around-town errands, dirt riding, and twisties (at least in NC/TN/VA, the bicyclists tend to stick to the mountain roads and avoid the straight boring roads).  

In X form, the bike is lots of fun in its element.  The suspension is "good enough" when tuned for your weight and adjusted on compression/rebound.  (that's for me at 180#).  LOTS of brake dive but I've been able to correct this some with suspension adjustment.  Good enough brakes in X form, but if you are really going fast and doing an emergency stop it is worth scooting way back on the seat when you do it.  All that dive feels like you'll be in a stoppie before you know it.  Very agile, but twitchy on bigger roads.  I haven't taken it on an interstate, intentionally.  Gearing in stock X form is too high.  Tank is tiny. (I solved this with a 3.1 gallon IMS tank)


The bike is FAR more capable offroad  (R form) than I expected.  I'm not a good dirt rider at all, but I would be climbing medium hills in loose dirt and still be able to accelerate (semi-wheelie) up onto rock ledges and keep my speed up well, as an example.  Works fine in singletrack for my abilities, and despite what people say about revving the crap out of it, it will pull off-idle just fine on dirt (without slipping the clutch).  The major complaint I have with it's dirt abilities is that it doesn't stop very well.  The brakes feel weak.  No matter what you might have heard, you CAN use the front brake in dirt (to a limited degree) but not so much if the front feels like soft cheese anyway.  I hope I can adjust the rear to be a bit more aggressive, that would be handy.  Gearing is even more atrocious here, but I solved all this with a 47 tooth rear sprocket (and different chain of course) on both rear wheels.  The bike jumps curbs in town quite nicely with that 21" front wheel.  

Some people are concerned about the height.  I have lowered the bike the 1" that is possible with the existing suspension, but may raise it back up as I hit the skidplate often offroad.  Lots of "is the WR250r/x a horse?" questions on the WRR forum.  I'm 5'8" on a big hair day, and I'm thinking about lifting it back up.  The best thing I did about the height was learning to mount the bike from the side while moving.  Put your left foot on the left peg (you can do all of this from the right too, but it's a little harder, and the opposite moves), give it a little countersteer (push on the right grip), let out the clutch and give it some gas...while underway swing your leg over.  Far easier than trying to get my short ass on the bike while at a standstill.  

Hope this helps.