OK So today I took the CRF for a test ride, since it's been the fist day that it hasn't been storm conditions for the last week and a half.

Thoughts: Now I can't tell if it's because i'm coming from an 800 GS Twin or not, but the CRF felt needlessly underpowered. It felt like it developed less power than a 15 year old carbed XR250L. Last year I owned a 2007 XR125L and that felt comparable to the CRF today. Surely that can't be right?

Power aside it did feel fine however. Ususal Honda build characteristics and I felt very at home on it. My first ever bike was a Honda and I have had many since then.

Tomorrow I will go test the KLX, as in the FI Euro version, so I will see how that compares.

There is no option to test the WR. It would be a leap of faith purcahse, or a short flight to another country for a test ride. Eek.

well, because it is and gearing is screwed too.

Compared to your 800 a Crf will feel gutless if course. You will have to use throttle and shift pedal much more often to keep up speed. And the speed of a 800 you will never keep up of course.

I havent owned a Crf but have been riding it as a rental for about 10 k kms and on highways I found a sweet spot around 95 km/h. You could of course push it harder but then the engine seemed to feel a bit stressed. Anyhow - as someone mentioned earlier in the thread - the Crf has more tourqe lower down than comparable bikes. Its actually a downtuned CBR250 engine. I found the power delivered in very in useful rpm range. I havent been riding the WR so cannot comment upon that. But have had a week on a KLX250. But it was the carburated model and the Crf beats that in all ways.

Some Crf owners do go down one tooth on the front sprocket - I guess good for offroading and around town riding but personally I wouldnt do that on a bike for overlanding. Have a go on a WR if possible and share your experiences....

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Hey folks, another step forward.

So yesterday I test rode the KLX250, purely because I had nothing else to do. I took it out for about 40 minutes around town. I didn't get a chance to take off road, but I did find a very beat up farm access road so I flew up and down that a few times.

Keep in mind this is the FI Euro version of the KLX and not the carb'd American version.

I felt that it had a bit more power than the Honda certainly, but since I got it home I looked over the stats and they are only within 1-2HP or so. Strange to think how much that actually shows at the wrist.

The problem though is that of the 3 the KLX is perhaps the least likely candidate to replace the GS as a super-lightweigh RTW steed. Service intervals are much shorter, very few aftermarket parts here in the UK and the closest place I could get an IMS tank sent from would be USA.

*siiiiggghh*

It really is frustrating living in the UK. No dual sport market makes life hard when searching for a lightweight tour option.

I went into a Yamaha dealership yesterday and discussed the WR250R, he said he was shocked the 250 even existed because for only £ 800 more you could have got a XT660! He really didn't understand the concept of lightweight adventure.

Typical European thinking.

Well I give myself perhaps 2 more weeks of looking into my options and expenses regarding the WR. So far it's looking like a £12,000 bill to get a hold of USED bikes, never mind new. I could have 2 Used CRF's for £6,000.

I really need to get that figure well under £10k to make the Yamahas a feasible option.

oh please...do not sin, there are thousand of places more frustrating to live then UK

Get a KTM 690 enduro R, almost same weight as crf250l and you'll get guts to travel efficiently. 250cc is not meant for that.

Ehm, the kato is 310 pounds dry. The WRR is 295 wet. Bit of a difference.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

WRR is simply not worthy the money they're asking, and your dealer is right - you're better off buying xt660z which costs almost the same. (if you were to buy WRR)

BTW you can wait for new crf450 Rally coming soon from honda

completely different animal and way lower spec. And with that rational there is no point getting anything smaller than a 650.

The honda weighs 330 pound. Not even close to the mark.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

No kidding. The main reason there is no 100kg 500cc long service interval offroad weapon. No other reason as a large part of the global market has nowhere to ride them.

I'll sell you mine with all the bells and whistles (overland ready) for a good price if you can wait until next year.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com