125-200cc 5.5 hours on the WR125: impressions after a couple weeks with the bike

Well, we have been able to ride the WR125 about 5-6 times. The hour meter reads 5.5 hours. Since, I always like reading reviews of bikes I thought I would share my impressions after the new bike feeling has worn off.

Good (there is a lot of good about this bike):

1. The suspension is really good. As good, if not better as my honda CRFx and CRFr. Better than the 45mm on my WR250. The spring is a bit soft more me, but I have not changed it, since it is my wife's bike.

2. It chugs really, really well. I took it on some single track with some steep hill climbs right after sharp 90 degree turns. I did not need to clutch the bike or anything. It just pulled right up all hills.

3. It handles so well. It just sticks anywhere you want it to. Not sure what everyone thinks about the stock tires, but I have tried them on dry hard pack, and deep rutted mud and they worked great in both conditions.

4. The motor is stronger than it feels when riding. I had a guy on a KXF 450 pull out behind me on a muddy, muddy, rutted MX track. I saw his front wheel on several turns, but he never was able to pull ahead of me out of a turn. I am sure the mud equalized things a bit...in terms of traction, but he was trying. When I would actually shift and clutch correctly he just could not keep up with the little Husky on that tight, twisty track. Surprizing to others watching.

5. My wife really dogs and lugs the bike when she rides it. She short shifts and chugs along. No signs of fouling a plug yet. (My WR250 will foul plugs following her around every 3 hours or so, if I do not rev it out).

6. It feels pretty roomy. When standing it is more comfortable than my WR250. Although, I feel a bit awkward when I first get on, because my boots feel heavy and oversised on the pegs (like when riding a minibike). But that feeling goes away fast.

Bad:

1. Kickstand is too long. Half the time the bike will want to tip over. When putting it down you have to lean the bike way past vertical so the kickstand will not dig into the ground. It also makes a loud clunky noise when kicked up, digging into the frame a bit.

2. It is spooging like crazy. Dripping all over the place....but my wife is lugging it all day. Maybe need to drop to a 30 pilot.

3. The radiator hose is way to close to the expansion chamber. I ziptied the middle up a bit to clear about 1/4 in. But do not feel good about it. My wife dropped the bike on that side. Pipe did not dent, but was touching the radiator hose afterward. Anyone have a fix for this?

4. Every once in awhile when starting from a stop on an incline, it bogs a bit. Maybe from too big a pilot jet? Or the gas being left on and flooding the carb. It seems to flood the carb fast when left on.

5. White plastic and fame is hard to keep clean!

6. Not that stable at high speed, but to be expected. Still does not feel out of control, just a bit twitchy.

7. Not a fan of the twist knob petcock. Slow. And no reserve. A small tank and no reserve seems very strange to me.

8. After the one crash my wife hand, and the bike sat on it's side for about 10 seconds, it would not start...flooded. A pain, but probably too big of a pilot (again).

Overall, the bike is awesome. I have to debate whether I want to ride my WR250 or the WR125 everytime I go out. I would really be happy having this bike as my everyday ride, but would probably love a WR175. I really hope Husky makes an all new WR250/300 in the next year(lighter, and more modern motor and body work). Because that will be my next ride.

JS

JS that was a great summary of the WR. I missed out on about 25 years of dirt bike evolution, so it's all good to me these days. I'm very impressed at how well new bikes brake, handle and how much power they have. My WR is next to perfect in my opinion.

I would agree with the small tank and longish kickstand. I think mine is now jetted right, but it does spoog to much. Enjoy!

WR Bob

where is some info on the 175?

Yep, I bent the radiator outlet a couple times. I have 2 huskies, a 4T and a wr125, both have some form of clearance issue somewhere. Not a big deal but they could space out things a little better.