Yamaha Wr250f
YAMAHA WR25OF
Quick Ride
The blue buzz-bomb gets a button
THE PROBLEM WITH YAMAha’s racing-oriented WR250F has always been that it’s too high-strung for casual trail riding. The highrevving 250cc four-stroke offers performance similar to that of a 125cc two-stroke, so if you weren’t considering purchasing one of the latter, you shouldn’t be thinking about the former. Except this year’s addition of electric starting really changes the picture.
Traditionally, the WR has not fit the type of rider who’s interested in a trailbike. Those folks were better off considering tamer alternatives such as Yamaha’s TT-R250, Suzuki’s DR-Z 250 or Honda’s XR250R. Unless they liked to spend a lot of time kickstarting a stalled WR, which was what many previous buyers did. But thanks to the new electric starter, stalling is now remedied by a simple push on the button, no strengthsapping kickstarts required.
That’s not all Yamaha fixed on the WR, however. Given the added weight of the electric starter, shaving ounces from other areas was a big concern. Although the WR now tips the scales at a relatively heavy 251 pounds without gas, no one will complain based on the other benefits.
The slimmer, flatter rider compartment, for one. The rear of the seat isn’t as thickly padded as before, but it sure is thinner and easier to move around on now. Gone is that bulbous fuel tank, too, replaced by a motocross-width 2.6-gallon container.
Of course, we rode the WR in full-power mode, meaning the stock throttle stop and airbox baffle were removed, and the
gray wire on the ignition disconnected. We also replaced the exhaust baffle with a GYTR part ($39) that limits exhaust volume to 96 decibels, which is now California law for “red sticker” OH Vs produced after
1998. We didn’t switch the cam timing over to YZ specs, as was popular on the older WRs, however, because you now have to replace the cam with one from a YZ due to the automatic-decompression device. Besides, for off-road riding, the WR timing is better.
Because run, it does. This isn’t your typical 250cc Thumper; it’s actually fast, provided you zing it hard. There is a small amount of torque on the bottom-though you’d better be good with the clutch!-and as the revs rise, the WR feels like it’s going to explode with power, but never does. It just keeps pulling ’til the very top end, where it finally runs nicely into a soft rev-limiter.
The suspension got some major help, as well. WRs have always felt somewhat confused, but Yamaha went with softer, more enduro-like settings that really work. Now able to blow through the travel, the fork and shock still resist bottoming, better even than on the YZs. The enduro still has a slight topheavy feel compared to a motocross bike, but it’s much better than before-especially considering there’s a battery under the seat! Stability is a WR strong point, yet thanks to the new seat and tank, it turns great, too.
At $5699, the WR250F has crossed a bridge with its electric starter, making it a better choice for way more riders. It’s also now a lot more of what an offroad bike is supposed to be: fun!
-Jimmy Lewis
