250-500cc review of 09 wr300 from longtime ktm owner

Well, I've got a whopping 3 rides on my new bike, for less than 200 miles, but that's enough for me to make some observations, so here they are. FWIW (so you can take everything I say with sufficient contextual grains of salt), i'm 6'2", 170-ish naked, 200 lbs fully geared up with lots of tools, 100oz camelback, etc.... I'm a midpack racer in the A/expert class in desert and enduro. On the more open courses (like SIDRA races) i'm more in the back half, and in the more technical stuff (national h+h, most enduros, except really easy ones like china hat) I'm more towards the front half. I tend to shortshift and lug my bikes most of the time, and carry momentum as much as possible. I don't do a lot of tire-spinning, even in races. I ride 52 weekends a year, plus some weekdays and weeklong riding vacations for a total of around 120 ride days every year, or around 6000-7000 miles yearly.

Dirt Bikes I have owned:
2001 klx300 (sold in 2006 with 7,000 or so miles)
2002 ktm 300exc (sold in 2007 with 14,000 or so miles)
2004 ktm 250sx (sold friday with 8,000 or so miles)
2005 husaberg fe550 (currently around 5500 miles, looking to sell).
2007 kx250 (210 hrs, my normal race bike for the last year).
2008 ktm 200xcw (9500 miles, my normal mtn riding bike)

Observations:
Ergonomics: pretty much spot-on for my height. With the bars in the forward position, the husky fits me better than any other stock bike by far. The bars could come up another 1/4" perhaps, but compared to most bikes that need a tall seat, low pegs, new bars or bar mounts, etc..., this bike fits.

Suspension: Not sure what other people complain about. I went up 1 click of rebound front and rear, and the bike works great for the idaho desert. It's much better in the rocks than my kx250 (revalved for desert racing and mx playriding), and it's pretty similar in the faster stuff. It's not as plush as my 200 (revalved by trailtricks for technical rocky mountain singletrack) but it can take much bigger hits. Both ends stay high in the stroke and don't do anything scary over big hits. I put the forks at the first line (5mm?) above the clamps. There is a hint of instability at warp speed, so I may either lower the forks a bit more, increase the sag a couple mm, or just fit a proper tire that will raise the front end up slightly (like a bridgestone 403). The only odd thing was trying to figure out how to reach the rebound screw. That stymied me for a while, but then i figured out a long thin screwdriver, stuck between the swingarm and chainguide (underneath the swingarm) while I lean over the bike from the other side, weighting it with my tummy, allows easy access.

Jetting: Not sure what other people complain about. All I did (based on suggestions here) was lower the needle 1 clip. pilot and main are stock. bike starts easily with choke when cold. won't really start without choke when cold. Runs very clean from Idle on up, and seems pretty well-behaved to me. After the countless hours I have spent walking the fine line between detonation and being too rich to easily start hot (kx), I find this refreshing. I'm not sure what I would have to gain by buying the full-power kit, or a keihin carb. The float level is a bit high, so I'm getting some overflow if put it on the stand on non-level ground. Planning to fix that right away. I checked for airleaks around the reed cage by letting it idle and squirting carb cleaner around the reed cage. Doesn't appear to have any, but when I set the float level I'll probably throw some silicone sealer or gasket seal stuff on there just to sleep better at night.

Handling:
I was really impressed with the 2007 wr250 I tried a couple years ago, and I like this bike better. Front and rear cornering traction is unreal, and the bike seems to position me in just the right place to make it all work. On my 200 I feel like i'm hanging off the back a bit sometimes, and I have to think about getting forward. Not on the husky. This is the best-cornering dirtbike i have ridden.

Motor: mmmmmmmmmm. I love this motor. Pulls strong from 4 rpm, with no sudden hit or scary issues. It works really well with my riding style. A little more vibration than my 200 (duh) or my kx, but the addition of pro-taper pillow-top grips prevented me from noticing that after the first ride.

