I'll just add my £0.02-worth on the now completely off-topic debate:

I've generally had mainland European bikes - Montesa, Ossa, Bultaco (for trials) and more lately KTM (for travel). But I've always looked enviously at the Japanese models (particularly those of the 80s - Tenere, TYs, TLs, various XLs and oher XTs). Reason: tales of rock-solid reliability, 'bullet-proof' motors and huge mileages.

My only experience of owning a old British bike put me off them for life (mainly becuase of electrics and the number of tools required even to do basic maintenance). That said the machine was around 40 years old and virtually in standard trim. I also have friends who ride old British machines which, generally after they've been rebuilt using modern parts, seem to be reliable.

Anyway, back to my original question: learned opinions on the WR250R and Scorpa T-Ride as credible travelling machines please?

Thanks.

Go back to the first post in the thread. Talking details about the WR250 is just as "Off Topic" as talking about old Brit bikes and metalurgy really. No big deal.

I've never heard of the Scorpa T- Ride. What is it? Who makes it? History of it?

As for the WR250R....the model we get here in the US would not, to me, be the ideal long distance machine. Both the YZ450F/YZ250 and WR450F/WR250F as sold in the US are all off road, non street legal bikes.

They are SUPER light weight....like 106 kgs. for the WR250, 112 for the WR450. (claimed dry weight) The YZ kick start motocrosser are about 4 kgs. lighter still. (no battery or starter motor)

The weights of the Yamaha's compares very favorably with what Honda are doing with their CRF250X/CRF45X, which are also sold as Off Road only bikes
in the US and also have electric starting. The Yams and Hondas are probably within a kg. of one another.

Suzuki's bikes too are featherweights and now have Fuel injection for 2008.
But Suzuki, at this point, does not have an Off road version, only a moto crosser. But that will change.

Kawi has only a KLX450 off road version...still not street legal in the US, but
a detuned version of the motocross race bike with electric start and lights.

KTM make two street legal dirt bikes....the 450 and 530. Because they are a small manufacturer, are not required to make the bikes totally green, like, say,
Suzuki's DRZ400S, which has many many changes from the Off road E model.

I've heard of a street version of the WR250, made for Japan. Maybe this is the bike that is reffered to in this thread? I've heard it's TOTALLY different to the YZ/WR bikes. Is this bike being imported to the UK?

This might be a good distance bike if you can find a good seat and add luggage?

Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

According to Honda, my CRF450X weighs 116kg so it certainly fits the criterion of being lightweight. Rightly or wrongly, I am taken by the idea of riding it back to the UK via Africa. If anyone can offer advice or opinions on this, I've started a CRF450X thread here.

Cheers, Stephan

Hi Ian,
Can you get a test ride on either of these bikes? Neither is very well known, so this might be a way of making headway in your thoughts.

It is not clear here why you are so keen on either of these two; I guess it is the Yam engine?!

Without asking you to write a book, can you explain a bit.

You did get me looking at a few more webpages, such as:-
> > > > Sherco Motorcycles Official Website < < < < (there are dry sump engine designs here as well!)
have you considered this manufacturer, or gas gas or...........whatever.

One, obvious, comment; any race based engine will require more maintenance, mile for mile, than a dual sport design and it will likely (almost certainly) be more frantic to ride. Therefore, take the R route rather than the F model?!!

As for off topic; this thread could run for ever - it started back at the beginning of this year and new models are on the way now for 08, as discussed elsewhere. Therefore, the thread has an indeterminate lifespan.

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Dave

Dodger,
I love it! Like me, you will remember when "Nissin" was "Datsun" (what kind of name is that for a car?) & Vauxhalls (Viva!!!) used to be rusting as soon as they were made (probably rusting while they were put together).

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Dave

Hi Dave , I had Datsuns [ brake pads used to catch fire ] and a Viva and a similar Bedford van all of them were rubbish but the Bedford was useful as it carried my bikes to college !

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Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."