2005 Yamaha WR450F/250F Photo Gallery

In the face of increasing competition, Yamaha has stepped up with tweaks to its incredibly versatile WR line-up of off-roaders. Check out what we thought of these bikes in our 2005 Yamaha WR450F / WR250F First Ride.

WR, stands for Wild Ride. Run down to your local Yamaha dealer and get one now - they'll be gone quick.

Is that a sight or what? Yamaha's fleet of test bikes prepped, full of gas and ready to get it on.

The Yamaha powerplant is arguably responsible for turning the off road community on its collective ear when the bike was first introduced back in 98.

Those number plates are so nice and shiny - but not for long! Check out the truly useful grab handles in the side of both WRs.

A new head was designed with a slightly lower compression ratio (12.5:1 to 12.3:1), the intake ports are 9% smaller.

Whether you choose the WR250 (foreground) or WR450, you will be making a wise decision.

Finally, everyone gets to route the brake lines the right way!

This my friends is a carburetor.shhhssshhh. Don't tell anyone though - this is top secret stuff straight from Yamaha R&D. These are better than last years..shhhsshhh.

Easy air filter access is a major plus.

As always, the WR models are equipped with the all important side-stand.

Whooped out Gorman trails - Fahgetabout it!

Braaaaaaaaaap! Four-Strokes equal four times the fun.

Hey Duke! Here's mud in your eye!

Blast into a berm, turn and gas it - the WRs are fun and there is no doubting that fact.

La-tee-da...Cameron lasily lumbers his WR into a turn...looks where he wants to go, twists the throttle and off he goes...la-tee-da.

Coatney bunny-hops the 250F over the rare and protected desert tortise - nice move Cam!

Blue leader this is Capt. Coatney - are we cleared for landing on runway G?

All kidding aside, the WR is just an awsome bike, Cam says.

Guess what? Both WRs are capable in the air too.

Gobs of low end torque make navigating the Gorman hillsides a breeze.

Cam-zilla versus the giant desert mantis - Cam gets the upper hand thanks to his WR as the big bug attacks from his right. Obviously he survived or he wouldn't have written this artcile.

The new and improved front brake really comes in handy during long down hill sections like this.

Knowing that Kevin Duke loves wheelies - Cam decided to shove it in his face repeatedly during the photo shoots: 'Man these things are fun to wheelie.wooo-woo.'