The Tenere made me do it - WR250R

[Dirt_Dad]

My plan for making my tires last just as long as everyone else is reporting. I'll punish these, and my not need to be so hard on my K60s any longer...maybe.





I was talking with spklbuk after a day ride we took last month. He told me he had all that motocross stuff out of his system. I realized I really don't have it out of my system yet. The Tenere has reawaken a sleeping part of my brain that loves dirt riding. My old V-Strom had put it to sleep, the S10 has been shaking me hard to get me going again.

The Tenere has both impressed me with what I can do with it, and frustrated me with what I can't. I love that I can take it most anywhere, but it is still my 600+lb beast that must go through the line I select and cannot skim over it. My favorite way of riding dirt is fast, lifting the front tire over whatever is in the way. I cannot get the S10 to lift up, so I must go much slower than I desire. Enter a real dirt bike.

At the moment I am not impressed with the WR's ability to lift the front end.



Much harder to get the front wheel off the ground than I would like. So I'm heading out now to go install the smaller counter sprocket that the PO purchased but never installed. He also gave me a emission bypass kit to install. I'll get that front end up one way or another.

Just checking out the suspension in the yard.

 

[spklbuk]

It's official...you suck! And congratulations. That's a fine machine. ::26:: I guess you will just have to go back and finish those water crossings!!



Now to tell the rest of the month ago tale. A lighter dual sport in my future someday, hopefully sooner rather than later.

 

[True Grip]

I was thinking you must have broke your right wrist ::025:: This is a much better solution. I've been thinking about one for awhile. I bailed out on the COBDR after the 3rd section the Tenere is just to heavy "for me" to be taken some places by myself. It never let me down i just became paranoid after hearing a few stories. The WR would make a good TAT and BDR bike in my opinion. It would just have to be trailered to where i want to ride, I'm not riding one across the plains on slab. Looks like your having fun already, keep us posted what you like and don't like about it as time goes on.

 

[trikepilot]

Been thinking these same lines and been talking with DirtDad about his thought process. I am pretty sure that as soon as the KLR sells, I'll be getting something a bit smaller. I stopped by my local Kawi dealer (Jim - it's United Cycles in Beckley) where they have two used WR250R's and two used DR400's. I sat on them both but I was in town via the cage so I had no way to get a test ride. I liked everything I saw on the WR250R except the seat seems to be very hard and narrow and would not be fun for long distance rides. Hope to get back that way when I have my riding gear so I can take one for a spin. Now I just gotta move that old KLR...

 

[Dirt_Dad]

It's official...you suck!

I know. It's a curse.

And congratulations. That's a fine machine. ::26::

Thank you, and the jury is still out.

I guess you will just have to go back and finish those water crossings!!

The second one would be dramatically easier on this little thing.

I was thinking you must have broke your right wrist ::025:: This is a much better solution. I've been thinking about one for awhile. I bailed out on the COBDR after the 3rd section the Tenere is just to heavy "for me" to be taken some places by myself. It never let me down i just became paranoid after hearing a few stories. The WR would make a good TAT and BDR bike in my opinion. It would just have to be trailered to where i want to ride, I'm not riding one across the plains on slab. Looks like your having fun already, keep us posted what you like and don't like about it as time goes on.

I don't blame you for bailing out. I'm pretty darn conservative where I take the 600+lb beast. Hasn't stopped me from getting it stuck 3 times now, but it's pretty conservative for me.

Been thinking these same lines and been talking with DirtDad about his thought process.

Now that I have finally ridden the WR for the first time ever, I'm not so sure I agree with the suggestion I gave you to say away due to power. In stock setup, this thing is no monster. It only starts to come to life when you get it to very high RPMs. If you were to like the fit of the bike (and sounds like that is not the case), I don't think it would be awful for your expressed goal.


