WR250R vs DR650SE temptation building

[Dirt_Dad]

I realize this is not your normal shoot out comparison, but it's the one that happened with me this weekend.

I was able to ride the DR650 yesterday and today in nearly all my normal riding areas in everything from dry conditions to a downpour.

Yesterday was all rain slicked roads and highways. Still I was impressed with the power of the little bike.

Today I decided to do a back to back test between the WR and the DR. First I rode the WR in the roughest places I have nearby home. Granted, they're not impressive by any standard, but the dirt roads are falling apart in some locations and it's a somewhat bumpy ride at speed. I made sure to do everything to make it a nice WR ride. 1st and 2nd gear wheelies, lots of power sliding...the stuff that puts a smile on my face.

Next was to take the DR on the same 20 mile loop. After riding the DR for a while I looked down and realized I had gone 70 miles. I also realized I might have a problem.

Hi, I'm Dirt_Dad, and I'm a bike whore. (the collective responds in monotone with: Hi Dirt_Dad)

I'm reminded of the old saying, "there is no replacement for displacement." I must face facts, I'm a power junkie. I like it when things happen when I twist my writs. When I twist my writs on the DR650, my arms grow several inches longer. That makes me happy.

The DR is a far more stable, refined and cushy ride despite the torture rack seat. I wondered how that would translate into the rougher stuff. While the WR just seems to skitter across the rough stuff, the DR just plows right through it. The few times I checked my speed on both bikes I couldn't see where I lost any speed on the DR. That surprised me. I took it into water crossings, and it gave the same level of confidence as the WR. I do love a 21" front wheel.

Despite being about 50lbs heavier than the WR, the DR feels like a smaller bike. It's shorter with less leg room, but wider. I honestly don't think there is many places I would take WR that I would not take the DR. The only exception coming to mind is a MX track. Unfortunately I haven't seen a MX track in years, so that's not really a factor to me. Too bad.

My lone complaint is the DR is a terrible wheelie bike. Part of that could be the stock tire on the rear just not getting any grip. But the other part could be the extra 50lbs just making the front heavier. Despite having a hard time getting the front wheel off the ground, I still had a blast with the extra power. Didn't realize how much I was missing it.

Back at home I immediately got off the DR and back on the WR. Out to more rough spots. First the slowness of little 250 really felt like I was dragging an anchor behind me. It got to speed, but so gradually. It was a disappointing ride overall. Back to my yard for a few wheelies. A place where the WR shines right now. Park it and get the DR out to the yard for wheelies. Damn, this thing is fast...but the back wheel just spins when time to lift the front. Over to the driveway pavement, up it comes.

Bottom line of all this testing...I may need to switch bikes. Like I always say, life is too short to ride the wrong bike. I've missed power in a competent dirt bike for too long. Didn't realize it before, but I do now. I would be easy to argue the DR is not a competent dirt bike. But in the real world places where I actually get to ride, it does a great job.

Hummm....

 

[snuffcityrider]

I've been looking at the KTM 690 and wanting one bad.. The price of admission on the DR would be easier to swallow. Just may have to go look at one, ( fellow bike whore).

 

[trikepilot]

Good lord!!! You have exceeded "bike whore" status.

Why not skip to the chase and go ahead and revisit your KTM days with the 530EXC or the aforementioned 690 EnduroR - which is a beast.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Why not skip to the chase and go ahead and revisit your KTM days with the 530EXC or the aforementioned 690 EnduroR - which is a beast.

The 530EXC is way too much dirt bike for anything I'll be able to do 99.9999% of the time.

I looked on the internet today at the 690 EnduroR. I suspect it would be the perfect bike for my desires. Unfortunately after seeing even the used prices it is not in a range I can justify. Guess I'm a whore on a budget.

 

[trikepilot]

My primary riding partner here at the NRG went from a KLR650 (TAT veteran bike) to a DRZ400 to a 690EnduroR in about a year. He cannot talk rationally about the 690. He says it will wheelie in any gear and is an animal on the trails and passable on the roads at highway speed. Like all our bikes around here, it was dubbed with a nickname - "Beasty"

There have been a flood of used 690EnduroR's at ADV lately as I have been feeding the links to another friend that used to ride a 640 who wants back into the game. Search em out. I think some were in the $7-8k range if memory serves.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Search em out. I think some were in the $7-8k range if memory serves.

That's what I was seeing, too. I love the sounds of that bike. It's exactly what I would expect out of KTM. But for the amount of use I'll get out of it I just can't justify $7K.

 

[Kiwi Graham]

Sounds like the WR450 is what you need, more power than you can shake a stick at, wheelies in all gears and is only a few pounds heavier than the 250

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Sounds like the WR450 is what you need, more power than you can shake a stick at, wheelies in all gears and is only a few pounds heavier than the 250

I agree. Wish Yam would give us a street legal version here.

