A forum for owners of Yamaha TTR250 trail and enduro bikes!

SussexTony · Senior Member

Ttr 250. / wr450

SussexTony · Senior Member

Thanks for all the help from everyone on this forum site ,

ttr steve · Super Guru

We all try smile wr450 is a mean bike!

SussexTony · Senior Member

Was going to buy a wr 450. But going to look at a ttr 600 on eBay this week I no there big and heavy but I,m big at 15 stone and it looks a lovely bike. And found that wr 450 do not like idleing

TerryK · Super Guru

SussexTony wrote:
Was going to buy a wr 450. But going to look at a ttr 600 on eBay this week I no there big and heavy but I,m big at 15 stone and it looks a lovely bike. And found that wr 450 do not like idleing

You could look at a WR250F or WR250R ( dual sport & the replacement for the TTR ) The WRR is a great bike along with electric start & EFI

I have both a TTR & WRR both from new

Cheers Terry

SussexTony · Senior Member

I’ve not ridden a wr250 but I was looking for a bit more power ? I would like to stay with Yamaha but being tempted by ktm , witch I didn’t want to do, I’m 47. And 6:2 I think wr250 still want have the power I’m after, And I still like older looking bikes , any ideas about any other bikes !

SussexTony · Senior Member

What’s the power difference from ttr to. Wr. 250

ttr steve · Super Guru

ttr600 kicker only

SussexTony · Senior Member

Not sure I’ll phone him

SussexTony · Senior Member

Electric start

ttr steve · Super Guru

Good

I have only ever seen kicker ones

SussexTony · Senior Member

There’s. A couple on eBay ttr 600

SussexTony · Senior Member

The kicker ones are the older. Ones I think ?

mossproof · Super Guru

I believe basically the earlier kickers are Japanese built and have better quality suspension, and the e-legs are Italian (Belgarda) but lower quality rear shock.
Plenty of grunt, but rather narrow gear ratios, so if you have good low gearing for gnarly stuff, the road speed suffers. Sexy shaped tank though!

Horizonti · Veteran Member

I have just sold a 2004 TT600RE which as mossproof said is the electric start only Spanish built model, after 11 years of ownership, the kicker only previous model with longer travel reportedly better suspension was the TT600R. I have heard them both referred to as 'Belgarda' models, all the R's I have seen are in red and all the RE's I have seen have been in blue. Both of course are the last gasp descendants of the mighty XT600 range.

I bought a TT250R bluey as well a couple of years ago and having used the two side by side decided I really only needed one trail / adventure bike and the 250 was a clear winner.

The 600 has lots and lots of grunt, almost impossible to stall and would probably dig itself down to the earths core if you let it, I miss that and the deep exhaust bark via its slightly liberated silencer. I could load it up and carry far too much stuff if I wanted with it's Metal Mule pannier system. It is a couple of inches lower than the 250 and has an equally comfy seat so was very relaxed to ride. Its downfall was the 5 speed gearbox which left if breathing hard keeping up with the flow of traffic at 50 to 60 and the change was nothing like as slick as the 250, any higher gearing would have compromise the lower gearing needed for trails. The 250 running 14 / 44 sprocket's is far more relaxed at 50 to 60 by comparison and I rarely use 1st on the trails so that gearing ratio works perfect for the gentle mixed riding I've been doing. I had no shortage of fuel range with a 20l tank fitted on the 600 but the 250 is so frugal 10.6 litre capacity of the blue plastic tank is ample. The 250 is noticeably taller which with my frail bones takes a bit of a leg swing to get on but I can still get both feet flat when mounted, I did buy a lowering link but have resisted fitting it as the 250's suspension is very very good by comparison to the 600's so I'm reluctant to muck about with it. The 250's brakes are much better in feel and performance as well.

Oh and I decide I was a soft luggage person rather than hard luggage, great set up I have on the 250 a very talented chap designed and made the framework and it was well travelled and proven before I took ownership of it ;)

So having banged on a bit (sorry) what am I going to do about the exhaust note that I miss on the 600 and some of the funds generated by the sale.......treat myself to a full Phoenix stainless system from the shop just as soon as the shorty headers are back in stock. Which last but by no means least was another good reasons to keep the 250 over the 600, the excellent spares service offered by the shop and the amazing availability of advice and wealth of freely shared knowledge on this forum. TTR250's rock!

TerryK · Super Guru

SussexTony wrote:
What’s the power difference from ttr to. Wr. 250

I bought the TTR new in 2013 now has 21k & the WRR new in 2016 now has 20k on the clock

TTR is better on hills than the WRR, the WRR likes to rev & while it has more power it is higher in the rev range

WRR has more power & uses less fuel, it also stops slightly better than the TTR

The rear shock on the TTR is better than the WRR but the reverse can be said for the forks.

Front grip on the WRR is outstanding, I still ride both the WRR & TTR but the WRR is just slightly better all round.

The WRR has gone through 3 sets of chains & sprockets, sliders & chain guide v 1 set on the TTR due to the power difference & the chain guard.

The TTR has both electric & kick start where the WRR is electric only.

More after market parts for the WRR such as fuel tanks, I run a IMS 11.7lt tank & get 250kms without the fuel light coming on where the TTR with the standard 10lt tank would hit res. at around 185kms.

