How fast are the 250s?

[young1]

I am thinking of ways to avoid having to take my subaru to work and thought I might go back to commuting (6km each way) on a motorbike again. I used to do this in Wellington on a VTR250. I don't really want to commute on the KTM.

Trying to kill 3 birds with one stone I thought I might trade my DR400 (not able to be registered for the road) that gets little use now and get a XR, TTR, KLX etc etc 250 trail bike.

The other thought for one of these bikes is maybe going away with my son at xmas on an adventure ride (some of you might remember I was looking for a bike for him last year, in the end we had a great trip up North in the car). Now the question;

How fast can these bikes cruise at on the open road. If I am on my KTM I dont want to be waiting for him to catch up. Can they sit on 110 or 120km okay?

[merv]

My XR250L will cruise happily at 120 all day (on closed roads under controlled conditions of course - its against the law to go over 100) and it tops out between 130 and 140.

My WR250F is much faster but not a commuting engine.

[daytona 2]

my dads 27HP old honda magna 250 toped out at about 130km/h... ive been 100km/h on my polini 40cc race bike...so the magna wasnt to quick..

[cooneyr]

The new WR250R? Seem to be getting good write ups.

Cheers R

[kickingzebra]

Dunno, I'm too scared to tap mine out.

[merv]

The new WR250R? Seem to be getting good write ups.

Cheers R

Yeah and that one they claim does have an engine more suited to commuting than my WR250F.

[young1]

Interesting that both the Honda and Kawasaki web sites have prices of their bikes but Yamaha does not. I also found it interesting that Yamaha have three different 4 stroke 250s; TTR, XT and the WR250R.

For those interested I found tests of both the KLX and WR250R at these sites;
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/20may...ki_klx250s.htm
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/11mar...aha_wr250r.htm

The Yamaha does look the more "modern" of the two.

[merv]

Yamaha has the F model too in addition to the others (I suspect the TTR will be discontinued now) and I told you more about the R vs F on this post http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...4&postcount=11

[young1]

Thanks Merv, I know about the F models (would love a WR450F) but wouldnt want to ride them a long long way on the road!

[merv]

Thanks Merv, I know about the F models (would love a WR450F) but wouldnt want to ride them a long long way on the road!

That's the thing I was saying F not really a commuting engine. I'd say that new R would be great. My earlier comments about my XR were just giving you an idea how useful the old style aircooled bikes are and I've never worried about running the Hondas hard on the throttle stop on the road for long periods and I've never broken one.

I've been happy to take the Honda on rides like this http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=48435 and this http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=45786

[young1]

That's the thing I was saying F not really a commuting engine. I'd say that new R would be great. My earlier comments about my XR were just giving you an idea how useful the old style aircooled bikes are and I've never worried about running the Hondas hard on the throttle stop on the road for long periods and I've never broken one.

It would be strange getting an XR250, I had one of the first twin shock, 23" front wheel XR250s in New Plymouth back in (when did they come out) 1979 or 1980? And that went very well (and went even further when someone stole it!)

[merv]

Only problem with these latest XRs is the price - over $9,000, but being a Honda man from way back I just had to have one. Compared to Mrs mervs DR650 not exactly a bargain when we bought that for $7,995.

DR650 would be another good option at a lower price of course and they are faster than the lower power 250s. Cruise more like 130 - 140 all day on them. We've run the DR on day rides two up as well and you couldn't do that with the XR the pegs and back seat only suit a child passenger.

[young1]

Only problem with these latest XRs is the price - over $9,000, but being a Honda man from way back I just had to have one. Compared to Mrs mervs DR650 not exactly a bargain when we bought that for $7,995.

DR650 would be another good option at a lower price of course and they are faster than the lower power 250s. Cruise more like 130 - 140 all day on them.

I had thought of that but would like my son to be able to ride it to (he has raced RM85, and we sold his KDX200 at begin of year) and he does not have a motorbike licence yet.

[NordieBoy]

It would be strange getting an XR250, I had one of the first twin shock, 23" front wheel XR250s in New Plymouth back in (when did they come out) 1979 or 1980? And that went very well (and went even further when someone stole it!)

1979.

They go even better with a 21" front.

[Badjelly]

Trying to kill 3 birds with one stone I thought I might trade my DR400 (not able to be registered for the road) that gets little use now and get a XR, TTR, KLX etc etc 250 trail bike.

There were some very good prices on new DRZ400SMs a short while ago. A guy at work commutes on one from Paraparaumu to Wellington and is very pleased with it (but is a bit unpleased he bought a second-hand one for the same price as he could have got a new one a month or 2 later).