XR650R or WR450

[resslera]

I have been riding my gutless DR350 for 4 years and am getting ready to purchase a new bike. I have had my heart set on the XR650R since in came out in 2000 but right now I'm really leaning toward the WR450 for the fact it's light, and would make a great dual sport as would the XR. Should I ride red?

A

[big t]

I think the 650 would be better for a dual sport ride. I ride mine strictly off road but I know it would be a blast on the road. If I had the money I would buy another one and supermotard it. I was looking at the wr450 before I bought the 650. The 03 wr had woodruff key issues that scared me away. I think Yamaha has got that fixed for 04. The 650 is a big bike but for me the riding position is the most comfortable. You can't beat the Honda xr line for reliability. If you go with the wr get the 04. i don't think you can go wrong with either bike. Both will be a big step up from the dr350.

[smashinz2002]

If you haven't ridden an XR650R (uncorked) or a WR450, then you are in for a big suprise! I have a 650R, but I have owned a '00 YZ426, and it was awesome, super fast, but reliability issues forced me to sell it. I got the 650R to replace it. Now, the XR is so reliable it's unreal, I have never had a single problem with mine, and it's uncorked, jetted, and kicks ass big time! The XR's power is more concentrated on the low end and lower midrange, but you can tune it to your needs very easily, jetting is very easy with this bike.

Whichever bike you choose, either one will feel ungodly powerful compared to the old DR's (but of course the XR will have alot more torque than the WR). Not to mention handle so well you won't believe it. I used to have a '91 DR350 so I know what they are like.

L.L.

'00 XR650R

Uncorked w/180 main

airbox cutouts

no exhaust tip

[resslera]

Nope, I havn't ridden either bike at all. My DR350 is totally uncorked and at sea level it was ok. At 6ft 205 the XR feels good sitting on it but after the DR I am trying to stay away from another heavy bike (though I think the XR is still lighter than my DR). I'm thinking the power from the 650 would still be unmatched by the WR. We will see what happens ?

[huntmaster]

After fours years of 650R ownership I have had the new WR on my short list for next time also. I too was scared off by the Yamaha's woodroffe key issues (which are supposed to be sorted now)but with a CRF450X still not in sight the Yamaha becomes an obvious alternative. Too be honest I wasn't too impressed with the earlier kick-only WR's, which don't "feel" 25 lbs lighter then the Honda. And the bigger you are the less you notice this...and the more you appreciate the Honda's extra cubes. Add quirky starting and less motor and it was a hard sell, particularly when compared to the potent XR with typical Honda fit, finish, reliability and durability to boot.

Now, magic button, more motor, better ergos, mechanically sorted ....it is hard to dismiss the new WR450. ?

[Vick115]

I also looked at the 650 honda. my last dual sport was an 97 XR650L that was a really fun bike after i spent some money getting the motor to run like it should have from the getgo.

i have an '02 YZ426 that is awesome so i decided to go with the '03 WR450. i had the woodruff key issue done and re-jetted and did the "normal" mods and geared her up pretty good and threw on a Baja kit and she is great on the street and dirt. not as smooth on the road as my XR was but much faster. will cruise at 65mph and hit over 100mph in a real hurry.

im sure you will be happy with either bike. i just didnt want another "heavy" bike. been there done that.

[ineedmyspeed]

What a bunch of wimps ...."heavy bike"??? Get real...unless of course ya spend most of your time pick'n it up.

I road the WR before I bought my BRP, it ain't even in the same league. I ride tight twisty woods and love my BRP. ? Hill climbs...holy smokes, if ya could hang onto it that sucker could climb trees.

Don't get me wrong I like the WR it's a good bike. But before I'd get it I'd get a CRF450. Button? Yeah my wife wants an e-start. Properly tuned it cranks easy, one slow long kick. With a quicksilver you can lay it over and it'll still run.

Dual sport, definitely the XR! The long wheelbase and rake angle make it much more stable in high speed applications.

You can pick up a used BRP for $3000 + that’s just getting broke in. Hard ta beat for all that reliable power!

[sunnymex]

?...."heavy bike"??? Get real...unless of course ya spend most of your time pick'n it up.

Very good point.

This is a bike, where you don't really notice the weight. In fact the weight for me actually gives it a better feel as it is much more solid then the WR. On the XR you can hit a rock and get away with it, wheras with the WR you will probably get knocked off with the same rock. It really depends on the size of the rock.

My vote is for the XR. It is a bike that everyone can grow into. GO RED!!!

[Dutch]

I have both and they are both great bikes.

If you sit when you ride the BRP is the bike. If you like to stand on the pegs

the WR is the way.

What I have learned is you need at least two bikes,

I don't care if it is dirt or street, one won't do.

If forced to choose one though -- it would be my "Betty".

[scorch]

Ive ridden a few dirt bikes, wr250's, crf450s, ktms, etc.. But I still like my brp way more.

There is something about this bike tht makes me ? and that the other bikes don't.

