250-500cc many 2009-2010 wr300 questions

[motosapiens]

I'm in the due diligence phase of possibly picking up a new motersickle. I have ridden a 2007 wr250 and LOVED it (except the kickstarter). The bike I rode was fully stock, and it fit me perfectly (i'm 6'2") and the stock suspension was quite a bit better than my pre-revalve 2008 ktm. steering and cornering was very confidence inspiring. With that in mind:

1. suspension. The 2009's come with shivers and the 2010's come with kayaba's. Any significant diffs in the shocks?

Some people don't care for the zokes and some seem to really like them after a few hours of break-in. The 09-10 ktm xcw's seem really really good right out of the box to me. Are the shivers going to be better/worse/similar to stock WP stuff?

2. Gearing. is gearbox more like an mx ratio? or more like the semi-close ratio ktm xc gearboxes? I personally find the xcw-style wide ratios to be too wide for my taste, and the mx ones a bit narrow, but tolerable if you're willing to swap front sprockets to go between woods riding and desert racing.

3. linkage and swingarm bearings I don't know if i'm spoiled with ktm, or if i just never ride in slop, but i'm used to pulling apart the swingarm after 400 hrs and still having nice clean grease in there. Even my kx250 is up to 200 hrs with just an initial greasing, although it does have a smidge of slop in it now, so i just ordered replacement linkage and shock bearings. Is the husky similar to a japanese bike in terms of linkage and swingarm maintenance requirements? or worse?

4. Fuel mileage/range. I ride like a pansy I guess, so i easily get 90 or more miles out of a 3-gallon tank on a ktm 200. My kx250 seems to give similar mileage under non-race conditions. Do you guys find that the husky 2strokes are similar to other 2strokes you've ridden in terms of fuel mileage? I know this has alot to do with individual riding style, so i'm not really concerned with hard numbers, but just with rough comparisons to other bikes that you've ridden similarly.

5. Motor/tranny durability. Again, perhaps I'm spoiled, or perhaps i ride like a pansy, but i've yet to have to look at a bottom end or transmission on a ktm, even after 1000-ish hrs (02 300), 600 hrs (08 200), or 500-ish hrs (04 250). Do you guys find the husky motors hold up as well as the competition?


Thanks for the help.

 

[PC.]

Hey Llama!

1) I have an 09' 300 and I dig the suspension. I'm 210# and the stock Zokes are far and away better off road forks than my 06' YZ250 with SSS forks or my 06' KX250 w/ AOSS forks. The forks on the 2010 are previous generation to either of the forks I've listed above. Not saying they're bad, but they are old and outdated tech. I do not consider this a positive.

2) Its more like a semi close. It's gapped further (at least 3-5) than either of my other MX bikes. I hit 70mph with my bone stock 5hr-old WR300. I'd be lucky to hit 60mph with the Kawi.

3) Only the dogbone bearings are sealed. The majority of mine were rusted at 60hrs, especially the lower shock bearing, which I've since ordered a Synergy polymer bushing. I do ride all winter and it's awfully wet here, so take it for what its worth, but unsealed bearings are doomed in this climate.

4) I did 70 miles at Gifford with my bone stock 2.5gal tank. I hit reserve right at the 70 mile mark. This was with the stock exhaust and stock carb. I've since swapped those for a PC pipe/silencer and a 38mm PWK, but I haven't tested with those yet.

5) I wouldn't even worry about this. All my buddies WR's seem to last into the decade time-frame. They usually change pistons just cause they feel like they should rather than out of necessity. I've never met anyone who needed bottom end work yet due to anything except user error.

I know you're on the fence as I once was. I pulled the trigger and have been extremely satisfied. I am not pleased about the non sealed linkage/swnigy bearings, but I hear the replacement bearings I ordered from Moose will be sealed, so hopefully that issue will be resolved.

Other than that the bike is rock solid, handles great, suspends great and flat hauls. It's not aggressive like a KX or YZ, but it will haul the mail and do it in style. The brakes, trans and clutch feel are beyond anything Japan has ever produced. The handling is spot on for a 300cc enduro and the weight is a non factor. They did a great job using an outdated motor and frame

I bought my bike cause I rode an 06' WR250 and fell in lust with it. The 300 feels different even though its basically the same bike minus the jug & pipe. It's not as rev happy as the 250 and the power delivery makes it feel a little lethargic, which is a good thing in the trails. I'm way faster on the WR than either the Yami or Kawi in the tight stuff. It takes far less effort and I can get a little 'sloppy' without the penalty of stalling or looping out. I really dig it. Even with the minor complaints I continually bitch about.