So far riding it around my yard I'm unimpressed with changing from a 13 to a 12 tooth counter sprocket. The bike has nothing at all down low. I mean nothing. It does come to life in the higher RPMs. I'm going to do the airbox and emission bypass tomorrow to see if letting it breath more makes a noticeable difference.

If you keep it at high RPMs it feels like it will be fun. This is a totally different experience from my last two dirt bikes (KTM520EXC and Honda CRF450X). But I wanted to give a small bike a chance. I need to learn how to effectively ride this one, which will take time. It will be a few weeks before I can get it to a real trail to give 'er all she's got. But should have a plate on it by Monday and can take it off my property.

 

[cosmic]

Just a question... Why on a 250, and on top od that "R"?? I guess that your previous dirt bikes had no problem with lifting the front.


©

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Just a question... Why on a 250, and on top od that "R"?? I guess that your previous dirt bikes had no problem with lifting the front.


©

Reasonable questions. First the R because I am done with having to trailer a bike as the only way to get some place. I know that means it would get little use. Good riding is several hours from here.

Why a 250, and to take it a step further, a 250 with stock exhaust? Several reasons.
1) Part of justifying buying this bike is to call it exercise equipment. I'm planning to setup a little track with some jumps and stuff around my 3 acre yard. Mostly around the perimeter which you won't even be able to see from the house. I know how much I get winded on a MX track, I'm hoping to reproduce that here. I wanted something with a reputation of power but could be as quiet as possible to avoid getting the neighbors too annoyed.
2) I wanted a very light bike I could throw around. My last couple of bikes were a blast, but became a handful as the woods got more technical. I remember how awesome my wife could ride on a bike that I told her was way too small for her (TTR-125). She rocked that tiny thing and had a blast doing it. To be honest, I wanted to see what I could do with a bike that is way too small for me, at least in the power department.

Overall this small cc bike is an experiment for me. It's 5 years old and if it just doesn't work for me I don't think I'll lose a penny on it. It was a good enough deal that I decided, what the heck, I'll give it a shot.

 

[cosmic]

Well, you never mentioned that tiny 3 acre yard. I like to think too that my WR is a excercise tool. My offroad area is pretty close but i end up riding that monster in the city, mostly on rear wheel only. That's when i decided to take the plate off and buy a trailer. Completely opposite story. Anyway, congrats on your new bike. I wached plenty action videos with that small bike, and i was really surprised. And right you are, my 450 is sucking the life out on me on a really technical stuff.



©

 

[twinrider]

A friend installed an Athena 290 kit in his WR and was very pleased with the additional grunt. http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/accessories/acscitemdetail/5/511/2103/17741/all/1/9181/0/detail.aspx

 

[trikepilot]

Jon... do keep me updated as to what you find as you acclimatize to the WRR and what you do to make it what you want.

Meanwhile I will do my best to not yield to the temptation of getting one of those two WRR's that are at the dealer just 15 miles south of me BEFORE I sell the KLR.

And if you get back around these parts on the WRR instead of the S10, I'll try to bribe you with dinner and beers for some seat time.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

And if you get back around these parts on the WRR instead of the S10, I'll try to bribe you with dinner and beers for some seat time.

While I will never discourage attempts to bribe me, but I already owe one you for making it easier for me to get a beer last time we were out.

At the moment I don't anticipate getting the WR that far from home unless it's riding in a trailer. Which could happen because my wife will probably end up getting a XT250 at some point and Hatfield McCoy may be calling. I confident to say that won't happen this year.

 

[mbabc]

Love mine. Big blue still gets more love though.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Love mine. Big blue still gets more love though.

How is yours setup?

 

[Dirt_Dad]

The idea this was going to save tires on Tenere is looking to be on shaky ground. After only riding the WR yesterday I got on my wife's S10 this morning. Holy crap, the bike felt like a rocket ship. I was so giddy with power I found myself unintentionally (really) doing power sides on dry pavement. That's not going to help my tires any.

