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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Michael Jordan, enjoying a meal at sunset, Zangskar Valley, India

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Michael Jordan
enjoying a meal at sunset,
Zangskar Valley, India



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  #16  
Old 16 Jun 2016
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Originally Posted by Super Sonic Rocketship View Post
Insurance as in valid vehicle insurance before you register the vehicle? Crazy!

Just to clarify, our registration here = title/V5 it is a document that is renewed annually and our license plates carry both a year and month sticker to show the registration is current, not like in the UK where the V5 is valid for the life of the vehicle
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  #17  
Old 16 Jun 2016
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Seems to me worth deciding whether this thread is to address issues of registration/insurance/licensing in a country not your own....or the original question about which bike is preferable.

Purchase and registration of bikes in Canada by foreign nationals has been talked about quite a bit. Same with purchase and registration in the USA. My personal boilerplate says "Do your own research," with particular attention to the actual regulations in each province or state. They differ, and you don't want to be holding the bag when you discover that what someone you never met told you in an internet forum doesn't actually apply wherever you've made your purchase.

Or, at a minimum, you could search the threads which directly address that issue elsewhere on the HUBB.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
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  #18  
Old 16 Jun 2016
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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
Seems to me worth deciding whether this thread is to address issues of registration/insurance/licensing in a country not your own....or the original question about which bike is preferable.

Purchase and registration of bikes in Canada by foreign nationals has been talked about quite a bit. Same with purchase and registration in the USA. My personal boilerplate says "Do your own research," with particular attention to the actual regulations in each province or state. They differ, and you don't want to be holding the bag when you discover that what someone you never met told you in an internet forum doesn't actually apply wherever you've made your purchase.

Or, at a minimum, you could search the threads which directly address that issue elsewhere on the HUBB.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
Hi Mark,

Well, it's kind of 2 issues really, rather delicately intertwined. What I want to know is if the WR has better suspension, better engine, better service intervals, and better aftermarket options etc then to what extent of hassle would the WR's better characteristics no longer be worth it, in a situation like mines?

I just wanted to know the opinions of fellow HU'ers; if they would book a flight, rent a van, roam the continent to negotiate foreign dealers and transactions all for the benefits that the WR over CRF.

I quite thoroughly searched not only HU. but in fact HU, ADV, TT and even the CRF forums looking for a similar debate. There was nothing specific. Which is surprising I guess everyone who wants a WR in the UK must face this same mental debate...

...unless of course they just buy a KLX250 and go against the grain!
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  #19  
Old 17 Jun 2016
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Originally Posted by Super Sonic Rocketship View Post
Hi Mark,

Well, it's kind of 2 issues really, rather delicately intertwined. What I want to know is if the WR has better suspension, better engine, better service intervals, and better aftermarket options etc then to what extent of hassle would the WR's better characteristics no longer be worth it, in a situation like mines?
WR has only slightly better suspension and anybody riding off-road will have to change suspension on either bikes,engine is no better just has more power unfortunately though no at the low end. WR has much worse (shorter) service intervals then crf250l. In the end IMHO WR250R is way too expensive for what it is. For normal trail riding get crf or klx.
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  #20  
Old 18 Jun 2016
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Change suspension? Shorter service intervals? Are you thinking of the F?

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  #21  
Old 18 Jun 2016
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Change suspension? Shorter service intervals? Are you thinking of the F?

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no, wr250r 6k km service interval, crf250l 12k km.
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  #22  
Old 18 Jun 2016
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Interesting. Honda added additional oil capacity. About half a litre. Actually my manual says oil change every 5k. Can do that in ten minutes though.
What about the suspension?

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  #23  
Old 18 Jun 2016
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Originally Posted by tremens View Post
no, wr250r 6k km service interval, crf250l 12k km.
Interesting. I actually had assumed that the oil and filter intervals on the machines were the same, or that the WR was slightly better. I guess I was getting caught up in the 40,000km valve adjustments. Good to know about the oil. A nod to the Honda.

Suspension however? Most reviews hold the WR in higher esteem, mostly however over it's adjustability.
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  #24  
Old 19 Jun 2016
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If I remember right (I did a bit of research on both these bikes myself at one stage)

WR: Oil change every 5 k km and valve check every 40 k kms
CRF: Oil change every 12 k kms and valve check every 24 k kms.

Then again - if one ride in a hot environment and with a bit of weight on the bike and maybe some highway miles - maybe someone would like to change oil more often than every 12 k kms on the Crf?
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  #25  
Old 19 Jun 2016
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The CRF has a lower compression ratio than the WR (10.7 vs. 11.8) and a larger oil capacity (1.8 vs. 1.5 litres). Thus the oil doesn't work as hard as in the WR and would probably go the distance if you use good quality oil.

