Barossi BT 450 LX vs. Yamaha WR 250 X comparison test

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Barossi BT 450 LX vs. Yamaha WR 250 X comparison test

Comparison test: Barossi BT 450 LX against Yamaha WR 250 X

Comparison of Supermotos from Barossi and Yamaha

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Hardly anyone knows the Borossi brand. That should change with the Supermoto BT 450 LX. Will the attack from China on the established competition succeed? The Yamaha WR 250 X faces the duel.

Can we really have a 250cc Super Moto compete against a 450cc? We just do it. After all, both bikes have approximately the same performance. In the PS underground car park there is a Yamaha WR 250 X with 31 PS and a Borossi BT 450 LX with 35 PS – little things to really have fun with! Wait a minute, Borossi? Sounds Italian, but it’s Chinese. Now just no prejudices! After all, we have a one-to-one copy of the 2008 Honda CRF 450, one of the most successful competition bikes in recent years. Borossi also has years of experience with street and off-road buggies and has been building motocross machines for four years. Let’s see how well the copy of the Honda turned out. And whether the 250cc Yamaha can defend itself.

D.he engines are cold, the Borossi is fired by a carburetor – so pull the choke. After a few turns, the 450 stew starts to work, but dies again when you let go of the small lever because it cannot be locked. With the left index finger on the choke and the rest of the fingers on the clutch lever, you go into city traffic. Because of the cumbersome choke / clutch operation, the first few meters get a bit bumpy. The very stiff clutch is also noticeable. That gives muscles in the forearm! But remedial action is near: an inexpensive retrofit kit with modified clutch springs and cables will be available soon.

Thanks to the constant pressure carburettor, the Borossi accelerates as smoothly as butter, while the WR annoys with noticeable load change reactions – injection systems cannot do everything better. Otherwise the WR 250 X has so far been inconspicuous. The clutch requires little force, the gears are extremely light and precisely stitched.

In this discipline, the BT leaves feathers. The gears do not slip so easily and precisely, and a sixth gear for the country road is missing – you can’t just copy everything from a competitor machine like the Honda CRF 450. Although that was quite successful with the engine. The single vibrates quite robustly over the entire speed range and hacks powerfully on the chain below 3000 rpm, but above that it delivers full pressure up to about 7000 rpm, 500 rpm later the maximum 35 hp are available. The BT pushes powerfully out of tight bends and hangs the Yamaha out until it pulls itself back on the opponent at maximum speed. In pursuit mode, the WR 250 X only knows two throttle positions – completely open or completely closed. The quarter-liter single-cylinder wants to be turned, its 31 hp it gives off at 10600 / min, only at just under 12000 / min is the end. The 250 runs very cultivated and smooth. Vibrations? Hardly felt. The Yamaha is tame, also in terms of sound. The BT, on the other hand, inspires with a powerful, throbbing sound from the stainless steel exhaust. With its distinctive vibrations, the great sound and the powerful engine, it is clearly the rough head of this comparison test. But it is precisely the rough and rough parts that go well with the supermoto. So that the brisk driving pleasure does not come to an abrupt end, the oil level of the BT must be checked often and meticulously. The engine only holds around 0.7 liters of oil, the transmission in the separate housing similarly little. The service intervals of 3200 kilometers with pure road operation are quite short, but according to Borossi they are comparatively cheap.


Borossi BT 450 LX.

The country road winds through the Black Forest, one tight curve follows the next – the perfect area for the little supermotos. It’s good for us that there are still really bad roads here. Because here the chassis show what they can – or cannot do. With the throttle almost always on the stop, the WR surfs playfully through fast alternating curves and feels more manageable than the Borossi. Almost like a 125cc. However, their playful handling is at the expense of driving and cornering stability. In fast, tight corners the Yamaha feels a bit spongy and not quite as precise – the chassis is almost too soft for the hard pace. This is where the Borossi scores. It is much more stable and fuller, conveys more trust. Basically, both chassis are impressive: The bikes surprise with forks and struts that can be adjusted in rebound and compression, which is not a matter of course in this price range. Despite everything, the upside-down fork of the BT 450 LX with a diameter of 48 millimeters is somewhat insensitive and does not provide any direct feedback. While the fork’s damping is okay, the shock absorber is overly tight. It hammers short, hard blows directly into the driver’s back.

In line with the purchase price, there are no high-end braking systems installed on either bike. They decelerate properly, but not breathtakingly. The Yamaha requires little manual force and convinces with its transparent brake. Although the Test-Borossi already has the 320 mm disc of the next model year (optionally also available for the current model; series: 240mm) and even has a steel braided line on board, the brake metering leaves a lot to be desired. High hand strength, poor transparency and the non-linear braking effect mean that points are deducted. Next year, in addition to the basic BT, there will be a Supermoto S (surcharge around 800 euros) with a 320 mm brake disc, wider rims and tires, a different lamp mask and optional four-piston brake calliper (plus 298 euros) – which should be more powerful.

