2020 Yamaha WR250F Review

The 2020 Yamaha WR250F is proof that small doesn’t mean slow, and with DNA taken straight from the championship-winning YZ250F motocross machine, the WR250F is gunning straight for the top step of the podium.

There is a strange misconception in the off-road world that bigger is better. Many enduro riders start on smaller bikes with the goal of upsizing to the biggest in the range (450cc or 500cc in most cases). But while bikes with larger capacities are no doubt capable of producing more power, riding a bigger bike doesn’t necessarily make you a faster rider.

Not everyone is capable of handling a larger-capacity machine through the bush, so some riders will naturally be faster on a 250 than they would be on a 450. And when you add a race-bred machine like the Yamaha WR250F into the mix, that point is further accentuated.

Related Reading:

Home improvement

Yamaha already had a decent bike on its hands. The WR moniker has served the brand incredibly well since it was introduced in 1998 as the WR400F. Over the years, the WR450F and WR250F have accumulated accolades, race wins and championships, and have been a favourite for racers and trailriders alike. But there is always room for improvement.

It’s not uncommon for enduro bikes to take inspiration from their motocross counterparts, but Yamaha has made a ritual of it. When the YZ250F motocross received an update in 2018, it was almost a certainty that the WR250F would follow for 2020.

The Yamaha WR250F’s motocross DNA is glaringly obviously at times. Everything from its styling to its snappy race-bred motor points to the YZ250F. Add to that the fact that Yamaha’s development rider, Josh Coppins, is a Kiwi motocross champion, and you start to understand the influence the marque’s motocross program has on its enduro models.

All in the detail

For 2020, the WR250F borrowed several innovations from the 2019 YZ250F, with the most notable being smartphone tuning, which is complimented by a handlebar-mounted map switch. On-board Wi-Fi lets you link up with the Yamaha Power Tuner app (say goodbye to that bulky Power Tuner unit) on your phone and allows you to make ignition and fuel timing changes on the go.

Elsewhere, the 2020 Yamaha WR250F has received some engine tweaks, a new free-flow air filter, a lighter and tougher clutch, a new lightweight front-wheel speed sensor, a lighter and less obtrusive sidestand, and an overall slimmer profile. The 2020 WR250F also features the same aluminium bilateral beam frame as the YZ250F, but with alterations to the engine mount brackets to provide the flex needed for enduro riding.

Yamaha’s unique reverse-cylinder engine, under-seat fuel tank and front mounted airbox all carry over from previous WR250F models, as well as the popular KYB suspension set-up, which is also borrowed from the YZ250F.

So, with the formalities out of the way, let’s answer the big question – how does she go?

Racing stripes

We tested the 2020 Yamaha WR250F just as the COVID-19 pandemic exploded, so our test ride was limited to a rather short stint at our local trails. But a short stint was all that was needed to see that Yamaha means business with the WR250F.

Like I said earlier, small doesn’t mean slow – and the WR250F is definitely not slow. When the meaty mid-range kicks in, it is like a swift slap to the face. Whether you’re blasting along a fire road, surfing dirt on single-track, or powering up steep hill climbs, there is power and torque in spades, and the engine is race-ready straight out of the crate.

That last point is important, because the brilliant, race-ready motor also contributes to one of the very few downsides to this bike.

Need for speed

Transplanting motocross DNA into an enduro bike has its benefits, especially for serious racers. But for the average weekend warrior who prefers a rewarding trailride over a flat-out racing, the WR250F can be a bit of a handful.

Many trailriders will tell you that motocross bikes don’t always work in the bush, especially in tighter, more technical terrain. That is why enduro bikes are tuned differently, and feature wide ratio gear boxes. And while the WR250F is indeed tuned for enduro use and features a wide-ratio gear box, it is still just a little bit too…motocrossy.

The first thing I noticed about the WR250F is that it needs to be ridden fast. It has a tendency to flame-out at lower revs, and you really need to give it the berries to get the most out of it. As before, serious racers won’t have an issue with this – after all, it is their aim to ride fast. But leisurely trailriders might get frustrated quickly when the terrain gets technical.

