125-200cc WR125 - is gearbox truly WR? Are they one kick machines?

I like my wr300 except for fussy kicking and a first gear that is too high for user built woods single track trails (deer paths really). I don't feel the weight while riding but I do feel it when I hafta pick it up from ground. I've been thinking about a wr125 because I hear they lug well. My wr300 lugs really well but not without constant clutch fanning and the occasional stall. I've tried 12/48 (destroyed two chains) and now 13/51 and I need bike to creep slower - a lot slower. Been thinking about a tw200 or xr250 type slow however if the wr125 has a real WR gearbox I would be happy. If it kickstarted reliably first kick I'd be even happier.

So, can a WR125 crawl around like a true trail bike (xt225 tw200 xr250) and can it start first kick always?

I sas in the market for my 1st 2 stroke earlier this year and asked similiar questions. I was tired of my heavy previous bikes.

I ended up buying an 09 WR 250 with a z-start pro. This thing will lug in really tight 1st gear trails with no clutch work at all. Couldn't stall it if I tried. I ride a lot of tight, constant tight turn trails. Yeah, its a little heavy to pick up but it's a lot lighter than my previous 05 TE 450 or 12 TE 449.

Maybe the Rekluse would help with the tight trail riding.

T

Thanks, I'm beginning to see this now too. Sure would be cheaper than buying another bike. I really like how roomy my wr300 is and those play bikes I listed will be cramped too.

The gearbox is the same as the CR since 2001 ?
yes they normally kick easy - I am having issues but not sure why
I prefer the lower weight to a wr300 and especially down hills - very good for slow or fast riding down hills
Much easier to bump start - I am removing the rekluse on mine - I don't like it .

Not as easy to crawl slowly up a steep rocky hill as say a KTM 300 - obviously ,, lack the torque to do that
need to zap clutch and rev to keep momentum .
I rode with a guy on Wednesday with a '14 300 ktm and he raved about the wr165 when he rode it - mainly handling plushness and bottom end punch

Not sure on the wr...but I have a 2000 husky cr125 and it rips like a freaking rocket. But, it has the tightest powerband and gearbox on earth.

So not much help but I do not suggest a CR LOL

Sell me the rekluse lol

Shrub, you're welcome to try my '06 WR125 (I think they were redesigned in '09?). I live in Duvall and have access to a riding area close by that has a good mix of trails. I think my bike lugs great for a 125, but its no low end torque monster that's for sure. It definitely lugs was better then my KTM 125 SX ever did (naturally).

For reference, mods are: Fatty pipe, Turbine Core II sparky, Lectron carb, 12/52 gearing, suspension, usual guards.

My 125 is pretty roomy too (I'm 6'6", 210 lbs or so), feels roomier then my KTM125 and YZ250 were.

Starting is usually 1 or 2 kicks, except for first start, for some reason I usually have to kick 4-5 times before it lights. After that its pretty reliably 1 kick.

And bump starting, super easy. If I stall it on the trail I can usually just pull the clutch in and out and as long as I'm rolling at all, it relights almost instantly.

A buddy rode my 125 recently, he's a pretty decent rider, has a nicely setup KTM 250 XC smoker. He was wringing my 125's neck! Came back all smiles. I could see the wheels turning in his head. I could tell it surprised him. Ha ha...

Also, keep in mind how cheap the 125's are. If you buy right and later decide its not for you, you should be able to sell it off with little or no loss. -Ed

Put in the rekluse and be done with it. No 125s really have wide ratio transmissions, they just do not have the power to pull them. The WR 125 does have a 6 speed and it is well spaced.

And re the tw200 and xr250, those aren't exactly light bikes and are no where near the suspension, motor, performance, etc of your 300. I'd think they would be a step backwards, although I realize they are great bikes for what they are and people love them.

I would only recommend a 125 to someone that has always wanted one, but has not pulled the trigger yet for all the usual reasons. If you're looking to solve a problem with the 300, not sure the 125 is the solution.

Unless you want super light, super flickable, super fun, but not a lot of low end torque and you're ok with the occasional no approach uphill that may give you fits that your 300 wouldn't even notice. And if you're able to deal with all the knuckleheads who don't know what the hell they are talking about telling you that you need a bigger bike.

Don't forget that the 98-02 WRs had a WR trans.
Sometimes I wish I had one in my 09 165.

Ya, I always have wanted a 125 but the only one I've ridden is a 2000 YZ144 at Little Naches. Not a fan - always happy to get my WR300 back and not just due to the motor - the WR300 chassis is massive which fits me perfectly. I read up on the 165 reports and like them. Again, my WR300 is great except hot starts and a too tall first gear. I could be very happy with keeping the WR300 for actual designated trails of saner pitch, width, defined tread, etc. For example on a regular FS trail (even most parts of Teanaway or upper Mad Lake) the WR300 is great. It's these damn lowland monster fern infested swamp bog trails with grades and super greasy mossy nurse logs that we're hopping over in the winter time here. These are user-built trails that are kept primitive. One guy has a KTM 250XCFW reklused with a 340 kit (low first gear ) and another guy has a Ossa Explorer (trials gears 1-3 ) while yet another has a KTM 250XCW reklused smoker (low first gear ). They have an overall better go at these than me and yes they're all good riders that I'm about 10 seconds behind at trail intersections.

I will hafta give your 125 a spin sometime - thanks for the offer. Good to hear that yours fires hot usually on first try.

So the WR125 first gear is noticeably lower than a WR300?

theres a 01 wr125 in the classified right now it looks damn nice but its on the east coast

Yep definatly the best mod I did to my 165 period, Turn up at a race that has really tight going and drop a tooth on the engine sprocket and this thing crawls up everything in its path but still has a healthy amount of speed for the open going, If its going to be a real fast ride add a tooth and have even more on top but first is still plenty low for the tight stuff . Definatly a much better selection of cogs when mated to a 165.
Been trying to find another box for the other bike but still no luck locating one so the hunt goes on

i would say the WR 125 (speaking about an 2013 Model) has got a Motocross Gearbox- therefore the 1st gear is not really low...

But compared to a WR 300 way better for wood riding.

So my 01 wr125 has a woods riding friendly gearbox? Makes my old bike seem a bit better for me

Thanks, yes there was a new 2013 for sale private party that I was considering but with a MX gearbox style first gear I'm less inclined now.

its not that bad- but compared to my 1993 WR 125 its a fair difference in 1st gear. I ve been using both bikes in the Romanian mountains and the 2013 WR needs a different sproket- after thats been done the bike ist fine!

Get one then, they are a blast! Maybe not as an only dirt bike though?

And that is too funny about the YZ144. The first 125 I rode was a buddy's 2004(?) YZ125 at Little Naches. Hated it. Felt tiny, razor thin powerband. Light as all hell though. I basically could not ride it. My buddy on the other hand railed on it, including baby head rock hopping up the old river bed up at Reiter, he made it look like he was riding up a groomed trail. Holy cow the dude can ride (Sir Loynz on TT).

Any time, just let me know.

Yes, that about summed it up on the yz125. Tiny bike with razor thin power range. Would you say your WR125 feels larger then? I would venture the power range is actually useful unlike the yz125s we've ridden?

I like seeing sirloynz posts over on ADV. He looks like a great rider.keeping motion forward at reiter was difficult sometimes.