Yamaha WR250R Mega Thread

[GSBS]

...Very happy with mine, which was one of the very first made in spring of 2011.

Had one small leak at the brass fitting at bottom of one of the wings. Snugged it up with a wrench and no problems since. I have almost 10K miles on mine and don't look for fuel until 200 miles of riding.

[simmons1]

Originally Posted by Nice_Rumble

Don't think you'd really need anything bigger than the IMS 3.0. 180-195 miles is plenty. 3.0 retains the OEM shape without the supertanker feel. If you need anymore just pop a 1 gallon Rotopax onto a Wolfman side rack and your good for 240 miles.

I would agree in most places in the country. If you live or ride in the Southwest, you can never have too much gas.

[cjbiker]

Originally Posted by Nice_Rumble

Don't think you'd really need anything bigger than the IMS 3.0. 180-195 miles is plenty. 3.0 retains the OEM shape without the supertanker feel. If you need anymore just pop a 1 gallon Rotopax onto a Wolfman side rack and your good for 240 miles.

Originally Posted by simmons1

I would agree in most places in the country. If you live or ride in the Southwest, you can never have too much gas.

I just ordered the IMS 3.0 after agonizing about this since I bought the bike last November. For 99% of my riding, the 3.0 will be fine, but I hope to get back out west in the next couple of years, and I hope to do some big loops that will need 200+ mile fuel range. I chose the 3.0 because of the negative comments regarding fuel slosh and the added width, plus the extra fuel pump is a little too "Rube Goldberg" for my tastes. I'll add a Rotopax or a cheap 2 gal plastic tank on the back for epic rides.

[leftystrat62]

Originally Posted by Nice_Rumble

Don't think you'd really need anything bigger than the IMS 3.0. 180-195 miles is plenty. 3.0 retains the OEM shape without the supertanker feel. If you need anymore just pop a 1 gallon Rotopax onto a Wolfman side rack and your good for 240 miles.

I bought the bike with all the "typical" mods you read about on this thread as well the 290 Athena kit already installed;giving me an average of about 55 mpg so for me the 4.7 gal allowed me to go that 240 mi distance. Something to consider if you start mucking with your ride and get less gas milage. The idea of the rotopax for me is when I'm out riding by myself-I have a little more wiggle room in the event I get lost. I ride this thing full of fuel (with saddle bags all the time) in snotty woods here in New England and never considered"fuel slosh" or the added weight. I just made up my mind this was my set up and learned to ride it.
Don't forget the weight of the empty rotopax & bracket that you will carry as well as space needed if you decide on a smaller tank(assuming you need that amount of fuel)-I had considered that when I was deciding which tank to buy.

[avgas]

Originally Posted by ET-VT

I know this gets repeated all the time, even in well-reviewed riding books and videos, but it isn't correct. On the surface of the earth, center of gravity and center of mass are essentially the same. If you stand up, where does your center of mass move? Up, not down.

It's probably fair to say that standing up lowers where your weight is carried by the bike without offending any physicists. I'm sure I don't have all of my terminology right, but I believe you really want to say that standing on the pegs increases the moment of inertia and stabilizes the bike.

I did indeed get my degree in physics. Standing will increase your moment of inertia, although I'm guessing that the increase in stability has more to do with you being able to move your body around to balance and absorb impacts. I've never properly analyzed it though...

Anyway, I appreciate everyone's advice. I have been standing, and staying on the gas. I probably just need more practice.

[ggemelos]

Originally Posted by leftystrat62

Have had no issues with my 4.7 gal tank except that brass bolt getting struck and leaking fuel. I did read of others bending the rad. guard to fit,but I knew the guy in town welded aluminum so I felt I wanted to do it right-and now it can't rub the tank.
Have you got a list of things you're going to do to get the bike ready for South America,or are you just starting your research now? You should check out BigDogs web site on what he did with his WR and where he's taken it if you haven't already seen it.

Thanks again for the information. I don't have a welder near by that I have used before, but I have a good vice and work bench. If I go with the 4.7, I will just have to play a bit with the vice. It worked for my Cycra hand guards, not a scratch on them, and they were thick.

Why the Safari or IMS 4.7? Because there are a lot of places I would like to take this bike that require a 200+ mile range. This is particularly true since one of my main reasons for picking up this bike was to take it on a long trip to South America. I would rather have as much fuel in the tank and less in canisters strapped high up on the back of the bike.

In terms of a current list and future mods, I am keeping one on my webpage. I have checked out Big Dog's setup, he has done some great rides. This is what I have so far, suggestions are appreciated:

Modifications:

• Lowered approximately 1" using factory adjustment
  
• Spiral seat
  
• Cyrca Probend hand guards with triple clamp side mount
• Sandman Freedom case saver - anodized blue
• Pro Moto billet rear cargo rack
• Flatland Racing skid plate
• Flatland Racing radiator guard

Possible Future Modifications:

• Seal savers
  
• Safari or IMS 4.7 transparent tank (still have not decided)
  
• Wolfman side rack with RotoPax mount system
  
• Wolfman expedition dry saddle bags
• Lynx fairing (this one is questionable)
• Some sort of suspension upgrade (contemplating this for long trip)

[MeefZah]

Originally Posted by avgas

I was afraid I'd get that answer, $500 sure is a lot. It is probably the answer I'm looking for though...

