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WR250X - school me

Killin_ix

Killin_ix

New member
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Location
SF - fog city
Moto(s)
Ninja 400
Name
Eric
That supermoto craving has gotten to me again.

I have a chance to get either a DRZ400sm or a WR250X for about the same price. I've owned a stock DRZ last year and liked it a lot. With that said the old tech (carbs, no fuel light, etc.) was a bit annoying but not a deal breaker. I'm kinda curious on the differences in owning and riding the WR. From my research, the WR is awesome in terms of maintenance - 21k before valve check, longer duration before oil changes and no need to rejet or cleaning carb since its fuel injected. My concern is the power difference. Will it be a night and day difference from a DRZ?

My main use will be comutting and weekend canyon craving. Need something that would handle 20 miles of freeway (one way).

Anyone that had both or a WR care to comment?
 
I can basically tell you after owning them. WR250X is the best bike out there... Many will differ I have endless reasons why. Its just hard finding one for a decent price. Shoot me a pm and il answer any questions you have about the wr.
 
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If a wr is slower than a drz, it must be horrible on the freeway. I have a modded drz thats great at 80-85mph. In fact, i commute 40 miles a day with it. I might be selling my drz400sm. Has all the goodies you can put on. Just no big bore kit.
 
ABC said:
I can basically tell you after owning them. WR250X is the best bike out there... Many will differ I have endless reasons why. Its just hard finding one for a decent price. Shoot me a pm and il answer any questions you have about the wr.
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Shooting you a PM.

caideN said:
If a wr is slower than a drz, it must be horrible on the freeway. I have a modded drz thats great at 80-85mph. In fact, i commute 40 miles a day with it. I might be selling my drz400sm. Has all the goodies you can put on. Just no big bore kit.
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Shooting you a PM too! But I'm curious on why you say the WR is horrible on the freeway? From what I researched, I heard if you get the correct gearing it would be the opposite. Plus the WR has 6 gears compared to the DRZ 5.
 
Crusing with the 6 speed might be find but good luck speeding up if needed. I've ridden both and I was uncomfortable on the freeway with the wr.
 
I had the same issue 4 months ago and researched both. In the end, I chose the WR250X. It's a fun bike in the twisties...it's so light you feel like your riding a bicycle...

I put a fuel controller, after market exhaust, and "modded" the air box to uncork it. It's definitely a fun bike. I take mine on the freeway from time to time and it's fine.
 
I don't own a WR250 but any 250 single is going to be running hard if you want to run 65mph or more. My Ninja 250 is about right if you keep your speeds reasonable and gear the bike properly. My DRZ400SM is about the lower limit on the street, again with the right gearing. Running singles WFO will burn them down eventually, it is really hard duty on a single, a lot of heat is generated in the exhaust valve area. The smaller singles are much better on two lane roads at 55 mph.
 
Dan21774 said:
I had the same issue 4 months ago and researched both. In the end, I chose the WR250X. It's a fun bike in the twisties...it's so light you feel like your riding a bicycle...

I put a fuel controller, after market exhaust, and "modded" the air box to uncork it. It's definitely a fun bike. I take mine on the freeway from time to time and it's fine.
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I know it's only been about 4 months but how is the maintenance? Any issues so far?

madmax650 said:
I saw one in Palo Alto with a lot of nice mods for sale. Check out cl.
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Thanks! I got my eye on a few options right now.

russ69 said:
I don't own a WR250 but any 250 single is going to be running hard if you want to run 65mph or more. My Ninja 250 is about right if you keep your speeds reasonable and gear the bike properly. My DRZ400SM is about the lower limit on the street, again with the right gearing. Running singles WFO will burn them down eventually, it is really hard duty on a single, a lot of heat is generated in the exhaust valve area. The smaller singles are much better on two lane roads at 55 mph.
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Thank you for the input. I've had a 250 ninja that was used as a commuter for about 3 months. Bombing down 280 wasn't fun but it was bearable. The little ninjas were made to rev high and take that abuse. Not sure about thumpers. But logically, your statement make sense. That's why I'm interested in the WR250X - it has a longer maintenance schedule.
 
Drz owner here.

Tons o' fun, they really shine in the twisties and urban riding. Gobs of 'seat of the pants' torque. Tons of aftermarket support and mountains of info and support on the internet. Stone reliable. Did I mention fun.

I've only ridden a WR once and that was short amount of time. Felt more flickable than the Drz(!), felt just as quick, but felt like it was missing the torque.

I commuted on the DRZ for about 3 mos, but can't say I really enjoyed it, I always felt like I had taken it out of it's element and was wringing it's neck in the wrong way. But it was fine. Really, I wouldn't get either for commute duty.

I would trade my drz today for a WR for 1. the weight 2. the f.i. 3. the extra gear and 4. the maintenance schedule. And I enjoy trying different bikes over time.