 

[krieg]

I've owned an '09 WR 300 and I think people who bash the Zokes consist of two types:

1. Extremely advanced riders who can't tolerate the harsh break-in period. OR...
2. The bandwagon jumpers who read the bad press and really don't know any better.

The bikes I've owned with Zokes took about 5 hours to break in. I now own a 2010 TC 250 with KYB's and I'm still trying to figure out what all the hoopla is about KYB's over Zokes. Maybe I'm too old, fat, and unskilled to "get it"... but I find myself yearning for the WR 300's forks in tough terrain (rocks, ruts and roots) over the KYB's.

 

[Bradass80]

I agree with everything said so far, I've got an 08 WR250 with the 45mm Shivers and I really like them, yours would have the 50mm and they're supposed to be even better. There's a ride we do here in CO that's right at 80 miles from the truck and back that's 60 miles of singletrack and the rest being 4wd roads and I can do it without hitting reserve and my buddy on an 08 300XC needs to bring extra gas, just a comparison for you. Some people say the WRs tend to guzzle gas, but I've found the opposite to be true. I did alot of research before buying my WR, I'd never owned a Husky before, and everything I had read was positive and turned out to be true. I think you'll be really happy if you end up getting one. Brad.

 

[boisedave]

Llama/velo/moto -- Three sites, three different handles...

You Husky guys need to help Moto make up his mind so he will buy one.

That way I can let him get all the bugs worked out and try it out myself.

 

[Camelguy]

Please give me some idea how the throttle/motor behaves as you twist it. For instance in first and second gear in a junky rocky trail climbing up a singletrack.I have a KTM 200 now and it carbs/lugs like it has auto clutch. I am on the fence on a 300,but am not able to talk to any one who has one. Thanks Camelguy

I am also 5'8 is this bike tall, and 170 pounds.

 

[utopia]

I've been lurking here alot lately and thinking about trying a Husky. I have had alot of the same questions. Keep the input coming.

I have an '07 KTM 250 XC-W and have been thinking alot about the '09 or '10 WR250 vs. a '10 250 XC. Looks like the '09 can be found for about $1000 less than the '10 WR.

 

[krieg]

Please give me some idea how the throttle/motor behaves as you twist it. For instance in first and second gear in a junky rocky trail climbing up a singletrack.I have a KTM 200 now and it carbs/lugs like it has auto clutch. I am on the fence on a 300,but am not able to talk to any one who has one. Thanks Camelguy

I am also 5'8 is this bike tall, and 170 pounds.

My WR 300 lugged like a tank. It was impossible to stall. Sometimes I could swear I could count piston strokes before I eventually pulled in the clutch to save a stall. Lugging and unlimited power on hills are the two things I miss the most about my former WR 300. I'm on a Husky TC 250 now and find myself missing the 300's favorable attributes (Low end lugging and unlimited open trail, fire road power). It was a great bike and I miss it.

It is a tall bike. I'm 5' 9.5" and stood on the tips of my big toes with sag adjusted to specs. I lowered the sag a bit.

 

[Flyin]

1) I can't comment on the new forks I have an '09. I like the zokes they loosened up nicely since breaking in. Add bleeders though.

2) I feel the transmission ratios are a bit too close for the power spread of the motor. I have gone up to a 14t front and like it better.

3,4,5) I'm still new to this bike I haven't been into the linkage or the bottom end. Gas mileage is better than my old RM's

I'm 5'8" 165 pounds
Yes the bike is a little tall.

Once jetted, the stock motor will lug and pull very hard all the way to the top. Very controllable, at all rpms.
The motor is only a head mod away from MX type power
This can get you in trouble if you don't have good throttle controll.

Snotty singletrack hills are best done in 2nd or 3rd, go in lugging with a little throttle and just maintain speed you will be suprised at what the motor can do, it makes traction

 

[KAS]

2. Gearing. is gearbox more like an mx ratio? or more like the semi-close ratio ktm xc gearboxes? I personally find the xcw-style wide ratios to be too wide for my taste, and the mx ones a bit narrow, but tolerable if you're willing to swap front sprockets to go between woods riding and desert racing.

That's also one of my bigger concerns for the WR versus a KTM XC. Having owned both a wide-ratio (KTM 300 E/XC) and a close-ratio (YZ250), I'd have to say I like closer spaced gear ratios better.

