Yamaha Wr25of
YAMAHA WR25OF
Little bark with lots of bite
CYCLE WORLD TEST
RYAN DUDEK
OFF-ROAD, right? Well, BIG maybe THUMPERS not. See, RULE while SUPREME, 450class four-strokes produce ungodly amounts of power and torque, they can sometimes be too much bike for the job-or the rider. That’s where 250cc four-stroke enduros come into play; in particular, the subject of this test, Yamaha’s 2007 WR250F, renewed with an aluminum frame and engine upgrades that boost usability.
The result is a fun, easy-to-ride package that’s also very close to competition-ready-previous-model Yamaha WR250s have notched four World Enduro class titles.
In showroom-stock form, the electric-start, liquid-cooled, fivevalve motor meets tough California green-sticker regs. At the WR’s Costa Rica press launch and later back in the States, we tested the bike in “closed-course” mode (throttle stop, airbox snorkel and auxiliary muffler baffle removed), which really wakes up the powerband, while retaining its quiet, user-friendly character.
Even uncorked, the WR’s power is super-controllable; the rear Dunlop is always hooked up. There’s racy power available, too, as long as the rider doesn’t mind zingin’ the revs.
Performance goals for 2007 were to improve low-to-midrange power. To accomplish this, the 250 has a new intake camshaft profile, revised cam timing and a remapped ignition. The 37mm Keihin FCR flatslide was rejetted to match. New transmission ratios complement the power characteristics. First and second gear are now higher, third is almost the same, and fourth and fifth are lower. In the final drive, the rear sprocket was changed to a 50-tooth from a 52. First gear is perfect for tight, tough slogging, and the
other four transfer power seamlessly, although our testbike’s tranny hung up in neutral a few times during the 1-2 upshift.
Good as the revised engine is, the headline here is the all-new frame. It goes from steel to aluminum, a combination of forgings, castings and extrusions based on the YZ250F motocross frame but with a different head-tube position and .2-inch-lower footpeg mounts. Yamaha’s focus was to make the WR more suitable for tight trails, so the
new frame has a lower center of gravity. Helping is the fact that the backbone no longer carries oil; it’s now held in a .76-quart tank located low and in front of the engine, protected by a substantial plastic skidplate.
These changes have succeeded in making the WR250F a light-handling machine. It’s extremely nimble, effortlessly reacts to rider input and is so easy to ride we never got tired even after a full day of busting trails.
An opened-up cockpit really enhances rider control. The WR’s seat is lower and flatter than before, and a taller ProTaper handlebar with adjustable mounts reduces vibration, allowing a more precise feel from the front end. The new fuel tank mounts lower and holds 2.1 gallons of gas; it’s the same capacity as before, but is noticeably slimmer in design.
While all these changes vastly improve ease of movement aboard the bike, one thing we didn’t like about the lowered center of gravity is that ground clearance was reduced to just 12 inches, somewhat low for a true off-roader. Factor in the lowered footpegs, and riders’ feet are at a higher risk of getting tangled up with trail obstacles. We didn’t encounter any problems during our test, but it did reduce our confidence when charging through rock-littered ravines.
Bringing our mojo right back was the superb KYB suspension front and rear. New valving and spring rates in both fork and shock add to the WR’s ultra-stable ride. And Yamaha even gave the WR a titanium shock spring to match its five Ti valves!
At $6399, the WR is also fitted with a bunch of goodies normally sourced from aftermarket, such as a headlight that actually does the job at night, a full-on enduro computer, a top-notch aluminum kickstand and wave rotors front and rear.
Alloy frame and all, the new WR shaved just 1 pound compared to the ’06 steel-framer. When riding it, though, the new bike feels like it lost 10. With its newfound nimbleness, its traction-seeking powerband and its more spacious riding position, there’s a lot to like in the WR250F. For many of us, it’s all the off-roader we really need, the right bike for the job.
YAMAHA WR250F
$6399