Sand is easy, as Z@ch said, good tires, momentum, constant throttle, weighting the back wheel. I basically hang my ass as far back as I can get it over the rear fender, and go like stink.

Don't:



Don't:



Do:

[what broke now]

Originally Posted by avgas

I did indeed get my degree in physics. Standing will increase your moment of inertia, although I'm guessing that the increase in stability has more to do with you being able to move your body around to balance and absorb impacts. I've never properly analyzed it though...

Anyway, I appreciate everyone's advice. I have been standing, and staying on the gas. I probably just need more practice.

Mr Avgas:

I have no aptitude for physics, but once ran across the notion that a standing bicycleist or moto rider created an "inverted Pendulum" and for that reason added stability and control to the process of riding. If this is correct, what is the process?

Did I just dream this?

[Scott_PDX]

Originally Posted by ggemelos

Thanks again for the information. I don't have a welder near by that I have used before, but I have a good vice and work bench. If I go with the 4.7, I will just have to play a bit with the vice. It worked for my Cycra hand guards, not a scratch on them, and they were thick.

Why the Safari or IMS 4.7? Because there are a lot of places I would like to take this bike that require a 200+ mile range. This is particularly true since one of my main reasons for picking up this bike was to take it on a long trip to South America. I would rather have as much fuel in the tank and less in canisters strapped high up on the back of the bike.

In terms of a current list and future mods, I am keeping one on my webpage. I have checked out Big Dog's setup, he has done some great rides. This is what I have so far, suggestions are appreciated:

Modifications:

• Lowered approximately 1" using factory adjustment
  
• Spiral seat
  
• Cyrca Probend hand guards with triple clamp side mount
• Sandman Freedom case saver - anodized blue
• Pro Moto billet rear cargo rack
• Flatland Racing skid plate
• Flatland Racing radiator guard

Possible Future Modifications:

• Seal savers
  
• Safari or IMS 4.7 transparent tank (still have not decided)
  
• Wolfman side rack with RotoPax mount system
  
• Wolfman expedition dry saddle bags
• Lynx fairing (this one is questionable)
• Some sort of suspension upgrade (contemplating this for long trip)

Nice list of mods. Personally I'd skip the radiator guards, they made my bike overheat and the larger tank may be incompatible. Also if I were to do it over again, I'd go with the Highway Dirt Bikes handguards (and probably handlebars and top clamp at the same time).

[UtahFox]

Originally Posted by ggemelos

Thanks again for the information. I don't have a welder near by that I have used before, but I have a good vice and work bench. If I go with the 4.7, I will just have to play a bit with the vice. It worked for my Cycra hand guards, not a scratch on them, and they were thick.

Why the Safari or IMS 4.7? Because there are a lot of places I would like to take this bike that require a 200+ mile range. This is particularly true since one of my main reasons for picking up this bike was to take it on a long trip to South America. I would rather have as much fuel in the tank and less in canisters strapped high up on the back of the bike.

In terms of a current list and future mods, I am keeping one on my webpage. I have checked out Big Dog's setup, he has done some great rides. This is what I have so far, suggestions are appreciated:

Modifications:

• Lowered approximately 1" using factory adjustment
  
• Spiral seat
  
• Cyrca Probend hand guards with triple clamp side mount
• Sandman Freedom case saver - anodized blue
• Pro Moto billet rear cargo rack
• Flatland Racing skid plate
• Flatland Racing radiator guard

Possible Future Modifications:

• Seal savers
  
• Safari or IMS 4.7 transparent tank (still have not decided)
  
• Wolfman side rack with RotoPax mount system
  
• Wolfman expedition dry saddle bags
• Lynx fairing (this one is questionable)
• Some sort of suspension upgrade (contemplating this for long trip)

Seems to be a bunch of new WRR owners lately, to which you can add me. I sold my Tiger yesterday, and I just made an agreement to pick up a 2011 with 350 miles on it. I'll be following your progress in more ways than one, I'm also planning a few big rides including the Long Way Down.

[ggemelos]

Originally Posted by UtahFox

Seems to be a bunch of new WRR owners lately, to which you can add me. I sold my Tiger yesterday, and I just made an agreement to pick up a 2011 with 350 miles on it. I'll be following your progress in more ways than one, I'm also planning a few big rides including the Long Way Down.

It is a small world. About a year ago, I was planning a trip starting in Nepal, going through India and central Asia, and ending in Africa. It was a vague plan for what might lead to a RTW trip. At the time I was thinking the wr250r would be a great bike for the trip. Instead, I ended up going with a custom bike build around the yamaha RX125 engine. I was all set to go, gave notice at work, had all my stuff in storage, sold my car, stored my Ducati Monster, and crashed a my brothers place while I finished up work. About a month out, I got an offer for a job in New York I could not pass up. So now I am on the East Coast and it has been 6 months at the new job. All I can think about is starting off on the trip I postponed. Instead of starting in Asia, I figured I would go south. I have traveled through Asia a lot, backpacking and motorcycling, but I have never been in South America. Once I get to the bottom, I will decide whether to continue or head on back. I am hoping to either start out late summer in 2013, but I can see it being pushed into 2014. When are you targeting to go?

