125-200cc First Ride On My 2013 WR125

Like Ms DirtDame, I took my 2013 WR125 (fondly named "Menehune") for its first ride today too. Hell, it was my first dirt ride too in 41 years!! Lol.

Carb: Mikuni in OEM configuration (Lectron will be installed in very near future). Suspension: fork springs @ .42, shock spring @ 5.0. Clickers @ OEM settings. Fuel premix, 40:1, Rockett 100/Amsoil Interceptor. Elevation ~2800' ASL. Gearing, 13:50. Tires: Stock, 13psi front, 12psi rear

I rode at Jean (dry) Lake (Las Vegas, NV), taking it easy and getting the feel of things. After all it's been 41 years since playing in the dirt. I did some easy through-the-gear runs, and a few aggressive straight-line runs. I didn't experience any bogging through any of the gears, but the motor did seem to go a little flat at the top end. I'm not going to worry about tuning out the flat with the Mukini because I will install the Lectron anyway. I did a lot of fairly short/tight 3rd & 4th gear figure 8's around the truck, and was stoked on how secure the bike tracked through the turns. I was prepared to wash out or high-side, but the 125 seemed to settle in and track. I was amazed how easy it was to pitch from direction into another. I didn't do any MX style acceleration out of the turns. I also did some up-on-the-pegs 1st & 2nd gear putting/crawling around and was very happy with this 125's manners. It was really cool to roll to a stop, turn the bars, then motor away. It took me several times to do it smooth, but this 125 will do it. Side to side balance at dead stop is really decent.

I put on just short of 10.5 miles during this session, albeit on flat ground. I'm looking forward to graduating to riding the trails. Bottom line, I've got a lot to learn/re-learn about dirt riding, but I am loving my WR125. I truly believe I will have a ton of fun riding this bike, and how the fun will multiply through progression to the WB165. I can't get over how far these dirt bikes have come since 1972.

Going riding again tomorrow!!

P.S. Yes, I was smiling all through my little ride.

You could not have picked a better bike to get back into dirt riding. As I told DD once you get that bike to your liking and get used to the power delivery you be amazed at what this bike will be capable of. Just take it easy and enjoy the learning curve this bike will allow you to have. Because before you know it, you will using the bike to it's full capability and smiling every mile you ride it.

X2!

Thanks for the encouragement all y'all.

Went out to practice again today. I'm thinking of having my suspension lowered. My 30-inch inseam makes it a real challenge to kick start after a stall or get-off. But I'm still smiling

If you will get your sag set correctly on both ends it will really help with the tall seat height issue. All these damn bikes are too tall these days for us vertically challenged riders. I always look for a midget adapter when I stop.

My other option is to tie some paracord to a block of 4x4 and carry it it my backpack.

Husqvarna do a lower seat option for these part number 8000H2442 its 35mm lower. I'm 5-10 and its a bit a of a struggle at times with the standard seat.

72racerx, do you have that lower seat installed on your WR125? Was it a plug n play, or did you have to do any modification to make the seat fit?

Good point DD. I didn't think about losing the "cush factor" with the low seat. Duh.
I'll recheck my Sags to eliminate that factor, then very likely get the low seat and try it out. if too uncomfortable, maybe I can have one of the motorcycle seat guys integrate a Gel cell into the the foam. I've got a gel seat on my Harley and it made a World of difference on long rides. I guess my last option is having the suspension lowered, but must do research to learn what is involved. I'm sure it will gouge my retirement check. LOL

PineapplePicker,

I had the husky low seat on my bike and had to modify the seat a bit to get it to work with my IMS tank. I had to grind the front bracket on the seat ( "U" shaped part where it attaches to the tank ) to make it fit properly.

Thanks for the Heads Up, Submit!

I don't have any near term plan to install a bigger tank, so if the seat will plug n play on my '13 WR125 I'll be happy.

If you don't mind saying, how tall are you and what is your inseam? Sorry if I'm being nosey but I'm trying to get a gauge on leg reach based on my 30-inch inseam and rider sag.

Thanks again for feedback.

I'm 5'7" with a 30" inseam. My CR has a cut down seat from the previous owner, and my WR has the stock seat. Height is not a problem with the trimmed seat, but comfort is. I'm going to leave the WR as-is. It's tough starting it, especially off camber, but it's worth it for the cushion.
I've had some hard hits in bad places with that cut down seat

Zomby woof, we are the same height and inseam. I have concern for the comfort factor. The lowered suspension with stock seat seems to be the way I need to go. Thanks for your input.

That's exactly what I did. I'm 5' 8'' and have a 31 inch inseam. When I got got the bike I could only reach the ground on one toe. I lowered the sag and it did the trick. The stock seat is not very plush to begin with, so lowering it was not an option for me. I'm an on the pegs type of rider in the whoops and nasty rutted up stuff and I really only sit in corners and flat terrain. But when I do sit, I want a seat that will not beat me up.

PineapplePicker,

I'm only 5'4"... no idea what my inseam is and I run my bike super g#y soft with the front forks on the first line from the top, stock seat, bar risers removed and renthal 997 bars. The only time I have troubles starting the bike... is of coarse when it's off camber but other than that I have no trouble starting at all.


Zack,

I'm 6'2",36" inseam and find my wr fits me well with the stock seat. My husaberg is a little taller and has a brick for a seat. Any-time I ride strictly trails, I take the wr for several reasons-lighter,more fun and less tiring to ride,suspension and seat are plusher and I feel like a hero when I ride it! (embarrassing my buddies on their larger bikes doesn't hurt either)

PineapplePicker I don't have the lower seat fitted. I just remembered it being in the accessories catalogue and thought it may have been of some help.

I blame the break of my leg on the heigth of the wr.
Every time the bike has been dropped it has been on the downside of a incline and always on the right side. I have pondered lowering the bike but I know that if I do I'll probably mess up the nicest suspension I've ever known. One more week and I'll know if I can come out of thie cast, at that time I'll lower the clamps on the forks and lower the sag in the rear and see what that gets me. That should be easy to reverse if I dont like it.
Jan 29th is when I get my new to me trials bike. I'll not be complaining about tall bikes anymore.