The Yamaha Motorcycle That Riders Recommend Without Hesitation

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Sunday, 28 Jun 2026 13:31 0 2 autotech

Generally speaking, motorcycles are highly personalized vehicles, and each kind of motorcycle will appeal to different riders. One of the few motorcycles that overlaps almost every segment is a dual-sport. It is the kind of motorcycle that is especially good for new riders unsure of exactly what kind of riding appeals to them the most, but can also serve as a means to upskill a rider who has never ventured off-road before. Realizing the same, every bikemaker has a bike of this sort, and it’s the same for Yamaha.

Owners Tend To Hold On To Dual-Sport Bikes

Kawasaki

At one point, it seemed as though interest in entry-level dual-purpose motorcycles had all but dried up. But, with so many riders taking an interest in off-road riding these days, the dual-sport segment has seen something of a revival. Dual-sports offer an ideal starting point for anyone interested in getting into adventure riding, and manufacturers have answered the call by either updating existing models or bringing in new bikes from other markets.

10 Most Practical Dual-Sport Motorcycles You Can Buy

Dual-sport motorcycles offer the best of both worlds, and these are the bikes that strike the perfect balance between capability and cost

The Yamaha WR250R Is The Kind Of Motorcycle That Can Appeal To Anyone

Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000

Back in 2020, Yamaha ruthlessly culled off a couple of fan favorites in the form of the R6 sport bike and the VMax power cruiser. The fact that the WR250R also got discontinued in the same year pretty much went unnoticed. It was already over a decade old, and was fairly expensive compared to the other dual-sports it was competing with, so if anything, it made logical sense that its time was up. What Yamaha couldn’t have predicted was just how big the shift in consumer trends would be.

Today, the WR is arguably the bike missed the most. Yamaha recently introduced the WR125R in an effort to fill the void, but unlike the 250, it is not a bike that will appeal to more experienced riders. The old 250 is one of the easiest used bikes to recommend. Not only is it durable, but it is also cheap and easy to maintain. With its retail value sitting at just under $5k, it might still seem a little expensive compared to some of the new Japanese dual-sports, but this is more capable, and in the right hands, a lot more fun.

Modern Single-Cylinder Engine Powers The WR

Power: 30 Horsepower

Somewhat ironically, the WR has a thoroughly modern DOHC fuel-injected single-cylinder engine. It has what we would consider enough power for an off-road-oriented machine. More would be lovely, but if you were to modify the engine to get more power, it would almost certainly compromise reliability. The gains would not be worth it, especially if you are planning to use the bike for travel. The wide-ratio transmission helps get the bike to 80 MPH, but staying at that speed will also only serve to drain the relatively small 2-gallon tank. Buying a bike like this is a commitment to sticking to back roads, trails, and tight single-track when the mood arises.

The WR250R Is A “Unicorn” Dual-Sport

Much is made of the “unicorn” motorcycle, a bike that can truly do it all for an affordable price. Strangely, the one bike that fits this description was always with us, but because of its rather steep asking price, most enthusiasts were reluctant to give it the time of day. Those who were willing to buy the bike back when it was new discovered a motorcycle that was far more capable than any spec sheet would have you believe. Today, it is a relative bargain on the used market. While the bike hasn’t exactly lost all its value, it has depreciated as much as any bike that is over 5-years old.

With a wet weight of just under 300 pounds, it is light and nimble enough to handle the weekday commute, then go exploring over the weekend. Much like the Honda CRF300L, highway runs are not really its forte, but riders from all over the world have proven that dual-sport bikes like this can be taken anywhere. The big point of difference with the WR is just how capable it is off-road. It has a fully adjustable suspension with over 10 inches of travel and almost 12 inches of ground clearance, which effectively makes it a dirt bike with lights.

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You Don’t Know What You Have Got Until It’s Gone

The downside to any bike with this much ground clearance is the fact that it is always going to be a relatively tall motorcycle. The ergos are indeed closer to a motocross bike than your average dual-sport, with a seat height of over 36 inches. For new riders that are on the shorter side, we will readily admit that the Honda might be a better bet, but for pretty much anyone else, this is a very easy bike to recommend.

It offers manageable, reliable performance and is one of the few dual-sport bikes in this price range that can be genuinely fun off-road. Its relatively small 2-gallon tank might be a limiting factor, but if you plan on exploring further from civilization, there are aftermarket solutions. While every motorcycle is a compromise of sorts, a used WR250R is about as close as we are ever likely to get to a genuine “unicorn” thanks to how affordable and versatile it is. While there are a few modern bikes that come close, we still feel the WR is the better buy.