2020 YAMAHA
WR250F UNVEILED
Y
amaha has pulled the covers off the
2020 WR250F, with the mini Enduro
hero getting all the goodies from the big
brother WR450F for the coming model year.
Now entering its 20th year of production, the
WR250F not only gets the latest in YZ250F-
derived engine and chassis technology, but it
also gains the same smartphone accessible
tuner functions as seen on the YZ450F and
WR450F in recent years.
Available in Europe from October 2019 (no
word yet on NZ release dates or pricing),
powering the 2020 WR250F is the reverse-head
250cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke engine we’ve
come to expect featuring updates to both the
piston and an increased compression ratio
over the outgoing model.
With the overall goal of extracting more
power throughout the rev-range from the
engine, Yamaha also revised the exhaust cam
timing and intake port valve seats, boosting
the bike’s low to mid-range torque. The bike’s
fuel injector has also seen an upgrade, moving
from a 10-hole unit to a 12-hole alternative
complete with a 44mm Mikuni throttle body
to handle the O2 side of the combustion
equation.
While adding power is all well and good,
another way to improve the performance
of any bike is dropping weight and the 2020
WR250F is no exception. The starter motor is
now smaller and lighter, yet providing a decent
390-Watt kick, while Yamaha has also added
a lightweight plastic resin skid plate which is
designed to protect the frame, water pump,
hoses and engine cases.
Speaking of the frame, the new YZ250F
derived aluminium beam frame is a full 15%
stiffer, which should provide more feedback to
the rider out in the rough stuff.
One thing you can never claim an MX bike has
is fuel range, and while the frame may have its
development in the closed course world, the
fuel tank is all WR. With a capacity of 7.9-litres
(up 0.5) overall, Yamaha had to extend the
tank downwards towards the centre of the
bike to up the capacity, which also had the
benefit of improving the overall balance of
the bike in keeping with Yamaha’s “mass
centralisation” philosophy.
The last piece of the chassis puzzle is the
suspension, and Yamaha hasn’t rested
on its laurels in this area either. With new
suspension at both the front and rear, with
1mm wider KYB fork tubes upfront (again
with YZ DNA), complete with enduro-specific
settings. The rear of the bike also gets a
YZ250F-derived shock, with a stronger and
lighter coil spring saving a further 350g.
Yamaha Motor NZ couldn’t be reached for
comment on the new WR250F in time to meet
the deadline of this issue of Kiwi Rider.
KIWI RIDER 15