But Can It Do Hard Enduro?

My Yamaha WR250F can do time-attack style enduro very well, cross country very well also... and even motocross surprisingly good! But what about hard enduro? Well, tour guide Julian took us on some of his toughest local trails to find out.
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SOCIAL MEDIAS
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CREDITS
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Starring:
Ash Sowman - 2021 Yamaha WR250F
Kynan Ayers - 2020 Husqvarna TE250i
Julian McGaveston - 2018 KTM 300EXC
Edited by:
Ash Sowman
CHAPTERS
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0:00 Title Sequence
0:11 Technical Downhill
4:55 Massive Hill Climbs
12:09 Flowing Trails
13:19 How Not to Cross Rivers
14:56 The World's Longest Downhill
17:18 End Screen

[@craigmajor2812]

Looks like what we use to call " trail bike riding" when I was a kid ! Seems like every things harder now ! 😁🤣🤔

[@Frisky_FZR]

😂 yeah he should come to the akatarawa forest here in welly there’s some real enduro tracks here not that I’m any better than him but I recon he’d love

[@jmleban]

Yo ash can you please do a comparison video of a 2001 wr250f vs 2021 wr250f.

[@njmxjunkie3128]

He’d have to go out and buy a 2001 or find someone who has one. They are incomparable tbh tho. A 2021 feels like a race bike with great suspension in comparison to a 2001 with the fcr carb (great bottom end power not much up top) 2001 just feels a bit sluggish and cannot rev out nearly as much as the 21

[@HowTeq]

L0l i feel like that would be wayl too obvious though. The companies are doing big Changes in shorter terms to bikes updating etc..

[@rezkidgamingyt4725]

I just got the 2023 wr 250f in Canada and there are a few things you need to do when you buy brand new bike . The throttle has got a stop screw to prevent you from opening full throttle, you need to cut just under 1/2 inch off of the screw so the throttle will open full range also there is a snorkel tube under the air filter you need to snap that off and in the exhausts tip there is a restriction drill the rivets out and pull the plug out . In Canada you have to buy the competition ecu and gytr communication unit and you can tune the wr to be a beast on track or hard induro or for the street

[@ashsowman]

CLICK 'READ MORE' *AFTER* WATCHING Long story short, it can but it'd rather be doing just about anything else! The Yamaha WR250F is an enduro bike beyond a doubt, but not in the same way that a KTM 300EXC is an enduro bike... You see, the 300 and bikes like it are designed for this sort of riding, whereas the WR is a time attack bike. It only starts working properly when you get it up to speed and start pushing the limits of adhesion, anything slower and it becomes immediately obvious that the engine is too snappy, the suspension is too hard and weirdly (literally the thing that was annoying me most here) the seat is too slippery! (I had to hang on to the handlebars so hard not to fall off the back going up those hills) Some things to note also: - If you've only ridden a pre-2020 model WR250F you'll disagree with most of what I'm saying here ^ Pre-2020 and post-2020 models shouldn't even be considered the same bike... These things are animals nowadays - If the trails were even 25% faster, all of the WRs 'shortcomings' would have become its strong suits. No bike can do it all, 300s wallow and bottom out like no tomorrow in time attack style enduro riding - With a flywheel weight, suspension re-valving and a grippy seat cover the Yamaha WR250F would certainly become a much better hard enduro bike... But why put lipstick on a pig? It's so good at time attack like it is, better just to play to its strengths and avoid terrain like this. Then buy a 300 if you decide it's what you want to do primarily. Hell, if you're rich you could just have both! Hopefully this helps a few proud owners-to-be out there. My full review of the WR will be coming out soon, subscribe if you don't want to miss it! Cheers 👊

[@troyza450]

Have you tryed the “ smooth, linear/slippery conditions” map for hard enduro?

[@liamwilson1948]

Hey ash, can u please tell me what you think of the pre 2020 wrf models?... I have a 2011 and I haven't done any "hard enduro" but it seems very smooth and controlled on trail rides, I've done a couple enduro sections on trail rides and it wasn't a problem on the wrf.

