Yamaha expands its dualsport line

[troy]

....but not enough.

Kware told me about the 2008 WR250R
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/produ ... /home.aspx
The WR250X is a super-moto version.

Despite the fact Yamaha touts the bike as using latest technology, this thing weighs even more than Kawasaki's KLX250S.
http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/detail ... troduction

Good news is the WR250 is FUEL INJECTED. A trend I'm looking forward to on the newer bikes. Better power response, better MPG, and no need to rejet for the mountains. Sweet.

At an MSRP of $5899, this Yamaha aint cheap! As usual, Kawasaki remains the price leader at $4799. If Yamaha is going to build a heavy dualsport 250 and charge $5899 for it, the Husky TE250 at only 239 lbs and $6500 looks sweeter all the time.
http://www.husqvarnausa.com/2007/07_TE250.html

What would compete with these 250's in the KTM lineup? I'm told the KTM's are street-legal now, but I can't tell that from their website.

Come on big Jap 4 -- give me a light weight, new technology, fuel-injected, STREET-LEGAL 400cc machine for around $5K....PLEASE!

[Hank Moody]

Well Troy not being a KTM expert; I believe KTM only offered 3-5 "dual sport" street legal bikes for 07. 450 EXC-G, 525 EXC-G, 950 Super Enduro R, 990 Adventures and 640 Adventure. It appears for 08 they dropped the 450 EXC-G and the 525 EXC-G and only offer the 950 Super Enduro. Of course they still offer the 990 Adventures and 640 Adventure.

Have you thought of a used Husky??? Here's one from Halls Cycle in Springfield, IL. Only $3995 with a clear street title....

http://www.halls-cycles.com/Bike%20Inve ... 5TE450.htm

[troy]

That 2005 would not have been street legal from factory...wouldn't I have the potential of having tagging issues. The fact it has a street title right now does not guarantee me smooth sailing...right?

No turn signals..right? Would the 2005 even have a brake light switch? I know it has a tail light, but a brake light? Horn?

$4,000 for that, if it's hassle free, sounds pretty good.

[MacWildcat]

The Yamaha WR450F is already street legalized in some states. I've been watching e-bay and these bikes are showing up in South Dakota and Montana tagged. Rode with a guy last spring in Arkansas on one of these bikes. Very civil machine until you want it to get crazy! I would bet it's fully legalized in a year or two.

[JaySoy]

I thought this thread was going to be about the 2008 660 Tenere. I think it looks like a cool dual sport.

http://www.yamaha-motor-europe.com/prod ... xt660z.jsp

[troy]

I thought this thread was going to be about the 2008 660 Tenere. I think it looks like a cool dual sport.

http://www.yamaha-motor-europe.com/prod ... xt660z.jsp

That is a very cool bike, but it's not available here in the good ole' U.S. of A. Honda and Yamaha have made cool dualsport/adventure bikes in other countries for many years. I'm jealous.

[The Harm]

I like that they're starting to have fuel injection systems on dual sports but I'm concerned with how durable the ECM, O2 Sensors, injectors etc.. are. I'd hate to go through some rough trails or drop my bike in the drink and have to purchase a $400 ECM and have to end my trip because there dust or water in the unit. I gues BMW have had ABS and Fuel injection for years so I guess they's not too much to be concerned about.

[troy]

I gues BMW have had ABS and Fuel injection for years so I guess they's not too much to be concerned about.

On the surface, I had the same concerns, but as you pointed out, fuel-injected systems have proven durable and reliable. They've been putting fuel injected systems on quads with great success for a few years now as I understand.