Test Ride: DR650 vs WR250R vs Super Sherpa

[Rosie]

I’m getting to the stage where I am starting to look around for a replacement for the Sherpa. I want a wee bit more power on the highway, better suspension off road, but nothing so tall or heavy that I lose confidence.
The Yamaha WR250R looked good on paper, so we headed to BikeTorque in Taumarunui for a test ride. For the purposes of comparison we swapped Clint’s 640 for a friend’s slightly lowered DR650, since the DR was also on the list of potential bikes, and I hadn’t taken the DR for a substantial ride before.
I rode the DR to Taumarunui on the highway. Obviously it has a lot more power than the sherpa, but otherwise I really wasn’t feeling the love.

Arriving at Biketorque, we found that the shop didn’t realise that the WR could be lowered, so the seat height was still on the ‘stratospheric’ setting. This meant that I needed a bit of assistance getting onto the bike and operating the sidestand. The WR has a reasonably revvy engine, and getting straight off the DR you notice how smooth and quiet it is.
It has plenty of power, which is a nice change from the Sherpa. You are sitting up a lot higher, and catch more wind, so a screen would probably be a good idea for longer trips. The handling was nice and nippy around corners, I found the DR needed a lot more steering input than the WR or the Sherpa, but that is probably just because it is a larger bike (the DR is the largest bike I have ever been on )
The WRs seat isn’t designed for touring, but seats are easily fixed, and a seat reshape would be necessary anyway to assist my efforts in reaching the ground.

We dropped the WR back, had some lunch, and cruised home via SH4 and a bit of gravel through Pureora forest park. I had a quick ride on the sherpa, then swapped back to the DR to see how it went on gravel. The DR has a lot more straight line stability than the sherpa, but was a bit harder to turn in on the corners. The road through Pureora has recently been tidied up, so I didn’t get a chance to test the DRs suspension on potholes or ruts. Emerging from the forest, I tried to get my bike back, but Clint wasn’t interested in giving up the sherpa’s padded touring seat.

In summary, the WR is a very nice bike, and with a few extras (seat reshape, luggage racks, big tank) could be a good adventure touring machine. But, it is pretty expensive, so I’d want to know that it would last quite a few years doing the sorts of distances I’m currently doing on the sherpa (around 17,000 km a year).

I am not enthused about the highway performance of the DR, but I’d like to do a bit more gravel/off road riding on it, to see how it manages.
I have a new found respect for the highway manners of my wee sherpa, if only it had the power and suspension I desire.

Where to from here? I probably should try a bit of off road riding on the DR, and do a bit more homework on the WR, to see how they get on doing reasonably high k’s. And start saving

[Crisis management]

Drz400..........

[Monstaman]

Drz400..........

Yes, Katharina from Globus Bikers had her one at the Fuckengruven Rally Rosie and had lowered it and the suspension had sagged which helped, she loves that bike.

In time to come when Ellens want more grunt we will look down that path too, probably swap out forks etc for more adventure as opposed to long travel trailie.

Ellen is sitting her licence as I type this out so she is into it.

How about sleeving the Sherpa out to 300 -400cc, has this even been done?

[clint640]

The DRZ feels a lot more top heavy than the WR, a lot more buzzy on the road too. Being able to lower the WR with only a spanner is also a big plus.

How about sleeving the Sherpa out to 300 -400cc, has this even been done?

We did hear a rumour that someone had done a big bore on one, but haven't had any further details. Reliability would be a big question with something like that & the kms that we do. Since a suspension & brake upgrade are also required it really makes more sense to look at a new bike.

Cheers
Clint

[Taz]

I loved the WR250R when I rode it. Top speed of 140k not too bad either. Small tank though (safari do a 14 litre)

[Monstaman]

Yes that would make more sense, putting 400 cc grunt through the smaller box and chain etc cold have bad consequences at the most inappropriate place too.

Pity they don't make a smaller adventure bike with a bigger donk, I think that would be quite a hit for a lot of people who are longitudinally challenged.

DR650's can be lowered 40 mm per end easily, I am also about to have a crack at my seat and reshape it after doing Ellens one, gonna put a softer top layer back in while we are at it.

[junkmanjoe]

if you got a few moments rosie have a read about this ladys travels on here DRZ
her bikes set up for business, and she has covered some big ground.
http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...3#post12249773

just a thought but maybe lay your friends dr650 down on the lawn and try to pick it up by your self..you may not always be with some one when you travel.
i had to get help to pick my 950 up, when it fell over at the gas station fully loaded with gear and gas....supper heavy..

just something to take in to consideration.

JMJ

[Rosie]

DR650's can be lowered 40 mm per end easily, I am also about to have a crack at my seat and reshape it after doing Ellens one, gonna put a softer top layer back in while we are at it.

Paul's DR was plenty low enough, I just didn't like riding it. I suspect that it would be a handful off road too, but I need to take it for a ride some time and find out.

[Crazy Steve]

I would go the Wr250, but at $4k more than the same aged/used DR650 it would be hard to swolllow ! !

Crazy Steve.

[Monstaman]

I suspect that it would be a handful off road too.

Yes they are the lightist of the heavies really, Ellen will have the same problem too, specially with panniers etc, she just called and she has her licence.

[mazz1972]

Pity they don't make a smaller adventure bike with a bigger donk, I think that would be quite a hit for a lot of people who are longitudinally challenged.

Hell yeah! I looked and looked and sat and teetered....and eventually gave up on an adv bike for the meantime.

I have ridden hubs DRZ400 offroad, but not onroad and at stock height it is pretty tall for this shortarse....and I did fall off a few times (much to his utter disgust!!). He used it onroad for a while and if course it needed the sprockets changed or it's revving very high at highway speed. Have ridden a DR650 (onroad only), didn't mind it but didn't love it, and that darn seat is as bad as the DRZ. I was looking for a DR650 for AGES (in black, slightly second hand) but none came up for many months. Now I've got a bike with a super comfy seat I dunno if I wanna go back...

Rosie - good luck figuring out what to get next.

[clint640]

I have ridden hubs DRZ400 offroad, but not onroad and at stock height it is pretty tall for this shortarse....and I did fall off a few times (much to his utter disgust!!). He used it onroad for a while and if course it needed the sprockets changed or it's revving very high at highway speed. .

That's another area where the WR really shines over the DRZ, like the Sherpa it has a really wide range 6 spd gearbox.

Cheers
Clint

PS congrats to Ellen on getting the license!

[Box'a'bits]

Andy Mac has a WR250R & really likes it. Might be worth having a chat. He has put the Safari Tank on. I've riden it & it is impressive both from power output, flickability, and the way the suspension works. As you say the seat can be worked on. Haven't heard if Andy was looking to go to the KKAR

[bart]

I found the DRZ too finicky. Too buzzy on the road, and you can never get the gearing right for all conditions. I'd buy another one in a flash for a dirt bike. 17000km a year might be pushing it too.

The DR650 is much more stable. Easier for long distance. No more grunt, but heaps more torque. Heaps of extras available. Takes a bit more manhandling in the tight stuff, but seems ideal for 95% of the riding I do. They do look very.....ummm.....uninspiring though. You can see they were developed in the '90s.

What gearing did the DR have. Drop a tooth in the front and it livens it up heaps.

WR looks the part.

[pipe]

I have just gone from a 02 DRZ400 to a 09 WR250R with the 6sp box and low COG it is a more user friendly bike then the DRZ . Try some of these links for some good info on the WR.
http://wr250rforum.forumotion.com/main-c1/
http://www.wrrdualsport.com/
http://rickramsey.net/WR250R.htm