125-200cc 12 CR or 13 WR 125?

Both new within 200 bucks of each other. 12 CR comes with the 144 kit. Just want to confirm, the CR differences are mostly the front suspension, smaller tank, no lighting coil and the 19 rear right? Tranny's are the same ratio's?

Kinda leaning towards the CR since you get the 144 kit with it. Are there any other real differences outside of above? I can always add a larger tank, don't really care about lights but would be nice if I wanted to plate it.

Not sure if these data points apply to '12 & '13 bikes, but I have been amazed at how well my '06 WR125 lugs down low. I geared it down to 12/52 and have been hitting some pretty gnarly climbs with it lately, and just when I'm thinking the thing is about to flame out and I'm going to need to start feathering the hell out of the clutch, it just keeps chugging along. My '06 KTM 125 SX that I had setup nicely for offroad (gearing, jetting, etc) definitely would not chug along like my WR does, no way.

I'm having to retrain my brain to keep off the clutch. I used to cover it all the time with my KTM, now I'm finding I have to feather the clutch less and less. I'm loving it.

I should add my WR also has a Fatty and Lectron carb, both which help with that I'm sure.

My WR still does not have the snap right off the bottom that my KTM 125 SX did, but its a trade off I am happy to have.

Have never ridden a CR so don't know how it does in the chugging along department, but if that is an important capability for you, the WR with its heavier flywheel definitely delivers.

I shot a email off to the dealer to ask if the WR also comes with the 144 kit, hope it does then that would make the decision easy.

I have both and the WR is up for sale. I prefer the power of the CR.

In another thread asking the same question, I remember somebody once said, most people who buy a WR spend a lot of money trying to make it more like the CR. I believe that.

Ive had heaps of both CR and wrs and played with CR ignition on WRs
I think some WRs have issues if compression not kept up .
I was a cr ignition convert but not any more.
I like a hit and like to rev the bike but like the bike to feel like it wants to rev.
I put a new '12 top end on a 08 wr 125 and it sang. Wr ignition is smoother but also hits very hard up top = more elastic - - more overrev

If you want max power a CR 144 with head /porting modifications will give you that.

13 WR is the best woods bike in my opinion . Cr best for MX style power
Cr s can be made to be a good woods bike but more work overall
( stand , speedo, wheel, forks, tank )

The 125 with a fatty and well set up carb is great too. 125 = fun
Just put a 165 back on mine but loved the 125 too so don't feel too bad if its a 125
they make as much power as a 144 its just at a higher rpm

I like my wr also and it is still in 125 form but I do have the 144 kit on hand. I got mine on a Monday and went to BoomBoom's on Sat to break it in. The bike did fine and did all the hill's fine except the one I messed up on and I never even tried the hill behind the shop. If you want to try mine before you drop coin let me know.

Thanks Taylor, I have had a couple but 90's models. Switched over to 200's after that but want another small bore. Love my 300 but miss having a small bore. Maybe next time we have a farm ride at mike's I can check it out, if I don't have one yet!

I went for the WR. Got a good deal on it and preferred the WR over the CR since this is a woods bike. It will never even be started as a 125, it is going straight to a WB165 over the winter! Already ordered a lectron for it, running one on my Berg TE300 and love them so I can only imagine how it will work on the 165. Can't wait for spring now, but I am sure it will get broken in over the winter! Maybe see you up at the Farm Taylor!

Well this story just keeps getting better! I just got a call from the dealer, after I kept pushing, they indeed located the 144 kit for the WR! So this means I now have 2 144 kits since I just scored the one off eBay for cheap, so I think I will keep the original 125 top end set and send Walt 1 of the 2 144 cylinders/head and power valves to punch out to a 165. That will give me all 3 flavors 125/144/165. Man, this has been a great week!

I would nt use a new 144 core. Etc . You can get more for it than the 125 cores Walt sells
I'd be interested in it .

I owned the WR and the CR and can attest that the ignition is different - without a doubt, the ignition on the WR makes it a woods bike and the ignition on the CR makes it a screaming racer. If you did not pull the trigger on the Lectron yet, you can have my brand new 38mm at a discount.