Thanks to this video I bought a WR250R in 2015 and just recently sold it, almost 20k miles on it and not one issue besides regular maintenance. I also did my motorcycle foundation course on a KLX250S so both those bikes have a place in my heart as good bang for your buck bikes. Y’all really need to do an updated video though for the new stuff out now.
Good review, i own a WR250R and i was in the market for quite some time before i purchased mine. I have owned mine almost 2 years and i really do love this bike. It was my first dirt bike and it was pretty easy to learn on. The seat height can be an issue in trails compared to a normal dirt bike. I am 5 11 with a 32 inseam and i can barely get the ball of my foot down on the road, so imagine uneven terrain. Other than that it's an awesome machine. If u r in the market for a dual sport get the WR
I am another person who, after a lot of research, elected to save and pay a little bit more and get the WR250R/X. It was definitely worth the extra money, it's really powerful for a 250, it doesn't give me ANY trouble, and the maintenance intervals are the least demanding of all these bikes as well. It's in a different class.
In May 2019 I bought a brand new 2017 DR200S from my local Suzuki dealer, it had sat in the showroom for 2 years. Anyway I'm pleased with the bike and was able to buy it at the heavily discounted price of $2985 with the full 1-year warranty.
I owned a WR-250R for about 14 months, and it is a good bike. Excellent on the street and it can easily run with modern traffic (mainly because it's got more power than other 250cc dual-purpose bikes) and fine for recreational trail riding. Liquid cooling has it's place, and it works fine on this bike. ;)
I own a wr250r. Its worth the extra cash. It truly makes u reconsider tge definition of a 250. Also an awesome feature is the transmission. 5th and 6th gears are overdrive for hwy riding. 1-4 are for the dirt. A great execution of a dual sport bike.
My twin brother had the DR200 and liked it for slow trail rides and back roads. I have had an 08 WR250r stock except riser bars and skid plate which amplified the bad motor noise! Another bad thing is 5th and 6th gears are granny gears no power at all. I now have an 09 KLX250s with aftermarket pipe and air box lid taken off and matching jet kit. The KLX has a the best speedo on the market and the power with the mods I have is lighter and about the same power as the WR250r.
That due to factors other than the type of fueling. The older Yamaha street bikes had less oversquare motors, ie more of the displacement was in stroke. That tends to favor lower revs more than very oversquare, short stroke motors that emphasize high RPMs for maximized peak power.
having baby and building house, my 08 WR250 is for sale. about $2k in extras including supermoto rims/tires and stock dirt knobs. fmf programmer daurbeck@yahoo.com if interested
@kj7687 That said. I'm a big fan of Motorcycle USA, and of your reviews. From your perspective, this review couldn't have been better. You very accurately summarized the bikes in terms of power, speed, and handling characteristics. Thanks.
i am 15, 5'8 145 lb's and was thinking about getting the honda but after this review i would rather get the kawisaki but i dont know if i am big enough for it. would it be a good bike for me if i already have about 2 years experiance.
Good video. The only thing, my wife has a Suzuki 200S, 2019, and I have to help ehr with the choke, because it definitely needs a warm up , and we have to adjust the choke for 4-5 minutes. Very nice bike, but I am pretty sure that with the Honda, thinks might be better or the same.
great vids bud i reckon the klx 250s performs the best, me and my cousin race on the dunes hes got the honda 230 custom jets tweeked carb and fmf pipe and my klx still destroys his.
If I were going to get a dual sport, it'd be a 1980 Husqvarna 390WR. Great power, magical suspension, unbelievable power, looks to kill, and lots of power both down low and up high in the revs. And, if it ever needs to be fixed, you can repair the thing in your own garage using nothing but your fingernails and a medium-sized brick.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but don't carberrated bikes make more powet at low end? I have a 2009 R6 and get blown off the line by tuned 2001 R6. 1998 R1 seems to be one of the fastest off the line out of the litre bikes as well. I'm sure for dirt bikes one of the most important things is getting off the line at the start of the race.