[@ashsowman]

@@troyza450 Whenever the blue light is on on the left-hand-side of the handlebars, that's the map I'm in. Doesn't help much though, the bike needs more physical inertia not smoother fuel mapping

[@troyza450]

@@ashsowman interesting, yet to try the new model I’m running the “18” wr250f and with a aftermarket muffler, 52t sprocket and that map its really good for hard enduro, I found the stock muffler absolutely gutless in low revs, thanks for the reply

[@ashsowman]

@@troyza450 Yeah I had the first YZ250FX (2015) which was essentially the same as what you're describing. It was way better at hard enduro than this new WR for sure, but wallowed and didn't have enough power at speed. I wish they could've gotten the power without sacrificing the friendliness, that would've been great!

[@chrisvozza6530]

So sweet video! That forest looked perfect for some Enduro. Looked dam fun too

[@tieoneon1614]

WR250f's are awesome do-it-all bikes. I put 268 trouble free hours on my '15. I turned the idle up when doing slower trails, it would idle up hill in second gear. The only thing that limited my riding was riding with 2t guys, cuz all they wanted to do was enduro or slow single track. They could only go 40 miles to a tank, while i was doing 100 mile desert/mnt trips on 2 gallons and they always had jetting drama.

[@Briank-ef5iq]

I get a lot more then 40 miles on my 2t 250xc !

[@gusgiesel]

Enjoyed the video! The later WR models are very good. A couple thoughts... Downhill: you might release the clutch and let the engine do some braking. 4 strokes are good for engine braking and this will take some stress off the brakes. Also I didn't see any hard enduro...? Not a criticism, just an observation. Finally, you have some very nice trails to ride, just gorgeous.

[@perrinbrown2336]

I like the skip out to the nutbuster at 3mins something, when the wr turned into an fx with renthal pad!😉

[@numbzinger350]

That was a flashback to another steep downhill once upon a time.

[@footit]

I bought a 2012 wr250f without really knowing to much about the bike to ride hard enduro in Northern Thailand. The bike is totally NOT set up for 1st,2nd and even 3rd gear riding it just wanted to breath but instead would often overheat. It wasn't until oneday a friend told me that WR stand for wide ratio gearing it then all made sense why riding this bike in hard slower enduro settings wasn't an enjoyable experience. Better suited to open farming area's not hilly, rocky terrain.

[@daveyboy7305]

2 stroke for me

[@khaccanhle1930]

My WR250 is a 2005. The thing is beautiful on slow trails. I'm always in the first 2 gears, passing the 2 stroke Guys as they spin out and over heat. Strange but true.

[@benbattista5035]

@@khaccanhle1930Is yours a 250F or R? I am looking to get one of the two, or maybe a YZ 250FX. Not sure what the best bike would be for these slower East Coast trails.

[@zeuski117]

Bueno amigo, en realidad esa pista no es la gran cosa, al menos lo que ha salido en el vídeo, pero igual muy buen vídeo. Un consejo, cuando vayas a cruzar un río, debes empezar a ir más rápido desde el primer extremo del río, es decir, antes de cruzarlo, no desde mucho antes, si no te caerás como en el vídeo. Igual aprendí un par de cosas viendo los terrenos que recorriste.

[@1Fasteddy]

Gnarly ride you rode the WR like a boss

[@videosbruno]

People jump on the "300 2 stroke" hype and seriously underestimate a 250 4 stroke capability and traction... I do some nasty riding on mine too...

[@daveyboy7305]

They run bloody hot though , or is that only certain 4 strokes

[@videosbruno]

@@daveyboy7305 2strokes boil too... Free flowing exhaust, coolant catch and fan are needed for slow paced riding

[@khaccanhle1930]

My WR250F is a 2005. I was just doing some serious hard trails last week. I was roasting, steam coming off my body, but my bike was fine, and it has NO cooling fan. My friends were on a 200 and a 250 2 strokes: fans buzzing, steam coming out of the radiators. Everyone's bikes were over heating except mine. I couldn't believe it. I crawled up that hill, seat bounce and static zap the whole way, hardly breaking traction. 4 stokes are under rated. I'll be buried with that WRF before I sell it.

[@dpayne8611]

Yea but theres a reason for it.. I got the WR250F 2022 and a buddy of mine got the Beta RR300, love my bike but compared to his 2t its way slower and pretty boring to ride. I truly understand why people buy the newer 2t, and so will i next year.