Sure, it might not be a super light bike, but damm it an amazing bike. The sound it makes is unreal. Im not a very mechanically inclined person, so doing the least amount of maintenance is good. The xr650r requires almost no maintenance, other than greasing a few things here and there, and repairing all the damage from my crashes.

Ive heard of xr650r's getting over 20k miles. Ive yet to see any crf450 or wr450 to do that.

[sunnymex]

Ive heard of xr650r's getting over 20k miles. Ive yet to see any crf450 or wr450 to do that. ?

I wish that I had an odometer. I bet I have at least 7-8K miles. Hard to tell, but I ride it A LOT!!! I think that I am going to put an hour meter when I buy a new one. That should be scary.

Anyhow, my point as someone mentioned before, these bikes keep going and going.

[Winkel]

I bought a barely used 2000 XR650R that I just got licensed a couple of weeks ago. I'm 6'3", 200 lbs., and I like the way the bike handles. I've had two strokes in the past, and it really doesn't feel too heavy unless you get it down in a weird position. It is a blast on the street, and good in the technical stuff. When I trail ride with my buddies, I don't have any trouble keeping up, and it "tractors" through the rough stuff much better than the smaller lighter bikes. The reliability is a big factor, and the fact that it holds more oil for those long road rides. There's a little more room for error, or oil loss. Also, there are countless aftermarket parts for the BRP. I've never ridden a WR, but have heard they are good bikes too. Just my two cents.

Good Luck and let us know what you decide.

Gary ?

[scorch]

Ive heard of xr650r's getting over 20k miles. Ive yet to see any crf450 or wr450 to do that. ?

I wish that I had an odometer. I bet I have at least 7-8K miles. Hard to tell, but I ride it A LOT!!! I think that I am going to put an hour meter when I buy a new one. That should be scary.

Anyhow, my point as someone mentioned before, these bikes keep going and going.

look at bajadesigns.com and get the speedo that uses the japanese odo cable. I just replaced my xr650r meter with that one and it is a real nice speedo. The speedo reads to 160mph LOL, ill never get there. But it has a non resetable odometer, which is nice.

The previous owner on my xr650r put 3000 miles of trails on it, I put about 3000 miles of street miles, and 1000 miles of trails.

So im guessing im at around 7k miles. But its hard to say since the last owner did not put a speedo on it.

[SBG]

...."heavy bike"??? Get real...unless of course ya spend most of your time pick'n it up. ?

Very good point.

This is a bike, where you don't really notice the weight. In fact the weight for me actually gives it a better feel as it is much more solid then the WR. On the XR you can hit a rock and get away with it, wheras with the WR you will probably get knocked off with the same rock. It really depends on the size of the rock.

My vote is for the XR. It is a bike that everyone can grow into. GO RED!!!

I think you actually need to ride the bikes to distinguish weight and how it affects you while you ride. Also, I have a WR250 and it sails through the biggest boulder fields without deflecting, even at speed. It just glides over the top and I've never had a misque due to boulder fields.

If you heavily dual sport, BRP, if you're more into the dirt WR450F.

[resslera]

Thanks for the opinions on the bikes. I really like the reliability factor the XR and 200cc more power is quite nice too. I will definitey post back when I get one of the bikes. It's time to do some price comparrisons now here in Colorado.

Aaron

[smashinz2002]

One other thought here; I have never had a problem with the "weight" of the XR. I mean any adult male who rides dirt bikes should be in shape enough to handle it with ease.

Here is a good test to see if you are strong enough and in shape enough to handle the XR650R: Use a 6' long ramp (no longer), and roll the bike up until the front wheel is on the tailgate of the truck, then come to a complete stop. Now, with both hands on the bars, push the bike the rest of the way up into the truck without help. If you can do this, and you should be able to, then weight of bike is not an issue. Anyone riding 650R's should be able to do it though.

[SBG]

I think that ramp test depends more on how tall the bike is, if the truck is lifted, and other things more than the riders strength or the bikes weight. I've seen stronger guys who are short have troubles turning thier bikes around due to the skyscraper seat heights.

[bloosman]

ahhhh grasshoppah! The answer is easy my son.. forget the WR, buy an XR650R for dual-purpose, and a CRF450R for tight stuff ?

[sunnymex]

and roll the bike up until the front wheel is on the tailgate of the truck, then come to a complete stop. Now, with both hands on the bars, push the bike the rest of the way up into the truck without help. If you can do this, and you should be able to, then weight of bike is not an issue. Anyone riding 650R's should be able to do it though.

So in some cases for people that have big lift jobs they would have to be pretty much pushing the bike straight up which means that they would have to press about 300 lbs. ? That and you would also have to be around 8-9 feet tall to get any good leverage. I have seen short riders do real well on the 650. I think a lot has to do with rider ability and not overall strength.

Anyhow...you know what they say about opinions. Everybody's got one and they all stink like .

[resslera]

I'm not too worried about the weight of the bike as far as me being able to pick it up. At 6ft I press around 350 ? Where weight comes into play as I experienced with my DR350 is coming off jumps and such. It lands like an airplane being shot down at times! A co-worker of mine just bought a KLR650. Now that is one heavy SOB!