Can Yamaha XT250 handle Highway? I went on a 500 km ride to find out...
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- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- I took my Yamaha XT250 on a 500km ~300miles trip to see how it could handle highways. At least a few hours were covered at about 110kmh ~68mph - and Yamaha did super well! Much better than I had expected from a 250cc bike.
9 hours. 500km - Yamaha XT250 was very good!
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Welcome to the small-bore lifestyle! I'm a lifelong motorcyclist with 38+ years and 2M+ miles of riding (and racing) experience, and I have owned 120+ motorcycles. I started gravitating toward smaller bikes about 10 years ago, and that allowed me to rediscover the joy of riding simple, lightweight motorcycles again.
I have a 2008 Yamaha XT250 that has seen dozens of long-distance road trips (1500+ miles). The XT250 can easily go where bigger adventure bikes can't due to their heavier weight and lack of maneuverability. The XT is also much easier to pick up than bigger bikes when it goes down, and it's much less likely to break parts (of its own or the rider) because of its light weight. Cheers! 😉👍 ‐‐QM
I wish I could like this comment twice! That's exactly what happened to me. When I ride a small lightweight bike - the bike itself almost disappears from the picture - it's just me, the nature and the ultimate sense of freedom and adventure. I don't have to think about traction controls or any electronics or the weight. Pure fun! Thank you for the comment. Cheers!👍
Well taken. I cannot understand why on an adventure, I would want a bike that I cannot pick up when it falls !
I'M 64 years old and still riding my 1973 Honda sl250 motosport . It has no trouble doing 80 mph down the highway. Cruises at 60 mph @ 6000 rpm purring like a kitten. Light weight in lower gears it will get you through any trail. I love it.
What a coincidence - I actually know this bike really well! My brother in law owns one. It's great! And looks beautiful (my brother's bike is yellow with black seat - so nice). Light, agile, fast and low seat height. Great bike! Thank you for the comment. Ride safely!
I love your bias towards the XT250, you’re giving me all the insights I need.
Thank you for your comment! Good to see you again. Yes, I love XT250 and I can openly share what I really think about motorcycles and riding. I wish I looked into smaller bikes years ago - they are so much fun! And I hope my videos would encourage others to at least giving it a try. I'll be posting more videos soon
XT250 is a goat
I've mostly had bigger bikes, the little XT seems like a gem to me because you can easily maintain it yourself. I would bet on one firing up for many years. I think it would be a great cottage bike. Its light enough for a trailer hitch mount on a truck or RV but you can plate it and go wherever you want.
Exactly! And it's ultra reliable. Even not having radiator - gives you less potential points of failure. I started on it without much of dirt riding experience - and it made the toughest of the trails feel easy. For what it's worth: it also made me much safer road rider. Sand or gravel in the fast corner on a paved road - I now know how to handle it!
Thank you for the excellent video and information. Ride safe, stay well, and enjoy the ride.
Thank you for the comment! I'm glad you liked the video!
This great, exactly the kind of first hand experience I've been looking for
Thank you for the comment! Our expectations matter. I wanted to check for myself what it can do on a highway. I was prepared for a painful experience, but I had to have an answer: if I must go for several hours on highway, what should I expect from XT250? The answer is: "You'll be fine. It will take you there - no problem!"
This is my second year with an XT250. I mostly ride gravel roads in the Northern Adirondacks that look just like the one you showed. I have NEVER had a problem getting up and down hills with it. It's an amazing little mountain goat. I have never ridden on a freeway as we don't have any where I live. I highly recommend the XT!
Thank you for the comment! I fully agree. I was looking at that BMW and I couldn't believe what I saw - it was very different from the promo advertisement videos! And the guys who were trying to recover it weren't beginners - several were real pros. It was definitely the motorcycle issue, mostly traction control (was in wrong setting) and the weight.
On that easy gravel road I felt like a superman on my XT250 - I could turn on the spot, go up or down the road, go over the ditch into the forest, come back... Even the powerhouse KTM was a bit too heavy and too tall to turn around on the narrow road with the slope... And going into the forest trails would require high skills on KTM. On XT250 - some basic skills and you can go to places very few other bikes can! Good luck riding - Northern Adirondacks are beautiful!
Excellent! I know what I need to buy. Thank you for your work.
I'm glad you liked it! It's an excellent bike - I love it!
Thank you for watching and for the comment!
During the warmer weather I hardly drive my car. I love zipping around town on my 2015 XT250. I have done some camping on it and plan on doing more.
I plan to do some camping too this year. Want to test how my XT can handle the luggage. It's a great bike! Thank you for the comment
Another great video. We shall be waiting for your next adventure with that bike. Thank you.
Thank you for watching and the comment! I feel like there is a mini community here - so many great comments and amazing insights.
Thank you
@@SquareHelmet You're most welcome.
It’s a very underrated motorcycle. I have ridden my 2021 model 17,000 km over steep, rutted, rocky backcountry tracks, half the mileage being on sealed roads. I am happy running it at 90-95km all day. I carry a tent, sleeping bag, tools, clothing food everywhere and the bike never complains. Suits me perfectly at 68yo
That's exactly it! I don't really understand when people talk about highway, somehow they always imply that you have to stay in the left lane and pass everybody else (they call it "catch up with traffic"). Why?
Fine, it's one thing to do that in a car. But transfer that riding style to a motorcycle? Especially expect that from a 250cc bike? That's strange.
But as you said - going 90-95kmh - it's just perfect! And it this speed XT250 can definitely carry some luggage.
Thank you for the great comment! Riding at 68 is great - stay safe!
@SquareHelmet here in Brazil you can die because loaded trucks going very fast in highways, you need some horsepower to be able to get out , but most of the time it would be safe
Another good content, congrats
Thank you!
Enjoyed watching.👍
Thank you - I'm glad you liked it!
I had an XT250 back in the early 90's. It was one of the most fun i had on two wheels i think about getting another from time to time.
I wish I discovered it sooner... I spent years with big bikes and never had this much fun!
Thank you for showing your trip experience. Merci 🙏 beaucoup 👍
You are welcome! Je suis contente que tu aies aimé la vidéo !
Easter Townships are amazing and the rides there are beautiful, especially in autumn!
