Anyone done any Cross Country or really big rides on their wr250r?

I'm wanting to pick up a good dual sport this year and need something with either a 6th gear or a good tall 5th. I've looked at getting a xr650l, putting it on a crash diet and a cr250 fork swap and good shock. However, the 250r with a big bore would surely be more fun in the dirt. I want something that can knock down the miles when needed though. What's your experience?

Just a few...

How I Spent My Summer Vacation, or 6000 miles on a WR250R (mine)

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=500618

Pop & Pax - West TAT 2009

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=510252

Rocky Mountain HighFive

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=490059

To The Bottom Of Ongtupqa And Back...

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=471500

BigDogs---WR250R Fall Ride

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=518301

BigDog---Shadow of the Rockies trail

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=508875

BigDog---Poncho and Lefty

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=430509

TATtered old men -Eastern TAT Edition.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=471762Eastern

Continental Divide Ride August 2009

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=499127

I'm sure I'm missing a few (apologies...) but these should be some good reading.

IMO this is the perfect travel bike with or without (if you don't mind bringing extra gas) the big tank. Its got a fairly comfortable saddle once you add a pad of some sort (I liked my Alaskan Leather, HF likes his AirHawk), 6th gear makes for easy cruising and the gear spread is such that you won't really need to change gearing on your trip if you're set up with a 13/45 on a stock tire or 13/46 or 47 with a taller than stock tire (fwiw BigDog is happy with his stock gearing). Fuel injection means no rejetting for altitude, I ran mine from sea level to 14000+ feet without a hiccup. Though the manual calls for premium, it will run fine on regular. The rear subframe is strong enough to handle as much gear as you can pack (I had over 50 pounds with the 2gal gas can on mine, down to half that now...). Its easy on tires, chains, and sprockets. Its got a decent headlight and pretty good stock suspension for a dual sport. It also has a huge alternator (350w) for running GPS, heated gear, lights, and whatever else you want. The big bore is unnecessary, I'd rather have the stock innards to not worry about.

Hey skierd ....

Can I go with the 13/45 combo with the stock chain ?? My WR has under 1K miles on it ...

Thanks ... GsVs

IMO this is the perfect travel bike with or without (if you don't mind bringing extra gas) the big tank. Its got a fairly comfortable saddle once you add a pad of some sort (I liked my Alaskan Leather, HF likes his AirHawk), 6th gear makes for easy cruising and the gear spread is such that you won't really need to change gearing on your trip if you're set up with a 13/45 on a stock tire or 13/46 or 47 with a taller than stock tire (fwiw BigDog is happy with his stock gearing). Fuel injection means no rejetting for altitude, I ran mine from sea level to 14000+ feet without a hiccup. Though the manual calls for premium, it will run fine on regular. The rear subframe is strong enough to handle as much gear as you can pack (I had over 50 pounds with the 2gal gas can on mine, down to half that now...). Its easy on tires, chains, and sprockets. Its got a decent headlight and pretty good stock suspension for a dual sport. It also has a huge alternator (350w) for running GPS, heated gear, lights, and whatever else you want. The big bore is unnecessary, I'd rather have the stock innards to not worry about.

Larry you can run the stock chain with that.

Did the Lost coast Duel Sport ride with North Bay M/C from Ukiah, CA to Fortuna, CA. 210 miles on Saturday and on the way back on Sunday 175 miles. Saturday we did as much single track as we could and we were on the road for over 10 hours.

Not the most comfortable thing by the last day but she did fine. LOTS of hills and long highway rides. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=485805

I second the big bore point. If I thought any of the big bores would last as long and be as reliable on the open road as the stock setup I would have one.

Not the most comfortable thing by the last day but she did fine. LOTS of hills and long highway rides. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=485805

I missed that one, subscribed to read it later...

Thanks for the links, there's some great reads in there. Bike seems like it's more that the sum of it's parts. It just works I guess. Thanks for the input, I'll keep an eye out this fall, it'll be time for a bike by then.