Launch: 2015 Yamaha WR250F

Earlier this week, Yamaha Motor Australia gathered dirt bike journos from Oz and NZ in Coffs Harbour for what turned out to be the world launch of the 2015-model WR250F and, chaperoned by Detour Trail Tours, showed us to 250km of the area’s finest trails for two days.

The fact this all-new machine (the WR250F’s first upgrade of note since 2007) is heavily based on the fuel-injected, four-valve YZ250F came as little surprise, but it was intriguing to get an insight into how they managed to subtly adapt the successful new motocross machine to off-road use. Suffice to say that it’s much, much more than a YZ250F with a headlight and 18-inch rear wheel.

While the rolling chassis, engine and ergos remain very YZ250F, the WR250F gets ingenious tweaks to its chassis geometry, suspension settings, brakes, mapping and exhaust, and an all-new six-speed transmission to get the power to the ground. Yes, as you’d expect, it also comes with an electric start and, to meet ADR requirements, it’s fitted with a headlight and taillight. YMA has also prudently decided to fit a bashplate and full-wrap Barkbuster hand guards as standard equipment.

So, how does it ride? Well, you’ll have to grab the Jan-Feb issue of Transmoto for a comprehensive ride impression, but let’s just say that Yamaha is confident it’ll sell a lot of these things with damn good reason. The pivotal new model’s RRPs should be announced in the next week or two.