I’m in a rough patch. After finally getting the Yamaha WR250F exactly how I want it, with a fresh pipe, tall seat and GYTR levers perfecting an already impressive package, I’ve gone and crashed again.
This update was published in ADB issue #465 – June 2018
Fortunately, I wasn’t riding my precious long term test bike, but a fractured radius has limited my time this month. The only good news is that I got a few rides in with the new map Yamaha Tech Guru Darren Thompson gave me before breaking myself.
The 2018 Yamaha WR250F didn’t get the fancy new bluetooth connectivity seen on the 2018 YZ450F, instead it uses that really old tech, known as the Power Tuner. Crazy to think just over a decade ago we were pulling out manuals to work out where to go with jetting and now even the Power Tuner seems outdated!
The map (see inset) has pushed a little more punch into the bottom-end, while not sacrificing anything up top. It is designed specifically for use with the GYTR header pipe and muffler, so I’m not sure if it will have the same effect with the stock pipe in place, but it’s worth a try. If you don’t have a Power Tuner, pinch your mates and plug it in, if they don’t have one try asking your local dealer to input the map using their Power Tuner.
I managed to squeeze in two rides before busting my arm and the Yamaha WR250F is as reliable a Bernard Tomic meltdown. Oil, filters, lubricants. Oil, filters, lubricants. Oil, filters, lubricants. It’s all I seem to be doing. Even the chain has only needed about three millimetres of adjustment and after repetitive metho abuse of the air filter, it is only now starting to breakdown. I’m still on the original set of Dunlops ??? and I’ve somehow managed to crash without snapping the metal number plate or slashing my leg!
So, what do you do with your dirtbike when you’re injured? We’ve all been in this position before, and it’s funny how many people crawl out of the woodwork wondering if it’s free? Well, for me that bloke is Tech Ed Matt Boyd. Boydy got wind I was injured and asked what I was going to do with my long term WR250F. He gave me the standard lines like, “If you don’t ride it, the battery might go flat” or “It’s not good for the oil and fuel to be sitting dormant like that for months” I knew what he was saying.
So, for the next six weeks I’ve reluctantly relinquished control of my WR250F to Boydy, who has a few rides planned as the weather cools down. Stay tuned next issue to see what our Tech Ed thinks of all my mods. Editor Mitch Lees
SO FAR
Hours: 20
Mods this month: Mapping
Mods next month: None