Thinking of getting a Yamaha WR250f on the assumption that I could use it for getting into work when I can't be bothered/too broken to pedal.

But other than a high compression piston (and more regular oil changes as a result), and road legal tires is there any mechanical difference betwen this and a YZ250f?

A bit of digging shows that theres a lot of limmiters on the WR models like airbox baffels/snorkels, flame arrestors, exhaust restrictors, throtle stops, electronic limiters etc, which once removed transform it into a wheelie machine for little effort.

Just wondering if I'd be laughed at for turning up at an MX club (im thinking MTB without the pedaling) on the wrong bike, a bit like turning up at a STW meet on a fixie CX bike?

a bit like turning up at a STW meet on a fixie CX bike?

I suspect you'd fit right in 😉

WR Vs YZ
I'm not sure these days but back when I was involved with that sort of thing the out & out race engines were certainly more aggressively tuned & ported & wouldn't really stand up to being treated gently
Mind you, we didn't have any electrics other than the ignition

MX – Lighter, faster, smaller, smaller tank, built for speed not comfort.

Enduro – Road legal, bigger tank, softer engine, needs less looking after, more comfy.

The main difference that would effect use on the road is the gearing. The YZ has a a close ratio gearset as opposed to the WR =(Wide Ratio)

Lots of differences, as you've found, but the most significant will be wide ratio gearbox, heavier flywheel, electric start and lighting and a spark arrestor. It's an enduro bike- think of it as being the equivalent of an 'all mountain' mtb- it's designed to be ridden (raced really) in pretty much any trail conditions for periods of a couple of hours up to several days.
An mx bike is a more specialized beast – a lot less versatile (peakier engine, stiffer suspension, minimal electrical waterproofing/air filtration), needing a lot more maintenance, and not meant to be ridden outside a short closed circuit.

When you say 'turning up to an mx club' I guess you mean to race mx? In NZ loads of people race mx on enduro bikes- they're softer, heavier and slower so there used to be seperate classes for them. At the least if you want to race you'll need to change your tyres, and remove any street legal stuff that might be on it- mirrors, indicators, licence plate and probably safety wire a few bolts.

edit: slow typing!

(hence not going for a 125 2t).

I used to have a YZ125 converted for enduro with a smaller back wheel and softer suspension. It was ace. I could actually pull it out of big holes on my own, and handled lovely and quickly like a big mountainbike.

Have you done the Yamaha Offroad thing? It's ace. Been four times.

http://www.yamaha-offroad-experience.co.uk/

cheers for the advice, yea, wasn't exactly planning on turning up and starting raceing, i guess there's practice sessions as well, im happy enough going sideways on an MTB, but i'm imagining doing it with 40hp and a 200lb bike is a bit different to 0.25hp and 30lb.

Haven't got space for a trailer, so it's 1 set of road legal nobblies, some quick release brakcets on the lights/numberplates/mirrors etc.

PeterPoddy – Member

MX – Lighter, faster, smaller, smaller tank, built for speed not comfort.

Enduro – Road legal, bigger tank, softer engine, needs less looking after, more comfy.

Never been to a British Championsip have you……

Enduro bike= MXer with lights.

Differences are a lot less extreme these days. When I lived in the UK I raced both MX & Enduro, initially before the days of 'modern' 4 strokes.

With the 2 strokes there were certainly far more differences primariy because of engine characteristics & longevity. A peaky engine with a 6 hour lifespan between piston ring changes is not so great when a 2 day enduro is maybe 10 hours riding.
Amongst others I rode a Yam WR250 2 stroke that was miles away from a YZ250. Beautifully soft power curve combined with the wide ratio gearbox.

I moved over to 4 stroke with both a YZ400 & WR400 and to be honest the main effective difference between these was gearing. The WR had a small generator for lights etc, quiet exhaust & slightly softer suspension too.
The gearing no the WR was not ideal for MX but it really didn't that much difference.

A bit like moutainbiking – rider ability will far outweigh any machine differences….

Never been to a British Championsip have you……

Enduro bike= MXer with lights.

Note how you said 'British Championsip' sic.
At national/expert level a lot of guys have ridden converted mx'ers probably since before you were in nappies, but for the average rider a purpose built enduro bike is far easier to ride effectively. In the same way that the average rider will go faster on a four stroke than a two stroke.

so in summary………

At my level: MX = enduro without lights

At top level: Enduro = MX with lights

Just wondering if I'd be laughed at for turning up at an MX club (im thinking MTB without the pedaling) on the wrong bike

No, you wouldn't be laughed at turning up at a practice track on an Enduro bike. It's a win/win deal – if you are rubbish, you have a ready made excuse and get respect for getting stuck in, if you are great then you get more respect! There's usually one or two number-plated bikes in a practice session.

im happy enough going sideways on an MTB, but i'm imagining doing it with 40hp and a 200lb bike is a bit different to 0.25hp and 30lb

There are lots of transferable skills for sure – but you're right, a push iron drift is waaay different to a moto powerslide! It was the brakes, throttle, clutch and gears I struggled with more than the line choice, balance and getting loose!