Wr is my dream... like from Brazil

[@Frisky_FZR]

Get a shinko 525 on that puppy and you’ll be sweet as well as tubeless it’ll be a proper enduro bike

[@nils0n239]

i got a exc 250f i think it is pretty good at hard enduro i just have to always use th clutch but that is what you are supposed to do anyway

[@STONEDARTphotos]

Love my four stroke in the woods. Isn't it 20% bike?

[@njmxjunkie3128]

Would’ve been worthy of One of your epic edits

[@sebastianescudero8712]

Hi. Put a tubeliss on the rear with a gummy tire a mousse on the front with a Metzelder 6 days and this bike will go everywhere.

[@barryzoo5923]

Nice work on them hills boys 💪

[@whytebull2063]

kynan should start his own channel and call it kickin it with kynan

[@hatedcrf2303]

1:58 did it scare you?

[@MP-gq4uj]

Install a gytr yz250f or fx heavy flywheel or a clutch traction disc and you have a much better bike . And yes the gytr fly wheel is heavier by 5oz and it does fit.

[@sergiomonohoma.]

It can.... If you are tall enough!, long legs are a "must have" for hard enduro with 4t😂😂😂

[@mackilla199]

This makes me appreciate my 2 stroke

[@archie5990]

keep it up mate love the vids

[@greatsouthernsky]

Good Vid mate. Nice bike but it looks too punchy for H.E terrain(creeks, super rocky switchbacks etc... try a 2stroke! (if 4st your thing, beta's 4st are less punchy. cheers bud)

[@khaccanhle1930]

My WR250 is a carb bike, it's great for slow enduros. All my 2t friends have clouds of steam coming out, and I do fine - no overheating and lots of slow traction. Everyone is jealous of my old WRF.

[@seabass420]

Isn’t beta owed by ktm?

[@singletrackmarc819]

​@@seabass420 fuck no

[@barrymcbrydie1713]

Great video Ash. I am sold on the WRs, currently got 3 in the shed 08, 13, 23 models...still trying to find a map that suits me for the 23 as its almost too responsive on the throttle going along rougher ground it peps out at the slightest knock compared to the carb models

[@roo450]

do love a wr 💙

[@shirleygibbons6833]

When you live in the states and its 2:17 am

[@ZieglerMonster]

Bro this ride was epic

[@someonethatwatchesyoutube2953]

My son’s 2022 wr250f is absolutely awful for slow technical trails. Power delivery is super choppy. It has no bottom end. Brakes are grabby. Suspension is harsh. And I say this after installing a recluse clutch AND having the suspension reworked by racetech AND installing ECu/tuner. My stock KTMs have all been 1000 times better. If you ride in areas that require a lot of second gear you’re probably going to hate it. More open riding would be fine.

[@MDM1992]

Sounds like someone who cant tune it or ride it properly. Never had ANY of those issues with mine 🤔 And by the way, i sold all my ktms to go back to yamaha because they were dog shit in comparison, over priced, hard to find parts, expensive as fuck when you were lucky enough to find them, broke more often.. never going back to ktm/husky. 1000 times better my ass.

[@mxrcmadness7266]

Location please?

[@hackertheslacker]

Nice terrian. We ride the same type of stuff in our area.

[@peter63100]

Knarly single tracks are good for you 😉

[@ianbath4776]

Hard day at the office 👍🏻

[@benhovenduro1385]

Hi m8. What maps u running. I'm in the UK, just Purchased a 2020 wrf250. Over here we have the power tuner map fitted as standard. I have an fmf4.1 silencer to fit. Was just wondering if your maps are "stock". Take it easy, Thanks m8.

[@thunderbox91]

Seems either far too tall gear or serious lack of low end torque, seems to be on the clutch almost the hole time!