Merci
1981 rode to southern france from southern england with my girlfriend on a 250xt.....no problem....bike was a great ride, girl too actually
Nice one! Young age, south of England, South of France, a motorcycle, a girl, a road trip - man, what not to like here! XT250 was kicking ass back then and it still does! I still ride with my girl sometimes... the eldest son is already old enough to look after the younger two sons... So we can enjoy riding together... I always wanted to travel in Europe by a motorcycle. Maybe one day we will.
Thank you for the comment!
Smaller bikes means you can enjoy the scenery..totally agree with your video.
Exactly! I wish I had switched to smaller bikes sooner...
Thank you for watching and for the comment!
Great video. I can see a Yammy 250 in my future
It's a great bike. It can really do it all!
Great video. I just got one 2 months ago.
Thank you - glad you liked it!
Enjoy your XT250 - it's such a great bike!
I have been procrastinating about getting this bike I am definitely going to trade in my BMW 1200 GS for this bike. Thanks
I had big bikes, but I ride XT250 way more than any of them and I'm enjoying it way more. It doesn't mean it's the right choice for everybody in every situation, but it's definitely worth looking into. I wish I hadn't been looking down at "small beginner bikes" - I wish I tried a small dual sport bike sooner!
Mistake
Friendlier to your pocket😅
I rode an XT125 for years. I had no trouble on the highways, and was far faster off the road, on difficult terrain compared to a Kawasaki 200 and a Husqvarna 250. But, there are those that need more power, weight and options. And cost.
That's exactly my feelings! I was one of those wanting more power, weight and options. I now realize I was chasing the dream bike the way I imagined it based on commercials. The real bike that gave me what I dreamed about is XT250 (and Trail 125)!
Thank you for watching and for commenting!
Hello from Australia. My lady has one of these and we do a mix of road and trail riding. We have increased the size of the countershaft sprocket to 16T which we purchased from Amazon (it was for a Serow and came from Japan). We also fitted a long Delkavic muffler (which was quiet) so the bike breathed better and would handle the higher gearing. It easily maintains 100 to 110kmh while still being good on the trail. We recently had an upholsterer make the standard seat more bench like and thereby provide more space for legs. This has worked out great for her.
Hello from Canada!
Nice modifications! A more comfortable seat sounds like a nice addition. As for the bigger sprocket - if you have to go longer distances more often I think it's a great choice.
One thing I must mention regarding its highway behavior: I really feel much less vibrations than on some larger bikes. Even some 2 cylinder bikes vibrate more (I just came back from riding Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE, and around 5,500 rpm the vibrations is quite strong and annoying. I never felt this much vibration on Yamaha XT250 even when I go 110 kmh). Makes me like XT250 even more.
Ride safely and thank you for the comment!
@@SquareHelmet My own bike is a DRZ400 and the XT kills it in the vibration-free stakes.
Really enjoyed. I would like more info on that eastern township ride you did. I am in the Montreal east end so if you want to ride just let me know.
Thank you for the comment! The eastern township trip was amazing - I did it in the autumn, so the colors were just stunning. I have the details of my trip - I can share with you.. I'm just not sure how to get in touch here on youtube...
Also, I plan to repeat the same exact ride later this summer - I can contact you here in case you want to join.
I saw your DR650 video. That's another bike I really love!
I went up one tooth on the crank sprocket and I can still wheelie it. It did help on the highway. I've thought of dropping 2 teeth on the rear.
I'm still learning how to wheelie it... I can do it, but not consistently. And this comes very useful offroad. Still have a LOT to learn to be able to use the bike to its full potential.
Great video. Very reliable bikes. My longest ride was 2022 I rode my 2019 from Edmonton to tuktoyuktuk to Vancouver and back to Edmonton. It handled 100kph no problem which is actually 110kph on the speedometer with lightweight camping gear and extra fuel. Biggest thing I found wrong with these bikes is the suspension. Stiffer springs in the front and complete new shock in the rear. Other than that I just added things for comfort like parabellum wind screen,heated grips, charging port and seat concepts seat.
You went to Tuktoyuktuk????
When they opened the road - I immediately added it to my Bucket list. I absolutely must go there in my lifetime!
It just doesn't feel like an easy ride, so I feel I need a lot of preparation before I attempt it...
How was it? Can you share what springs or shocks you used for XT? How hard was the ride?
I may practice shorter trips this summer, and in 2025 try to go to tuktoyuktuk too.
I wish there was a way to feature some of the comments here - I'm learning so much from these discussions.
Thank you for the comment!
It was an awesome trip. I only had 2 weeks for the whole trip so they were long days. The dempster highway wasn’t as bad as many people make it out to be however it was mostly dry when I went. I averaged 80-90 kph. The views are fantastic. I went from dawson city to inuvik in 14hrs but if I had time I’d definitely stop for the night in eagle plains. The front springs and complete rear shock are TGR racing brand and I believe I just went with the replacement front springs and thicker fork oil which firmed it up very nice. The rear shock is the 1.1 and in combination with the front it is now a completely different bike. Webike is the best for aftermarket I find. Look under the serrow 250. I have lots of other accessories that have also made the bike much better but it’s a pretty long list haha. The main one I’d recommend other than suspension is the oil cooler and running amsoil. I guarantee your bike will run and shift smoother.
Road my '23 XT250 from Rivers, Manitoba to Calgary, Alberta on a VERY long day last fall, took about 14 hours (1164 km as I recall). It was painful, but would have been a lot worse without the Seat Concepts seat. I got a very uncomfortable blister with a stock seat on my '14 XT250 on a 500km run, and swore never again.
That's a LONG riding day! 14 hours!
I plan to do a long adventure ride this summer - going from Saint Adele, Quebec to Tadoussac - I love the sand dunes there - would be great to explore them on Yamaha XT250.
I didn't have issues riding 500km last time. But I consider buying Seat Concepts before I go - why not make it more comfortable?
Thank you for the comment!
Enjoy your XT250!
