"The 250X’s single-lung engine fires up easily enough – just push the magic button and the fuel-injection takes care of the rest; there is no kickstarter. However, it is a bit cold-blooded and requires a minute of warming before it responds cleanly to the throttle. Early impressions are good and not so good.
The WR gets kudos for its light weight (299 lbs ready to ride with a tank of fuel) and for its nimbleness, but short people will wish for a seat height lower than the WR’s 35.2 inches. Steering effort (if you can call it that) is incredibly light thanks to a wide motocross-style handlebar, and its super-tight turning radius makes it easy to maneuver in the garage and when filtering through traffic. However, clutch engagement a bit lurchy and inconsistent, while the gearbox is occasionally notchy.
No worries about this little ripper of a motor. The 250cc liquid-cooled, DOHC engine with two titanium intake valves and two steel exhausts features a fuel-injection system that takes input from a crank sensor, intake air pressure sensor and throttle position sensor. The compact ECU also controls an EXUP exhaust valve to broaden the powerband. Valve-adjustment intervals are a lengthy 26,000 miles.
It all adds up to about 28 horses (measured on the Area P dyno) at the rear wheel. Interestingly, the peak torque of 16.9 ft-lbs at 8,200 rpm arrives just 700 revs prior to the horsepower crest - I can’t recall another bike that has its torque and horsepower peaks so closely spaced. Anyway, there’s enough power on tap to easily scamper away from traffic at stoplights, and it continues accelerating at a moderately brisk pace past every speed limit in the land.
While power is adequately sprightly at urban speeds, I was initially worried the mini motor would run out of breath at a California speedway… er, freeway pace. However, it runs just fine at 70-75 mph, using its sixth gear to bring down revs and vibration to levels that aren’t objectionable. It’s also able to cruise at 80 miles per and above, but engine vibration becomes more pronounced and its darty steering becomes unnerving. The narrow seat is surprisingly supportive, giving a butt almost an hour before squirming."
No comments:
Post a Comment