The Suzuki still has the same engine I guess that’s a good thing because its becoming common to hear about them blowing up so a replacement shouldn’t be too expensive unless you factor in labor
Yes it is huge. Only new bike I bought right off the floor was the OG KLR 250 in 1986, it was the shit back then but overpowered by the 350 Yammie. My bike was like $2,100 out the door, or just $200 less then get this... an RZ 350!!! Then it kept getting pricier then by the end it was more than double, for the same damn bike and by then it had shitty graphics. Mine was simple white with blue. Anyway we've come a long long way!
How do u clean the air filter and where the exhaust pipes smokes parallel to the kickstand. R there seal rings at each end of the pipes that may need replacing. Wondering if u have any video on these things
Used im seeing the klx around 2500, the crf around 4000 and the wr around 3800... dr200 not in the class but around 2000. im looking for the klx based on that pricing...
yo tengo una klx 250s 2009 y solo te puedo decir que es una moto fantastica, muy tranquila ideal para ruta y tierra muy economica y muy bien terminada de la linea de las 250 es la mas linda y mejor lograda saludos desde santa fe argentina
Since height isn't the issue with you I would look at weight. If you're kind of a heavier guy, I might go with a DR-Z400 or something. If not, the WR250R is nice but pricey and the KLX250s is a good one too, but not as powerful. The KLX seems like it can be more easily modified (big bore, exhaust pipe, carb swap, etc) for more power. Makes like 18hp stock, but can be pushed beyond 28hp like it should be. MX 250's make 35hp+. It also depends on what you wanna do with the bike. I commute with a DR200 and its good for that but when I wanna go ripping down back roads, its no where near fast enough, but it is for trails. BUUUT the suspension is WAY too soft and it blows right through the stroke. But with those 250's (esp the WR) the suspension is adjustable both rebound and damping.
Good review but really a fan of any off the small engines, whats all this with height issues i ride the wr400 taller than any of these and i can touch the floor fine on it , im not a tall guy either at 5"8
You'd probably be flat footed on these bikes. Much lower seat height. My girlfriend can sit on this bike at 5'8" and she's kinda tippy toed. She cannot sit on my CR250R at all.
@meda789 Haha yea I've ridden both a tricked out CRF450r and a TTR230. The CRF is TONS of fun to do do wheelies with and haul ass on, but definitely harder to control when you're not trying to do 90 mph lol.
i have to disagree that no one wants the 200, for a very inexpensive, simple, reliable, easy to fix no hassle bike i think its perfect. for the price (especially on the used market around my area) the dr200s can be found MUCH cheaper than the 230l honda and for me the dr200 just seems like a better buy...then again i am a pretty little guy (5'11" at 135lbs) so the extra 30ccs dont really matter to me. but just like you if i had the extra money lying around i would definitely want the drz400
@asssface2000 I have a 230l and in my opinion it is a great bike all around.Every bike here comes lean, thats just what the factory does to insure it lasts longer. I had to bump my main jet up 3 sizes and i changed the sprocket for the trails.I have played with every single bike on this video and beat them all.I ride a lot thought and i know how to ride. Its all rider experience.obviously if you really really experienced then you dont belong on this bike.i ride mine to work then to the trails
Yeah it's something I've struggled with a bit, I had an ad up for it for a day or two before I realized I was an idiot. I'm not selling it, I love my TW.
the DR200 only started easily because it was at a higher altitude which is richer, and the same goes for all of the carbureted bikes. Normally on stock jetting at sea level the bike will take 5 minutes to warm up, will not start without choke, and will run like crap. My DR200 with a jetting kit still take 2 minutes to warm but thats how it should run.
![[SFM] Risky Recital](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RzNkY1_Nk3o/mqdefault.jpg)
They gotta do a 2018/2019 version of this video a lot of awesome info
This comment matters forever
I think they shut down
Someone tag the revzilla or motorcyclist magazine crew lol same people now
Thanks to this video I bought a WR250R in 2015 and just recently sold it, almost 20k miles on it and not one issue besides regular maintenance. I also did my motorcycle foundation course on a KLX250S so both those bikes have a place in my heart as good bang for your buck bikes. Y’all really need to do an updated video though for the new stuff out now.
this guy was just telling it like it is! awesome review
@motousa
This is one of the best videos I have seen from you guys in quite awhile. Like a breath of fresh air.
