250-500cc WR 250 or 300 or neither?

After realizing my '02 WB165 was a bit outgunned in the open sections of the recent Delaware Enduro I am seriously considering getting a second bike and I keep wondering about the WR300. My 165 is, by far, the best bike I have ever ridden (for me that is). In the tight, rocky, nasty trails i normally ride the 165 is perfect, but I also ride sand during the winter as well as some more open enduros and the occasional dual sport.
I recently had a YZ250 that i spent over a year and lots of $$$ trying to set up but in the end I was never quite satisfied with it. It had a Rekluse Z-start, 16oz flywheel weight, and other mods to tame it a bit but the power was never smooth enough for extreme enduro type trails. The biggest issue I had with it was the ergos, it felt small to me, but I am 6'2". I run Fastway pegs in the low setting and CR high bend bars on my 165 and it feels great standing up ( tall seat too)

My questions regarding the WR300 are as follows;
1-How do the ergos compare to the older wr/cr 125 chassis?
2-Does the newer wr300 handle better/worse/same as older wr250?
3-Assuming I install a Lectron carb, can the power be as smooth or better than a new KTM300?
4-How does the weight feel compared to other 250/300s?
5-how is ground clearance? I run low pegs for leg room and it was scary on my YZ but great on 165

I would love to find an 02-04 wr250 so my plastic, etc.. would be interchangeable but I just saw a new '13 wr300 for sale in my area for $4999. Very hard to pass up a deal like that with other new bikes going for over $8K
I have read about starting issues but it seems that the jetting and starting technique are to blame. I'm sure the Lectron will help out big time and I have had my share of hard to start bikes so I know the drill. I would also install a Rekluse so I'm not too worried.

Any info/suggestions are greatly appreciated

You say you raced at Delaware; where are you located? I raced at Delaware as well, am local, and would be happy to let you ride my 300 (sometime, racing schedule is pretty packed).

I think the need for power depends on how fast you are. The only time I used the bike's power in that race was the final test, the long grass track section. Otherwise, I think a 165 would have been nice in the muck, although I do love the 300's ability to lug. In fact, I bet a 165 would have had enough power in that fast section, you need to keep it on the pipe... But, I am a C-rider, the fast guys use more power for sure.

I think that, while it's nice to have the power sometimes, is it going to be worth it to lose the lightness of the 165 the rest of the time? For most of the enduros around here, probably not...

1 Ergos are spacious I'm 6 two too
2 handling said to have improved over previous efforts. I'm biased and like it
3 power is stronger and less smooth than a Ktm 300 but I like that! The Ktm 300 lacks charecter IMO. That said, gobs of useful power compared to a yz250
4 motor is an old design so it's heavy. Fuel carried high on bike yet it changes direction very easily
5 good ground clearance - haven't whacked toes needlessly. Forks a little soft so increase compression. I broke three toes last summer on a yz 450 so this is important to me.

Given a choice between a 250 and a 300, I'd go with the 360

Mine started as a 300, I trashed that engine after a lot of racing. Picked up a 360 and swapped the engine to finish out the season, learned to love it's brutish nature (and I don't drop that word...ever). Rebuilt my 300 as a 250 thinking it would be a better enduro weapon, was wrong and found it wasn't as forgiving, needed to be ran harder, and in such it sucks a lot more gas down than my 300 (or 360) did. So, I much prefer the 300 over the 250 for the extreme technical stuff. 250 is fun for open flowy courses, but that just doesn't happen that often. I again prefer the 360 over the 300, as it is to the 300 what the 300 is to the 250. So, the next project down the line for me is going to be a fully built out 360 in the newest frame I can find.

The 250 will ride closer in style to your 165 though, I imagine.

Kyle, thanks for the offer. Im in North Jersey but sometimes ride in S.Jersey, maybe we can meet up sometime. It was the last section of Delaware that convinced me. The 165 was awesome in the tight stuff!
I really like the idea of finding an '02 CR250 because I can set it up exactly like my 165, not to mention I've seen these for sale pretty cheap at times, just not now LOL. I'm going to keep an eye out!
What is the mileage like on the CR250 with the lectron?

Oregonsage; I had a BMW G450X, got it dialed in as good as I could but it was a wacky handling bike to say the least. I know Husky improved it but still not sold

Thanks, I will def check it out!

I am in north nj if you want to try my 09 300. Paramus area

Pm me.

Sure thing. I'd love an opportunity to try out a 165, I've never been able to ride one. I'm busy the next 3 weekends (vacation and then 2 ECEA enduros), but maybe after that we can meet up.

For what it's worth, I get around 25 mpg on my 300, obviously very much depending on terrain. I usually hit reserve around 50-60 miles. If I'm really getting after it, it's less than 50, but I've gone over 60 on trails and dirt roads in south Jersey.

Thanks ks9mm. Will do
Kyle, are you riding the RORR enduro? I am signed up already

Yes, I will be at RORR. I have not registered yet, thanks for the reminder, I will do that today!

I am also planning on being at HMDR the following weekend.

My buddy just bought a 2009 WR250 with a rekluse pro, and I rode it back to back with my 2014 KTM 350 XCW. Except on some very slippery sections, the WR250 will swallow the 350 xcw in every way you can imagine. Throw on rear trials tires, and there will be NO exceptions.

Yep, I had a trials tire on that bike and even in the rain and mud it was like cheating. Uphills were a joke, stop and laugh at your buddy stuck on the hill, and pull away with one hand on the bars. I'd give Pete the tire but I put truck studs in it. 803s rule w/ 6 lbs. and heavy tube. FWIW, the JD kit turned the 250 into a monster, unreal power. I owe you a beer BTW.