Convince me to buy a WR 250/450

[ktmkarl400]

I can get a really great deal on a 2006 wr250f and wr450f. One for me and one for my son. Convince me as to why I should or should not buy these models. Price is excellent. I would appreciate honesty as to short comings and to hear where the bike is great.

Thanks in advance.

[xrmarty]

the 450 : great handling and suspension, unreal power once uncorked (way more than my brother's KTM), both 250 and 450 bikes known for reliability. Turning and steering apparently is not as good as the other big four. I find my WR 450 clumsy in tight technical stuff; the steering seems less responsive than my brother's XC450.

Other than that, it's a great bike.

[JSanfilippo]

I just bought one today...its da bomb

Get it get it!

[strandman]

I also got a great deal on a hold over 06 wr250, which i bought for my son. He was riding a crf 150f. We are both happy with the power, after doing most of the mods discussed here on TT. I have not felt any problems with the steering, that can just be a tire change fix for the conditions. On occasion there is a slight off idle bog, when you first crack it open, but we have'nt cut the gray wire to see if that helps. Happy riding!?

[ktmkarl400]

Thanks and keep infor coming. I could also get us a drz250 and 400. We mostly trail ride and my enduro days are over. I am a little worried about the 450 as I had a 525 and it was a lot of bike and hard to ride in the tight sections. The suspension also felt pretty stiff.

[jpoehls]

Why should we convince you? We love our bikes, and that's all that matters. Do your own research. This site pretty much has all the opinions bith plus and minus.

[harjp1959]

Consider yourself convinced.

You're welcome.

[MaxPower]

you are in a WR forum, read some of the threads and make your own choice.

[Bamster]

If you ride the tight knarly stuff in Michigan ,that WR 250 will be a great scoot.

The 450 will be a hand full. Just get 2 250's ,if you can. The 450 will have more power,when uncorked than your 400 but will never handle as well.

A friend has the 06 WR 250 and it is sweet in tight single track. Another friend has the 06 450, although it handles way better than earlier big bores,it's still tiring in technical trails. If you were in California I would say get the 450. It's hard to beat the dependability of the Yamaha's.

[Racegun]

get a 07 model they should be going out the door cheaper once the 08 comes close. I love mine and its no handfull unless your riding it way beyond your means. I was very suprised how forgiving it is when you come across something knarly on the trails too fast, it steers great. After the initial mods phase every things cool and no regrets what so ever.

[2006wr450f]

I got 06 WR450F over the weekend and love it.

[Mutu]

Nice bike!

I absolutely love the WR450's with the GYT-R oval mufflers! You will too!

Makes them sooooo much fun to ride!

[ktmkarl400]

Did lots and lots of reading. Pretty sure I will have a WR450 set up for dual sport and a WR250 (son's bike ? ) that I am sure I can borrow when he doesn't ride with me when I am in the tight sections.

[SDMatt]

If you are thinking about a WR450 or a DRZ400, there's really no choice for dirt. My friend has a DRZ. It feels much heavier then my WR and is harder to ride in tight terrain. My WR smokes his bike on everything else. Only reason to buy a DRZ is for duel sport in CA, but then again, you could spend more money and get the KTM450 duel sport... DRZ isn't a great bike, unless you want to ride dirt roads all day or on street.

[Darkstang]

I will throw my 2 cents in as well. I have had an uncorked 05 450 for about 2 months. I am a big guy (250lbs) and we do a lot of trail riding with some real technical rocky, rutted sections. I have been away from bikes for a long time. First couple trips out I wore myself out wrestling the 450 around:crazy: . Then I quit fighting it and relaxed, tried to remember all the stuff I used to know about riding. Went this weekend and finally became "one" with the bike:ride: ? I can now blast throught the technical stuff on the high spots, or walk it through like a trials bike at a creep! ? I would gear lower if you are in some real rocky, rutted uphill stuff, but after you get the feel of the bike.. HOLD ON! When we hit the open trails with the big water breaks.. this thing screams and is so smooth.... Nothing like passing your buddy beside him in the air:thumbsup:

I have a small practice track that I set up for my 3 boys to teach them the basics. I found that getting the 450 out their with them and practicing the figure 8's and corners, ruts and whoops really improved my feel for the bike.