Wellcome to the Fun Club! Greetings from Israel
Thank you! Small bikes are great
Nice analysis. I’ve got a DR650 and it’s fine as an adventure bike with packs but I do feel that the bike is heavy on tight tracks and when manhandling etc. I’m 5’9” (80kg) so I do feel the height and weight of the DR. The weight makes the bike more stable at highway speed (with 18 Litre tank) though. However, one thing that does makes me tired is the single cylinder engine vibration. This is suppressed with a SkyHawk type air seat cushion on top of a Procycle seat.
Was thinking about a smaller bike but as you know it’s always a compromise.
How is the engine vibration on the XT250 and all day comfort?
XT250 is very comfortable on highway at around 100 kmh - I did not feel any vibration during my 500 kmh trip. I did not feel tired after that. I just thought about it and I think a bigger single cylinder engine - such as DR650 - would have way more vibration since the cylinder has more mass.
Anyway, I had more vibration on something like BMW GS650 single cylinder bike back in the day. Yamaha XT250 is surprisingly smooth!
As for the weight: I am 5'10" and 72 kg - and the places I go sometimes even XT250 feels too tall and heavy... But manageable. I can't imagine going to some of my favorite forest trails on a DR650. It's just too heavy and tall for that. But if you take the hardest trails out - then DR650 is great.
For my riding, I love to go everywhere, and Yamaha XT250 is the best one for this. Light, low seat height, super high ground clearance and what's also important for me - it's reliable and I am not scared to drop it, so I take more chances and I go further on it than any other bike. I took me to some stunningly beautiful places!
Ride safely!
Thank you for the comment!
The speedo on those suckers is way optimistic. At 102 kph, gps was 90. I put a 16 tooth sprocket on it and now it’s only out 3 kph. Shows 103 at 100. Plus I love the taller gearing. Lower gears are still low enough plus it actually seems to pull harder at 100 than before. I’m thinking more in the meat of the power band.
This is a great point! I kind of started suspecting this too... Some videos here show a max of 140 kmh - I think this is way too optimistic. Once it gets warmer, I plan a Part II for the highway test: I want to test the acceleration (standard and quick-shifting) plus the speed with GPS and also acceleration from 100 kmh up. I remember it really surprised me that XT250 could actually accelerate from that speed (not just gradually build speed, but really accelerate).
Granted I'm not too heavy - 72 kg - but still, I was impressed.
Thank you for the comment! And I hope you install your windshield without issues. Cheers
I always smile when people describe the xt as a small bike. I’ve never ridden anything bigger than a 250! I started with a Honda 90 making about 6 hp. To me the xt250 is a big powerful bike. I did have a KLR 250 before the xt. It had more power and 6 speeds. But wasn’t as nimble. I enjoy working on the bike and the only slight negative is it does require much work!
Very true. If you look elsewhere outside of North America, the whole world is riding mostly
When I bought my klx250 I was told that I couldn't ride on the hyway. Wrong! I did an all pavement 200 mile trip recently and it was excellent, I stopped to top off the tank at exactly 100 miles and it took 1.12 gallon. Cruised comfortably at 65mph all day.
Exactly! 250 is not small at all. I have no idea why people look down on smaller bikes or say that they can't handle highway. You may not be able to go comfortably above speed limit - and who cares! They are fun, economical and take you to places where few bikes can go.
Ride safely!
Thank you for the comment!
Hello!
Really glad and happy for you !!
I am from Nepal and I am planning to buy one dual bike and I was leaning towards honda xr190L but found out about XT250. I LOVE IT ! I am small in height, at 5'5" I don't have much options and xt250 like okay promising. However I have some questions and I hope you would be able to help me out.
I am around 80kg, my wife around 70kg. Do you think I can enjoy XT250 with two people on it?
I don't do much off-road but sometimes I do have to go off-road along with my wife. And this one question about two person on this bike with long ride , is it comfortable? I don't ride fast, I just want to enjoy ride with no back pain. 😅
I hope you could help me out with my confusion.
Thanks ! ❤
Hi! It's all about your expectations. Some people say that anything less than 700cc is not enough for two people... Their expectations are just too high. I strongly disagree with them, but we all have different riding styles, roads and destinations...
So, I'll just share my experience and you can decide if this applies to what you expect from a bike.
I'm around 72 kg and I went two-up on Yamaha XT250 with my son, who is 60 kg. So, 130kg + full gear for both. We didn't go on highway. But local roads were great! Acceleration was still strong, handling pretty much the same as when I ride alone. We also went to some rocky forest trail. Overall, the trail was pretty easy with a few harder rocky climbs - again, we had absolutely no issues! Yamaha made it feel easy. Granted, I was going much slower than usual, but again - I can say Yamaha XT250 can easily go anywhere even with two people up. I think per the documentation the total load is 190kg - so it can carry quite a lot!
In summary: I think it works well for your situation. Just slow down when you get to the rough spots and you'll be ok.
Thank you for watching and for the comment!
@@SquareHelmet thank you very much ! Love from Nepal ! 😁
GS probably had road biased tires and something wasn't set up right. I took my Super Tenere on same gravel roads as my XT and S10 was chewing up all roads other than gnarly stuff where 600lbs machine had no place or reason to be. XT is is great bike but, it has some limits on and off road. Sudden stalls are hardest part to deal with on some nasty off road. The rest is pure joy.
You got it right! GS's traction control was not adjusted in time. It started spinning and TC was killing the power until the bike lost momentum and stopped. After that no way to restart up the hill on lose surface. Unfortunately, it's the fact: it was the only bike that struggled. I'm sure if we went on a single track, even an easy one, it would struggle more.
Honestly, most of the gravel and some easy dirt roads - including this one - I could do on Suzuki GSX1000 GT (tried). Slower than GS, but possible. The XT gives that extra bit on the roughest of the roads. And for novice rider (me switching from road bikes to dual sport) it make it SO easy! I went to some gnarliest trails ever on it - without off road riding skills - and I made it out, riding alone. I am yet to discover it's off road limits (my guess is I would need to drown it or have some massive Romaniacs-level rocks to jump...)
XT is not meant for the highways, though it can go there better than I had expected. I simply love the fact that it can do it all - it can really go anywhere.
Thank you for the great points - great discussion!
How were the tires at 60mph on the road. I am looking at a 250 for mostly road but some dirt on my farm. Want to keep knobbies on all the time. Is road use ok?