[UtahFox]

Originally Posted by ggemelos

It is a small world. About a year ago, I was planning a trip starting in Nepal, going through India and central Asia, and ending in Africa. It was a vague plan for what might lead to a RTW trip. At the time I was thinking the wr250r would be a great bike for the trip. Instead, I ended up going with a custom bike build around the yamaha RX125 engine. I was all set to go, gave notice at work, had all my stuff in storage, sold my car, stored my Ducati Monster, and crashed a my brothers place while I finished up work. About a month out, I got an offer for a job in New York I could not pass up. So now I am on the East Coast and it has been 6 months at the new job. All I can think about is starting off on the trip I postponed. Instead of starting in Asia, I figured I would go south. I have traveled through Asia a lot, backpacking and motorcycling, but I have never been in South America. Once I get to the bottom, I will decide whether to continue or head on back. I am hoping to either start out late summer in 2013, but I can see it being pushed into 2014. When are you targeting to go?

I'm a noob when it comes to foreign travel; one trip to Cabo and 7 months backpacking in Europe - super fun but also super casual. It seems like people start heading south in the Fall, so a very vague September/October. Other than exploring my neck of the woods, I'm also looking at going to the Florida Keys via the Gulf coast then back via the TAT in April/May (though I may have to go around Colorado). Then a buddy of mine and I are going to the Laguna GP in July.

Lots of fun stuff, I'm looking forward to this next year on the Ar Ar :)

Bye bye Tiger



The Tiger is now officially part of a quiver.

[Llamaha]

Originally Posted by ggemelos

Thanks again for the information. I don't have a welder near by that I have used before, but I have a good vice and work bench. If I go with the 4.7, I will just have to play a bit with the vice. It worked for my Cycra hand guards, not a scratch on them, and they were thick.

Why the Safari or IMS 4.7? Because there are a lot of places I would like to take this bike that require a 200+ mile range. This is particularly true since one of my main reasons for picking up this bike was to take it on a long trip to South America. I would rather have as much fuel in the tank and less in canisters strapped high up on the back of the bike.

In terms of a current list and future mods, I am keeping one on my webpage. I have checked out Big Dog's setup, he has done some great rides. This is what I have so far, suggestions are appreciated:

Modifications:

• Lowered approximately 1" using factory adjustment
  
• Spiral seat
  
• Cyrca Probend hand guards with triple clamp side mount
• Sandman Freedom case saver - anodized blue
• Pro Moto billet rear cargo rack
• Flatland Racing skid plate
• Flatland Racing radiator guard

Possible Future Modifications:

• Seal savers
  
• Safari or IMS 4.7 transparent tank (still have not decided)
  
• Wolfman side rack with RotoPax mount system
  
• Wolfman expedition dry saddle bags
• Lynx fairing (this one is questionable)
• Some sort of suspension upgrade (contemplating this for long trip)

Mind if I share my thoughts on this?

Personally I have never needed a rear rack I just plonk whatever on the rear fender and strap it down. If you get the wolfman racks then you will have plenty of tie-down points.

The radiator doesn't need protection any more than many other parts of the bike, you could just as easily dent a wheel on a rock and get stranded.

My old skid plate created a horrible echo from the bottom of the bike... you may want to research this. (mine wasn't flatland though worth thinking about...)

I have heard that the 4.7 doesn't get all of the fuel out of the wings, you may be getting the same amount of fuel from the safari but still have quite an agile motorcycle?

[avgas]

Originally Posted by what broke now

Mr Avgas:

I have no aptitude for physics, but once ran across the notion that a standing bicycleist or moto rider created an "inverted Pendulum" and for that reason added stability and control to the process of riding. If this is correct, what is the process?

Did I just dream this?

A bicycle/motorcycle can be thought of as an inverted pendulum regardless of whether or not the rider is standing. Standing will increase your moment of inertia however. An increased moment of inertia can be beneficial because it slows the rate at which you tip over. Think of a metronome, you raise the weight and it ticks a slower beat. So, if it takes you longer to tip over, it's easier to correct.

You can easily balance a broom on one finger, because you have lots of time to react. A pencil is much harder to balance though. Actually, that's not a perfect analogy to the bicycle, because the pencil is much lighter than a broom. Ok, balance a broom on your finger, then cut off the broomstick...

It isn't really as simple as that though. A rider balancing a bicycle is a complex system. The inverted pendulum is just one part of it.

[MeefZah]

Originally Posted by Llamaha

Mind if I share my thoughts on this?

Personally I have never needed a rear rack I just plonk whatever on the rear fender and strap it down. If you get the wolfman racks then you will have plenty of tie-down points.

I agree, I simply bolted 4 metal rubber clad wire looms onto the subframe under the fender and use ROK straps to hold down a duffel. Works great, very minimal and inexpensive, and doesn't interfere with off road riding when not securing a duffel.