125-200cc WR125 - is gearbox truly WR? Are they one kick machines?

[Norman Foley]

'02 WR125 was first year with CR tranny. Trail Rider Mag test, said the CR tranny was much better suited, to keeping the 125 in the power. I had an '02 WR125 and then an '09 WR125, that got 144 and then 165 kits. I always ran 13/52 on 125 and 144 and then ran 14/52 on the 165, as I could hardly keep the front wheel on the ground in first. I never felt in any displacement, that the first wasn't low enough to tractor around technical stuff.

 

[troy deck]

i here 12/52 makes the cr a tree climber thats 4.33:1 it will cost you some top speed

 

[woodsrider]

Yes, that about summed it up on the yz125. Tiny bike with razor thin power range. Would you say your WR125 feels larger then? I would venture the power range is actually useful unlike the yz125s we've ridden?

I like seeing sirloynz posts over on ADV. He looks like a great rider.keeping motion forward at reiter was difficult sometimes.

Yes, my WR feels much larger in the cockpit/ergos, and a definitely has a much wider powerband then the YZ.

And I hate to oversell the WR125, but the powerband is night and day better then what I remember of Lorne's (sirloynz) stock YZ125. Keep in mind the WR has a relatively heavy lighting coil/flywheel (good for chugging along), the YZ does not. WR has 6 sp gear box, YZ has 5 sp. The WR is designed for enduro/trails, the YZ for motocross. So I think by design the WR is a better trail bike (stock bikes comparison, I know the YZ can be modded to be a pretty good trail bike).

When I installed my Lectron and lower geared sprockets it all came together. I'm planning on a 165 kit this winter and then I think I will have the ultimate single track bike for me. Plus I got a plate for my WR. Yeah me!

Lastly, I guess I should add, I'm no expert rider or bike expert by any means, so take it for what its worth, coming from an old out of shape trail rider.

And yes, Lorne posts some great ride reports, he knows a ton of great riding spots and knows lots of really good riders. Great guy. Here is a pic of him in Hawaii from a while back.

 

[troy deck]

big time suckage if you fell off that

 

[PC.]

I sold my wr300 after getting a 125. Nothing wrong with the 300, but I learned a 165cc smoker is far more effective in the tight stuff for me. And I'm not nearly as tired at the end of the day.

I'm gonna sell my 09' w/ (almost) new OEM 144cc top end soon. You should ride it..... and then buy it

 

[fletchman45]

Get one with the 144 kit. At I think 46 years old I was faster then ever non a 144 husky (2011 I think) got 12th overall at one enduro and a 13th overall at another. Once I rode the 144 I parked my 125 (09) lots more torque my buddy did the 165 kit and then the 177 kit(spendy) he likes it. He runs a rekluse auto. I hate it as I'm old school and love abusing a clutch.... I ran 12 to a 50 gearing. Good for woods but a KTM 150 got me on a long straight. Awesome forgiving chassis. But other buddy had a 06 or so yz 125 with the 155 Eric gore kit I believe. Stock suspension felt better then my revalved husky stuff. Engine very similar. Either one of those bikes I could ride fast. The husky on the tall side. One of the most bullet proof 125 engines ever made. Just ask Fred hoses. Like someone else said cheap enough you buy it right you won't lose much!

 

[shrubitup]

i here 12/52 makes the cr a tree climber thats 4.33:1 it will cost you some top speed

We don't get much top speed out here on these user built trails, lol

View: http://youtu.be/H25iVEQEMvI

 

[bulto]

Watch out for those tree stumps! Looks like some cool riding.

 

[DTX915]

I don't see how you can compare a wr125 to a xt225 or a tw200 . Air cooled play bikes with no real suspension, not good choices. My wr144 has done it all over the last two years and its not the trans raito that gives me problems, more like spare parts. You can change the power valve to your suit and add a Lectron if you want smother power.

 

[shrubitup]

I don't see how you can compare a wr125 to a xt225 or a tw200 . Air cooled play bikes with no real suspension, not good choices. My wr144 has done it all over the last two years and its not the trans raito that gives me problems, more like spare parts. You can change the power valve to your suit and add a Lectron if you want smother power.

Was considering those bikes for a purpose-specific type terrain (seen in video) where slow is king. My 300s power is great - no complaints. Wished it had a slower first gear hence original question on WR125. Prolly just gonna get a Rekluse or fit up a 00 and older WR250 transmission (actual wide ratio with low first gear).

 

[woodsrider]

Yep. Looking at your video, its hard to tell, but it looks like a fair bit of up and down besides the tight tangle?

That looks like prime Rekluse territory regardless of what bike you're riding. I would think a 300 with Rekluse would be just the ticket out there.

My '02 YZ250 smoker had the older style Rekluse (no clutch lever) and it was amazing in the gnar, I could plonk along all day in stuff like that.

