Riding off-road arguably provides the most smiles for miles when it comes to experiences on two wheels. So, when Yamaha invited us along to the launch of their 2022 Yamaha WR250F enduro machine at Rogers Hill Raceway in Dorset, we couldn’t wait to take it for a spin.
Yamaha has always been at the forefront of four-stroke off-road competition machines. When the YZ250F motocrosser was launched in 2001 it provided a torquier alternative to the traditional 125cc two-strokes and became a world championship-winning machine within a few years. Launched at the same time, the WR enduro variant has been equally successful, being updated yearly to evolve into the machine we have today, some 21 years on.
Dorset's Rogers Hill Raceway was the perfect place to put the new WR250F to the test, too. The complex includes multiple enduro tracks with varying surfaces and obstacles, as well as two full motocross tracks and two smaller beginner tracks so we could give the bike a proper workout.
Unlike motocrossers, enduro bikes have to be road legal. That means that they are heavier (thanks to equipment like lights and a side stand), with taller gearing and a more softly tuned engine, as they have to meet stricter noise and exhaust emissions laws, so I was particularly interested to see how the bike coped on the motocross track. It’s on the track where the limitations are highlighted, with their softer nature not quite up to the task of constant big jumps and the need for a more aggressive power delivery, more mid-range and top-end performance somewhat lacking.
I was particularly keen to try out the 2022 WR250F as I own an early model. I’ve always found that it is more than capable on the trails and enduro tracks, where the low-down grunt allows you to just tractor along with good poise and feel. But when taking it to my local MX track, it feels docile and can’t keep up with the pure motocross machines.
But that’s changed with the latest version. The lines between Yamaha’s Grand Prix winning YZ250F motocross weapon and the 2022 WR250F are blurring quite a bit, and that’s thanks to a host of updates that have made the bike better at both enduro, and on the motocross track.
Firstly, the latest WR250F comes with a more powerful, higher-tech engine that’s been developed from its motocross sibling. The lacking mid-range and top-end have been addressed with a YZ250F-type cylinder head with a wider intake port, new exhaust camshaft and enduro-specific ECU settings, giving the new motor a much stronger mid-to-top end performance, while maintaining the low-down torque from the 250cc single-cylinder four-stroke.
Two engine maps enable you to control how the power from the new motor is delivered, too, with mode two providing a softer, more gentle delivery which was excellent when riding the more technical parts of Rogers Hill Raceway. It made the bike feel more in control and compliant when tackling tight, low grip parts of the enduro loop in particular.
Mode one, on the other hand, made the bike feel totally alive, willing you to take it through the rev range and shift up its six-speed wide ratio gearbox (indeed the ‘WR’ in the name stands for Wide Ratio) showing off its improved mid- and top-end go. Mode one came into its own on Rogers Hill’s undulating motocross circuit, making it feel right at home, whereas before it’s been a little bit of a stranger.
The WR250F’s two engine maps worked well straight out the crate, but you can fine-tune each mode further should you want to through Yamaha’s Power Tuner App. By wirelessly connecting your smartphone to the bike, the system allows you to create your own fuel injection and ignition timing settings to suit varying track and weather conditions.
Now, just the thought of adjusting fuel injection and ignition timing settings is enough to give most people nightmares, but the ease at which you can do it through the Power Tuner App is seriously impressive. You can also share race logs, engine diagnostics and monitor real-time performance, which makes it a powerful weapon in any rider’s armoury, and fine-tuning the 2022 WR250F is the easiest in the category.
The updated motor appears inside an aluminium beam frame that’s also derived from the YZ250F, albeit with Yamaha working hard to tune the balance and rigidity to aid feel and feedback when taking on the technical stuff. Front braking gets an upgrade too, in the form of a YZ250F-type compact calliper with large diameter pistons and high friction pads gripping a new 270mm front disc. The feeling from the front under braking, even on the sticky low grip stubble field, was excellent.
Handling has always been a strong point of previous generation WR250Fs, and the 2022 model maintains that reputation. The KYB 43mm coil spring front forks were the stars of the show for me, with their speed-sensitive damping system and specific enduro valving making unfeasibly light work of the relentless trail obstacles it encountered throughout the day. Coupled with the lightweight rear shock, it really is a sweet handling machine.
But it’s not just the individual merit of each component like the updated motor, new frame, or the brilliant suspension that makes the WR250F such a complete package, it’s the way it all fits together. The boffins at Yamaha have centralised the mass of the bike thanks to the reversed cylinder head, rearward-slanted cylinder and the wrap-around exhaust header pipe which has helped make it so agile, so precise and so easy to ride all at the same time.
Conclusion
After a day riding the WR250F – from the enduro loop to trails, to a fully blown motocross track – it was clear to see just how capable the bike is in every setting. We even got to watch Yamaha British Enduro rider Charlie Chater nailing it around, demonstrating just how far you can push the new model. But the great thing was, even at a much steadier pace, it made you feel like a proper rider. And that’s the brilliant thing about it.
You really do get the versatility of an enduro bike with motocross bike performance with the 2022 Yamaha WR250F. And considering its unrivalled level of customisation in the category and at £7,799, cheaper than the equivalent Honda and KTM, it really is the perfect all-rounder – whether you’re a novice greenlaner, or a pro enduro rider.
