Hello folks of HU.

Here's the script.

So me and the other half are about 6 weeks into our RTW adventure, all is well. We have decided that as our European leg of the trip comes to an end, in around another 8 weeks time, we will select a much smaller bike for the trans-Asian route. We are currently riding 2 x F800GS's.

Once our loop of Europe is complete we will head back to Scotland, as we have to anyway, to sort out a few recent Visa/Embassy issues.

And therein lies a problem. The WR250R by all accounts and reviews is by far the better bike of the two... aaaaand it's not available here in the UK. Great.

So I am wondering; Is the Yamaha so much better that it would be worth the extra hassle to source one from Germany/Holland/Poland etc. Have it carted all the way up here and registered in the UK, over just going for the CRF250L?

I have read extensively through the CRF250 and WR250 RTW/long haul reports and although both seem capable... the WR250R still seems to come out on top.

Worth the hassle? Is the WR250R really the smart mans 250 RTW choice?

Interestingly my other half, Kyla, who is on this trip with me has a brother in South Africa who is planning his own Trans-Africa adventure and is in EXACTLY the same situation. He is choosing between a CRF or a WR... and the Yamaha isn;t available in SA either. HA.

My 5 cents thoughts about it:

The Yamaha WR is better when it comes to weight as it is around 14-15 kgs lighter. Its better when it comes to power as it has 30,7 HP compared to the CRF that has 23 HP. The stock suspension is also of higher quality on the WR compared to the CRF.

The WR has also been longer on the market so theres more aftermarket alternatives although the CRF has out a few years now too and aftermarket stuff are probably readily available for it too. The one thing I have noticed is that the biggest aftermarket fuel tank for the Crf is the Acerbis 12,5 liter whereas I think you can get a 20-21 liter fuel tank for the WR.

When it comes to reliability Im not an expert at all but in general its hard to beat a Honda. But the Yamaha is probably great too.

Another factor that might count in - youre going to Asia and Southeast-Asia maybe? The Honda CRF are made in Thailand, and thus parts, accesories, tyres are readily available there and to a certain extend in neighbour countries, and bike mechanics that know that model well are "everywhere". The CRF are also sold in Malaysia and I belive to a certain extend in Cambodia and Laos too.

There is a welsh woman going RTW on and CRF and a dutch couple too - on two bikes of course. So theres someone to get in touch with and get first hand information and experience.

I think a 250 bike is a very good choice through Asia.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Interesting post. Wasn't aware of those main differences. Haven't seen the CRF up close. I think there is a couple going around Africa on them and can't remember reading about any trouble. I've got the WRR and love it. Super reliable. Lots of aftermarket options and rider's knowledge. The CRF has a rear tank option as well though, so you should be fine for fuel.

I think getting one from across the ditch shouldn't be that much of an issue. Hire a van and go for a weekend away. Not sure on registration requirements though. If it was me the ups outweigh the downs. Weight and suspension is everything. At first it won't matter because it'll feel featherweight compared to the BM. But you adjust quickly and suddenly you'll be looking for less weight still. I'm finding the WRR heavy now.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Your points seem to match my research. The only things the Honda has over the Yamaha is the fact that it is in fact a Honda, and thus trans Asian travel would be a dream for parts availability and local knowledge of the brand.

I've looked over all the CRF250L RTW reports and although they seem like a fine steed they are not without thier problems. The Dutch couple on the RTW ride have listed 6 failures on their site. I wonder how many more minor faults they have had.


Like I said above the dutch couple in Africa have reported 6 failures on their page with the CRF's.

Although of all the WR reports I am following I have only stumbled upon 1 major failure, although it was a complete engine failure at 30,000km.

I'd love to jump in a rental van and go scoop a couple WR's from Poland or something. I just worry about the Registration, tax and import issues. Plus the cost of travel, rental and hiking it home. Pair that with the fact that the WR is already +£1,500 more than the CRF it could turn out to cost double what the Honda's would.

Dammit Yamaha, you just ain't making this easy.

If I remember right Steph - the welsh woman riding RTW only had one major issue with her bike and was that the rear frame/subframe snapped. However she got it welded and reinforced quite easily even in Indonesia - so not that bad. And I think she is somewhere between 60-80 k miles on her bike by now. She just wrote that the valves had to be adjusted for the first time on the trip - and thats quite impressive.

The dutch man have had some issues with his CRF. But afaik and understand it was because the aurfilter somehow came loose a bit and let in dirty air in the engine. And of course after a while that caused some major issues.
The dutch woman havent had any problems and they are both 90 k kms +.

If the price is almost the double and its a lot of hassle getting hold of a WR I might have taken a CRF.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Both the WR250 and the WR450 are available here in South Africa.


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What are the registration issues? Have you contacted the DVLA? Didn't think within the EU there was import issues (might change in a week and a bit). You could also just fly in and ride it back.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Change suspension? Shorter service intervals? Are you thinking of the F?

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

no, wr250r 6k km service interval, crf250l 12k km.

Interesting. Honda added additional oil capacity. About half a litre. Actually my manual says oil change every 5k. Can do that in ten minutes though.
What about the suspension?

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Interesting. I actually had assumed that the oil and filter intervals on the machines were the same, or that the WR was slightly better. I guess I was getting caught up in the 40,000km valve adjustments. Good to know about the oil. A nod to the Honda.

Suspension however? Most reviews hold the WR in higher esteem, mostly however over it's adjustability.

If I remember right (I did a bit of research on both these bikes myself at one stage)

WR: Oil change every 5 k km and valve check every 40 k kms
CRF: Oil change every 12 k kms and valve check every 24 k kms.

Then again - if one ride in a hot environment and with a bit of weight on the bike and maybe some highway miles - maybe someone would like to change oil more often than every 12 k kms on the Crf?

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

The CRF has a lower compression ratio than the WR (10.7 vs. 11.8) and a larger oil capacity (1.8 vs. 1.5 litres). Thus the oil doesn't work as hard as in the WR and would probably go the distance if you use good quality oil.

But the CRF is heavier than the WR and has less power, so the WR's power-to-weight ratio is much better,

Power vs Serviceability. Decisions decisions... Good luck

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Squily

although wr has ,more power, crf has better torque down the low, what really matters off-road.