Yamaha WR250X
Summary:
Unintimidating, undaunting, and uncomplicated, the WR250X may be the ideal bike for someone looking to commute during the day and carve some corners at night.
Engine Size: 250cc
Price (new): $7,699 CDN/$6,190 USD
Comparable bikes: Suzuki DR200SE, Yamaha TW200, Yamaha XT250, Honda CRF230M
Our Yamaha WR250X Review:
A lot of people don’t find the look of a naked bike appealing, yet every time I look at the Yamaha WR250X I can’t help but appreciate the aesthetics. Its rugged appearance is also very indicative of what this bike is capable of: this bike can go off-road just as well as it stays on them.
Many new riders don’t consider dual-purpose motorcycles, instead opting to look at the sport bikes. It’s a shame, as a good dual-purpose bike can be as much, if not more, fun than a trimmed down sport bike. If you ever plan on hitting some back country roads, a sport bike may not even be a feasible option anyway, and that’s where the WR250X shines.
It can, and will, do whatever you tell it to do. You say left, it goes left. You say right, it goes right. You say jump, and it will ask you how high. As far as communicative and obedient bikes go, a good dual-sport like the WR250X is hard to beat.
It’s no slouch compared to the “sportier” bikes (Honda CBR125R, Kawasaki Ninja 250R) in its class either- with 17.7ft-lbs of torque, it will get you going wherever you need to be. It’s relatively small 250cc engine is definitely not the best for highway riding, but that’s something that’s common of smaller bikes. However, that smaller engine also makes the WR250X lighter, more agile, and much more forgiving.
Many motorcycle training classes use dual-sports as the primary bikes the students use, and when I took my place I actually rode a WR250X. It was the first motorcycle I had ever sat on, and over the next 7 days it would take me from extreme newbie to competent new rider, and it did it comfortably and without any fuss (even when I dropped it once or twice).
Since it’s naked, dropping it isn’t the end of the world as there is minimal body work to worry about getting damaged. As well, its light weight minimizes any damage that it may receive when a new rider inevitably drops it.
The Bottom Line:
Get on and ride wherever you want to go. Point the WR250X in a direction and it will take you there, even when the pavement stops. For a new rider looking for a bike with utility you can’t do much better than the Yamaha WR250X.
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Category: Under 500cc, Yamaha
I averaged around 60 mpg when I rode the wr250x which, when you think about how I was riding it (HARD!!), is actually pretty darn good. What I really liked about this bike was the riding position- I sat up straight, tucked into the bike, and felt completely isolated from the open world around me.
I’m more of a sports bike guy myself, but given that not everybody wants to look like they’re going fast even when they’re not, I’d have a hard time NOT recommending this bike to a new rider.
Also, these things really seem to hold their value.
Other than being a little expensive, this bike is AWESOME. It’s a supermoto that anyone can ride!
I like this bike because it is versatile… I can ride to work in it or just use it for fun. Not the fastest out there, but it definitively serves its purpose. I think it should be a bit cheaper though for what it is.
I like this bike a lot. It is plenty fast for what I use it for. The only bad thing is that it is over priced. It should be like a 4,000-5,000 bike.
Other than being a little bit too pricey, this bike is pretty much perfect. Handles very well, and goes FAST! It doesn’t look as good as a Ninja or a more sporty bike, but if you don’t care about looks the Yamaha is perfect.
If the price was right this bike would be a jawdropper, buuuut that’s my only complaint. Everything else is tip top!
This is a very strange looking bike, but it runs well and is fairly cheap. I don’t love it, but it is decent. I sold mine and traded it in for a Ninja 500cc, and im much happier with that.
The funnest motorcycle I’ve owned.
