Any of you KLX250s guys ride with someone on a WR250R?

I know the WR makes more power stock, has better suspension making it more costly but was wondering if you invested the extra money into mods for the KLX would it run or surpass a WR?

Reason I ask is guys on another forum know Im in the market for a dual sport and are trying to talk me into a WR.

I know they are nice but I think the price is quite high for a 250cc. Ive been researching dual sports for a while now and the KLX250s just seems like the right bike for me.

Convince me not to turn to the dark side. Id rather be surfing these forums in a couple months

 

I can't...if the wr existed when I bought the klx back in 06, I would have gotten the wr.....but then again, if I knew everything that I know now back then I would have just bought a ktm 300 xc-w smoker....probably cheapest way in the long run.

Now my advice, first.. buy USED, second, if you don't mind putting a 351 kit, a fcr, and porting the the head with larger valves and a nice set of cams.....that klx will smoke any modded wr.....as far as I know you cannot get more than 285 cc's outta a wr.

If you leave it mostly stock with pipe and rejet or power commander for the wr....get the wr.

Just my opine....ymmv.

Oh yeah....BUY USED!!!

 

I rode a buddy's 08 WR with exhaust and the FI system tweaked somehow - it was nice but not really anything special. The motor was still pretty weak. I liked the suspension though... I dunno, for the extra money, if you really want the KLX, get that and the big bore and you're probably still under the WR's price.

 

What do you want the bike for mate? If it's for true dual-purpose where you ride a fair amount on the blacktop as well as your offroad riding, then the KLX was my choice because of the significantly longer servicing intervals compared with the WR. If it's mainly for weekend warrior offroading, then I would have gone the WR.

If you go for the KLX, factor in the dynojet kit, air filter, and pipe to whatever price you pay. If you do decent offroading and are heavier than 180lbs then you'll probably want to factor in suspension work on both bikes too - though the WR will probably just need tuning as opposed to the KLX that will need springs.

Good luck choosing...

 

It will be driven on the road allot. Longer miles between service is a big plus for me. Im 6 ft 175lbs so no need for suspension work. I never plan to treat is as a motocross bike(jumps and such). Just want something to hit the trails for a nice off road adventure.

I do plan to buy a KLX but wanted to bring up the subject out of curiosity.

 

have you ridden both? they are quite different. What are you going to do with it? Both bikes have pro's and cons to weigh out.

I've ridden 2 wr's, stock and modded. I liked them but wasn't ready to trade off or have regrets. My 1st impression was, wow-they forgot to install the torque. It's a new school rev motor, you use a lot of clutch at low speeds and a lot of rpms on top. Klx is old school lug chug on the bottom and runs out of breath where the wr just gets started. It "feels" stronger but isn't as fast. In the slow going, woods etc, the lx power is better IMO, on the road the wr works good once you get used to spinning it a million rpms all the time. Suspension is way better on the wr. KLX turns better in the woods, wr is noticabley heavier (don't care what the brochure weights say). It feels like it shoulda be a 450, where the klx is no lightweight but the guys with the wr's both said how light it felt. If someone were giving one away I'd take the wr for sure, it's nice. But after riding both I have no regrets with the klx I bought (used) for a fraction of the price.

 

Thats strange about the feeling of the weight of the bike. that was one of the pluses for the WR for me. Id much rather have a lighter feeling bike (fits my style better)

Havnt ridden either bike but have rode an older KDX200 2 stroke. That was one light feeling bike and was extremely comfortable to me.


ETA

looked up the specs on a KDX200 Dry weight: 222.6 lbs.

 

ive riden with a few, normally there in my dust if that explains anything (or in english, bikes are basicly the same, it some down to the rider).

 

I rode with a guy for a week in the Big Bend NP area last December. He had a WR250X with knobbies...same suspension travel as the WR250R BTW. His WR ran like a scalded cat. His suspension wasn't close to mine, however. Recently, the guy I bought my '06 KLX250 from bought a used WR250R...said he missed having a 250 DS bike. His bike is stock, and it sits much higher than my '06, even though my '06 has more travel. I even have stiffer springs front and rear on mine, but it still sits comfortably lower. His saddle height was darned tall, and the bike didn't feel very plush.

 

The WR is alot stronger. I have a WR & KLX. Simply put the WR with a full exhaust, stock airbox, & programmer out powers my 300cc dynojet, open air box, slip on KLX. The bike revs instantly in comparison also. I actually dont find the suspension on the WR as anything special, I prefer the KLX with stiffer springs more comfortable but the front end dive is annoying (even with stiffer springs). BTW ny WR is an X. The brakes are a HUGE difference. The KLX front brake is just pure garbage, the WR is soooo smooth (remember I have the X). I had an EBC SM disc & stainless line on the KLX & that was OK but I went back to stock & it is borderline unsafe. I put I stainless line on the WR (I put them on all my bikes) & can outbrake the KLx with one finger.