I used stock tires - they did well. You can probably get more road-focused tires, but stock tires were really good. I would recommend staying with them. Again, I felt great on the entire 500km trip! For 2024 riding season I will put Dunlop 606 on the back - it should be much better on the forest trails. I think I'll take them on the same long trip to see if they feel any different...
I miss my 2017 xt250 a blast to ride easy to maneuver. Wish they made xt350. Im looking at a 750 transalp. But heavier might be a problem. Xt250 is light perfect
I'm thinking about a Tenere this season... It just looks so good and I like the overall idea of the bike (simple, analog, off-road focused). But every time I ride XT250 I keep thinking about Tenere and how heavy it is - there is no way I would take it to the same places as XT250. And going to those places is so much fun! Anyway, I am waiting for a Tenere 400 or an XT350. Would love to have a second bike that just a bit smaller than current Tenere 700 or just a bit bigger than the current XT250...
Thank you for the comment!
My iPhone won’t show the link🤷♂️. Can you tell me where you purchased the windshield and the brand. I’m also in 🇨🇦.
It's "Parabellum Rally Windshield - Yamaha XT250" in ting color. I bought it at BushPigPerformance dot com. I think you can google search either the item name, or the store or both. Again, this windshield made a HUGE difference. The bike feels faster, quieter and more stable. Shipping was fast and easy.
Also, I'm not affiliated with any of them. I say what I really think about every product.
At the range 17-24hp, is the Yamaha wr155 with 17hp and water cooled engine a substitue to the xt250?
I've never heard of WR155, but from what I've seen right now - this feels like a great bike! I think it's something like the amazing WR250r that used to be sold in North America. If it's the same bike with slightly smaller engine - then yes, it's a great substitute for XT250. The only thing is it may have taller seat, which is a deal breaker for me. The places I go, the lower the bike the better. In this case, XT250 is unique: no other bike offers 11.2" ground clearance with 32" seat height.
Thank you for the comment!
I owned an xt 250 and a ninja 300 my two favorite bikes ever the i sold them both and bought a dr650 and i've been kicking myself ever since , sold the dr650 now buying another xt250 . Learning the hard way .
After I posted the XT250 videos, it felt so great to find out that I am not the only one who's actually enjoying smaller bikes! I'm actually looking at Ninja 400 as a possible addition to my garage. Together with XT 250 - these two bikes will cover any possible road and riding mood... I hope you find a good XT250!
So the dr650 was not good off road? What made you switch, I'm torn between the dr and the xt don't know which one to get.
@@asura8236 I would have to say that if you do mostly offroad an xt250 or any 250 is better than a 650 , i find it's the weight factor , with 70 extra pounds you will notice it , on road the xt has no problem doing 110 kph . If i remember it topped out at 135 kph and easy on fuel .
@@13ratchet I was under the impression you can lower the weight like 340lbs and I thought It gets around the same gas mileage.
@@asura8236 If i remember , i'm in Powell river bc where the speed limit is about 80 kph , so city highway was 100 mpg for the xt and 75 for the dr , and i think it would cost too much to remove 26 lbs off of a dr .
Nice analysis. Is the XT engine fairly smooth as a single cylinder?
Facts: I rode several hours at 110 kmh - I did not feel any annoying vibrations. It's really strange: I rode bigger single cylinder bikes in the past and after hours of riding at highway speeds my hands and feet felt a bit numb and shaking from vibration. XT250 was different. A total of 500 km and I was not tired and didn't feel vibration.
I plan to do a Part 2 video for Highway riding. Just kind of document it a bit better: top speed, acceleration on highway, maybe even with luggage.
Actually, I'm re-reading it now and I think big capacity single cylinder bikes MUST have way more vibration by design. A bigger cylinder has more mass, so it would vibrate more.
So, no - it does not vibrate at highway speeds. I can easily go all day on it without getting tired.
Thank you for your reply. Apologies for the extra comment there as I thought You tube was blocking my comment entry.
That’s good to know. I like the DR and have spent a lot on setting it up for adventure riding. I like that it’s simple, easy to maintain and cost effective. It’s just heavy and slightly big, tall and heavy when manhandling, lifting from ground. But I think the weight helps at highway speed and cross wind stability. As always, it’s really difficult finding a suitable compromise that fits all criteria. But as you’ve shown, the XT certainly fits most.
I might check it out at a later date. Kind regards. Craig
And yes, the DR unfortunately does vibrate to the point where you do tire pretty quickly particularly at higher speeds. The air cushion helps a lot allowing for a longer duration in the seat. The Procycle seat somewhat. I was considering upgrading to the T700 as a twin cylinder (presumably better engine balance than a single cylinder) but again the size and cost are a concern. The XT might fit the bill.
Nice video. I have DR650 which is slightly heavy with packs for tight trails. At 5’9” (80kg) the DR is also high. The engine vibration of the DR makes it somewhat tiring for all day riding. A air cushion on a Procycle seat help suppress the engine vibration.
Is the XT engine fairly smooth and how do you feel after all day riding?
It feels smooth with minimal vibrations! I wrote a bit more in my other comments here, but in a nutshell: the smaller engine has lighter cylinder so the vibration is not that bad. I remember feeling more vibrations on a BMW GS650. Yamaha XT250 is great - after 500 km ride I did not feel numb in my hands and feet from vibration.
It's a great bike!
XT 250 is smooth as butter! No lie! I also have a Husqvarna FE350 and that will vibrate/rattle so much on the highway.
I had a 2017 xt250 I really miss it it went everywhere, just wish they made a xt350. I'm looking at Honda transalp 750 but I'm 6'2 250lbs.
Though my experience with the XT250 is limited, I was quite surprised at it's capabilities. I would not hesitate to purchase one if something was to happen to my Yamaha WR250R. Off pavement, I feel that the XT is actually better than my WR at lower speeds.
WR250R is great! I wish they didn't discontinue it - with its suspension and extra power it can go much faster on and off road than XT. But I also think that at very low speeds on the hardest trails, XT would make it feel easier for most people. Thank you for the comment!
