You have to change a lot the Gears, because it's only 250. Because of this I have to shift down when it gets mointainous or windy, but I carry a lot of stuff and myself ;)
I don't think its worth a trade. Only if you don't lose any Money:D

Interesting discussion. I've been going through the whole WR-R thing too this year, wanting something lighter for Morocco and maybe Sahara. I change bikes most years. Tried an overpriced WRR test bike from a dealer and loved the response.
Had a CRF-L (in the US) and have a KLX hack (carb) there too.
As the OP concluded - hard to find a decent WRR in the UK for the money, and while there are a few more in Europe and re-reg'ing in UK is easy, the hassle in finding a good used one and expense of riding or vanning one back all add up, unless you're buying new or near new from an EU dealer. Tried with a couple in DE, but they lost interest.
I'm sure I looked, but didn't spot the great Polish price - bargain - like Ozzie. May have tried there had I seen it. Saw as low as < £5000 new in Italy (may have been an X - all the same to me).

I considered a UK KLX (efi) too. New price was below £4k last time I looked and as said, much better suspension than a CRF and prob as economical and as low, but aftermarket tanks are small, not in UK, and I suspect CRF-Ls are more reliable and a bit better made.
Even the OE WRR suspension is not so hot. Depends how you ride but the rear shock is under damped. The re-valve is a well-knkwn tweak (explanatory vid). Other issue was stator on the 08s which is a recall, spare fuel pump not so expensive and I'll watch the chain wear on the swingarm guide.

Anyway, have accumulated a giant IMS tank, got a bash plate and other bits and have an 08 being put together by Hyperpro in NL. Never had so much trouble sourcing a bike (aka: initially too stingy to accept the age/price ratio - same story with DRZs). Let's hope it was worth it.

Either could be a truly perfect dirt-biased overlander.
Bit more poke for a little extra weight, so closer to 690/CCM but with the benefits of Jap design.

Each to his own but for long-haul RTW I wonder if a WRR might be a bit wasted. Seems to be a unique bike - a Jap tralie with European-like performance, but perhaps better suited to shorter duration BAM/jungle/desert type off-roading. Cant go wrong with the best CRFL or KLX you can get in the UK for your money. Subframe I noted was chunkier on my US KLX (summary here). Mine also has clever adjustable dog-bone joints. Never seen those.

Depends what type of terrain you plan to ride off course but I think the WRR will surprise you. I've had mine since 2012 and it still surprises me. It's deff not right for tight desert and I imagine jungle trails. The gear box is way too spaced to be a good trail bike. Long distance gravel and double trails is where this thing shines. Then when things get tighter or you come through a few rock or sand washes the trail metrics come into play and what looked like an obstacle becomes an enjoyable break. Country roads are fun too. Highway sucks but to me they do anyway. The idea of this bike is a trail bike with an adventure bike gearbox and maintenance interval. It allow you to get of the beaten path. So it's better too spend more time planning to link dirt roads up and then when you find cool trail just point it and go.

I'm currently using the long weekend to test a few things so am riding fully laden on stock suspension. I never bottom out but I'll have them resprung for my trip to be sure.
I recommend a steering stabilizer. Always struggled with the price but now I have one I don't want to ride without anymore. Saved my bacon many times.

I would be happy to fly to a country that sells this bike and start a trip from that. This bike needs very little mods. A tank, few USB chargers, a bit of extra lighting, comfort seat, stabilizer, alloy bars and hands guards, bash plate and that would be about it. A day to prep and away you go.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...702_130948.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...6999301190.jpg

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

Nice looking WR-R for sale on the ABR forum
http://www.adventurebikerider.com/fo...ha-wr250r.html

Wrr in France
 

Hello,
There are three nice wrr for sale in France. I have just secured one of them for me.
Tell me if you need help/accomodation to see these bikes. One is in Versailles, easily reachable from Paris for a test ride.
Guillaume

Heeeeeelloooo Folks...

A while since I checked in here.

UPDATE:

So as I previously mentioned, I have given up on the idea of picking up a WRR anywhere in the UK, then subsequently given up on having one carted back from Europe.

So I started my online shopping career for KLX's, CRF's and even, in a moment of desperation 690's... I nearly pulled the trigger on a 2013 690.

Then

Out of nowhere

There it was..

2010 WRR 5,000 miles and 1 owner pops up out of nowhere for sale in London. I am not exaggerating when I say I about verbally ear raped the man when I phoned him to enquire if it was still for sale. It was!

Long story short; 1 van rental later I was heading home with my long sought after WRR in the back. Huzzah!

Better yet. When shopping for a few long haul basics; skid plate, hand-guards, safari tank, fork valves, racks, bar risers etc, I actually found a dirt cheap '08 WRR on eBay with all of these parts already attached. So whilst I had the van I swung past there and picked that up too.

So I've went from having no WRR's... to 2 WRR's in a week, Perfect! The older WRR still runs like a swiss watch, but the plastics are a bit scuffed and it was diiiirty. It actually cost me less than the sum of it's aftermarket parts. I got it for £1,500 including all it's original parts too. Hell the Safari tank alone is £600 in the UK. The main '10 WRR set me back £2,700.

The plan is to strip the old '08 of it's bounty, set up the '10 real nice, swap the '08 back to it's original form and sell it back on again. Ironically the old '08 WRR actually is in great shape once I got it home and cleaned it up. The old caked up mud fell away from the bike with some hot soapy water revealing a great little machine. Part of me thinks I actually could have just took this one in the bloody first place.

I can likely sell it in it's stock form, with new plastics and full service, for a little more than I picked it up for.

Pics soon!

Cool. But on second thought, maybe that Honda would be good too.

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

Both the WR250 and the WR450 are available here in South Africa.


From my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's the F though. Different bike

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

But it was gutless :(

I believe you are looking at the F, which is about as similar to the R as a WRC Rally Car is to a Land Rover.

I also confused F and R for years (below), otherwise may have bought one ages ago. CRF-L-X-R a bit more obvious.

Enjoy your WRRs, SSR. If you look long enough they'll turn up, tho didn't work for me in the UK.
Interested in how you rack it. I'll prob get a motorack in the US later.



https://adventuremotorcyclinghandboo...wrrvswrf21.jpg

you'll be disappointed with 250cc very soon.

No he won't. He'll take it where no 800 can go.

I was only joking about that Honda. Enjoy the mighty wrrrr.

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

You don't need a rack. You need a sewing machine. Then just ride it like it's not there.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...7724214141.jpg

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

dream on... beer