8 GREAT UPGRADES FOR THE YAMAHA WR250R

Yamaha’s WR250R has been one of the most capable small dual-sports on the market for more than 10 years. In January 2020 ADVMoto issue, we kitted one up for long-distance travel with a much larger tank, windscreen, luggage and engine mods. So, while we were in the mode, we decided to build a sportier version of the WR250R which would keep things simple but still provide some fun around home base, at a rally, or even be capable of a little racing. Subsequently, we located a used WR250R for $2,600 and got to work on the makeover.

- Carl Parker

1 MOOSE RACING PRO SKID PLATE

Protecting the bike’s underbelly is serious business. Most of us are accustomed to steel or aluminum guards, but Moose Racing’s Pro Skid Plate made a composite believer out of me. Because WR250Rs (and many dual-sports) have a full cradle frame, the skid just needs to block the various forms of debris that fly off the front tire and maybe even slide offa log or rock from time to time. Made from HDPE, this plastic is not only strong and lightweight (40% lighter than 4mm aluminum) but also eliminates buzzing or vibration noises. I was also curious to see if it reflected less engine noise up toward the rider and, while it did reflect some, it wasn’t bad.

Installation is easy, thanks to precision manufacturing. First, loosely install the two front bolts then, as you push the rear section upward toward the frame, the wings which guard the water pump and stator will bend out a bit to line up the rear two bolts. Lightweight, no rust, less noise, easy to install and, for under $150, it’s a no-brainer for the WRR or any similar bike. MooseRacing.com | MSRP $140

2 WARP 9 WHEEL SET

The wheels on the donor bike were in rough shape, so we reserved them for dirt use. Slapping on a pair of Warp 9 wheels in their place really made the bike look sharp and roll smoothly.

Warp 9’s spokes have stayed tight and the finish has held up well. A key feature, which is easy to forget because you get so much more value, is that the Warp 9