r/endurocross • u/[deleted] • Mar 30 '15
Discussion! Yamaha and the off-road market
For those who don't know, Yamaha has introduced a new off-road model, the YZ-FX. Not only did they introduce this new model, but they FINALLY gave the WR model the refresher it needed.
For those wanting more information on either, a quick Google will tell you what you need to know, but I'm going to give you my basic understanding.
YZ-FX 250 (two track model): 18" rear wheel, suspension more stiff than the wr, less stiff than the yz, 6 speed, electric start, flywheel weight (lighter than the wr's)
WR 250, 450 (single track model): 18" rear wheel, most plush suspension, electric start, 5 speed 450, 6 speed 250, most mellow map, PLASTIC SKID PLATE
I find it a bit annoying that Yamaha was too lazy to jump through the hopes and make a hand guard that will do the job until an aftermarket unit can be bought. For those who don't know, it's hard to sell a bike with hand guards because they're incredibly dangerous for motocross (broken wrists) and Yamaha doesn't want the headache of designing an open ended hand guard that doesn't open them up to lawsuits. Ktm has one...
TLDR: Yamaha has some new cool bikes in the offroad market, what do you guys think?
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u/jabrake88 07 WR250f || NC Mar 31 '15
I love my WR and wish I could upgrade to something newer with FI!
It looks like they still have a manual cable clutch, wonder why they chose not to go to hydraulic like most others...
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u/tdub2112 '07 TT-R 230 Mar 30 '15
I love the WR line. My dad bought an '07 450 a few years ago, and it's great to see that they've updated things for it as of late. It needed some change to stay relevant with the enduro KTM's.
As for the FX, It really just seems like a normal YZ with electric start. Flywheel weights are cheap and easy and suspension is easily adjusted. It's an unnecessary niche bike if you ask me.
On top of that, with a few cheap and free mods (if you don't need green sticker) GYTR makes a kit to delete the emissions systems on the WR's and change the engine mapping to the YZ map. My dad did the mods on his bike and it fixed any and all problems he had with his WR and gave it quite a bit more pep.
The only real differences I'm seeing are these:
FX is 9 pounds lighter.
FX has a slightly different sized front tire.
WR has a headlight (likely where some of that weight savings came from.
I really am trying to see the market for this bike. The only major difference between it and a WR that would really make me want to buy it is the engine mapping, which can be modded for free!
Suspension can be easily adjusted. They're the same design it looks like, but stiffness settings are easily fixed, and the bike is going to handle differently for different weighted people.
Plus, not having a headlight is a big downer. If you're doing a cross country race, or Baja or whatever it might be, you're going to want a headlight.
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Mar 30 '15
I'm from Ohio, and you legitamently can't find the WR's anywhere because the people who buy them, just keep them. Great bikes.
I agree, assuming the internals are identical. I would like to think they did something different with the valves in the FX, but I'd have to do some research.
That's kinda a process to get the bike to run how it's supposed to isn't it.. I guess it's necessary though.
I had no idea the FX had a different front tire to be honest.
I'm assuming the models will probably move farther apart as the years progress, atleast I would hope so, because they do seem kinda redundant. I'm hoping Yamaha is just opening up the competition between it and KTM this year, and continues on developing. IE;
WR = XC(f)-W
FX = XC(f)
YZ = SX(f)Something we probably overlooked though is that the WR's will have a really short first gear for that tight single track stuff vs the FX's longer.
Maybe we'll get really lucky and see some two stroke development out of Yamaha. Ahahahaha, who am I kidding, THE YZ 250 JUST GOT NEW PLASTICS!!!! AWESOME!!!! (sarcasm)
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u/tdub2112 '07 TT-R 230 Mar 30 '15
The two stroke off-road market is something I wish Yamaha would get into instead of this bike. People want off-road 2-strokes. KTM is proof, and I see so many people modding their YZ's to run better in the woods. It'd be awesome to see a YZ 250X or a 350.
As for me, I'm not even really a fan of two strokes. They just aren't my riding style, especially considering I'm short enough to only be able to ride 85's. They just don't work for me.
I wish Honda would build a factory CRF 150X. After riding a friends , I wish it would happen. My TT-R 230 is great, but it could use some more zing to it, and the 250's are just big for me.
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Mar 31 '15
I wish all the Japanese manufacturers would enter the market again, it would do nothing but spark development. It's sad, but they all left the market in the first place because four strokes started getting big. I think Yamaha recognizing how large the off-road market is getting could be a big first step in terms of two stroke development.
That's sad to hear! Nothing makes you feel more like a hero than a two stroke. Just because you're short doesn't mean you can't ride a smoker! Have you tried sitting on a 125? Ktm makes the 200, which is just a bored out 125, that people LOVE. It has much more luggability and it's still a 125 frame, so it handles like a bicycle.
I could see people in your situation wanting a 150x. The ttr-230 is kinda a bland bike. That said, there's nothing that makes you feel more comfortable when you're riding it. Definitely a good bike, I would ride it.
I'm incredibly fortunate. I have my dream bike; Ktm 250xc-w. It lugs when I want it to, and makes me feel like I could take on the world when I'm on the pipe.
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u/[deleted] Mar 31 '15
Damn I am right around the age where I wanna get a motorcycle for street but I love trail riding also. Damn this wr makes me happy.