Weird stuff and drawbacks:
Clutch drag makes starting in gear kinda hit and miss. I currently have motul 10-40 2t tranny oil in there. I'll probably try something lighter. I run atf in all my other 2strokes. I know my 250sx got bad clutch drag with 10-40 motor oil, but it went away with atf.

Stock odometer is completely worthless. It only shows the display when the motor is running. WTF? Trailtech ordered. It appears the connections are the same as the ktm odometers and some of the trailtechs tho.

Compared to a ktm, the owner's manual is not all that useful, unless you have a linguistic background and are interested to see how madly english can be massacred by non-native speakers.

Best of all, it doesn't come with a crappy unreliable overpriced sissy-girl e-starter that doesn't even work half the time and requires extra maintenance. I know some people love the estart on the ktm 250-300, but that's the main reason I bought a 200 in 2008 and looked so hard at the husky this time around. If i'm gonna spend an extra $400-500, it should at least be for something that WORKS, like a rekluse, or a suspension revalve, or some more homebrewing equipment, or another small 9mm.

Bottom line, after getting the suspension and jetting slightly tweaked, I'm stoked on the bike, and planning on racing it in the idaho round of the national hare and hound championships next weekend.

Thanks to all here for the advice in choosing the bike, and the advice in setup after purchase.

That was a very good report and it makes me want to go out and get one. Glad you are enjoying your Husky and good luck next weekend. Please post up after the race.

This round has to suck less than the last round in el centro, where mrs. motosapiens (leading the national points race) busted her ankle in a freak fall, and both our bikes turned into rusted muddy hulks.

Glad to hear you like it, and I wish I could get in as much riding as you do.

Wow. I was seriously thinking about trying a KTM 2 stroke for my next bike (just sold my '06 WR250), but... I am not sure now.

The thing that stood out most about your review is how much you liked the handling. This is somewhat surprising to me, since you are riding a 200 and KX in comparison.

These WRs are great, great bikes. I do not care what anyone says about "old technology." It just works. It makes me wonder how good the bike would be in the new frame and 15 lbs gone.

JS

PS: Do not ride the WR125. You will be amazed with the handling of that little bike (but it might feel too small for you).

KTM makes fine motorcycles, without a doubt. A big part of it is how well the machine matches your riding style and preferences. I have no doubt that a shiny new ktm 300 would also have made me smile. It would have done a few things better, and a few things worse. I would be surprised if the cornering was as good, but it would probably be easier to start in gear.

My 200 is a wonderful wonderful motorcycle, and takes almost no energy to ride through the most egregiously extreme technical terrain, but to race it I have to rev it more than I like (i'm lazy), and the cornering traction doesn't seem to be as effortless and instinctive as the wr.

As far as the 'new frame' idea... I dunno... we have had the pipe mounts (both of them) crack off on 4 different ktm's over the last 2 years. Admittedly, these are high-mileage bikes, but it seems to me they could maybe add a couple oz to those frames and save me a trip to the mr-weld-it dude. My heavy 2002 ktm never had parts break off of the frame. My only issue with that bike was medieval xr-ish seat shape.

I would recommend trying a ktm if you have the opportunity tho. It might fit your preferences a little better. Both are top-notch motorcycles. One costs $1000 more and comes with a crappy non-functional e-starter that impresses really old lame magazine writers.

XRish seat ???? YOU WISH. The Honda XR seats are about the best that have been ever made. The KTM seat is a 2 X 4.

The Bridgestone M403/404 combo is my preferred choice on my WR. It's good to hear that you're liking the WR so far. Brad.

lol, when i get older and want to sit all the time, maybe i'll agree with you. I personally find the modern ktm (and husky, and kawi) seats to be just fine. I was referring to the scooped weird old-man seat on the 02 and earlier ktms, not the nice flat easy-to-move-around-on seat on the 03 and later models. I understand that some folks don't like firm seats, and that's ok with me.