[@kevingaraway6494]

They go so much better with a 270 big bore kit the wr has a very wide ratio 6 speed. I had a 2016 wr and did that sort of riding with the 270 kit night and day different with gytr exhaust and I used a gytr enduro map

[@EratiCManiaC]

Yeah he could change out the sprockets to gear it down, and remap. That clutch is taking a hiding for sure

[@ftsboys9825]

Nah man I ride a 2021 WR250F hard enduro and I’ve found that yeah I’m on the clutch alot but that’s only not to stall it, they have a shit ton of low end torque literally tractor steep hills like it’s nothing! He must of been in too high of a gear I guess

[@khaccanhle1930]

I use a 13 - 50 sprocket set, power bomb and FMF exhaust. My WR250 is great at tight trails, it starts on a hill with no break in traction. If I do my job on the throttle and clutch, it does its job fine.

[@Kiitcho]

Sick video bro

[@hennomeyer3236]

The bike can definitely do hard enduro! 80%rider 20%bike

[@motominded5275]

Cool riding....but not what I'd call "Hard Enduro"

[@KoltFin]

I think the real question is can You do hard enduro?

[@tonycerruto5157]

Nice! When it looks Gnar on video, you know it’s 5 times MORE gnar in reality! Where are you guys?

[@jetdr]

WR's are great Bikes, but damn they are heavy. I wouldn't want to try an enduro on one. you would be worn out a half hour in without crashing...

[@khaccanhle1930]

I just did 5 hours of enduro on a WR250F. Dropped it at least 8 times, went from 100 meters to 840 meters elevation. Rocks, roots, ruts, mud, grass, logs, streams, you name it. It was a peach to ride.

[@MDM1992]

Unless its 20 years old they are barely heavier than anything else.. certainly not enough to moan about.. lol

[@atkracing]

Does your back wheel make a Traction Control/ ABS sound when braking down hill when the rear brake is applied?

[@ashsowman]

That's just the chain chattering. It happens when you brake without the clutch pulled in

[@rukmanbandaraweebadde7674]

Where to buy original silencer of WR250F...🤔🤔🤔?????

[@Fried_hippos]

its not can it, its can you

[@TJTodd604]

Great video! Is this a stock WR250F ? any mods? I just picked up a 2020 WR250F and 1/2/3 is super barky off the throttle lol. Coming from a TTR230, just started to ride this year @ 44 years old

[@ibrahimyahmadi3897]

Does bike dies on fast twist of the throttle on idle

[@nztrappingandstuff9781]

Hi

[@brucemorrison3563]

New Zealand?

[@josephvoge6108]

how much power does it have compared to a 250 2 stroke? I've heard the Wr is way down on power.

[@user-op4dy3jf6o]

I have a yamaha wr 250 1996 2 stroke it has more power than 4stroke

[@juliocvelez1]

Typically 2 strokes make 40% more power than their 4 stroke counterpart.

[@ianmctimoney4206]

Probably 30-35 horse I’d guess compared to 50-55 on a smoker

[@paulhope3401]

The stock 22? WR250F was dyno'd at 36.7hp. By comparison the 23 ktm 250 EXC has aprox 50hp. Aprox 37% more..

[@lennardmund3192]

Where is this?

[@richard-tf3qz]

Hi can you change gears without using clutch

[@aspirinchung1363]

Yes

[@richard-tf3qz]

@@aspirinchung1363 thanks

[@Taitohaukka]

​@@richard-tf3qz if you switch up remember to loose on the throttle before switching

[@richard-tf3qz]

@@Taitohaukka ok thanks

[@gunther5452]

I kinda want a WR250, but I don't know since I have a WR400 from the 90s, I feel like the drop in power would be a little bit of a problem. but idk, what do y'all think

[@dpayne8611]

Depends how and where u drive it. I sold my RMZ450 2015 and bought a WR250F 2022. Huge drop in power but its a chill reliable bike. Go get a 300 2 stroke instead, now these things are fast and fun!

[@MDM1992]

​​@@dpayne8611i save the extra cash and set a yz250 up for enduro with a few mods and there isn't a single 300 that can shake me even IF they're good enough to stay ahead of me lol

[@stanimirgg6044]

do you have any maps for it ? i have the same bike just a 2022

[@ashsowman]

I've got one good custom one. I'm going to do a full review of this bike here soon then my plan is afterwards to make a more in-depth video just talking about my experience with the bike and what I've learned about it. I'll go into all this stuff then

[@stanimirgg6044]

Can you please send me the map soo i can try it out?

