Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/956070
2018 250CC DUAL-SPORT SHOOTOUT SHOOTOUT P128 occasional but experienced off- roader who isn't yet willing to pay nearly twice as much for more exotic and higher-performance dual-sport bikes from Euro- pean manufacturers like KTM, Husky or Beta. Just because the Yamaha is considered an entry- level bike doesn't mean that the WR doesn't have the potential to tackle some pretty rough and challenging terrain, because it certainly does, and the fun factor goes up a notch or two as long as you're not in a big hurry to get where you are going. Hopefully Suzuki will surprise us with one of its own 250cc entry-level dual-sport bike some day so we can do this compari- son all over again. CN KAWASAKI KXL250 ($5349) HONDA CRF250L ($5149) YAMAHA WR250R ($6699) ENGINE: ................................................................................................................................................... Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-valve, 4-stroke, single DISPLACEMENT: ...................................................249cc ............................................................. 249.6cc ..........................................................................250cc BORE X STROKE: ...................................72.0 x 61.2mm .......................................................76 x 55mm .......................................................... 77.0 x 53.6mm COMPRESSION RATIO: .......................................... 11.0:1 ..................................................................10.7:1 ............................................................................ 11.8:1 FUEL SYSTEM:................. DFI w/34mm throttle body ........................ PGM-FI, 38mm throttle body ..............................................................Fuel-injection IGNITION: .....................................................Electric CDI ........................ Digital w/electronic advance .........................TCI (Transistor Controlled Ignition TRANSMISSION: ............................................... 6-speed ............................................................ 6-speed ....................................................................... 6-speed FINAL DRIVE: .........................................................Chain ................................................................. Chain ........................................................................... Chain FRAME: ....................Tubular, high-tensile steel perimeter ..................... Tubular, steel, semi-double cradle .... Tubular, steel and aluminum, semi-double cradle RAKE/TRAIL: ...............................................26.5°/4.1in. ...................................................27°60'/4.4 in. ...............................................................26.7°/4.4 in. FRONT SUSPENSION: .............. 43mm USD, cartridge, .......................... 43mm USD telescopic fork ................ 46mm USD, cartridge, telescopic fork, telescopic fork, compression adj. fully adj. REAR SUSPENSION: .....Single shock, Uni-Trak, fully adj. ...........................................Single shock, Pro-Link ......................................................Single shock, fully adj. FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: ......................................10.0 in. ................................................................ 9.8 in. ........................................................................ 10.6 in. REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: .......................................... 9.1 in. ................................................................ 9.4 in. ........................................................................ 10.6 in. FRONT TIRE: ..................................................3.00-21 in. .........................................................3.00-21 in. ..............................................................80/100-21 in. REAR TIRE: .................................................... 4.60-18 in. .................................................... 120/80-18 in. .............................................................120/80-18 in. FRONT BRAKE: ..............................Single disc 250mm .............Single disc 256mm (ABS optional) .................................................. Single disc 250mm REAR BRAKE: ...............................Single disc 240mm .............Single disc 230mm (ABS optional) .................................................. Single disc 230mm GROUND CLEARANCE: .........................................11.2 in. .................................................................... N/A ......................................................................... 11.8 in. SEAT HEIGHT: .....................................................35.0 in. .............................................................. 34.4 in. ........................................................................36.6 in. WHEELBASE: ......................................................56.3 in. ..............................................................56.9 in. ........................................................................55.9 in. CURB WEIGHT (FULL FUEL, CLAIMED): ............298 lbs. ...........................................................317.5 lbs. .......................................................................295 lbs. FUEL CAPACITY:................................................. 2.0 gal. .............................................................. 2.1 gal. .......................................................................2.0 gal. COLOR: ......................Lime Green, Matrix Camo Gray .....................................................................Red ............................................................................. Blue WARRANTY: .......................................12 Month Limited ............................................ 12 Month Limited ...................................................... 12 Month Limited S P E C I F I C A T I O N S