Good review, i own a WR250R and i was in the market for quite some time before i purchased mine. I have owned mine almost 2 years and i really do love this bike. It was my first dirt bike and it was pretty easy to learn on. The seat height can be an issue in trails compared to a normal dirt bike. I am 5 11 with a 32 inseam and i can barely get the ball of my foot down on the road, so imagine uneven terrain. Other than that it's an awesome machine. If u r in the market for a dual sport get the WR
Watching in 2021 . Finally I can afford these
I am another person who, after a lot of research, elected to save and pay a little bit more and get the WR250R/X. It was definitely worth the extra money, it's really powerful for a 250, it doesn't give me ANY trouble, and the maintenance intervals are the least demanding of all these bikes as well. It's in a different class.
Thanks for the helpful video on small dual sports!
In May 2019 I bought a brand new 2017 DR200S from my local Suzuki dealer, it had sat in the showroom for 2 years. Anyway I'm pleased with the bike and was able to buy it at the heavily discounted price of $2985 with the full 1-year warranty.
I owned a WR-250R for about 14 months, and it is a good bike.
Excellent on the street and it can easily run with modern traffic (mainly because it's got more power than other 250cc dual-purpose bikes) and fine for recreational trail riding.
Liquid cooling has it's place, and it works fine on this bike. ;)
A GREAT BUNCH OF BIKES!
I own a wr250r. Its worth the extra cash. It truly makes u reconsider tge definition of a 250. Also an awesome feature is the transmission. 5th and 6th gears are overdrive for hwy riding. 1-4 are for the dirt. A great execution of a dual sport bike.
You didin't review the yamaha XT 250 ?
You're absolutely right man. The wr was not the bike to compare to these other bikes... the xt was
@@ChromeArty right, xt250 and the crf250l instead of the 230.
Also the xt225
Thanks for the video. I am going to buy a dual sport and the comparisons you made are helpful.
Thanks, because of this video, I'm getting a divorce. It was either the wife, or a new WR...
lucky b astard ! :)
Excellent trade!
Wise choice
Trust me, you made a wise choice. The WR is a great bike!
My twin brother had the DR200 and liked it for slow trail rides and back roads.
I have had an 08 WR250r stock except riser bars and skid plate which amplified the bad motor noise! Another bad thing is 5th and 6th gears are granny gears no power at all.
I now have an 09 KLX250s with aftermarket pipe and air box lid taken off and matching jet kit. The KLX has a the best speedo on the market and the power with the mods I have is lighter and about the same power as the WR250r.
This guy should do ALL the bike reviews for MotoUSA..Excellent!
Excellent review. I own a CRF230L
Definitely want an update to this!
Even a decade after this video was made, an '06 Suzuki Dr200 doesn't play around. Definitely a champ of a bike for a shorter guy like me.
Just bought a 200se last week first bike love it
It's been 4yrs since the comment... Do you still have the bike?
make a 2015
LOL that hair became the center of attraction......
for who? didn't even realize it was relevant until i saw all the comments, lol.
Great review. Like the pro's and con's to each bike. Thanks for the info!
That due to factors other than the type of fueling. The older Yamaha street bikes had less oversquare motors, ie more of the displacement was in stroke. That tends to favor lower revs more than very oversquare, short stroke motors that emphasize high RPMs for maximized peak power.
great info, should do a shootout on the 400s and 650s
Definitely getting that Yamaha
Yup
having baby and building house, my 08 WR250 is for sale. about $2k in extras including supermoto rims/tires and stock dirt knobs. fmf programmer daurbeck@yahoo.com if interested
did your barber die?
Helmet hair
LOL
Please do one of these for 2013 bikes.. Great vid
@kj7687 That said. I'm a big fan of Motorcycle USA, and of your reviews. From your perspective, this review couldn't have been better. You very accurately summarized the bikes in terms of power, speed, and handling characteristics. Thanks.
Great review, I want a WR so bad all of a sudden, ha.
If you kill the hamster on your head, I might take you seriously.
Very well done reviews, thanks. I wish you'd included the Yamaha XT250, which I'm looking at now. Any chance of a 2019 updated review?
i am 15, 5'8 145 lb's and was thinking about getting the honda but after this review i would rather get the kawisaki but i dont know if i am big enough for it. would it be a good bike for me if i already have about 2 years experiance.
i have a 2008 crf 230l and i love this thing great for beginner rider and is almost imposible to stall
Damn I Thought My Hair Cut Was Bad.