Way more fun than a big sportbike on city streets and for everyday riding. The WR250X carves corners like a J.A. Hinkels through a ham on Thanksgiving. It will chump more powerful sportbikes on tight twisty roads. Really nasty road, and chewed up pavement? Stand up on the pegs and let the WR250X eat it up. Handles well in wet road conditions too thanks to its lightweight, easy handling, and those meaty slicks. You wanna jump it? Go ahead! How many street bikes can say they can do all that and still get 70mpg?
It’s also very comfortable and easy to ride. Only criticism is that some may be put off by the high seat height (which really isn’t a big problem because the bike balances like a gyroscope at low speed), and you can feel heat off the high mounted exhaust when not moving.
It’s also an anti-sportbike for people who don’t want to follow the crowd.
Many cite that it is priced rather high vis-a-vis other comparable bikes including Yamaha’s other dual sport line – the XT250. But this is due to its higher build quality.
It may only be 250cc if you look only at engine numbers, but Yamaha’s fuel-injected engine puts out 28 HP on a sub 300 lb stock bike and is rated to get 70mpg. The Suzuki DR-Z400sm, by comparison, is 400cc but only has around 7 more HP in stock form over the WR250X, and is rated at 50mpg.
It’s also way less maintenance than its European exclusive brand counterparts. High performance and low maintenance is often an inverse relationship. High performance autos and motorcycles often require a lot more maintenance than consumer aimed daily drivers/riders. Yamaha has balanced the two by providing a high performing motorcycle with low-maintenance so you get a daily commuter friendly bike which also rides like a thoroughbred. If you see it this way, it’s a bargain.
At 250cc, it’s got its limits when you put it up against more powerful bikes. But unless you’re planning to ride it on the Autobahn, it will cruise comfortably at 115-120km/h or 70-75 mph in sixth gear with power to spare. Only caveat is that it’s not comfortable at speeds above this due to the lack of windshield, and its short wheelbase and quick steering makes it a bit twitchy at high speeds.
My ratings are based on what the bike is intended for and whether it meets or exceeds those intentions. In my opinion, the WR250X exceeds its intended purposes as a 250cc bike designed to be street friendly while delivering performance.
It’s a sick bike! If you go to Youtube you can see lots of vids of riders doing some wicked stuff on it like jumping, wheeling, power slides.
It’s easy to ride but I wouldn’t really say it’s a beginner bike. It’s more of an beginner/intermediate machine since it has a dauntingly high seat height so don’t expect to be able to flat foot both feet even if you’re pretty tall. Also the bike is torquey and requires good throttle and clutch control.
The Kawasaki KLX250SF, and Honda CRF230m are also supermoto style bikes but have lower seat heights, not as torquey, and also cheaper.
But if you have at least a year of riding experience, or looking to get into stunt biking, or recreational supermoto riding, then the WR250X will fill the bill.
When judging a bike one needs to remember its purpose, specs and what was it the engineers bore in mind while planning it.
I can say, that thinking of all of the above – the Yamaha is an excellent starter bike that fits snugly into the A1 license restrictions in Europe.
I would have to say this bike is an amazing beginner bike, and that it is worth the price. The fuel injection, titanium intake valves, and electronic exaust and intake valves make this bike worth the price.
It isn’t just super powerful, but the handling more than makes up for it. While the lower power makes it nice for beginners, a taller experienced rider would also like this bike because it is so flickable. Direction changes are no-brainers, and it doesn’t take long for you to start scraping the foot pegs. For more power an FMF pipe and programer can be added.
Over all this bike is near-perfect for a beginner, the only problem a beginner could have with this is the throttle response can seem abrupt before you get used to it.
I bought this bike new after I took a rider course and became licensed in 2008. After 7,000 miles on the wr250x I have only one complaint.
I like it so much I can’t bring myself to sell it and buy a bigger bike! It’s such a great commuter and so much fun to ride that I think I’ll just have to keep it forever.
In a few years I’d like to take a cross country trip. I already have my eye on a Triumph 1050 speed triple for a long ride out west. I guess I’ll be a two bike owner then. I just can’t part with my wr250x.