I commute with my bike and part of the commute is freeway and riding beside trucks. Would love an XT but the lack of speed turns me off. Ideally I would like to ride one and not do freeway at all, but for now that's not going to happen.
Your view is correct: don't take XT250 if you need to commute and that commute involves freeway. It can handle highways and it's better than I had expected from a 250cc bike, but it's not meant for commute on highways. There are much better options for that.
Thank you for watching your your comment!
I hit 71 (110km) on mine today with room to spare.
It's squirly though.
The sweet spot for cruising is 55mph or 90kph. PERFECT CRUISING SPEED
By the way... I feel the EXACT same way. I just want to ride the slow lane at 55mph and get to my destination safe and without a stressed bike.
I feel bad for that BMW 1200GS guy. Spent all that money on a asphalt only warrior
Completely agree! 90kmh is a great speed for XT250. If I have to ride on highway for 2 hours, if I ride 90kmh instead of 100kmh - it will only take me 12 minutes more. That's nothing! At 90kmh I'll go at a good comfortable speed without stressing the bike, I will be able to see more, and the risk of a crash will be way lower... and the only downside is that it would take me 12 minutes longer. Just 12 minutes. It feels like a no brainer to me - I'd rather go 90 kmh.
And if we have 2 hours of extremely hard trails after that - then I'll probably end up way ahead.
Thank you for the comment!
Мне тоже 64 года. Купил Серова в 63 года!
Отлично! Это мой любимый мотоцикл.
Спасибо за коментарий!
I currently ride a Gen 2 KLR 650 and am thinking about stepping down to something lighter. I understand your comments about light weight but the XT250 is air-cooled, 2 valve/cylinder and weighs 291 lbs with 5-speed transmission. The Kawi KLX300 weighs 302 lbs, DOHC, 6 speed, The Honda weighs 306 lbs, DOHC, 4 valves /cylinder, 6 speed. Yes, the XT250 is lighter by 12 lbs but both the Kawi and Honda have 6 speed transmission and are water-cooled. Safe to say the larger engines will be more powerful (can't find the actual numbers online), more durable with the water cooling and more capable with the 6-speed. Those are some real benefits for 10 or 11 lbs.
If you look at highway performance - more weight is actually even better (more stable) and of course that's where horsepower matters the most. So if you go on highway or paved roads more - CRF300 and KLX300 both could be better choices.
For me personally I don't really care about highways. My bike just has to be able to go there, but how fast - doesn't matter for me. Yamaha easily goes 100-110kmh (60mph-65mph), and I don't need to go faster - I find it to be not safe on a smaller bike. I'm not after highway performance or extra power - actually, Yamaha never felt underpowered for me.
The most important feature on Yamaha XT250 for me is its lowest seat height out of them all, combined with extremely high ground clearance. It's unique in this sense. No other bike on the market offers this. It's a bit over 32" in seat height + 11.2" ground clearance. Both Honda and KLX is way higher (35"+).
I can take Yamaha XT250 further than Honda CRF or KLX. I'm 178cm (5'10") with 33" inseam - I easily flat-foot even very tall bikes. But the places are go are so tough sometimes... even Yamaha XT250 feels way too heavy and tall. Like when I have to reposition my bike on a super steep long rocky hill - where I can barely stand by myself... I know I struggle even with my Yamaha there, but I usually manage to restart and finish the climb. On Honda CRF and KLX I won't even risk going in some of those toughest places.
By the way, I love both CRF and KLX. I almost bought CRF, but switched to XT.
All 3 are great bikes though you can't go wrong.
thank you for the comment!
Biggest difference is that the XT250 has a much lower seat height, which makes it a lot easier to handle at low speeds than those other books as well as your KLR650. That is the main advantage of the XT250 aside from the lighter weight.
I have a newer klx 250 and an xt250. They are both good bikes but if I had to ride something really tough I would take the xt250. Mostly for the lower seat height . The xt lets me recover from what would be tip overs on the klx. The klx supposedly has much more horsepower but honestly I don't really feel any difference riding on the street. They are both happiest at around 100 kmh. The xt has more range than the klx or the Honda. The xt is a great bike. Not the best on the freeway but take the scenic route and it's great.
Great comment! If I stayed away from the worst of the trails, I may consider KLX300 or CRF300l or even Rally. But I just can't help myself - I just go for a nice scenic route ride, then I see some trail leading into forest - and it just calls me to explore further. The curiosity and the anticipation of an adventure pull me right in. How many times I would follow a trail and end up in such a mess, that even XT250 at times feels tall and heavy. Just a bit taller - and some of those beautiful trails would be out of reach for me.
Thank you for the comment!
There is one reason to go faster, EU highway speeds are 130kmh.
Other than "getting trampled" worries in some parts of the owrld, you are correct.
...though reagrding the GS rider i suspect the main thing lacking was the "git gud" or appropriate tyres, stock, for some reason manufacturers ship ADVs with shit tyres as stock.
I think you are right. GS rider had road focused tires + seems to have wrong traction control settings. The tire started to spin, the bike lost momentum and stopped. And no way to start a heavy bike on a narrow steep gravel hill.
As for the EU highways, is there a minimum required speed? In Canada it's 60kmh. So, even if you go 60 kmh in the right lane - you are ok.
Personally, when going by car I go at speed limit, mostly :). Overall, it would be crazy to transfer a car driving habits to a 250cc light off-road-focused bike. So, I stay with the speed I'm comfortable with (90-100 kmh). As long as it's legal - I'm ok, regardless of the actual speed limit.
Honestly, I would not hesitate to pick Honda Trail 125, - it can go 60 kmh on highway, but it's actually illegal on highways.
Highway is a short-cut to fun trails😅
Yes, the necessary evil :) I plan a follow up video to this one - I want to re-measure the highways speed (some people say its speedometer is too optimistic) and also I want to measure acceleration.
Thank you for watching and for the comment!
I believe the wrr250x quality is way higher and im sure is also for more hardcore riding and more powerful also in acceleration and top speed
So the reason you bought the xt250 i still dont know ....now i will watch the video 😝😝
Everything you mentioned is true, except for higher quality I think. Non-premium components can be of very high quality too.