He spends his $ on bikes. Get with it!
Good video. The only thing, my wife has a Suzuki 200S, 2019, and I have to help ehr with the choke, because it definitely needs a warm up , and we have to adjust the choke for 4-5 minutes. Very nice bike, but I am pretty sure that with the Honda, thinks might be better or the same.
great vids bud i reckon the klx 250s performs the best, me and my cousin race on the dunes hes got the honda 230 custom jets tweeked carb and fmf pipe and my klx still destroys his.
Great review. Learned just what I needed to know for making a buy.
Honda now has a pretty good dual purpose. Not as good as the WR. But not as expensive either
Can you do a new review with all the current bikes? A lot has changed on all these models since your 2010 video. Thank you!
I would like to see another 250 dual short shootout
This guys is the best!!!
If I were going to get a dual sport, it'd be a 1980 Husqvarna 390WR. Great power, magical suspension, unbelievable power, looks to kill, and lots of power both down low and up high in the revs. And, if it ever needs to be fixed, you can repair the thing in your own garage using nothing but your fingernails and a medium-sized brick.
which bike u recommend honda crf250 or kawasaki kx250 or one of these dual sports
just got a 09 klx 250s... couldnt be happier
are you use the klx has a carb i have the 2009 and its fuel injected in the us
Love that Lil DR200 SE.
Yamaha FTW! Selling my TW200 for a WR... I'm stoked!
I loved my 07 KLX 250! I had no problem getting 75-77 mpg on the hyway
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but don't carberrated bikes make more powet at low end? I have a 2009 R6 and get blown off the line by tuned 2001 R6. 1998 R1 seems to be one of the fastest off the line out of the litre bikes as well. I'm sure for dirt bikes one of the most important things is getting off the line at the start of the race.
dam good review on these bikes. why doesn't he review all the bikes?
nice review & well presented
Really helped me out! Thx guys!
yes but honda has the new CRF250l which is close the wr but costs less
Great review! Good summary.
The Suzuki still has the same engine I guess that’s a good thing because its becoming common to hear about them blowing up so a replacement shouldn’t be too expensive unless you factor in labor
Well done review.
i have the xt250,didnt see the wr,they still make it .?
Is the dr200 and crf230l around the same size and is the crf230f and crf230l the same size ?
@justlookingRE The Husky would need more maintenance in comparison to these, but it is much faster offroad.
It's 2021 now and the WR is still king in the 250 range.
the kawasaki klx 250 or yamaha wr250 would probably work just fine, but another motorcycle that i would recommend you look into is the suzuki drz400.
I had an old 1985 XT 350 that would do 105 going on a moderate downhill. I have no doubts a modern 250 would do the same.
Hair or not, incredibly good review. And nice hair.
Yes it is huge. Only new bike I bought right off the floor was the OG KLR 250 in 1986, it was the shit back then but overpowered by the 350 Yammie. My bike was like $2,100 out the door, or just $200 less then get this... an RZ 350!!! Then it kept getting pricier then by the end it was more than double, for the same damn bike and by then it had shitty graphics. Mine was simple white with blue.
Anyway we've come a long long way!
How do u clean the air filter and where the exhaust pipes smokes parallel to the kickstand. R there seal rings at each end of the pipes that may need replacing. Wondering if u have any video on these things
great reviews, thanks
that hair deserves its own youtube channel
the wr250r looks like a great bike!
Used im seeing the klx around 2500, the crf around 4000 and the wr around 3800... dr200 not in the class but around 2000. im looking for the klx based on that pricing...
@xrrider650 they have the XT660r in Europe
buenos dia mi consulta es si el klx 250s es mejor q el honda crf 250 L ,tengo el crf 250cc y estoy por cambiarla por un klx 250 vi tu video gracias
yo tengo una klx 250s 2009 y solo te puedo decir que es una moto fantastica, muy tranquila ideal para ruta y tierra muy economica y muy bien terminada de la linea de las 250 es la mas linda y mejor lograda saludos desde santa fe argentina
I know you might not reply, but it's worth a shot!
I'm 6"3 and I want a dual sport at a lowish price, what would be a good bike for me?