Head down and watch at your local practice track to see what goes on.

p.s. in terms of MTB without pedalling, don't think it's an easy option. Be prepared to need help putting your socks on for a couple of days after your first proper moto session!

At national/expert level a lot of guys have ridden converted mx'ers

As an ex championship/european/world round /ISDE rider I'm quite aware of this fact. 😉

Brings on the next question…………..

Which Enduro bike for the odd enduro race, messing arround at an MX track and commuting to work? Budget seems to throw up 3-4ish year old bikes, is there anything to seperate Honda and Yamaha's? Was there a (recent, we're not talking twin shocks here) year when either took a big step foreward and no longer worth looking at anything older? Any other brands worth a look in?

250 thumpers only, don't want anything smaller (commute will involve a short motorway run), don't need anything bigger (i like my pretty face the way it is!).

My last bike was a CG125 when I was 17!

in terms of MTB without pedalling, don't think it's an easy option. Be prepared to need help putting your socks on for a couple of days after your first proper moto session!

Very very true. MTB is comparatively painless. OK – MTB is physically exhausting whereas if your tired you can go slow on a Enduro bike & 'pooter' along.
I was always walking into work on Monday mornings after a race like I had spent the weekend in prison. One of the most painful things I had was after dropping it in a wet ditch at the start of a 3 hour Hare & Hounds – after the following 2,5hours I had no skin left on the inside of my thighs & cheeks where the wet clothes had chafed.
Shockingly sore for some time.

its my ruined knee thats the problem, not sure how long its going to last on push bikes, its fine in terms of strength, but doesnt like big rides as much as it used to.

Just looking arround various sites, are these things in any way reliable? Every single one seems to have had a full engine re-build within the last 5 minutes!

Primeraly this thing has to get me to work on time on monday mornings! Do they realy have piston rings made from recycled shimano chainrings?

I have a Husqvarna two stroke and I love it. It needs a bit of maintenance but it out performs a Honda/Yamaha by quite a lot. The parts aren't too bad and you can source anything from Husky sport.
I was out yesterday; it was great fun sliding around in the mud.
KTMs are also beautiful and great fun to ride, but if you want it for commuting you may want something a little mellower. For commuting look at 4 stroke, it isn’t fun riding a 2 stroke enduro on the road with all the power at the top end.

I was always walking into work on Monday mornings after a race like I had spent the weekend in prison.

I was described as looking like the illegitimate offspring between Ozzy Osbourne and C3PO!

its my ruined knee thats the problem

If you want a sport to ruin your knees, it's motocross! Have you got knee braces?

yes, but every sport ruins knees, appart from wheelchair basketball and chess.

Ok, research so far this morning,

I think I want an enduro bike, with a bit more ooommmfffffff for commuting
Honda's eat their valves like hummers eat chainstays/chains eat shiamno chainrings/mud eats fox forks.
Bikes are evolving slowly, so no big changes, different exhaust cam and new frame material seem to be the only new bits on yamaha's in recent years.

Plus points of yamaha WR250's then
Less work than a honda
Few hours with a spanner and they'r almost as quick as a YZF

Any other bikes worth looking at? Always wanted a kawasaki as a kid, but that was just because they were green.

If you want a sport to ruin your knees, it's motocross!

Enduro is possibly even worse because you can't possibly remember the entire course detail and get 'surprised' every so often 🙂

Why a 250 thumper the way? The 400 / 450's are not much heavier and will hopefully been thrashed a little less. There is only 1 way to ride a 250 thumper fast and that is without mechanical sympathy.
Yamaha WR426/450 is a great bike & pretty common.

250 because –

presumed a 450 would be too much to begin with, and insurance is already £600+ on a 250.

I'm sure big bikes have moved on from my dad's armstrong MT, but in my head big off road bikes are BIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

You can turn up to a club motocross on your enduro bike and race with the MX boys on eqaul terms quite easily as some of the others have stated – you're riding a mx bike with lights,plusher suspension and a heavier flywheel – tape your lights up , go up a couple of clicks on your suspension and go and play. I could win races locally as my enduro bike was hooking up whereas the MX ers were loosing traction eveerywhere.
A 250 is a lot easier to ride as its power output is less abrupt and smoother in its delivery although theres not a lot of weight difference between the different capacities – meaning you'll go a lot quicker and for longer on the 250 being as you're starting out.