Thanks for the review Mark. I am really curious about the Husky, I sat on one at a dealer a while ago and I really liked the feel (I'm 6' 4") as everything just seemed to fall in place cockpit wise for me. My current 08 KTM 300 is very good (E-start works perfect btw), so it would take a favorable test ride on the WR in order for me to consider switching but there is an old soft spot in my heart for Husky's so I may be easily convinced. I really like the look of the Husky's and the fact that not every Tom, Dick & Harry is riding one appeals to me also. Please keep the reports coming (good & bad) as you get more time on her. JH

Bad ankle injuries can take a long time to heal, and leave lifetime effects. Fortunately, her break was a direct lateral blow, so there was no twisting or other unpleasant damage to the joint, so no surgery, and prognosis is excellent for a quick recovery... but it still sucks to be leading the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP and get hurt. She was so excited for the hare and hound series because they treat women like real racers and give them real courses and start them with the pros, unlike the 'national' enduro series where they are treated like 2nd class citizens and only get to run the C course (lame).

Yeah, it's a little different, but on the verge of being mainstream in the northwest, so support is good. Websites like this one make owning a small brand much more feasible, since help and advice from smart experienced people is close by.

Thanks for taking the time to write the review. I think I'm talked into a WR250 as soon as I sell my FZ1. I have too many bikes in the garage and decided one has to go before I get another.

I'm sure I'll have a few questions on setting it up. You seem to be pretty thorough with going over it. Did your WR come with the enduro lights? I saw an 09 WR250 in a showroom and it didn't have them.

Anybody want to buy a Yamaha FZ1 streetbike so I can come join the party???

as kelly mentions, it comes with the enduro light and utterly useless speedometer (only displays when the engine is running, wtf?), and also comes with a regular numberplate. It's some kind of rear light wiring, but it looks pretty hokey. I've never seen one actually hooked up.

I will be headed your way Thur El Centro was only 50 miles for me so now it is my turn to drive 900 miles one way.Any way talked to the race course maker and he says lots of wet deep sand SOOOOO i will be bringing the Wr 250 the 125 needs a rest .Stop by i will be driving a Red Ford Ranger it gets 25 mpg my box van only gets 10 so it will stay home
Maybe us Husky guys should pit together See you in Idaho John

Its drying out as we speak. Rode out at the race site last weekend and it was starting to get a bit dusty. No rain in the forecast and 60 degrees forecast for race day.

There will be plenty of sand washes... but also some pretty cool twistys.

They're lying about the wet deep sand. There won't be anything wet except the creek crossings, and even those should be pretty shallow. There will be some dry deep sand, but not in huge quantities. There's more hardpack and rocky coarse sand in the area. It's perfect camping weather (40's at night, 60's during the day).

I can almost certainly hook you up with some pit help, so look for us, and/or i'll look for you on saturday when we come out for signups. I have friends camping out, but we'll be sleeping in our own bed sat night.

update:

who's the jackass that thought a 12mm allen wrench would be a normal toolbox item? . Seriously.... when i needed a 14mm for my kx forks, i had to look all over hell and creation and finally ordered one online, so i know that no one in town has a 12mm either. next time i need something from motosportz, i'll get me one o' them normal bolts that isn't idiotic.

I used a 10mm allen wrench, and jammed a couple flat-blade screwdrivers in around it, and was able to loosen the bolt. I simply used a 12mm bolt, held with vise-grips to tighten it back up. I figure with the axle clamps, those things are like fork caps, they only have to be finger-snug, not tight.

after taking a short 17mile spin with adjusted jetting (3.25p, 2nd clip, 450m), i put real tires on it, and i'll get an hour or so on those saturday before the race. many spokes on the back wheel were loose, so i tightened them up evenly, and double-checked the chainslack. chain adjusters were not even, but i was rushing the shop to get it on the floor so I could buy it, so i'll cut them a little slack there.