Which 250 is the best?

[Night Falcon]

I have been looking at a smaller adv bike for some slowspeed trail/trials adventures. 2005 models seem to be at about my price range and happilly theres heaps to choose from. But as I've only ever owned XR's in that size I'm after some guideance on the other options. I'm looking for light weight, fuel range, ease of maintenance and RELIABILITY. I'm not keen on 2stokes so the options are:

1. DRZ 250
2. TTR 250
3. WR 250
4. TE 250
5. EXC 250
6. XR 250

For outright reliability I'm thinking either the XR, DRZ or TTR. I like the DRZ but have found a TTR which could be a goer but I don't know much about them? Any advise comments welcomed.

[Eddieb]

Post '09 XT250. Cols Wife's did 280km on 6 litres today, and she wasn't mucking around. The DRZ would have better suspension though.

WR/EXC/TE is you want to be hard core and can afford the price to match.

[gav24]

Will the price of these 250's drop now that the new LAMS list is out...?
They used to be silly $$$$ for what they are.

[Night Falcon]

Post '09 XT250. Cols Wife's did 280km on 6 litres today, and she wasn't mucking around. The DRZ would have better suspension though.

WR/EXC/TE is you want to be hard core and can afford the price to match.

defineatly not after hardcore :no:. Just for heading up river beds and the odd forestry track. I wanted to go for a trials bike but they are too expensive, dont have a seat and all have minature gas tanks. My idea is to get a reliable thumper, whip off anything that's not esential, change up the sprokets to give it as lower gearing as possible and go have some fun! The DRZ looks the best option but the TTR is a good price but I don't know how good they would be for my master plan?

[Night Falcon]

Will the price of these 250's drop now that the new LAMS list is out...?
They used to be silly $$$$ for what they are.

good point...hope they drop real soon :yes:

[Zamiam]

You need to try them for size. I wanted a wr250 but couldn't touch the ground well enough. Nothing worse than getting stuck and not being able to get a foot down

[dino3310]

Xr:Punk: .


but the new crfl looks hard to beat

[timg]

Hiya, Just done the entire Dusty Butt including all the challenge sections on my 2005 XR250L which I bought just for the DB1K. Light and easy. Not the most powerful, fastest or flashest of bikes but did an admirable job of getting an old fella through. No issues what so ever, it just required fuel and chain lube for three solid days and a little over 1500kms in some pretty harsh terrain. Sits comfortably at 100kmh. Head winds and inclines will knock it back a gear and 90kmh cruising. Having done it's job, mine will be for sale shortly....
Cheers, Tim.

[pete-blen]

My little 05 XR250 Tornado is a great bike.. relieable , never gives any trouble
sits on a 100k all day & dead smooth but the tornado has the air cooled DOHC
CBR250 motor in it... Only issue is the drum rear brake..but its never really been a issue
always works fine even after water crossing...
it gets 25km per liter has a 11.5L tank "250km'
Honda have taken this motor out to 300cc for there baby tenere style bike made in Brazil..
trying to find a piston/rings etc ...
The tornado is probably a slightly lesser version of the XR250L..

[cooneyr]

I've owned a DR250 Djebel and a early XR250R. Bro owned a TTR250 Raid. Based on my riding of all three, I'd go a TTR, XR then DR based on what you are wanting to do. Suspension better than DR and has elec leg. XR has lots of torque but kicker only and handling was a bit average (was a 91 model though).

Cheers R

[Night Falcon]

I've owned a DR250 Djebel and a early XR250R. Bro owned a TTR250 Raid. Based on my riding of all three, I'd go a TTR, XR then DR based on what you are wanting to do. Suspension better than DR and has elec leg. XR has lots of torque but kicker only and handling was a bit average (was a 91 model though).

Cheers R

Thanks thats exactly the help I was hoping for. I don't know anything about the TTR but it looks like a cool bike. I've owned lots of XR's over the years and while they are great bikes from my research they are the heaviest and least powerfull of the others. Unless anything else crops up its a toss up between the DRZ and the TTR....but which one :scratch:

I love buying a new (to me) bike!

[Oscar]

I've owned a DR250 Djebel and a early XR250R. Bro owned a TTR250 Raid. Based on my riding of all three, I'd go a TTR, XR then DR based on what you are wanting to do. Suspension better than DR and has elec leg. XR has lots of torque but kicker only and handling was a bit average (was a 91 model though).

Cheers R

Later XR250's (96ish on) were better in the handling and power dept. than most contemporary 4-strokes.
Simple, air cooled fun.

[whatastoner]

Hi, I did the Dusty on my 1993 TTR and it went great apart from one rear linkage coming loose. Not the bikes fault, I don't think I used enough loctite when replacing the bearings. The engine can be uncorked very easily, loves to rev and handles well. A big gas tank can be fitted easy as.
Visit totallyttrs.com or ttr250.com to convince yourself. The best $2000 bike you could buy IMHO.
But I'm biased

[NordieBoy]

Super Sherpa FTW...
Unless you're a really lanky bugger...

[Karitane pete]

size of fuel tank is important, I have a 09 KLX250s nice bike 7.7L tank:mad:, with FMF pipe 119 km to res on road criusing.

[Adux]

size of fuel tank is important, I have a 09 KLX250s nice bike 7.7L tank:mad:, with FMF pipe 119 km to res on road criusing.