I explain why I picked XT250 in the video where I compare it to BMW GS1250: czcams.com/video/UdgvXHvvw08/video.html
In summary, as compared vs WR250: low seat height + high ground clearance + about half the price of WR250.
I am about average size (5'10" or 178 cm) and I am a novice offroad rider but... I love to go to some extremely difficult trails. Judging from other offroad videos I see on CZcams, I think I often get to real hard enduro riding. Lightweight, low seat height combined with high ground clearance (this is a unique combination) allows me to go there. Power if gentle and linear - and I've never felt lack of it. Plus XT250 is really half the price with cheaper components to replace. I can drop it many times while pushing my riding limits - and still my wallet won't be hit as much.
If I cut the 5% of the hardest trails I go to, then there are SO many other bikes that could suit me well. Even a tall and heavy Tenere would work. But for now XT250 is my best choice.
Let me know what you think after you watch the video. Would you buy an XT250 in my situation?
Thank you for watching!
I think Kawasaki KLX 300 is the better option. Virtually the same weight, with a number of upgrades - more powerful, liquid-cooled engine, beefier suspension, 6-speed gearbox. A lot of advantages for about $1000.
Honestly, I never tried KLX300. It looks like an amazing bike for the reasons you mentioned (maybe not liquid-cooled part, I think air-cooled bikes are more reliable as they have fewer parts to break). I was actually looking at KLX300 or CRF300 and was close to buying one... The only thing that stopped me is the seat height: they are almost 3" taller than XT250. What made XT250 unique for me is it has the same or higher ground clearance, while being 3" lower - for a new offroad rider, seat height is probably the most important characteristic. An experienced rider of my height (178cm) may be able to take KLX300 to the same ultra-rough trails I go to, but if I would take that risk (especially since I ride alone). This summer I want to take a KLX300 and go through the same trails I go on XT250. Not to find the better bike - honestly, I think these small dual sport bikes are so close from the user perspective - but just to see how I feel on a taller bike. KLX300 is at the top of my list.
Thank you for the comment!
Спасибо огромное з атличную аналитику. Можно спрасить откуда вы? И живете в канаде? Я канадец в онтарио но жыл в КЗ и РУ около 5 лет. Буду покупать этот велик через несколько дней.
Привет! Я рад что тебе понравился мой тест этого "велика" :)
Сейчас я смесь нескольких культур: РУ, США, Япония, Канада... Последние много лет живу в Канаде, так что наверное уже больше канадец.
Кстати, посмотрел твои видео - молодец что путешествуешь и что выучил такой тяжёлый язык!
Удачи с покупкой мотоцикла!
try wr250r my friend..
Great bike, but won't fit me for a few reasons: almost 37" seat height. This is the deal breaker for me. I can ride it without issues on some offroad trails, but no way I can take it to where I go on XT250, where often even its 32" seat height feels too high.
Price. I think it was close to double of XT250 when it was still for sale...
Overall, I see only two benefits of WR250R vs XT250: more power and MUCH better suspension for motocross style of riding (going super fast offroad, handling jumps, etc.). For me personally both of these items are not worth the extra price (even if I could still buy it new). I have enough power at XT250 and its suspension is great for my weight (155 lbs.) Plus having high seat is a massive disadvantage that cancels these two benefits for my view.
Anyway, after downsizing I know exactly what I need from a motorcycle and everything extra feels unnecessary. I don't need it, even if it comes for free. Maybe it's the first sign that I'm getting old... :) I look more down, than up. A Honda Trail 125 looks WAY more appealing to me than the new BMW GS900 for example. I've been on the "high end" part of the spectrum, with huge engines, more power, more everything - I don't miss it at all.
To me, I see WR250R as a much more reasonable alternative to KTMs or Husqvarnas: as good as these bikes (and maybe even better) while way more reliable. Out of them all, I would pick a WR250R if I needed a bike like that. But for very slow extra technical ultra gnarly forest trails, for now (I am still VERY new to offroad riding) XT250 fits me best.
By the way, would love to hear your opinion about what bikes you think would be great for the roads in my latest video (wet swampy fields with massive rocks and ugly dirt puddles).
Thank you for watching and for the comment!
@@SquareHelmet I understand you..
Sometimes slower is better, time flys anyway..
Yamaha Scorpio 225 is the road version of XT250...😝
Wow, I've never heard of this one... Probably it was never sold in North America. But looks good! I wish more smaller displacement bikes were available in the US and Canada!
Thank you for the comment!
@@SquareHelmet Your welcome, yes it is only for sale in Indonesia and Australia (in Aussy not much) as fas as i know. Small CC is juuust enough, not to powerful, milage is good, price is good, sparepart price is avordable like in Indonesia country. But the most important is the "fun to ride" factor are never end.
Thanks for bringing the video, big hug from Java Island.
Thats the problem though, with your lightweight bike your stressing the engine at redline to go freeway speeds
I thought so, but unexpectedly it really wasn't the case in my test. At the highest 5th gear once I tried getting closer to the red line going 126 kmh (78 mph) by speedometer. That was WAY too scary - it's too tiny for such high speeds.
So, the limiting factor is not the engine - I could go a bit faster I think - it's the lightness of the bike.
But at 100 kmh (about 62 mph) I - and the bike - could really go all day. The engine doesn't overwork at this speed. Of course for most road bikes 62mph is not enough, but for XT250 (essentially a dirt bike) it's plenty.
I'll do another speed test as soon as the weather allows here in Canada and post an update.
Thank you for watching and commenting! I love these discussions
@@SquareHelmet I think the bigger issue is load on the engine, like my r3 is awesome I love it and won't ever sell it but I know the load on the engine is way higher when I'm going 80 with a head wind because it needs to be basically full throttle to maintain the speed limit, (80mph) but I haven't seen the engine do anything abnormal and she's over 10k miles now on her so we will see.
I bought my dad the Honda crf300rally and he is uncomfortably at freeway speeds with it at 70
@@nativeoutdoors1780All good points. I would love to see some data on long term engine reliability. I saw Ryan Fortnine talking about motorcycle engines and that, unlike cars, they last longer if you rev them to red line as much as possible. Feels counter intuitive for me... I usually trust Fortnine, but not sure about this one... A stressed engine is a stressed engine. What do you think based on your R3 experience?