After around 90 kilometers, we turn the Borossi’s fuel tap to reserve because the engine stutters; there is no tank warning lamp. An average of 5.4 liters of test consumption is no glory, but acceptable. The Yamaha flares 1.6 liters less fuel. In 2013 the BT 450 LX comes as a more economical injection version with an enlarged tank. And as early as next year, a number of qualitative changes should – and must – change. Because the first impression of the BT 450 LX could be better. The mirror hangs too loosely on the boom, because of the vibrations it keeps folding in by itself the speedometer needle dances samba in the cockpit and swings heavily, the handlebar switches look cheap. There is also the hard, narrow bench seat, which offers space for two people, but can only be occupied by one person due to the lack of pillion rests. The little things add up and give a mixed picture. Especially since the Yamaha shows how it can be done better – of course at a significantly higher price. Borossi is aware of the weaknesses and promises improvement. We are looking forward to the next model years.

PS rating / judgment


Yamaha WR 250 X.

PS rating

Max points Borossi Yamaha
drive 100 46 51
landing gear 100 63 68
Everyday life and driving fun 50 23 29
Total 250 132 148
placement 2. 1.


PS judgment

Yamaha WR 250 X
In the sum of its properties, the WR is the better and more balanced motorcycle. Here the quality is right, only the poor torque and the thin sound spoil the driving pleasure.

Borossi BT 450 LX
Not a bad debut. The basis is correct, but the final 15 percent are still missing. With a little work, the test result may look different soon.

Technical specifications


Typical for Supermoto: playful handling.

Yamaha WR 250 X

drive 
Single-cylinder four-stroke engine, four valves / cylinder, 22.6 kW (31 HP) at 10,000 / min *, 24 Nm at 8,000 / min *, 250 cm³, bore / stroke: 77.0 / 53.6 mm , Compression ratio: 11.8: 1, ignition / injection system, 38 mm throttle valves, mechanically operated multi-plate oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, G-Kat, chain

landing gear 
Double-loop light metal frame, steering head angle: 64.8 degrees, caster: 76 mm, wheelbase: 1425 mm, upside-down fork, Ø fork inner tube: 46 mm, adjustable in rebound and compression. Central spring strut with deflection, adjustable in rebound and compression. Suspension travel front / rear: 270/265 mm

Wheels and brakes 
Light alloy spoked wheels, 3.0 x 17 / 4.0 x 17, front tires: 110/70 R 17, rear: 140/70 R 17, initial tires: Bridgestone BT 090 “G”, 298 mm single disc with double-piston floating caliper at the front, 230 -mm single disc with single-piston floating caliper at the rear

measurements and weight 
Length / width / height: 2115/810/1190 mm *, seat / handlebar height: 905/1150 mm, handlebar width: 795 mm, 137.5 kg fully fueled, v./h .: 47.6 / 52.4%

Rear wheel power in last gear 20.6 kW (28 PS) at 125 km / h
Consumption fuel type: Super unleaded. Average test consumption: 3.8 liters / 100 km, Tank capacity 7.6 liters, range: 200 km
Base price 6895 euros (plus additional costs)

Borossi BT 450 LX

drive 
Single-cylinder four-stroke engine, four valves / cylinder, 22 kW (30 PS) at 7,500 rpm *, 42.5 Nm at 6 500 rpm *, 449 cm³, bore / stroke: 96.0 / 62.5 mm , Compression ratio: 11: 1, CDI, carburetor, 35 mm throttle valve, mechanically operated multi-plate oil bath clutch, five-speed gearbox, catalytic converter, chain

landing gear 
Light alloy bridge frame, steering head angle: 63.48 degrees, caster: n / a, wheelbase: 1500 mm, upside-down fork, Ø fork inner tube: 48 mm, adjustable in rebound and compression. Central spring strut with deflection, adjustable in rebound and compression. Suspension travel front / rear: 310/270 mm

Wheels and brakes 
Light alloy spoked wheels, 2.5 x 17 / 3.5 x 17, front tires: 110/70 17, rear: 140/70 17, first tires: Kings Tire, 320 mm single disc with double-piston floating caliper at the front, 240 mm single disc with single-piston floating caliper at the rear

measurements and weight
Length / width / height: 2265/830/1275 mm *, seat / handlebar height: 910/1150 mm, handlebar width: 810 mm, 136 kg fully fueled, v./h .: 47.5 / 52.5%

Rear wheel power in last gear 23 kW (31.2 PS) at 112 km / h
Consumption fuel type: Super unleaded. Average test consumption: 5.4 liters / 100 km, Tank capacity 8.0 liters, range: 148 km
Base price 5198 euros (plus additional costs)

* Manufacturer information

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