I'm a noob at all this, but a 250 is most likely gonna be tiny for you, get something bigger
I would go with either the DRZ400 or the KLR650
Since height isn't the issue with you I would look at weight. If you're kind of a heavier guy, I might go with a DR-Z400 or something. If not, the WR250R is nice but pricey and the KLX250s is a good one too, but not as powerful. The KLX seems like it can be more easily modified (big bore, exhaust pipe, carb swap, etc) for more power. Makes like 18hp stock, but can be pushed beyond 28hp like it should be. MX 250's make 35hp+. It also depends on what you wanna do with the bike. I commute with a DR200 and its good for that but when I wanna go ripping down back roads, its no where near fast enough, but it is for trails. BUUUT the suspension is WAY too soft and it blows right through the stroke. But with those 250's (esp the WR) the suspension is adjustable both rebound and damping.
a good review, nice one motousa
Good review but really a fan of any off the small engines, whats all this with height issues i ride the wr400 taller than any of these and i can touch the floor fine on it , im not a tall guy either at 5"8
You'd probably be flat footed on these bikes. Much lower seat height. My girlfriend can sit on this bike at 5'8" and she's kinda tippy toed. She cannot sit on my CR250R at all.
Very good vid.
I wonder how my old 1992 Suzuki DR350 would compare. Of coarse it's outdated but ride and power
I got a 09 crf230l and its amazing
Great review!!
I agree, Yamaha was generally the best in this comparison. This motorcycle category is one of Yamaha's strong point, I think.
@meda789 Haha yea I've ridden both a tricked out CRF450r and a TTR230. The CRF is TONS of fun to do do wheelies with and haul ass on, but definitely harder to control when you're not trying to do 90 mph lol.
i have to disagree that no one wants the 200, for a very inexpensive, simple, reliable, easy to fix no hassle bike i think its perfect. for the price (especially on the used market around my area) the dr200s can be found MUCH cheaper than the 230l honda and for me the dr200 just seems like a better buy...then again i am a pretty little guy (5'11" at 135lbs) so the extra 30ccs dont really matter to me. but just like you if i had the extra money lying around i would definitely want the drz400
What would be the best dual sport for a person above 6 foot?
How much real HP,measured on the wheel, does the US spec with the carb kawasaki have?
Crf 230l-Honda xr250 Tornado?
what kinda helmet was the kawi rider wearing?
I also need some warmup time before i can carburet real smooth.
2015?
Wanted a crotch rocket but hey who doesn't like off roaring?!
@asssface2000 I have a 230l and in my opinion it is a great bike all around.Every bike here comes lean, thats just what the factory does to insure it lasts longer. I had to bump my main jet up 3 sizes and i changed the sprocket for the trails.I have played with every single bike on this video and beat them all.I ride a lot thought and i know how to ride. Its all rider experience.obviously if you really really experienced then you dont belong on this bike.i ride mine to work then to the trails
Probably gonna save up for a WR250X
Could I change the off road tyres for normal tyres and make it a daily driver?
Yep
Ayyyye reppin Mammoth Lakes here
Have you all tested the redesigned 2015 Suzuki Dr200S? I'm torn between a new Zook and a used CRF 230L. I had a 230L and thought it was really nice.
+fuscia13 You can go wrong with an air cooled Honda
You can? Or Can't? I found a used 230L and I'm happy with it :0)
you "can't" go wrong lol . they'll last until the end of time. I currently have one and love it
+ENDURORDIE I know, I love mine too. I think I'd like to get the CRF 230F and do some Enduro and Hare Scrambles. You know, C class ;0)
Gotta love the 30mph speed limit lol
Might say 30 but I'm doing 60!
Yeah it's something I've struggled with a bit, I had an ad up for it for a day or two before I realized I was an idiot. I'm not selling it, I love my TW.
the DR200 only started easily because it was at a higher altitude which is richer, and the same goes for all of the carbureted bikes. Normally on stock jetting at sea level the bike will take 5 minutes to warm up, will not start without choke, and will run like crap. My DR200 with a jetting kit still take 2 minutes to warm but thats how it should run.
Good video
Why the dr 200 and not the drz 250??
damn those wr's are expensive though. Picked up a 2006 klx250-s for 2300$ for comparison.