@@SquareHelmet yeah redline and not bogged down I think is good but the bogging down is not good but again idk, I know double overhead cam engines like revs and pushrods don't.
You want enough rpms for coolant and oil pressure but not enough for high wear on components.
Personally I think the biggest show is bigger engines making the same mpg as my bike despite being bigger and I think it's because they are unstressed at freeway speeds
I have no idea why the GS1250s sells so many. I think maybe to folk who travel on roads, and not far. Those bikes are too big and to,o heavy and are usually seen overloaded with WAY too much luggage. Buy a car. Also 110kms per hour is more than enough. The bike is not designed for that anyway. Take slower, prettier roads and go a shorter distance with more fun. Really like the screen by the way.. Aaaaaand just looked...not one single new XT250 for sale here in NZ. Not one. But 5 2nd hand and they are from the 80s - so good in one respect (reliable) but ridiculous in the other because they are over=priced "classics".
Exactly!
As for GS1250s - I think it's like buying an expensive Mercedes SUV. You don't buy it to go offroad, you just like the brand, you want an SUV to look cool and sporty and you have money - so you go for the top-shelf product. I think BMW GS is the same for motorcycle - a "top-shelf" product for those with money. This bike will see the real gnarly staff only one time: when the initial commercial is being filmed and some professional rides it fast to give us all a wrong expectations that we too can go far offroad on that machine. I exaggerate, but there is a lot of truth to that.
I hope you find a nice XT250 in NZ! Would love to ride in NZ sometime in my life - that's on my bucket list!
But WHY???
Why not?
I address exactly this question in my other video, but in summary: I like the freedom to go on any road, and it's the most challenging forest roads that are the limiting factor. So, I picked the light bike with the lowest seat height for that. The highway does not matter: as long as the bike is legal there any bike can go on highway. I don't talk about speed or comfort, just if I have to cover some highway - I need to be able to do that. Obviously XT250 can do it, but I was curious to see its limits. Before that trip, I only went on highway for a few exits only.
I really thought that if I go for an hour or more, I would be broken mentally and physically by riding a tiny bike on a highway.
So, I wanted to check for myself. And for you guys. If you have only this bike and you need to go many hours on highway, is it doable or is it a suicide and you will need to recover a few days after that?
I answered that question.
XT250 is not built for highway, but if you need to go on highway - it will do just fine.
Thank you for the comment!
110 kph might not be enough in the crazy roads of California, fast ones in Texas or flat ones in Florida here in the States I wish Yamaha would do the "Honda/Kawasaki thing" and bring the displacement to 300cc plus a 6-speed manual transmission while keeping the weight the same. It would make it more useful here in the faster moving highways. Heck, the bike could look the same, I don't care much for looks, it is the substance. So yes, increasing the horsepower by 25% to 33% can be done and it would provide higher torque for climbing together with the additional improvement in gearing due to a 6th gear which allows closer ratios in the first 4 gears. In addition, those of us a little bit bigger would welcome this change.
I hear you, and this is a reasonable view I had too...
But here's the fundamental practical question that I thought about a lot when I downsized to smaller bikes: WHY should we always try to be the fastest on a highway? I mean, I usually go fast - pretty much as fast as legally possible - when I drive a car. But should I try to do the same when I ride a bike? Better yet, should I try to do the same when I ride a 250cc offroad focused bike?
If we are in California, Taxes or Florida - do I have to go as fast as everybody else?
I assume everybody would have their own answer to these questions depending on where they live and how they drive. But for me the answer is NO, I don't need to go fast. I don't even have to "catch up with traffic". I just need to be able to go on highways that's all. Going 100 kmh in the right lane is ok for me, regardless of how fast everybody else is going. I've never have an issue with going 100 kmh - nobody expects the slow right lane to go as fast as the left, so I'm more than ok there.
As for the extra 25% in power - especially with the same weight - of course I'd take it! Just me personally wouldn't use it to go faster - the bike is just too light for very high speeds. Frankly, it was scary to go 120kmh. I still had engine reserve to go faster (I've seen videos where XT250 goes up to 140kmh by speedometer), but it's just way too risky for my liking. So even with more power, I'd still stay at 100kmh, where it felt so good - I had way more vibrations on much bigger bikes.
And I also agree with you about the 6th gear - XT250 asks for it! And more weight: I'm relatively light at 72kg. If I were heavier - I would probably need those extra 25% of power just to do the same. Actually, that's one of the videos I'll do later on: I'll repeat the highway tests, but try to record acceleration from 0, acceleration from 100kmh and going with adventure gear.
Thank you for the comment! Great discussion!
If you want the answer in the United States wo watching the video.. the bike,@180-200 pound rider and small amount of gear can't go on American highway speeds which can be above @85mph but average in high 70s to 80mph. Americans and American law enforcement have made it near impossible to ride the speed limit safely..if you ride in the slow lane and use your mirrors it requires nerves of steel and an adult diaper to put faith that drivers coming up on you will pass on the left and not run you over..
Yes, there are some roads where I would stay away from on a bike... I lived in NYC for a decade - Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE aka Interstate 278) is one of those roads I would not enjoy on any bike, especially on a light off-road focused dual sport. As you said, if you go slower there - you are just becoming an easier "target" for some crazy driver on a massive SUV. I rode BQE on a big bike from time to time - man, that was not fun. I would think thrice before taking my XT250 there... And there are more roads like this in the US.
Standard Canadian highways though have been good for me. I definitely felt MUCH less aggression or reckless driving here (in fact, when I moved to Canada - I think I may have been one of the most aggressive drivers here... NYC "defensive" driving habits don't die fast :)
Anyway, great comment! I still treat highways as a necessary evil. Once I get off highway into some amazing forest trails - that's where the good times start!
Thank you for the comment and ride safely!
