250-500cc ride review 1994 WXC-250

So I have the "I scored a minty WXC-250" post, the "I rebuilt the WXC-250" post so now i thought i would start a ride review post.

I'll just get it off my chest, this is a very good bike. Not a very good bike for old bikes but very good period. Short of the just OK brakes and old school seating position this bike fully competes with modern 250 2 stokes IMHO.

Motor:

Now that I have the motor running 100% and have 2 rides on it I feel it is one of the better 250 2 stroke off road motors i have sampled. Very strong and eager from bottom to top this motor flat gets with the program. Other than a weisco piston, PK carb, and boyseen reeds this bike is stone stock. Compared to a very good running 07 with a 2C pipe and PWK carb it seems every bit as strong. The 94 maybe stronger off the bottom, has just as much mid and top and seems more linear than the soft bottom hard mid hit of the 07 motor.

Suspension:

The showa suspension on this bike is VERY good. I hoped it might be but is better than i had hoped. I believe it is stock but who knows. It was good when i got it but adjustment to the very sensitive clickers and some playing with fork height and preload yield a very good platform. the fork is un-fluttered by multiple choppy sections that seem to confuse the 45mm zokes. they work very well in root wads and rocks yet still absorb jumps and hard landings well. A very confidence inspiring fork that never seems to get out of shape. The rear is also very good and very controlled. Never feeling loose or busy but still supple and comfortable. I really like the suspension on this bike.

Handling:

This is one area where it is a step behind the modern bikes. It seems a lot like a Yamaha to me. handles a lot like my 02 YZ250, good but you need to be deliberate in your turning. It turns fine just wants more input to do so. The front end is not as precise and active as a modern husky. That said it is kinda nice not having to always baby sit the front end, it stays put and does not need constant attention like more modern active bikes. Confidence inspiring and stable but semi slow and deliberate.

Ergonomics:

old School. low seat, low bars, crappy pegs. I raised the bars 1.5 inches and moved the forward and got a new bar. Made a huge needed difference. Bike is now nearly perfect when standing. Took quite a while to get used to the super low seat and as such find myself standing 90% of the time. I am getting used to it and the low seat is awesome of off camber stuff or whenever you need to dab but really wads me up. I have got used to it and the seat itself is a couch, but it is a big transition from seated to standing.

Brakes:

When i got the bike they were horrible. I cleaned and scotbrighted the disks, replaced the pads and bled the fluid. Now they are workable and are OK. Nothing like modern husky brakes but enough to do the job without being a liability.

Transmission:

this transmission needs to come in the current WR250/300. It is awesome. 6 speeds of crawl up a tree or pass your friends at 90 mph. perfect spacing, lots of options.

Maintenance / Design:

Another place where the current bike has gone backwards IMHO. This bike has zerks on the linkage AND swingarm pivots. Has pull loops on both axles, has the 15mm axle nut, quick release seat etc. Tank comes off super EZ. Tank is a much better design than the current WR. Carries 3.4 gallons in a narrow and low slung tank. I bet this bike will go 80-90 miles EZ. The shrouds are super narrow and do not trim the bushes. The pipe is tucked in better than the current bike and much smaller, out of the way.

Weight:

As it sits it is 238, ready to go no gas. about the same as the current model. If you replaced the double walled pipe and massive muffler with steel endcap with a FMF or something you would drop 10 pounds and put this bike lighter than the current model.

So...

I really like this bike and am surprised how well it works. Where I like my ATK406 and it does well it feels vintage and i know the limitations and ride accordingly. This bike does not impart a vintage feel / limitation and i feel just has competent and fast on it as I do on my buddies 07 WR250 which I like a lot. The 94 motor is just as good, the suspesnion is better. The handling is not quite as sharp and the brakes on the 07 are on another level. In the end it is a bike I feel competes well with the modern example of the same bike.

Did all that. The brakes worked like drum brakes when i got it. Work well now but not like the current stuff which i find is some of, if not the best. Very workable but not fantastic.

Got about $450 int he bike, best $450 I ever spent on a bike. Been riding it a lot as my 09 WR125 suspesnion is off to be revalved. Really like the bike.

From last sat ride...

Man, looks like the same motor as is in mine.

Took this pic last Sunday with my iPhone (forgot my camera) and liked the rays of light. Did 46 miles of EPIC single track and am really LOVING this bike. So forgiving and EZ to rail on.



Yummy single track...