Cheers Terry

SussexTony · Senior Member

Thanks for the information , I’m torn between ktm now witch I didn’t want to do, I just need abit more power greenlaning. And roads , I like the power of the wr 450 / 400 I’ve rode 2 now but at slow rev,s. They just don’t like idleing One of my friends has a Honda crf450L. Same problem single track crap at idleing , ??????

ttr steve · Super Guru

Steve

Nice wright up smile will find out when the headers are due in.

Tony

wr450f and put a rekluse in it?

Terry

Always good info

Simon

The tanks do look sexy! biggrin

TerryK · Super Guru

WR450, WR250F & all KTM's are high maintenance, I have ridden a KTM690, 500exc ? & a 300 2T with my pick being the 500, The rides I do around here, the Flinders & VHC would have all of the above plus a couple of WR450F's plus CRF450 & a couple of KLX250/300, fuel range on the WR450's is not great & are a handful on single track..

Also the KTM & WR450's are not designed for extended road use.

More power does not always mean faster, riders make the mistake with more powerful bike of just using the power to be fast but in fact it can work against you, With a lower powered bike that handles ok you tend to keep the speed up, ride smooth & fast...The lads I ride with can't believe how quick the TTR was & even more so with the WRR.

Unless you have the ability of Toby Price you will never use the KTM or WR450 to it's limit.

We are lucky here in Australia as we can still buy WR250R, WR250F & WR450F's plus the Honda 450 & the KTM's.. What about the DRZ400E they are bulletproof or KLX450

Terry

TTRfan · Super Guru

Good points well made Terry!

My own view after many years of dirt biking is that if your riding involves any road work then you need six gears and defo not a close-ratio 5-speed box.

Also, I believe that soft-tuned 350 air-cooled single is the ultimate general purpose engine for trail riding. Now, where could someone get one of those for their TTR biggrin wink biggrin smile

TerryK · Super Guru

TTRfan wrote:
Good points well made Terry!
My own view after many years of dirt biking is that if your riding involves any road work then you need six gears and defo not a close-ratio 5-speed box.
Also, I believe that soft-tuned 350 air-cooled single is the ultimate general purpose engine for trail riding. Now, where could someone get one of those for their TTR

I had a XR400RC before the TTR & it screamed it's ring off at 100kph with standard gearing, I geared it up so it was happy at 90-100kph but then it was crap in tight stuff or big hills, the same goes for the DRZ400, so much like a XR400. My TTR is happier on the fast sections than the XR, the WRR is better again.

TTR with a 350cc would be ideal, if only it could be reto-fitted with EFI

Terry

PlumasDude · Senior Member

Just don't get a kicker unless you are the kickin kind. At this point I would give you my DR350S if the ride to your place wasn't so long. The DR350SEs are great, but without that "E" you need skill and a big ol leg. Great bike, nearly identical to the TTR250 but a bit longer, I totally love riding it. But I don't love kicking it. I think the E came in about 1995.

SussexTony · Senior Member

Dr 350 s. R they 6 speed. Interesting! I keep looking at the 350 engine I have in the garage. Did I do the right thing giveing my. Boy the ttr 250 oe. !! Maybe he would like something abit newer maybe a ttr bluey. 250 , thanks for all the information. Food for thought. I will scratch my head for a day or so and have a chat with my boy. (. Ttr 350 oe. 94. I cannot be the first to try ! ,,, can I. )

PlumasDude · Senior Member

DR350 is a 6 speed.

If I could plate a TTR250 I'd think about the 350 kit, for my size and taste the TTR is better than the DR and the extra grunt would be awesome. My advice is get a TTR and build it out to what you want. The 600 is a barge, whole different class of bike.

That WR450 -- I don't have one but I've spent time on a 426 (20 years younger!). If you want more power the 450 would sure do it. But you might want a little more runway than I see in those green lane photos. Maybe not the first bike I'd jump on after 20 years biggrin

mossproof · Super Guru

TTR with a 350cc would be ideal, if only it could be reto-fitted with EFI

Terry

Sorry Terry, Nice try, but you're not dragging me into that one smile The 350 project was stressful enough. I think efi is quite doable, but I'm just lacking the enthusiasm to get my head round it. Easy enough to find a suitable injection manifold and ecu control. External fuel pump and a fuel return to tank not impossible, although a metal tank bike could have a fuel pump mounting ring brazed on easy enough...

See, I have considered it, but until my mojo returns, I'm a carbs only type!

TerryK · Super Guru

mossproof wrote:

TTR with a 350cc would be ideal, if only it could be reto-fitted with EFI

Terry

Sorry Terry, Nice try, but you're not dragging me into that one The 350 project was stressful enough. I think efi is quite doable, but I'm just lacking the enthusiasm to get my head round it. Easy enough to find a suitable injection manifold and ecu control. External fuel pump and a fuel return to tank not impossible, although a metal tank bike could have a fuel pump mounting ring brazed on easy enough...
See, I have considered it, but until my mojo returns, I'm a carbs only type!

Understandable it is a huge ask & rejetting a carb is not that hard at the end of the day.

Going back to the OP any updates on a bike, road tests or list of suitable motorcycles pros & cons

Terry

SussexTony · Senior Member

With a 350 engine I could make even bigger if wanted, But 350 kit your maxed out. , or am I wrong? And I think the ttr 350 engine. Is abit better than xt350. I believe it’s better geared and better crank ? I’ve got hold of a wireing loom. , and a few other bits , bobs. Typeing this I think I’ve made my mind up ? It’s just when I retro fitted engine in the past I had vibration problems , so it’s going to cost me lot of beer tokens, a takeaways, this time !