@@SquareHelmet funny you mentioned that!! When I lived in NY. Long Island..in the city on Wooster between Broome and Grand and in Brooklyn in Prospect Heights.. riding bicycles and motorcycles was way safer than Phoenix,San Diego, Houston, Dallas or Austin !! In the SW freeway is absolutely insane many parts of S.Cal AZ and Texas it's 85+ and people will tailgate you as if trying to run you over!! Currently living in Northern Baja and Mexican traffic is way slower in Mexico City and Monterrey it's similar speeds to NYC traffic.. Monterrey is bigger than NYC and Mexico City is @22 million and 21 million of the people drive like NASCAR or formula 1!! In Mexico they use 125s for everything!! Uber eats and a dozen other similar services..250 is a medium sized motorcycle!! And the Mexican brands like Italika are garbage!! And Indian like Bahja are junk!! And the Chinese motorcycles they sell at Coppel and Walmart are falling apart before you start them!!
@@randycallow3736 we were pretty much neighbors in NYC! Wow, I didn't know there were so many roads much crazier than those around NYC...
As for 125cc - in so many places of the world it's a bike with a solid power. And 250 is mid-sized bike! I loved the smaller bikes in Japan - I wish there were more in Canada. But I also know why they are more rare - the highways are not the same.
Anyway, looks like you had quite a big scenery change - from NYC to Northern Baja.
Ride safely!
People riding 125cc and lifting. Lol. Mentality of people bigger is better. Getting out of trouble when faster better.
I find that the key to safe riding is the anticipation of danger. If a rider relies on power to get out of trouble - then it may be a good time to pause and rethink the riding habits. At some point there will be a situation when there is not enough power to get out of trouble or too much power that will get you into a different kind of trouble. In my opinion, it's definitely possible to ride a low powered bike safely. Just know its limits and ride accordingly.
Thank you for your comment!
I have never crashed car but I have crashed scooters 🤣. In fact 3 times in 20 years. First 1 was because of cheap rubber, wiped out because pickup around blind corner driving 4kmh. I had no option at time. 2nd was because of Mercedes driver on her phone. She pulled infront and slammed her brakes. (2005 2007) 3rd was just on my own on clients scoot. Rubbish in ally 20kmh. All related to stopping. 🤤 last 1 put plate shoulder. 🤒. 2016. What I have learned to take every person on road as total stupid. Don't ride where you can't see. That is my advice I give to every new rider. I own 3 old vespa's. Don't act like you own road. That will get you killed. Friend that does deliveries on 150cc told me to ride on side of car not behind. If car stops you will pass car. 🤯. I avoid freeways. I don't find pleasure. If no option I can keep up with traffic on my 150, even when my wife on back. Riding back roads and enjoying the atmosphere is what does it for me.
The biggest motorcycle gang in south africa is 60-60 pick n pay. Lol. 125cc 150cc
BMW Rider... embarrassed much!!!! 😉
Overall, dual sport riding felt like riding in a great team. Everybody were supportive and we all were trying to help recover the bike. I don't think he was embarrassed (maybe just a bit), more disappointed that his super bike failed on such an easy task and he had to slow down the entire "expedition". I don't know for sure, but my guess is that we'll soon have a used BMW listed somewhere around here for sale.
I am 183 pounds not so great on HWY
For me, I realized it has a lot to do with the expectations.
I rode Suzuki GSX1000 GT in the past - it's a monster with 150hp. Switching from GSX to XT felt like XT doesn't go at all.
But my ideal offroad bike is Honda Trail 125 - I had the most fun on it. Unfortunately, it's illegal on highways. Compared to Trail 125, XT250 flies! So I basically want my bike to be able to go on highways, it doesn't have to be great or fast... For a bike that's great on highway I'd take GSX1000 GT.
XT250 is not built for highways, so by default I don't expect much. But what surprised me is how good it is for a 250cc bike.
And of course I am not very heavy. It could feel different for bigger guys. I actually plan another test this summer: I want to go on highway fully loaded to see how it does. Again, I know it won't match 1L+ bikes, but just want to see how it feels if I decided to go on an adventure on it.
Thank you for the comment!
This is misleading. My wife had an '08 xt250 which was fully setup for adventure riding which I mainly used. I had a ball on that bike but it is not a hwy bike. At 110kph you are close to it's maximum speed which is not good for the bike or your enjoyment.
On country backroads it's in it's element. It also needs another 10 HP. Also you cannot buy a larger tank for this bike which unfortunately is another minus ( at least here in Australia where we cover big distances ).
I loved the bike and wish I still had it but I believe a CRF300 Rally/L would be a better option and will be my next foray into smaller capacity bikes.
Didn't really mean to mislead anyone. That was exactly my experience. Again, you have to take into account that it's alight 250cc off-road bike. For what it is, it did more than well.
I went a maximum 126 kmh by speedometer and still had a bit of extra there. But it was just too scary to continue. There are some videos here that show XT250s going as fast as 140 kmh...
When I dropped the speed back to 100-110kmh - I think it was about 2/3 of the revs, so it definitely wasn't maxing or anything. Not even much vibration - I went more than an hour holding steady speed on the way back and I felt good! I wonder if the bikes are the same in Canada and Australia? I put premium gas and was on standard tires. Also the windshield mad a HUGE difference.
But I agree - it's not a highway bike. If you need to go on highways more - take a CRF300L/Rally for sure. For me the issue with them is they are taller and heavier and they don't really carry any benefits over XT250: I don't care much about highways (as far as I'm concerned, even 80kmh on highway would be ok for me... the 100khm that Yamaha can easily hold is more than enough, so more highway usability carries no extra benefit for me). But offroad, Yamaha has lower seat height and lower weight, which is important. I am not a very skilled offroad rider (just 1 season of off-road riding), and I take my bike to some extremely tough places. I honestly don't think I could take CRF300L there (mostly super steep rocky hills with curves - even Yamaha sometimes felt too heavy and too tall...). But if you stay away from the hardest trails - CRF probably will do better.
For the record, I'm 178 cm tall.
I may add CRF300 Rally at some point. Love that bike!
Thank you for the comment!
@@SquareHelmet Mine maxed out at 127kph and it had a Staintune pipe on it. What year is yours.Mine was the first of the current shape so was a carbed version. I'm thinking yours is fuel injected which could explain the difference in top speed. Our bikes in Australia are the same as yours in Canada I believe. There's no restrictions on them except for learners on some of the more powerful bikes.
Anyhow, I agree the xt250 is a wonderful bike to ride.
Cheers.