Husqvarna WR / WRE 125 Vs Yamaha 125R For Green Lanes on CBT

[connor25]

Hi

I am looking to do a small amount of Green Laning just to see how I go, as I don't have a full bike licence I will do a CBT, so looking to get a 125 Dual Sport Type bike...

I am quite tall at 6'2" and 14 Stone so don't want a small 125, so was looking at the Husqvarna WR125 or the WRE125 (not sure of difference) and the new out Yamaha WR125R.

Both of these seem to fare well off road and on road and seem quite big 125's, ones a 4 stroke and ones a 2 stroke so not sure which is really best here as the Yammy has rave reviews.

I guess being nearly 40 I don't want a small looking 17 year old's first bike like I had all those years ago lol.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[G]

The WR125 is a proper competition enduro machine. I very much doubt it is 33hp legal, even if you restricted it to 33hp.
I would guess the WRE uses a more road biased engine as it is sold a a road/trail bike.
The yamaha WR125 seems to be a complete waste of money, to my mind.

As an idea of the spectrum of diffence between the bikes, the Husky WR125 probably makes around 35hp and weighs 100kg. The Yamaha makes around 11hp I think, but weighs 138kg. I know which one I'd rather have .

However, if you have enough money to buy a yamaha WR125, I would strongly advise you do your DAS, then get a cheaper 250.

Being 17, the 17 year olds don't want small looking bikes either, by the way... I'm sure garyd will soon be along to tell you to get a (small) CRF230 on his inverse-penis extension rule .

[Charlie]

He only has a cbt G!
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[G]

[connor25]

Thanks for your advice, well DAS not an option right now and I want to see if I like it, then I will take it on the 125 and sell it off.

So if a WR125 (even if road legal) isn't allowed to be ridden on a CBT then how does the WR125 compare vs the Yammy WR125R ?

No Offence to all those 17 year olds out there! I would give anything to be that age again and slimmer!

[G]

The Husky will be a better greenlaner.
However, I would still strongly advise that at the very least you buy a second hand 125 unless you're incredibly loaded or really have nothing better to spend my money on (if I had a £2m lottery win sitting in the bank, I think I still wouldn't be going for a new 125 to try out greenlaning ).

If you compare the cost of buying new vs doing DAS and getting a bigger second hand bike, you'll probably still lose less money on the DAS route.
Is there any reason it isn't an option apart from time?

[connor25]

Thanks G, nah I wouldn't be looking to buy a new bike anyways, around £2K - £2.5K Max.

Yes just time really, I just get Sundays off and want to try out Green Laning and then if I really like it then go for it in end of 2010.

So a Husky WRE125 prob best one to suit for a 125 at least then, size and power wise?

[G]

Size isn't an issue, they're all around the same size. Don't think the 125 dirt bikes were much smaller 20 years ago either (I have a 93 CRM125 and it's a similar size to my other dirt bikes.)

As far as I know, there's very few WR125Rs around second hand.
Greenlaning a bike will get it dirty and scratched up, which is not great for expensive 125s; you will lose a lot of money.
I don't know how long it takes you to earn your disposable income, but I wouldn't be using mine like that.

I'd be tempted to look at getting something like the WR125, or a KTM125EXC restricted to 14.6hp if you want to be legal. I wouldn't spend over £1500 on the bike personally.

[garyd]

You got it in one G buy a crf230and piss em all off with your ability to keep up with the rest and have no offs all day .........every day ,just fill with fuel and ride Still waiting for you to take up the gauntlet G,come dont be shy lets ride
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CRF230 all you need

[silky666]

[G]

Actually I believe you wimped out of my suggestion to meet up .
However, I still hold that, at least once you get to a certain level, a massive amount of it is still in the rider and the bike used isn't too relevant.
I could 'keep' up fine on a CRM125 with a non-power power valve (though I was working hard) which has a very unsuitable engine. Just that we were limited on the lanes we were riding by visibility etc, rather than the bikes. Doesn't mean I think it's an excellent green lane bike, though .

If I can keep up on a zx9, will you swap to recommending that as a greenlaner to everyone instead?

Anyway, when I've got my van on the road again or the KTM serviced, may well take you up on the offer .

[.....]

[G]

To be fair, it's not uncommon for people to think their bikes are the best ever - GSXR riders and Hysoung riders both generally seem to be pretty bad at it for the road bikes .

[ben350]

I had an mk1 CRM250 years ago, out of interest whats the 125 version like? I did think about getting one before I got my DT-R but from my net browsing thought they looked a bit delicate
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Ducati 996 Biposto
Suzuki Goose 350
DT125R Supermoto (Project)

[G]

Way different. The CRM250 is a pretty decent off-road bike; the 125 is ok, but has one big failing - the engine! The engine is taken straight from the NSR125 pretty much, so is a revvy road-biased lump.
Plenty of power for a 125, but it's all at the top. When it gets really muddy you've got no chance really, as you either bog down or it spins up if you get into the powerband/use the clutch. To be fair, my worst experience was probably with a shot rear tyre, with a better one I suspect I'd have had more bogging down, but with a decent mx tyre it may get a bit more grip.
With less nasty conditions it's capable, but you really have to dance up and down the gears to keep it on song.

I chucked mine down the trails a few times I'm pretty sure and didn't have a problem with it being 'delicate'. Suspension isn't up to the KTM standards I'm used to, but then nor would a DT be either .

[garyd]

Joe there are alot of folk on here that talk about what they can do and slag "smaller capacity" bikes off ,im just giving them all a chance for a great day out where we can all have a banter and a good trail ride any bike welcome lets just get it on
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CRF230 all you need

[ben350]

True but the DT stuff can be picked up on ebay for pennies if you bin it big style

I fancy another DT200WR if I ever find another one at a decent price
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Ducati 996 Biposto
Suzuki Goose 350
DT125R Supermoto (Project)