Edit: the YZ could plonk along all day, I wouldn't last too long.

 

[Miezie666]

I ve got a 2005 YZ 125, i use it mainly for MX- but sometimes for Enduro.
Its far better in quality, i would say it would benefit from a heavier flywheel and oversized petrol tank a taller seat.

 

[wallybean]

If I was going to change trannies in the 300, I would just source a 6 speed bottom end and convert. Just a perfectly spaced tranny with the low first for really tight stuff and 85+ mph top end that allows you to cruise fairly comfortably at 65 connecting trails. They will be similar to find as there were far more 6 speed convertible bikes if generally older than the true WR 5 speed 250's.

As far as the 01 and earlier 125 6 speed goes 1st gear is ~1 tooth on the CS sprocket lower than the 02 and later trannies. 6th is the same and the rest of the gears are evenly spaced in between with a bit of a jump from 5th to 6th. Perfect tranny for the 165/177. If you are going to change trannies take advantage of having the cases split to replace bottom end bearings, all seals and gaskets, and rebuild your crank. For a few more sheckles you can build the stroker 177 and have the ultimate woods weapon squared. Un-stallable torque, ultra smooth power with significant top end pizazz.

OBTW, Bill's will have a WR 6 speed out of an 01 125 up for sale pretty quickly. Worth a call if you are looking for that tranny. Ask for Bill or Bryon.

 

[wallybean]

As far as starting goes, my Lectron equipped 165/177's are 1 kick starters hot always unless I forget I left it in gear and gave it the half assed kick it takes in neutral to start. It then always starts the second kick in gear when I give it a proper stab. When starting cold(above 32* F) they start first kick with choke on and two slow, gentle primer kicks, find top dead center and give it a good stab. If it is much below freezing is the same routine but takes 2-4 kicks.

 

[DTX915]

Forgot about the one kick question. We start dead engine and only once did I let the clutch out to discover the motor not running. Wondering what the look on my face was.

 

[shrubitup]

If I was going to change trannies in the 300, I would just source a 6 speed bottom end and convert. Just a perfectly spaced tranny with the low first for really tight stuff and 85+ mph top end that allows you to cruise fairly comfortably at 65 connecting trails. They will be similar to find as there were far more 6 speed convertible bikes if generally older than the true WR 5 speed 250's.

As far as the 01 and earlier 125 6 speed goes 1st gear is ~1 tooth on the CS sprocket lower than the 02 and later trannies. 6th is the same and the rest of the gears are evenly spaced in between with a bit of a jump from 5th to 6th. Perfect tranny for the 165/177. If you are going to change trannies take advantage of having the cases split to replace bottom end bearings, all seals and gaskets, and rebuild your crank. For a few more sheckles you can build the stroker 177 and have the ultimate woods weapon squared. Un-stallable torque, ultra smooth power with significant top end pizazz.

OBTW, Bill's will have a WR 6 speed out of an 01 125 up for sale pretty quickly. Worth a call if you are looking for that tranny. Ask for Bill or Bryon.

Thanks for your input. What years/models should I be looking for on the WR300 W.R. conversion?

 

[wallybean]

You are looking for 91-98 250's and 91-02 360's. Ideally you want a 94-98 250 or a 94-02 360 because you will definitely get the right tranny. I have forgotten exactly which models had different trannies in the 92-93 models but you need to make sure you are getting a 6 speed as there were some 5 speed cr trannies in there somewhere. The 91 and probably the 90 models had a slightly closer ratio 6 speed, still works and is an improvement over your current tranny by far but not quite as good as the later 6 speed. I have posted the exact trannies somewhere in the past but I am not in a place that makes looking them up easy.

 

[troy deck]

I HERD YOU HAVE SO WEIRD CUSTOM TRANS IN YOUR 165 WHAT UP WITH THAT? YOU HAVIN ANY LUCK ON THAT LONG ROD DEAL WE TALKED ABOUT? OH AND THE TURBO CRANK

 

[justintendo]

i noticed the 91 tranny versus the 95 was a bit tighter.

 

[wallybean]

Troy custom rods are going to be very spendy and I don't like the idea of going to the smaller big end pin/bearing that the KTM uses. I would need to have at least four riders that wanted to go this route to make it worth while. The crank is less of an issue by far. I hate to say it but I have kind of tabled the idea until I have more interest or disposable income to throw into the project.

I have just installed the older 6 speed in both my bikes. Really like the larger spread. Allows me to run fairly tall gearing and still have a low first gear for crawling up the sides of brick buildings/Moab rocks. It is still a small bore tranny so you will be wishing for a 7th gear if you do any long connecting on fast fire roads/pavement. I had to do 8+ miles of hi-way connecting some trails the other day and it was brutal really having to buzz it to keep up with traffic or pull off and let them all by.