I didn’t get to try out the Yamaha Power Tuner app, but I have no doubt that it would be beneficial. Whether it will make the bike more compliant for recreational riders, I don’t know. But it is a handy and unique feature nonetheless.

Let’s be clear, the WR250F is not unrideable for the average rider, but it is definitely skewed slightly more towards race-orientated folk. And that doesn’t have to be a bad thing, because the WR250F is very much a barnstorming, high-performance race bike. If you’re looking for race wins, you've come to the right place.

Hard to fault

Engine concerns are a very minor detail here, because elsewhere, the 2020 Yamaha WR250F does not disappoint. The KYB suspension is almost faultless, and despite my bigger-than-average profile, I had full faith in both fork and shock – even when sending it off large drainage banks. Lighter riders might find the fork to be a little firm, but it suited me (at 100kg+) just fine.

The suspension set-up does a fine job of keeping the bike planted through corners and over the rough stuff, and it never feels unbalanced. Engine performance isn’t the only thing that will help a rider go fast – good suspension can drastically alter a rider’s lap times, and the WR250F set-up is incredibly confidence-inspiring. It will allow you to push to your limits (disclaimer: never rider outside your limits…obviously).

Yamaha claims a rather heavy wet weight of 115kg, but the 2020 WR250F feels a lot lighter than that. It is very agile and nimble, and despite that speed-hungry engine, technical terrain is made a little bit easier thanks to the perceived lightness of the bike. It is comfortable to ride, although it did feel very compact in length and through the flanks, thanks in part to the updated frame and slimmer profile.

The Nissin brakes and Metzeler rubber both do a fine job, although naturally there are better tyres than the ADR-compliant Metzeler Six Day hoops on the market. That reminds me – the Yamaha WR250F is indeed ADR-compliant and is sold road-ready. The bike comes with a free competition kit that can transform the bike into a bush-bashing race weapon. Naturally, the bike is LAMS-approved too, but I would stop short of calling the bike ‘learner-friendly’ when it comes to the bush.

The verdict

It is fair to say that Yamaha has smashed it out of the park once again with the 2020 WR250F. Sometimes it feels as though the WR-F range is slowly morphing into YZ-F’s, but given the success of the YZ machines, that's not such a bad thing. The 2020 Yamaha WR250F is a powerful, great-handling, and supremely capable machine that blends motocross DNA with enduro toughness to create a brilliant race-ready package.

But it isn’t for everyone. While it does carry the LAMS tag, the WR250F will be a tricky beast to tame for riders who are new to the dirt. The MX-inspired motor likes to be ridden fast, and while flowing fire trails won’t be an issue, lesser-skilled riders will struggle when the terrain gets tight.

Don’t let that put you off though, because if you put in the time and learn to ride the WR250F, it can be an extremely rewarding experience. There aren’t too many (if any) 250cc enduro bikes that are faster than this. And dare I say it, in the right hands, it has the potential to trump 450cc riders. I’ll say it again; small doesn’t mean slow.

Specs: 2019 Yamaha WR250F

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, four-stroke DOHC single
Capacity: 250cc
Bore x stroke: 77.0mm x 53.6mm
Compression ratio: 13.8:1
Engine management: Electronic fuel injection

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Final drive: Chain
Clutch: Wet, multiplate

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Bilateral beam, aluminium
Front suspension: KYB SSS dual chamber fork, 310mm travel
Rear suspension: KYB single shock, 317mm travel
Front brakes: Nissin twin-piston, 270mm wave disc
Rear brake: Nissin single-piston, 245mm wave disc
Tyres: Front - Metzeler Six Days (90/90-21), Rear - Metzeler Six Days (130/90-18)

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 115kg
Seat height: 955mm
Wheelbase: 1480mm
Fuel capacity: 7.9 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $13,999 ride-away
Test bike supplied by: Yamaha Motor Australia
Warranty: Three months, parts only