2020 KAWASAKI KLX250 VS. HONDA CRF250L VS. YAMAHA XT250
COMPARISON
P102
YAMAHA WR250R
T
he WR250R was way
ahead of its time when
it made its U.S. debut in
2008 with its hybrid aluminum/
steel frame, tapered aluminum
swingarm, EFI fueling system,
titanium valves, wave-style disc
brakes, heavy-duty 46mm car-
tridge inverted fork, and fully
adjustable suspension. How-
ever, its hefty price tag reflect-
ed this, putting it approximately
$1000, at minimum, above
its nearest competitors at the
time, namely the KLX250S.
Even though the WR250R has
not changed over the years,
its price tag has crept up to its
current $6699 MSRP. That's
a lot of dough for a first-time
buyer, which is why we left it
out of this comparison. How-
ever, the WR250R does merit
a mention.
Two years ago, we com-
pared the WR250R with
the KLX250 and CRF250L.
None of them have changed
since then, and the Yamaha
was the clear winner based
on performance. It was, and
still is, a much more capable
motorcycle of the three when
ridden aggressively over rough
terrain. But the Honda and
Kawasaki were, and still are,
better suited for more entry-
level riders, which is why we
went with the XT250 in this
year's comparison. (You can
read our 2018 250cc dual-
sport shootout here.)
The WR250R excels when
it comes to handling and
suspension. Its high-tech KYB
fork, SOQI shock, and long
wheel travel will keep the ag-
gressive rider quite pleased,
as will the Yamaha's strong
brakes. A big strike against the
Yamaha when it comes to first-
time riders is its tall 36.6-inch
seat height. The WR, however,
doesn't have a huge advan-
tage when it comes to power
over the other bikes, even
the XT250, but the WR is still
the bike for more hard-core
dual sporters shopping in the
quarter-liter category..