But the CRF is heavier than the WR and has less power, so the WR's power-to-weight ratio is much better,

Power vs Serviceability. Decisions decisions... Good luck
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  #26  
Old 19 Jun 2016
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although wr has ,more power, crf has better torque down the low, what really matters off-road.
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  #27  
Old 19 Jun 2016
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Ok, now we're splitting hairs. Both these bikes aren't true trail bikes. I know because I tried to consider it one on a recent Baja trip and am now lusting for a beta. (It never skipped a beat though.) But I've never had a situation on my WRR where I felt, dang I wish i went for a crf for that little bit more torque.

Both these bikes are lightweight adventure bikes leaning more towards a trail bike than an adventure bike compared to any other adventure bike. But out of the two the yammy is marginally more trail bike than the Honda it seems. Pick your route and choose accordingly. The Honda wasn't around when I got my yammy but I'd still get the yammy because of its better spec and aftermarket support. Made concessions on spec in the past add it just ended up pissing me off. Don't see the dealings with a foreign bike as that much of a hurdle myself.

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Last edited by tmotten; 19 Jun 2016 at 18:47.
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  #28  
Old 19 Jun 2016
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Originally Posted by Snakeboy View Post
If I remember right (I did a bit of research on both these bikes myself at one stage)

WR: Oil change every 5 k km and valve check every 40 k kms
CRF: Oil change every 12 k kms and valve check every 24 k kms.

Then again - if one ride in a hot environment and with a bit of weight on the bike and maybe some highway miles - maybe someone would like to change oil more often than every 12 k kms on the Crf?
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Originally Posted by Squily View Post
The CRF has a lower compression ratio than the WR (10.7 vs. 11.8) and a larger oil capacity (1.8 vs. 1.5 litres). Thus the oil doesn't work as hard as in the WR and would probably go the distance if you use good quality oil.

But the CRF is heavier than the WR and has less power, so the WR's power-to-weight ratio is much better,

Power vs Serviceability. Decisions decisions... Good luck
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Originally Posted by tremens View Post
although wr has ,more power, crf has better torque down the low, what really matters off-road.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tmotten View Post
Ok, now we're splitting hairs. Both these bikes aren't true trail bikes. I know because I tried to consider it one on a recent Baja trip and am now lusting for a beta. (It never skipped a beat though.) But I've never had a situation on my WRR where I felt, dang I wish i went for a crf for that little bit more torque.

Both these bikes are lightweight adventure bikes leaning more towards a trail bike than an adventure bike compared to any other adventure bike. But out of the two the yammy is marginally more trail bike than the Honda it seems. Pick your route and choose accordingly. The Honda wasn't around when I got my yammy but I'd still get the yammy because of its better spec and aftermarket support. Made concessions on spec in the past add it just ended up pissing me off. Don't see the dealings with a foreign bike as that much of a hurdle myself.

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Ooh i do love getting into the nitty gritty.

The only issue I think that hasn't been covered here is the known reliability issues.

The last 2 days I have trawled the CRF and WRR specific owners forums to see what the most common faults that rear their heads. For the WR almost all of the problems were related to the to '08 (release year) fuel pumps and chain skip on the ridiculous pyramid shaped rear sprocket teeth. I really can't find too many gripes for common faults.

But the forums for CRF it was mostly oil leaks, fork seals and top end issues.

I can't tell if if made my mind up. I feel there has to be some dirt on the WR that isn't widely reported. It looks like the greatest complaint is the lack of engine torque and the stock gearing. More often than not when I see a WR vs CRF thread the deciding factor in favour of the CRF was the simply the cost.

I'm still keen to hear about any shortfalls in the WR suspension though. Most reports I have seen have praised it greatly over the CRF and KLX.
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  #29  
Old 19 Jun 2016
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Originally Posted by Super Sonic Rocketship View Post
. For the WR almost all of the problems were related to the to '08 (release year) fuel pumps and chain skip on the ridiculous pyramid shaped rear sprocket teeth. I really can't find too many gripes for common faults.
yamaha reliability really dropped these days and wr has far more issues, most recent stators failure and recall which can leave you stranded.

Top end in crf??? never heard of, but I heard about tensioner issues.
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  #30  
Old 20 Jun 2016
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yamaha reliability really dropped these days and wr has far more issues, most recent stators failure and recall which can leave you stranded.

Top end in crf??? never heard of, but I heard about tensioner issues.
That's news to me. I've heard fuel pumps on the older ones. They changed the part number I think. Biggest gripe for me is the chain guide even as it's a minor part. No excuse for not working out the geometry in design. Particularly nowadays with computer modelling.

Still haven't heard anything more about the suspension issues.

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