[freestyle250]

I dont know why everyone is complaining about the handling on a 450. I have ridden my buddies' KX, YZ and CR and my WR 450 outhandles all three on any day. They even say so when they ride it. Unless you are doing racing and every tenth of a second counts, get the 450. You will really regret the 250 when you hit redline and still want more power. Trust me! I only have one complaint on the WR's, and thats the restricted state they are in when you buy them. It took a little bit of work to get this baby unleashed, but it has been worth the work. I have been riding it hard for two years (230 lbs.) and it is going strong. I have taken it everywhere from crossing rivers, climbing hills too steep to walk, and even out to a motocross track in Phoenix. The WR is an amzing machine, I havent regretted it one day since I bought it.

[bageera]

I love Blue and Black. It is not technical, but when I look at my WR I like it. No Orange, Yellow, Green, or Red. I am a BLUE guy.

Before anyone hounds me on my comment, please consider the fact that ALL the newer 450 enduros are technically great machines. They all have their individual quirks and blessings. Some like Chevy and others Ford, and lots like Toyota.

I love my wife and kids. I like my WR. In that order. I could have bought Red or green or orange, but I didn't. BLUE is COOL.

[OringGroove]

Hmm Convincing! Ok 5000 plus Kms on my 06 ! Only had to change the sparkplug once! Its easy to change the oil! Easy to change the oil filter! Easy to change the air filter! Easy to start with magic button and Kickstart! never needed to pull the engine apart. Haven't even bothered to set the valves or check them for that matter! With the Dr D enduro pipe sounds awesome! With JD jetting it absolutely flies! Tough and reliable! can spray paint any scratches on the frame! Handles good enough for me! I have worn out tyres, specially back ones ;-) I have had troubles with the clutch but I put a Rekluse clutch in so that is totally my doing! I was riding in too high a gear up an "extremely steep" hill and smoked the plates! Suspension is good! Although it aint no 100ft jumper but I'm try to avoid that these days! Hell I've started to ride it to work cause its fun! All in all a damn good bike! Looking forward to getting 10000Km out of it! without changing the rings hopefully! As an occasional contributer to this site I'm prepared to back the bikes ability to get to 10000km without a piston change! Thats riding enduros, pony expresses, road to work, sand dunes, gravel hills and any bit of dirt in between! If I had my chance again I would buy a WR 250 cause its easier to ride for longer but you might have to change the rings at 5000km!

[blockpass270]

If you ride the tight knarly stuff in Michigan ,that WR 250 will be a great scoot.

The 450 will be a hand full. Just get 2 250's ,if you can. The 450 will have more power,when uncorked than your 400 but will never handle as well.

A friend has the 06 WR 250 and it is sweet in tight single track. Another friend has the 06 450, although it handles way better than earlier big bores,it's still tiring in technical trails. If you were in California I would say get the 450. It's hard to beat the dependability of the Yamaha's.

Funny.... all this advice and this is the only post that addresses one of the most important deciding factors: terrain. Open desert... yes, a 450 is great, but have you ridden such a pig on anything slightly technical? My gawd it's awful. There seems to be a lot of blind advice here.

Do you like wringing out a bike for power, or do you enjoy lugging them? Riding style is pretty important as well. If you're less-aggressive, or tend to get yourself into trouble A LOT (like some people I know), perhaps a smaller displacement bike is better for you. Sit on the bikes: specifications LIE. See what "feels" lighter to you... see what ergos you like.

If I had a dollar for everytime I saw a guy on a 450 in technical terrain, overheating, pissing coolant, and tipping-over every 12 feet, I'd be rich.

Think about what's most important to you, and make your decision based on that.

[dustinw]

Funny.... all this advice and this is the only post that addresses one of the most important deciding factors: terrain. Open desert... yes, a 450 is great, but have you ridden such a pig on anything slightly technical? My gawd it's awful. There seems to be a lot of blind advice here.

Do you like wringing out a bike for power, or do you enjoy lugging them? Riding style is pretty important as well. If you're less-aggressive, or tend to get yourself into trouble A LOT (like some people I know), perhaps a smaller displacement bike is better for you. Sit on the bikes: specifications LIE. See what "feels" lighter to you... see what ergos you like.

If I had a dollar for everytime I saw a guy on a 450 in technical terrain, overheating, pissing coolant, and tipping-over every 12 feet, I'd be rich.

Think about what's most important to you, and make your decision based on that.

huh, I ride a 450 in stuff that is often extremely tight. As in one wheel width wide. Tight switchbacks, deep ruts, rocky crags, you name it. Never once wished I'd had a 250.