Agreed, I have a 08 KLX250S, cycleworks exhaust, easy to gain more power with a few mods and good fuel economy.

[fridayflash]

my bet would be xr250 (post '96)
then drz, then ttr, and yup ive ridden them all offroad and on road, ive always been a bit biased towards xr's and
to be honest theyre all great bikes, but the twin cam engines in the suzuk and yamaha just dont feel anywhere
near as gutsy as the honda, the rfvc engine loves to rev and will hang on to those revs.

quite apart from what ive just said...have you considered a gas gas pampera or yamaha dt230?

[fridayflash]

i should also add that xrjohnny has a drz250 which i think he might sell, and its local.......

[Night Falcon]

my bet would be xr250 (post '96)
then drz, then ttr, and yup ive ridden them all offroad and on road, ive always been a bit biased towards xr's and
to be honest theyre all great bikes, but the twin cam engines in the suzuk and yamaha just dont feel anywhere
near as gutsy as the honda, the rfvc engine loves to rev and will hang on to those revs.

quite apart from what ive just said...have you considered a gas gas pampera or yamaha dt230?

havent looked at the gas gas but have considered 230's, CRF DT even went for a road trip last weekend to check out the Forza 230 pro and would have bought one then and there but they had sold out few days before. Since then I've had another look at 250's which at the end of the day arnt that much heavier than 230's but they do tend to be better specked and more grunt of course.



i should also add that xrjohnny has a drz250 which i think he might sell, and its local.......

hummm verly interesting :corn:

[Night Falcon]

Super Sherpa FTW...
Unless you're a really lanky bugger...

I did have a look at those but thought they looked a tad porky plus the only one i could find was way too much money for my meager budget. The last time I was called lanky was in 1978 on the dance floor at the senior citizens hall disco in Blenheim...but I was wearing a body shirt so it didn't count :wari:

[GSers]

I did have a look at those but thought they looked a tad porky plus the only one i could find was way too much money for my meager budget. The last time I was called lanky was in 1978 on the dance floor at the senior citizens hall disco in Blenheim...but I was wearing a body shirt so it didn't count :wari:

Marty if you want to have a look at one of these (Super Sherpa) next time you are down call in and I will drag ours out of the shed and fire it up. Feels a bit small to me but they are basic and reliable no radiators you see a stockman come up now and then at reasonable money. Bought this for her indoors (low seat height) it has only done 2000 kms so I think we will keep until I need to down size. I would love to play with it but at this stage its to tidy. Got some RM 125 upside down forks in the shed that would go good on it.
GSers

[Night Falcon]

Marty if you want to have a look at one of these (Super Sherpa) next time you are down call in and I will drag ours out of the shed and fire it up. Feels a bit small to me but they are basic and reliable no radiators you see a stockman come up now and then at reasonable money. Bought this for her indoors (low seat height) it has only done 2000 kms so I think we will keep until I need to down size. I would love to play with it but at this stage its to tidy. Got some RM 125 upside down forks in the shed that would go good on it.
GSers

Thanks bro. sounds like a good excuse for a coffee and chinwag in the man cave. Plus check out progress on that project you got goin :cool:. will give ya a bell next time I'm passin through.

[alane]

As GSers said they are BASIC & RELIABLE
There was a guy on the Super Sherpa thread on ADV rider that wanted another motor for his ,as the original had done an unbelieveable 230,000 km & was getting a bit tired.

Front shocks are a bit of a let down if you want to travel @ speed over ruff ground.

Motor goe,s much better if exhaust is derestricted. I cut my can & removed the baffel.
I,m not shure if bigger headers are available.

Another plus --- as far as I know ,apart from the paint job,nothing has changed since they were introduced in 1997.Therefor ,purchaseing one of any year ,as long as its in good nick,should,nt make much difference.
The Stockman,being a popular farmbike,means there are plenty of secondhand parts available.

The BEST thing though --- is they,re just the opposite to a big pig to ride ---- light ---nimble ----- not much power ,of course,compared to a bigger bike,but skipping up & down through the gears (6 speed -- well spaced) & flicking round corners like your on a thistle down, makes up for all of that.

CHEERS AL.

[fridayflash]

well priced pampera on trademe atm, the general idea behind them was a trail friendly 'trials' bike
super light at 90kgs roadkitted! they look rather compact, which may or may not be a good thing depending on your size

[Pickle]

Does NZ get the Yamaha WR250R?? great little bike alloy frame fuel injected, 6 spd , put the big fuel tank on & a pipe , low maintenance will sit on 100 to 120kmh all day - might be bit pricey but great bike

[thommo77]

Does NZ get the Yamaha WR250R?? great little bike alloy frame fuel injected, 6 spd , put the big fuel tank on & a pipe , low maintenance will sit on 100 to 120kmh all day - might be bit pricey but great bike

Yep. Been on the market for 5 years now. Out on it's own performance-wise, but also price-wise when stacked up against the other Jap makes. Was $4k dearer new than my new KLX250s in 2008.

[Night Falcon]

Does NZ get the Yamaha WR250R?? great little bike alloy frame fuel injected, 6 spd , put the big fuel tank on & a pipe , low maintenance will sit on 100 to 120kmh all day - might be bit pricey but great bike

Yes they are available in NZ for about 11K new. Great bike and would be my first choice 250 if I had the doe. Very cool bike :corn:

[GPS MAN]

Good Luck:laugh: