Here’s What Adventure Touring on a 250cc Dual Sport is Like
MotoLara take on the Oregon Back Country Discovery Route riding WR250Rs.
Alberto Lara and partner Naomi Tweddle love nothing more than traveling to remote regions around the world on motorcycles. Together they share their passion for motorcycle travel and camping through the photography and videos they post on the MotoLara blog.
In this MotoLara video, the duo take on the Oregon Back Country Discovery Route. The OBCDR is the longest trail system in Oregon with over 1,500 miles to explore. The route includes snow-capped peaks, sand dunes, high desert, clear blue water streams and breath taking vistas throughout.
While there isn’t anything in the video you couldn’t do on a big bike, the ease in which the WR250Rs handle technical terrain demonstrates some of the key advantages of adventure touring on smaller Dual Sport motorcycles.
The ease in which the pair are able to free the lightweight WR250R from the mud, the effortless little jaunt in the sand dunes and squeezing through the gap in the fallen trees are just some of the ways smaller bikes offer advantages on the trail. Picking up the bike is also a breeze. This allows you to conserve energy and you are able to explore new trails with less fear of getting stuck when the track gets technical.
While some may dismiss a 250cc for long-distance adventure touring, the WR250Rs seems to have no problem carrying all of the MotoLara gear on their extended trip. The WR250R has been known to surprise people with how well it handles long stretches on the highway as well. With fuel and repair costs being much cheaper, small bikes are also a more economical way to travel.
Big Bikes have their advantages, but the vast trail system of the OBCDR is ideal terrain for a small bike adventure. No doubt, this MotoLara video will inspire more riders to consider exploring the world on smaller adventure bikes.
For more information on MotoLara, check out their blog at www.motolara.com.
Author: Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.
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I own all parts of the spectrum in dual sports. From 1190R ticking the big box, a 690 the middle and my WRR the small street duty with the street legal dirt bikes 500 EXC and Husaberg 570S also to cover any ride condition. All are modded out to hilt. If I had to live with only one it would be the WRR. An uncorked WRR is a different animal than a stock one. The power is up high so the better it breaths… After 8 years with it I have become comfortable rapping 10k rpm when you need it. Durability… threw a master link once and had to leave it beside the road. Thief stole it and had it for four months a couple years ago. Thief put his sportbike plate on it so a Trooper’s plate recognition busted him. Got the bike back. Replaced the ignition lock and noted the new scratches from him yarding it into his pickup. Figure well looks okay but I will change the oil.
It will run 90 mph still and all I have ever done with the engine in 28k miles is change the oil. It is still on its original spark plug and it shifts better now than any of my other bikes. I have put 700 mile days in at 75 mph.
No bottom grunt off road but you adapt with clutch skills like the 125 days.
Wow. 700 mile days are hard enough on a 1200cc. The fact that you did it on a 250cc is impressive. Hats off! And this is just more evidence that the WR250R can be used for pounding the pavement when necessary. Thanks for sharing and glad to hear you got your bike back!
One of those mods is a seat and large tank. At 75 mph and bags I get about 45 mpg with my tune. I think I could get better mileage if I went leaner but I am not going to change after its history of dependable performance. I have a destination that is 700 miles away that I make in a hard day being inspired to get there etc… Do not mean to imply it would be my choice for back to back long days.
You’re about where I’m headed…or at least want to be headed as funds allow! LOL
I currently have an 1190R that I absolutely love, but it is a BIG bike for the tight stuff. My wife and I have matching Honda Groms for our back road play bikes and I’ve absolutely feel in love with the darn things. They’re so fun and easy to ride. I’ve read a quote somewhere, “it’s more fun to ride slow bikes fast as opposed to fast bikes slow”, and I’m finding out how true that it. Half the time I ride the 1190, I’m having to hold back because of rules/speed limits, etc. On the Groms it is full bore every where you go and you can’t help but laugh.
But where I was going with this is, comparing your 690 enduro to the WR250R…
The 690 is only 10b or so heavier, but double the power. It has suspension and brakes that are up to par. The bike wouldn’t require “uncorking” or many upgrades other than slapping my Great Basin over the back and taking off. Yes, it is $3000 more when comparing them new. But if I started with a WRR and added an exhaust, programmer, intake of some sort, and then suspension….I’m making up the $3000 pretty fast. So, if you don’t mind me asking, why would you choose the WRR over the 690? I want to pick up enduros for the wife and I in the next year or two and I keep going back and forth on what size/model to get because I doubt that I’ll end up with both like you have done! LOL
I appreciate any feedback!