Good luck.
 
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I have a DRZsm currently and intend to sell it and buy a WR250R and get the sumo wheels. Then I have a sweet dirtbike sumo combo.
 
Never ridden a WR, but I have owned 2 DRZs. One with an FCR carb and full open exhaust. I consider the carb a "must-have" and still regret selling it.
 
I purchased a drz400 two months back. Fun, light-ish, good power for what it is (e model makes a few more hp than stock drz-sm), lots of aftermarket from what I've seen, cross compatibility between the different submodels.

I'm envious of f.i., and the 6-speed. Service interval difference / working on them isn't that big of a deal. It's a dirtbike

That said I haven't ridden one just seen em ridden. They go fine on the freeway. ABC knows whatsup with them.
 
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matty said:
Drz owner here.

Tons o' fun, they really shine in the twisties and urban riding. Gobs of 'seat of the pants' torque. Tons of aftermarket support and mountains of info and support on the internet. Stone reliable. Did I mention fun.

I've only ridden a WR once and that was short amount of time. Felt more flickable than the Drz(!), felt just as quick, but felt like it was missing the torque.

I commuted on the DRZ for about 3 mos, but can't say I really enjoyed it, I always felt like I had taken it out of it's element and was wringing it's neck in the wrong way. But it was fine. Really, I wouldn't get either for commute duty.

I would trade my drz today for a WR for 1. the weight 2. the f.i. 3. the extra gear and 4. the maintenance schedule. And I enjoy trying different bikes over time.

Good luck.
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Thank you for the feedback. Very insightful.
 
revnort said:
I have a DRZsm currently and intend to sell it and buy a WR250R and get the sumo wheels. Then I have a sweet dirtbike sumo combo.
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I haven't thought having a dual setup.

I know that the DRZ is too heavy for real dirt biking, maybe trail/enduro, but can the WR handle dirt riding with just the switch of the wheels?
 
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airrix said:
I haven't thought having a dual setup.

I know that the DRZ is too heavy for real dirt biking, maybe trail/enduro, but can the WR handle dirt riding with just the switch of the wheels?
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My intention was always to get a set of dirt wheels for the DRZ but I never got around to it, as you said its too heavy. The WR is a much better dirt bike. I intend to start with the R model rather than the X as it has longer suspension travel. Although I think the brakes are worse.

I did some research awhile ago but I don't recall the details. Either bike can handle the wheel swap but it may require swapping out the rotor...

There is a bunch of info out there if you look into it. I think thumper talk has 3,004,592 threads on the WRs. :laughing

Also the R can be found a lot cheaper.
 
I've had both.

The WR is the better bike out of the box. It has FI, six-speed, better suspension, long valve check intervals - it's just a more modern bike.

The DR-Z has more options to make it into the bike you want. It has tons of power, brake, suspension, wheel, etc mods available. You can put a big bore and a flat-slide on it and change the bike. You can get various desert tanks, racks, seats, you name it to make it an offroad-capable ADV bike.

So if you want a fun bike out of the box, go WR. If you like to fiddle and make the bike your own, go DRZ.

With either bike, you can have both an SM and dualsport setup, and have two bikes in one.
 
Roadstergal said:
I've had both.

The WR is the better bike out of the box. It has FI, six-speed, better suspension, long valve check intervals - it's just a more modern bike.

The DR-Z has more options to make it into the bike you want. It has tons of power, brake, suspension, wheel, etc mods available. You can put a big bore and a flat-slide on it and change the bike. You can get various desert tanks, racks, seats, you name it to make it an offroad-capable ADV bike.

So if you want a fun bike out of the box, go WR. If you like to fiddle and make the bike your own, go DRZ.

With either bike, you can have both an SM and dualsport setup, and have two bikes in one.
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Damn it Carrie stop making me rethink the decision I have been putting off pulling the trigger on.

My DRZ has everything but the big bore. Flat slide, full exhaust, big tank, levers, sliders, and cool performance stickers. It is still a fucking blast, but I want more capable offroad bike that is still fun in the city and at the kart track. I don't have the space to add a dedicated trail bike. :(

That said, every time I ride it I decide I can't sell it. :laughing

So there isn't a big aftermarket scene for the WRs? I have ridden a few and they are damn fun and soooo much lighter than the dizzer. Dare I say the front comes up easier too. The 6th gear is great and actually besides the weight it did just about as well on the highway as the DRZ...
 
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WR is fine on the freeway IMO, but I don't feel the need to go much over 85 anyway. But for longer freeway commutes I much prefer my 690 SMC. And it's just fine in urban/twisties too, just not as agile feeling as the WR. But if I had to pick one when faced with a 20 mile freeway commute I'd go with the SMC.

I *may* sell the SMC since I don't do much freeway these days, but hard to let it go
 
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