I am getting older, no doubt about it really. When you hit 50, it is impossible to disguise the fact. The Yamaha induced nose needed surgery recently, the KTM collar bone fractured easily when the Honda dumped me, the Suzuki haematoma on the leg aches a bit, and the Honda thumb forewarns of weather changes.
I started my dirt bike riding on a Yamahe DT360 in 1974. It was a prick of a thing really, but it was fast in straight line. I defected to a Montesa 250 (still have it in the shed in bits) and then back to Jap bikes that were cheap and reliable. A string of bikes including a lovely KS125 Kawasaki, and a couple of PE175 Suzukis. Tough and reliable bikes, but also heavy and under powered. It was then that I decided to start enduro racing. I needed power and suspension. I needed a KTM! At the age of 34 I bought a KTM 300. it was really a 270 cc 2 stroke, but it had long legs and a front disc. Much better. When I turned 35 I really wanted to win the Veterans class at our local enduro series ( green triangle enduro series: see gtenduro.com.au) so I updated to a 89 KTM250, with a power valve and 2 discs and I got fit. A series of second and third places and one flukey win , saw me earn one of those large ugly trophies for my shed.
I broke my first serious bone on the KTM when I mistook my riding skill with that of the bike. I decided that I need a slower pace, so I bought a DR350 Canadian model (no ADR) but I got it registered as an farmers' bike, and promptly rode it to Alice Springs. Actually I cartwheeled it the first ride brakes good,fork springs soft. I modified the Suzuki, with better suspension and a 380 kit. It was a nice stable bike. I even competed at the inaugeral Thumper Nats at Barrabool (came 3rd last). One ride on a mates XR400 was all it took, and I ordered a new Honda. A little bit of suspension work was all it needed, until I rode a '01 XR250 and thought what a hoot. Less weight and less power but a killer frame allowed it to carve through our tight local forest trails. It was easier in the steep hills in central Victoria.
I thought I had found my ideal retirement bike. I was used to the Honda twitch in soft terrain that so unnnerves non Honda riders. Our local suspension guru Big Dwayne put a kit in the forks that sorted them out pretty well. I put a modified (quieter) B&B baffle ( from the 400) in it so it would rev without deafening me and others. I used a high DG seat for comfort and high CR bend TAG bars. I spent some cash on good sprockets and chain and tyres. It was a economical bike to own. 500 Km oil and filter changes took care of the motor.
What made me change to an O4 WR250F? It was the electric start that sealed the deal, as I have a crook knee from snow skiing, and the Honda was a bitch to start on occasions ( auto -decompressor?). It also had good suspension that would handle the sandy whoops we have locally far better than the XR could. It also had a quiet exhaust, which worked OK standard. All bikes should have this feature Japan! the WR is also the 4th model of the run, so one should expect that it is well sorted by now. It steer well and feels stable.
My only criticism is that it should have a 6 speed box, so that 6th could be an overdrive ratio for transport sections.
Do I need the killer water cooled engine? No, not really. I really wanted the weight of the 250 XR, the power of the XR400 and the suspension of a top quality enduro bike. Honda just took too long to produce a bike to fill the market niche. If they make an enthusiasts XR+, I have my chequebook waiting. Meanwhile, I will have to endure the barbs of what passes for wit from the team red riders about riders of the poofo, trendo electric start bikes.
Kym Stock
rider of little talent