Dave
Hi, just pure dependability but it would be the closest call. Lower maintenance, mileage etc… The statement that if I only had to have one bike I hope never applies to me in practice! It was really just a intellectual exercise and in fact not really a choice I have to make!
Ha-ha Understood! Thanks Unimog
Hey! I’ve never ridden the WRR but I lust after it anyway. Beautiful bike. I have one question though: the low end power. Doesn’t that become an issue in the rough stuff? I don’t really understand why they geared/mapped the bike this way, given its intended purpose. I’m a torque addict and, in a bike of this sort, it puzzles me that they’d go for a high end, revvy power band rather than something more similar to the Honda CRF250L, for example. It did put me off buying the bike to be honest, as I ride mostly urban and dirt.
I’d love to have one of the WRR’s but my legs are way too short. I’m looking to pick up a used XT250 for the EFI and thus better mpg than my previous KLX250S or even my TW200 (which may be getting sold). My DR650 rocks though… simplicity throughout and has 34k miles on it and never misses a beat. But it lacks ground clearance due to lowering it 2-1/2 inches and is a bit heavy on the tighter stuff.
Hey Rob. That XT250 might be the ticket for you. Low seat height, EFI, good ground clearance and a decent sized tank from the factory. All for $1,500 less than the WRR too. But you do give up some performance and a 6th gear.
Check out the CRF250L too. Mine has never let me down under heavy abuse. Good enough road manners and all the modern niceties. EFI, 6 speeds, full instruments, etc. It’s no single track bullet, but as a lightweight adventure bike it certainly has done me good.
How tall are ya? We’re 5’4” and 5’9”. We lowered one of our WRRs 1 inch (Yamalink) and then shaved off the seat’s foam on both bikes to lower it 1.5 to 2 inches extra. Problem solved! 😉
My WRR is lowered 1″ with custom springs not a link. More $$ but better way to go IMHO. I ride all my taller bikes but lowered this one because the other taller bikes I do not ride in places where I have get a leg over a loaded rear bag etc on single track etc. Handles great on road too.
I’m also 5’9″ and was wondering what you had done to manage what is a tall bike for me. Just looked at your website and was hoping to see what other mods you made to the bikes. Can I find that anywhere?
Sorry, we haven’t documented what we did to lower our WRRs but the solutions are simple: shave off foam from the seat. very cost effective = free and you can lower it as much as you need without sacrificing ground clearance. Another way is to get a lower kit (Yamalink) for the rear suspension. Hope this helps. Cheers
Hey! Thanks ADVPulse for the organic shout out 😀 Glad you liked our ORDBR video.
We really enjoy travelling on our Little Devils (WRRs) ..they are just SO MUCH FUN!. We also have two big adventure bikes, so we kind of know the difference 😉
The WRRs allow us to focus and spend our energy on the ride itself: new places, cool scenery, challenging and engaging road conditions, etc. With our bigger (and much heavier) adv bikes the ride becomes more about handling and managing ‘the bike’… which is rewarding to a certain degree… but then you are exhausted to really enjoy the other aspects of the ride.
Then again, it’s a personal choice. We prefer small & nimble vs big & heavy, for the type of riding we enjoy doing 🙂
Just an observation: At one point we rode on sand dunes with fully-loaded WRRs (the same load/packing we would have on our bigger bikes) and there is no way we could have ridden on sand dunes with fully loaded bigger adv bikes! Maybe our riding skills are not that developed… but maybe there’s a point at which weight & size matters regardless of skill level…
Cheers!
Great piece! You don’t need big bikes for big adventure!
that’s exactly right! check out our Peru ride for more proof 😉 http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/peru-unfinished-business-two-200cc-chinese-motos.1067726/
Thanks for sharing. I’d like to do something similar soon.
Very interesting article and great photos, also. I do all my travels here in Europe with my KLX250, tent and sleeping bag and I love the reliability and the nimble handling of my bike. Even a tour up to the north cape was not too much for it.
I like to see more topics on 250cc dual sport bikes.
I’m surprised they pack such a large tent riding small bikes.
Lighter = funner! Naomi and Alberto ride with Giant Loop’s Great Basin Saddlebag and Fandango Pro Tank Bag. They did a longer trip in Peru on even smaller 200cc Keeway dual sports. Go light. Go fast. Go far.
Great work guys!! Love all of the media you put out. Making media while trying to ride is a challenging thing. I appreciate your discipline and your willingness to share. Ride on and ride safe out there!