[@user-vl3jk7pf4b]

Мне тоже пришлите карту на wr250f 2021

[@chrisrieger9201]

Wonder if a beta 300rr would be in this environment

[@dpayne8611]

It would be crazy fun. I got the WR250F and a buddy of mine got the RR300. I cant keep up with his pace, neither can he when riding my bike and me on his. The Beta is way faster and way more fun to ride

[@MDM1992]

​@@dpayne8611thats just a given.. a 250 4 stroke would never keep up with a 2 stroke the same engine size never mind 50cc bigger lol 2 strokes are always faster thats why they used to let 450 4 strokes in races with 250 2 strokes, they didn't stand a chance otherwise.

[@macipat6540]

Where is the KTM killer ?

[@michaelaus7346]

Not a bad video, why are you stalling it? Clutch to touchy?

[@downanddirty6899]

Combination of snappy power and clutch, people seem to complain about it but I ride a 300 TPI and have ridden them and find it ok. If you ride hard enduro and can use your clutch, they are fine.

[@quinnwarman5139]

The famous words of a 300 two-stroke rider sorry I didn't realize it was like that 😅

[@clarence302]

Yz please

[@megamoto3513]

A yz250fx would be better suited

[@MathewsGuitarWorks]

Nah, this is exactly what a WR was made for. Wide Ratio (WR) trans has a lower first and second gear, making slow technical terrain easier to ride. The FX is more suited to open terrain and faster riding. The FX is a motocross bike with an 18” rear wheel and kickstand. The newer WR’s like in this video are closer to the motocross bikes than ever before but still have specific things that make it riding slower technical terrain easier.

[@davidbeauvais1364]

Scared guy

[@jakegentle7853]

It aint called hard enduro its called wr enduro

[@singletrackmarc819]

Wheres the hard part?

[@WholesaleTurbos]

Yea this is a warm up for me

[@infidelmat]

Hard enduro on a 4 stroke just SOUNDS wrong lol

[@STONEDARTphotos]

Rode hard enduro on my CRF 230f and now using a 250f. It's 20% bike.

[@MDM1992]

I ride on both 4 strokes and 2 strokes. Both work great. I much prefer my yz250 set up for enduro over any other bike but i've always loved the yz. (Sold my last one because EVERYONE raved about the ktms, bought an exc450, a exc300 2 stroke and a 250sx.. none of them were as good to me as my old yz and ended up selling them all to go back to team blue lol, don't believe all the hype around ktm/husky etc they are massively overpriced and massively underwhelming in my opinion)

[@jodybotha]

Didn't really answer the question...

[@fishwhistler758]

No offense but it would give me great pleasure to sneak past you on my 2001 KDX 200! She would be so at home on those trails. If you have never ridden one please do. Youll be trading your 13,000$ WR hahaha

[@stevegoatley560]

People go on about the old KDXs that by today's standards were heavy,poor braking and average suspension.

[@chrisrieger9201]

My 82 it 125 use great in these conditions. So was my 77 xr75 when I was kid. That xr75 was bullet proof!

[@njmxjunkie3128]

I have a feeling ash will be selling his Ktm killers for actual an actual Ktm. I dislike Ktm solely for the type of people who ride them and the price. However if I rode the terrain ash did I’d buy a Ktm or orange owned bike in a heartbeat

[@scottyd2262]

The people that ride them ??

[@njmxjunkie3128]

@@scottyd2262 yes the people. Look nothing against them, it’s just the type of people that ride orange 🍊 are just not the same breed of human as the rest of us. I’m not gunna go into it through comments. Ash is great. Just look around anyone you know who rides Ktm,beta,Sherco,husky……. Than look at people who ride anything else.

[@scottyd2262]

@@njmxjunkie3128 I ride a Honda and a Husky so that kind of ruins that comment .. lol

[@njmxjunkie3128]

@@scottyd2262 hey man take it for what it is. I don’t know you. I’m going by a generalized consensus.

[@kevinchristensen8778]

Stand up going down hill. Much easier to ride.

[@timparish7515]

First

[@jonganzer7478]

Another "Hey, look at me!" video, no talk, no information here. Please stop clogging up the internet with this junk.