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Wr426 or WR250, looking for answers

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Posted by: woodsy---------------------

Hello my cyber riding friends:
I have sold my XR350 and am moving up in the world. I pretty much have my next bike selection down to either the Wr426 or its baby brother the 250. I have many years of riding experience from racing motox and harescrambling on 2 and 4 strokers alike. No worrys about handling the Powwy of a 426 as I spent 6 years on a CR500 before my XR350.
I am switching again just to make life interesting (isnt living in America Grand!!).
I am 210 lbs/6'1" and a pretty fair rider. I am really looking for a top notch woods bike that will lift the front end on command. I like the weight loss idea of the 250 - is its power up to the task (bottum - mid - top). Will I get bored with the 250? Another item is I plan to street legal whatever I buy (just for road crossings and club event fire laning). What kind of top speed and cruising speed will they run? How do their gas milages compare? Are both bikes typical formula one high maintenance? Any problems associated with either bike as far as long distance travel (125 miles per day of tight stuff). Any problems associated with any particular year of production with either? Suspention up to the task of modern day whoops?
Have any of you seriously woods rode either bike thru mud/water/sand and so on with or without troubles?? Problems starting when dumped?
How would the 250 compare in power to an XR400 (closes thing that I know of to my old 350).
Last but not least have any of you ever weighed either model?? Could you do me a favor - if you happen to own either one of these bikes - take a bathroom scale (dont tell your mom I told you to do this LOL) and place the front tire of your bike on it/balance the bike with rear tire remaining on the floor and take a weight measurement - do the same with the rear - add the 2 together and let me know what you come up with. My 350 was suppose to weigh 248 and 282 was more like it.. I had a 2000 VOR that was suppose to weigh 238 and 278 was its true weight..
As always - thanks to all!
Woodsy


Posted by: truespode---------------------

If you are mechanically competent and like to whine a motor the WR250 is a great bike after you make the mods. Of course, I prefer the YZ250F b/c I own one.

The WR450 next year will have e-start and be a lot lighter. Don't know what the weights are off the top of my head but if you do a search in the thumper forum you can find it more than likely.

The gas mileage on the WR250 and WR426/450 is good when jetted right. I can do a full 2 hour HS with the stock tank on my YZ250F and both the 426 and 250 have larger tanks.

Both bikes will have plenty of power to get over obstacles. I'm 6' and 220 and the YZ250F has plenty of power for me overall, especially in the woods. I love riding it in the woods.

The YZ250F stock loved whoops and since I've had the suspension redone it loves them even more.

As for starting, it takes a procedure if you get one that is a year or two old. However, the new WR450 will have e-start and the new WR250 I think will have it as an option but will definately have an automatic decomp.

As for long term riding... I got a year out of my piston with no problems. Also, this year I took it to Alabama and Gomer and I kept swapping so the bike did not get much of a rest for 2 straight days of hard riding at Monster Mountain, both on the track and through the woods. The bike handled it really well.

Jut maintain them properly and you should be happy.

Ivan


Posted by: GETMETOCA---------------------

I've heard lots of buzz around the '03 WR250 when I started asking people about their YZ250's. Ivan, if you were buying new would you stay with the YZ?

Good info, thanks.


Posted by: truespode---------------------

Quote:
Originally posted by GETMETOCA
I've heard lots of buzz around the '03 WR250 when I started asking people about their YZ250's. Ivan, if you were buying new would you stay with the YZ?


Yes. I would definately stay with the YZ250F over the WR250F if I was buying new. The power is smooth and you don't have to make any changes unless you want to race enduro's. If I was an enduro racer that would be the only reason I'd pick the WR over the YZ and that is b/c of the supposed e-start the '03 would have.

If I was only riding MX I'd get a 450 or 250 2-smoke (I like the KX and CR). I have ridden the CRF and it is great on the track and very smooth power. I want to ride the YZ and the KTM before deciding to keep my YZ250F another year.

The YZ250F for me has been extremely reliable and comfortable for me to ride. I rarely have any issues starting it, even after a fall. The only time I have some problems is if I'm on a hill with the front end facing up. I have to bring it down sideways of the hill and use the hotstart. Other than that even when I fall I can usually get it started in a couple of kicks if I'm patient.

Ivan


Posted by: woodsy---------------------

Thanks for the speedy replies!! Ivan, I really need a bike I can street legalize. Here in Michigan this is extremely important to our existence as woods riders. Thankfully the police in our area very loose about what they pass..
IYO would the YZ250F still be the better choice knowing that you would have to get the light kit? Does the CR tranny give a smoother power curve (make it easier to loft the front tire at lower rpm for log jumping)? Are there other reasons that you would stay with the YZ for tight woods/harescrambling?
Thanks again for all the info!!
Woodsy


Posted by: truespode---------------------

Considering the street legal issue you may want to look at the DRZ400. The dual sport one is a little heavy but you can modify it easy enough to be as good as the dirt only DRZ400.

Since you have to have the lights for the street legal then I'd choose the WR over the YZ b/c you'll be taking it on the road. However, if I was making any bike a street legal bike I'd do it with the WR400/426/450.

However, that is just my personal opinion. There is a good dualsport thread in this forum... do a search for XR650. Also check out the thumper forum. They have some really good threads on dualsporting.

Ivan


Posted by: truespode---------------------

Quote:
Originally posted by woodsy
Does the CR tranny give a smoother power curve (make it easier to loft the front tire at lower rpm for log jumping)? Are there other reasons that you would stay with the YZ for tight woods/harescrambling?
Thanks again for all the info!!
Woodsy


My preference for the YZ over the WR for HS is just that the YZ doesn't need much to race a HS. Throw on good tires, soften the compression, put on good bars and bark busters and you are ready.

With the WR you have to cut the grey wire, remove the baffle and remove the throttle stop. You also may want to change to the YZ timing.

Not really too bad to mod but the big tank on the 01 and 02's make it a not so enticing choice IMO.

The 250, either the WR or the YZF will easily loft the front end with a gearing change to your preference. I went up one tooth on the rear for what I do now but when I did mostly woods I went up 2 teeth on the rear sprocket and the bike would easily loft the front end in 2nd and 3rd with the blip of the throttle.

Ivan


Posted by: tigerowner---------------------

If I were wanting a competative bike that i could streetlegalize I would go for the WR 450. It has the magc button and plenty of power for the highway. It will also rip on a trail or the track after a few easy mods (assuming it is restricted). The 03 Wr 250 also has these features but you will be wanting more power if you hit the highway.



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