 

[arjayes]

That's what I was seeing, too. I love the sounds of that bike. It's exactly what I would expect out of KTM. But for the amount of use I'll get out of it I just can't justify $7K.

If you want to read about the good, bad and ugly of the KTM 690 Enduro, tune into this thread (all ~250 pages of it):

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=781893

Yeah, another round the world story, but Noah does a great job of telling his story.

I think the 690 is in a class by itself. Would love to own one, and probably will at some point.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

... the aforementioned 690 EnduroR - which is a beast.

You know, the more I think about it, the more I do realize the 690 EnduroR would be perfect for me. Everything I hear it can do sounds exactly like what I want. But in the used market it is still almost double what I'm willing to pay for the bike in position #2 in my life. Plus it cost so much that I'd be paranoid about what I'd be willing to do with it. The great thing about my used WR and a DR is they are relatively cheap. That fosters a more reckless attitude with the bike... something I really appreciate.

I think I'm going to go start washing up the WR.

 

[trikepilot]

And here I thought I was the reckless one!!!

 

[Dirt_Dad]

And here I thought I was the reckless one!!!

There's a difference between a reckless attitude, and reckless in action. ;D

Truth is I left reckless behind many years ago. But I do have a level of paranoia with pricy bikes that I don't have with inexpensive bikes. I know you took care of that issue on day one with the Tenere. While that would have bugged the crap out of me, in some way it would have been freeing.

 

[NittanyXT]

Jon, have you tried a DRz400?

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I have not.

 

[NittanyXT]

I'm not too far from ya, just say the word! Having had a 650 and now a 400 here's my thoughts for what they're worth.
650: more torque, more weight,30 lbs. or so, good on the highway and forest roads, so-so suspension
400: same HP as 650 less torque, snappier, better suspenders, not as highway capable but will still do 70 mph all day long with a 1 tooth smaller CS sprocket, much better at singletrack.
Take a ride up and take it out for the day, you can be in State Forest roads and trails in 10 minutes

 

[trikepilot]

Not sure the DR is much of an improvement over the WR. I have a fair amount of seat time between both bikes as my primary riding partner had at DRZ400for awhile. I thought his DRZ400 and my WR250R were about the same seat height. I thought the WR's suspension was better. The DRZ had more HP but that only showed up at the top end. In technical terrain there was little to no difference but this might be the EFI on the WRR. And the WRR has a sixth gear.

 

[rotortech71]

Sounds like you were really diggin' the DR650. I'd say go for it! ::008::

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I'm not too far from ya, just say the word! Having had a 650 and now a 400 here's my thoughts for what they're worth.
650: more torque, more weight,30 lbs. or so, good on the highway and forest roads, so-so suspension
400: same HP as 650 less torque, snappier, better suspenders, not as highway capable but will still do 70 mph all day long with a 1 tooth smaller CS sprocket, much better at singletrack.
Take a ride up and take it out for the day, you can be in State Forest roads and trails in 10 minutes

I appreciate the offer, Jon. I was actually up in your town about two months ago on a ride with my wife. Spent the night not too far from the Stadium down at the Hampton Inn. I like it up there, if there's any way for me to do it, I'd be happy to take you up on the offer.

I've managed to get in a little over 200 miles so far on the 650. It definitely handles things differently from my WR. Right now it's the arm lengthening torque that is really putting a smile on my face. I didn't realize how much I've really missed that with the WR. I do love torque.

Thanks for your assessment of the two bikes.

Sounds like you were really diggin' the DR650. I'd say go for it! ::008::

I am digging it. I'll admit there's part of me that looks at that bike, the old design, nothing cool looking on it at all, and I think to myself, really...? This thing has been out forever, why am I so amused by it? But the truth is, that basic, no frills thing put a smile on my face and I need to be honest with myself... I liked it.

I forget my bike count at the moment. I think I'm somewhere around 32 right now. Lord knows if I make a mistake with one bike or another I never hesitate to correct my error. My wife says I have a "problem." I don't see a problem. I have no idea what she's talking about.

 

[NittanyXT]

Should have given me a ping while you were here! I've got no plans until mid October when the kid heads off to school, figures He'd start when the Ark. rally is going on :'(

 

[cosmic]

690 in Rally kit is my dream bike. I rode two of them, and it's truly an astonishing bike.
My WR450F was just the same price as 690R, and I was torn btw the two. I choose the WR cause the 690 was kind of pointless. Where I take the WR, the 690 cannot go. Main reason is the lock to lock angle. I was so lucky to have a friend with that one, otherwise it would be a 10000€ disaster. Then you have the extra weight, and I realized that 70/80% of the places I would take that 690, i could easily do it with the S10. Ultimately I made a good choice. WR suits my riding preferences, and that is the most important thing.

Yamaha WR450F vs. Tricker 250: http://youtu.be/o4ScqIc9ePE

Oh... I almost forgot. I managed to pull out some wheelies at +50mph with the 690. Crazy stuff.