 

[Rusty 2]

Hey motosapiens, does this mean anything to you?:

"The off-road experience for the sentient being"

 

[motosapiens]

Hey motosapiens, does this mean anything to you?:

"The off-road experience for the sentient being"

no spik inglis


thanks for all the great input. still desiring more on the linkage maintenance tho. Better, worse, or similar compared to japanese bikes like my kx250?

 

[Rusty 2]

You're a trip man. I always enjoyed your brand of wit over on the "orange pages". Really glad you're here,...I'm a big fan.

Seriously get you a WR300, you'll freakin' love it,...I do.

Think of it as the 300XCW's brutish and stronger neanderthal cousin.
Less refined and evolved, but a knuckle dragging beast.

There's at least two zerks on the linkage that you can hit. The swingarm is just like any other one,...needs to be greased now and then. And there's that Synergy bushing for the lower shock pivot.
I've not had any issues with mine yet, but I use that red synthetic marine grade grease like for boat trailer wheel bearings,...and I don't really play in the creek all that much either.
A good once a year winter tear down is all my bikes get.

 

[husky300]

300

Motosapiens

I Live in Mtn Home and have a 09, 300. I got hurt about two weeks after getting it, and have about 4-5 hours on it. This is my second Husky the first was a 2004 tc450. But even with my limited time on the bike I can tell you I love it. I occasionally race SIDRA Vet “B”.

In the Owyhee desert it is very good. Better than my 450 at taking the woops but not as stable in the sand washes at speed. Up in the Danskin’s I absolutely love that bike, love it! Reliability has not been a factor, even with my 450.
We are also blessed with, in my opinion a great dealer at Moto Tec the owner and the staff go way out of there way to help. 95% of my riding buddies ride orange and when they ride it, they all comment on how they want one and don’t like giving it back.

 

[motosapiens]

You're a trip man. I always enjoyed your brand of wit over on the "orange pages".

Thanks. I know not everyone gets the joke or thinks it's funny , so out of respect for this site's owner and the mature level of discourse here, I'm going to try to keep my sarcasm reined in, or else qualified with lots of smileys.

Husky riders have always seemed like a friendly and passionate lot.

Honestly, if loyal had a 2009 on the floor right now, i'd probably just go buy it. having to wait a week or so is keeping my impulsiveness under control. We're going to go do a little race-speed testing on the kx250 today and see if we can my bike and tresa's bike both set up a little better for the next round of the national hare and hound.

 

[Camelguy]

Why are guys dissapointed with the Mikuni carb and what is the problem setting it up? Also is JD making a needle that is able to help? And lastly is the rear suspension linkage able to be change up in a effort to lower the bike, I am worried about the bike being to tall,has any body out there lowered the bike a inch.
I really want to buy a Husky and am trying to understand some setup issues before i own one. Thanks Camelguy

 

[motosapiens]

Why are guys dissapointed with the Mikuni carb and what is the problem setting it up? Also is JD making a needle that is able to help? And lastly is the rear suspension linkage able to be change up in a effort to lower the bike, I am worried about the bike being to tall,has any body out there lowered the bike a inch.

I'm not sure why people have a problem with the carb. maybe just because it's 'different' than the pwk that everyone is used to lately. I've only ridden the bike 20 mins or so, but the jetting seems pretty close already. it's certainly no worse than my ktm 300 or 250sx. It's 100x better than my kx250. I only just in the last few weeks hit upon the right needle combo that makes that bike really work (start well, not ping, run cleanly and with power) and I've got over 200 hrs on it.

If you want the bike to be lower, i would recommend having a suspension guy lower it properly rather than use a lowering link. I've yet to meet anyone who was happy with lowering links for anything even resembling serious riding. It's tall, but so are the competition. it looks only barely taller than my kx, and about an inch shorter than my ktm 200 with tall seat. My fiancee has 2 ktm's that have been lowered 1" and 1.5" respectively (by limiting the travel of both ends of the suspension internally), and she is much faster lowered than at the stock height (she's 5'3"). Her bikes actually corner faster and better now with a slightly lower cg.

 

[Camelguy]

Thanks for the great feedback motosapiens,very helpfull.

Camelguy

 

[Johnnymannen]

Thanks for the great feedback motosapiens,very helpfull.

Camelguy

Hi! I cut my seat 1 inch. Perfect for me. I´m 5´8"