I've owned the WR for about 24 hours and have only put 10 or so mile on it, but I have already realized I need to step back and slow down. I spent part of the morning researching mods to make it more powerful. Some people say this or that makes a huge difference, others say something else.

STOP - I already know how to ride bikes with near unlimited power. I don't know anything about how to ride and enjoy a bike with limited power. That was the whole idea of getting this thing. So I'm going to stop chasing power right now, relax a little and learn to ride this thing. It is so dramatically different from any other bike I've owned I need to get to know it...then decide if I'm going to chase more power ::013::

 

[twinrider]

The idea this was going to save tires on Tenere is looking to be on shaky ground. After only riding the WR yesterday I got on my wife's S10 this morning. Holy crap, the bike felt like a rocket ship. I was so giddy with power I found myself unintentionally (really) doing power sides on dry pavement. That's not going to help my tires any.

I've owned the WR for about 24 hours and have only put 10 or so mile on it, but I have already realized I need to step back and slow down. I spent part of the morning researching mods to make it more powerful. Some people say this or that makes a huge difference, others say something else.

STOP - I already know how to ride bikes with near unlimited power. I don't know anything about how to ride and enjoy a bike with limited power. That was the whole idea of getting this thing. So I'm going to stop chasing power right now, relax a little and learn to ride this thing. It is so dramatically different from any other bike I've owned I need to get to know it...then decide if I'm going to chase more power ::013::

One thing I noticed when I rode my friend's stock WR was how weak the lower end was compared to my old XR250, needs to really be revved to get going. The big bore kit and an FI tuner fixed that.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

One thing I noticed when I rode my friend's stock WR was how weak the lower end was compared to my old XR250, needs to really be revved to get going. The big bore kit and an FI tuner fixed that.

I agree it is shockingly weak in the lower end. I'll probably do a FI tuner before I'd consider spending the $$ on the big bore kit. That's a fairly big commitment. I'd have to really love everything else about the bike before doing something like that.

 

[trikepilot]

While I will never discourage attempts to bribe me, but I already owe one you for making it easier for me to get a beer last time we were out.

At the moment I don't anticipate getting the WR that far from home unless it's riding in a trailer. Which could happen because my wife will probably end up getting a XT250 at some point and Hatfield McCoy may be calling. I confident to say that won't happen this year.

Well then bring both the SuperTens down and we can explore on the bigger bikes. I'll be honest with you, though, you'll be hard pressed to ride without all the congestion right here in the greater New River Gorge area. I am especially excited to find someone psyched to more thoroughly explore the Cranberry area for all those abandoned rail grades and forest roads. And I gotta take you out to the Gauley gorge via Panther Mtn Rd.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I'll be honest with you, though, you'll be hard pressed to ride without all the congestion right here in the greater New River Gorge area.

You're not really going to complain about traffic congestion to a guy who commutes in DC traffic every weekday...are you? I'm guessing the Boy Scouts are in town.

I'm not sure when I'll get back down to your area. I will let you know whenever it happens.





I took the entire Yamaha contingent out for rides today. They are all getting along just fine.



I'm getting optimistic the WR will teach me a thing or two. I'm able to get it up to about 60 mph (indicated) on my little backyard track. While it will not lift using just throttle, so far it has been light enough in the front that giving a small yank on the bars has allowed me to accomplish anything I've needed so far. I have a feeling I'm going to learn some new techniques.

 

[twinrider]

I agree it is shockingly weak in the lower end. I'll probably do a FI tuner before I'd consider spending the $$ on the big bore kit. That's a fairly big commitment. I'd have to really love everything else about the bike before doing something like that.

Fwiw, previously the same guy had a DRZ400S. I asked him which he rated higher and he said the DRZ because its suspension was much better and it made quite a bit more power. Still didn't stop him from doing the Athena 440 kit on the DRZ but then he mods the heck out of every bike he has....

 

[eemsreno]

I use mine when the Tenere can't make it there.